I really liked this!! Like read this in one sitting liked this!! JONAH. JONAH. JONAH. I’m obsessed with him. I love that right from the beginning we the reader know how Jonah feels about Sadie. I love having their different POVs and their different perspectives on their relationship. Jonah was just so sweet and kind and good - he made it clear he respected Sadie and made sure everyone else did to. The love declaration scene??? Killer. I love a scene where the two main characters are yelling at each other in a lovingly way - like they are just feeling so much it just has to be said so loudly and quickly or else they wont ever have the guts to say it. The “my wife” switch up also goes crazyyy. I’m just obsessed with Jonah and you need to read this book to understand it.

I will say after the love declaration I feel like it lost its momentum a bit - especially with the sort of whole new plot point introduced right at the end? and then quickly we get an epilogue in which we are just told how things got resolved. It felt a bit rushed and like we spent all this time getting to the “catastrophe” (you’ll get it once you read) and then we just had to tie up the book somehow? I wanted more on Sadie’s end in terms of her understanding her feelings for Jonah - we don’t quite get the inner monologue of her processing her feelings the same way we did for Jonah throughout the whole book. The sister plot point at time also felt weird as it also resolves and wraps up in last 10% of book? But still overall had a great time!!

Thanks Aria for the arc in exchange for a honest review!

Thank you to Atria books and netgalley for the opportunity to read the arc of "An Academic Affair" by Jodi McAlister.

Jonah Fisher (MMC) and Sadie Shaw (FMC) are both academics pursuing careers at a University. They spend fifteen years battling each other throughout their undergrad, post-undergrad, and doctoral educations, and live with each other for the last eight years in a house-share situation. When a rare career opportunity comes up, both apply. With only one of the characters earning the position, they use some creative language in the contract to engage in a fake-marriage plot. Of course, all romance readers know what happens when you tie two enemies together in a fake marriage...

I really enjoyed the academic bureaucracy that propelled the plot of this book. Much like Ali Hazelwood's books, being set in academia lends the desperateness of the fake marriage trope some realism. There was some disparity between my knowledge of how academics work, specifically in Australia, but McAlister was able to give enough contextual clue for me to make sense of the plot.

I felt like the banter between these two "enemies" over their fifteen-year relationship was clever. Both Jonah and Sadie were well-developed characters, with enough backstory to understand their motives and root for them to succeed. Jonah's relationship with his sister Fiona and Sadie's relationship with her sister Chess are also both developed and integral to the plot.

I did feel like there were some loose ends that could lend themselves to another book(s). This is my first book by Jodi McAlister but it feels like it was meant as a standalone, however I would live to see more about a relationship between Elias and Julia, and Fiona and Satoshi.

I do plan to read McAlister's other books after thoroughly enjoying this one!

e-ARC: 4⭐️ this book was more or less everything I could have wanted it to be. The banter! The footnotes! The yearning! I was in love with all of it.

This could have honestly been 4+ stars if not for the fact that the ending felt a bit rushed, especially the jump from the end of the final chapter going into the epilogue—but not in a way that felt like it took away from the rest of the story, just in a way that left me wanting more. There were also definitely several plot points that I would have liked to see explored further but felt like maybe they were being intentionally left open for the possibility of a sequel(sequels?). Not a practice I love but nonetheless something I do understand.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy! Definitely recommend any fan of romcoms, specifically romcoms set in academia, pick this one up!

3.75 STARS

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

An Academic Affair is (very loose) enemies to lovers book. Jonah and Sadie have went to school together for years both achieving the highest award when they graduated with their PhD. When a job becomes available that would be a dream for both of them, a tense fight ensues for who is better qualified. Only one wins the job, but what if they could both do the job? Would they tie themselves together for years to come to both achieve their dream?

