An Academic Affair: A Novel

by Jodi McAlister

From the “masterly” (The New York Times) Jodi McAlister, a charming new romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship…only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized.

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since they first crossed paths as undergraduates in the literature department thirteen years ago. Now that a highly coveted teaching opportunity has come up, their rivalry hits epic proportions. 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.

When Sadie notices that the job offers partner hire, however, she hatches a plot to get them both the job. All they must do is get legally married. It’s a simple win-win solution but when sparks begin to fly, it becomes clear that despite their education, these two may not have thought this whole thing through.

Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood and Abby Jimenez, An Academic Affair pairs Jodi McAlister’s “smart, scorching, and emotionally resonant” (Freya Marske, author of A Restless Truth) writing and academic background to prove that she’s one of the smartest rom-com writers working today.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Enemies To Lovers, Adult, Audiobook

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2025

About the author

By day, Jodi McAlister writes romance novels. By other time of day, Dr Jodi McAlister studies them. She's written romantic comedies for adults, romantasy and contemporary romance for young adults, and several academic books.

For adults
If you're a reality TV lover, the Marry Me, Juliet series are the books for you. Even if you're not a reality TV lover, they might be the books for you - several reality TV haters have enjoyed them.

The trilogy all take place at the same time on the same season of a reality dating show called Marry Me, Juliet (which bears a very strong resemblance to The Bachelor). While they all stand alone and can be read in any order, they work best when read in order.

Start with Here For The Right Reasons (he's the series lead, she's the contestant he eliminates on the first night), move on to Can I Steal You For A Second? (she's a contestant, she's... also a contestant), and finish with the book the New York Times called a "full-on villain romance", Not Here To Make Friends (she's the villain, he's the producer who's pining for her).

For young adults
If you're a romantasy reader, you'll like the Valentine series, a young adult paranormal romance/urban fantasy series about smart girls, small towns, and scary fairies. There are three books: Valentine, Ironheart, and Misrule. If Picnic at Hanging Rock meets Holly Black sounds like something you’d be into, these are the books for you.

And if you're a theatre kid, Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending is the book for you. It's my love letter to theatre kids as someone who used to be one.

Academic books
No one really cares much about these on Goodreads, do they? More info on my website if you're interested.

About Jodi
Jodi is originally from Kiama, a seaside holiday town on the south coast of New South Wales, and has lived in a bunch of different cities: Canberra (where she did her undergrad degrees), Wollongong (where she lived while she did her PhD in Sydney), and Hobart (where she held her first academic job) among them. Currently, she lives in Melbourne, where she works as a Senior Lecturer in Writing, Literature and Culture at Deakin University.

When she’s not writing about romance, Jodi is an academic studying romance. Her research focuses on representations of love in popular culture and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching (and let’s be real, writing huge amounts about) The Bachelor/ette is technically work for her.

**Want to dip your toes into the Valentine universe? Try the free short story Galentine, set a year and a bit before the events of Valentine. http://jodimcalister.com.au/galentine/ **

**Want to read a bonus epilogue to Libby Lawrence Is Good At Pretending? Check it out here: https://jodimcalister.com.au/libby-la... **

Reviews

[Yun · Rating 4 out of 5]

When it comes to vibes, romances can run the gamut. Some are funny, some are steamy. An Academic Affair felt like one big cerebral hug, and I adored every moment of it.

These days, I'm always a little surprised when I enjoy a romcom. Long gone are the days where every single one I pick up is a winner. Now I feel more like a cynic, snarling in my head about the silly characters, unrealistic situations, and forced tropes that make reading a romance more cringey than swoony. So when I find one I actually enjoy, I get pretty excited.

This story works for me on almost every single level. First and most importantly, the premise makes sense. Every book of this genre, in order to cultivate a romance between its main characters, has to come up with valid reasons to keep them interacting with each other. And the one used in here—partner hire—is such an interesting and underutilized method, I have to marvel at its cleverness.

What follows is the sweetest of slow burns, turning academic rivals Sadie and Jonah first into friends, then into lovers. Because their rivalry underpins a lot of their interactions, we also get to participate in a bunch of fun arguments between the two of them, both on the personal front as well as the academic one.

Speaking of academics, I absolutely adored the setting. I have a soft spot for studious, hardworking, smart people who fall in love, and this delivered in spades. We also got to see a lot of Sadie and Jonah's areas of expertise and research, and it was fun to geek out a bit, even in a romance. Their struggle to survive in the cutthroat world of academia made me love them even more.

And maybe all of this hits upon the crux of why I enjoyed this story so much. At a time when other books of the genre seem to come up with ever more over the top schemes in order to force their ridiculous characters together, it's a breath of fresh air to read about genuinely sweet people falling in love under sane circumstances.

By the way, is it me or does it seem like Jodi McAlister is setting up for Chessie and Elias to each have their own stories? If so, I can't wait.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up An Academic Affair because, honestly, who can resist fake marriage plus enemies-to-lovers in a university setting? The setup had me immediately hooked: Sadie and Jonah have been academic rivals for years, but suddenly they need to fake being married to land the jobs they're both desperate for. It's basically catnip for romance readers like me, and I went in with pretty high expectations.

The best part? These two have history. You can feel all those years of sparring and tension simmering under the surface, especially from Jonah's perspective (his chapters even have little footnotes, which is both adorable and perfectly fits his character). He's been quietly pining while she's been too focused on her career to notice. Sadie's this brilliant, ambitious woman who's terrified of being left behind professionally, and watching her slowly realize what's been right in front of her was really satisfying. Their banter felt authentic—like people who've been circling each other for years and know exactly which buttons to push.

