A study abroad romance. That’s exactly what I needed.
After watching the new film adaptation of My Oxford Year (2025) on Netflix, I knew I had to dive further into the world crafted by Julia Whelan so I picked up her novel (2018). I’ve never been to Oxford, England, (though I have been lucky enough to go to Scotland, which is also in the U.K.), but after watching the movie, which stars Sofia Carson (who also produced it), I knew I had to snatch the book up and see why the director felt so inclined to bring this book to life.
Oxford has been a place known by many for its academic excellence and long history as the oldest English-speaking university in the world, since 1096! For students across the world – especially ambitious American study abroad students, like Ella, the novel’s protagonist – it represents the pinnacle of achievement and education. When Ella first arrives, Whelan describes Oxford as “slipping through a wormhole into a universe where things were ordered and people were dignified and the buildings were older than the entire country” (p. 21). This line left me feeling slightly intimidated, but also intrigued at the enchanting nature of the city.
Interestingly, Whelan did not plan on writing this novel. Initially, she was hired to provide information on Oxford University for an unrelated screenplay, however she decided that “the limits of a screenplay couldn’t satisfy the depth of story and intricacies of character that [she] wanted to explore,” hence her decision to create My Oxford Year. And I am so glad she did.
What made this book so compelling for me, was how Whelan wove love and heartbreak together while exploring the idea that the best parts of life are the ones we cannot control. As someone preparing for my own study abroad this summer, this really spoke to me. Embracing being more spontaneous and not trying to meticulously plan the uncontrollable is something I am hoping to experience and learn from this summer.
To begin, the novel follows the story of Ella, a type A serial planner, who already has a full-time political job waiting when she gets home from study abroad. Yet when she comes to Oxford, suddenly everything changes. Between exploring England, making new friends, and a complicated relationship with her professor Jamie, Ella begins to realize that abandoning her plans may be the best decision she could make.
Whelan’s writing captures Ella’s sense of wonder and culture shock in a humorous yet descriptive way. As Ella described Oxford as “…mouth-droppingly, eye-buggingly, slap-yo-mama stunning” (p.388), a line that conveys the overwhelming beauty many travelers experience (and perfectly describes my typical reaction to culture shock).
In order to truly experience My Oxford Year, it helps to walk the same streets as Ella and Jamie. Below is a top 10 guide on places you should stop by around and inside Oxford University, where you can experience the world of their romance. Who knows? Maybe you will suddenly find love in a small fish & chip shop. From pubs to manors and the historical colleges these are just some of the places that bring Oxford to life.
Oxford Travel Guide
As Ella reflects about the city in the novel, “It’s just another day in Oxford, but to me it’s magical” (p.29).
One of the first places readers encounter is Magdalen College within Oxford University, where Ella begins her life as an Oxford student. Founded in the 15th century, Magdalen is known for its beautiful architecture and its iconic Magdalen tower. Ella’s room includes “spectacular view of Magdalen Tower” amongst the other buildings (p.50). Today, visitors can experience Magdalen College for a fee of just £10! You also purchase a map and guide to help guide your explorations, or even an illustrated history of the college.
Oxford’s beauty is matched by its dramatic history. Early in the novel, Ella encounters the memorial for the three oxford martyrs, the very spot where the “Protestant Bishops… were burned at the stake by Queen Mary in the 1550s” (p.57). Moments like this are where Ella’s “cognitive dissonance is just beginning,” as she begins to understand there is more than just the initial tourist/romantic aspects of the city (p. 57). I especially liked this part because I find that these hidden gems are some of the historical moments that make us realize how truly amazing the history behind a place is. Almost like bringing the stories of the past to life.
Few places capture Oxford’s academic spirit like the Bodleian Library. It is home to many famous works of literature across Europe as it is one of the “oldest libraries in Europe” and “holds over 13 million printed items”! Ella takes advantage of “the Bod” as they call it and explores how it “has a copy of every book ever printed in the UK since 1611” (p.113). Here Ella finds more about the English stories and runs into Jamie – sparking their romance between the stacks of history and scholars. The Bodleian Library is open to visitors in the three buildings through tours and some events like exhibitions they host.
One of the most glamorous moments in the novel takes place at the Blenheim Ball. Here Ella meets Jamie’s family and experiences the elegance of British high society . Ella can’t help but admire how the “marble floors are like glass” and “the soft orange glow emanating from the vaulted and frescoed ceilings…bounces off the stone columns” (p. 315). The Blenheim Ball is a real charity event in Blenheim Palace for the Starlight Children’s Foundation where you can book tickets to have your own magical gala night! Or tours are available through annual passes and different exhibits! Personally, it is at the top of my bucket list to experience a ball like this!
