Love Notes series by Jodi McAlister ~ a Review

by MK French

Are you looking for a fun romantic comedy to enjoy for a lazy Sunday? Then pick up An Academic Affair today and preorder A Study in Sparkling to enjoy a mid-week binge-read session.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister

November 2025; Atria Books; 978-1668092330
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); romantic comedy

Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher are academic rivals for a highly coveted teaching opportunity. 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.

We begin with a recounting of all the ways Sadie and Jonah butted heads throughout undergraduate and graduate years, complete with footnotes. What lengthy written work from an academic doesn't have footnotes? I wasn't too attached to the characters at first, but when we got into the actual story instead of the attempts at a truce, I started to enjoy it more. Jonah and Sadie can't imagine a world without the other in it, to the point that they essentially co-teach courses by nitpicking and arguing with each other about the books being discussed. The students love it, because the debate makes them see the text in different ways, which is rather the point of analysis. Both are casual hires at the university and hear of an opening at almost the same time. It's in Hobart, a much smaller town than Sydney, but Jonah's sister lives there. While Sadie aces the interview, she feels bad for Jonah's sister and offers the partner hire solution. What ensues is the arranged marriage becoming a real one trope.

The gradual understanding that the two love each other is part of the draw. Jonah realized it first, and on some level Sadie knew it, too. It's not the typical declaration of undying love at first, but a slow realization that the other is important in their lives, and the future is awful without them. This is a quieter romantic love, and a fascinating look into how academia can chew up its professors in the name of profit, just like every other industry. 

Buy An Academic Affair at Amazon

A Study in Sparkling by Jodi McAlister

September 2026; Atria Books; 978-1668236338
audio, ebook, print (384 pages); romantic comedy

Fiona Fisher's husband left her and their three children for his secret second family. It's humiliating, and she spends more time at the wine bar that Satoshi Tsukamoto owns. He's studying for the Master Sommelier exam and has been in love with Fiona. They don't make sense as a couple, but the attraction is there. Can they really keep it casual?

This is the sequel to An Academic Affair. I like the fact that Satoshi is younger than Fiona, which isn't a common theme in romance novels. He is knowledgeable about wines and being taken seriously, which is why he wants to take the exam, which is the hardest in the world. With his tendency to wear fun colored glasses, bleach his hair, and wear pansexual pins, he feels like others don't see his real worth. It doesn't help that his older brother keeps stepping in to try to help him, whether he asks or not. Add to this Fiona, Jonah's sister and the reason why he and Sadie had book #1, who enjoys wine and feels like a failure when she's blindsided by her husband's behavior. There was no contact for months, and in this novel he abruptly returns to see his children and contest paying child support, adding more stress and complications to her life.

Both have their fears and shortcomings, which at times put them at cross purposes. There is genuine love and caring between them, and the fears they have aren't dismissed as unreasonable or something that makes them awful people. It's a realistic look at how complicated dating can be with children, exes, and anxiety. I enjoyed the story and their happily ever after. 

Buy A Study in Sparkling at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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