Aussie author Jodi McAlister's latest romantic offering starts strong, with a fast paced--and hilarious--recap of two academic rivals and complete opposites, wealthy Jonah from a competitive academic family and Sadie, who has fought against every possible odd to gain a PhD. As Jonah recaps the seven times they managed a truce, the reader just knows they might make a perfect couple. If only they could let go of their egos, if their families would stop interfering and if employment in the academic world was not quite so fierce. Then, in the midst of it all, the rare perfect employment opportunity comes along. They both have very compelling reasons for wanting it--and Sadie soon works out a way that both can have it. Unfortunately it involves this unlikely pair of enemies getting married. This comes with all kinds of problems. Their families each oppose it, if the university finds out theirs is a fake marriage they'll likely be thrown out and worse still ... Sadie and Jonah are falling for each other.
This was a great read. It starts out strong and Sadie and Jonah make for an interesting pair of leads. It is also an interesting glimpse into the academic world and the insecure employment opportunities that are available to people who have spend years of their adult lives studying. However, I do have some problems with this one, particular with the character Chess, Sadie's smothering older sister who does an about-face and seemingly abandons her sister. The character was just that little bit too despicable, despite technically being on the side of good and redeeming herself, and I found it took a little from the romantic aspect of the novel. Also, the ending felt a little rushed. What I loved, however, was the solid chemistry between the leads and the moments where the author shows how much they have genuinely come to care for one another.
Recommended.
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