“Oxford Star” is a wonderful piece of work that peppers a rock star romance with elements of dealing with one’s personal insecurities seamlessly.

Jack seems to have it all since the big break of signing up with a musical kingmaker/agent to be part of a band he was forming. However, he has had to fend off crippling panic attacks whenever he had to perform on stage; the strain of being in the public eye consistently doesn’t help his condition at all. With no help from his band members, his agent and even his parents, he negotiates with his agent for a eight week reprieve, so that he can go to Oxford College for a term of astronomy research. What he doesn’t anticipate is that Lucy, whom he had been close with in his high school days, will also be there.

Lucy has enrolled in a fast track course to become a lawyer, which will in turn help her support her family comfortably. But Lucy hasn’t been feeling kindly towards Jack ever since he left her on the lurch to sign with his band, just before her final on-stage performance of a reality signing show they used to be on together. Though she has always wanted to sing for a living, her insecurities on her plus size figure and her overly dependent family have created a mental block against her going after her dreams.

Will these two unlikely people be able to understand each other and create a second chance for their still dormant feelings? Will they be able to overcome their personal hang-ups and embrace themselves for who they actually are?

Laura Bradbury has written a good story that incorporates various facets of human failings and complexes. Through Jack and Lucy’s love story, she portrays a mature and healthy relationship, with both of them trying to genuinely understand each other’s problems. I particularly loved the way they both support each other through every obstacle without being too dramatic about it.

Though this is a usually unlikely plot, Bradbury has made the story believable and touching in most places, like her sensitive depiction of a debilitating panic attack. The only problem I had with the book was that it was too long and certain sections of the story could have been cut short. Nevertheless, this book is definitely for you if you want to read a rock star romance.

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars.