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My Oxford Year

Julia Whelan (Goodreads Author)

3.88 · Rating details · 20,870 ratings · 2,730 reviews

Set amidst the breathtaking beauty of Oxford, this sparkling debut novel tells the unforgettable story about a determined young woman eager to make her mark in the world and the handsome man who introduces her to an incredible love that will irrevocably alter her future—perfect for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks.

American Ella Durran has had the same plan for her li ...more

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ebook, ePub, 352 pages

Published April 24th 2018 by William Morrow Paperbacks

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Apr 27, 2018 Christy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-audio, 2018-five-stars

5+ stars!!!

description

“The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan.”

My Oxford Year by Julie Whelan is a real gem of a book! It took me by surprise in the best way! I’ve listened to many audio books narrated by Ms. Whelan (she is an amazing narrator) and I’m happy to report that her writing is amazing as well. I listened to this in audio, it was narrated by her of course, and if you haven’t read yet, I have to recommend you experience this book via audio. It was made to be listened to over being read, in my opinion.

Ella Durran is a 24 year old American who is out of the country for the first time. She is a Rhodes Scholar who is studying in Oxford. On top of that, she has just been offered a job to work on a potential presidential candidate's campaign. Her future is promising and the world is her oyster. Her first day in England, Ella meets Jamie. Their meeting left me with a huge grin on my face.

Jamie Davenport isn’t a professor, but he’s helping out by teaching a literature class. And it’s a class Ella happens to be in. These two have such a connection, they can’t seem to stay away from each other. They decide just for the time that Ella is in England, they will be together. No strings. Then, as things always seem to do, the feelings between them start to change. The problem with this is that things are even more complicated than what they seem…

"And if you’re not surprised by life, then what’s the bloody point?”
 Ella and Jamie. Gah! I adored them both. Jamie is charming, sweet, and swoony, and Ella is witty, intelligent, and sharp. I loved them both, and even more, I loved them together. Along with the two main characters, there were a slew of wonderful secondary characters that made the story that much more interesting.

When I saw in the blurb that this book was recommended for fans of JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks, I knew it was a book I had to read. It’s a smart book that’s full of humor, charm, and of course- feels. You’ll be happy to know I didn’t cry like a baby while reading this, I may have shed a few tears, but overall, I found this uplifting and heartwarming. It was a touching story, and one that will stay with me. I give this book a full 5 stars and recommend to all lovers of romance and coming of age stories. And remember- listen to the audio if you get the chance! It’s fantastic! ...more

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Jan 21, 2019 KAS rated it it was amazing

I have never been able to write the following statement in a review before ... “This was an unputdownable listen !”

Having going in blind, of course, I had no idea what to expect, but I can tell you I would have never guessed what unfolded before me. The storyline is not just about the romance. There is real substance, real meat on the bones, which I crave. To say this was captivating is an understatement.

I completely fell in love with the charming, disarming, Brit named Jamie. He hooked me ...more

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Apr 16, 2018 Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, favorite-hero, delectable-hero, favorites-2018, quirky-heroine, all-the-stars-in-the-universe, quirky-hero, bestest

You know how our expectations are sometimes too high? Or, you expect something completely different and get something else and it's even better than what you were anticipating? It's the best feeling when a book does that. My Oxford Year surprised me, it totally blindsided me. Although I read the blurb it kind of slipped that it was compared to JoJo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks. Anyway, let me tell you about this sparkling little gem that is My Oxford Year.

When Ella arrives in Oxford, jetlagged and, ...more

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May 29, 2018 Maddison rated it did not like it

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I had really high hopes for "My Oxford Year," but upon finishing it, I really can't bear to give it more than a single star. Where do I even begin?

So much of this story is unbelievable, and not in a good way. I wasn't convinced that the main character was (A) a Rhodes scholar, (B) 24-going-on-25 years old, and (C) being recruited by an American presidential candidate's team based on a single article she wrote for The Atlantic. So much of her back I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

I had really high hopes for "My Oxford Year," but upon finishing it, I really can't bear to give it more than a single star. Where do I even begin?

