I was blessed to receive an early copy of this book through Netgalley! Can you believe it’s my first Jodi McAllister book I have read. I have seen books by this author all over Instagram with rave reviews and I can see why, as I really enjoyed An Academic Affair!

💙 rivals to lovers
📖 marriage of convenience
💙 academic banter
📖 they call each other by their last names
💙 family dynamics

A slow burn rivals to lovers romance that delves deep into family relationships and the interesting world of academia, there is so much to enjoy in this book, set in the beautiful cities of Sydney and Hobart, Australia.

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher are long time academic rivals, studying and competing against one another throughout their university years. It is only as they vie for the same teaching position that they really get to know the other beyond their arguing and rivalry.

I loved the dual timelines, we get flashbacks to Jonah and Sadie’s undergraduate years and their achievements along the way, as well as a look into how their family life and decisions they have made has helped shape the people they are now. And who knew that the academic world was so cut throat! I loved learning more about university life as a professor and the slow burn romance that was building as both MCs finally saw each other and peeled back those layers. There was sacrifice, commitment and quite a few laughs too. I feel like the ending could have had another chapter as it wrapped up quite neatly and quickly, though this did not take anything away from my enjoyment of this story! Romance readers, this one is for you!

This contemporary romance was so much fun to read. Full of amazing banter, and wonderful characters. Definitely a great recommendation for any romance reader who loves a slow burn. This book has been added to our library collection and has a wait list for our copies.

If you love a fun romance, especially one with fake marriages, then this is the book for you!

Australian academic rivals Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher, take on university politics and academia, along with their own issues, in this fun rom-com. Jodi McAlister really embraced the whole academia vibe with literal footnotes throughout the story (which I loved), lots of literary references and all set in the charming city of Hobart. This book is a dual narrative of both leading characters and you will just love the academia, competitive job markets, rivalry and love (both romantic and family).

This is a well written story that I recommend as I so enjoyed not only the banter but snippets of life in Hobart, the real life /struggle for academics and the powerful dynamic of family relationships.

Such a fun book! I absolutely loved the idea of academic rivals to lovers and the pacing of this was just perfect.

I love an academic romance, particularly those who love books. It was a slow burn but wasn’t one that felt frustrating to read, it felt purposeful and made me want more. It made me deeply invested in their career struggles and everything else about them. Both characters have such unique voices that it’s easy to see why they’ve been academic rivals for so long—and just as easy to believe how they ended up falling for each other.

My only two issues were that I wanted more of the background characters, I got so invested in them and wanted their own ends. Would be cool if Jodi was to write future books about them, like a standalone interconnected vibe. Also, the big fight that Sadie and Chess had, it felt too over the top and blown out of proportion. Particularly for the fact they didn’t talk for so long after it, but Sadie was so sad. No one would sit on that for 7 months before doing something. I was so happy with how this ended though.

Overall, an amazing read particularly due to my love for academic rivals to lovers. There was so much packed in, but I was never bored.

I'll be honest, this book took me a long time to get into. I understand the logic of the two main characters being highly intellectual, but the writing itself became a bit clunky and convoluted with the continuous drops of words I'd never heard of (and I'm a good reader and whilst not overly a genius, have a good vocab) that meant i needed to stop and continuously search for the meaning of words, which to me just tried to show an air of superiority from the author that I don't necessarily felt like matched the content of the book, but who am I to judge that. That left me with a frustrated taste in my mouth to begin with that I had a hard time getting over.

That aside, however, I enjoyed the characters budding relationship, as I'm a sucker for the 'he falls first, and hard, for a long time before'. The journey we took with Jonah and Sadie was emotional, full of turmoil and angst (I'm so here for that), and early frustration with the writing aside, I'd take again. There was, however, point I was more invested in the background/side characters storylines then the main characters.

What a sweet romance!
Sadie and Jonah are academics who have been going head to head for 15 years.
After they both apply for the same job, Sadie proposes a deal with Jonah.
I simply adored reading how Jonah realised he was in love with Sadie, and how she, too, finally worked out that she needed him as more than just a sparring partner.
I loved how this book was self-reflective in a lot of ways. The footnotes – thank you, Jonah – were a fun little addition.
I would absolutely recommend this if you love a romcom.
<spoiler>This book does not contain a third act breakup.</spoiler>

rating: 4.5 stars

The way my respect for people trying to pursue an academic career skyrocketed after this was unbelievable. In the words of olivia rodrigo, "it's brutal out here"

I was a bit skeptical about this book - for one, it had my roman empires which are academic rivals to lovers and reluctant allies but on the other hand, it also had marriage of convenience and fake "dating" which are reallllyyy a hit or miss for me. But Jodi was able to spin these tropes into something new and fresh, especially in an academic setting. I genuinely had so much fun reading this.

