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Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl: A Novel
From #1
New York Times
bestselling author Julie Murphy and
USA Today
bestselling author Sierra Simone comes a brand-new college town raunch-com about a sexy single dad professor and a feisty law school grad turned nanny in this steamy tale of Academic Affairs…
Class is in session.
Maddie Kowalczk is ready to be a bad girl. When the rookie lecturer lands at Astra University, she’s looking to start fresh after a messy breakup. But her first night in town takes a twist when she bumps into Bram Loe—a reserved but incredibly handsome single dad she (not so accidentally) stole a parking spot from earlier that day. The unspoken chemistry as he locks eyes with her while she gets a birthday spanking at a local bar is hotter than a Bunsen burner at full flame.
Bram is looking for a break from his hectic life as an ecology professor and dad to rambunctious twins and a busy teenager. So when his college friend’s divorce celebration brings him face-to-face with the same delectable brat who stole his parking spot, he’s ready for a night to remember. But the next morning, Bram’s world turns upside down (and that’s not just the hangover talking). His new nanny? None other than Maddie, who also happens to be the new poli-sci adjunct at the university where he teaches.
Maddie is desperate and broke, so when Bram offers her a raise and the chance to set some ground rules, she can’t say no. As the two settle into their new roles, the normally unruffled Bram finds that no one riles him up like Maddie does, which is a problem when every argument feels like foreplay. Of course, Bram is an educator first and foremost, and he very quickly finds he can’t resist the temptation of instructing Maddie in the fundamentals of being a good girl.
And it turns out Maddie’s a hands-on learner…
TROPES
Single Dad Nanny x Boss New Adult Romance
Class is in session.
Maddie Kowalczk is ready to be a bad girl. When the rookie lecturer lands at Astra University, she’s looking to start fresh after a messy breakup. But her first night in town takes a twist when she bumps into Bram Loe—a reserved but incredibly handsome single dad she (not so accidentally) stole a parking spot from earlier that day. The unspoken chemistry as he locks eyes with her while she gets a birthday spanking at a local bar is hotter than a Bunsen burner at full flame.
Bram is looking for a break from his hectic life as an ecology professor and dad to rambunctious twins and a busy teenager. So when his college friend’s divorce celebration brings him face-to-face with the same delectable brat who stole his parking spot, he’s ready for a night to remember. But the next morning, Bram’s world turns upside down (and that’s not just the hangover talking). His new nanny? None other than Maddie, who also happens to be the new poli-sci adjunct at the university where he teaches.
Maddie is desperate and broke, so when Bram offers her a raise and the chance to set some ground rules, she can’t say no. As the two settle into their new roles, the normally unruffled Bram finds that no one riles him up like Maddie does, which is a problem when every argument feels like foreplay. Of course, Bram is an educator first and foremost, and he very quickly finds he can’t resist the temptation of instructing Maddie in the fundamentals of being a good girl.
And it turns out Maddie’s a hands-on learner…
TROPES
Single Dad Nanny x Boss New Adult Romance
Audible Audio
First published January 13, 2026
367 people are currently reading
11053 people want to read
About the author
Julie Murphy
40 books6,780 followersJulie Murphy lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her and her cats who tolerate her. After several wonderful years in the library world, Julie now writes full-time.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
When she’s not writing or reliving her reference desk glory days, she can be found watching made-for-TV movies, hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, and planning her next great travel adventure.
She is also the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the young adult novels Dumplin’ (now a film on Netflix), Puddin’, Pumpkin, Ramona Blue, and Side Effects May Vary. Her middle grade novels include Dear Sweat Pea and a forthcoming 2023 title. She is also Disney's If The Shoe Fits, a modern day romcom retelling of Cinderella. Her writing partner is Sierra Simone and their romance debut is A Merry Little Meet Cute.
Julie has been featured in places liek Good Morning America, The New York Times, and Teen Vogue. Dumplin' was also named one of the best young adult books of all time by Time Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 753 reviews
November 19, 2025
3.75 stars
The sex was hot, the rest was a bit of a mess. But in a fun, chaotic way!
So it wasn’t bad, it was just a lot. There was so much going on, it was a bit overwhelming and definitely too much for my taste.
Maybe I went into it with the wrong expectations, I’m not sure. But after reading the synopsis, I thought the main focus would be on the „she wants to be a good girl, and he’s dying to teach her” part of it all. And don’t worry, the smut is a big part of the story. However, I would say that all the other plot lines took up just as much time, if not more.
Because in between fucking, we delved into Maddie's job at the university and all the issues that came along with that, her money struggles, her past relationship, her suddenly considering running for office, Bram's kids and their adventures, as well as all his friends and their many issues.
Don’t get me wrong, I really (mostly) enjoyed all these characters. They were well written, interesting, they fit nicely into the story, but we spent too much time on them for my liking.
Like why did I have to read a whole chapter about his friend's unexpected fourth pregnancy and the thus ensuing emergency friend group meeting where said friend whined about it..
I’m guessing the friends are going to get their own books, so I get why they were so involved, but it could’ve been toned down a bit.
Overall I think it was a bit chaotic but still well written and quite hot.
I had a good time ✌️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
The sex was hot, the rest was a bit of a mess. But in a fun, chaotic way!
So it wasn’t bad, it was just a lot. There was so much going on, it was a bit overwhelming and definitely too much for my taste.
Maybe I went into it with the wrong expectations, I’m not sure. But after reading the synopsis, I thought the main focus would be on the „she wants to be a good girl, and he’s dying to teach her” part of it all. And don’t worry, the smut is a big part of the story. However, I would say that all the other plot lines took up just as much time, if not more.
Because in between fucking, we delved into Maddie's job at the university and all the issues that came along with that, her money struggles, her past relationship, her suddenly considering running for office, Bram's kids and their adventures, as well as all his friends and their many issues.
