Thank you to NetGalley for this early reviewer copy of Oxford Star by Laura Bradbury.

This was only my second experience with one of her books and it didn't disappoint. It's different than her others but also a very quick and enjoyable read.

I loved learning a little bit about the life of an Oxford student but also enjoyed the two MCs who shared point of view throughout the book. Her sense of time and space gave more liberties to cover a longer span of time throughout the book while still keeping us up to date and connected to all the characters.

I could easily see a sequel in the future.

I did not finish this book. There’s nothing wrong with the writing, but it just wasn’t for me. Thank you to the publisher for review copy, all thoughts are my own.

Such a cute romcom! I love the characters and their second chance romance. This would be a great beach read this summer!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!!

I thought this book was an easy, pleasureable read written by somebody who clearly has a real appreciation for Oxford. Unfortunately, as much as I really wanted to love this book, I found myself unable to gel with the characters though that might just be me. In particular, I found the male lead cringeworthy in places and not in an enjoyable rom com kind of way.

More of a 2.75⭐️

A cute enough story that goes fairly off the rails at the end. Feels like I missed some things by not having read the previous book in the series.

Lucy and Jack were friends from high school, and both are musically super talented. Jack chose fame and left Lucy at a competition and Lucy felt betrayed. Years later they end up of at Oxford together. Jack, a panic ridden rock star and Lucy, a woman on a mission to support her mom and sister at the expense of her own happiness.
This was such a cute story. It has a little bit of everything that the author wove seamlessly together.
Some basic tropes with the addition of a plus size heroine, anxiety/panic representation and Canadian main characters! (Cape Spear, Newfoundland is one of my favorite places) YAY Canada!
This is the 2nd in the series but can be read as a standalone.
Definitely check this one out!

Soooo many things said, “Read me, Read me” that I just had to give this book a try. Enemies to Lovers- check. Rock star romance - check. England- check. A character with anxiety- check. Really, someone wrote this with me in mind!

There are parts of this book that make me wonder if the editor is changing things up on the author. For example, our young heroine who the rockstar did wrong is just a little too hateful. The coincidences are a little too..uh..coincidentalish? Contrived? The ending is too perfect.

While those things I can shrug off, I think the biggest thing is a certain scene toward the end with a gun. There is no suspense or tension. What should have been a big, exciting nail biter was flat.

One thing I appreciated, but it was almost glossed over, was the hero’s successful use of therapy and prescription medication to help his anxiety. His anxiety was such a huge part of the book that I wish his remedy (not cure) would have been more than a line or two).

This was an enjoyable book even with its little flaws.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨(3.5)
SPICE: 🔥🔥🔥

When I saw enemies to lovers and fake dating I was here for it! Those are tropes I adore, and this book was pretty decent. I always love a good rockstar romance, so I was expecting this to hit all my buttons. And it came so close, but I found myself wanting just a little more to propel it from good to great.

Jack and Lucy used to know each other, before Jack was famous and now their paths are colliding again as they both head to Oxford to study. The problem is, Lucy can’t stand Jack since his decisions years ago led them on two separate paths.

I really liked the relationship between Lucy and Jack and of course the fake dating aspect was my favorite. I also really liked the side characters and their friend group. I also enjoyed the plus-size representation for the FMC, and the anxiety awareness. Those were great parts of the book.

The ending fell a bit flat for me and I think is what stopped me from ranking this higher even if I did enjoy a lot of the book.

This was also a new to me author and I wouldn’t mind reading another book by them!

*thanks NetGalley for the the chance to read and review this book!

What a delight to disappear into the halls and town of Oxford. I love the side characters almost as much as the main characters! I must admit, I read about 15% of this book before realizing it was a sequel. Even though it could fully be a standalone, the completionist in me decided to pause reading, download the first book, read that, and then return. I didn't need to have done so, but I'm glad I did. It was so nice checking in with the leads from the first group. I love a romance novel with a solid friend group.

Enjoyable, great pacing, exciting settings kept me hooked. Classic, spicy love novel that will be the perfect beach read. Thank you Net Galley for ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well thought out and the plot was paced in a way that made sense. I would recommend this book to others and would enjoy reading other novels by this author.

One thing is for sure after reading my second book by @laurabradburywriter, I love her writing! It just pulls you into the story and flows so well. And I love how in both of the books I've read she's highlighting physical and mental health differences (organ transplant in Unlikely Match and panic attacks and PTSD in Oxford Star). And she does them so much justice. They're a main part of the story, but they're not defining who that character is. And it just shows the reality of living with these struggles.

Now, specifically for Oxford Star, I was so involved with both of these main characters. I wanted Lucy to break free from her fear and become a star. I could just feel her struggle with law and and felt it so much it was like I was trying to read through the cases! And Jack, I felt for him. Trying to live his parents dream, even when they didn't have his best interest at heart. And how everyone was so flippant about his anxiety, including his parents. It hurt my heart to know that this is the reality for so many people outside of this book. And I just wish that wasn't the case.

The only thing I have to critique about this book, and I hate that I have to bring it up, is there were a lot of typos and grammar mistakes. They didn't take away from the story, but there were enough that I noticed them. However, I did get a copy of the book from the author (which I was super excited about and am so grateful for!), so these mistakes may be fixed in the final version if this was an ARC version. But even if they're not, I'd say you still need to read this book because it is just so, so good!