So much of this story is unbelievable, and not in a good way. I wasn't convinced that the main character was (A) a Rhodes scholar, (B) 24-going-on-25 years old, and (C) being recruited by an American presidential candidate's team based on a single article she wrote for The Atlantic. So much of her backstory was so utterly ridiculous that I found myself rolling my eyes within the first few pages.

Likewise, the main character, Ella Durran, is - simply put - annoying. At the beginning, the author attempts to paint Ella as an overachiever (Rhodes scholar, fulfilling her childhood dream of studying at Oxford, interested and involved in the American political system, etc.) but later in the book, there is little to no mention of her academic life at all. I was not aware, based on the title, cover design, and book blurb, that this story was going to be so focused on a love story instead of an overall study-abroad experience. To my disappointment, the characters and plot quickly descended into cliche fairly early on.

While the author clearly attempted humor in places, it came across as cheesy and over-written. The first impression I got of both author and main character was a thinly-veiled self-obsession which, I'm sorry to say, carried throughout the entire work. It's difficult to read prose and characters who are so clearly full of themselves.

Also, just as a quick note... the names of the characters, and the not-so-subtle Austen references, were entirely too much. "Ella" (Elizabeth) falls for the charming and wealthy intellectual "Davenport" (Darcy) but, in this case, with little of Austen's charm and none of her characters' literary grace. Give me a break.

So many of the characters were problematic. Whelan's inclusion of the side-characters seemed more like a strategy to check representational boxes instead of writing authentic, relatable, deep characters. Ella's friends were utter caricatures: Tom, the half-Indian and aloof Brit; Cecilia, the "English Rose," as the narrator identifies her; Maggie, the shy but edgy girl who sports wild-colored hair and dresses; and Charlie, the Wilde-esque gay friend who seems like a dull carbon-copy of anything remotely resembling Oscar Wilde. Not to mention Ian, a drunken friend who shows up once and never again, as well as Connor, a well-meaning American student who is somehow completely fine with romantic rejection after taking an ungrateful and distracted Ella to London for Thanksgiving. So much of this book is unrealistic - the characters are dry and empty with little depth.

Closure, too, was a problem for Whelan. She builds up the relationship between Ella and her mother (mostly by including bits and pieces of Ella ignoring her mother's phone calls or rudely responding to her mother's emails with one-word answers) but never draws this relationship - and its struggles - out. Like Connor, Ella's mother fades into the background without any explanation, which is strange considering (view spoiler) This points to poor-planning on the part of the author.

Also, (view spoiler) That may be an unpopular opinion, but it's an oft repeated theme that does little to nothing for the depth of the story. It's been done before, many times. It was far from impressive in this work.

The fact that this book is potentially going to be made into a movie absolutely blows my mind. I really hope that decision will be reconsidered.

I honestly could go on and on, but I won't. The only reason this book got one star was for effort - and even then, that single star feels generous. ...more

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Jul 19, 2018 Jenna rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2018-reading-challenge, reviewed, facing-death-or-illness, chick-lit, hazards-of-travel, disliked, academia-and-college-campus

It’s not that there was anything...egregiously wrong with this, it’s just that it wasn’t what I was looking for. I grossly overshot in my quest for a *slightly*-lighter beach read. Who gives a f@&k about an Oxford Comma?* - Well, I do! I’m a fairly... let’s say serious person, and I thought this book would be a beach read for People Like Me. Alas, no: it is Mr. Nicholas Sparks Goes to Oxford. It is A Walk (in Oxford) to Remember. I feel like the cover of the book, the reputation of the author, a ...more

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Oct 30, 2018 Carol (Bookaria) rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, 2018, fiction

An unexpected enjoyable story, heartbreaking at moments but also heartwarming. I went into this book completely blind and it ended up being something I did not imagine.

