An Academic Affair, Jodi McAlister
An Academic Affair, Jodi McAlister
List: $25.99 | Sale: $17.68
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An Academic Affair

Author: Jodi McAlister

Narrator: David Berry, Marny Kennedy

Unabridged: 9 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/11/2025


Synopsis

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.

About Jodi McAlister

Jodi McAlister, PhD, is an author and academic from Kiama, Australia. She is the author of An Academic Affair and the Marry Me Juliet trilogy. She is currently a senior lecturer in writing, literature, and culture at Deakin University in Melbourne and is the president of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. For more, visit JodiMcAlister.com.au or find her on Instagram @JodiMcAlister.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Yun on November 25, 2025

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......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer on December 23, 2025

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 desperat......more

Goodreads review by Mai ༊*·˚ on November 17, 2025

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 Za......more

Goodreads review by Lina on September 19, 2025

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 ha......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on November 21, 2025

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 whe......more


Quotes

"Narrators David Berry and Marny Kennedy are effective foils as they portray deeply committed scholars who find themselves competing for the same faculty position in a job market where desirable appointments are scarce. The solution? Apply as a two-for-one package using the university’s spousal hire benefit. The details of university politics are realistic as Jonah and Sadie navigate writing and delivering weekly lectures, facing off with narrow-minded administrators, and discovering their true feelings for each other. Berry and Kennedy provide subtle depth to the main characters, particularly as their backstories reveal their motivations to be successful professors. Berry and Kennedy excel at delivering an enemies-to-lovers story set amid the competitive world of academia."