An Academic Affair: a rivals to lovers workplace romance heating up the classroom

‘Ticked all my romcom boxes. A super smart rivals to lovers, which was tender, sexy, snarky and full of big feelings’ SARRA MANNING, author of London, With Love

The Love Hypothesis meets The Hating Game in a new standalone romcom from New York Times acclaimed author and romance academic Jodi McAlister.

From rivals in the classroom. . . to partners in real life?

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have known each other for fifteen years – and they’ve disliked each other for every one of them. It started with a minor altercation in an undergrad literature class, but as their academic careers developed, so did the intensity of their arguments. By the time they graduate with their doctorates, they’re embroiled in a full-on rivalry.

So when a position comes up that Sadie and Jonah are both perfect for, their ongoing enmity explodes into a red-hot competition. But as Sadie fights to secure her future, she realises there might be a way for both of them to get their dream job. There's just one catch – they'll have to get married first.

When things get personal, though, Sadie will have to keep her eye on the prize. A fake marriage isn't worth jeopardising her real career over, is it?

Tropes: ? Enemies to lovers ? Marriage of convenience ? One Bed ? He falls first

Readers are OBSSESSED with An Academic Affair!

'GIVE IT THE BOOKER PRIZE!!!!!!!!! THE MILES FRANKLIN!!!!!! THE STELLA!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE IN LOVE AGAIN!! … This actually filled my lungs up with joy until I felt like they'd burst' ?????

‘A fantastic read! I loved the enemies/academic rivals-to-lovers setup – Sadie and Jonah are EVERYTHING! This also had marriage of convenience and it was heartfelt, and their banter, THEIR BANTER! Yes please’ ?????

'From the first sentence I was hooked. The sparkling and witty dialogue to the chemistry between Jonah and Sadie kept me up til '3am to finish because I couldn't put it down’ ?????

'Wow, wow wow!! This is my absolute favourite romcom of the year! An Academic Affair is such cute, funny, heartstring-tugger of a book' ?????

‘I absolutely adored An Academic Affair …Sadie and Jonah's chemistry was palpable … I couldn’t get enough of them as a couple. I’m already thinking about rereading it – it’s the kind of story that sticks with you!’ ?????

‘This was the perfect enemies to lovers romance. Think Anyone But You but set in academia’ ?????

© 2025 Simon & Schuster Audio UK (Lydbog): 9781398551381

Release date

Lydbog: 11. september 2025