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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Published in March 2014, it’s the first in a series called “The Ivy Years” depicting fairly average students taking on hardships which are extraordinary in their ordinariness (being handicapped, parental failures, being homosexual, etc.). This first book centers around two athletes, Adam Hartley and Corey Callahan, both of whom find themselves handicapped as they navigate a new school year in a centuries old school not built for them. Between the two of them, they find ways of getting around both physically and emotionally, not letting their conditions limit them from making the best of their lives.
However, there’s one big difference: Hartley will be healed in a few months and can easily transition back in his normal jock lifestyle. Callahan is permanently paralyzed and can never go back.
Oh, and she’s attracted to him, but he has a girlfriend for most of the book.
So, aside from the dubious issue of his being in a relationship with another woman during several pivotal moments and showing little remorse for it, this set up brings about several interesting and original circumstances I haven’t seen in other books. Multiple times I’ve had to put the book down and think about how I could have faced their mobility issues in my own college and become fairly enraged over the fact I couldn’t discover an answer. How sad is it that even now there are students who are prevented from attending certain schools because of conditions they can’t control?
But focusing back on the romantic aspects of this novel, I was moved despite my hesitations over Hartley because of the way he considers Callahan in most everything he does throughout the novel. She faces a host of insecurities, not wanting to be a burden to anyone, a charity case, or be found unattractive. Hartley goes out of his way, as a friend before becoming her lover, to make her see herself as the beautiful, capable woman she is beyond her limitations and reinforces that on numerous occasions.
A constant eye-opening and quietly sweet book with a few surprises, this was a read I was glad fell into my hands.
However, there’s one big difference: Hartley will be healed in a few months and can easily transition back in his normal jock lifestyle. Callahan is permanently paralyzed and can never go back.
Oh, and she’s attracted to him, but he has a girlfriend for most of the book.
So, aside from the dubious issue of his being in a relationship with another woman during several pivotal moments and showing little remorse for it, this set up brings about several interesting and original circumstances I haven’t seen in other books. Multiple times I’ve had to put the book down and think about how I could have faced their mobility issues in my own college and become fairly enraged over the fact I couldn’t discover an answer. How sad is it that even now there are students who are prevented from attending certain schools because of conditions they can’t control?
But focusing back on the romantic aspects of this novel, I was moved despite my hesitations over Hartley because of the way he considers Callahan in most everything he does throughout the novel. She faces a host of insecurities, not wanting to be a burden to anyone, a charity case, or be found unattractive. Hartley goes out of his way, as a friend before becoming her lover, to make her see herself as the beautiful, capable woman she is beyond her limitations and reinforces that on numerous occasions.
A constant eye-opening and quietly sweet book with a few surprises, this was a read I was glad fell into my hands.
I will do a better review later but I enjoyed this story pretty well. I mean, it was nothing that blew me away but the characters are likable. Hartley drove me a little crazy but nothing I couldn't handle. I skimmed the ending a bit tho cuz it got a little boring towards the end for me.
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars
This was a fun read and I’ve already been recommending it to others.
Corey begins college not as expected, even more unexpected was the friendship developed with neighbor Hartley. Crutches and a wheelchair, the two strike up more than a friendly relationship on common ground of video game hockey.
I’ve been searching for a book with a main character with a disability, and I’m so happy I fell upon this because I *love* Corey so much! I adored how each of the characters were written. Even Hartley’s friends, the glimpses we see of them I feel like I know them (and I’m happy to know that there is more to read about them!). As someone who has spent time in a wheelchair I appreciate the honesty of Corey’s inner monologue and her honesty with Hartley about the struggles that come with it. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV; getting to see Hartley think about his relationship with Stasia when he realizes his feelings for Corey are deep just made my heart so happy.
I thought this was a quick, fun, sweet read with standout characters. I got lost in the world of Harkness College.
This was a fun read and I’ve already been recommending it to others.
Corey begins college not as expected, even more unexpected was the friendship developed with neighbor Hartley. Crutches and a wheelchair, the two strike up more than a friendly relationship on common ground of video game hockey.
I’ve been searching for a book with a main character with a disability, and I’m so happy I fell upon this because I *love* Corey so much! I adored how each of the characters were written. Even Hartley’s friends, the glimpses we see of them I feel like I know them (and I’m happy to know that there is more to read about them!). As someone who has spent time in a wheelchair I appreciate the honesty of Corey’s inner monologue and her honesty with Hartley about the struggles that come with it. I thoroughly enjoyed the dual POV; getting to see Hartley think about his relationship with Stasia when he realizes his feelings for Corey are deep just made my heart so happy.
I thought this was a quick, fun, sweet read with standout characters. I got lost in the world of Harkness College.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The only good remark I'm going to have is that I'm happy that a main character I'd featured with a disability in this book. Corey is a paraplegic and it was refreshing to know that there was representation in this romance novel. HOWEVER, it was just... not good. So cringey and not well written and frankly, quite boring. Not to mention that the main character cheats on his girlfriend, and the main female character knows this and goes along with it. Also, toward the end, there is a comment about another hockey team being "sissy men" that was just so uncalled for and unnecessary.
a quick fun read.the disability rep was really good and i loved how fierce corey was! she didn’t let anything stop her and hartley’s support was really great to see.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes