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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister is an enemies-to-lovers romance. Sadie and Jonah have followed the same academic path for the past 15 years, constantly being compared to each other and sparing all the time. They both end up on the short list for a permanent academic job and they each have many reasons to hope they are chosen for the job. I really enjoyed this slow burn romance as the author was able to develop a strong relationship between the main characters. I loved how the ancillary characters and their personalities were woven into the story and I hope that additional books are planned to hear from them.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rom com perfection - romance is often dismissed as a more frivolous genre but Jodi wrote this intelligent novel full of poignant joy. I looked up her bio afterwards and finding out that she is basically a professional romance nerd did not surprise me. Setting an enemies to lovers book in the real world and using the fake marriage trope and actually making it not preposterous takes a real maestro. The best romance I’ve read this year!! I devoured it in one day and I think she may have overtaken Ali Hazelwood as my fave writer of academia romances.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An Academic Affair was one of my favorite reads this year—a sharp, swoony, and deeply human romance that delivers both emotional depth and scorching chemistry. Jodi McAlister crafts a brilliant rivals-to-lovers story centered around Sadie and Jonah, two academics who enter a marriage of convenience to exploit a university partner-hiring clause. What begins as a transactional arrangement between academic rivals quickly unravels into something far more tender.
The alternating first-person POVs are executed to perfection, offering intimate glimpses into both characters’ vulnerabilities. Jonah’s narration, in particular, is a masterclass in yearning—his quiet care and longing for Sadie are so palpable that I found myself clutching my Kindle in delight. McAlister has clearly answered the collective plea for men who yearn in romance, and the payoff is electric. The love scenes feel earned, intimate, and very hot, thanks to the emotional groundwork laid by their growing connection.
Beyond the romance, the novel deftly explores weighty themes—imposter syndrome (Sadie’s fear of not belonging in academia, Jonah’s anxiety over nepotism), institutional sexism, and the grinding pressures of late-stage capitalism in higher education. The Australian academic setting adds a fresh layer, with its distinct hierarchies (like lecturer tiers), but McAlister ensures context carries the reader smoothly.
What I loved most was how human the conflicts felt. There’s no melodramatic third-act breakup between Sadie and Jonah—instead, the tension arises from real-world stakes (job insecurity, union meetings, familial expectations). The most poignant rupture is between Sadie and her sister, Chess, whose well-intentioned overbearingness leads to a fallout that’s raw and nuanced. McAlister refuses to villainize either sister, making their reconciliation all the more satisfying—and leaving me desperate for Chess’s upcoming story!
An Academic Affair is a triumph: witty, steamy, and emotionally resonant. If you love academic rivals, marriage of convenience, and men who feel things deeply, this book is an absolute must-read. Jodi McAlister has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Read if you love: The Love Hypothesis but more grounded, Beach Read’s emotional depth, and Boyfriend Material’s humor and heart.
(And yes, I’ll be first in line for Chess’s book!)
The alternating first-person POVs are executed to perfection, offering intimate glimpses into both characters’ vulnerabilities. Jonah’s narration, in particular, is a masterclass in yearning—his quiet care and longing for Sadie are so palpable that I found myself clutching my Kindle in delight. McAlister has clearly answered the collective plea for men who yearn in romance, and the payoff is electric. The love scenes feel earned, intimate, and very hot, thanks to the emotional groundwork laid by their growing connection.
Beyond the romance, the novel deftly explores weighty themes—imposter syndrome (Sadie’s fear of not belonging in academia, Jonah’s anxiety over nepotism), institutional sexism, and the grinding pressures of late-stage capitalism in higher education. The Australian academic setting adds a fresh layer, with its distinct hierarchies (like lecturer tiers), but McAlister ensures context carries the reader smoothly.
What I loved most was how human the conflicts felt. There’s no melodramatic third-act breakup between Sadie and Jonah—instead, the tension arises from real-world stakes (job insecurity, union meetings, familial expectations). The most poignant rupture is between Sadie and her sister, Chess, whose well-intentioned overbearingness leads to a fallout that’s raw and nuanced. McAlister refuses to villainize either sister, making their reconciliation all the more satisfying—and leaving me desperate for Chess’s upcoming story!
An Academic Affair is a triumph: witty, steamy, and emotionally resonant. If you love academic rivals, marriage of convenience, and men who feel things deeply, this book is an absolute must-read. Jodi McAlister has cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Read if you love: The Love Hypothesis but more grounded, Beach Read’s emotional depth, and Boyfriend Material’s humor and heart.
(And yes, I’ll be first in line for Chess’s book!)
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.
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.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story was incredibly cute and I think Sadie and I would be friends in real life. Seeing that the topic for her thesis was eucatastrophe, and learning that there was actually a word for it, was nice. Just like her reaction to Anne of Green Gables. Thank you for expanding my vocabulary and my Tolkien knowledge. It’s nice to think it could happen, when usually something doesn’t; things don’t go your way or there are so many mountains blocking your path. Chess and Sadie’s relationship is a strong one and I’m glad Sadie has someone to support her.
I admire Sadie for considering Jonah and his sister’s situation, but I’m on Chess’ side where she also needs to think of herself and possibilities of what her future would look like if she didn’t even try to throw her hat in the ring. Both Sadie and Jonah actually care about the other, but want to advance- rightfully so. However, it’s definitely not healthy to constantly compare yourself to another, or even use them as a bar to reach or stay level with competitively. It’s ok to go based on how you feel or a goal set for yourself.
I feel bad for Jonah. I can understand Fiona’s feelings and needing help, expressing that, but before an interview that he’s been waiting for? What a way to add to the stress and anxiety of the situation. Not the best call. I would have told him to take a deep breath, and take it one question at a time. Do your best, that’s all you can do.
Chess, I would love to learn more about. Not only does Sadie have abandonment issues that flared when Chess dropped off the grid, but Chess has some issues that need to be addressed and I’d love to see a story exploring her character more.
The ending of this book did seem to jump quite a bit. I thought we would get more initial meetings between characters, see more of their fight, but we don’t. We have a synopsis, which is greatly appreciated, but it was a jump that interrupted the pace and flow already set.
I don’t have the mindset to click every footnote to read that footnote unless it’s at the end of the chapter or the page. Unfortunately, in my copy, they’re at the end of the book and I don’t have the patience to click the footnote, have it jump to the note, and then find my way back to the page I was on, just to read a random thought. Maybe if I had a physical copy it would be easier to bounce back and forth between where I’m at and then end of the book, but for me, I can’t do that easily on a digital version and keep track of the story.
I received an eARC from Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.