The Year We Fell Down

By: Sarina Bowen

Narrated by: Nick Podehl, Saskia Maarleveld

Length: 7 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

The sport she loves is out of reach. The boy she loves has someone else. What now?

She expected to start Harkness College as a varsity ice hockey player. But a serious accident means that Corey Callahan will start school in a wheelchair instead. Across the hall, in the other handicapped-accessible dorm room, lives the too-delicious-to-be-real Adam Hartley, another would-be hockey star with his leg broken in two places. He's way out of Corey's league. Also, he's taken. Nevertheless, an unlikely alliance blooms between Corey and Hartley in the "gimp ghetto" of McHerrin Hall.

Over perilously balanced dining hall trays and video games, the two cope with disappointments that nobody else understands. They're just friends, of course, until one night when things fall apart. Or fall together.

All Corey knows is that she's falling. Hard. But will Hartley set aside his trophy girl to love someone as broken as Corey? If he won't, she will need to find the courage to make a life for herself at Harkness - one that does not revolve around the sport she can no longer play or the brown-eyed boy who's afraid to love her back.

©2014 Sarina Bowen (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Great 1st book in a the series! Loving It!

I loved this book! This book was very different from all the other books I've been reading. I have read so many "injured athlete" books in the past but never where the girl is the athlete in question. This book made me think about so many things I haven't really considered before. It was so sweet and romantic and had so many real life problems. Book 1 has me completely sucked in! I am dying to start book 2.

The narration is great! Nick Podehl is great but I don't love his female voices and Saskia Maarleveld was perfect all around!

Hope Fairies Everywhere Rejoice!

I am kicking myself for waiting so long to read/listen to this book! Sarina Bowen writes the most heartfelt, yet humorous and quirky, books. Thanks to the wonders of whispersync, I was able to switch seamlessly back and forth between the ebook and audiobook. Nick Podehl and Saskia Maarleveld do an amazing job narrating and I especially enjoyed Saskia's performance as Corey.

Corey was an amazing heroine. She was tough yet vulnerable and showed such incredible strength. She did seem more mature than the average college freshman, but given her history/past it made sense. I loved that she stayed true to herself, despite the heartache, and moved forward instead of wallowing in her own sadness. Her fortitude and bravery make her my favorite Bowen heroine to date.

Hartley made my heart hurt at times when he denied his true feelings, but I could also understand to a degree why he made the decisions that he did. At his core, he's a good guy. It just took a while for that side to prevail. The only thing that didn't sit well with me was what happened the night of his 21st birthday.

***SPOILER***

Just because his girlfriend was off with another guy and they have an "understanding", a little hook up is still a hook up. I know that he was grappling with his feelings for Corey, but it still felt like cheating to me. Also, if my timeline is correct, he broke up with Stacia and had Corey's virginity the next night. Even though they had been building up to this for months, it still seemed crazy fast. I'm hoping he at least changed the sheets in between! Corey was a very willing participant though and knew exactly what had been happening, so there really isn't any blame here. Just my own 2 cents ;)

*****

I couldn't wipe the goofy grin from my face once Hartley finally admits the truth and lets his sweetness show. I don't think that I have ever rooted for a couple harder to get their HEA. My hope fairy was definitely rejoicing at the end! I can't wait to read the next book in the series and I'm hoping we will continue to see Hartley and Callahan throughout the rest of the books too!

Not my favorite Sarina Bowen, but still good.

I liked this one, but I've read better from Sarina Bowen. I'm hopeful that the series continues to improve. It was a little bland for me, but I saw potential there.

The narrators were good, especially the male narrator, but I thought the female narrator sounded a little old for new adult. I still think that they did a very nice job, especially with the voices for other genders.

All in all, worth the money.

So good!

I fell in love with this book all over again. Fantastic narrators. They were perfect.

Door mat in female form?