But I'll be honest—the middle got a bit slow for me. There's a lot of domestic scenes about cooking dinner, morning coffee routines, and figuring out shared living spaces, which I get is supposed to show them getting comfortable with each other. The author clearly wanted to build that intimacy through small moments, and I can appreciate that approach. But I kept wanting more of that academic rivalry spark, more moments where their intellectual connection really crackled on the page. I wanted heated debates about literature that turned into something more, you know? I wanted to feel that pull between them beyond just "we're living together now and you're actually pretty great."

The fake marriage element had potential that I don't think was fully explored either. There were opportunities for more tension around maintaining their cover, more moments where the line between fake and real got blurry in ways that mattered to the plot. Instead, it sometimes felt like the marriage was just a convenient excuse to get them under the same roof.

The ending worked for me though. No ridiculous third-act breakup (thank god—I'm so tired of those), and their resolution felt like they'd actually grown as characters rather than just realizing they were attracted to each other. What stuck with me most was how Jonah's quiet, steady love finally got through to someone who'd spent years thinking she had to choose between love and ambition. That felt real and earned.

It's definitely a smart, well-written romance with a fun academic setting that actually feels authentic rather than just window dressing. The author clearly knows this world and these characters feel like real academics—complete with all the neuroses, imposter syndrome, and competitive dynamics that come with that territory. Did it completely blow me away? Not quite—I wanted more emotional intensity and less daily routine. But I still found myself smiling a lot and genuinely caring about whether these two would figure their stuff out.

The writing itself is solid, and both main characters felt fully developed rather than just romance novel archetypes. Sadie's fear of vulnerability rang true, and Jonah's patient devotion never felt like he was just waiting around to be picked—he had his own goals and agency throughout.
I'd give it a solid 4 stars. If you're into enemies-to-lovers with actual substance, characters who feel like real people with real careers, and romance that doesn't require anyone to give up their dreams, you'll probably enjoy this one. It's not perfect, but it's thoughtful and genuinely sweet in ways that made me want to recommend it to friends.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC! Always appreciate getting to read romances early, especially when they're this thoughtful and well-crafted.

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[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ★— An unsatisfying slow burn can really take the shine off an otherwise solid book, and this one ended up proving that for me.

An Academic Affair checks a lot of my boxes: it’s academic rivals to lovers, has a pining MMC, and I was promised a slow burn of all slow burns, which I, as a Mariana Zapata disciple, always love and enjoy. The book does a lot of things right. I liked the buildup, the history of Sadie and Jonah, their academic chase of each other, the intense rivalry that spans a decade and a half, and then their elopement as they both try to get their lives together.

However, the book lost me after that. Once they got married, I quickly felt a little let down. Not for any major reason (nothing terrible happens), but the slow slice of life tension that usually makes the living together part of a marriage of convenience so fun just wasn’t used to its full potential. The story started to meander and didn’t give me enough chemistry post-marriage. All that buildup, filled with years of resentment, complicated feelings, and rich history — all of that! — didn’t end up being used to its fullest, and I kept waiting for the book to give me something that never really arrived.

There’s also a whole plot point involving the FMC’s sister that I didn’t enjoy and that ended up feeling very over the top. Sadie reacts to extremely harmless words from her sister with an intensity that, in my opinion, didn’t make sense, and the repercussions from that drag on for about a quarter of the book, which I hated. The drama wasn’t executed well and mostly just ate up a lot of her mental space in a way that frustrated me.

Where the book does shine is Jonah’s pining. Yes, he absolutely pines! And a down-bad MMC can save a lot of a book for me, which it did here. Jonah is the nerdy, glasses-wearing yearner I was promised. I just wish we’d gotten more scenes that really showcased this side of him and played up more of their tension.

The spicier scenes take a while to show up, with it being a slow burn and all, but once they did, they were solid. I especially liked the use of Jonah's glasses in those moments. Truly, some representation for us glasses-wearers, lmao.

One last thing to mention, which might not even register to most readers but did for me: the constant name-dropping of real, current romance books. Yes, the FMC has an English PhD and specializes in the field, but seeing those book titles felt like the author was shouting out friends and colleagues and repeatedly pulled me out of the story. It ruined my immersion, and even though it wasn’t out of nowhere, it was too gimmicky for me, and I’m just not someone who enjoys that in romance.

But, all in all, lovely buildup and some satisfying pining, just not ultimately as strong as I hoped it would be.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 / 5 Stars
Ughhh, I loved this book so much. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. Dare I say, my favorite book? It was just perfect to me. Okay, quick synopsis before I gush for a while. Ever since they got into their first literary argument freshman year 15 years ago, Sadie and Jonah have been academic nemeses. They have tried to call many truces but they just can’t seem to not poke each other’s buttons. When a faculty teaching position opens up, and they don’t come up often, Sadie and Jonah both need it desperately – Jonah needs to move closer to his sister and her kids and Sadie needs it because it is one of the only positions in her field of literary study that has come up in forever. When one gets it and the other doesn’t, they decide to use the partner hire clause in the contract. They just have to get married, no big. But Sadie and Jonah find out that it is hard to stay rivals when you live, work, are legally married to each other, and start to develop feelings for each other.

You will probably like this book if you like:
📘 Intellectual sparring as foreplay
📓 Rivals to friends to lovers
📘 Marriage of convenience
📓 He falls first and harder
📘 Slow burn
📓 Forced proximity (with a dash of “oops, there is only one bed”)
📘 Complex sibling relationships

I love the relationship between these two. I find that the rivals to lovers trope can feel forced but it felt so natural here. Jonah loves having spirited debates with Sadie, loves having her push him, and has a big old crush on her so when she doesn’t reciprocate, it is easier to just keep arguing with her than trying to figure out why she doesn’t feel the same way. Sadie has been so focused on work and so focused on how Jonah is the epitome of the establishment and privilege that she just can’t see him in that way. But he also pushes her to be better. Hence the 15 years of rivalry. All of that tension and all of those years of familiarity make it easy to believe that they would fall in love because at the end of the day, their arguments are based in mutual respect and valuing each other’s intelligence. Jonah and Sadie feel like true equals. Also, how perfect is the name Jonah for an academic who loves tweed jackets? So perfect.

