It started off slow - with a lot of literary references that I didn’t recognize.

It picked up about 30% through and I enjoyed it - though I didn’t need the authors lengthy depictions of intimate scenes. A page or even a few is fine, but this went on for what felt like forever.

The book also ended quite abruptly and felt rushed to wrap up.

Cute premise but not so stellar execution.

Thanks to NetGalley & Atria got the ARC.

Jonah & Sadie are the epitome of iron sharpens iron until they decide to lay their weapons and words down. A marriage of convenience leads to true confessions and a formidable team in & out of the bedroom.

I would love to read their lectures! Jonah is a teddy bear and Sadie is teeth and fists but together they are a swoon-worthy couple.

Is it too soon to ask for Fiona’s book?? Oh! And Elias’s? Possibly Chess???

This was such a fantastic and cozy read. The yearning, pining, bickering, angst, honest communication, and sibling love made for a perfect modern rivals-to-lovers story. I adored the chemistry between Sadie and Jonah, and the subplot involving their sisters added so much heart.

Jonah is the sweetest—so patient, validating, and understanding of Sadie. While I occasionally found myself frustrated with Sadie, I also related to her spiraling internal monologues, which made her all the more real and endearing. Sadie and Jonah’s relationship was tender, messy, and unforgettable.

Perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

#AnAcademicAffair #NetGalley

This was a cute read! I enjoyed this fake dating trope between Sadie & Jonah. It seemed true to the academia world and did a nice job highlighting nepotism and gender bias. The side characters were charming and a great addition to the plot!

I enjoyed parts of this novel. As an English instructor, I hoped to feel a little more connection to the characters, but it was still interesting to read.

I thought this was a really cute story. It was a different experience for me with all of Jonah’s footnotes. I do wish the footnotes had been at the bottom of the page so that I didn’t have to go back and forth so much, but I did appreciate the extra insight they gave. I also liked how only Jonah had footnotes and not Sadie because it showed some of the difference in their personalities/thinking.

While I loved Sadie and Jonah’s relationship, Sadie was much more closed off or perhaps in denial about her feelings towards Jonah throughout the book. A pessimistic part of me wonders if she was truly in love with him or if she just loved the idea of him because he was such a steady presence and there for her when no one else was. She mentioned a therapist a few times - I wish we could’ve gotten to see some of her sessions with a therapist because that might have been a good chance to see her start to realize some of her feelings towards Jonah. There was no question of Jonah’s feelings - that man was PINING. And I LOVED the Mr. Darcy hand flex moment (chef’s kiss).

Throughout the book, we get the slow burn of Sadie and Jonah’s relationship, but we also get to see a lot of conflict and healing with sibling relationships. I thought that added more depth to the story. I would’ve liked to see something come about with the Elias/Julia situation, but perhaps that’s set up for another book?

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Atria Paperback for this ARC.

I absolutely did not intend to read this book in one setting. WHAT A DELIGHT. This is my first book by this author and I will absolutely read her past and future work.

This dual POV story, set in the world of Australian Academia, follows Jonah Fischer and Sadie Shaw through their rivalry. But things take a turn when they embark on a marriage of convenience to both get their dream jobs. There is family drama from both main characters and it’s interesting to see how each handles those dynamics.

Everything about this story just worked. The characters and their story arc. The way the side characters are connected with major themes in a unique way. The twists of common tropes- marriage of convenience, miscommunications, one bed, etc- They were all so cleverly woven into the plot. And this is what happens when an academic writes a book. ABSOLUTELY MAGIC.

I could not get enough of Sadie and Jonah. They both were flawed and like grown ass adults actually admitted when they were wrong. PRAISE for no 3rd act break up. The banter- top tier! And the yearning - OH THE YEARNING. This is what all other slow burns should be measured against. Slow burn isn’t just a build up of sexual tension, it’s the slow kindling of feelings growing into a raging fire of love. It was so precious to see how Jonah slowly then steadily burned for Sadie and planned to quietly love her. Since the characters are well versed in literature, their dialogue and inner monologues are absolutely beautiful.

4.5 (not 5) for 2 reasons
1. Because their conversations (even casual) were so academic and how beautiful their prose was, it made some of their language during an intimate scene just seem off and cringe.
2. The ending felt abrupt and rushed.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced reader copy of an Academic Affair!

I really enjoy this book, in particular the writing style. Jonah's use of footnotes was a fun way to get all his asides and contextual tangents. (I read this on my Kindle, so the footnotes were easy to access without disrupting the reading flow). They served to really feel like you're having a personal conversation or in the mind of the main character.
The book was a love note to both "traditional" English writing (Shakespeare, Wordsworth etc.) and popular fiction (Anne of Green Gables, and mentions of many more recent romance authors and books).
I have a hard time with characters that are overly trope-y or show minimal accountability or self-awareness when it comes to their behaviour or personality making the relationship health or longevity seem improbable. This was not Sadie and Jonah, they were relatable and imperfect but accountable main characters, showing personal and relationship growth through the story.

There were some great depictions of real and normal (but less "pretty") human emotions/ reactions that are well explained and relatable. Such as the privilege fight between Sadie and Jonah and the follow up of Sadie not wanting to go for a drink with Fiona. It felt relatable and realistic when a fight is not really won by either partner in a couple - both people have valid feelings but poor communication or emotional regulation - and in resolution you accept each other's perspective while also owning your own part in the conflict dynamic.

There were some fun and unique characters, and the setting in Tasmania had my imagination full of dreamy aesthetic. The wine bar and the apartment feel like they are out of a pinterest board, even the closet sized shared office had my visual imagination firing during this book.

One thing I really loved about this book was the depth given to the characters' profession and career arc, which isnt always included in much detail in romance novels. It was very interesting to learn about the world of academia as someone who has been to university, but knows very little about academic careers.

My only bug bearer with the story was the Chess of it all. It did not feel properly addressed and wrapped up at the end of the novel, despite the sisters seemingly having made up and agreed to move on. I hope this is due to saving content for a future book about Chess. While it's probably more realistic that things aren't perfect between in-laws and the partner of a family member but the two "sides" agree to prioritize the person you love mutually above your differences - it felt unsatisfying and unfinished from a story telling perspective. Jonah saying (paraphrasing) 'one day I may ask her why she really did all this' was hopefully foreshadowing for a storyline in a spin off book.
There is definitely a series potential with future books about all of the siblings between Jonah and Sadie. Would love to see a book about the lore referenced in this book between Julia and Elias!

Hope to read more about these characters in Hobart in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this eARC for an honest review.

This was my first Jodi McAlister read, and I really enjoyed it! I think it helps that I am also on my own journey of becoming an English Lit. professor, so reading about Sadie's and Jonah's struggles and triumphs really resonated. While there were some things I didn't understand because I don't live in Australia, this book was pretty straightforward as an enemies-to-lovers story.

The banter between Jonah and Sadie was top-tier. It also worked well when they were fighting over their respective areas of research expertise. I think my only criticisms of the book are that it took until almost 80% of the book for Jonah and Sadie even to kiss, after the peck they shared at the wedding, and the ending felt extremely rushed and somewhat jarring, given how quickly the book concluded. I'm not sure if their story will continue in future books, perhaps with Chess's or Fiona's story. Still, hopefully we'll get more of their lives after they settle into being university professors and their new married bliss.

Three and a half stars.

FIVE STAR ROMANCE READ! This was such a fun romcom. We have an academic setting that features long time rivals that slowly start to reach an understanding. If you’re a fan of the MMC falling first then you HAVE to read this one. Jodi brought back classic yearning and intellectual banter in this one. She also discussed intense family issues that felt so relatable.

I loved it so much!

An Academic Affair is a slow-burn rivals-to-lovers romance about two academics, Sadie and Jonah, who have been in a constant battle to prove themselves for over 15 years. This book starts strong with the character introductions, and you quickly get a feel for their complex personalities. I appreciate that the author spent a lot of time detailing their backstory and character flaws. Throughout the book, you see Sadie and Jonah acknowledge and grow from these flaws, rather than gloss over them, which is very refreshing. Both are sharp-witted and strong-willed, but still care for each other in their own ways.

At first, I was worried the marriage trope would be a bit cringeworthy, but the author builds a believable foundation: Sadie and Jonah have lived as roommates for years without a major issue, so pretending to be in a relationship for career purposes should be painless since this will give them both permanent jobs. Another complication for the couple is the relationship struggles they face with family members. Jonah is trying to repair his relationship with his sister, while Sadie has a falling out with her sister.
Adding to the multiple conflicts in this story, their academic careers are also at risk due to funding cuts at the University where they teach. We deal with patriarchal characters who try to push the couple apart, complex family dynamics, and a threat to job prospects - there are a lot of struggles Sadie and Jonah must overcome, which makes it a bit overwhelming as a reader, but thankfully, Jodi McAlister finally brings the couple together to realize their feelings for each other and now they can face their challenges both personal and professional together.
The conclusion, though satisfying, felt a bit rushed, but overall, it was a sweet, entertaining read.

While An Academic Affair had all the makings of a sweet academic rom com, I found this storyline very flat. I enjoyed many of the characters individually, however, their roles together were irritating. Chess & Sadie’s relationship was very juvenile. Jonah and his father’s was toxic. Sweet Fi- I don’t have a bad word to say about her but I wish there would have been some more development of her character with Satoshi. The storyline itself just was not a hit for me, as much as I wanted to love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An Academic Affair is smart, sharp, and absolutely addictive, so much so that I couldn't put it down.

Sadie and Jonah’s academic rivalry has been simmering for over a decade, and watching it ignite into something more was pure magic. McAlister nails the rivals-to-lovers tension with sizzling banter, footnote humor that feels perfectly at home in the world of academia, and an emotional depth that makes the romance all the more satisfying. As much as I am not a fan of marriage of convenience, this one (weirdly) worked for me.