Ella has temporarily moved to England to attend Oxford, as soon as she completes her studies she plans to go back to the States to fulfill a promising career. However, her plans are trumped when she meets the intriguing Jamie Davenport. What follows is a story of love, pain, and new beginnings.

I enjoyed the setting and learned a b ...more

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Apr 26, 2019 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: authors-first-novel-debut, read-2019, womens-fiction-chicklit, listened-to-audiobook, self-narrator-audio, stand-alone-novel

Worth the attention in my opinion. A frenemy-turn-lovers story written underneath Whelan's love note to Oxford. So glad I finally decided to read it!

...and I heard this was becoming a movie!

My favorite quote:
“Losing someone is hard enough. But death without the process of dying is an abomination. It takes nine months to create life; it feels unnatural, a sin against nature, that the reverse shouldn’t also have its time. Time to let go of the known as we take hold of the unknown.” ...more

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Sep 05, 2018 Elyse Walters rated it liked it

Audiobook...read by author
Julia Whelan
Julia is terrific with a slight detached sound to her voice. Other times she has a kick-ass attitude which comes across in her sounds...
always changing her voice range & emotional manifestation to fit the prose she wrote. She does this well.
The book has some intellectual academic charm...
with love in the Oxford air.

Heartwarming!

3.5. I enjoyed it...not Earth Shaking — but enjoyable!!!!

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Feb 08, 2019 Brandice rated it really liked it

My Oxford Year is a first person narrative of Ella from Ohio, a Rhodes Scholar, spending her allotted time at Oxford. Already at age 24, she has an impressive resume in the political sphere, yet chooses to study literature during her time in England.

Ella is immediately swept up in the rich, historic tradition of Oxford. One of her classes is taught by a young, handsome Englishman, Jamie Davenport. She tries to balance classes with a pending job back in the U.S. for an upcoming presidential camp ...more

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May 05, 2018 Rachel Reads Ravenously rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ebooks, romance, college-romance, 3-stars-aint-the-devil

3 stars

This is a book that’s been getting a lot of great buzz, a lot of my book friends really loved it and I’ve been hearing good things all around. I was a fan of Julia on the show Once and Again and I had the pleasure of meeting Julia at another author event for a book she narrated and she’s absolutely lovely. All those things combined, I was very eager to read this book and really wanted to love this book and I had high hopes. And while I didn’t love it, I enjoyed it and I think this was a ...more

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Jul 03, 2018 Melanie A. *mostly on hiatus* rated it liked it

Shelves: library

3.5 STARS

I've just lived years of my life in those eyes.

Soooooo . . .

Unpopular opinion ahead. . .

Here's the premise:

"You're the hypercompetitive American, a Rhodes scholar no less, who sees Oxford as a series of hurdles to clear like levels in some video game, and I? I'm the hypocritical poetry scholar, espousing grand theories of love whilst shagging a different wench every night."

Sounds so good, right?

Unfortunately, despite being well-written, despite being polished 3.5 STARS

I've just lived years of my life in those eyes.

Soooooo . . .

Unpopular opinion ahead. . .

Here's the premise:

"You're the hypercompetitive American, a Rhodes scholar no less, who sees Oxford as a series of hurdles to clear like levels in some video game, and I? I'm the hypocritical poetry scholar, espousing grand theories of love whilst shagging a different wench every night."

Sounds so good, right?

Unfortunately, despite being well-written, despite being polished until it gleamed, despite all the devastatingly clever dialogue . . . My Oxford Year consisted of one RAGING romance novel cliché stacked upon another, upon another, upon another.

Don't believe me? Think my heart is made of stone? Consider the following . . . (warning: serious spoilers inside) (view spoiler)

I will admit that everything improved in the second half when the whole point of the story was revealed, but by then it was too late for me to do anything except bump the rating from a 2 to a 3.5.

