Ivy Years Books in Order

The Recommended Reading Order

If you want to experience the drama, hockey matches, and heartfelt romances of Harkness College the way they were meant to be enjoyed, we highly recommend reading the series in publication order. While each book centers on a different couple and features a complete standalone story, reading them in order allows you to watch the characters grow, see their friendships develop, and catch every recurring cameo without spoiling previous books.

Here is the recommended reading path for The Ivy Years:

1. The Year We Fell Down (2014) – Book 1 (Corey Callahan and Adam Hartley)
2. The Year We Hid Away (2014) – Book 2 (Scarlet Crowley and Bridger McCaulley)
3. Blonde Date (2014) – Book 2.5 (A companion novella featuring Katie and Andy, also collected in Extra Credit)
4. The Understatement of the Year (2014) – Book 3 (Graham Warden and John Rikker)
5. The Shameless Hour (2015) – Book 4 (Bella Marcone and Rafe Rowley)
6. The Fifteenth Minute (2015) – Book 5 (Lianne Challice and D.J. Trevi)
7. Extra Credit (2019) – Book 6 / Anthology (A collection of three short stories: Blonde Date, Study Period, and Yesterday)

What to Know Before You Start

Before you dive into the dorm rooms and rink-side benches of Harkness College, there are a few things to keep in mind about the series. First, this is a cornerstone of the New Adult (NA) romance genre. Set during the transition from adolescence to adulthood, the books tackle emotional, real-world issues. Sarina Bowen does not shy away from heavy themes; the series deals with physical disability, trauma, escaping toxic family backgrounds, homophobia, and slut-shaming.

Despite the emotional weight, the books maintain a comforting, hopeful tone. They balance emotional depth with steamy, slow-burn romance and lighthearted banter. The sports element is also highly prominent, centering around the collegiate varsity hockey teams. You will get a lot of team camaraderie, locker-room humor, and high-stakes matches alongside the romantic plots.

Understanding the Subseries, Collections, and Crossovers

While the six main volumes seem straightforward, the series has a few extra pieces that readers should know about to get the full picture.

The Novellas and the Extra Credit Collection

In 2019, Sarina Bowen released Extra Credit, which is technically a compilation of three short works. If you prefer to buy everything in one package, this is the easiest way to read the shorter stories. Here is how they fit into the timeline:

• Blonde Date (Book 2.5): This novella is a fun, low-angst blind-date romance between Andy and Katie. It takes place between the events of The Year We Hid Away and The Understatement of the Year.
• Study Period (Book 5.5): This short story features Pepe, a hockey player struggling with a language barrier, and his tutor Josie. It takes place late in the collegiate timeline.
• Yesterday (Book 5.6): This is a highly anticipated sequel short story for Graham and Rikker, the beloved M/M couple from The Understatement of the Year. It follows them on a tense trip back to Rikker's hometown and is a must-read for fans of Book 3.

The Brooklyn Bruisers Spin-off Crossover

For readers who finish the series and want to stay in this universe, Sarina Bowen has built an expansive, interconnected world often dubbed the "Sarinaverse." The most direct spin-off is the Brooklyn Bruisers series, which follows professional hockey players in the NHL.

The main connection point is D.J. Trevi, the hero of The Fifteenth Minute (Ivy Years Book 5). His brother, Leo Trevi, is the main hero of Rookie Move, which kicks off the Brooklyn Bruisers series. If you want to follow the Trevi family timeline, you should transition straight from The Fifteenth Minute to Rookie Move. Furthermore, beloved characters from Harkness College make cameos later in life as professional players or coaches in the Brooklyn Hockey books, proving that their happy endings lasted long after graduation.

Publication Order vs. Chronological Order

Fortunately for readers, there is no major conflict between the publication order and the chronological flow of the series. The books were released in the same order that the academic years progress at Harkness College.

Some readers choose to skip the novellas during their first read-through to focus on the main novels. However, reading them chronologically (inserting Blonde Date as Book 2.5 and saving the rest of the Extra Credit stories for the end) provides the smoothest narrative transition. Because the characters are all classmates, roommates, or teammates, events from previous books are frequently referenced. Reading out of order will reveal who ended up with whom, so sticking to the publication list is highly recommended.

Practical Reader Advice

Here are some quick tips to help you get the most out of your time at Harkness College:

• Where to Start: Start with The Year We Fell Down. It sets up the campus geography, introduces the core group of hockey players, and establishes the emotional, character-driven tone of the series.
• Can they be read as standalones? Yes. If a specific trope appeals to you—such as the friends-to-lovers dynamic in Book 1 or the secret identity / forbidden romance in Book 3—you can read it on its own. The author ensures each book has a self-contained plot and a satisfying conclusion.
• The M/M Romance Highlight: The Understatement of the Year (Book 3) is widely considered a fan favorite and a landmark in New Adult M/M romance. If you only read one book in the series, this story of secret college sports romance and overcoming past trauma is the one to pick.