3.62k reviews for:

My Oxford Year

Julia Whelan

3.8 AVERAGE

bigwingenergy's review against another edition

5.0

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I basically cried chapter 29. Maybe I was in my feelings but 😭.  I read this first and then went to watch it on Netflix and I couldn't finish. I need to give it more time because they're soooooo different I hated it.  Apparently the screenplay came first in this case. 

allisonhollingsworth's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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My Oxford Year // “The water keeps flowing as we come and go. We were never forever, Jamie and I. Nothing is in this life. But if you love someone and are loved by someone, you might find forever after. Whatever and wherever it is.” // This story follows Ella, an American who receives a Rhodes scholarship and goes to study literature in Oxford. But she’s only planning to be there for a year because she also works consulting for political candidates and she just got a huge opportunity to consult a potential candidate for the presidency. With that in mind, she had a funny first day at Oxford that included almost being run over by a guy that she later runs into in a rest — literally runs into, soiling her blouse with fish and chip condiments — and then later, when she shows up to her first lecture, finds that the same guy is teaching her class — Jamie Davenport. But from this stems a relationship — they end up going out for beers one night and the two of them immediately click, and the next thing she knows Ella is spending the night with Jamie. They decide to start up a no strings attached relationship (we all know how those turn out don’t we) and that continues on for weeks, but of course the feelings grow. Ella opens up about her father’s death and how she feels it is her fault. She also learns that Jamie’s brother is sick from an illness and that he has a strained relationship with his father. One night one of Jamie’s friends spills the beans that Jamie’s brother is actually dead and passed from his illness, and Ella is frustrated by his lying and goes to confront him, only to find that he’s sick too. With the same thing as his brother and will also probably die, although his sickness is caught earlier. Ella is upset with him for keeping this from her at first but then decides she wants to be with him. They officially start a relationship and want to travel together before Ella has to return to the states. But as Jamie gets sicker this becomes more difficult. Not to mention that Jamie’s dad is an arsehole who thinks Ella is the source of Jamie not wanting to get treatment. At the same time, he’s just scared of losing another son, which is understandable. Losing both of your children to the same disease? That’s just horrific. Ella also gets offered a job of a lifetime to help run the presidential race as a deputy director and she accepts. She spends more time with Jamie and grows closer with his family, even to his dad, who eventually lets her in. And she helps Jamie and his dad repair their relationship somewhat. Then Jamie gets sicker and they have to put him in a coma and he might not come out. And Ella decides that she wants to choose love and stay in Oxford with this new family that she’s built, and she turns down the job. Jamie does get better, and they decide to travel together. I know there will be some naysayers who bemoan that Ella decides to put aside her work aspirations for a “man,” but I would argue that that isn’t necessarily true and it’s also a very legitimate reason to do something. People choose love all the time and that’s okay. I also love how we still had Jamie alive at the end and living his best life traveling with Ella. So often with these sorts of books, the main character dies at the end and leaves the other main character to deal with the fallout. (I’m looking at YOU, TFIOS!) Anyway I enjoyed it and I read it super quickly, and that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I listened to the audibook. We all know Julia Whelan is the queen of audiobook narrators so her reading her own book made it just that much better. I’m looking forward to watching the movie, even though it looks like they’ve made some changes. We’ll see. Even though I’m glad I read it, it did make me sad, but also made me think a lot about life.

wkmiller's review against another edition

2.75

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emmaledbetter's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hannah_kotz's review

4.0

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Julia Whelan I was unaware of your (writing) game. 

I went into this book expecting a sweet love story set across the pond, written by one of my favorite audiobook authors. Instead I had my heart trod upon and put back into my chest aching. 

caitratesbooks's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful

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I liked it, then I hated it, then I liked it again? Overall it was cute— a little far fetched at times, but I think that comes with the genre. 

Not at all what I was expecting! 

trash_bandit's review

4.25

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mecampbell09's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

yasminwilnis's review

5.0

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If there’s one tip I can give for this book is to *listen* to it. It’s both written and read by Julia Whelan who is my absolute favourite narrator in the world. This book was made to be listened to vs read, and she completely brings the Oxford atmosphere to life. Also, professor Jamie Davenport

shboves's review

3.75

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Don’t let the cheesy, YA-coded title steer you away. This was actually a very enjoyable read—a fast-paced young romance filled some layer of literary intellect. I may have a bias though because like the protagonist, I also wrote my thesis on George Eliot’s Middlemarch and studied Victorian literature 😜