My Oxford Year: A Novel

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about Ella’s journey overall? Were you invested in her experiences, and did any of them stand out as particularly impactful?

2. What elements of the novel did you like or dislike? For example, you might have loved Charlie’s character but lacked interest in Maggie and Tom’s romance, or the opposite.

3. How does this book fit into the genres of travel literature, romance, or sick lit? How does it compare to other books in these genres that you have read?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Jamie hides his illness from Ella until it can no longer be concealed. Reflect on a time when someone you knew withheld important information, or when you yourself hesitated to share something vulnerable. How does Jamie’s choice resonate with your own experiences?

2. Ella struggles to balance her ambition with her desire for connection. How does her conflict mirror tensions you may have experienced between work, relationships, or personal dreams?

3. Traveling is an exciting part of life, and her trip to Oxford is Ella’s first major trip. What was your first trip? If you have not gotten the chance to travel, would you want a similar experience to Ella? What might you do differently if you were going to Oxford?

4. How is the culture and society at Oxford different from Ella’s home in Ohio or Washington, DC? How is it different from your own hometown? What do these differences tell you about Ella’s experience?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The issue of choosing marriage and family over a career is a prominent discussion in women’s studies and feminist theory. How does the novel subvert expectations? Does it reinforce the idea that women should get married instead of pursuing a career?

2. Why is it important that the novel takes place at Oxford? Oxford is in the title of the novel, it is Ella’s dream location, and almost the entirety of the novel takes place there. How does this setting influence the characters and events of the novel?

3. How does the novel reveal how people can be changed by grief, and how might this transformation be complicated by Ella's privilege as a Rhodes Scholar and someone with access to supportive networks? To what extent does the novel invite readers to consider who gets to experience love and loss as opportunities for growth, and who does not?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is written entirely from Ella’s perspective, and it opens with her arrival in England. How do these details inform the meaning of the work? Why does the entire novel need to take place in England? Why do we need Ella’s thoughts but not Jamie’s?

2. How do Ella and Jamie change over the course of the novel? Is their development realistic or unrealistic? How does their background inform the events of the novel?

3. A major motif in the work is the epigraphs of Victorian poetry. Did any of these poems stand out to you? Pick one epigraph and read the full text. How does that poem influence your reading of the chapter for which it appears?

4. Many people have their own understanding and symbol for life and death, such as trees changing with the seasons or candles burning. How did you feel about Jamie’s insistence on dying at his “Oxenford,” or Ella’s metaphor of the waterfall? How do the differences in these symbols inform an understanding of the characters?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. My Oxford Year has been adapted into a film by Netflix. If possible, watch the film. How does the film compare to the text? Did the characters look and behave like you expected?

2. The Epilogue ends the novel with a note of uncertainty, as Ella accepts that Jamie will die and needs to enjoy as much time as she can with him. How would you envision the next months of Ella’s life? Is it possible Jamie survives his fight with cancer? If not, what will Ella do after his death?