My Oxford Year has quickly become a favorite among romance movie lovers. Fans can’t get enough of the beautiful chemistry between Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest, and many admit they were left in tears by the emotional ending. But if you’ve read the book, you probably noticed something— the movie’s ending doesn’t exactly match the one in Julia Whelan’s original novel.
The film is based on Whelan’s book of the same name, and for the most part, it sticks pretty closely to the main storyline. However, like many book-to-screen adaptations, the director added some changes—especially to the conclusion—so the emotional punch would land harder with audiences.
So, what’s different about the endings?
In the movie, we meet Anna, an American student who travels to Oxford to study poetry. While there, she crosses paths with Jamie, and what starts off as a casual fling quickly grows into something deeper. Despite his efforts to keep his distance, Jamie can’t help but fall for Anna. The problem? He’s secretly battling cancer and is scared of how much pain his illness might bring into her life.
By the end of the film, Jamie’s health has deteriorated, and Anna is shown lying by his side in his final moments. In a bittersweet twist, the two talk about taking a trip across Europe together, and the movie cuts to a montage of them traveling through Paris, Venice, Amsterdam, and more—living the life they dreamed of. But it’s revealed that these adventures never actually happened. Jamie passes away, and Anna stays back at Oxford, taking up a teaching role there. The audience is left with heartbreak but also a sense of how deeply Anna was changed by their love.
The novel, however, takes a different path. For starters, the female lead is called Ella Durand instead of Anna, and her career goals are written differently. Instead of focusing on literature, Ella dreams of becoming a political analyst once she graduates.
When it comes to the ending, Julia Whelan offers her readers something a little more hopeful. In the book, Jamie gets extra time after his cancer diagnosis. He eventually recovers enough to actually take the European trip with Ella, so readers get to see the two of them live out that dream together. It’s still emotional, but it leaves fans with a softer, more uplifting resolution compared to the film’s bittersweet heartbreak.
The movie adaptation was directed by Iain Morris, with a screenplay by Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne. Whether you prefer the raw, tear-jerking ending of the film or the more hopeful conclusion of the book, one thing is certain—My Oxford Year has left a lasting impression on audiences.
You can currently stream the movie on Netflix.