I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the first book I read by Laura Bradbury but it won’t be the last. Oxford Star (second book of this series) follows Lucy and Jack as they reconnect. Four years prior, Jack broke a promise to Lucy as she was trying to get her start as a singer. Now Jack is a member of a world famous band and Lucy is struggling to support her family.

The characters are definitely the highlight of Oxford Star. Jack and Lucy are relatable and compelling and the supporting characters are entertaining and exactly what a group of friends should be. I did find the antagonists to be a little one dimensional and over the top.

While I did enjoy the story there were some plot holes and storylines that I thought could have been more well developed. Overall I give this a solid 3.5 stars.

Laura Bradbury’s Oxford Star is a blast to read. I loved the whole cast of characters— especially Lucy and Jack.

Lucy and Jack are from Newfoundland and knew each other there. Jack was supposed to play guitar and be a backup singer for Lucy as she auditioned for Canada’s Got Talent. However, he signs a contract to be in a boy band 30 minutes before that audition and totally bails on Lucy.

Lucy holds a grudge as Jack rockets to fame. Four years later, she decides to study law at Oxford and bumps into Jack on the plane. Will she forgive him?

Jack suffers anxiety and panic attacks and decides to study at Oxford for a term to escape the limelight, in the hopes that stepping back will alleviate his anxiety.

The book had me laughing and crying… Trigger warning for death of a parent.

Having visited Oxford, the descriptions of the town and colleges made me feel like I was back there. A fun escape!

Thank you to the author, Grape Books, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my opinion.

A romance story that accurately describes anxiety and what it feels like. The familiar trope of celebrity/non celebrity love stories with quite a few plot twists in between. A light read that made me smile from cover to cover. I love seeing Jack and Lucy’s relationship bloom throughout the book into something worth fighting for, not against. It was also nice to see pieces of myself in a book, which doesn’t happen very often.

This book is so fun and sweet full of wholesome and endearing characters. I loved both the main and supporting characters. There is LGBTQIA+ representation and mental health issue depicted. Loved the pacing and how the story ended. Overall, I would recommend this to those who love celebrity or music romance genre. Thank you NetGalley.

This book fell flat for me.

A lot about the characters didnt quite do it for me, it was like the author was so close to something but it just never quite latched.

I loved the overall concept - second chance romance with a rockstar and a girl he betrayed in the past when they unexpectedly meet again at one of his shows. The burn was slow, as to be expected with a complete betrayal, but there was just something missing and I wanted it to be there 😭

Famous rockstar Jack Seary wants nothing more than to trade his fame for a quiet life in academia. Lucy Snow is working towards her law degree to support her mother and younger sister believing her dreams of stardom are out of her reach despite her compelling voice. When these two bump into each other after four years apart things are complicated to say the least. All the could have beens loom between them as they carve their paths forward. Second chance romance, forced proximity, a Cinderella moment, curvy girl rep, and some spice, this book delivers on every level.

Quick Summary: A second first chance romance

My Review: Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury was a sweet, slow-burn love story between friends who became enemies until there was more.

This story was the type that shows forth inevitability. It was inevitable that Jack and Lucy would cross paths again. It was inevitable that they would reconcile and come to a place of better understanding. It was inevitable that they would both have to face themselves and their specific issues. It was inevitable that each protagonist would come to a place of self-actualization.

Many components in this story were not expected. Of course, I won't say what those matters were, in an effort not to reveal anything to other readers. All in all, there was definitely some depth and range presented in this very charming book.

My Final Say: Readers who enjoy stories containing a friends to lovers theme or stories with a make up from a break up concept will enjoy this book.

Rating: 3.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA to A
Status/Level: 🍬
Warning: MI/MH issues

A digital ARC was provided by the author and publisher via the NetGalley program in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

Aww!! This was so adorable and heartwarming. I was not expecting to like this as much as I did. Laura Bradbury is definitely now on my radar as someone to watch! You will love accompanying these characters as they fall in love and face fame together!

The last thing Lucy expects on her trip around the world to her new college in Oxford is to be seated next to her ex - situation-ship Jack on the plane. After years of no contact following Jack standing her up on the biggest night of her life, Lucy is set on not being swayed by Jack and his rock star fame. But will she be able to keep her walls up, or will they come tumbling down for this boy she once loved?
I really enjoyed this book, along with great representation and showing everyone deserves love, this book also highlights the struggle of fame.

Oxford Star: when an A list rockstar goes on hiatus to Oxford, he doesn’t expect to reconnect with his first love - the woman he last saw on the night his life changed forever. Told from dual POVs this is a must-read if you love the celeb-normie plotline. This book is a delightful surprise!!
CW: panic attacks, anxiety, death of parent off-page

Such a fun and romantic book that follows world famous rockstar, Jack, who is suffering with anxiety and a curvy blonde, Lucy, from Jack’s pre-fame life that he just can’t stop thinking about!

I absolutely loved the concept of a rockstar suffering with panic attacks and the representation of body positivity! Laura Bradbury just knows how to write a swoon worthy romance while also representing mental health in such an amazing way!

Keep in mind this is a somewhat slow burn romance but it does have some great tropes such as fake dating and delicious forced proximity!

The British setting made me want to back up all my belongings and move to the UK!

The characters had some amazing witty banter and the tension and spicy moments between Jack and Lucy had me fanning my face on multiple occasions!

