As someone who has just seen 'The Boys in the Boat' I was excited to read a rowing romance but this ended up being just a 3 star read for me and then became a 2 star after mulling it over afterwards.

I'll start with the good. The plot was well paced. Despite my dislike of the third act break up I think it worked well to push the story forwards. The rowing was explained clearly and continued to be interesting throughout the book. Character wise, both Oz and Kate were well rounded, fleshed out and had great motivations. That is to say, I found them both compelling even without the romance aspect. This extends to the side characters who were all characterised well (especially Charlie and Kate's friends).

The beginning felt too wordy and info dumpy, so it took a few chapters for me to get into. Having Oz introduce the entire crew in his inner monologue at the beginning (including characters who rarely ever appear again) was unnecessary and completely useless considering I had forgotten all their names immediately. This problem did mostly fix itself later on.

I am also, personally, a hater of glossaries at the beginning of the book. This was clearly to appeal to American readers because why was the River Thames on the glossary list??? This is a classic case of 'if you explain things well enough within the book itself, you wouldn't need a glossary that no one will look at anyways'.

(EDIT) Originally, I was under the impression that the author was American but since being corrected I can see that I just didn't enjoy the writing style. In this economy, writing about a character who comes from generational wealth and has staff in his mansion home in such a surface level way, isn't enjoyable. Additionally, the conversations are clunky and unrealistic.

Overall, there's definitely a market for this book. I think it'll do well and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes sports romances or university settings. Whether or not I'll read the sequel, I don't think this one was for me so probably not..

I would like to thank netgalley and Penguin Random House for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to this due to its unique synopsis, and it didn't disappoint. The hero was really swoony and I liked the dynamic of the opposing teams. Can't wait for the next in the series.

I am a huge Lulu Moore fan, and have loved all her previous series, so I was super excited when this was announced. She just never misses and is one of my top auto-buy authors.

What are you meant to do when the guy you hit it off with on your first night in Cambridge, happens to be the President of Oxford University Rowing Club - your sworn rival, as you are also on the Cambridge Women's Rowing team? Oh and did I mention, you're on scholarship and if anyone finds out about the both of you, you could be kicked off the team?

Did I know anything about rowing before going into it? No! But I loved this book so much, from the initial meet cute of Oz and Kate, you could feel the chemistry and pull between them with their banter and flirting! I'm not normally one for insta-love vibes, but it was written so well that I didn't really notice, it just felt so natural. Boy, did Oz fall first and HARD for Kate.

Kate had a lot of past family trauma to work through alongside fighting her attraction for Oz, but he doubled down and wouldn't give up on her! I loved how open and vulnerable they were able to be with each other, and I loved loved loved the final race and what happened afterwards (I don't want to spoil for those who haven't read it!)

I'm so excited for this series to continue and I can't wait to read Charlie and Violet's book next and see who else from Oz's friend groups gets their HEAs (found family/friendship groups are something Lulu just excels at writing)!

Thank you Lulu Moore, Micheal Joseph, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- rivals to lovers
- British MMC / American FMC
- English Ivy League college setting
- strong girls / boy banter
- sports romance (rowing)
- found family

The meet cute in this book made me feel actually giddy. It so perfectly summed up what it's like to be at uni and have one chance encounter in the late/early hours of the night change your life.

The chemistry between Oz and Kate was so good. And also a little bit sweet. It just had that quality of innocence and first love and reading these two characters navigate that was such fun. I thought that all the points of conflict made perfect sense and I thought the way that they dealt with them was handled really well, even if I did find it a tad frustrating at times (100% a personal to me thing). The Oz had it bad was real great and I was really rooting for Kate to take control of her life.

I enjoyed this being set against the backdrop of the Boat Race. The slight rivalry between them, that also came with the total respect of the other ones time because they know what it takes to compete. The fact that they had to do most of their relationship long distance. The tension of Race Day.

I really loved the side characters as well and am interested to know what other stories that we could get in this series as well.

Rowers are hot and this proved why.

Easy read to get hooked on and lost in! These character were portrayed in such a raw manner, I’m in awe of Moore’ writing.

