If you loved Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis or Love, Theoretically and need more academic romance in your life, look no further than Jodi McAlister’s An Academic Affair. Not only do we have a truly brilliant academic romance here, but it is a bookish one and you know I couldn’t wait any longer once I finally got a copy from the library.

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.

Academic setting – check. Academic rivals – check. Academic vibes all round, including the painfully accurate terrors of finding permanent employment in academia – check. But let’s zoom out a little because there is so much more to An Academic Affair than the simple academic romance going on. Set in Australian state Tasmania’s capital Hobart, this novel has that small-town feel about it. The characters are hardworking and dedicated to their jobs, but they are also human and care for each other deeply, sometimes causing conflicts and rifts between them. On the surface, it may sound like an easy competition to see who is the best academic, but once that blows aside the crux of the novel shines through and it will melt your heart.

There are so many themes so brilliantly navigated, including both the good and the ugly of these topics, and it rounds out the story so beautifully. What’s a romance without some deeper character introspection and revelations? What’s a romance novel without some awesome dialogue and interactions between the characters? Jodi McAlister’s dialogue resonates with me so much, I could not stop reacting to the lines and wit from Jonah and Sadie. I also need to note that the footnote style references in Jonah’s perspectives fits his character so well and it made the humour and storytelling so much fun and refreshing.

I cannot wait to read more in this story world as there are so many characters I need to see form relationships and find happiness after all they’ve gone through. I already have ideas and can see where things may go with several of them, so now it is just a matter of twiddling my thumbs waiting for the next book to come out.

If you’re a light academia reader or a romance reader, to be honest if you just want a great read that has characters with amazing chemistry and a plot that is sweet and tense and all kinds of satisfying, then An Academic Affair is a must for you. Add it to your tbrs, reques it from the library, or do what I plan to do and buy a copy from the nearest local bookstore because you will not be disappointed. I love so many things about this book and I know it will be an easy reread in a few months time.