Netflix’s My Oxford Year is the kind of romantic drama that slowly makes you fall in love before breaking your heart. It stars Purple Hearts fame, Sofia Carson and Queen Charlotte fame, Corey Mylchreest. Based on a novel by Julia Whelan with the same title, the film has a touching end with a completely different ending. Set in the dreamy world of Oxford University, My Oxford Year is about the journey of ‘Anna De La Vega’, a dedicated American student who gets a Rhodes Scholarship to study poetry while planning a high-powered political career in New York. However, things soon change when she meets ‘Jamie Davenport’, a handsome professor with a special love for poetry who is quietly battling cancer. The plot has left fans wondering whether ‘Jamie’ and ‘Anna’ could ever get together. Well, we have an answer.
Does ‘Jamie’ die, and what will ‘Anna’ do?
When ‘Anna’s and ‘Jamie’s whirlwind romance takes plans quickly, fans fall in love with them. Although there are underlying tensions as ‘Jamie’ insists on keeping things light and temporary. But ‘Anna’ soon learns about his private battle with cancer and his decision not to treat it with experimental procedure. He wants to live naturally, rather than relying on medical trials. The revelation shocks her, and ‘Anna’ makes a life-changing decision to stay and give up her impressive job opportunity to look after ‘Jamie’ and to make the most of the time they have in hand.
Towards the end, ‘Jamie’ becomes ill with pneumonia and despite his father’s initial resistance, he decides on how he wants his life to end. It is heartbreaking to see ‘Jamie’ lose his battle with life in ‘Anna’s arms after their dream to have a tour across Europe together remains unfulfilled. Nevertheless, in the next scenes, we get to see a montage of ‘Anna’ completing the trip alone by visiting Paris, Venice, and Amsterdam to honour their plans and her memories with ‘Jamie’.
How is My Oxford Year’s ending different from the book?
In the film, ‘Anna’ comes back to Oxford to fill ‘Jamie’s role as a poetry professor by reliving his unique style as a teacher. She gets a cake in her first class, just like he did, to celebrate poetry and highlight its power to change lives. However, this heartfelt and hopeful ending differs from the novel, where ‘Jamie’ survives and completes the tour with Anna. Defending the ending, Sophie Carson, who plays the lead role of ‘Anna’ and Corey Mylchreest, who portrays ‘Jamie’, explained that they felt the emotional end in the film was ‘more powerful.’ Corey felt that it fell in line with ‘Jamie’s wish to live his life on his terms, while Sophie added:
“We wanted the film to end with hope and light. The idea of life after love and loss is a really powerful thing.”
More about My Oxford Year
My Oxford Year is a romantic film inspired by a novel of the same name by Julia Whelan, which in turn was adapted from Burnett’s original screenplay. Directed by Iain Morris, the film features an extensive cast including Sofia Carson, Corey Mylchreest, Dougray Scott and Catherine McCormack. The film was released on Netflix on August 1, 2025 and received mixed reviews from the critics.
What do you think about the makers decision to have a different ending for My Oxford Year in comparison to the book?
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