Oxford Star is a cute and unique take on a rockstar romance, with a little bit of second chance and forced proximity thrown in.

Jack and Lucy have "history" from their high school days. While feelings were there, nothing romantic truly ever happened before Jack, somewhat reluctantly, signed on to join the next big thing in music, and Lucy gave up her music dreams forever. Four years later, Lucy is shocked to find herself sitting next to Jack on a flight to Oxford where they'll both be students (and next door neighbors) for the next 8 weeks.

This was a cute, fun read that kept me engaged, but the pacing of the story seemed really off for me. A lot of Jack and Lucy's connection is rooted in their history, that we don't see, so the connection seemed a little insta-lovey. Additionally, the end felt a bit abrupt. I would have liked to see more regarding how things came together for both Jack and Lucy, and how they navigated their new realities. Knowing the challenges that lie ahead, without more insight into how all that worked for them, this definitely felt like a HFN vs. a HEA. I also wish the family situations hadn't been glossed over so easily. The family issues were SUCH a large part of what motivated both Jack and Lucy, then when it came down to it in the end, neither one was really addressed. Everything was just TOO neat and tidy in the end, I wish they could have explored it more.

Despite my critiques though, I did enjoy this, and plan to go back and read the first Oxford book from this author to get the backstory on some of the side characters we met here.

Oh my God, this was amazing! I love rockstar romances, but I don't read them enough, so I was so excited for this one, and it delivered.

The tropes? Fantastic. It has so many, and usually when a book is trope filled like this, it isn't executed well; however, I think that Laura did a great job with it! The tropes are: enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, fake dating, second chance, rock star romance. It also has a plus sized heroine and panic/anxiety rep.

I think that Lucy and Jack went very well together as a couple. The chemistry was there, and the spice was great. I thought the characters were very realistic and relatable as well.

Overall, this book was very enjoyable, and I def recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Grape Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It was a slow burn second chance romance that seemed to drag at some parts.

I did enjoy the fact that Lucy is a normal sized woman but I hated how much pressure her mom put her under to be the breadwinner when her mom should have been the one to support the family.

Parts of this book seemed like something out of a fairytale where Jack’s bottomless wallet from his rockstar days making almost anything possible.

I really hated Gary, Cathy and Jack’s parents but loved the skulk. I’m definitely going to have to go back and read the first book in this series but don’t think it’s necessary to do so before reading this book.

Overall: An entertaining but sometimes infuriating second chance romance with a rockstar and a singer who is pursuing a law degree she really doesn’t want.

*4.5

I really enjoyed this. I liked how they built trust back up after he basically left her. He was such a sucker for her and it was a lot of fun to read. I want a bonus epilogue of him proposing, I just know it has to be a good proposal.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was an enjoyable read. Lucy Snow and Jack Seary made such an adorable couple, though they didn't really make me swoon or make my heart flutter. I just think they're great for each other. I could feel the betrayal Lucy felt regarding what happened 4 years ago, but I couldn't really buy the reason Lucy was so against pursuing music. It felt so far-fetched and like a lazy attempt of explaining because there just needed to be a reason for her to stop pursuing music even though it's what she loves. But the story was nice overall, and I loved the ending. It really brought us back to the title.

Lucy is a relatable character. First of all, she's described to be plus-sized, and she doesn't like dresses because she can hardly fit in them comfortably. I don't relate to her problem, but I know many people do because it's an ever-present struggle to find clothing of the right size, especially when you're larger than most people. Second, she was forced to become an adult at the age of 11 after her father passed away because her mother is a spoiled brat who is constantly dependent on others and her sister was just a baby. I think many people can relate to the part of being forced to play the role of a parent, especially older children. Her sister also has dyslexia, and I loved the way she supported her and wanted to make sure she got tested so that she can find a suitable learning method or environment. Even if it was too expensive, she did her best to find a way to make that happen. She's such an amazing sister. I also loved the character growth her mother displayed.

Jack has anxiety, and he's been having panic attacks for as long as he can remember. He's the anxiety representation in this book. I kind of like how he isn't portrayed to be anxious all the time. That's realistic. He can have anxiety and still have a social life. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, so don't use Jack to generalise all who have anxiety. He's just an example. Jack is also a sweetheart who keeps getting manipulated by the people around him. Seriously. The way his workplace doesn't show support or even try to understand his anxiety is just so infuriating, and it reminds me that that's a reality in today's world as well. More support is needed for people with mental health issues. People need to be educated about them and learn to be kinder. Jack also loves stars, and he's studying astrophysics at university. If you like stars, here's your guy!

Gary, Cathy and Jack's parents were so easy to hate. Please. They were awful. I was rooting for them to meet their tragic ending. Without spoiling anything in this book, I'm going to say they did, and that's GREAT. Nothing feels better than having awful characters meet their deserved endings. I think it's also cool that these villains had a point of evil. I understood why they were that way. Some people are just greedy or delusional or think they have the right to control another human being's life for whatever reason.

