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.

As much as I love having no homework, no class schedule, and a full-time job that pays real money, there’s a part of me that still misses the joy of being on a college campus. If you’re also reflecting wistfully on past exams and essay writing as the leaves start to fall, An Academic Affair is just the book to offer you a rejuvenating dose of coffee, tweed, and intellectual rivalry.

This slow-burn romance follows literature professors Jonah and Sadie, who have been rivals since their college days. Their feud turns serious when they find themselves competing for the same job, a lecturer position in Tasmania that would give Sadie career stability and Jonah the chance to move closer to his struggling older sister. Only one of them can get the position…unless they fake a relationship, get married, and take advantage of the university’s partner hire clause. Of course, they definitely couldn’t pull that off. Could they?

I’m giving An Academic Affair an A+, with extra credit points for banter and yearning. Sadie and Jonah’s tender love story had me captivated the whole way through. If you’re a book nerd, a former literature student, or just craving an autumnal dose of university life, you’ll love curling up with this smart, sexy romance—just don’t blame me if it makes you want to try for a PhD!