Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #myoxfordyear #netgalley

Ella attends Oxford University from Ohio and begins to fit into the Oxford lifestyle when she comes across Dr Davenport who is wanting a no strings attached situation ship.

The description was the thing that drew me into this book.

This book is a quick read that is pretty easy going although I have tried to start it before and got 5% in and just had to leave it there but coming back to it I was able to continue.

Although it does jump around throughout the book from one situation to the next and back again and at times this makes a very disjointed read!

I had quite mixed feelings about this book. One reason for this was down to the depiction of Oxford, which was so clichéd in some aspects and yet rather accurate in others. It often portrays a romanticised view of what life as a student there is like, which frustrated me as an Oxford alumna as it continues worn-out stereotypes about the city and university that aren't very realistic. On the other hand, I completely appreciate that it's a work of fiction and therefore lots of elements aren't going to quite marry up with a normal student's experience. It can just be little jarring to read about something you're so familiar with in a way that doesn't match your own memories of the place.

I was expecting My Oxford Year to be a fun rom-com, but around halfway through there's a big plot twist that changes everything and the book takes a much more serious tone. It makes total sense why this is said to be for fans of Jojo Moyes now. If you're expecting this to be a fluffy romance then I'm afraid you'll be in for a bit of a shock. Although I quite enjoyed Ella and Jamie's relationship, there were a few bits where I seriously questioned Ella's actions and attitude. They didn't quite sit right with me and I was a little incredulous about how long it took her to work through her feelings.

All in all, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions whilst reading this, sometimes rolling my eyes, sometimes swooning over the characters, sometimes wanting to bash my head against the wall. It certainly wouldn't be my top recommendation for those looking for books set at Oxford or books like those by Jojo Moyes but it was quite a quick read.

I mistakenly believed this would be a light and fluffy rom-com. What I certainly didn't expect was to turn into an emotional mess by the end. Nevertheless, My Oxford Year is a brilliant debut.

Ella is on a Rhodes scholarship at Oxford University. She's intelligent, quick-witted, and determined. She’s also gained a role on her favourite Senator’s team back in the US. Oh, and she’s in love with her professor.

I absolutely adore the setting of My Oxford Year. The author perfectly captures Oxford and its university with her vivid and animated descriptions. Whelan's wordplay is graceful and elegant, while still managing to make me smile. I also really like how fascinated Ella is with British culture and colloquialisms. Along with her natural fierceness, this added a loveable layer to her personality.

However, some of the dialogue is very intense. It occasionally feels like thesaurus was used for every other word. The characters are incredibly intelligent, but there were way too many moments where I stopped reading to open up a dictionary. And while this was very entertaining at first, it became bothersome the further I read into the book.

The book description isn't joking when it says Jamie's life-changing secret deepens his relationship with Ella. It changes the entire direction of the book. Ella and Jamie have an adorable bond, even though they hate each other at first sight. The beginning of their love story reminds me of a more mature Wild Child (2008), with all the charm and hilarity. Their romance is very fast-paced, but heart-warming at the same time. Both characters are likeable which makes it incredible easy to root for them. The lack of cliché is refreshing and overall, I really enjoyed the way the author entertained the lives of the two.

The secondary characters make a great addition to the book. Charlie, Maggie, Tom, Cecilia, Antonia and William never take over the story line, but help move it along as their character develops. They add layers to the primary narrative, while complementing our protagonists. And can we talk about how much of an actual legend Hugh is? What a loveable grump! He's adorable.

My Oxford Year was way more serious that I was looking for. Do not expect this book to be a fluffy holiday read. And it's not your typical chick-lit, there's very little to swoon over. Rather, it's a thought-provoking, emotional, complex story. But this didn't take away from my reading experience, simply because this novel highlights the value of life, and appreciating true love.

I was expecting a light, quick read. I got a heavy, quick read. And I loved it!

This story broke and healed my heart. It was well-written, with plenty of scenes that will make you laugh, and plenty of scenes that will make you cry. I was worried about the whole American-going-to-Oxford cliché, anticipating a lot of old rope about the cultural differences, and while this book did have some of that, it never got on my nerves.

My Oxford Year is a fantastic book and I would recommend it to anyone who needs a good cry. If this doesn't do it for you, you might want to go see a doctor because you have no heart.

Personally i could not get along with this book. Thinking being from Oxford would make it better however some how made ot worse

An entertaining read, cute romance, but a little slow to start , but it’s worth persevering and it is really enjoyable once you get past the beginning. A lovely read and emotional at times.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion