Top Shelf: My Oxford Year

My Oxford Year by Julia Whelan is a refreshing romance that delivers way more than just the usual rom-com vibes. It's a great summer read, but I'd also recommend it for the cold, cozy winter months.

Ella is an ambitious American who heads to Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship while juggling a career-building political opportunity back home. She has her life planned full speed ahead until she meets Jamie, a charming, British academic. At first, the plot feels predictable, but it turns out to be anything but formulaic. It's an emotional and deeply captivating story.

Whelan, who has narrated countless best sellers, offers a great balance of light, funny moments with heavier themes in this debut book. I love the romantic setting of Oxford. I found myself peforming internet searches for photos of Oxford's campus and its history during my reading breaks.

My Oxford Year is a love story, but it also touches on personal identity, ambition and resilience. If you’re in the mood for a smart, romantic read with some depth, this is a great pick. It’s charming, bittersweet, emotional and surprisingly thoughtful.

Netflix's adapation of the book releases on August 1!