Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
The Oxford Series is a spin-off of the Sex, Love & Stiletto Series
Series: Oxford Series
This is a spinoff of the Sex, Love & Stiletto Series.
Author: Lauren Layne
# of Books: 5 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Toasty
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Date: October 2015 – July 2018
Source & Format: Public Library—Audiobook (#1-3)
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
I was searching for a new audiobook series to start, particularly a contemporary one, and saw Irresistibly Yours in my wishlist. I’ve been a fan of Lauren Layne‘s other works in the past; she just writes really great romances that you can immediately dive into. I didn’t realize that the Oxford Series was a spin-off of another series, Sex, Love and Stiletto until after I had finished Irresistibly Yours. So I went back to finish that inaugural series before I completed this one. (Though you definitely don’t need to read one without the other!)
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–More Complex Stories–
The original Sex, Love and Stiletto Series tended to skew more towards the “light romance” category of the genre. I find we didn’t get uber deep into the characters and things often felt cliché with the romance and the drama but they were entertaining if you knew that was what you were getting.
I just found that the Oxford Series as a whole went that little bit further with its characters. We learn more about the characters’ pasts and their flaws. The romances tended to be more slow burn than instant romance so those relationships just had more substance to them.
–Focus on Friendship–
Just like the original series, the focus on the network of friends and how they help each other navigate all aspects of life is refreshing to read. But I also like that often the lead(s) in the next book are feature in the previous so you really get attached to all the characters and invested in their stories.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
–Gets Less ‘Light’ As the Series Progresses–
Now, I know I said I appreciated the more complex characters above but I did find the tone shifted as the series progressed from Book #1, Irresistibly Yours. That book had a more “will they, won’t they” office romance approach that was lighter. The next two books have stickier relationships to navigate given character pasts so I found that somewhat “fun” tone of the first book was lost. It’s a bad thing, it was just a shift to note.
My Audiobook Experience:
I listened to both series as audiobooks and I liked them. They are entertaining and almost made me feel like I was watching a rom-com. I did change the speed though to be 2X because they felt excessively long otherwise. I could probably read each book in 4 hours if I was reading the physical text, but the audiobooks were twice as long to listen too so it made the stories feel like they were dragged out a bit if I didn’t speed things up.
Why I Didn’t Read I Knew You Were Trouble (#4) and I Think I Love You (#5):
Despite my statement above that I could read the physical books faster, I never picked up the rest of the series because my library didn’t have the audioversions of these novels. But as each book is a standalone romance, I felt ok leaving the series as I did and it has been some years since I read the first 3 books.
Series Rating: 4/5
Irresistibly Yours 5/5 | I Wish You Were Mine 3.5/5 | Someone Like You 4/5 | I Knew You Were Trouble N/A | I Think I Love You N/A
Fans of the original series will enjoy this slight evolution in its romantic stories as the characters get a little deeper but the friendships remain strong. New fans will be able to dive right in and enjoy.
Read if You Like: contemporary romance, office romances, friendship
Avoid if You: want erotica
- Until It’s Right by Jamie Howard
- Rowdy by Jay Crownover (Marked Men Series #5)
- Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren (Beautiful Bastard Series #1)
Synopsis for Irresistibly Yours (from Goodreads):
Meet the men of Oxford magazine! In the first captivating spin-off of Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series, a not-so-friendly battle of the sexes turns into a scorching office romance.
Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.
Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.