As always, take my criticism with a grain of salt. Just because I have a major sarcastic streak that makes me roll my eyes, doesn't mean that you won't find this book charming like everyone else on the planet. :-) ...more

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Mar 16, 2019 Danielle ❤️ Pretty Mess Reading ❤️ rated it really liked it

****4 STARS****

I went into this book completely blind. I didn’t even read the blurb. Someone on Facebook stated this novel was on sale for $1.99 so I brought it. Nothing more, nothing less.

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan had been sitting on my kindle for about 8 months or so before opened it up. I wish I would have read it sooner.

I’m going to keep this one pretty, pretty.

Click the link to read more here.

Remember to follow all things messy. . .

Subcribe

...more

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Jan 13, 2019 Robin Hill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: trope-teacher-student, pov-first-person-present, audio-awesome, method-library, trope-wealthy-hero

There's a sentence in the blurb that's wholly responsible for landing this book on my Do Not Read list. I'm not going to divulge it—in case you're considering going in blind (which I recommend).

I took said sentence as a warning, and while I appreciated being "warned," I almost missed out on a fantastic book because of it. Sampling the audio is what changed my mind. It's stellar...and narrated by the author herself who was an actress and narrator long before she was a published writer.

Don't be l ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 may ❀ rated it really liked it

Shelves: aaaaaaaaaa, bye, super-cute, audiobook, binged, i-am-trash, tears-so-many-tears, 300-pgs, real-problems, contemporary

lol @ me for thinking this was a light, fluffy romcom and then staying up till 1am sobbing

description

I was feeling really audiobook slump-y for the past bit (and that usually never happens. audiobooks are usually my way of unslumping myself)

and so I picked up this book in hopes of breaking that feeling (i chose this book specifically bc the narrator read Evvie Drake Starts Over and I LOVED her reading of it)

and honestly thanks past may for being a genius bc i literally couldn't stop listening to this boo ...more

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Jul 28, 2018 Antoinette rated it it was ok

Why did I choose this book to read- simple: location, location, location. I have been to Oxford a few times now and I love the city and all that it represents-higher learning and history. What I like best about this book was revisiting the streets and places that I knew and had been to.

The bad news- I really did not care for anything else in this book. The main character, Ella, totally annoyed me. She was just too immature for words, but supposedly she was advising the next presidential candidat ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 Monica Kim: Reader in Emerald City rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

But the hardest thing is staying. The hardest thing is living with dying. Loving with dying. The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan. — Julia Whelan, My Oxford Year
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This is a command, add this to your tbr list ASAP!!! Please, please don’t let the year pass without reading this book, please! You’ll not regret it. I freaking love this novel so much. As soon as I fi But the hardest thing is staying. The hardest thing is living with dying. Loving with dying. The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan. — Julia Whelan, My Oxford Year
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This is a command, add this to your tbr list ASAP!!! Please, please don’t let the year pass without reading this book, please! You’ll not regret it. I freaking love this novel so much. As soon as I finished Julia Whelan’s “My Oxford Year,” I thought to myself, wow, this is a novel I’d loved to see adapted into a movie. And sure enough, major motion picture is already in the works, yes! I can’t wait to find out who’s playing the lead roles.
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Although I have not read many romance novels, I’m going to go ahead said this is the best romance novel writing I’ve ever came across. This novel blew me away! This is the kind of romance novel I like, none of the cheesy plot, annoying characters, and cheap language. Yes, it’s a trope that has been done many times, heroine, love, adventure, secret, and big life decisions, but it’s the depth of the story & attention to detail that makes this one really special. Each chapter begins with a quote corresponding to a chapter’s event, absolutely beautiful use of it. Besides the great writing & loveable characters, each chapter is brimming with wonderful literary references, poetry, and breathtaking beauty of Oxford. This is a booknerd’s dream!

this is one smart, wise, moving, and beautiful novel that’ll make you cry, laugh, and ponder about the important things in life, how you should live the life you want, and what matters in the end. I thought I was just in for some fun, light summer reading, but it’s got me thinking of my life in ways I did not expect. I was unprepared for this novel on just about every level. This novel will stay with me for a long and will have a special place in my heart, it’s that good!
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You know what the story is about, so I’m not gonna go on about it, I’m going to leave it here for you to decide whether to pick this up or not. But I hope that you do, it may be the one of best bookish decisions you’ll make this year. ps: it’s also not an easy read, there are some challenging moments & tough decisions that needs to be made. It’s beautifully written with care & love, full of fun, beautiful, tear-jerking moments, and relatable, vivid characters, it’s an unforgettable novel. 🤓✌️📖 ...more

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Mar 30, 2018 Christie«SHBBblogger» rated it it was amazing

Shelves: april-2018, advanced-copy, cry-me-a-river, set-in-england, gen-fiction, top-shelf-quality

Title: My Oxford Year
Series: Standalone
Author: Julia Whelan
Release date: April 24, 2018
Cliffhanger: No
HEA(view spoiler)

Sometimes you just get a gut feeling about a book, and that's what happened when I came across My Oxford Year. After seeing the adorable cover and reading the blurb, the entire package was calling to me and screaming READ ME in neon lights. I'm usually hesitant with new/unfamiliar authors, but I instictively took the leap of faith in this case, and it paid o ...more

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Jan 27, 2019 Maureen rated it liked it

This book was....ok. I think that’s the best way to describe it. There were parts that warmed my heart and parts that made me feel, but for the most part? Pretty mediocre. Which is pretty disappointing because this book seemingly ticked all my boxes. ESPECIALLY AN AMERICAN IN OXFORD.

I never felt attached to any of the characters, and I think this is in part because of the odd pacing of the book. Instead of us watching the two main characters fall in love, we are told that they start to in a weir ...more

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May 11, 2018 DJ Sakata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: womens-fiction, contemporary-romance

Favorite Quotes:

His voice is so melodious, so low and soothing, it should be accompanied by choral music.

Everyone else looks very British about it, like this is where fun comes to die.

“Given the lovely turn of your figure, it’s quite gratifying you’re not one of those dreadful American girls who subsist entirely on lawn clippings and glacier water,” Charlie says. My mouth is too full of scone to reply.

He has this ability to go still, as if he’s stopped breathing. Like a vampire. Which makes me ...more

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Apr 22, 2018 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, reviewed, edelweiss, 2018

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

Honestly, this was fantastic! I just really loved everything about this delightful story. I know Julia Whelan from her work as a narrator so I was really curious about this book as soon as I saw it. I decided to give it a try simply because of my curiosity and didn't really know much about the book beyond my guess that it would be about someone spending a year at Oxford (nothing gets past me). This book is really so much more than th This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

Honestly, this was fantastic! I just really loved everything about this delightful story. I know Julia Whelan from her work as a narrator so I was really curious about this book as soon as I saw it. I decided to give it a try simply because of my curiosity and didn't really know much about the book beyond my guess that it would be about someone spending a year at Oxford (nothing gets past me). This book is really so much more than that and I must say that I had such a good time reading this book.

Ella is at the center of this story. Ella is from Ohio and has just made it to England to study at Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. To make things even better, she gets a call offering her a position to work on a presidential campaign just as she makes it to England. Things are looking up for Ella. She soon realizes that things are a little different at Oxford than she expects but she is making friends. One of her classes is being taught by the same man she had a run-in with at the fish shop on her first day in town. I do think that this a book that will really be best to go in as blindly as possible so I am going to be careful not to include any spoilers in this reviews.

I really liked Ella. She is so driven to do well with everything she attempts but it quickly becomes obvious that she will have to make a few adjustments to succeed at Oxford. She was just such a strong character and I found her very easy to relate to. I really liked her more and more as the book progressed and thought that she grew dramatically as a character. Jamie was also great. He was more of a mystery to me at the start of the book but as I continued reading, I really fell in love with him. He was such a great guy and I thought he compliments Ella very well.

This story made me think, it made me feel, and it even made me laugh. This book was such a joy to read. When I started reading, I thought that this was going to be one kind of story and then things changed and by the end of the book I was reading something totally different. I loved the fact that this book went in such an unexpected direction kind of like life tends to do.