I loved how layered they were without feeling overwritten. Jonah and Sadie were flawed and had complex histories but everything felt rooted in reality. They have complicated family dynamics. They have had to work hard for different reasons but with the same results. They are rooted in their dynamic in many ways, but one sentence could perfectly sum up why they changed their attitude or belief in a believable way, which is just really good writing. And all of their harshest personality traits had softened edges. Stubbornness, brashness, grudge holding – they all felt real but they come from gooey centers, so any “bad” behavior didn’t last long, because Jonah and Sadie saw the humanity in each other.

I loved how this book was quiet in its power. We mostly got to see Jonah and Sadie living together and working together. All very domestic with nothing audacious, big, or glamorous. It reminded me of “Promise Me Sunshine” in a way – just two people living real lives. But that is what made the romance feel real. For characters to go from rivals to friends, it would take a lot of small intimate moments based in real experiences. For characters to go from friends to lovers, it would take a lot of small intimate moments based in real experiences. That’s why it works. And this one is a sloooooowww burn, folks. And Jonah is such a simp (complimentary). It was so perfect in that way.

Honestly, I just wish it was longer! I could have used another chapter before the epilogue. I probably could have read another book about them. And there were some really nice touches in the writing. Chapters from Jonah’s POV had footnotes which was a cute touch. Sadie and Jonah also both talked about literary theory and how it applied to their lives and quoted literature in ways that were relevant to the story and I mostly followed along (proud of myself here).

Prepare to be sick of me when it comes to this book. Highly, highly recommend!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: November 11, 2025

______________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I’m actually super excited to read this ARC. You get a lot of intellectual sparring as foreplay which I love because you can guarantee that they like something other than each others’ looks. Gosh, I love academic nerds.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

For thirteen years, Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals in literature for as long as they’ve known each other as undergrad students. Several times they have tried to put aside their differences and enforce a ceasefire in their fighting, but to no avail until recently. So when an opportunity to teach at a university comes their way, Sadie and Jonah jump at the chance to make the jobs theirs. For Jonah, the job means he gets to be close to his sister, where he can not only help her out but mend their relationship. For Sadie, the job provides financial security and a chance to use her doctorate in a full-time job.

When the emails are sent out and Sadie is offered the job, her conscience gets the better of her, and she feels sorry that Jonah is left in the dust. But then she sees that the job offers a partner hire, she comes up with a crazy idea and presents it to her rival: to legally marry her to get a job at the university. It seems like a simple solution at first, but when sparks begin to fly, Sadie and Jonah start to realize that, although they are bright, educated individuals, they didn’t think this plan all the way through.

Marriage of convenience, ey? You know, I don’t recall ever reading a book with this trope. Maybe a western or something, but that was common back then. This is now, and I always thought that the whole “marry me so we can solve both our problems” was dumb and not very logical, in my “humble” opinion, so I’m with Chess on this one. But, per usual, I was proven wrong because I really enjoyed this book. (Are we surprised? Not in the slightest. 😏)

I’m not going to lie to you, I didn’t know what this book was about. 😅 I read the blurb months ago when I requested it, and when I finally got around to reading this, I skimmed the blurb again and began reading. But once Sadie presented the whole marriage plan to Jonah, my eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped. “Wh-what the heck is this?” I blubbered like a fool, scrolling for the information icon. But once I actually read the blurb, it dawned on me that 1) I am an idiot and 2) I should really start paying attention to what I’m reading. Once the shock wore off, I completely missed the marriage of convenience plot, and I continued on my merry way and flew through this like my life depended on it.

I liked Jonah and Sadie. 😍 He was sweet, and she was funny. They balanced each other out, and I happily watched them act like a married couple while trying not to act like a married couple. 😂 Was it predictable? Yeah, it was, but there were still some nice little surprises and cute moments sprinkled here and there to keep a smile on my face. ☺

But I loved how scholarly they were. It made me want to read all the great works of then and now and just study them and write a paper on the themes, the history, and the characters. What I also loved was how natural their relationship blossomed into something more. First, they were rivals, then they became friends, and then they became lovers, like Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe. They realized that they needed each other–not in a co-dependent way, but in a “we're meant for each other, so let’s do life together” kind of way. It was sweet, and I really appreciated it because most books just jump right into the romance, and it doesn’t feel like the love was even deserved or worth it.

And do you want to know what the best part is? THERE WAS NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP! No running away, no miscommunication to make someone run away, nothing! I was cringing as I got to the last part of the book, waiting for the inevitable “I can’t do this, so let me break things off or run off and break your heart” to happen, but it didn’t. They talked it out like adults, and I was so freaking happy! 😭👏🏼 Heck, I should give this an award or something because that alone deserves one. 🏆

The only thing that I didn’t like about the book was the swearing. There was literally so much of it! Look, I don’t really mind swearing, but if this were a movie, it’d be rated R just for the amount of f-bombs being thrown around. 😅 But it’s not really that big of a deal, especially since I really, really enjoyed the ending. 😭❤

Overall, this was a cute romance book, and I totally recommend this! 🥰

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

❗Content Warnings❗
Mentions loss of a parent & misogyny.
Swearing: Yes.
Spice: Yes (🌶🌶🌶/5)

[Fernanda (ivyfer_isreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.
Almost a perfect romance.
In An Academic Affair we follow two PhD professors who decide to get married to get a job they both want but only one got. They are also always at each other's throats for one reason or the other, and that made their dynamic só fucking fun.
I love how in this book it's totally believable that these two are adults, they don't act like teenagers and you might think this is the bare minimum but the number of times I've read adults behaving like 12 year olds is crazy. I've also waited so long for an author to be brave enough to not use the same resolution to a fake dating arrangement( no third act break up here either).
The talks they have about literature are so interesting, and the way life as an academic is portrayed is pretty accurate from what I know of it. I believe the author has a PhD herself, so that's probably why.
I like everything about this: the slow burn(we're talking SLOW), the banter, the side characters are great(I would read an entire book about them, please Jodi do it for me), the writing, the pace. The only thing I didn't like, the reason for the missing .5 star is that I don't like the conflict at the end and how rushed the resolution is. But that's totally a preference, it didn't affect my reading experience I'm just trying to be more critical nowadays.
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes romance.

Thank you Edelweiss and Atria for the ARC!

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

a favorite read of 2025🩵

happy pub day to my new all time favorite romance novel!

some minor spoilers below, but nothing absolutely major, so be warned!

i absolutely devoured an academic affair; and i just have to emphasize how much I loved that Jonah yearned for Sadie for 15 years! “Men who Yearn” needs to be a social revival movement - every single woman deserves a man who completely and utterly yearns for her.

Not to mention, there was a moment between Jonah and Sadie that heavily reminded me of the scene with Robin Williams and Matt Damon from Good Will Hunting, when Jonah tells Sadie that Chessie’s behavior and their father leaving them is “not her fault”. Tears, when I read that!!
--

full rtc closer to pub day but all you need to know about this book is that it’s now one of my new all time favorite reads, jonah brought back yearning, and there was a good will hunting-esque moment 🥲💗

[Liana Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 ⭐️ I’ll make it short and sweet: A cute, soft and sweet, academic rivalry that turned into marriage of convenience followed by a growing, slow burn romance that had all the romance tropes—one bed, fake dating, forced proximity resulting in a HEA! Perfect for anyone that loves cute, feel-good contemporary romance with bickering/meddling family members and nerdy characters. This is perfect for Emily Henry, Ali Hazelwood, Christina Lauren or Katherine Center fans.

This book carried heart and joy and you can really feel the academic vibes with all the literary references. The importance of family and strong sister ties gave it such “homey” feel even with the family conflict that presented in the book. It’s literally what I would call a “fluffy” book at the end of the day.

What didn’t work for me was the slow pacing, the drama/conflict between Sadie (our FMC) and her sister Chess that I thought was a tad overextended and character development was lacking. We know all about their family members but not much about the main characters. And not a lot was really going on (aside from the sister conflict and development of feelings). I think I needed a little more comedic relief in this one to make it more appealing.

The backdrop of academia was different, made a good setting for the book. The little bickering added a little charm. It was real cute. I think most contemporary romances usually have a lot of repetition or a looming presence of some kind of conflict/drama that is used as a “filler”. Authors just need to get creative with their fillers to add more depth and tell.

My first book my Jodi McAlister and I’ll be reading more of her work!

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Jodi McAlister for sending me this eARC!

Publication date: November 11, 2025

[jasmine ☆₊⁺🦢🪽₊⁺★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
╰► 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!

❰ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰! ❱

“𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒓𝒔. 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒉 𝑭𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝑴𝒓. 𝑺𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒘.”

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥ 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨 📋
╰┈➤ sadie shaw and jonah fisher have been fierce academic rivals for over a decade, but when a prestigious full-time teaching position arises—with a partner-hire option attached—they form an unexpected plan. to secure the jobs they both need, these rivals agree to enter a legal marriage of convenience. what begins as a strategic academic arrangement quickly becomes complicated as genuine chemistry surfaces and long-buried feelings emerge. soon, sadie and jonah must decide whether their marriage is just a brilliant academic scheme—or the start of something real neither of them planned for.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ this book was such a cute and bingeable read. i really enjoyed these characters and their 13 year rivalry. when i applied for this book on netgalley, i was so intrigued by both the cover and description, so i was really glad that i got accepted for it. i would recommend this book to people who love: marriage of convenience, forced proximity, and academic rivals to lovers.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥ 𝙨𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙬 📖
✶࿐”𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒎.”✶࿐
╰┈➤ in all honesty, there were times in this book where sadie was a little bit insufferable. i didn’t like the way she treated her sister in the beginning because it was just so rude. but, her character slowly became more interesting and i slow,h started to like her. i feel like there’s not a lot of information i can say about sadie because she did feel a little bit dense at times. but, i did eventually enjoy her role in this story.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝙟𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧📝
✶࿐“𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏?”✶࿐
╰┈➤ hehe… jonah was lowkey submissive af… and i loved it. he was my favorite part of the whole book because he was actually yearning for sadie so bad. for 13 (15) years, he loved arguing with her and literally just the way he spoke so highly of her had me smiling so much. his reassurance towards sadie too… man where can i find myself a jonah? like fr. and he wears glasses 🤭 #needthat no but actually, he feels so authentic with the way he carries himself and his feelings and i loved that.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ this book is getting published on november 11, and i would recommend it if you want a quick and easy read. it’s pretty fast paced (sometimes it feels like there are things missing from the story) but interesting nonetheless.

°•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•
₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙦𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙞 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙✨

𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔. 𝑰 𝒂𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒉. 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 " 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅, 𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒃𝒔. "𝑰𝒇 𝒘𝒆 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒘."
"𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕, 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒘." 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆. "𝑻𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒕. 𝑻𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕. 𝑺𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒚𝒐�� 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝑰'𝒎 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝑻𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆."

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒛𝒛𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓: 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓-𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓-𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒍'𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒕, 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒘.”
˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

"𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒍𝒐𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒔, 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖," 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. "𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒄𝒐-𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌. 𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑩𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

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

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

"𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆!" 𝑮𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. "𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑼𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒉 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒖𝒑 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈."

°•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•° °•. ★ .•
❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･pre-read ʚɞ
two english professors who have been academic rivals for 13 years??? yes. please.

[Kelsey S · Rating 4 out of 5]

▹TL;DR Review: I love an academic rivals-to-lovers story, and this was a fun read that also taught me what eucatastrophe meant. Learning while falling in love is fun! The conflict resolution left a little to be desired, imo, but I overall would recommend this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jodi McAlister for the eARC!! This book comes out November 11, 2025.

▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
─────────────────────────

○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○

– About: Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since undergrad, competing in the literature/English field. When Sadie lands a coveted full-time teaching job that offers a partner-hire clause, she proposes a marriage of convenience to Jonah so they can both secure positions—only to discover the rivalry has deeper personal undercurrents and the fake-relationship may become real.
– FMC: Sadie Shaw (aka “darling”). ~32-year-old who specializes in Popular Literature. Ambitious, assertive, and driven by the desire for stability and recognition. Sometimes blinded by self-doubt. Knows a thing or two about contemporary romance books. Loves gardening. Is not a good cook.
– MMC: Jonah Fisher. ~32-year-old who loves Shakespeare. Knows he’s privileged but also wants to make a name for himself only on his own merits. Yearns painfully for a sharp-tongued red-head he’s known for 15+ years. Loves cooking.
– Location: Australia (partially in Sydney, partially in Hobart, Tasmania)
– POV: Dual first-person including footnotes in Jonah’s chapters
– Spice: 1 open-door spicy scene
– Tropes: rivals to lovers, marriage of convenience, literary MCs, slow burn, academic setting/workplace romance, forced proximity, only one bed, complex family relationships (specifically between siblings), miscommunication (but not between the main characters), he falls first
– Content warning: misogyny in the workplace, divorce/cheating (secondary character), parental abandonment, parental strained relationship, grief (mention of death of parent due to cancer), workplace politics
– Representation: non-binary character (minor character)

─────────────────────────

↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12

Now Playing: You’re On Your Own, Kid by Taylor Swift

╰┈➤ ❝’Cause there were pages turned, with the bridges burned; everything you lose is a step you take…❞

─────────────────────────

★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★

➼ Books about book lovers/literary academics, like Beg, Borrow, or Steal by Sarah Adams, You Between the Lines by Katie Naymon, Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady, and Book Lovers by Emily Henry (honorable mention: most any Ali Hazelwood book, but instead of literary academic, Ali’s characters are more maths/science academics)
➼ Putting on your glasses, sitting on the sofa with a chilled glass of local Riesling, and eating pizza while watching reality love shows with your fake spouse
➼ Cute literary references to back up cute banter (by way of footnotes)

─────────────────────────

⍟»This or That«⍟

Character Driven———✧————————Plot Driven
Fast Burn—————————✧——Slow Burn
Sweet————✧———————Spicy
Light/Fluffy——————✧—————Heavy/Emotional

─────────────────────────

🎯 My Thoughts:

I overall really liked this book! It had such strong tension between the characters, and the prose felt a little more elevated than your typical contemporary romance—which fits perfectly with the theme of literary academia. The writing has that smart, slightly higher-brow edge that makes it feel like you’re reading a romance written for people who love books.

One of my favorite stylistic choices was the inclusion of footnotes in Jonah’s chapters. They gave insight into his personality and thought process in such a clever way. (That said, if you’re using a screen reader, flipping back and forth might be tricky since the eBook’s footnotes are placed at the end.)

What Worked for Me
The Romance. Even though marriage of convenience isn’t usually one of my favorite tropes, I really enjoyed how it was handled here. It felt believable—grounded in the characters’ circumstances and their shared history rather than just being a convenient plot device. Jonah’s yearning was both delightful and, at times, a little frustrating, but it made the slow burn incredibly satisfying. There were moments I honestly doubted whether Sadie even liked him, but that uncertainty made the payoff all the more rewarding. It never veered into insta-love territory; instead, it was subtle, patient, and earned.

Family & Emotional Themes. What really stood out to me is that this isn’t just a romance—it’s a family love and healing story in a broader sense.

Jonah’s family dynamic, especially his relationship with Fi, was one of my favorite parts. I loved watching him unlearn the competitive patterns his parents instilled in him and instead choose connection. His bond with Fi felt so genuine and heartwarming, though I did wish Elias had more presence—by the end, I almost forgot he existed!

Sadie’s relationship with her sister, Chess, was also beautifully written in the first part of the book. You can feel the deep loyalty and dependence between them, which makes their conflict even more impactful.

What Didn’t Work for Me
Interestingly, the big miscommunication in this book isn’t between the romantic leads (thankfully!), but between Sadie and Chess. I actually liked that this was the central emotional conflict—it gave the story more depth. However, I didn’t fully agree with how it was handled. I understood why Chess was hurt and needed boundaries, but the silent treatment dragged on longer than felt reasonable.

Similarly, the workplace politics—which had been building tension in the background—wrapped up too quickly for my taste. Both of the book’s main conflicts kind of fizzled at the end, which left me wanting just a bit more resolution.

Despite those hang-ups, this book was a genuinely enjoyable and smartly written romance. The slow-burn connection between Sadie and Jonah felt realistic and emotionally rich, and the family themes added depth beyond the typical love story.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Especially to readers who love literary settings, academic rivals, and romances that prioritize character growth over cliché. It’s witty, introspective, and quietly tender—a love story that lingers.

_________________
Pre-read thoughts: another rec by bestie Lina! Verrrry excited for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jodi McAlister for the eARC!! This book comes out November 11, 2025.

[Maren’s Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ initial thoughts: it’s okay. Cute and charming and I love to see two academic nerds at the center of a love story. The tropes aren’t my favorite (I’m not a big fan of marriage of convenience especially among “rivals”) and I think that prevented me from loving it. I also wish I had eyeball read it versus reading via audio, although then I’d miss the beautiful Australian accents.

Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite rom-com read this year, featuring long-term academic rivals Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher, set amongst Australian university politics and academia.

‘Here’s a piece of advice about academia: if you’re interested in secure and stable employment with career progression that pays you a living wage, don’t go into it.’

This story had me laughing loud, tearing up at times and appreciating the eucatastrophe - the euphoric moment of joyous relief.