What stood out most for me was how real and fully fleshed out Sadie and Jonah felt. They’re not just rivals circling each other, they’re complicated, ambitious, and deeply human. Sadie’s drive for independence and Jonah’s devotion to his family made me root for them individually as much as I rooted for their relationship. Their growth throughout the book, both together and apart, gave the story surprising weight beneath all the snark and sparks.

This is easily one of my favorite rom-coms of the year. If you love Ali Hazelwood’s academic rivals, Abby Jimenez’s emotional punch, or simply want a witty, slow-burn rivals-to-lovers romance with a marriage-of-convenience twist, this one is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In this heart-warming enemies-to-lovers/marriage-of-convenience story, we have the tale of scholars Sadie and Jonah, who have known each other for well over a decade and competed against each other all that time for academic positions that are hard to come by. They’re not that fond of each other (or so they tell themselves), and it doesn’t help that they live in the same house. Mostly they try to keep out of each other’s way—until circumstances present themselves in the form of a plummy permanent position in the town that Jonah’s recently separated sister lives. It’s just one position, though, and they’re both interviewing for it. But there’s a way for both of them to be hired, and that’s to be married. They do, and they get to know each other, and to their surprise, they’re just what each other needs.

#AnAcademicAffair #NetGalley

I was immediately drawn to this book because of the name. I work in higher ed and this is a great representation of what it's like working at an institution. The bureaucracy and red tape was explained well. You can tell that @jodimcalister has been in the trenches, possibly pulling from real life experiences.

This story was so cute and addictive. The banter between Jonah and Sadie is perfection and sucks you into their arguments. Their relationship is realist based on their history. Very much a rivalry but full of admiration, though they may not want to admit it. The side characters were interesting and I am hoping to learn more about them.

I did feel that the ending wrapped up very quickly, having a big conflict identified at around 85% of the book at it being resolved around 93% of the book. That is really my only criticism. Definitely would recommend.

I read An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister in one day. I don't normally love the enemies to lovers trope, but this one was so well executed that I couldn't help but adore it. Although set in Australia, the politics (and nightmares) of academia rang true. I loved that one of the specialty areas of the FMC, Sadie, was modern romance novels and thus gave the whole book a tongue-in-cheek, meta feeling. The many references to various romance tropes by Sadie's own observations lent an authenticity to the narrative arc, as did the two main characters' own observations of their history and relationship. What made this novel top-notch, however, was the story of Sadie's relationship with her sister Chessie. The family dynamics for both Sadie and Jonah were very dysfunctional, and their attempts to heal and repair those relationships and past traumas were the real heart of this story. I will be adding Jodie McAlister to my list of favorite romance authors!

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-galley.

Thank you Atria for the ARC!

I loved this book. Full stop. Jonah’s footnotes? A perfectly imperfect FMC in Sadie? The academic/work plot is relatable and entertaining while the main story between Sadie and Jonah is delicious. This book sets up a series that I am SO excited for!!!

This was my first Jodi McAlister book, and for the most part, it was an enjoyable read! I especially enjoyed the academic setting and how realistic it was, the footnotes from Jonah's perspective (really added to the vibe and setting of academia!), and Sadie's perspective and storyline. There was some fun banter, and I found this to be just a cute and light summer read. Fake dating and slow burn romances are some of my favorite tropes, so this book definitely sucked me in at first.

Things that didn't work for me in this book: the ending felt a bit too quick and anticlimactic and the side characters weren't as fleshed out as I wish they had been. (i.e. I found myself confused and therefore frustrated with Chessy's character). By the end of the book, I kept hoping there would be more - more character development, more information, etc. It seemed like a surface level glimpse into the story. It was enjoyable enough though that I would recommend this to friends/family who enjoy romance novels, and I would definitely try another book by this author in the future!

You might love this if you're a fan of:
- slow burn romance
- rivals/enemies to lovers
- academic settings
- fake dating/marriage of convenience
- dual POV

Thanks to Atria Books & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A fun rom-com about two academic rivals, Sadie and Jonah, who after 15 years of bickering come together for a job. Sadie and Jonah are both professors of literature in a field where permanent jobs are hard to find. For as long as they have known each other they are in competition for both academic awards and jobs. When a job they both want, Sadie because one in her field is hard to find and Jonah because it is located where his sister and her family are and he wants to help them. They both interview for the job but Sadie is the eventual "winner." She understands why Jonah needs the job and realizes that her contract allows job share for spouses. She then decides to ask him to marry and he accepts. Unbeknownst to Said, Jonah has been in love with her for years. As in most rom-coms there is a bit if misunderstanding, conflict and eventual love. This was a cute book with some fun for fiction readers with authors/titles mentioned throughout.

I read the advanced reader copy and it might have been unfinished, but I really enjoyed the book.

Sadie and Johan started as student rivals in academia but their dislike for each other eventually blooms into a loving and steamy romance.

You take a journey with a couple that is fighting for their dream career and trying to maintain a relationship with their siblings. I really enjoyed the sibling story line and the bond they build throughout the book. Not just a romance but it explores family struggles and the lengths we go to maintain those relationships.