My Oxford Year: A Novel

Political policy writer Ella has it all: an up and coming career with a wonderful reputation, an offer from a rising political star and her year in Oxford courtesy of the Rhodes scholarship where she intends to immerse herself in literature, culture and the lectures of a renown academic. Everything in Oxford is different – the walking, the stairs, the sights and sounds: a neighbor using Wilde’s pseudonym as introduction, a never ending series of calls from the campaign- needing insight, input and even just touching base – and her mother’s increasingly frantic ‘please check in’ emails have her torn between exploration and hiding. Sure, things are different – and her first lecture is full of gaffes – no syllabus, using Oxfordian rather than Oxonion, the lecturer being a substitute – the same man who nearly ran her down in the street….. I grabbed this title simply because Oxford (or the “Other Place”) has always fascinated me: the age, reputation, the simple ability to be where some of the eternal names of literature spent time. So I expected to enjoy the book simply because of that. And then, Whelan captured my imagination with Ella and all she was seeing: her determination to make the most of her time until she left the following June. With her flirtations with Jamie that soon morphed into more, her new friends – outrageously different and quirky, and balancing her life with school work, campaign demands and time for herself. Highlighting Ella’s growth and understanding of herself and learning that some things are meant to be felt, not simply experienced in remove – a tactic she’s used since her father’s untimely death when she was 12. Jamie pushes her to feel the emotion in the poems – to see that everything that she is reading is of, for or about love – for it is the ultimate toll-taker – a toll that she may not be willing to see the cost of. But when her relationship with Jamie starts to solidify just as he is then asking for a break, the relationship that was no strings and honest starts to be anything but for her – and his secret is revealed. There are choices we make, and other circumstances that are thrust upon us without consent – and it’s the steps made after – scary, unknown and often emotionally costly steps that are in the way to happiness and fulfillment. All steps that Ella, in her new place with her new understanding of herself and her wants, needs and dreams must follow. Not precisely an HEA ending, but one that leaves everyone better off and richer for the experience – the story was a read in one sitting book, remembered for the lesson of love and the emotional impact. Shape your heart to front the hour, but dream not the hour will last. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, The Idylls of the King I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via Edelweiss for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

"I came to Oxford looking for a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience. I chose to experience a lifetime." This is my first Julia Whelan book - and I wasn’t really prepared. Sure the blurb says something about Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks, but heck, who cares about those warnings? Well, I should have listened. So should you. This book broke me. It broke me to pieces while gutting my heart out mercilessly. "When you feel more than you can say, when words fail you, when syntax and grammar and well-constructed expressions are choked from your mind and all that's left is raw feeling, a few broken words come forth. I'd like to believe those words, when everything's stripped away, might be the key to it all. The meaning of life. I'd like to think it's possible to remain so devoted to someone's memory that fifty-nine years later, when all the noise of life is muted, the lats gasp passing over your lips is that person's name." But it was beautiful. It was so beautiful that I can’t help but gush over it while in tears, excitedly typing out my review while telling my sister and some friends who were avid readers to read this book. Because it is truly a must-read. Especially when it says it will be a motion picture. This book is intelligent, insightful, heartbreaking and hopeful. I love travelling all over the history-filled place, Oxford. Not to mention meeting scholars and different kinds of people, least not forget getting drunk in pubs. Julia Whelan made sure that her readers gets first hand experience as she described it vividly in her book, making you feel that you are in their, experiencing it, feeling it. Who would not fall over Jamie Davenport? He’s charming, intelligent, and hot. But he’s straight forward. He doesn’t want any relationships. Then came the equally smart Ella from Ohio. Who was living her dream coming to Oxford through a scholarship, and a dream job waiting for her once she’s done with her one year schooling. But life has other plans - what happens after a year might not be what one plans to do. Julia Whelan takes us into the rollercoaster ride of Ella’s year in Oxford - it’s exhilarating, it will leave you breathless, and somehow - this novel will make you just FEEL. It’s a touch of reality. I just couldn’t explain how good it was, or how much I loved it. But one thing is for sure: READ THIS BEFORE IT BECOMES A MOTION PICTURE. "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 that is."

It's not everyday that I come across a good book that makes me feel my age, when it comes to sophisticated dialogue and a story about someone my age. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more like it.