An Academic Affair

A Novel

By: Jodi McAlister

Narrated by: David Berry, Marny Kennedy

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.

Critic reviews

"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."

Slow burn enemies to lovers!

My favorite tropes! I loved Jonah and Sadie’s story. So well done, a 15 year slow burn that I was so invested in lol

The narrators save the story

This is a very basic marriage of convenience turns into twue love. The plot is predictable but it does give some insight into the way universities (at least in Australia) treat their instructors. What saves this is the performances of the two narrators. David Berry and Marny Kennedy are excellent performers and they do outstanding work with what they were given. NOTE: there is a very graphic sex scene that, IMHO is totally unnecessary and some potentially interesting side characters' stories fall by the wayside. Overall, it's a pleasant way to spend a few hours listening while passing the time.

Incredible narration

This story was so incredible but the narrators brought so much emotion and depth- so happy I listened to this 🫶🏼