Netflix’s My Oxford Year, brings Julia Whelan’s beloved debut novel to life. The story follows Ella, a driven Rhodes Scholar whose carefully planned life is upended by Jamie, her charming professor with a devastating secret. Set against Oxford’s dreaming spires, it’s a witty, heartbreaking tale that explores love, loss, and the choices that define us. If you’re enchanted by this romantic academic adventure, here are ten books that capture similar themes of transformative love, personal growth, and life-changing decisions.
Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
The most obvious companion to My Oxford Year, this emotional powerhouse explores the relationship between Louisa Clark and Will Traynor, a quadriplegic man who transforms her worldview. Like Whelan’s novel, it masterfully balances humor with heartbreak while examining how love can fundamentally change our life plans. The themes of caregiving, sacrifice, and choosing love despite inevitable loss mirror Ella and Jamie’s journey perfectly. Moyes creates characters who grow through adversity, much like Ella’s transformation from rigid planner to someone who embraces uncertainty. Both novels ask whether we can truly love someone knowing we might lose them, and both answer with a resounding yes. The British settings and witty dialogue provide additional parallels that fans of Oxford’s charm will appreciate.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Idea Of You by Robinne Lee
This sophisticated romance follows Solène, a 39-year-old art gallery owner who begins an unexpected relationship with a much younger pop star. Like My Oxford Year, it explores the tension between personal desires and societal expectations, featuring an intelligent, accomplished woman who must choose between the safe path and transformative love. The artistic settings provide similar intellectual depth, while both protagonists are forced to confront their preconceptions about what their lives should look like. Lee and Whelan both excel at creating mature heroines who discover that love doesn’t follow neat timelines or conventional rules. The novels share themes of personal reinvention and the courage required to embrace unexpected passion despite potential consequences.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Beach Read by Emily Henry
January and Augustus are rival writers who challenge each other to step outside their comfort zones, much like how Jamie pushes Ella to examine her feelings rather than just analyze them academically. This novel combines wit, emotional depth, and the transformative power of literature—perfect for readers who loved the academic literary references in Whelan’s work. Both books feature protagonists who hide behind intellectual facades to avoid confronting deeper truths about themselves. Henry’s exploration of how stories shape our understanding of love mirrors Whelan’s use of poetry and literature to illuminate character growth. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic and summer setting provide a lighter counterpoint to Oxford’s weighty atmosphere while maintaining the same emotional authenticity.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary
Tiffy and Leon communicate only through notes left around their shared flat, developing a deep connection through written words before ever meeting face-to-face. This charming British romance captures the same blend of humor, vulnerability, and gradual intimacy that makes My Oxford Year so compelling, while showcasing the power of communication in building unexpected relationships. Like Ella and Jamie, Tiffy and Leon both carry emotional baggage that threatens their growing connection. The London setting provides similar British charm, while the unconventional relationship structure mirrors how academic life can create unique intimacies between unlikely pairs.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
One Day by David Nicholls
Following Emma and Dexter over twenty years, meeting on the same date each year, this novel explores how relationships evolve and the impact of timing on love. Like My Oxford Year, it’s set partially in academic environments, deals with questions of ambition versus love, and doesn’t shy away from life’s messier realities while maintaining hope and humor. Both novels understand that the most profound connections often develop slowly, built on shared intellectual curiosity and mutual respect. Nicholls and Whelan both excel at showing how external circumstances—career pressures, family expectations, health crises—can complicate even the deepest bonds. The bittersweet tone and realistic portrayal of how life rarely follows our carefully laid plans make this an ideal companion read.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Clare and Henry’s love story transcends normal relationship boundaries due to Henry’s involuntary time travel, creating a relationship marked by uncertainty and separation. This novel shares My Oxford Year’s themes of loving someone despite circumstances beyond your control, the challenge of building a future when time feels limited, and the bittersweet nature of profound connection. Both books ask how we love fully while knowing that loss is inevitable, whether through illness or supernatural circumstances. Niffenegger’s exploration of how couples navigate the practical challenges of extraordinary situations mirrors Whelan’s realistic portrayal of relationships. The intellectual depth of both protagonists and their shared love of literature create additional parallels for readers seeking similar emotional complexity.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
Stella, hires escort Michael to help her learn about intimacy, leading to unexpected love that challenges both their preconceptions. Like Ella, Stella is highly analytical and struggles with emotional expression, making this a perfect read for those who connected with Ella’s journey from academic analysis to genuine feeling. Both novels feature heroines who excel in intellectual pursuits but feel inadequate in matters of the heart. This book shows how differences can strengthen rather than weaken relationships. The novel’s setting and focus on personal growth through love make this an ideal choice for readers seeking similar themes of self-discovery and acceptance.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Marianne and Connell’s complicated on-and-off relationship throughout their academic years at Trinity College Dublin mirrors the intellectual intensity and emotional complexity found in My Oxford Year. Both novels explore how class differences, personal insecurities, and academic pressures can complicate even the deepest connections. Rooney’s spare, precise prose style contrasts with Whelan’s more lyrical approach, but both authors excel at capturing the particular intimacy that develops between intellectually matched partners. The university settings provide similar backdrops for personal growth, while both books understand how academic achievement can sometimes mask emotional immaturity. The realistic portrayal of how young adults navigate love, ambition, and identity makes this an essential read for My Oxford Year fans.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Elsie’s whirlwind marriage ends tragically when her husband dies in an accident, leaving her to navigate grief while building an unexpected relationship with his family. Like My Oxford Year, it explores how profound love can happen quickly and how loss can teach us what truly matters in life. Both novels understand that love doesn’t follow convenient timelines and that the most meaningful connections often come when we least expect them. The emotional intensity and exploration of how tragedy can lead to personal growth make this a natural companion read. Both authors excel at balancing heartbreak with hope, showing how love persists even through the most difficult circumstances.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas
Catalina needs a date to her sister’s wedding in Spain and convinces her academic rival Aaron to pretend to be her boyfriend, leading to unexpected real feelings. Like My Oxford Year, this novel features an academic setting with protagonists who are intellectual equals, creating a foundation for both professional tension and romantic chemistry. Armas captures the same blend of witty banter and emotional vulnerability that makes Whelan’s work so compelling, while the fake-dating premise forces both characters to confront their true feelings. The Spanish setting provides charm similar to Oxford’s dreamy atmosphere and both novels explore how preconceived notions about relationships can crumble when faced with genuine connection.
Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Leave A Comment