My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan Published by HarperAudio on April 24, 2018
Pages: 10
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
Genres: Contemporary, Women's Fiction, Romance
Amazon Audible
Major motion picture already in development with Temple Hill Entertainment
Set amid 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 life since she was 13: study at Oxford. At 24, she’s finally made it to England on a Rhodes Scholarship when she’s offered an unbelievable position in a rising political star’s presidential campaign. With the promise that she’ll work remotely and return to DC at the end of her Oxford year, she’s free to enjoy her Once in a Lifetime Experience. That is until a smart-mouthed local who is too quick with his tongue and his car ruins her shirt and her first day.
When Ella discovers that her English literature course will be taught by none other than that same local, Jamie Davenport, she thinks for the first time that Oxford might not be all she’s envisioned. But a late-night drink reveals a connection she wasn’t anticipating finding, and what begins as a casual fling soon develops into something much more when Ella learns Jamie has a life-changing secret.
Immediately Ella is faced with a seemingly impossible decision: turn her back on the man she’s falling in love with to follow her political dreams or be there for him during a trial neither is truly prepared for. As the end of her year in Oxford rapidly approaches, Ella must decide if the dreams she’s always wanted are the same ones she’s now yearning for.
When an audiobook is narrated by the author, one hopes it will be pretty good. I’m not sure if it’s due to Julia Whelan’s background as an actress or the fact that she wrote the words she speaks, but her narration of My Oxford Year is exceptional. She is so expressive that it is easy to get wrapped up in the story.
Ella is an ambitious Rhodes Scholar with a bright future in politics. She has left the United States for the first time to study at Oxford for a year. I felt like I was her travel companion experiencing all the sights, sounds, food, and customs that are native to the country right alongside her. Ella and Jamie make a great couple. I appreciated the passion they share—both the intellectual attraction and the physical.
There are so many fun moments, and perhaps it’s my fault for not reading into the blurb closely enough, but I was unprepared for the serious direction the story takes. If I had known My Oxford Year would be so emotional, I might have chosen to read it at a different time. Ella’s decisions toward the end are also rather jarring. Nonetheless, the story is well told and enhanced further by the audio narration. 4.5 stars for the book itself. 5 stars for the audiobook.
Recommended for fans of:
England
College
Tear-jerkers
Fish and chips
About Julia Whelan
Julia Whelan is a screenwriter, lifelong actor, and award-winning audiobook narrator of over 500 titles. Her performance of her own debut novel, the internationally bestselling My Oxford Year, garnered a Society of Voice Arts award. She is also a Grammy-nominated audiobook director, a former writing tutor, a half-decent amateur baker, and a certified tea sommelier.
This sounds phenomenal! I will have to put this on my list for when I want something a little more serious. Great review!