It also helps the Jodi is an actual academic?? (per her acknowledgement section) and a lot of the issues the book talks about, either she had experience or a friend had - and I believe that added a level of authenticity to the plot and opened my eyes to the way the higher level education system is corrupt and biased (like GIRL I WAS READY TO THROW HANDS LEFT RIGHT CENTER)

Also the amount of literary references was so good, i actually learnt so much things - did you know that there's a term for writing in the margins of your book? it's called "marginalia".

ok this isn't a hear me out but a hold me back because the way i would fold for jonah? i really cant survive an enemies to lovers. I love their banter because it was actually rooted in literary debate and it was so so so fun to read - the popcorn was out and ready everytime they interacted.

the romance i felt like was fairly well paced because the foundations of their relationship was already there - sadie and jonah met in undergrad and as they pursued similar careers in literature, a lot of their interactions made sense and plot just builds on that. I hate it when chemistry between two characters feel forced and I'm so happy sadie and jonah didn't suffer from that.

One thing i didn't really understand though and i wish the book went into more is the subplot with Chess (the older sister) - like the sudden 180 in her character and dynamic with sadie gave me whiplash. But at least it added depth to sadie's character?

ALSO the footnotes?? YES THERE'S FOOTNOTES (because get it, they're academics? lmao). Like Jodi did not need to go hard with them, they added so much comedy and heart to the plot and also a creative way of letting the readers in on the world and characters.

i really can't stress it enough - this is just a fun read and i literally bought a physical copy just so i can make my own marginalia (see what i did there? i hope i used it right haha)

p.s this has my fave confession scene of all time

Thank you Simon & Schuster (Australia) , Atria Australia and Netgalley for giving me a digital copy of this book!!

In An Academic Affair Jodi McAllister has written a cracking good enemies to lovers/arranged marriage romance. I loved Jonah with his extreme short-sightedness, floppy fringe and aversion to his entitled family. He’s a complex character, with a massive guilt complex over the way he treated his sister in the past and a long-standing secret love for his nemisis, Sadie Shaw. As this story opens, these two have been at war for fifteen years, constantly striving to be better and achieve more than each other. Sadie could not have had a more different upbringing to Jonah, whom she considers an entitled prat coasting through life on his family’s money and courtesy of his father’s academic role at their university. She was raised by her sister after her mother died and ehr father took off and she knows the meaning of struggling. When they end up in the same share-house, we see that despite their differences, there is a spark of attraction and as the story unfolds it’s clear there’s more than that, though neither of them will admit to it poublicly. I loved Sadie’s compassion for Jonah after she finally beat him to securing a permanent university position, and the way they used their animosity to create vibrant lectures for their students. I also loved the role their sisters played in this story. An Academic Affair sheds an unflattering light on the institutional side of universities and while it might be fiction, I susect there’s a shred of truth in there. It makes for an interesting backdrop for this unikely and thoroughly entertaining romance.

An easy read that I really enjoyed. It ended a bit abruptly for me, but I'm looking forward to future books about some of the other characters.

4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) / Atria Australia for an advance reader e-copy.

There were so many aspects of this book that should’ve made this a much higher rated read for me: a book about books, academics rivals (and hence rivals-to-lovers), academia in general, marriage of convenience/fake dating, forced proximity… but I think I just didn’t gel well with McAlister’s writing style.

I loved the premise of this book, but I think this being my first taste of McAlister’s adult writing (I’ve only read her YA trilogy prior), I just felt perhaps a bit disjointed.

“An Academic Affair” is a fun rom-com with serious underpinnings. I enjoyed it a great deal, both for the romance and for the glimpses of academic life.

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have long been competing – first for the same academic scores and honors, and now for the same jobs. They’re each others’ nemesis’ and it shows in the constant sniping, backbiting, and gloating.

But when one of them wins a coveted job, and the loss looks like it will devastate the other’s life, they come up with a plan that might just save them both. The trouble is, they’ll have to act like they like – and even love – each other. Can they do it?

Romance fans will notice some familiar frameworks here, notably forced proximity and enemies to lovers. McAlister is clearly having some fun playing with the tropes of the romantic genre and the sense of fun is shared with the reader.

The dialogue is smart and snappy, and the literary references are either explained or pitched at a level which won’t make readers feel dumb. As a reader and past literary student I got a bit of extra pleasure out of this element, but it’s accessible to casual readers.

McAlister references (see what I did there) the academic world with her use of footnotes. This is a technique that can quickly get annoying, but McAlister uses it heavily for a couple of chapters, then reduces the frequency. The result is that this stays fun and amusing while being a wink to the larger world of the characters.

McAlister’s previous three books were all set in the world of a reality dating show, revisiting the same season from different points of view. I enjoyed that immensely – it was both fun and interesting, and layered a bit more depth on with each novel. It’s pretty clear she could do the same here – the setting is expansive enough to take more stories, and several secondary characters seemed ripe for their own stories. I’m sure I won’t be the only reader to hope she revisits the world of “An Academic Affair”.

This is a mostly light-hearted and enjoyable romantic comedy. It’s easy to read, and the overwhelming feeling is “that was fun!”. Highly recommended for romance readers or those just looking for a bit of fun.