The countryside also plays an important role in My Oxford Year and Oxford in general, especially through Jamie’s background and family life. Historically, many people often retreated to the countryside manors for vacations throughout English society. Mount Stuart is an example of a manor near Oxford that could be similar to Jamie’s. Someone needs to find me a wealthy lord so I can experience a place as beautiful as this! The manor is open starting April 1st for the summer featuring the historic gardens you can walk through and explore.
No visit to England would be complete without experiencing afternoon tea. Ella chose to experience hers on “the patio of the Old Parsonage Hotel…” in an atmospheric quieter Oxford environment (p.92). The Old Parsonage Hotel is a five star luxury boutique hotel with beautiful outdoor seating. You can book a stay or a reservation to enjoy their Michelin awarded dining and experience Ella’s Oxford afternoons.
Every good romance needs an adorable first meeting.The location of Ella and Jamie’s meet-cute begins as a heated argument in a fish & chips shop just outside of campus. This Oxford “chippy” is one of the top rated options outside of Oxford University and is reminiscent of the original Happy Cod Fish & Chips from the book. You can stop by many fish and chip shops, but if you want the most similar to go experience, this is a top-rated location to visit.
Ella had her iconic first “un-authentic” (according to Jamie) English pub experience at the Eagle and the Child which may have ended in a small brawl on her part. But whether you’re looking to witness a pub fight or to just get to know more people, a pub is always the way to go. The Eagle and the Child was known for being a meeting place for famous authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. While the original Eagle and the Child from the novel has been closed since 2020, The Perch is a great alternative and highly rated.
High Street is the beating and bustling heart of Oxford. It connects all of the colleges within the university and is known for its stunning views. The crowded main street of Oxford is full of “students rushing, tourists lingering, the former annoyed by the latter” (p.29). This bustling street is full of the livelihood and shops of Oxford where your sure to find anything you need. High Street is accessible to anyone, but maybe do not try to be the lingering tourist.
The Oxford Natural History Museum is an enriching place to visit especially on a rainy day as Ella and Jamie often did. Internationally recognized and historical, the museum has many events that you can attend to learn more about the natural scientific research they do in Oxford.
Reflecting on the book
Throughout the novel, Whelan had me on the edge of my seat with her writing; I thought I would know what to expect after watching the film, but I could not have been more wrong. While some scenes were similar, yes, the ending was very different from the film and provided a deeper glimpse into Ella’s life and her acceptance of the uncontrollable and chaotic aspects of it. I thoroughly enjoyed the humorous and romantic style of how falling in love with someone who is terminally ill brought Ella so many realizations. For example, Ella says, “I came to Oxford looking for a Once-in-a-lifetime experience. I chose to experience a lifetime,” is a quote that really spoke to me and gave so much perspective on the abroad experience and how life changing it can truly be (p.487).
Another work I have read with a similar travel, romance, and life lesson plot is People We Meet On Vacation by Emily Henry. Similarly to Ella, Poppy fell in love through travel, yet her life lesson was all about slowing down and settling down in comparison to chasing more trips and running away. I think these contrast each other and showcase how traveling provides everyone with different lessons and the realizations of different needs; something that I will hopefully learn in my abroad experience.
I feel like what made this book a good place-based story was how Whelan built a place into more than just experience, somewhere that provides you with exactly what you might not have realized you needed. I think Whelan’s choice of Oxford for the setting of the story is significant for many reasons. For one, Whelan’s experience studying abroad in Oxford gives her an intimate knowledge of the city. Additionally, despite its high reputation as an academic hub composed of the “best of the best,” Ella’s story shows that even the most educated people still have so much to learn about life.
[contact-field default="4" type="rating" label="Rating" labelclasses="wp-block-jetpack-label" labelhiddenbyblockvisibility="" inputclasses="" iconstyle="stars" fieldwrapperclasses="wp-block-jetpack-field-rating"]<div> </div>[/contact-field]I highly recommend reading My Oxford Year if you are a hopeless romantic who yearns to travel or just someone interested in an abroad fling that may turn into something more… Either way I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars as it kept me invested with what will become of such a doomed, tragic romance, yet watching the film did spoil some of it for me. I think the only thing that could be better is changing the epilogue as I could not understand whether Jamie had lived or died (which I feel is very important outside of the film’s explanation), but biasedly I choose to believe he lived. Overall, this book left me with a sense of optimism and spontaneity. As someone about to head into her own study abroad experience, Ella’s story taught me the importance of embracing adventure and the unknown.
If you like this book, try more of Julia Whelan’s novels. Or opt for something she narrates, as she is also an esteemed narrator for many audiobooks!
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