I really enjoyed the fabulous footnotes, the many literary references, the intellectual sparring and the romantic Tasmanian setting. It all worked so well in this charming academic story.

"I am listening to you. I always listen to you. I'm just not agreeing with you."

Tropes -
💞Academic rivals-to-lovers
💞 Marriage-of-convenience
💞One bed
💞He falls first
💞Forced proximity

I need more Jodi McAlister stories in my life!

[✨⚡ Kelcey (felinebooktrovert) ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I will concede that you said a pretty mean thing to your sister. But you've spent fifteen years saying mean things to me and I have loved you every second of them anyway."

4.5 stars

This was SO CLOSE to being a full 5 stars for me.

This book completely snuck up on me honestly. I went into it thinking it was going to be an average, enjoyable read. But this sucked me in immediately and I loved their dynamic, and that only got better and better as the story progressed, and both characters were great on their own, but they were a powerhouse together.

My only issue was the whole storyline with her sister. I just think it was BS (on her sister's side) and the resolution of it was quick and unbelievable. I also wish something more would have been done with his father because telling his father to shove it would have been so hot.

But I absolutely recommend this. And I MUST get myself a physical copy because there are footnotes that weren't listed until the end of the egalley I read and I'm sure they're gonna hit so good in the printed version 🥰

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[ReneeReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading this author and all I can say is WOW. I absolutely adored this book. The way that Jonah and Sadie's relationship changes and builds over time was so real and heartfelt. I love how Jonah supports Sadie and remembers all the little things that she loves and works them into their lives. He listens, he acts, he loves. What a man.

I also want to touch base on the relationship between Chess and Sadie because this was also well done. Sisters often have complicated relationships and I can relate to the conflict they had. I love how they were able to come to a new way of communicating and loving one another without completely falling out. Their love for one another is so strong and I loved that.

This was a wonderful read and I'll definitely want to read more books by this author in the future. 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 11/11/25

[Sherwood Smith]

She had me at eucatastrophe.

Well, that and the ML being a total cinnamon roll beneath the snark honed by an utterly toxic family dynamic.

Enemies to lovers is kind of a knife edge for me. I really enjoy this trope if the conflict is banter that makes me chuckle, rather than bickering in which the two tear at each other at max volume over and over and over again. I want to feel the attraction slowly eroding the snark.

This book carries it off in a style that appealed to me, and did not disappoint. I was dreading the Third Act "big misunderstanding" but guess what! The climaxing run of action arose straight out of the story and watching the two deal was actually a real pleasure.

If you like "academics against the soulless system" stories, banter, and intense family dynamics, here's your romance.

[BookishKB · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Bookish Thoughts
Oh I LOVED this book! At its heart, this was a marriage of convenience romance, but it was also about sisterhood and family. If you have sisters, you know how messy and complicated those relationships can be. As someone with three sisters, this story made me cry a couple of times 😭😭

The romance was so sweet as it played out. Jonah was immediately such a caring and thoughtful husband 🥹🥹
Him and Sadie were perfect!

The ending was perfect, and it also made me realize I need to read more Australian romance! 5 star read!

📖 What to Expect
• Academic rivals to lovers
• Fake marriage
• English professors
• Forced Proximity
• Family
• Sisterhood
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: November 11, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[littlefox · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars - one of my favvvv new romcoms

WOWEE FIRST OF ALL, thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Second of all, this book was everything I'd hoped it would be. This is the first time that I pick up a fake dating or fake marriage romance and the reason for the fake relationship is actually valid. Don't get me wrong, I love my mind-numbing steamy romcoms, but I really appreciated reading a romcom where the conflicts were genuine, the choice to fake marry was the only viable option, and there was actual build up for the relationship. Some might even say... too much build up. I loove the slow-burn but unfortunately (and the reason for the .25 stars being taken off), it took up so much page time that it made the ending rushed. I'm almost 99% sure there is going to be a sequel or spinoff centering around that dumb fucking bitch Chess and I think THAT will clear some things up, but the university conflict didn't have a satisfying conclusion.

I also LOVED the main characters; Sadie is actually me and boy what I would give for a Jonah 😫 (without the beard though... I kept conveniently forgetting he had a beard and unfortunately kept being reminded of it). Everyone was so lovable other than that dumb fucking bitch Chess and it made it so easy for me to root for them.

Thank you Jodi McAlister for putting your academia background to work and giving us this gem.

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just got this ARC!!! i looove academic romances, so this is perfect for me 🤭

[Marie]

I’ve decided to abandon my quest for a good holiday romance because it’s just not happening for me, I hate them all 😂

Back to business as usual 🤩

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 52%

I want to like this book SoooOooOo bad and continue reading but I’ll be honest..it’s very boring and the characters are so flat 😭 the characters are boring, the story pacing is so slow and I just do not feel any romantic connection between either of them. For an academic “rivals to lovers” I’m just not feeling that these two are actually going to fall in love. The yearning is meh to pretty much none.

[Steph Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️ My first ARC! Thank you #NetGalley and #Atria for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Sadie and Jonah are nemeses in academia who figure out a way to hack a seemingly hopeless job market.

What I loved: My absolute favorite aspect of this book was the yearning! I've been missing that in my romance reads. A lot of Jonah's inner monologue was downright poetic. I loved the wittiness and intellectual debates between our leads. I learned a lot; particularly about their fields of expertise and the concept eucatastrophe. The style of the book with Jonah's footnotes were funny (but at times distracting). You can see that the author literally studies romance for a living because the commentary on the tropes and even flawed logic were handled with care and mirrored my own thoughts so well that it almost felt like breaking the fourth wall. While the characters are refreshingly intelligent, the book in no way felt dense or slow. It was a quick read that I could not put down. This was a well-annotated book mostly due to a lot of well-articulated unique perspectives that I want to remember.