I really liked Jonah and Sadie’s tense friendship through the years of school. I really enjoyed the side story with Jonah’s sister. I do feel like a few potential side stories popped up but fizzled out. I’m the type of reader that once a thought is planted into my mind by the author I need to see it through. For example, Jonah’s brother and Julia? The story was brought up, we were introduced to her, she was divorced and still there was no conclusion there. The same for Jonah’s sister and the wine brother. Lastly, the way Jonah kept harping on Sadie’s sister and how odd her letter was made it seem like there was more there as well.

Overall, as someone who does not read much romance, I enjoyed the book! It was a slow burn, but worth the wait.

I enjoyed this read from Jodi McAlister. A cute rom com, enemies to fake marriage to lovers, two academics find each other amidst trying to establish themselves as permanent academics. I actually loved the missing 3rd act break up, but the strenuous relationship between Shaw and her sister felt a bit much, I felt the anger Fisher did. An easy read, perfect for anyone that just needs a mind escape. Set in Australia was also a plus!

“I love you, Sadie, and there is nothing you can say or do that will ever make me want to leave you.”

genre: contemporary romance
★★☆☆☆

Classic enemies to lovers! I was so excited to read this book & was even more excited when I got the ARC. I am OBSESSED with the way Jonah brought back yearning, the way he loved Sadie was precious.

However, this book was a slow burn. I struggled through the first 80% and then it finally seemed to pick up. The characters were very flat in my opinion. I would have loved to see more growth in each of them. Still, the love story in this book is precious and it’s a super cute rom-kinda-com.

It didn’t make me as giddy as other romances I’ve read this year, but it was honestly very real. There was little drama, aside from a sisterly feud. If you’re into romance without all the rip-your-heart-out-of-your-chest-stomp-on-it-then-put-it-back, you’d really like this book. That being said, I’m a fan of the drama and emotionally damaging romances (lol), so it was not perfect for me. It comes out in the fall and it is a suuuuper cute fall read.

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and Atria for the pre-release copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

English professors Sadie and Jonah enter into a fake marriage in order to secure a university post. What starts off as a strategy quickly grows into sparking real feelings.

I might be in the minority of not always being a fan of dual POV however I feel like in this instance it was done quite well in that it worked to push the narrative forward by offering insight into both characters thoughts and motivations. I also really enjoyed reading Jonah’s footnotes, they added both a sweet and funny touch. This story was filled with humor and plenty of great banter between Jonah and Sadie which i absolutely loved! If you enjoy an enemies to lovers romance within a academia setting this one is definatley for you!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This book gave me everything I wanted and more—an enemies to lovers slow burn that built tension so perfectly, it kept me hooked from start to finish. And let me tell you, when it finally hit, it hit hard!

I couldn’t get enough of the main characters—their banter, their missed cues, even their bickering. The tension was balanced beautifully: enough to keep me invested without crossing into frustration. Honestly, I found myself grinning through their interactions and craving more every time I had to put the book down.

What sealed it for me was the academia theme woven throughout. As a teacher who loves to learn, read and study , it checked all my favorite boxes and made me nostalgic for my university days. The atmosphere felt so real and immersive, it was like being back on campus again.

By the end, I wasn’t ready to let these characters go. I desperately want a second book to continue their story—I’m just not done with them yet! If you’re looking for a witty, heartfelt, and tension-filled romance that keeps you smiling and swooning, this is the one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of An Academic Affair! This was such a fun, fast-paced read. I loved the cute romance and the academic backdrop, and the family subplot added great depth. My only complaint is that the ending left a few too many loose ends—it felt out of character for the main couple not to dig deeper into what was happening with their sisters. Still, it was an enjoyable read overall, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next!

This fun academic book is the perfect blend of snark, steam, and scholarly charm—Sadie and Jonah’s fifteen-year rivalry heats up into a fake marriage that sparks into real emotion. Their witty banter, slow-burn chemistry, and academic world-setting had me hooked from page one. Simply irresistible! Thank you for letting me read this early!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book before release!

This was my first time reading Jodi McAlister, and I am so unbelievably happy I came across her work. Her writing style is absolutely beautiful. I especially loved the way she differentiated the MMC’s perspective from the FMC’s, it felt so clever and fresh. The inclusion of footnotes (only from the MMC!) added such a unique touch to the story. The only other time I’ve seen this done in a way that worked so well was in Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and The Raven Scholar. It truly felt perfectly tailored to the characters as scholars, and I adored it.

