An Academic Affair - by Jodi McAlister (Paperback)

About the Book

"Two English professors enter a fake marriage in order to secure partner hire, but soon realize their feelings for each other aren't as fake as they'd once thought"--

Book 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.

Review Quotes

"An Academic Affair is an absolutely delightful modern marriage of convenience that works on every level. The tension and pining between Jonah and Sadie had me internally screaming for them to just kiss already! The insight into the world of academia felt incredibly real and relatable and I loved watching both characters sort out their careers and family lives while they also sorted out their feelings for each other. This is the kind of book you will gobble up in one sitting!"
--Falon Ballard, USA Today bestselling author of Change of Heart

"Full of humor and emotion, this brilliant novel will have readers crying one moment and laughing the next, then racing to read McAlister's (Not Here to Make Friends) backlist."
--Library Journal (starred review)

"Nerdy romance fans have a new academic pairing to obsess over in McAlister's An Academic Affair, a literary love fest packed with rivals-to-lovers tension and just the right amount of slow-burn spice [...] The burn is slow, the consent is deliberate and caring and the chemistry is undeniable. Fans of Ali Hazelwood will find plenty to love in McAlister's brainy, big-hearted romance."
--The Observer

"Refreshingly unique [....] Endearing characters, challenging careers, and heartfelt romance make McAlister a writer to watch."
--Booklist (starred review)

"The couple's chemistry is well worth the wait. Readers will be pleased."
--Publishers Weekly

"This is the gold standard for academic rivals to lovers! Utterly immersive and filled with sharp, nerdy banter and long-time yearning, An Academic Affair is a delicious, steamy portrait of two people who make each other better in every way. I'm jealous of everyone who gets to read this for the first time--I wanted to stay in Sadie and Jonah's world forever."
--Katie Naymon, author of You Between the Lines

"Witty and nuanced, this slow-burn rom-com earns every emotional beat."
--Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling author

About the Author

Jodi McAlister, PhD, is an author and academic from Kiama, Australia. Her academic work focuses on the history of love, sex, women and girls, popular culture, and fiction. It means that reading romance novels and watching The Bachelor is technically work for her. She is currently a senior lecturer in writing, literature, and culture at Deakin University in Melbourne. For more, visit JodiMcAlister.com.au.