In case you can't tell, Laura Bradbury has become one of my favorite authors. My birthday is this month and I've already added Oxford Wild to my wish list. 🤞 someone takes this hint and buys it for me! 😜

Oxford Star follows Lucy and Jack as they embark on an furthering their education at Oxford, Jack on an 8 week astrophysics course before he goes back on tour as a rockstar and Lucy is trying to fast track her career studying law. Both come from the same Canadian town, both wrestle with feelings for the other. This book was a great palette cleanse (especially coming off some intense fantasy reads) and was a well written, fun story.

I appreciate the clear and direct trigger warnings placed at the beginning of the book, it will certainly be helpful to some readers. Additionally, the little notes section at the beginning was handy, it gave great context and put me in the frame of mind to get into the story. The plus sized representation was done well, with a character happy with her size, not ashamed of it. Additionally, this was a respectful representation of anxiety. I liked the chemistry between Lucy and Jack, it felt easy and natural.

This story was fast paced, broken down into weekly increments, which made it quite a quick read. The writing had good flow and I could feel the authors passion for Oxford as I read, My only criticism would be that the plot was at times, a bit predictable (but in a way, I found that comforting).

Thank you to NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review, these thoughts are all my own.

<b>Thank you to Grape Book and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to Review. </b>

Oxford Star follows the redemption love story of Lucy and Jack. Lucy a once hopeful American Idol-eque hopeful comes face to face with her old flame and backup musician Jack who deserted her hours before her big audition. While Jacks become a famous rockstar Lucy is trying to help keep her family together and make ends meet while trying to carve out a place for herself in a foreign exchange program. Jack is looking to take a break from stardom (and debilitating anxiety) is hiding away at the same exchange program.

This is a slow-burn 2nd chance love story. Filled with tropes of 2nd chance, forced proximity, and fake dating. But don't let the slow burn fool you to think that this book isn't filled with lots of sexy sizzle.


<spoiler> As Lucy and Jack reconnect he helps her find the bravery to sing in front of a big audience on her own. Equally, Lucy provides Jack with the support and confidence to leave his music career for one of his true passion, astronomy. </spoiler>

Trigger Warnings:
- the death of a parent/ adult child as a family caregiver
- coercion of a minor by their parents and manager
- dismissal of mental/emotional health


Oxford Star is a stand-alone romance but still 2nd book in the "Oxford" series. The characters from Oxford Wild make an appearance in Oxford Star.

Two of my favorite tropes collide with Oxford Star: celebrity + second chance romance! I knew it would be right up my alley. This was a super quick read and I really enjoyed it. I always love a curvy heroine and I loved how enamored Jack was with all of Lucy.

One of my favorite things is when there’s a bit of mysterious back story that informs the book and you have to try and piece it together before you find out within the story! Seeing how Jack and Lucy got to where we found them at the beginning made everything click into place. Lucy’s feelings of betrayal and Jack’s regret felt very realistic, as did Jack’s experiences with anxiety and Lucy’s eldest daughter syndrome. Lucy’s need to care for her family above everything else hit me straight in the stomach and I immediately felt bonded to her.

I think the antagonists were done very well. Gary definitely felt more exploitative and malicious rather than melodramatic and I appreciated that (and I totally pictured him as Scooter Braun, haha.)
The story was a mix of character and plot driven; it felt very balanced! I also really liked the way Jack and Lucy’s journeys were almost parallel and intertwined rather than in opposition to the other and causing conflict. It feels so rare that the third act twist isn’t a breakup so I was pleasantly surprised to not find one here! I think an external conflict can be equally compelling and growth-inducing for the characters and it definitely was in this case!

I’d recommend this to anyone who loves pop culture and hot nerdy boys; it was definitely a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Grape Books, and Laura Bradbury for the ARC in exchange for a review!

This was a fun read! It took me a minute to get into the story, but I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story arc. I was thankful for the narrative around weight and the friend group was really fun to read about! Overall, this was a good story, a bit slower paced,

A fun romance read with some actual plot as well!

3.5 stars!

"Oxford Star" by Laura Bradbury is a captivating rock star romance that skillfully blends drama, personal struggles, and undeniable chemistry. Set against the backdrop of Oxford University, the story follows Jack, an anxiety-ridden rock star, and Lucy, a determined law student, who find their paths intertwined due to their shared past.

What sets this book apart is its realistic representation of mental health issues and body image. Jack's anxiety and panic attacks are portrayed authentically, adding depth to his character, while Lucy's plus-sized character brings much-needed diversity and body positivity to the genre. However, the frequent references to Lucy's crushed singing dream can feel a bit overdone.

The book would have benefited from more direct interactions between Jack and Lucy to showcase their chemistry better. Yet, the balance between Jack's exhilarating rockstar life and the academic setting of Oxford creates an engaging narrative.

Overall, "Oxford Star" is a heartwarming read that tackles complex themes with sensitivity and skill. Despite minor flaws, its relatable characters and compelling narrative make it a standout addition to the rock star romance genre. Laura Bradbury truly showcases her storytelling prowess in this engaging and emotionally resonant novel.

I don’t know how I missed the publication of this gem, but I’m glad I stumbled upon it! Super cute and fun story in one of my favorite settings. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Laura Bradbury for my copy of Oxford Star. I thought Oxford Star was a great fast read. It was the second book of a series which I did not know but you don’t necessarily need to read the first book to understand. I personally enjoyed it and will continue with the series. At some points it did feel rushed especially on how it ended but I felt the romance was at a good pace to follow plus I felt that they truly care for each other.

Oxford Star is such a great love story. I absolutely loved that the MMC is the one with the anxiety, as it is usually women who need *help* from the male love interests. The portrayal of the mental illness also felt incredibly authentic to someone, who also suffers from panic attacks. I really really enjoyed this book. The writing was lovely, as were the characters and their connection!