The romance itself was wonderful to read. I loved seeing their relationship blossom, watching them navigate mistakes, handle conflicts, and balance their professional and personal lives. It felt realistic while still giving me everything I want in a romance. I don’t highlight or annotate often, but this is definitely a book I’ll be marking up once I get a physical copy, I already have pages I want to revisit.

Even though I don’t have a PhD, as someone pursuing a Master’s degree, I found myself really connecting to the academic side of this story. It was challenging at times but also deeply rewarding, it felt real, and that made the romance shine even more. And there’s one line I desperately want to quote here, but… if you know, you know.

The family issues and dynamics also played a major role, with sexism and miscommunication being recurring themes. Those aspects hit hard for me personally, and I even teared up at times because of how relatable it was. Despite the heavier moments, the story never lost its heart. Honestly, it feels like it could be the start of a series, I’d happily return to this world and these characters again.

Thank you again, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the opportunity to read this before release!

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved the rivals to lovers that wasn’t too mean, the banter was on point. I really liked the citations/footnotes though reading it in ebook form was difficult, but it added so much character flair. I came away from reading feelings a little bit smarter, too. I feel like this book will do so well when it’s released!

unfortunately don’t think this story was for me but I definitely could see others loving it!! I personally didn’t feel connected to the characters at all. I found Sadie to be extremely annoying and Jonah was pretty boring. My favorite character was Fiona but she was a side character and didn’t add a ton to the plot. Overall I didn’t feel even a tiny spark of romance between the two characters, their relationship felt so platonic I had to skip the spicy scenes because they were so extremely uncomfortable to read since I didn’t find any connection between Sadie or Jonah. I also felt like most of the conflict in this issue (such as Sadie’s conflict with her sister) could have been resolved with a simple conversation but it instead dragged on for the entire book.

Overall it was a quick and cute read, good for those looking for a light book in an academic setting

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

A rivals to romance story where the two look to also find there footing in academia. Development of supporting characters added emotional depth to the story and added context to the main characters reactions.

This books stood out to me initially as it sounded similar to Ali Hazelwood’s novels, but with a literary academic focus instead of science. I enjoyed this book more than Hazelwoods’s—-they weren’t better just different and I enjoyed the flow and character dynamics more. The spice level also felt just right.

The lead female’s prized box collection of Anne of Green Gables and the influence they had on her hooked me right in. Choosing to start this book mid-week was a eucatastrophe!

An Academic Affair is a great contemporary romance about academic rivals who enter into a fake relationship to further their careers. Sadie and Jonah have amazing banter and chemistry, and I adored their fake relationship, forced proximity romance. They’ve known each other for years, live in the same house (with other roommates), and often vie for the same job, so saying their paths cross often is a bit of an understatement. It’s interesting to see how their relationship evolves as they move to a new city, enter into a marriage of convenience, and work together.

Both Sadie and Jonah are layered characters, and I like that the story is from a dual POV because you really get to understand each of them and their motivations. Sadie is compassionate and intelligent and bold, and I loved her from the start.  Jonah is a teddy bear wrapped up in a cinnamon roll, and I’d like to order one of him, please. lol He’s so earnest and sincere, and his feelings toward Sadie are absolutely swoon-worthy. His footnotes are fantastic, too. I like how both characters open up to each other and support each other. It’s funny because they love to verbally spar and challenge each other, but there’s so much respect and admiration under the snarky surfaces.

I also love that the story includes tons of literary references, from The Importance of Being Earnest to Wordsworth to contemporary romances. And though it's a fun contemporary romance, the novel also delves into some more difficult topics like sexism in the workplace, the cutthroat world of academia, and difficult family dynamics. Both Sadie and Jonah had traumatic childhood experiences, which definitely affect them as adults. Both MCs also have struggles with their siblings. It’s interesting to see one sibling relationship slowly repairing while the other one quickly falls apart, and even though I didn’t love Sadie’s sister, I would love to get more of her story. I felt the same way Jonah did about her, and felt Sadie deserved better.