DNF 73% Unfortunately I struggled getting through this. There were aspects I liked - the writing style and the MMC, but I felt the romantic tension was lacking and one sided and I didn’t like the MFC. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since they first crossed paths as undergraduates in the literature department thirteen years ago. Yet when a highly coveted teaching opportunity comes up in Tasmania, they find themselves contemplating the other. Jonah needs the job to move closer to his recently divorced sister and her children, while Sadie needs the financial security and freedom of a full-time teaching position. So Sadie, who has a ‘soft spot’ for sisters, proposes that she and Jonah marry, as the job offers partner hire. For Sadie, it is a win-win solution, but soon their feelings become transparent. Despite being clever with words, neither of them can convey their feelings for each other until the university throws them into a situation where they must fit to stay together.
I really loved this story, and the character development of Sadie and Jonah as they progressed through the years was so sweet and volatile. When they finally call a truce and agree to marry, Saide mellows and sees Jonah for who he truly is. I thought it was so sweet how Jonah was so in love with her but respected her too much to push the boundaries. My only criticism is that the story ended too quickly, but I wonder if that was tied to the possibility of additional books in a series centering around Sadie’s sister and also Jonah’s two siblings.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you're looking read more Australian romances I got you!

I'm a little late in reviewing this one but thank you to Atria Books Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia, Jodi McAlister and Netgalley for this arc.

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals for 15 years, locked in a fierce rivalry that spans assessments degrees and academic positions, most while living in the same share house. When a dream role at a Hobart university opens up, Sadie finally edges out Jonah for the role. But when unexpected family complications arise for him, Sadie proposes they take advantage of the job’s partner hire clause. Cue the fake marriage trope!

I adored this book. The fake marriage trope was perfectly executed and it genuinely made me laugh out loud. But this story also has its beautiful and heartbreaking family moments. Jonah and Sadie's banter is excellent, and their chemistry? Top. Tier. The idyllic hobart setting and academic backdrop made for such an enjoyable read.

The footnotes were very on brand, but I did find them a little clunky to navigate on an e-reader. I imagine in paperback it would feel much smoother.

Bonus points to Jodi for including nods to BK Borison, Talia Hibbert and Hamilton 😍

4.5⭐

Tropes & Setting:
📚 Enemies to lovers
🍷 Workplace rivals
📚 Marriage of convenience
🍷 University/academic setting
📚 Forced proximity
🍷 Slow burn
📚 Dual POV

Might already be thinking about Chessie, Elias and Fiona’s stories

An Academic Affair
Jodi McAlister

‘It's hard to fight a battle when your enemy is amorphous, nameless, faceless. You can't defeat something you can't see.’

This was a fun and charming romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized.

‘The lenses in my glasses are about eight feet thick, Sadie, I wanted to say. Do you really think I could copy your homework from this distance?’

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals for almost fifteen years. When a highly coveted teaching opportunity with secure job prospects comes up, their rivalry hits epic proportions.

'This is going to sound insane,' I said, 'but I was wondering if you'd like to marry me.'

The real kicker though is there’s a contractual clause in the employment contract for partner hire. And yes this just got really interesting!

‘The basic governing principle of narrative was causation. It wasn't X happened then Y happened - it was Y happened because X happened.’

I loved reading this and enjoyed all the academic and book lover tropes and stereotypes thrown in. The fact that this book is set in Australia made it even more enjoyable to me and so relatable.

'I thought... I thought ... I've got a fucking PhD in English and I read everything all wrong!'

There’s dual narration and sub plots that are equally as compelling but the real star is always going to be the rivals to lovers storyline. Fun banter thrown in is always appreciated.

(Review posted 10th June).

This book was amazing!
It was a mix of rivals to lovers, marriage of convenience, forced proximity and a long slow burn that pays off!
It had me hooked from the beginning and then when I saw the footnotes I was so sold!

The chemistry that @jodimcalister built between the two main characters Sadie and Jonah was amazing and really built the story.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonschusterau for access to the ARC!

An Academic Affair is a fun dual-point-of-view rom-com set in the academic world, focussing on Sadie and Jonah - academic rivals.

Set mainly in Tasmania, Australia, it has many themes including the competitiveness of university life, competitiveness within families, fake marriage, relationships with family. As the story progresses we learn more about the relationships Sadie and Jonah have with their families. Sadie with her elder sister Chess and Jonah with his Professor father and his brother and sister. I loved this part of the story. I also loved the rivalry between Jonah and Sadie and their banter and the footnotes added some extra fun to the story. Overall it was a great feel good book.

Cute enemies to lovers in a academic setting, set in Australia which is also lovely. I loved the pace of the book and that the writing was easy to read. I loved jonahs narration on their truces

Charming book full of all my favourite tropes. Love that it was set in Australia, in the world of academia. Great, easy quick read. Main characters were perfect for each other and had fun banter.