An absolutely amazing book.
I fell in love with Jack and Lucy!
Such an incredible story. Jack is a rock star taking a break from his less than ideal career. Hoping to find some normalcy in university where he will study astronomy for a bit. 
Lucy has taken care of her mom and little sister since her father passed away. After saving enough money to attend school, she leaves them to make a better life studying to get a law degree at Oxford.
These two have a past that didn't end on a particularly good note.
Don't miss out on this adorable, sweet, hot book!
5stars. I totally enjoyed this book.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review on netgalley. This book was SO fun! It was such an easy read, I rooted for the characters, and saw myself in them. I LOVED the panic attack and anxiety representation. The author put the way I feel into words and I felt so seen. Highly recommend to anyone who struggles with anxiety and/or panic disorder.

So I am not going to lie, this book wasn't for me. But not necessarily because it was a bad idea or a bad plot. It wasn't masterfully written, but it wasn't poorly written either.

Oxford Star is billed as a rock star romance comparing our lead Jack to Harry Styles. I am going to say right now, I did not get a Harry Styles vibe from Jack. More a Chris Martin, bumbling scientist turn musician, vibe. But that might be me showing my age too.

So why didn't it do it for me? It just tried to do too much in a short amount of time and as a result nothing had enough time to breath. There was an awful lot of showing and not telling. Just some of the things this book tried to do;

- fake dating
-second chance romance
-enemies to lovers
- found family
-rockstar romance
-a character with an anxiety disorder
-a character with a tragic backstory that includes a dead parent, a neglectful parent, and a younger sibling with special needs
-one character struggling with fame and being famous
-another that missed her chance but has a dream of being a singer
-contract law causing trouble
-neglectful parents
- a weird kidnapping

It was a lot and because there was so much, I didn't have a chance to get invested in any of it. There was so much telling, I didn't believe any of it and lots of plot points were resolved fair too simply and quickly. If they could have been resolved that easily, why weren't they at the beginning of the book? Where was the struggle?

Also a very small thing, but I don't like how a plus size heroine has to so obviously plus sized that every synonym for curvy is used. Lush, opulent, voluptuous, etc. Also if a character is described as being sharp tongued you have to show her using her sharp tongue.

That's not to say you won't like this book. You might like this book if you like really fast paced books that do have multiple plot points or if you like the heroines body type being of special interest and discussed. There is also no third act break up (big plus) and no miscommunication (thank the lord). I also recognize that not every one like emotional torment as I do; if you like books that feel low stakes; and by that I mean it's not dark at all. There is no torment or emotional anguish, there is no risk of ugly crying over this one on the train. If any of those things appeal to you give it a go.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you netgalley and Laura Bradbury for allowing me to read this book. Honestly I felt like it was very slow for the first half of the book. Once Jack and Lucy’s relationship started progressing I did get more into the story line. I enjoyed Jack and Lucy overcoming their struggles and finally being happy with the future they chose. I do wish the author had showed more of what happened with Lucy’s career once she changed her path and the family issues she had to deal with. I liked the drama at the end but part of me felt like it was rushed and just thrown in. Lucy and Jack were cute but definitely would have liked more chemistry between them. All in all it was a cute quick read and would recommend to someone who is looking for a lighthearted romance.

Oxford Star was a good contemporary romance book that included a few tropes that I like for an example fake dating and a hint of enemies to lovers.
In Oxford Star we get to meet the main characters Lucy and Jack.
Lucy was really easy to like from the beginning since I felt like she was a strong young woman The writing and story was really good and I finished reading it in just a couple of hours because I didn't wanted to put it down.

***Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury***

Synopsis: Lucy is heading to Oxford to get an accelerated law degree to continue helping her family after her dads passing. While on the flight from Canada to England, shes sitting next to a man who is bundled in his hoodie so tightly she’s not sure he’s breathing. That man turned out to be her nemesis- Jack Seary. Jack not only ruined her chances of making it on a singing t.v. show but also broke her heart. Jack is currently on hiatus from his world famous band- and is also going to spend 8 weeks at Oxford studying astronomy-his true love. Much to Lucy’s dismay, the two become part of the same friend group and spend a lot of time together. Jack melts Lucy’s rough exterior and eventually the love they had is rekindled.

My Review: I really enjoyed the beginning, I had a few giggles the first couple of chapters and thought it set the story up nicely. By the time I got to the middle of the book, I got started to get bored and finishing took a while. The ending, while a cute HEA felt rushed. The last 30 or so chapters could’ve used the same amount of detail and attention that the first half of the book received. I did like Jack a lot and felt a mmc with mental health and ways he was coping was interesting as it’s so often overlooked. I felt for Lucy and her struggles, her mom was a shitty mom but tried to do better. Gary reminds me of a creepy Nickelodeon exec.

The first thing I need to mention is that I loved was the representation of anxiety and panic attack, especially in a male main character. I found Jack's disorder was very relatable and well written. At times however, I did find the story a little boring and slow, yet I found this book cute overall and am glad I had an opportunity to read it.

I think this may be one of my favorite books I’ve read recently! I am usually a dark/fantasy romance girlie. But this book had me grinning like I was a part of their skulk. I loved each character and the development they went through to get their endings was perfect!
This goes straight to the top of my recommendation pile and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

I just want to thank NetGalley, Grape Books, and the Author for allowing to read this ARC!

I really enjoyed this story. Jack and Lucy were funny, cute, and lovely. I loved how they both had things to overcome and work towards.
I really liked the side characters and cant wait to see their stories to unravel. I plan to read the first book in the series soon!

Was a great read, had good flow/speed, and just the right amount of spice.

Wow, I really loved this one! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. Both main character’s were so likable and I loved how many tropes this book has enemies to lovers, second chance Romance, fake dating. I can’t wait to read more books by Laura Bradbury!

Oxford Star tells the romance of a Harry Styles type popstar and the girl he let down four years earlier. It’s set at an Oxford college, which I absolutely loved. Oxford is a great city and the author is clearly very familiar with it.
This is was the first book I read in the series and it worked well as a standalone. I assume the “skulk” was already present in book #1 but I never felt I missed relevant backstory.
Jack and Lisa were ok as characters but I didn’t find them particularly interesting. The love story was also a little bland for me. There was no third-act break-up (which I don’t mind at all) but clearly the author felt something was needed to up the drama even though it didn’t make sense in the story.

The blurb describes the book as an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn (but steamy) romance, but I don’t really agree. There was sex but it faded to black. That doesn’t bother me at all, but calling it ‘steamy’ seems to be a bit of an exaggeration. They weren’t any real enemies either, while the romance wasn’t instantaneous, it wasn’t much of a slow burn either.

All in all not a bad book, but not great either.

3.5/5 rounded up.

I love how this book represented anxiety, has queer side characters, and a plus size body-positive FMC.

A little bit of a slow start (maybe slightly overwritten in the beginning?) and I had some difficulty relating to aspects within the characterization. That aside, this book would be a great accompaniment at the pool/beach. It’s easy to read, light, a slow burn, and follows an enemies to lovers trope. If you’re reading it and also struggling to stay invested, it picks up about a quarter of the way in—at that point, you’ll find yourself very endeared to Lucy/Jack!!

Thanks to NetGalley, Grape Books, and Laura Bradbury for allowing me to read and honestly review this ARC!

This was cute until the third act and then it fell apart for me. It became a little unbelievable with the plot twist instead of the usual breakup. It didn’t feel earned. Romance was cute, spice was there but low. It was fine. Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC.

Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury
I received an ARC from NetGalley after the book was published, so the timing is a little weird. 😊

I ADORED the authentic Panic and Anxiety representation! So many people have brains wired for panic and anxiety (it's me!) and unless you know the anxiety monster intimately, it doesn't make a lot of sense to outsiders. Having authentic representation helps end the stigma around mental health and neurodivergence.

Things I am here for:
Lucy is a size 16 Goddess!
Jack's red hair, green eyes, and charisma
Found family in friends
Newfoundland
Sea shanties and songs that span countries, oceans, and continents
Finding great acoustics
Studying the stars
Locked in a bookstore overnight fantasies
The whole ball evening! Double swoon!
Men supporting their partners!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4⭐️ You can never go wrong with a fake-dating/celebrity romance! I thought this book was very cute and I absolutely loved the ending. I was able to predict some of the story but I did enjoy my time reading about Jack and Lucy and how they found their way back to each other. The anxiety/mental health representation made this book even better than expected.

I love it when a romcom not only makes you fall in love but also teaches you something, the way Laura handled Jack's anxiety and Lucy's insecurities over her body was fenomenal!

AND HOW CAN LUCY AND JACK BE SO CUTE?!

I had a blast reading this book and now I'm on my way to find my own Jack :)

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was so adorable, fun, felt semi-realistic as far as famous tropes go and overall I felt myself get lost in this world in the best way possible!

One of the first things about this book that I loved was that it has a plus size FMC.
It also has allt of different aspects of books that draw me in: friends-enemies-friends-lovers, fake dating, forced proximity, Rockstar MMC, a decent amount of spice, and even obsessive women with a crazy streak. I would definitely recommend this to someone wanting a quick read romance!

Oxford Star, by Laura Bradbury, is a second chance romance set in Oxford University. Lucy has never forgiven Jack for abandoning her at a signing competition when he signed a record deal. Jack has never forgotten about Lucy and absolutely hates being a rock star. Four years later the pair reunite when they are spending a term at Oxford together.

I liked the two main character. I liked the struggles that each of them faced individually. Lucy feeling chained to helping her mom and sister to her own detriment. Jack being contactually obligated to the thing he hates doing, and not being able to fully commit to study astronomy. I do think that there could have been more character growth between the two. I wish that both characters would have realized that they had shitty parents that shouldn't have been protected. The conflicts are very quickly wrapped up at the end, and I don't that the way they were closed was very satisfying.

There is an eclectic cast of secondary characters. Lucy and Jack are immediately accepted by their friend group when they get to Oxford. I really enjoyed the secondary characters. I wish that they had been used more in the book. They kind of felt like an afterthought to the main plot.

This books is labeled as a slow burn, second chance, fake dating, enemies to lovers romance. I, personally, would not consider this book to be a slow burn or enemies to lovers. Though Lucy is supposed to hate Jack for ruining her dreams, she does forgive him very quickly. The romance plot is also fairly fast moving. There is not much will they or won't they tension that you would expect in a slow burn romance.

Overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a second chance romance or a book set in an academic setting.

Oxford Star has a cute premise. Lucy is about to start a law degree at Oxford, only she discovers that Jack, her former crush, is also enrolled and she's eager to never see him again. He's an international pop star, akin to Harry Styles, and he abandoned her during their American Idol-esque audition, ruining her dreams of becoming a professional singer. They start out with a rivals-to-lovers relationship, but Jack wins Lucy over in the end. There's good anxiety and fat rep here, and the main characters were cute and had okay chemistry, but I thought the antagonistic characters were all too moustache twirly and flat for my taste. There wasn't a lot of emotional growth for the main characters, either, besides them both deciding to quit their day jobs. But overall, this was a cute and fluffy, low-conflict romance, if that's what you're looking for.