Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan

47 reviews

shawnalemley's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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katmystery's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

2.5 stars. The first and second halves of this book were at odds with each other- the first half described a shallow, no-strings-attached situationship between a pretentious and emotionally avoidant Oxford student and her pretentious and emotionally avoidant professor, while the second half described two committed partners facing terminal illness together. While there were some beautiful passages and messages in the second half, I had trouble believing that the characters from the beginning could possibly make the leap to become the characters in the second half, because they jumped from having barely any emotional intimacy to being willing to sacrifice everything for each other overnight. It just didn't make sense, and the characters weren't very likable.
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hellokaley's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

I love our queen, Julia Whelan and My Oxford Year was a solid OK. I liked the setting quite a bit and enjoyed Ella as a main character. Jamie as the love interest was a bit boring for me but as his character and story got more complex through the middle of the story, I liked him more. 

Some of Ella’s back story seemed a little unrealistic which was a hurdle I just had to get over as it’s strewn across the full story. 

Overall, I thought it was a nice romance, a lovely narrated audiobook (of course!), but slightly unforgettable overall. Very happy to continue reading Julia Whelan’s library though!
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jamie_rich's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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clasea's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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fabphryne's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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aschmitttyy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I enjoy Julia Whelan as a narrator and I was hoping to love her as an author, but this book wasn't it for me. It felt like it romanticized the cancer plot line, and there wasn't much to the story outside of the romance. Another ambitious woman who falls for/gives up her dreams for a man.
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kmmwen's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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blreed1218's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

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gwenswoons's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s beautiful — the writing and characters are lovely, and the English academic setting is vivid painted and lovingly rendered. It is definitely not my favorite type of romance novel: so unbelievably dark with the terminal diagnosis thread running throughout, HEA notwithstanding; so I am definitely NOT likely to try the comps of Jojo Moyes and Nicholas Sparks that the blurb mentions. But if a more heart-wrenchy romance is for you it’s a good one! For me when I read romance I just truly want something that feels more constant in the hopefulness and okayness (even though I love contemporary romance that has complicated MCs, realistic backstories, et al!). Definitely glad I read this and will read other Julia Whelan — Thanks For Listening was one of my faves when I first was getting into the genre so I will totally look forward to her lighter stuff (and like, that one even has some major trauma in the female MC’s backstory, but it wasn’t so deep in the weeds depressing for as big a chunk as this one). Obviously the audio narration for both novels (by Whelan) is totally gorgeous and perfect!
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