I loved this book so much! I thought the competive nature made this book so fun and different from other books. I love a sports romance and I loved how I haven't read a rowing book before! I was actually a rower in high school but I felt like the language was easy for someone who didn't know anything about rowing to understand! I love Kate so much and though she was such a relatable character! Oz family dynamic was so interesting to learn about! Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc!!

First of all, I love the punny title. I also appreciate that this isn't a rivals-to-lovers romance, Oz and Kate have an insta-lust/insta-love thing going on, it just takes them some time to decide to date.
I think the writing here just wasn't for me. It is very, very descriptive. A character would get asked a question, and we wouldn't get the answer until four pages of internal dialogue later. Also, Kate is an American who moved to the UK one day before the book opens. And yet, she almost immediately speaks in British English. It took me out of the story. Other than that, Kate is a pretty good character. but not distinct. Oz, on the other hand, is quite something. He actually goes on a several page-long rant about how he's just so pretty and nothing is ever his fault, poor little Oz. Luckily, this doesn't really come up again, and he is pretty unobjectionable as a boyfriend.
The characters and story just didn't really engage me and I didn't care all that much about their relationship or their happy ending.

✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ / 5

This was my first book by @lulumoorebooks and now I need to go back and read her entire backlist! This book was literal perfection and is now living in my head rent free 😍

Oz has just jumped towards the top of my Book Boyfriends list! He was a boy obsessed from the moment they met and she crushed his nuts 😂 That’s a pretty good meet-cute in my book! I loved how intentional he was with Kate. He didn’t care about the long-standing rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge, he just cared about her. He supported her and celebrated her wins, even though she was “the enemy”. And when he ran to her side anytime she cried, he had me swooning! And his nickname for her… DEAD!! 🫠

Kate was such a fun character. I loved the American in Cambridge story and that she was trying to follow her brother’s dream. She was so hardworking and dedicated to everything she did, and I loved cheering her on like the crowd on the Thames. She was hesitant in starting a relationship with Oz, but he was patient and I loved seeing the true Kate come through, seeing her figure out her own dreams and chasing after them.

I love that Sports Romances are branching out to cover less popular sports, and this book has made me a rowing fan! I think the rivalry between Oxford and Cambridge was portrayed so well and I loved the mascot drama. Both teams dedication was so clear and I loved the support they received at the Boat Race.

I loved all the friendships and side characters, and I seriously can’t wait for Charlie and Violet’s book next!! 😍

Thank you so much @NetGalleyUK and Lulu Moore for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
- Rivals to Lovers
- Boy Obsessed
- Forbidden Love
- Secret Relationship
- Love at First Sight
- Sports Romance
- Billionaire Romance
- He Falls First
- British Hero x American Girl

I am a huge fan of Lulu Moore's 'New York Players' series, so had high hopes that I would fall in love with the start of this new series. And I did. Oar Than Friends is book 1 in the Oxbridge series, and is a sports romance set in the world of rowing - this is something entirely new for me but I became utterly obsessed. It was so well written and had me hooked right from the start - I am so excited to see what comes next.

“Kate had gotten into me, she was under my skin, seeping into my bones and burying herself so deep in my chest that I almost couldn’t imagine how I’d manage to get through my days without her..”

Tropes
Sports romance (rowing)
Billionaire
University (college) romance
British boy / American girl
Meet Cute
Forbidden Romance
Secret relationship

Firstly, thank you so much to one of my favourite authors @lulumoorebooks and to Penguin for thinking of me and providing me with an early copy of this wonderful book. I am SO SO excited that she is now being traditionally published. It’s so well deserved l.

