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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I am a total sucker for rivals to lovers and wow did this deliver! I loved the tension between Jonah and Sadie! They are so clearly pining for each other and yet to proud to admit it. Jonah is such a tender, gentle person and his fierce protectiveness of Sadie will make you swoon! Sadie is, as she says “all fists, all teeth” and I love a powerful female main character who has a heart of gold. The chemistry between them is just perfect.
I am always a fan of no third act breakups (unless it’s plotted VERY well) and I’m so glad the author chose not to include that in this story.
The spice was lower, and do I typically want more? Yes. But this story is so emotionally satisfying that it just did not need more steamy scenes. The yearning!!! My God, it was good.
I really loved this so much and I would read about Jonah and Sadie and their sweet little life forever.
I am a total sucker for rivals to lovers and wow did this deliver! I loved the tension between Jonah and Sadie! They are so clearly pining for each other and yet to proud to admit it. Jonah is such a tender, gentle person and his fierce protectiveness of Sadie will make you swoon! Sadie is, as she says “all fists, all teeth” and I love a powerful female main character who has a heart of gold. The chemistry between them is just perfect.
The spice was lower, and do I typically want more? Yes. But this story is so emotionally satisfying that it just did not need more steamy scenes. The yearning!!! My God, it was good.
I really loved this so much and I would read about Jonah and Sadie and their sweet little life forever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexual content, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
this is a good 3.5 star rating btw I enjoyed the book more than I expected ! relatively slow burn rivals-to-lovers who get married so both of them can get a permanent teaching position. it sounds convoluted but it more or less works here. I also liked the family dynamics and how that plays into the story.
rtc
rtc
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
An Academic Affair is so good! Sadie and Jonah became academic rivals their freshman year of college and stayed that way through their doctorate programs—and even once they started teaching in academia themselves.
I wish I didn’t get this as an ARC because I want to quote so many lines!!! The banter is perfect. Their love is so beautifully written, and the family dynamics are handled so well.
And the love confession? 😩 So good.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I wish I didn’t get this as an ARC because I want to quote so many lines!!! The banter is perfect. Their love is so beautifully written, and the family dynamics are handled so well.
And the love confession? 😩 So good.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a copy of this arc in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you are looking for a book where the man is so down bad for the FMC he will do anything to make her happy then look no further!!
Jonah and Sadie had been competing against each other for years, so many years they don't know what their lives look like without the other one in it.
In entire a job opportunity of a lifetime with a partner hire and the start of a scheme to both get them jobs ends in obviously falling in love.
This story covers the reality of making it in academia, finding love along the way, and growing with the people by your side.
I'm begging to whoever is listening out there that there will be more books following these characters because if you're telling me you teased a Chess storyline in front of me I will be devastated.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC!!
Jonah and Sadie had been competing against each other for years, so many years they don't know what their lives look like without the other one in it.
In entire a job opportunity of a lifetime with a partner hire and the start of a scheme to both get them jobs ends in obviously falling in love.
This story covers the reality of making it in academia, finding love along the way, and growing with the people by your side.
I'm begging to whoever is listening out there that there will be more books following these characters because if you're telling me you teased a Chess storyline in front of me I will be devastated.
Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for an ARC!!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Jodi McAlister’s books and I was thrilled to receive this as an eARC from Atria and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed An Academic Affair. Sometimes, when authors write about things directly related to their experiences, the situations are under or over explained but this felt like the right amount of information. It’s evident how passionate McAlister is about the broken and often unfair system of academics. I felt outrage and frustration with Sadie and Jonah when they did and elated whenever things went their way.
The romance was very sweet. I think this was correctly listed as rivals to romance. I loved seeing how they started completely unable to work together and that they had real consequences for that, but as they matured and began to understand each other, were able to pull off more than I would be able to do even with someone I work well with!
I liked the dual POV and the footnotes in Jonah’s chapters. Note that as an ebook, I read this on two devices and one worked as a pop up but the other sent me back and forth between pages and that got annoying, because some of the footnotes we’re important to the story. The family dynamics were interesting, but I do wish we got a little more Elias after meeting Julia. Some of the plot line with Chess felt a little contrived but I liked that the conflict was less about why Jonah and Sadie couldn’t be together and more about them learning to navigate through difficult people and situations together. I also liked Fi and how fiercely she loves.
Overall, this was a great story. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for good banter, deep love, and breaking/repairing family ties. 4.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed An Academic Affair. Sometimes, when authors write about things directly related to their experiences, the situations are under or over explained but this felt like the right amount of information. It’s evident how passionate McAlister is about the broken and often unfair system of academics. I felt outrage and frustration with Sadie and Jonah when they did and elated whenever things went their way.
