The Ivy Years Part One – The Year We Fell Down, The Year We Hid Away and The Understatement Of The Year

By Sarina Bowen

 The Ivy Years Series has five main books that are put together into two parts. Part One has books 1 through 3 and Part Two has books 4 and 5. There are also three novellas which Sarina has put together into one book called Extra Credit.

This was the first book/series I have read from Sarina Bowen and I was not disappointed. She has a great writing style, doesn’t overuse words and each story (even though most of them are connected) is completely different. I loved that Sarina was not afraid to take situations that are uncomfortable and weave them into her books seamlessly!

There was one thing that I was unhappy about and that was… the lack of epilogues! Yes, there were some and you did get to see several of the characters in other books but I wanted more! I fell in love with everyone and wanted more of their happily every afters!

The Year We Fell Down

Corey Callahan is starting her freshmen year of college in a wheel chair instead of on skates, not something she ever thought would happen. Adam Hartley shares some of the same thoughts since he broke his leg in two places and cannot be on the ice. They quickly bond over the hardships of navigating a non-handicap friendly campus, figuring out how to use each of their strengths to their advantage.

Both of them are slowly realizing being friends may not be all they are destined for except Hartley is not exactly single. Can Hartley figure out what he wants before Corey has to live without her two loves – hockey and him?

I loved all of the books in the series, but Hartley and Corey were my favorite!

The Year We Hid Away

College for Scarlet Crowley is a fresh start, she can hide away and leave her father’s arrest behind. Bridger McCaulley is a star on the ice but his sister needs him so he leaves hockey behind to focus on school and hiding her.

Scarlet and Bridger slowly become friends while their worlds start to fall down around them. Will they be able to survive when both worlds collide and collapse?

The Year We Hid Away kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time!

 The Understatement Of The Year

John Rikker’s world is changing fast, his college is kicking him out for having a relationship with another man. Michael Graham thinks the past was in the past until his high school “best friend” resurfaces as the newest member of his hockey team.

Will Graham and Rikker find their way back to each other or will the years of guilt Graham feels be too much?

So much angst! Sarina did an amazing job telling Graham and Rikker’s story!

I read through Part One in a couple days because I could not put them down. The love each couple shared is swoon worthy! Gah! They are ALL amazing! Get reading!!