Okay, so I love both of these MCs!! We have Lucy, curvy/plus size girl with singing pipes for days who goes to Oxford to get her law degree because it's more practical. We have Jack, her one who got away (but more like went away and broke her heart and trust) to be a rock star but is also at Oxford for a term to study his real academic love: astrology. I've been slowly figuring out that second chance romances are some of my faves because there's already history and chemistry for our MCs and there is often no 3rd act breakup. Loved this book, loved that Laura has first hand knowledge of Oxford (it shows), and love the music aspect. So thankful for this ARC!

There's a line where Lucy thinks to herself how easy her connection with Jack as always been: "There you are. Took you long enough to find me." SWOON!!

Thank you NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for providing me the early copy of this book.

This was a very light-read, sweet and slow-burn romance. A kind of book that definitely can be read in one sitting, which was basically what happened when I started reading it on my flight to London (what are the odds!)

The story follows Jack Seary - a world-famous rock star - may I also add handsome and hot and wanted by millions of women out there, - whose passion is actually astronomy and not singing. When Jack decides to take a small break from his crazy-popular life and dedicate a semester at Oxford to study what he's always wanted, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine he'd encounter Lucy Snow there. A long lost friend who sees him nothing more but a person who destroyed her dreams.

Lucy Snow's dream has always been singing. This is a passion she inherited from her father and the one she was not able to make come true. Actually, no other than Jack himself made it impossible for Lucy, and from that little "incident" she long forbid herself to dream of ever becoming a successful singer.
So when she gets selected to study Law at Oxford for a semester - a great opportunity to be able to provide for and care for her mother and her little sister, - the decision is obvious. Imagine Lucy's surprise when she finds out that the person studying at the same place, during the exact same time, is no other than Jack freaking Seary? How on Earth is she supposed to spend whole eight weeks in his presence?!

TW: death of a parent, panic attacks, anxiety, attempted murder.

Jack deals with panic attacks and anxiety almost on a daily basis, and I liked how this book approached this sensitive subject.
Lucy - very confident, knows her value, strong, definitely not your usual "sunshine" character whom I loved! Yes, Luce!

Overall this was a very cute, second-chance romance and a perfect Sunday read (or, in my case, a perfect flight read - especially when flying to the UK!).

Oxford Star is a perfect follow up book to Oxford Wild. I loved the intertwined characters that are reintroduced to us in this story and carry the same amount of lovability and emotional investment as they did in Wild. Oxford Star is a sweet story of 2 friends and could have been lovers who fell out of touch after a fall out. An out of the blue run in, date bringing them back together where they are forced to hash out the past, and help each other through their personal demons. As they learn who they are now, they realize what life together really means. This book is wonderful written. It is full of love, laughter and spice, you won’t want to miss out!

Thank you NetGalley and Grape Books Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! This book follows Lucy and Jake (double pov YEAHHHH) who reconnect after not seeing each other for four years due to going to college at the same school. I absolutely loved this story. I felt the chemistry between them and Jake made me blush so much. I would definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a cute romantic book that is also about anxiety and panic attacks, not being yourself because you put other people before yourself and putting yourself under too much pressure because of others

I must admit this was my first rockstar romance read, and it didn't disappoint.
The characters, despite one of them being a worldwide star, are relatable. I found the subject of anxiety treated very well.
The book starts right off too, which I appreciated. The tone is given right off, in those first pages, and the tension builds off it. Their banter is a pleasure to read. I loved Jack and Lucy's dynamic.

The only things that made me give it 4 stars is that I had more trouble understanding Lucy's arc/motivations, and I felt the ending was a little off, to my taste.
It's still a highly enjoyable read!

Review:
A rock star who wants to be a space nerd and should've been a rock star trying to convince herself to be a lawyer have some unresolved issues when they are thrown together at Oxford. I liked the idea of the plot in this book. Lucy and Jack as characters are interesting and compelling with their own wants and motivations, but there are quite few plot holes that made me confused and I kept waiting for the answers to help the story finally make sense. Unfortunately, most of those outstanding questions didn't get answered.
I genuinely enjoyed this read, but some of the plots were outlandish and took me out of the main setting.