✨This book releases 14 March ✨

This is a non spoiler review but you just need to see the list of tropes to know that this book is amazing. Couple this with Lulus storytelling and I was hooked. I loved Kate and Arthur (Oz). Oz is the ultimate cinnamon roll hero - obsessed with Kate and honestly perfect in every way. This book follows the Oxford and Cambridge annual boat race which I actually watch most years on tv but I know nothing about rowing! I loved the uniqueness that this is a sports romance but the sport is rowing. You don’t need to love the sport to love this book but it’s really got me invested. I loved how it’s based in the UK but not in London and in the lovely cities of Oxford and Cambridge and I ADORED the side characters. Lulu does found family trope SO WELL and I’m so excited for the rest of this series. If you haven’t read any of Lulus backlist before I highly recommend and also run to read this one when it comes out in March 😍

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

🚣‍♀️ Sports Romance
🚣‍♀️ Rivals to Lovers
🚣‍♀️ Forbidden Romance

The perfect little romance for the Valentines season! This sports romance centers around our two rival rowers, Oz and Kate. Although I do not obtain much knowledge regarding rowing, this story was still very fun. The author explores different aspects of rowing from opposing teams, which ultimately had me invested in the final rowing competition we see in the finale.
Oz is definitely a golden retriever boyfriend—something I’m usually not invested in. Here, Lulu Moore does an excellent job writing Oz and I truly enjoyed seeing their relationship blossom throughout the novel.

This was ok but not for me so I DNF’d at 15%
. Has good bones but I was just not vibing with it sadly

I absolutely adored this book! I was intrigued to read about a new sports genre that I hadn’t read before - rowing! It was amazing. I loved the UK setting and the story was brilliant. I was hooked from the beginning and I can’t wait to see what’s next from Lulu!

What I loved: the academic rivalry, the secondary character, the writing, the rowing and the romance.

Oar than friends was the most perfect romcom! I was hooked from page 1 (which I think is quite rare) and couldn't put it down. Kate and Oz are so cute and perfect for each other, and although it was very insta love I thought it was perfectly well written and didn’t feel too fake. The secondary characters also made this book sooooooo good and I can’t wait for the next books to come out !!! My only negative point would be that the third act breakup didn’t feel very believable. But all in all I would recommend this book to anyone who loves academic rivalries, secret dating or just cute romcoms.

Summary: Arthur and Kate have predetermined paths but clash when they meet, challenging their beliefs and desires amidst a heated school rivalry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.
#OarThanFriends

Book received as an ARC in return for my honest review.

🚣🏻‍♀️ Sports
🚣🏻‍♀️ Boy obsessed
🚣🏻‍♀️ Rivals to lovers
🚣🏻‍♀️ Forbidden love
🚣🏻‍♀️ Secret romance
🚣🏻‍♀️ Love at first sight

So love at first sight romances aren’t usually my bag, however which British person didn’t go to Uni, sit in the grass necking alcohol and getting it on with the first pretty face they saw and becoming a little bit obsessed with them. I know I did, so a pretty true representation of our educational system if you ask me 😂

That being said I absolutely love Arthur and Kate, they make a great MMC and FMC who I couldn’t wait to keep reading about. The topic of living through grief post a close family loss was really well handled and sympathetic to the subject matter.

Once again Lulu had me hooked and frantically turning the page to find out what happened next, in my eyes she can do no wrong when it comes to a sports romance. I’m intrigued to see where this could go and if the side characters will get their own stories going forward.

I love the boat race, I watch it every year. I also went to Cambridge, so seeing all of this brought to life in a romance was so fun!

This book perfectly encapsulates the chaos of being 19, 20, 21, not knowing what your future will look like and feeling like you have nothing figured out. It can be a turbulent time and I loved reading about how Kate and Oz navigated it.

*I* also felt tired just reading about everything Kate had to balance!

Kate and Oz were so sweet and Oz is an excellent book boyfriend. He loved her so wholly. The pumpkin pie moment was swoon worthy…

Normally third act conflict drives me nuts, but their conflict made total sense and felt necessary so they could come out in a better place afterwards. I actually *enjoyed(?!)* the tension between them.

I was so excited to find out that this was going to be a series as well. They set up the next book very nicely…

Highly recommend this for any college romance book lovers, for a fresh take on the trope set at two prestigious English Universities!

Thank you for the DRC!