The romance was very sweet. I think this was correctly listed as rivals to romance. I loved seeing how they started completely unable to work together and that they had real consequences for that, but as they matured and began to understand each other, were able to pull off more than I would be able to do even with someone I work well with!
I liked the dual POV and the footnotes in Jonah’s chapters. Note that as an ebook, I read this on two devices and one worked as a pop up but the other sent me back and forth between pages and that got annoying, because some of the footnotes we’re important to the story. The family dynamics were interesting, but I do wish we got a little more Elias after meeting Julia. Some of the plot line with Chess felt a little contrived but I liked that the conflict was less about why Jonah and Sadie couldn’t be together and more about them learning to navigate through difficult people and situations together. I also liked Fi and how fiercely she loves.
Overall, this was a great story. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for good banter, deep love, and breaking/repairing family ties. 4.5 ⭐️
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
Yes
Grateful to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC!
Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have competed academically for as long as they have known each other - from their times as undergrad, through their PhDs, and then as adjuncts - so it comes as no surprise that they are competing with each other for one of the very rare professor jobs posted in their field. When Sadie is chosen for the job, she doesn't find any satisfaction in having beaten Jonah, since the job would be in the same town as his sister, whose husband had recently abandoned her and their three children. Sadie proposes (literally!) that she and Jonah take advantage of the partner hire clause in her contract, so that they could both have secure positions at the university.
The concept of the story might seem far-fetched to anyone not familiar with the academic job market, but this felt like a really clever take on a marriage of convenience trope. The dual POV was used effectively and it was a very charming addition (and completely true to the characters) to have footnotes. The romance was very sweet and Sadie and Jonah's perspectives felt distinct. There was minimal spice. Overall, it was fun and largely well-executed, but there were a few places that fell a bit short (for example, all this build up about a woman who Jonah's brother had a similar competition situation with, but when she is introduced she becomes friends with Sadie and is their union rep, but with several mentions about the previous relationship between her and Elias, it felt... weird? I was waiting for something else to happen). Definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys the Ali Hazelwood steminist romances given the university setting.
Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have competed academically for as long as they have known each other - from their times as undergrad, through their PhDs, and then as adjuncts - so it comes as no surprise that they are competing with each other for one of the very rare professor jobs posted in their field. When Sadie is chosen for the job, she doesn't find any satisfaction in having beaten Jonah, since the job would be in the same town as his sister, whose husband had recently abandoned her and their three children. Sadie proposes (literally!) that she and Jonah take advantage of the partner hire clause in her contract, so that they could both have secure positions at the university.
The concept of the story might seem far-fetched to anyone not familiar with the academic job market, but this felt like a really clever take on a marriage of convenience trope. The dual POV was used effectively and it was a very charming addition (and completely true to the characters) to have footnotes. The romance was very sweet and Sadie and Jonah's perspectives felt distinct. There was minimal spice. Overall, it was fun and largely well-executed, but there were a few places that fell a bit short (for example, all this build up about a woman who Jonah's brother had a similar competition situation with, but when she is introduced she becomes friends with Sadie and is their union rep, but with several mentions about the previous relationship between her and Elias, it felt... weird? I was waiting for something else to happen). Definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys the Ali Hazelwood steminist romances given the university setting.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
One of my favorite romance tropes of all time is without a doubt workplace rivals to lovers, especially when those rivals are competing for the same position/project/prize! Add in the fact that they have been competing for years and I am THERE. In the case of Academic Affair, we were also gifted a marriage of convenience as a treat. “Thank you, Jodi McAlister” we all chant in unison.
I absolutely adored Jonah from the very beginning of this story. McAlister makes it so the audience can tell Jonah loves Sadie from the prologue. The way that Jonah loves Sadie is different, he knows her inside and out, and can anticipate her needs before she can. He is steadfast, grounding, and always willing to bicker with Sadie over anything. It was lovely getting to see the pining from Jonah’s POV, and as much as I loved his chapters, Sadies were honestly just as good. I could so relate to Sadie’s internal fears throughout the story and the way that those impacted her relationships and her life. Something else I loved about Academic Affair was the side characters. The dynamics between all of the characters felt authentic and I found myself rooting for everyone in this story, not just Jonah and Sadie. I only wish we would have got more Elias in the second half. It felt kind of strange that he wasn’t mentioned again after like chapter 12 when we meet Julia in chapter 13, but I am *hoping* that means we will get more in this universe (ahem second chance romance, perhaps.) Overall, Academic Affair was a 4.5 star read for me and I placed her Marry Me, Juliet trilogy on hold at my library immediately after I finished it.
I would definitely recommend Academic Affair out November 11, 2025 in the US! Grateful for NetGalley and this ARC :)
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes