Jacqueline's Reads: The Year We Hid Away (The Ivy Years #2) by Sarina Bowen [REVIEW]

Scarlet Crowley’s life was torn apart the day father was arrested for unspeakable crimes. Now the shock has worn off, but not the horror.

It’s a safe bet that Scarlet is the only first year at Harkness College who had to sneak past TV news trucks parked on her front lawn just to leave town. But college will be Scarlet’s fresh start. Clutching a shiny new student ID — with a newly minted name on it — she leaves it all behind. Even if it means lying to the boy she’s falling for.

Bridger McCaulley is a varsity hockey star known for being a player both on and off the ice. But a sobering family crisis takes that all away. Protecting his sister means a precarious living arrangement and constant deception. The only bright spot in his week is the few stolen hours he spends with Scarlet.

The two form a tentative relationship based on the understanding that some things must always be held back. But when grim developments threaten them both, going it alone just won’t work anymore. And if they can’t learn to trust one another now, the families who let them down will take everything they’ve struggled to keep.

5 I love Bridger Stars

The year We Hid Away is part of the Ivy Years series and is a standalone. I haven’t read a Sarina Bowen book. I’ve seen her books everywhere, but I never started this series because I thought you had to read them in order. Well, you don’t. When I realized each books were a standalone, I decided to start with this one.

I absolutely loved it!

I really liked the storyline and I loved the writing style. The Year we Hid Away is a college NA romance novel, it had everything I was looking for in a read. I got my swoon worthy hero, Heroine I want to be friends with and an addictive plot. I loved this book from page one.

Bridger and Scarlet both have secrets. Okay, so the book isn’t about secrets, but it’s about two college kids struggling on their own. Scarlet’s father is under investigation for some sordid crimes. Scarlet, not having the best relationship with her dad already, wants nothing to do with her father still.

Scarlet was a bit head-strong at times, but I love her loyalty and need to be independent. I liked that yes, she had a rough childhood, but she doesn’t let it define her and she uses college as way to start over.

Bridger is this mysterious guy on campus, he was once a player, but now he’s secluded. He works three jobs and is always busy. No one seems to be able to track him down. I really loved Bridger! I loved how mysterious he was and I loved that he only had Tuesdays and Thursdays afternoon off for a few hours where he would spend some time with Scarlet, his new study buddy.

I loved Scarlet and Bridger together. I loved it when they study, flirt and have random dialogue. I was glued to the pages and I smiled from ear to ear because I found the relationship really adorable.

But of course both have issues and both are trying to find some normal in their lives despite the issues and I really liked that. I liked how they try very hard to keep the issues out of their relationship, it was endearing and sweet.

I can’t believe it took me so long to start this series. I loved simply loved it.

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