I am on chapter 15 listening to Corey go on and on about her own insecurities while watching Hartley fawn all over and have sex with another girl. Even after the night Hartley fell into her bed after his girlfriend blew him off to spend time with another guy. He spent all night waiting for his g/f and when she texted him to tell him that she wasn't coming, he headed across the hall to Corey, seduced her into bed, then forgot all about her the minute his girlfriend showed up the next day. He proceeds to kiss her and hug on her in front of Corey not even noticing how this effects her leaving her feeling used and insecure....again. Corey ignores his following texts and he doesn't seem to notice or wonder why. Instead, he goes home with his girlfriend to her family's home and seems disturbed by his memories of the time in Corey's bed. Of course, the minute his girlfriend enters his room and proceeds to give him a blow job he forgets all about Corey again. He continues to put up with being disrespected by said girlfriend because she is rich and hot. Meanwhile, Corey is at home with her family pining for him and constantly doubting her sexual appeal to the opposite sex. FINALLY...Hartley calls her on New Years Eve to wish her a happy new years and she ANSWERS THE PHONE. She doesn't even rake him over the coals for his behavior, just talks like their still the best of friends. He ends the call by saying he'll talk to her next week and she says OK???? This was in chapter 15. About that time I gave up on this book and relegated it to the DNF folder. SO....premise of the story, you have an injured jock on the mend with a shallow, stuck up, self centered girlfriend with money who treats him like crap. Said jock uses paraplegic chair ridden next door neighbor girl to console himself and heal his punctured ego every time his girlfriend lets him down. Next door neighbor girl has such low self esteem that she puts up with it and allows him to undermine what little confidence she has making her feel like crap all the time instead. As the reader you keep hoping she's going to grow a back bone, stand up for herself, and tell him what an selfish A** he is, to go find his girlfriend next time he wants to get his jollies off, and stop using her to prop himself up to make it all better but so far the likelihood of this happening looks slim to to none.

Cheaters....

i hate them. in real life and in books. and no matter how its handled, this is emotional cheating, so, hard pasa, despite the good narration.

Good but a bit frustrating

This is a difficult review. I LOVED Corey. She was an amazing character- strong even though she went through such trauma after losing her legs. She was still happy and an amazing person, someone to look up to. Then we have Adam Hartley. ARGH. She deserved more. We had moments where you saw the wonderful aspects of Hartley but he really made me mad. (if you read it, you'll know why).

The point being, I didn't want to stop reading or listening (the audiobook is available through audible escape) because I thought that Corey was an amazing character. But I wanted a stronger figure for her than Hartley.

That said, as I noted, I didn't stop listening the audiobook. So the author (who is fantastic and who I love) is an amazing writer. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. But I certainly hope that the heroes in the next books are worth the heroines :D

In terms of the audiobook, both narrators were good. I love Nick- he has great pacing and inflection though that is even better for some of the more humorous books I have listened to with him. saskia was overall great. I’m happy I had the opportunity to listen though audible escape.

College Romance with a twist

Not the traditional college romance. The story takes place in a college known for it's historical buildings but non for it's accessibility, two injured jocks meet while the school makes room for them. One is just temporary while the other suffers a devastating injury. Starting out as friends but developing into a deeper closeness, Corey and Hartley must navigate through seen and unseen insecurities to come out better people on the other side.
Definitely a different read than what I expected. Well written, the main and most of the supporting characters were well written and fully developed. The plot moved at a steady pace and had moderately low angst.
The audiobook was really enjoyable to listen to and the narrators were a great choice. Nick Podehl was somewhat new to me but did an amazing job. Saska Maarleveid bought to life the reserved courage in Corey. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet college romance with a few different angles thrown in.

Very uplifting, very inspiring

Any additional comments?

You never know how strong you are ....until being strong is the only choice you have
This was a very beautiful and tender story...
It touched something deeply inside me and many times i thought that something get caught in my eyes!!!This was a story about fighting and courage and bravery...
Because you have to be brave to succeed to have this kind of life that had our heroes and especially, Corey!!!Corey was a fantastic heroine that didn't let her disability get in the way of living her life, despite what she'd been through. Her strength was admirable and I couldn't help but root for her to get a well deserved HEA!
It might have taken Adam a little longer to figure out how great Corey is.....but in the end he recognizes what's in front of him and goes after the girl.

Good, but problematic

CW: Book contains & review mentions cheating, disability, and ableist slurs.

This is one of those books that I enjoy, but it contains some very problematic issues. I think the best part of this book is Corey truly coming to terms with her disability emotionally while navigating life on her own which is overwhelming and new for most Freshman in college. I like the way Bowen handled exposing the many ways physically disabled people encounter thoughtlessness of institutions, architectural design, and individual people when it comes to accessibility.

Readers should be aware that Corey uses, and Hartley adopts, versions of the term “gimp” many times. While some people with a disability self-identify with this term, as is their right, it’s not always comfortable for everyone to listen to.

However, there’s some big things that bother me about this story and I feel the HFN ending shouldn’t erase/negate. There’s no way to talk about them without spoilers, so 🛑STOP🛑 here if you want spoiler-free.

⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️

I have a HUGE issue with cheating. While this is couched in a “we have an open relationship while she’s out of the country” throwaway - it isn’t really approached as ethical non-monogamy. Ultimately, Corey is as much to blame as Hartley - but he really doesn’t think of her emotional well-being at all.

What could have been a really beautiful scene of Hartley helping Corey discover that she’s still capable of sexual responses is mired by the fact that Hartley is only in her room because Stacia didn’t show up for a date they had.

Corey, wisely puts some space between them and that’s what finally motivates Hartley to break up with Stacia. But then, he kinda ruins it by planting a kiss on Corey 12 hours later in public. It very much feels like he just doesn’t want to be alone, not that he has specifically chosen Corey.

Given the issues, I wish more of the book had been them together and probably more from Hartley’s perspective to really feel like they have something beyond an HFN.

Narration:
I truly enjoyed Saskia Maarleveld & Nick Podehl’s narration. They both do a great job with voices, accents, and emotions.

absolutely brilliant

this is my first book by this author and certainly won't be my last. absolutely brilliant story. highly recommend.
I don't usually do reviews as I read so many books. but I just needed to recommend this.

love love love!

I fell in Love with Hartly and Callahan as soon as I read their story many years ago but to listen to their story is something else!
to hear those emotions gives you all the feels and to listen to those bonds being made just gives you goosebumps.
these guys were absolutely made for each other and even though this was my second time listening to this audiobook it still kept me hooked and entertained just as much as the first time.
Great and perfect narrators!

loved this book!

couldn't stop listening and didn't want to turn it off when I had to.
the story line is gripping.
this is the 2nd book from the series I have read and the first left me wanting more from the characters but they changed, which i was somewhat disappointed with but I was soon gripped with the lifes of Cory and Hartley instead and now I want more from them :)

Emotionally. Beautifully written.

Really loved this novel. The romance was well developed and the characters felt real. The characters were a delight to read about. The narrators brought them to life so beautifully it was a joy to listen.

Oh my God what a wonderful story

This is a wonderful story - I think this is one of my favourites ever. Heroine is wonderful and the man is very lovely.
Swoon swoon and Swoon 🥰

Best friends to lovers

Corey Callahan has had a tough year after having an accident which left her physically disabled and in a wheelchair. When she finally gets to college she meets Adam Hartley and they fast become best friends. Corey falls in love with Hartley even though he has a girlfriend. This story deals with so much from Corey coming to terms with how her life has changed, her falling for Hartley as well as dealing with college. The two narrators did an absolutely brilliant job and they definitely sound exactly how I imagined them as well as young enough . I LOVE this audio book so much and its definitely my all time favourite. Highly recommended

A HEARTWARMING COLLEGE ROMANCE

The year we fell down is the first book in the Ivy Years series, its the first book I have read by Sarina, wont be my last and the added bonus this book is also currently free in Amazon which meant I got it also for a bargain price in audio.


The year we fell down is a heart-warming College Romance.

Cory is starting her year at college in adapted dorms from an accident that has left her in a wheel chair and the inability to walk again. Prior to the accident Cory was a hockey player, active, outgoing, you
​Hartley is a popular guy and also starting his year in the same dorms due to an accident that has temporarily left in on crutches.

​Hartley and Cory have the opposite rooms from each other and it was such a heart-warming journey seeing them go from friends to more and I must admit I was so rooting for Cory at one point I didn't thin they would get there after all Hartley did have model looking Stacia as his girlfriend at the beginning of all of this.

​Definitely a recommended read for those lazy days, afternoons in the garden or holiday read. Very little angst one hot moment and plenty of swooning.

​I listened to this in audio and recommend it, the narration was dual and both narrators good. and expressive bringing the characters to life.

A sweet and tender YA romance!

Another great college/sports (hockey) YA romance but for a change, it includes a main character with a disability.

Following an ice hockey accident, Corey Callahan has lost the use of her legs but that doesn't stop her from trying to land the boy of her dreams and to continue to play a sport. She is young but determined and her relationship with Adam Hartley was extremely sweet. Adam, currently sporting a broken leg, is also unable to play ice hockey at the moment but his injury isn't a long-term one. Together, in the "gimp ghetto" of McHerrin Hall they bond, become friends and fall in love.

Very well written and enjoyable via audiobook. Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favourite narrators but her male counterpart's performance by Nick Podehl wasn't as enjoyable. His squeaky voiced portrayal of Corey just grated for some reason.

I'm already looking forward to reading/listening to the next instalment.