Synopsis:
A Harry-Styles-famous rock star takes refuge from crippling panic attacks at Oxford University, only to find himself face to face with the crush whose life he ruined.
JACK: Rock stars shouldn't suffer from debilitating panic attacks, but I'm barely hanging on by my famous fingernails. That's why I leverage the name I despise to study my childhood love of astronomy. Just one term at Oxford? Problem solved. Too bad my pre-stardom life reappears to haunt me in the form of Lucy Snow, the sharp-tongued, opulent-bodied woman I can't seem to forget. This would be the perfect opportunity to make amends for stealing her fantasy four years ago, except Lucy's love for me has turned to loathing. When she refuses my financial help, I have a wonderful, dangerous idea…
LUCY: Jack Seary stole my dream of a singing career and made it his reality. When he trampled my heart, he also taught me a lesson: being selfless and hardworking makes me Cinderella without the goddamn glass slipper. Now this infuriating thief of a man thinks I'll pretend to be his girlfriend to dispel tabloid rumors? Ha!
Oxford Star is an enemies-to-lovers, fake dating, second chance, celebrity / rock star romance with a plus sized heroine and panic / anxiety rep. Brace yourself for a SLOW-BURN (but steamy!) romance that explores the complexity of love, dreams, and redemption under the dreaming spires of Oxford University.

“She was home. She was an irresistible dare. She was a crackling bonfire. We just fit. ‘My shooting star,’ I murmured,“

I was approved for an ARC for this just days before it came out so I wasn’t sure if I’d get to it, but having just finished it I am so glad I did - what a wonderful and delightful book.

Friends to betrayed and reluctant enemies to confidants to friends to fake dating partners to lovers? Add some lovely friends and wild twists? Sign me up.

This was such a sweet and delightful contemporary romance. It’s definitely one I will be recommending to anyone who is willing to listen, because I had such a good time reading it.

Please note - this is a sequel to Oxford Wild though it is not marked as one in a series. I wish I had known that because I did find myself confused wondering why it seemed like I was missing something with Cedar and Alfie, but I look forward to learning their story too.

My only critique of this book is no fault of the story itself - it just really could use a good edit. I believe it is self published? In which case I completely understand why it might still need some love. But there were a lot of typos and missed quotation marks that made me stumble through reading. It really do hope it can get the love it deserves to make it truly perfect.

Despite this, I loved this story. I recommend giving it a chance. Jack and Lucy have a lovely little spot in my heart.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Didn’t love it but didn’t hate it. It had a promising start but after awhile I found that it got a bit boring, still overall a cute rom-com.

Great opener to the book that just sucked me in. Life at the Oxford college was really well described and it felt real and present. Jacks rock star life worked a little less well but still a great read,

Guilty pleasure?

Rockstar romance. Especially when love interest is a real girl!

Other guilty pleasure?

Fake dating. This book gives both?! Sign me up.

I loved everything about Jack and Lucy’s story. While it is slow burn it is not short on 🌶️. Go on this journey, experience their feelings, and rehash the past with them.

Oxford Star is a rom com set at the University of Oxford. It’s about a wildly successful rock star and the girl who knew him when. They haven’t spoken for years, but they run into each other at Oxford and discover that they are both enrolled in the same small college. Not only that, but their rooms are right across the hallway from each other.

There is nothing new here in terms of plot. Standard tropes are used. And yet this book is particularly good due to the author’s skill in making the story and the characters come alive.

The attraction between these two old frenemies is clearly evident. Their badinage adorable. They are an immensely likable pair. The reader feels the pressure that Lucy feels and the limited possibilities she sees in her life. Jack is attractive and sincere and determined to win back Lucy’s trust. His struggles with panic attacks and his unhappiness are heartbreaking. Jack feels just as trapped as Lucy does, his jail just looks different.

When Jack and Lucy finally get together (and you knew from the beginning that they eventually would) it is magical. A warning that their physical relationship is fairly explicit, but it felt appropriate within this storyline.

I especially enjoyed the Oxford setting and their group of intellectual friends. Some of these friends are quite upper class, but they are all unpretentious and supportive.

I didn’t realize until after I had finished this book that it is the second in a series. I look forward to reading Oxford Wild.

I recommend this cute and clever book to anyone who enjoys a good romance. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, medium spice level. Available now.

My thanks to the author, Laura Bradbury, to the publisher, Grape Books, and to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.

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 .