I would highly recommend this book to others. Julia Whelan has proven that she is not only great narrator but that she is also a wonderful writer. I am so glad that I had the opportunity to read this story and can't wait to read more of her work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from William Morrow Paperbacks via Edelweiss.

Initial Thoughts
I loved this this. Not really sure on the final rating right now. It is either 4 or 5 stars from me but I will need to think about it a bit so I will go with 4 for now. I really didn't know a lot about this book before reading it besides the fact that it would be about someone spending a year at Oxford (nothing gets past me). It was so much more than that. It was a delight in the end. I have loved Julia Whelan's narration in the past and it looks like I enjoy her writing just as much. ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 Antonella rated it really liked it

Shelves: wtf, emotional-roller-coaster

It was a time for a book surprise. This is it.

Booooooom!

I so wasn't prepared for this. And reading blurb I thought this was other kind of book. And boy was I wrong.......

all

and

This is so much more then just another collage coming of age book. Because I thought that it was exactly about that. Silly me.
(view spoiler)["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br" ...more

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Jan 21, 2020 Hulya Kara Yuksel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Hulya by: Seda

Seda, my dear friend. Thank you so much for recommending this book to me... I'll never forget it. ❤❤❤

If you love someone, and are loved by someone, you might find forever after.
Whatever and wherever that is.

...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Bookphenomena (Micky) rated it did not like it

Shelves: badly-researched, disappointed, 2018-read, library, book-friend-recs, death, baa-baa-black-sheep, meh, hated, standalone

I give my reasons below in the spoilers as to why this book made me angry (not the topic) and I by no means intend to invalidate anyone else’s experience reading this book, this is just my experience.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 21, 2019 Anja H. rated it really liked it

*4.25 SELF-DISCOVERING STARS*

This has never been more true for me: Never judge a book by its cover.
Judging by the cover, I thought this was going to be your average cheesy contemporary romance. Now, having finished this with tears in my eyes, I realize I was wrong, so so wrong.

“But the hardest thing is staying. The hardest thing is living with dying. Loving with dying. The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all things ...more

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Apr 10, 2018 Ginger at GReadsBooks rated it liked it · review of another edition

With a strong opener, I was really into this novel. Then something happened & I’m left feeling a little “meh” about it all. I wish I could put my finger on it, but something overall just didn’t satisfy me the way I was hoping it to. This saddens me because I was really into it for the first half. Guess you can’t love everything you read!

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Nov 22, 2018 Libby rated it it was amazing

Shelves: identity-fiction, coming-of-age, family-relationships, published-2018, romance, read-in-2018

4.5 stars rounded up. As Eleanor Durran (Ellie) lands at Heathrow, on her way to Oxford with a Rhodes scholarship, I am immediately drawn into her story. A tale for romantics and book nerds ( a club to which I heartily belong), a holiday in England begins swirling in my mind; I could see with my own eyes the Lake District where poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge drew inspiration, and Oxford, of course, site of many a fantastical yarn. Googling images of the Oxford colleges, I envisioned walking 4.5 stars rounded up. As Eleanor Durran (Ellie) lands at Heathrow, on her way to Oxford with a Rhodes scholarship, I am immediately drawn into her story. A tale for romantics and book nerds ( a club to which I heartily belong), a holiday in England begins swirling in my mind; I could see with my own eyes the Lake District where poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge drew inspiration, and Oxford, of course, site of many a fantastical yarn. Googling images of the Oxford colleges, I envisioned walking those cobblestones and lazily perambulating down the narrow streets. Oh, yes, to see the “City of Dreaming Spires” as Matthew Arnold writes in his poem, ‘Thyrsis.’ Julia Whelan prefaces her chapters with lines from England’s great poets and writers, like Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edward Lear, and Alfred Lord Tennyson, among others, adding, to the story’s romantic appeal, setting a deeply atmospheric stage. Like an overly large stone, I sank into the well of Whelan’s story.

