Thank you for NetGalley and the publishers for sending me an ARC for this book!

Wow! This second chance romance is exactly what I needed to read after such a heavy fantasy series. This book is the second book within a series but you do not need to read the first one to enjoy this book!

It’s sweet and witty book has such lovable characters that makes you feel apart of their world. Having a dual POV really puts you into the perspective of each character and we love a great “ he falls first “ type too.

The one thing I will say the random attempt murder within the third act just completely came out of no where and really was unnecessary. It gave me whiplash and not in a good way.

I loved how the novel handled anxiety but I didn’t buy that the characters would connect with each other outside of friendship.

The relationship felt forced as both are great characters and well written but not written well as a couple.

I definitely see lots to love about the novel but it just missed the mark for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my honest review.

This was cute and felt mostly lighthearted in spite of some pretty intense subject matter, until the end when it was like I was watching a slow-motion action film and truly could not figure out what would happen next.

I love love love the accurate and well-done portrayal of mental illness/anxiety/panic attacks in media. They are so much bigger than anyone who hasn’t had one could ever realize, but hopefully continued exposure to what others are going to will help create sympathy and understanding. Jack being someone who “has it all” and looks it, while comparatively tearing himself apart on the inside was a really great example of how senseless anxiety can be.

Loved to see past characters guest star in this, and to watch both Lucy and Jack figure out what was truly important to them. Also loved the back and forth of perspective, especially when Lucy was like “ugh this guy this is the worst day of my life” and Jack was like “this is actually the best day of mine” 😂

A Harry Styles level Rockstar with millions of adoring fans... A midsize heroine who had her one shot at stardom taken from her.... years have past and now Jack and Lucy get a second chance at setting things right.

Lucy is a determined heroine who was doing her best to keep her mother and sister afloat. Jack is a massive Rockstar who secretly suffers from anxiety and crippling panic attacks (I loved Jack. When the world wants what you have... and you just don't). When they cross paths again, sparks fly and could it be that each of them holds the key to helping the other?

Set in a Oxford-like university setting with all the finery and prestige you'd expect. It was a super fun read that was full of slow burn romance and hero who was in it for the long haul. No miscommunication or flaking here.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the chance to read it early. All thoughts are my own.

This book was escapism. A rock star and a beautiful plus size girl rekindle their flame at Oxford. It wasn’t a fluffy romance. They navigate serious issues along the way panic attacks and death of a parent leaving lasting trauma.

This was a cute, albeit insanely unrealistic, story about two young adults finding their way. There were parts of this story I really enjoyed - such as the discussion of mental health issues - but I didn’t really feel the connection between the main characters. The author kept telling us they were drawn together, but nothing in their interactions made me feel they were ‘meant to be.’ Also, the spicy scenes were pretty cringey (think p goes into v and immediately both characters have simultaneous o’s) and if the author used the phrase “making love” one more time I was about to scream. Overall, a cute but not particularly memorable story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

We love a story either friends to enemies to Lovers that features a nerdy guitar boy. Overall I really enjoyed this story and how it handled panic attacks. I liked the group of friends and support from peers. All the parents and most of the adult figures were really awful and I sort of wish there had been more supportive ones. A decent twist and I like that both characters followed their dreams.

GREAT CONCEPT, not so much on the execution. While I liked the characters individually, together they fell flat. There wasn’t chemistry there. I didn’t find myself rooting for them.

This was a cute story about a girl that got hurt by a boy 4 years earlier and then they end up in the same place only this time he's living her dream as a pop star. It was a cute easy read, but the middle was a bit slow and the ending was too quick and could have been developed more to get that happy medium. Overall the characters interests and the location is well researched as the anxiety panic attacks are realistic, the star in the story is a real star, and the places in Oxford were also realistic. This is a cute beach read, but I wouldn't read it again due to the slow middle and too quick end.

I love the picture I was getting of Jack and Lucy’s characters in my mind, their descriptions made them feel unique set them apart from main characters I’ve read about lately. Where I struggled was with some of the leaps the plot took in their connection and how their relationship progressed. The suspenseful twist toward the end and the happy epilogue left me smiling!

In Oxford Star we meet our main characters Lucy and Jack. Lucy dreams of being a singer, but prioritizes taking care of her family with a more stable career. Jack is a rock star in a band that would prefer to live a quiet life studying the stars (astrophysics). Instead he is hiding his anxiety and panic attacks from the world and trying to push through with his rockstar career. The chemistry between the characters is really well-written as well as the way Jack's mental health is depicted.

After a betrayal, the two are reunited on a plan to Oxford where they will be studying. We get some not really enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, and one amazing bookshop date that I would love to have in real life.

I didn't realize this was a part of a series and I read it like a standalone. I'm sure the side characters would add more to the story with that background. Overall, it's a very cute story. A perfect vacation/ pool side read.

Trigger/Content Warnings:anxiety, panic attacks, loss of a parent, comments on weight and body image, brief gun violence.

I absolutely adored Laura Bradbury's OXFORD STAR. This is a delightful contemporary romance featuring Jack, an anxiety-ridden rock star, and Lucy, whom he "betrayed" four years ago. She never got over it. He's never forgotten her. When they unexpectedly meet again at Oxford University, sparks fly.

Not good ones, alas, as Lucy wants never to see him again. Yet Jack, barely surviving constant panic attacks, sees her as someone he can trust and really love. They've both made decisions to support their families in unhealthy ways. Now they have a chance to change.

I loved their slow burn romance, the beautifully described Oxford setting where she's studying law and he astrophysics, their vibrant skulk (classmates who become their tribe), the authentic way in which the author handles mental health issues (she herself suffers from anxiety). The idiosyncratic characters. The wit. The poignance. Really, EVERYTHING!

OXFORD STAR is highly recommended for anyone seeking a fun romantic escape. Brava, Laura! You are an auto-read author for me now.

I was very excited to read Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury. She is a new-to-me author and I looked forward to getting to know her. Oxford Star was pretty good. It was very light and an easy read; definitely the kind of book you bring to the pool or beach. I kind of thought some of the dialogue was overdone and the book was a little bit overwritten. It dragged a little in the middle and because the main characters spent so much time in their own heads, it just didn’t seem like a lot of character chemistry. I visited the authors website and there are a few other books I’m to check out and I look forward to doing so! Overall the book was decent and I look forward to her others.

Special thanks to Net Galley and Grape books for this advanced reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

*thank you netgalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest review*
THIS BOOK IS INCREDIBLE! A LOVELY QUICK READ :)

This book contains childhood friends to enemies to lovers which I really enjoyed. One is a hardworking, independent, stressed out pre-law student and the other is an anxious, secretly nerdy, rich popstar. I loved seeing their dynamic together and the importance of mental health within this book---especially depicted in a male character.

5/5 stars

Thanks so much to Grape Books and Laura Bradbury for the ARC! Music, rockstars, and steamy romances always make for a good read. I couldn’t get enough of Jack and Lucy’s story! This was an easy quick read for myself and can’t wait to read more from Laura! This is definitely one I would recommend to everyone.

Than ks to Grape Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This was such a funny, touching and swoony book - I could not put it down. Once I started it in the morning then went to work I read during my breaks and lunch, after work and after dinner because I was enjoying it so much. And now I am sad to have finished and want to read everything by this author ever.

I don't want to give too much away about the plot but this is a second-chance romance. Jack has been in love with Lucy forever but then he kind of stole her dream and left to become a famous musician. Lucy never really forgave him but when they reunite in Oxford they begin to understand each other and Lucy sees herself as Jack as always seen her. I loved the other characters - they were absolutely enchanting. The romance element is the perfect blend between sweet and smoking hot.
I loved it. The end.

A lighthearted romance about young love reconnecting after betrayal and a bit of growing up. Really enjoyed the cast of characters and am looking forward to reading the first book in the series and any sequels.

It was so easy to connect with Lucy, the issues she has shouldered with her family, and her body image. I feel like she's the most fleshed-out of our lead characters as she's easy to relate to and root for from page 1. While Jack is dealing with his own personal issues that make the reader very empathetic towards his plight it's his romance "issues" that have a tendency to pop up at the most inappropriate of times that make him a bit cringy. That being said their chemistry was great and as a couple you want them to have their Happily Ever After.

Other than some typos the story flowed really well even with the curveball at the very end, I'd have liked to see what Prof. Speedman did to Gary in the end just because I can easily imagine her eviscerating him in court. Can't wait to read the sequel and see which of the skulk we get to tag along with next!

Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for an honest review.

Jack and Lucy are two unforgettable characters. Their story has depth, intricacies, and heart. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading! The depth was captivating and wasn’t as predictable as expected from a modern romance novel.

After reading Unlikely Match by Laura, I was excited to read this one (although I never read Oxford Wild). I liked this book and I am glad I read it.

One thing that I didn't like was the drama piece at the end. To me it was just random and I feel like it didn't fit the story. There really was no evidence or scenes that would lead up to this and it was just kind of thrown in. (Don't want to explicitly say what the drama piece was, as to not spoil anything.)

I loved the anxiety rep in this. As someone who deals with anxiety on a daily basis, it is nice to have characters you can relate to, especially when it is accurately represented.

I enjoyed this book and would recommend to Laura Bradbury fans. Also, you can definitely read this without reading Oxford Wild.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is a second chance/friends to lovers romance that was a really light, fun and romantic read. I loved the dual POV because in that way I was able to connect and better understand each character with their strengths,flaws and fears.
Lucy was forced to become an adult and take charge of her family at only eleven years old, thus leaving herself and her dreams to disappear under all her responsibilities. From the very first pages it is clear that she has the weight of the world on her shoulders without having the slightest idea of all the things she would be capable of doing if she were just a little more selfish .. and that is why I loved her slow change: page after page you can see Lucy grow up,open up to new possibilities,to love herself and to live.
Jack on the other hand has the life Lucy has always dreamed of and suffers from panic attacks.He is a cinnamon roll of a person who keeps getting manipulated by the people around him a ,starting right from sui parents,and whose mental health is promptly ignored. And that is precisely why Jack finally decides to take charge of his life and pursue what is best for him.
Jack and Lucy together are a spark: in fact, I liked how between squabbles they both grew up revealing themselves to be each other's support: Jack being able to make Lucy see his own potential and Lucy being able to support him during his crises and make him realize that it is not too late to get the life he always wanted.
in short, it was a read that although initially a bit slow was still able to keep me glued to the pages end to end. I loved Lucy and Jack with their growth, but I also loved all the secondary characters who provided a great supporting cast! In addition, all of the issues covered were described in a real and accurate way making it easy to empathize with the characters and find myself moving and smiling with them!

Thanks to Netgalley and Grape Books for the copy.