- Enemies-to-lovers
- Marriage of convenience
- Academia
- Loss of parent (off page)
- Set in Australia

Such a fun/cute read! I loved Sadie and Jonah’s story. Sworn enemies since they met day one at uni. Their entire relationship has been fight after fight for over 10 years, constantly competing. Yet, what starts with them battling each other for a position at another college for a job in literature ends with one of them getting the job and the other getting proposed to by their sworn enemy. So they move to a new town, rent an apartment and now must work side by side… but the more time they spend together leads to some messy feelings

"They had been raised by the worst man in the world and they were still good people. They might not have been close, but when Fiona was in trouble, Jonah's first instinct had been to run to her, to protect her, to look after her. And I, a person raised by a fierce protector, someone who would do--who had done--literally anything for me? There must be something deeply, profoundly, fundamentally broken in me, to scream, 'You love me too much!' at Chess as if her love were a bad thing. To be annoyed at a nice woman who just wanted to take me out for a drink. To be completely unable to hear Jonah when he tried to tell me how being viewed through the lens of his father made him feel. The Fisher siblings were good people, but I wasn't. No wonder everyone always untied themselves from me in the end."

Jodi McAlister created such a deeply emotional world in the pages of this novel. Dr. Sadie Shaw is so real and vulnerable and I loved reading this book.

4.5/5 ⭐️

Wow! I loved this so, so much. A pair of literature professors, academic rivals to lovers, marriage of convenience story is basically a plot handcrafted just for me.
I loved Sadie and Jonah! They were both adorable and endearing while still feeling like real people, even in an admittedly wild set of circumstances. I also have to shout out the Jonah footnotes—what a clever addition, characteristic for him and also providing details that would’ve clogged up the regular story. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting, the characters, the plot, the literary references, the yearning, basically everything was a slam dunk.
The only aspect of this book that lacked for me was the ending. I think the jump in time and then recap approach made the ending feel unfinished and hasty. I would have preferred we actually get to see how things shook out rather than just be told what happened somewhat offhandedly.
I’m willing to forgive though, because I still adored this book and will gladly be singing its praises from rooftops!
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.*

Sadie and Jonah make the perfect academic rivals with witty banter that carries them through their English PhDs. When the rare permanent professor position opens up, they set aside their arguments for a fake marriage and secure job security for both of them. A delight for lovers of academic rivals, fake marriages, and witty banter!

An Academic Affair is a clever and delightfully sharp romance that blends campus politics, witty banter, and undeniable chemistry. Jodi McAlister delivers a story that is both smart and swoony, with characters you can’t help but root for. I was completely charmed from beginning to end. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this! I’m a sucker for rivals to romance and dual perspectives, and both of these were done quite well. It took a bit for me to get into the meat of the book, but overall the pacing was solid. I liked it and would read more by this author! There was a lot of emphasis on family relationships, both how fragile they can be and how important they are to maintain. Good novel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**A sizzling academic rivals-to-lovers rom-com with heart and humor**

*An Academic Affair* is an absolute delight from start to finish. Jodi McAlister nails the enemies-to-lovers trope in the best way possible—clever, slow-burning, and full of razor-sharp banter that had me grinning from the first chapter. Sadie and Jonah’s dynamic as long-time academic rivals turned fake spouses is pure gold, and the chemistry between them simmers beautifully as their plan spirals into something much more real.

Beyond the witty romance, McAlister weaves in emotionally resonant moments through the characters’ relationships with their sisters. Both storylines hit me hard in the best way—gut-wrenching at times, but layered with love, loyalty, and complexity that deepened the story far beyond your average rom-com.

If you're a fan of Ali Hazelwood or Abby Jimenez, this one is for you. Smart, funny, heartfelt, and full of spark—*An Academic Affair* is easily one of my favorite romances of the year. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. In particular, the academic setting was incredibly well fleshed out. I don’t think I’ve ever before read a fake dating story that felt as realistic as this one - the plot and worldbuilding were truly phenomenal.

Unfortunately, I did feel like this book had some serious pacing issues. The first half drags a bit, but in particular, once the characters acknowledge that they like each other, their relationship accelerates way too quickly in my opinion, and they almost act like different people.

4/5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love the enemies-to-lovers genre, and this had a great twist. I gained some insight into the plight of professors and the difficulty of gaining full-time employment at universities. The book was a light, quick read that draws you in quickly, and it is hard to put down. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I highly recommend this book for a quick read. The copy I received was a rough copy with random numbers throughout, which I am sure will be removed before being publicly published.

THIS WAS SO CUTE!
I wasn't sure I was going to like this but the romance got me, I'm usually not a dual pov fan but wow did this WORK.

THE FOOTNOOOOOOTES???

I am so obsessed with this book? You know when it switches to his POV and ✨surprise✨ he is down bad? This is immediate!!! It is not a surprise it is his entire personality. Jonah was made to love Sadie and be an academic in that order and he is thrilled about it (eventually. At first it is quite painful for him).