The ensemble in Oxford Wild returns in this book! It was nice to see Cedar, Alfie, Shaun, Raphael, Robbie, Lachlan and Binita appear again in Book 2. This book is like a continuation of Book 1, and I'm glad I paused this book after reading 15% of it to read it before returning to finish the book. It's so important! If you want to read this book, you need to read Book 1 first to understand and appreciate this book better.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy second-chance enemies-to-lovers fake-dating celebrity romance. I enjoyed it fairly well and think it's worth a shot. This is Book 2 of the author's Oxford series, the first being Oxford Wild. The book is certainly an improvement from the first. It still has a Wattpad feel to it, but it passes :)

Between young, new adults and contemporary romance this book brings together two characters that are so easy to feel and be reflected
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Jack Seary is a young star of world pop music but lately he has not been able to go on stage with his bandmates, anxiety and panic attacks take over him. Which is why he badly needs this eight-week break in Oxford studying the cosmos and indulging in his geeky needs
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But as he boards the plane, he finds himself cornered by his worst regret, Lucy Snow, the girl he defrauded and let slip four years before he became famous
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Strangely, her presence makes him fell grounded, even though she doesn't stop saying how much she hates him, and he keep telling her how much sorry he feel for leaving her
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They both have their own fears and battles to navigate, but sharing the same space and making a truce can lead to so much more
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I liked the relationship between them and despite being my second book by Laura Bradbury I can say that she knows how to represent very well the feelings and patterns of someone with the characteristics of her characters and became so easy to feel through them
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I'm not really on to Rockstar romances but this one caught me and I couldn't stop reading until I reached the end and I felt intrigued by the story of the other characters, and I really want to read the previous book and those that follow after
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Thanks to Laura Bradbury for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

This novel was a unique twist on a star/regular girl romance trope With some Oxford as the background, it was right up my alley. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I loved this book so much and it was so much fun to read I couldn't out it down and I love Lucy and Jack and how jack loved her for 4 years and how Lucy lost trust in him

Lucy is a person you put her needs at the back and beening the provider for her family after the death of her father when she was only 11 years old . Now she want to study law and she has to travel to Oxford but her dream was to be a singer . The person who is in the nest seat at the airplane is Jack Seary the guy who 4 years ago became a pop star and ditch her at the set of Canada Got Talent . Now they both are traverling to Oxford for the next semester and she is not happy about it . Jack took a 8 week off time from his group because his anxiety and panic attack he suffers . He loves astronomy and want to feel normal again . Spenting time together brings them closer and love flourish .
I received this book from net galley and the publisher as an ARC. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own .

I feel like Lucy was too angry at Jack, too manipulated and gaslit by her mother, and too determined to be everything for everyone except herself.
Jack, whether Lucy liked it or not, is exactly the distraction she needs.
This was a fast, cute read full of inner growth and a great friendship group.
I received a copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Absolutely adorable romance. Love that the hero has anxiety and panic attacks that are portrayed realistically. Lucy was a very strong woman, and I love watching her let her guard down for Jack. The setting of Oxford was a great way for them to slowly get reacquainted, and eventually fall in love. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Oxford Star was an amazing romance that I couldn’t put down. I loved Lucy and Jack they were great characters that I fell in love with from the start. This will be a hit for anyone who needs to read a light hearted romance. This will be perfect for a beach read, I can’t wait to read another book by Laura.

A famous rock star Jack has panic attacks and decides to study astronomy in oxford for one term. Lucy is still upset with Jack after all those years for stealing her chance. Jack wants to make amends by paying her to pretend to be his gf.

A fun story. Love the rock star content and really love both characters. The chemistry between the main characters is terrific and sizzling.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
When Lucy Snow boards the plane flying from Newfoundland in Canada to start her law degree at Oxford, the last person she expects to be sitting next to is Jack Seary. He’s the rock star musician she met four years ago before he was signed to a band and became super-famous. But when she discovers that Jack’s going to be in Oxford for eight weeks studying astronomy, Lucy wonders how she will manage the attraction she’s held onto all this time for him.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I adored Laura Bradbury’s Unlikely Match and Oxford Wild and was so thrilled to receive an eARC of this next instalment. Oxford Star is filled with stars: rock stars, star-stars and love-type stars in their eyes that Lucy and Jack have for each other. It’s a deliciously entertaining read, and I just love how the two main characters have so many parallels. She’s plus-sized, studying law even though she would love to be a singer. He suffers from paralysing anxiety and panic attacks and wishes for a life studying the stars instead of being one. Their family relationships are complicated. I highly recommend ❤️

This is my first book by Laura Bradbury and will not be my last. I really enjoyed this book. Lucy is such a relatable character I can see myself in her. Which is also fab. Jack is adorable a rock star who just wants to study stars. It was an uplifting happy romance in England.

I loved this book so much! This was such an interesting and unique take on a rockstar romance and honestly I have to say, I’m usually kind of on the fence with celebrity romances but this was so well done. i loved the anxiety representation and it felt so relatable and I felt so much for Jack and his struggle to feel happy and to also please other people and same with Lucy. Lucy’s journey with grief was well done and I just enjoyed this book so much. It’s such a sweet second chance, forced proximity & fake dating book. Laura is going to be on my list of top authors. Thank you to netgalley for this book.

4.25 stars

What a charming contemporary romance. A unique twist on a Rockstar romance and famous guy, regular girl trope (my favorite!) With some British scenery to make things feel just a bit more magical.
Also, no spoilers, but there's one "date" in here that it would be amazing if someone could pull off for me.

Recommended.

I’ve been waiting for this one! So happy 2 have it finally approved. Will be sharing full thoughts and a review soon. Love the Harry Styles aspect and also how it address panic attacks which I find a lot of youn people my age are dealing with. Very excited for this one!