What frustrated me: While I absolutely devoured the first 85% of the book. A catastrophe is introduced in the last bit that felt a bit unnecessary and slowed my progress.

[Keri Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Academic Affair is a fun enemies to friends romance set in academia. Jonah and Sadie have been in classes together from undergrad through graduate school, both focusing on different aspects of English literature. There’s always been rivalry between them for top honors, but now they are competing for the same job, in a field that is difficult to obtain a full time professorship. There are reasons for each of them that make this position important, both professionally and personally.

When Sadie secure the job offer, she discovers a way that could also provide Jonah with a job. Though they’ve been rivals, her heart tugs at her because Jonah wants to be nearer his sister, who is recently divorced. But will the plan work? And will they spend their time arguing… or will their relationship take a new turn?

I thought the characters in this were appealing and entertaining. It’s a fun romance, but there is more to it. They both are navigating new relationships with their siblings, which I think is handled well and those relationships are equally heart warming. The setting in academia is not common and I really enjoyed it; it is a tough and competitive environment!

4-1/2 stars from me because I thoroughly enjoyed it! Rounded down to 4, just because it’s not a 5 to me. Please Goodreads, add 1/2 stars 😊

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the cadence and slower timeline of Sally Rooney's writing, this is absolutely the romance for you! Spanning an almost decade-long timeline, this marriage-of-convenience romance takes on a new direction, without the insta-lust and a long-standing academic rivalry.

What I liked most about this was the vibe of our hero, Jonah. He very much gave me Matthew Goode vibes, and that is said with the utmost of compliments!! Dark-haired, accented, tweed-wearing men are basically my kryptonite. I also really loved how much Jonah loved and supported Sadie!!

An unexpected joy in reading about readers - finding a new book you want to read yourself. As a result of reading The Academic Affair, I've also decided to read Anne of Green Gables. I've never read them before, and McAlister's writing made those stories sound so uplifting!

My biggest reason for taking away a star is that it's the SLOWEST of slow burns. There's so much history in the beginning and personal backstory that the story felt slightly out of balance there - but once you get past that, I think it's worth finishing and loving!
*Set in Australia - I want to note that there was terminology I definitely needed to look up or re-read so that I was fully understanding everything. The process of marriage licenses, for example, felt foreign - and that's because it quite literally was!

**Thank you to Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR🖤
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🖤 || href="https://www.youtube.com/@southernlady... ">Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @atriapartner for my gorgeous gifted copy!

OH my heart! ❤️ This was the book I didn't know I needed! I loved Sadie and Jonah's story. Sadie and Johah would agree that they both have a nemesis...EACH OTHER!! 😂Do they kind of enjoy it? 🤷‍♀️You be the judge! After their competitive college time together- they find themselves...living together. WHAT? 😳 I know right?

This is what I loved...

Enemies to lovers
Fake dating
Fake marriage
Snarky banter
Like a warm hug, gave me all the feels 🥰

[Sarah (bookofsari) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Academic Affair was my first Jodi McAlister book, and it won’t be my last. From page one, I was hooked by the dynamic between Sadie and Jonah—their years of rivalry, sharp banter, and begrudging respect that slowly transforms into something deeper. What really stood out to me was how cozy and well-developed their relationship felt. I absolutely adored Jonah. The way he supports Sadie, remembers the little things, and shows his love through action made their romance so believable and heartwarming.

Another highlight? No third-act breakup—thank god. It’s refreshing to see a fake marriage setup where the emotional payoff isn’t undercut by unnecessary drama. Instead, the tension comes from realistic obstacles and their growth together, which made their relationship even sweeter.

The side relationships, like Sadie’s bond with her sister, added more depth and authenticity, grounding the romance in real, complicated family dynamics. And the academic backdrop? Smart, engaging, and clearly written by someone who knows that world inside and out—it made the story feel layered without ever bogging it down.

If I had one tiny critique, it’s that the ending felt a little rushed. The conflicts resolve, but I wished the resolution had been given more space to breathe. Still, that didn’t take away from my overall experience. I don’t hand out 5 stars often, but this book felt so homey, so warm, and so full of love that I couldn’t give it anything less. I truly loved it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals for over a decade, constantly at each other’s throats in the literature department. When a dream teaching job opens up, they both want it—but there’s a catch. The university offers a partner hire, so in a moment of questionable genius, Sadie proposes they get married to snag the position for both of them. Totally practical, right? Except, of course, real feelings get in the way.

I genuinely loved this book! The tension between Sadie and Jonah is electric—you can feel all those years of rivalry simmering beneath the surface. Sadie is fierce, smart, and ambitious, but she’s also beautifully vulnerable, which made her so easy to root for. And Jonah’s footnotes in his POV chapters? Absolutely adorable and perfectly him—a little gem of cleverness that made me laugh every time.

The humour, the banter, the slow-burn romance—it all landed so well. I 100% recommend this to anyone looking for an enemies-to-lovers story that actually feels like it could be based on real people. Jodi McAlister balanced the heart and wit flawlessly, and the academic setting gave it such a fun, realistic backdrop. I’m already looking forward to diving into more of her books!

