My Oxford Year | 
pickAfter absolutely loving Whelan‘s 2nd novel, I eagerly picked up her debut—pleased to snag it in an Audible sale, since when I read the other, I was so curious about the audio performance, considering the author‘s expertise! And this doesn‘t disappoint—it‘s a great performance & a storyline that reels you right in with all of Ella‘s dreams coming true in the very opening from arriving as a Rhodes scholar to a job—but the year changes everything!
pickNot a bad little audiobook to pass the time while doing chores. If you‘re looking for a brain-candy romance to rest your head, this could fill some time. It‘s narrated by the author, who did a wonderful job. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickI wish this political season we had a candidate like this story. Someone to flip the narrative on its head.
pickI loved Whelan‘s Thanks for Listening and looked forward to listening to this one too. The narration was, of course, just fantastic. I was definitely entertained, but My Oxford Year really paled in comparison. The main character has a backstory that is a bit too much of a stretch to hold up well, and she just wasn‘t sympathetic enough to get too invested in. Enjoyable, but not stellar.
pickThis novel felt very cinematic, even before I read the acknowledgements, and sometimes that didn't always work. I occasionally felt like I was reading a movie novelization rather than a proper novel. But I loved Ella and her emotional journey, and all the people she met in Oxford were wonderful! Hell, I want to do a Ph.D there now. If you liked TFiOS or Me Before You, give this a go. #contemporaryfiction
pickI consciously avoided finishing this book for a month because I didn't want it to end, and I wasn't emotionally prepared for how it might end 😂
How we make so many plans for our life, then life surprises us 🎁 How things change, how we change.
Great intellectual, witty banter. It might seem predictable at first, but it takes a steep drop, then twists and turns 😳
Book 72
@mavey Really liked this book, made me cry my heart out 💕💕(You HAVE to read Love from A to Z now :-) )
"Next!” The customs agent beckons the person in front of me and I approach the big red line, absently toeing the curling tape, resting my hand on the gleaming pipe railing.
Truly a delightful, heartwarming read!?
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️This book was supposed to be one I slowly listened to on the side as I focused on my book club book, but seeing as how I finished this one just 2 hours after the other, that‘s not how it worked out. Whelan drew me in with her easy storytelling & her perfect depictions of England, especially Oxford.The story took turns I wasn‘t expecting, but I liked it all the more for that. Whelan‘s reading of the audiobook was fantastic, too!
“Next!”
The customs agent beckons the person in front of me and I approach the big red line, absently toeing the curling tape, resting my hand on the gleaming pipe railing.
#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl
so-soI was excited to come across a book by JW because she‘s my favorite narrator. This was very Me Before You meets The Prince and Me. Ella‘s character was just so unbelievable, but not in a good way. I love how JW writes but I‘m not very impressed with the actual story. Book 7 of 2021
so-soThis definitely had some Me Before You vibes, which I was not expecting going into it. It was kinda predictable though and just an okay romance.
#bookspinbonanza
so-soI won't be the first to say that this has a very Me Before You feel to it.
Romance is not my favorite genre. That being said, I was adequately entertained by My Oxford Year. Be willing to suspend your disbelief on MC Ella's credentials and opportunities in relation to her age and experience.
pickJulia Whelan has been one of my favorite audio narrators for years, so I was pretty excited to read a book she both narrates and wrote! I found this book thanks to you, Littens, so I was prepared to have it break my heart, which it did, but in a good way. I liked that the ending isn't really an ending, it's just a beautiful snapshot of a year in a life.
Currently having my heart broken by this audiobook.
so-soThis book isn‘t what I expected. I decided to listen to it because I realized that Julia Whelan, narrator extraordinaire, was the author. I was thinking it would be some light-ish literary fiction. Nope. Pure romantic fluff. Also completely u realistic. No spoilers, but the mc‘s choices were 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ to me and that was my biggest issue.
pickThis definitely gave me “Me Before You” vibes and I loved every minute of it. A quick audiobook to listen to while studying.
I‘m attending my first PD for the upcoming school year. The content this morning was a bit dry and repetitive and I expect the same this afternoon. I‘m going to start book 5 for #TheReadingRush
pickStill count as a good summer read! Few weak spots and definitely read like a fleshed-out-ish script in parts, but good.
bailedCan't take it anymore.
How can this bright woman, who wants to work in politics, who got a renowned scholarship to study at Oxford for a year, suddenly be so so so... I can't even find a proper word. Whiney and all of a sudden dumb?
She has a thick book with info on studying at Oxford but then sits in class dumbfounded that there's no syllabus and she's the only one to ask for one? Just one of the things that annoyed me.
#unpopularopinion
Good Morning from my sunny balcony.
The cats are playing and "tanning", and I'm trying to get into the tagged audiobook.
Have reached chapter 3 which will decide on the fate of this. Right now the balance is tipping towards DNF and I can't even say why exactly.
pickElla goes to Oxford, falls in love with her professor, sounds familiar right? I thought this would be a standard romance but it wasn‘t. You have a smart, independent, and focused female lead who learns some lessons along the way but her love story doesn‘t change those important aspects of her. This book certainly surprised me in wonderful ways! My only question is how she did everything she did with being a Rhodes scholar! #bookreview myoxfordyear
pickI guess I only read half of the back-cover blurb before deciding to read this (it was really the setting that got me), so I was surprised by a key plot point. But I'm actually glad that I didn't know what to expect going in or I might not have even picked this up. It was a sweet and moving story that I think will stick with me.
❤️ #MountTBR
pickI really enjoyed this book. About halfway in I could not stop reading. I love a sweet romantic book and this was a good one! Loved the characters and storyline!
@TheBookKeepers Amanda, thank you so much for this #Jolabokaflodswap gift! The nut/chewy/crisp is my most favorite Russell Stover box!!! 🥰 And of course I have been wanting to read this! Merry Christmas! 🎄💙🎄
@MaleficentBookDragon Chelle, thanks for doing this fun swap. 🤶
pickMy lord this book y'all. I loved it but it had its sad moments so I definitely cried a few times.
#MyOxfordYear #JuliaWhelan
In case you were wondering how 2018 is going for me emotionally, this is the third time I have checked “My Oxford Year” our of the library and read it while stress-eating chocolate. So yeah...pretty great.
bailedWhiny, annoying characters with unrealistic situations is all I need to DNF.
Read my 2-star review of My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2591324464
Half way through and I‘m becoming more and more annoyed with Ella, the main character. This might be a DNF for me
Taking a break to read before Friendsgiving at my house. The husband did all the cooking. I‘m a lucky woman.
Breakfast and my desk and a few minutes reading before I begin my working day. So happy it‘s Friday!
pickThis was a great romance. I laughed and cried. I definitely recommend it.
pickSuch a sweet romance. I downloaded this from the library to break up all the creepy October reads. I had no idea what to expect, I enjoyed this so much! I may have to get a copy of this one to keep.
#romantsy #sweetromance #tearjerker
pickcute, but far-fetched. everything you want in a palette cleanser. 3⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickYou gotta love when you can get your puppy to nap for just long enough to finish your book. This one was way more emotional than I expected, but I completely loved it.
pan