I really enjoyed An Academic Affair. Sadie and Jonah were compelling characters, and they had a great love story filled with many of my favorite tropes. Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I am a lover of the romance genre and this book has everything a wholesome romance should have: yearning, top notch tropes (marriage of convenience, academic enemies to lovers, and forced proximity), and the ability to feel the full range of emotions these two characters, Sadie and Jonah, in the most sweeping and captivating way.
I am also a lover of a dual POV but the way that Jodi McAlister differentiated the writing styles of these characters was amazing! I truly felt like I was reading two different authors stories all rolled into one.
I am not usually a lover of footnotes BUT be warned,,, they will grow on you and even become endearing along the way.
A fantastic read I would recommend to all my friends and my next book club!

Disclaimer: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Mild spoilers ahead—proceed with caution!

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TL;DR: Easily one of my top reads of 2025. If you love academic rivals-to-lovers with crackling chemistry, smart writing, and characters who actually communicate, go ahead and add this book to your "To Be Read" shelf now.

The Good:
This book was just plain FUN. The main couple? Off-the-charts chemistry. Props to the author- there were no annoying third-act breakups and no tired love triangles to be seen here. The main characters acted like actual adults (okay, mostly), and I was hooked. We’re talking "oops, I stayed up till 1AM on a work night" levels of hooked. Dont laugh- that is VERY late for me.

If you're into modern romance with an academic setting, yes, it will remind you of Ali Hazelwood—but dare I say… it’s better. As someone who’s survived the stress pit of academia (and even noped out of a PhD program), the portrayal here hit hard in the best way. The author clearly knows the world and brings it to life with nuance and heart.

The Meh (But Still Pretty Good):
Jonah (our sweet, cinnamon-roll male lead) was great, but wow, his feelings went from 0 to 60 fast. For a slow burn, the emotional depth showed up almost too early for me. That said, I know plenty of readers who will enjoy that so it may be a personal preference thing.

The Not-So-Great:
The family drama subplot dragged a little longer than I would’ve liked. I get that it’s central to the story, but I found myself wishing we could move past it sooner. Not a dealbreaker—just a personal nitpick.

Final Verdict:
If you're looking for a romance that’ll make you kick your feet in excitement and grin like an idiot at your Kindle, run (don’t walk) to read this one. It's heartfelt, hilarious, and an absolute joy from start to finish.

This was an enjoyable, yearn-filled romance centered around two uni professors, and I loved the tension/competition/fire between them.

What did knock this down a star was, while the romance arc wrapped up nicely, the end to the conflict around their jobs/the university was very rushed and still open at the end of the book (even with the epilogue).

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for letting me read this book for an honest review!

Overall, I give this book 3.5 stars. This book is about Sadie and Jonah who have been academic rivals for 10+ years and now are both fighting for the same job. In order for them to both get the job they plan a marriage of convenience so that they will both be able to be employed. I absolutely eat up a fake marriage trope. I love the banter between the two and how the FMC is more of a snarky, sassy character while the MMC is more of a cinnamon roll.

Personally, I did not like all of the footnotes since I was reading this on Kindle and it kept taking me to the end of the book and I would have to scroll back to the page I was reading. A lot of the footnotes felt like author comments, or they could’ve been easily implemented into the paragraph that the footnote marked at.

The prologue was a little long, but once I got through that, I started to enjoy the story and read it quicker.

I was in love with Sadie by the end of the prologue. With Jonah by the second footnote. What an utterly unputdownable treasure of a novel!

With characters you instantly love and root for, a location I’ve a particular fondness for thanks to a certain podcast, all set in the gruelling world of academia and you have a recipe for success.

From Shakespeare to contemporary romance, readers will delight in references and shout outs. I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s next from Jodi McAlister, and I hope she brings us back to Hobart!