While the poems, quotes, and setting do settle me deep into this narrative, Whelan has her own story to tell. Whelan writes, “It’s just another day in Oxford, but to me it’s magical.” I step through a door into Ella’s enchanted world, a year set aside for scholarly study and perhaps the best kind of contemplation. Don’t we all deserve a year like that? Except, Ella has already, upon her arrival at Heathrow, accepted another job as an education consultant for Janet Wilkes, a contender for president in the next election. She can be a Rhodes scholar and do this job at the same time, can’t she?

Upon arrival, Ella is nearly run over by a car. Then, the same man that almost runs over her . . . runs into her at a ‘Fish and Chips’ shop, dumping a plate of condiments onto her shirt. She’s furious, calls him a ‘posh prat.’ What a surprise, then, when he (Jamie Davenport) ends up being the TA (Teacher’s Assistant, the professor is called on for administrative duties) of her literature class at Oxford. You know where this is going, right? The beauty is in how.

Clever, clever, clever. The dialog is marvelous, sizzling, and smart with delightful repartee. Jamie Davenport says to Ella, “But we’ve sped-read each other, and luckily, we’re the clever ones.” That’s laying down a gauntlet, a challenge, saying you don’t really know me at all, and when Ella reveals that she’s never had her heart-broken, he says simply, “how could you? Believing a man is only capable of loving a woman for six months.” He uses Ella’s words out of an article she’s written, to deliver a sword blow.

Davenport says, “But who are we, really, eh? We’ve told each other what we think, but we’ve no idea what we feel. That requires a conversation. Having words, having language, to connect us to ourselves and each other.” Such lovely sentiment and feels like a truth. Doesn’t it take others to form a knowing of oneself? What we like, what we don’t like, how we want to be, how we don’t want to be, our values, the spirit of our innermost world. And who are we without our social context? So, I believe that Whelan has thrown a little philosophy in here. Highly Recommended. ...more

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Jul 23, 2018 Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018

3.5-4 ★'s

“I came to Oxford for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience. I chose to experience a lifetime.”

Obviously, the title gives you an idea of what the story is about and when Ella meets Jamie, you know he is a foregone conclusion. Unfortunately, after that things get muddled.

Ella is a poli sci and history grad taking a school year at Oxford studying English literature 1830-1914. 'Nuff said? Yes, it's all that and more. The author writes above most people's heads...she definitely wrote above my p ...more

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May 04, 2018 Renee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, best-books-of-all-time, 6-star-rating-loved-it-rare-epic, favorite-author

*6 stars*
Still gobsmacked, need to process before writing a coherent review.

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Mar 11, 2018 Evelyn rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: giveaways-i-won, 2018-read-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Thank you to goodreads and the author. I won an ARC of My Oxford Year!

It's taken me a few days to mull over the book. I knew the author from the many (many) audio books Julia has narrated. And I have to say she is one of my top favorites. I will listen to the books she's narrating based on her alone. So with that being said, I have to say I was really disappointed with this book. It took me a really long time to read this book. I just had no motivation to want to read it. Clearly, it took almost Thank you to goodreads and the author. I won an ARC of My Oxford Year!

It's taken me a few days to mull over the book. I knew the author from the many (many) audio books Julia has narrated. And I have to say she is one of my top favorites. I will listen to the books she's narrating based on her alone. So with that being said, I have to say I was really disappointed with this book. It took me a really long time to read this book. I just had no motivation to want to read it. Clearly, it took almost a month to read.

In the back of the book it states that this book was based on the original screen play of Allison Burnett. OK, so this isn't your original idea? And they wanted someone who went to Oxford to rewrite the story, basically. Yea Julia for going to Oxford! Also it says the book is 352 pages and my book was only 329 pages with acknowledgements. Am I missing part of the story?

Phew, now that the technical is out of the way let's talk about the book, shall we?
It was all over the place. First, its about a girl who has dreamed since she was a teenager she wanted to go to Oxford. (That's a good goal) Then we find out she is heavy into politics and she is only here in Oxford (On a Rhodes scholarship) to fulfill this dream of going but in one year she is going back to get on the campaign trail in the US.