And sweet sweet sharp-edged Sadie. So used to fighting tooth and nail for everything that she never has the energy to let her guard down. Desperate and hungry and beautifully furious. They do not have time for friends, but I want to be friends with both of them.

Their marriage of convenience is believable both because Jonah is a restrained heart eyes emoji in human form and because their continuous rivalry has made Sadie comfortable around him in a way she is with few others. It’s easy for them to fall into being on the same team because their default state around each other is competition to be their best - and suddenly, there’s enough space for them both to do so.

And again I say: JONAH’S FOOTNOTES!!! I am kicking my legs screaming into my pillow shaking my fists in the air.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an easy five-star read. I had so much fun with it and loved both characters—together and individually.

At times, it gave me slight Ali Hazelwood vibes (mainly because of the academic jargon), but make no mistake: this one is for the English lit girls. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS ONE.

What you can expect:
• pining (from the mmc)
• NO third-act breakup (!!)
• marriage of convenience
• academic rivals to lovers
• dual POV

And let me just say—Jonah’s POV footnotes? My Roman Empire. Easily my favorite part of the book.

Anyway, go get yourself a hot nerd who yearns.

“In the fifteen years of our grueling education, I had never quite learned how to look away from Sadie Shaw.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.75 -4 Stars
An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister is a warm, charming, and smartly written romance that blends fake marriage, forced proximity, and academic intrigue into a compelling slow-burn. This was my first novel by McAlister, and I was thoroughly impressed with her character work, witty tone, and authentic portrayal of academia.

Told from alternating viewpoints, Sadie and Jonah are endearing protagonists—intelligent, vulnerable, and deeply human. Their banter, inner conflicts, and gradual connection felt realistic, and I especially appreciated the moments of humor.

McAlister doesn’t shy away from heavier themes, either. Sadie and Jonah’s strained relationships with their sisters add another layer of emotional growth, and the depiction of life in academia—its pressures, uncertainties, and hierarchies—was pretty accurate, as I am a teacher.

However, the novel doesn’t quite stick the landing. The final third felt rushed, and a major subplot—their employment status—was left unresolved until a brief mention in the epilogue. This abrupt wrap-up didn’t do justice to the richly developed characters or the story’s earlier momentum. Several side characters, who had been significant and well-drawn throughout, seemed to disappear without satisfying closure.

That said, I still highly recommend An Academic Affair. The character development, sharp writing, and realistic conflict make it a standout in contemporary romance. With just a bit more spice and a more cohesive conclusion, this easily could have been a five-star read for me. I look forward to reading more from Jodi McAlister and diving back into her clever, thoughtful worlds.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jodi McAlister for the advanced reader’s electronic copy in exchange for my honest review.

An Academic Affair is a beautifully written, slow-burn romance with sharp wit, deep emotional stakes, and characters you’ll fall completely in love with. Sadie and Jonah’s enemies-to-lovers journey feels authentic and full of tension, with just the right mix of banter, vulnerability, and longing.

McAlister captures the cozy world of academia with warmth and humor—think tea, cardigans, bookish references, and perfectly placed footnotes. The chemistry crackles, the side characters shine, and the emotional payoff is unforgettable. I didn’t want to leave their world.

4.25 ⭐️ excuse me, this book was SO GOOD! I’m not even sure where to start but WOW. I haven’t been able to finish a book this quickly in a while and I adored this. Both Jonah and Sadie will have such a special place in my heart, and their love will always be such a sweet example.

Also, can we take a minute for how well these tropes were written!!! This was by far the BEST marriage of convenience/rivals to lovers books I’ve ever read. No, I’m serious—this was executed so well! It read so naturally, and the situation the characters were in never felt awkward. The writing was beautifully done. The characters and their hesitations, struggles, emotions, etc. felt so real at times that I questioned if this was based off a true story.

✨ Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review ✨

This was a cute fake dating/marriage book. It did take me a bit to get into at the beginning though. I found it a little boring and found myself not interested. I like the footnotes addition to the story, literary references and the bits of humor throughout the story.

An Academic Affair was such a delightful surprise. I adored both characters. Academic rivals, Jonah and Sadie, have such a strong connection from the beginning of the book. While this could be considered enemies to lovers, they never truly seemed like enemies. When Sadie gets a much-coveted job, they create a plan to get Jonah hired as well. I loved the way the characters supported each other and learned from their mistakes. The book was so well written and heartfelt. I can’t wait to read another book by this author!

This book had me hooked from the prologue. The characters are both loveable and the enemies to lovers / marriage of convenience was written perfectly! The duel POV pulls at your heartstrings and just makes you fall harder. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a top read for me this year and I highly recommend it to everyone!

My first Jodi McAllister novel! This was wonderful to escape into the story of Sadie and Jonah. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this fake marriage trope would progress. This would’ve been a five star novel for me with a little more spice!


Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This was so much fun I can’t wait for more eyes to be on this when it comes out! This is just so relatable