Books like Swearing off stars by Danielle M. Wong

Amelia “Lia” Cole becomes one of the pioneering women to study abroad at Oxford University during the 1920s, leaving the constraints of her Brooklyn family behind. Immersed in British academic life, she encounters excitement and intellectual freedom. Lia’s short‑lived romance with Scarlett Daniels—a hard‑headed actress and activist—draws her into a vigorous gender‑equality movement with real stakes. As the lovers' secret relationship endangers their safety amid political upheaval, their bond becomes a tragic casualty of the broader struggle. The novel explores themes of independence, queer love, and social change set against the backdrop of early‑20th‑century academia. Keywords: "Oxford University", "1920s", "women’s education", "Queer romance", "lesbian love", "gender equality movement", "actress", "political protest", "female independence", "Brooklyn upbringing", "intellectual freedom", "historical fiction", "college life", "social change", "early‑20th‑century Britain"

First publish date: 2017