Do you ever have a book that that you have been hoping that an Author will write and then one day it lands on your kindle? For me, it was THIS BOOK. I grew up ever year watching the Boat Race; cheering for my favourite blue team (I’ll admit that I did switch alliances every so often but the dark blues won by heart in the end), screaming at the TV or beside the water in the hopes that it would help the boats cross the finish line faster. As I got older, I have always secretly thought that it was the perfect setting for a romance novel and was just biding my time waiting for it to appear. So imagine my surprise [and unhinged excitement] when one of my favourite author starts teasing images of rowing in her stories…you know I immediately slid into the DMs begging to know if this was what I thought it was going to be! To say I had high hopes for the book is an understatement and a half but as always Lulu DELIVERED!!

From the moment of their first meeting, Kate and Oz were destined to have a romance of the ages. Attending rival universities and set to complete against in each other in the a race that will be recorded in history, there was always going to be added element. What I loved about these two is that way that they showed up for each other, particularly Oz. His little acts of kindness and unwavering support of Kate went a long way in cementing who he authentically is, not what the media and gossip makes him out to be. Kate and Oz had perfect chemistry and complemented each other so well. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their love story unfold.

One of things that I love about Lulu’s books is the cast of characters that she introduces to you along the way. You’re always guaranteed strong friends on both sides and a shed load of banter. While this book is not connected [that we know of at this point] to the rest of the #luluverse it was no different! When I say I spend most of my time giggling away, I am not kidding! I cannot wait to see what is next for this crew.

As for the rowing, whether you’re a life long fan or this is your first introduction, Lulu managed to make it accessible to everyone and I even found myself holding my breath for narrative around the Boat Race in anticipation of seeing who would win - it felt like I was seeing it live.

If you love the below, you’ll love this book:
- Rivals to lovers
- British MMC x American FMC
- English University | College setting
- Strong girls x Boy banter
- Sports romance

Love this book! Read the whole thing in one sitting, I could not put this down! My first book by Lulu Moore and it definitely will not be my last.

Do I know a single thing about rowing… no… but now I want to! I fell in love with both Kate and Oz as a couple instantly. They complemented each other perfectly - I was rooting for them the whole time. Plus all the supporting characters were amazing – I want to be friends with their friends! Cannot wait for more in this series and to read more by Lulu! If you are looking for a super sweet romance to dive into look no further.

I loved this book for so many reasons, but especially because it evoked a level of nostalgia within me that I cannot properly explain. Rowing reminds me of days gone by and I was so happy to revisit them with Oz and Kate. I cannot stop thinking about these characters. They will live rent free in my head and heart forever.

The rivalry between the Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Clubs sets the perfect stage for this story. Oz and Kate have a hilarious meet cute and are immediately attracted to each other. She has no idea that he is the President of Oxford's crew and he has no idea she is rowing for Cambridge. Kate hears rumors about the infamous Arthur Osbourne-Cloud and does not see how their relationship can work once she finds out he is the same guy she is falling for. I loved seeing Oz prove to Kate over and over again that they belong together.

There are some bumps along the way and the last one almost broke me, but the conflict makes sense with the various things going on in their lives. These characters feel complex and mature for their age while also being relatable. The strong emotions are perfectly balanced with witty banter. I rooted for Oz and Kate as a couple and as competitors. He is prime book boyfriend material and I am ready to fill out the application to be her BFF. I fully believe in their HEA and cannot wait to see more of them. I'll be over here not so silently begging for bonus content.

The well is deep for more books in this series because Lulu Moore is a genius at creating friend groups that readers become attached to. I am completely enamored with these characters and desperate for more stories.

Thank you to Lulu and Penguin Random House UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cambridge versus Oxford is an academic rivalry like no other. What happens when people from opposite sides fall in love? Centred around the Oxford and Cambridge boat race, Lulu Moore writes a charming and addictive tale of romance between Arthur Osbourne-Cloud and Kate Astler, a Classics finalist and a medic first year who share a passion and talent for rowing. On warring teams.
I just loved this book. It definitely added to my excitement that the love interest was an Oxford classicist, because I graduated last year from Oxford with a degree in Classics!
Oz and Kate made a delightful couple, and Oz's adoration of Kate was a refreshing detail in this story, setting it apart from other romances.
If you enjoy academic rivalry romances, secret dating, yearning, and rowing... this one's for you!
#oarthanfriends @michaeljosephpenguinrandomhouse