There was tiny bits here and there to check off a list of oh I gotta talk about Oxford. I wasn't a fan of the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The rest of the book was typical cliches of we gotta have the gay friend, the nice friend, the party friend, etc..and she dumps them for this guy who states, I don't want a relationship I just want to sleep with you. She goes back to her friends when she gets the I need space let's take a break. Ladies, are we done with guys like that? Ain't nobody got time for that. If you feed the bad behavior you'll only get bad boys. Are you with me? It was during the break from the F-buddy we explore the way of life during her year there. Different foods, drinks, customs...etc.

Throughout the book she takes phone calls to help a campaign back home? That was just weird. It didn't jive with rest of the book. Where is this book going? Are we studying at Oxford and this about her year there or is Oxford just a backdrop to this campaign job? But wait, it gets even more confusing! She dumps friends/political job/school all to take care of this sick boyfriend dying of cancer. (OK, she didn't dump them in the river but they became the back burner and now it's about nothing above and a sad cancer book) At this point I had to get a dry erase board out and start drawing out what was happening.

Big picture, this was the American version of Me Before You and it didn't work. You're telling me a girl who is that educated and has a focus/goal, is going to throw it all away over a "dying rich" dude? We all know, if this man didn't have the money her ass would be like well I gotta go study now. Even though, it's pointed out she wants to pay for her own stuff (eye roll).
I think this review is making about as much sense as this book. It's all over the place and we are all barely hanging on till the end.
The author wrote a great speech about motivating to follow your campaign dreams and don't give up! Yea girl power! But the protagonist herself did the opposite, wtf?
Can someone write a female protagonist who knows what she wants and is not going to lose herself over a guy. You know the girlfriend we all have who starts dating someone and can't return a text until they breakup.
Clearly, I didn't go to Oxford. And a publisher is not dying to put my words out to the world. I really wanted to like this book. It's me not wanting to read about a girl who gives it all up over a boy.
...more

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Jan 25, 2019 NMmomof4 rated it liked it

Shelves: scribd, disordered-mc, fbuddy-to-more, 3-star, college, separation-without-other-partners, famous-wealthy-popular, safe-with-exception

3 Stars

Overall Opinion: Welp. This is me, shooting myself in the foot! I found the gem with my Scribd app after seeing some GR friends raving reviews about the audiobook. I like audiobooks every once in a while, but I much prefer to read -- so when I found this ebook as part of my membership I jumped all over it! The author has won awards on her storytelling abilities in audiobook format, so I definitely think I needed to experience it as an audiobook. It fell flat for me as an ebook. I found t ...more

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Books Ever After: Maandboek 2 Oktober 2018 - Een jaar met jou - Julia Whelan	29	54	Nov 21, 2018 06:08AM
Play Book Tag: My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan -- 2 stars	2	25	Jul 04, 2018 12:18PM
52 weeks, 52 books: Week 2018.17: My Oxford Year	1	30	Apr 27, 2018 06:12AM

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About Julia Whelan

Julia Whelan

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Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, life-long actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator. She graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from Middlebury College and Oxford University. While in England, her flirtation with tea blossomed into a full-blown love affair, culminating in her eventual certification as a tea master. When not writing her own books, you can find her reading other p ...more

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Quotes from My Oxford Year

“But the hardest thing is staying. The hardest thing is living with dying. Loving with dying. The hardest thing is love, with no expiration date, no qualifiers, no safety net. Love that demands acceptance of all things I cannot change. Love that doesn't follow a plan.” — 26 likes

“Our memories of places, much like people, are subject to our own adaptation process. Once the active living is done, and they pass into memory, we assume control of the narrative. We adapt it, sometimes without meaning to. This is, perhaps, the one advantage of death: when people die, they can live on in our memory as we choose, but places continue to exist, to change.” — 21 likes

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