Year We Fell Down (Ivy Years, #1)

by Sarina Bowen

[readingwithwrin]

“There’s no more perfect, Callahan. Now there’s only really damned good.”


We all know I struggle to like new adult books, and were probably getting to the point now where you're all wondering why I keep trying them? That would be because I'm extremely stubborn and I am determined to find a good new adult. This one is getting there everyone.


The Year We Fell Down follows two different characters Corey Callahan and Adam Hartley we get to see things from both of there perspectives throughout the year. Corey has recently become paralyzed due to an accident that happened 6 months before college started. Because of this accident, she is now in a wheelchair and is learning to navigate life in a wheelchair and the struggles that come with that physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Adam is injured currently and because of that is using crutches and massively struggling with getting around.



Overall I did find myself enjoying this book. I know let's all take a minute because who knows when I'll be able to say that about a new adult book again. Okay now, why did I enjoy this book? I'm a person who uses a wheelchair and always has, and seeing someone in a wheelchair in books isn't that common especially in romance type of books.

I loved how hardheaded and determined Corey was to find things that would work and modify things to still be able to have a college experience that was similar to her peers. I liked how supportive the people she was meeting with and dealing with on a regular basis. Yes everyone had that moment of hesitation but that's real life for those of us in wheelchairs because no one really knows how to act or say at first. I also liked how it was shown Corey always having to think ahead about every little thing and how exhausting it truly was, and yes people offered to help, but that's not something you can always rely on especially when partying is involved.



“Everybody has their shit to shovel, Callahan. Everybody.” He gave my hand a squeeze, and then took his back. “Now, yours is right up front where everybody can see it. I don’t envy you that. But everybody has some, whether you can see it or not.”



Hartley was a character that I did like for the most part as well. He was always there for Corey which was nice in a way especially as he healed up and was able to be mobile again on his own without any assistance. I really appreciated the little things he did for Corey and how he didn't treat her any differently than his other friends when it came to certain things.



Now those were the things I liked about this book. I did have a few issues with this book though as well. I didn't like how pushy Adam was about certain things when it came to sex and Corey becoming comfortable with her sexuality. He was pushy about it and instead of just letting Corey figure certain things out on her he almost in a way pushed for things to happen that night. I also didn't like how he was cheating with Corey on his girlfriend (yes it was a terrible relationship but that's not an excuse for cheating).



While I'm not sure if I'll continue on with this series or not as it doesn't follow Corey and Hartley I did really enjoy it.





"Suddenly, living my new life seemed more important than mourning my old one."



If you have any other recommendations for books that have a protagonist in a wheelchair or with a disability of any kind please let me know about them.