I highly recommend you give this book a go!

*thank you to Laura Bradbury, NetGalley and Grape Books!

Oxford Star is the perfect book for when you need a fun little lighthearted romance. Our main girl Lucy’s ideal dream is to be trapped overnight in a bookstore - she’s a girl after my own heart. And then there’s Jack - the rockstar battling anxiety and fame, and wishing he had taken a different path in life. I didn’t feel like there was anything outstandingly notable that set this story apart from other romance books but it is sweet and enjoyable with a bit of spice and characters you want to root for.

Who doesn't love second chance love!

Lucy needs to get away from home to go to school a provide for her family. She has not seen Jack in years after his betrayal and now, out of nowhere this now rock star is back in her life.

Jack knows he made a mistake all those years ago but now he has no idea what to do! he needs a break of the rock star life and decides to go to School. And as luck will have it. The one that got away is right there with him.

I loved to read how their feelings came back to life, how they choose to do better this time. Really good read!

Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury had be cheesing from the first chapter. I love the second chance trope. Especially when the MMC has to grovel a little to get the FMC to give him a chance. This was a cute and easy read to get through quick.

The chemistry these two characters hold was amazing. They both had independent struggles they had to work through together. This book did an amazing job of showing how hard mental illnesses can be and the struggle behind them.

With all the positives, there were some negatives. I disliked all of the ‘adults’. Gary, Cathy, Lucy’s mom… I also felt like the ending was wrapped up way too quickly for me. I would’ve liked a few more chapters seeing Lucy and Jack happy together.

*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc in return for a review*

This book had me grinning from the first chapter. I love a second chance romance where the guy has to grovel a bit and I love it more when the girl really makes him worth it.

Lucy and Jack’s independent struggles were relatable. They’ve both had life take them in unforeseen paths and how they deal with them is what makes this book special.

I loved the banter and the chemistry of this pairing and really found it to be completely charming.

Thank you Laura Bradbury and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a very cute celebrity romance and enemies to lovers read. It was short and quick read, but the middle was a bit slow and the ending was wrapped up too quickly for me and could have been developed more to get that happy medium. Overall the characters were interesting and were, for the most part, likable. This is the first book I've read by this author, but it definitely encouraged me to look into other books of hers. This book has an excellent concept and had such good anxiety representation, which personally resonated with me. I also enjoy the fact that the location was well researched and the world builder was well done. All in all I’m not sure I’d read it again but I would recommend it to others to read. Thank you Netgalley, Laura Bradbury, and publishers for gifting me a copy of Oxford Star in return for my honest review.

A absolute wonderful feel good romantic comedy that anyone who is a fan of the genre will fall in love with

Typos started to pop up at about the halfway point.

I enjoyed the story overall, but the premise didn't feel entirely believable and all the parents/agent were very one-sided. The conflict with Cathy didn't totally fit. All of a sudden there was someone with a gun?

The interactions between Lucy and Jack were the best part. That relationship felt real. The things on the periphery just felt a bit off.

This was a cute story! I haven't read the first book in the series, but it was a very good standalone book.
Lucy and Jack have a sweet second-chance story here as both of them are on breaks from their "normal lives" for very different reasons. I didn't love the original conflict that caused the rift between the two-- it felt Jack was a little obtuse about the impact of his actions and he didn't fully understand why what he did was so bad (like he apologizes a lot, but also says things like "you should have just done the audition anyway" and like no dude you don't get to decide how someone feels when they pull the rug from under your feet yann? felt a little gaslight-y to me). but Lucy isnt holding back in letting him know how his actions have hurt, and I loved seeing her stand up for herself.
my heart really went out to Lucy in this story, she works so hard to keep her mother and little sister happy and taken care of, even though that shouldn't be all on her. Lucy's mother is pretty manipulative, and this story does a good job showing how complicated those relationships can be.
Overall, cute story showcasing the importance of taking care of our mental health, and also knowing our worth in who we keep in our lives and how we chose to live.
Thanks for the ARC!!!

Laura does an incredible job in her writing of taking topics that are often not talked about and shining a light on them in a way that is authentic and heart-opening. She did it in the first work of hers that I read, Unlikely Match, and she did it again with Oxford Star with completely different topics.

I looked back at my Unlikely Match review and I had commented that, "there's something about living like it's your last day that I've admired in those character." I would have never expected to feel that same theme from a book about a burnt rockstar suffering from debilitating anxiety and a small-town girl who is holding herself back from her own dreams, but here we are! I'm wondering if this is an underlying thread in all of Laura's work and I cannot wait to read more to find out!

What I loved:
- Once again, Laura has a way of making you fall in love with all of her characters that keeps you tearing through the story.
- This whole cast of characters was amazing! I adored Lucy from the get-go. Jack grew on me quickly after you get through their past (he's the best golden retriever). The whole skulk!
- The subtle humor and witty banter Laura weaves throughout her work is always a delight!
- Second-chance romance, slow-burn, opposites attract, and body positivity?! Say less!

What I didn't love:
- All the adults! Both of their parents, Gary, Cathy.. I won't go into details, you'll have to read to find out, but once, again this is by design and so well done I can't even be mad about it!

I didn't realize this was part of a series and am so excited to go back and read Oxford Wild to dive further into this world!

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Thank you to Laura Bradbury, Grape Books, and NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*Review will be added to Instagram and blog in the coming weeks!