[siri megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i rarely pick up a romance these days expecting to be pleasantly surprised, but "an academic affair" managed to charm me from the first page. there is something uniquely satisfying about watching two intelligent, ambitious people fall for each other without giving up their careers and this story delivers that in spades.

sadie and jonah are exactly the kind of characters you can't help rooting for!! their rivalry stretches back years, setting up a slow burn that actually feels earned. i loved how their chemistry was not just about attraction, but rather built on respect, intellect, and years of subtle tension. the banter is sharp, the little competitive jabs are hilarious, and the way their academic lives overlap adds depth that makes this enemies-to-lovers story different, more memorable.

the fake marriage premise, although predictable, was clever and gave the story a fun, high-stakes twist. seeing sadie and jonah support each other beyond work, navigate their ambitions, and deal with the quirks of academic life made their connection feel so, so genuine. they’re not just falling in love in a some sort of vacuum, rather they're actively balancing careers, personal lives, and the pressure to succeed, which adds a lot of depth to their story. and honestly, jonah’s little footnotes were so clever and made me smile more than once :)

and can i just say thank goodness there is no ridiculous third-act breakup!!! so often romances hinge on unnecessary drama, but this one skips that trap entirely. seeing them grow together and reach a satisfying ending without forced conflict made the resolution feel even sweeter and sooo satisfying.

if you are into slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romances, "an academic affair" would be an absolute treat for you. thoughtful, funny, and heartfelt, it left me smiling long after i closed the book. a special thank you to atria books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lena's Version · Rating 4 out of 5]

7,5/10 Grata sorpresa. Tiene todos los clichés del género habidos y por haber: enemies to friends to lover, proximidad forzada, él cae primero, solo una cama, relación falsa... Y ha sido todo un disfrute, porque al mismo tiempo me ha resultado única, con su ritmo pausado, una ambientación académica que tiene mucha presencia e importancia, y un doble pov que ha sido genial. Un poco más los capítulos de Jonah, con sus notas al pie además, porque *insertar suspiro*
Quizás el tema de las hermanas, que propician parte de los hechos y aportan dramita, me ha resultado un poco cogido con pinzas de primeras. Pero en general ha tenido un buen desarrollo, y me ha tenido disfrutándola de principio a fin.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadie and Jonah are English professors who have been at odds for thirteen years, yet they went to university together, worked together, and even shared an apartment. After Sadie lands a coveted position, she discovers that the position offers partner hire, so she decides to help Jonah by proposing a fake marriage.

I can’t resist covers where the hero wears glasses — it’s one of my favorite micro-tropes, and Jonah turned out to be exactly the character I was hoping for! He’s smart, kind, sweet, and can even cook! He falls first, and his yearning is everything!! I also grew to love Sadie; she had a difficult childhood and worked incredibly hard to become an English professor.

I really enjoyed how the characters supported and protected each other in front of others. The author portrayed their lives in such a cozy and realistic way that I was interested in everything: how they set up their apartment, how they prepared for lectures, how Jonah cooked. I loved all the little everyday details, and their arguments made me smile!

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-burn romance! It also highlights the real challenges of finding a job as an English PhD. The author drew many moments from her own life or from people she knows.

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓slow burn
✓marriage of convenience
✓academic rivals to lovers
✓forced proximity
✓he falls first

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[hamna · Rating 1 out of 5]

i was under no delusion that this would be a good book, i fear i’ve gotten a knack of sorts for these kind of situations. that said, i did want to read it, purely for, let’s say, explorative purposes. and my god, even for my lesser than nothing expectations, this was a disappointment. it’s lackluster, you cannot begin to care for either the characters or the plot, the writing itself is fast-paced, yes, but honestly embarrassing at points—why is a full, out-of-place, on-the-nose taylor swift lyric being obstinately used in contemporary fiction a norm now? why are booktok nods so prevalent? have you all lost your minds? watching the fmc, who is a phd in popular fiction, recommend books any reader worth their salt would toss in the bin was definitely. something. (and it felt like a very, very cheap trick to me. “look i mentioned your awful book in my awful book, now please promote my book!!!”) i feel like everyone is having a mass hysteria moment and all i can do is watch. i found the characters really boring, one dimensional, and almost unnervingly mediocre. i refuse to believe people can actually be this bland? half the work for this narrative is already done for you—academia background, fmc who loves fiction, the many trials and tribulations over and pinings after a mmc who wears tweed and has glasses and just so happens to be a professor—this is not a hard concept to pull off. and still, somehow, it fails. the only glimpse of any true connection i can find in the book is between the fmc and her sister, and even that is so stupidly, immaturely done that i just. i have no idea why this is a published novel, actually. why are the characters behaving all of five years old and also have no linear, coherent thought process, and everything sucks but it’s also incredibly wishy-washy and very shallow? i just feel so tired by the whole prospect of this stodgy, flat, and uninspired book. whatever. contemporary romance has declined so much in quality in the last few years and i know i keep talking about this, but it never fails to shock me to see for far and low we’ve fallen. anyway, i’m just bitter and disappointed, i guess.
thank you to atria books for the arc. 1/5 stars

[Alba Amor por los libros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desde que leí a Ali Hazelwood con sus historias ambientadas en el ámbito académico, yo digo SÍ a todo este rollo. Así que esta novedad me llamó un montón la atención.

La premisa es súper interesante: dos doctores en literarura (¡ay, mis años de en la facultad de filología, qué recuerdos!) con una rivalidad de años y años y luchando por salir de una precariedad laboral por la escasez de puestos de trabajo en su ámbito. Les surgirá una buena oportunidad para conseguir por fin ese objetivo y para conseguirlo tendrán que recurrir a un matrimonio falso.

¡Dame un fake dating y me lo das todo!

Ha sido una historia pausada, muy bien contada y llena de momentos tanto divertidos como emotivos. No es una historia llena de grandes giros o sobresaltos, pero la verdad es que la autora consigue meterte dentro sin necesidad de todo ello y entiendes a la perfección sus frustraciones y su rivalidad.

He empatizado mucho con ambos personajes, que no pueden ser más diferentes y a la vez encajar tan bien. Tiene gran peso la parte que trata el tema de la precariedad laboral y todo lo que eso puede conllevar (imposibilidad de pagar un alquiler, llegar a fin de mes o poderte permitir siquiera salir a cenar porque sí...). Pero también trata otros temas como la familia, el clasismo, el machismo en ciertos sectores e incluso hay representación no binaria.

En definitiva, mi primer contacto con la autora ha sido un placer. Me ha dejado muy buen sabor de boca, ha sabido hacer una historia íntima, pausada y bonita a la vez que divertida y romántica. Recomendadísima.