Don’t get me wrong, I really (mostly) enjoyed all these characters. They were well written, interesting, they fit nicely into the story, but we spent too much time on them for my liking.
Like why did I have to read a whole chapter about his friend's unexpected fourth pregnancy and the thus ensuing emergency friend group meeting where said friend whined about it..
I’m guessing the friends are going to get their own books, so I get why they were so involved, but it could’ve been toned down a bit.
Overall I think it was a bit chaotic but still well written and quite hot.
I had a good time ✌️
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2026
Daddy Bram, Professor Bram, Good Boy, whatever you want to call him, is a massive walking green flag. He is down so bad I ran out of the “he’s down bad” tab color twice.
The romance was so sexy, but I also loved the individual growth we got to see with Maddie, she is a baddie who came into her own and got to do it while getting spoiled by a man that supported and loved her!
This book is probably spicier than I would usually gravitate towards and yet I loved every second of this book. These two authors seem to really know what they’re doing together! Every spice scene felt so intentional and well placed. I never felt like I was tired of the spice or ready to get back to the plot. The spice in this book isn’t there for the sake of spice, but rather each scene added a layer to the plot, character development or relationship development that was necessary and beautiful!
I really really want Leo and [redacted]’s story! I knew the moment [redacted] showed up on page that she would be Leo’s love interest and I am DESPERATE to see that play out!
I initially didn’t request this because I saw college and assumed it was college student FMC. I was WRONG! She’s recently graduated and an adjunct professor at the college, not a student! Also this is age-gap he’s 35, she’s 26 but it’s not the emphasis of the book and I honestly forgot they had an age gap until there is a small mention of it toward the end. If you’re usually one to avoid age-gap, I would say this is one worth trying!
Whats to love…
- small town
- big crazy cast of characters
- “good boy”
- nanny/single dad
- healthy co-parenting
- he is DOWN SO SO BAD
- fat FMC
- STEM MMC
- queer MCs
What might not work for some…
- I have to admit I did not read any of the footnotes. I don’t enjoy footnotes, with my ADHD, when I break in the middle to read them it takes me out of the story. That said, you can skip the footnotes and not really have any issue understanding this book... but my next line might have been resolved if I had read them (I'll never know bc I'm not reading the footnotes lol)
- You’re kinda thrown into the friend group and it was a bit jarring to feel like you were missing something in that regard. I originally thought the side characters were from other books and we were meant to remember who they were. I actually asked a friend who had read their other books, which ones I could find them in, before I realized they are brand new characters. Weirdly enough I thought we got more explanation of backstory about the two cameo characters from A Merry Little Meet Cute than we did with the others!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
The romance was so sexy, but I also loved the individual growth we got to see with Maddie, she is a baddie who came into her own and got to do it while getting spoiled by a man that supported and loved her!
This book is probably spicier than I would usually gravitate towards and yet I loved every second of this book. These two authors seem to really know what they’re doing together! Every spice scene felt so intentional and well placed. I never felt like I was tired of the spice or ready to get back to the plot. The spice in this book isn’t there for the sake of spice, but rather each scene added a layer to the plot, character development or relationship development that was necessary and beautiful!
I really really want Leo and [redacted]’s story! I knew the moment [redacted] showed up on page that she would be Leo’s love interest and I am DESPERATE to see that play out!
I initially didn’t request this because I saw college and assumed it was college student FMC. I was WRONG! She’s recently graduated and an adjunct professor at the college, not a student! Also this is age-gap he’s 35, she’s 26 but it’s not the emphasis of the book and I honestly forgot they had an age gap until there is a small mention of it toward the end. If you’re usually one to avoid age-gap, I would say this is one worth trying!
Whats to love…
- small town
- big crazy cast of characters
- “good boy”
- nanny/single dad
- healthy co-parenting
- he is DOWN SO SO BAD
- fat FMC
- STEM MMC
- queer MCs
What might not work for some…
- I have to admit I did not read any of the footnotes. I don’t enjoy footnotes, with my ADHD, when I break in the middle to read them it takes me out of the story. That said, you can skip the footnotes and not really have any issue understanding this book... but my next line might have been resolved if I had read them (I'll never know bc I'm not reading the footnotes lol)
- You’re kinda thrown into the friend group and it was a bit jarring to feel like you were missing something in that regard. I originally thought the side characters were from other books and we were meant to remember who they were. I actually asked a friend who had read their other books, which ones I could find them in, before I realized they are brand new characters. Weirdly enough I thought we got more explanation of backstory about the two cameo characters from A Merry Little Meet Cute than we did with the others!
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2025
3.5 / 5 Stars
Look, I had wanted to just turn my brain off and read some spice but then I remembered that I, in fact, overanalyze and overthink everything so here I am, writing a dissertation about this book instead 😂. Overall, I think I ended up enjoying the non-spice aspects of this book more than the spice. There was a lot to like about the books, even though it felt long at times. In “Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl,” Maddie is getting a new start in Kansas as an adjunct poli sci professor after a really shitty breakup. A one night stand with a hot, tall, single dad is a delightful way to start her new life. Except when she shows up to her nannying gig the next day and said dad is her employer. Bram (I think pronounced like it rhymes with ham) is an ecology professor at the same university as Maddie and he is desperate for help while his ex-wife is away on a research trip. Maddie is broke, so even though it is exceptionally complicated, she stays on as the childcare provider while also teaching in the building next to Bram. The sexual tension? Thicker than molasses all while Bram and Maddie have to navigate their complex relationship, Maddie’s bratty behavior, and Bram teaching Maddy how to be a good girl.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🫦 Single dad x nanny
🪴 Age gap (26F / 35M)
🫦 Academia setting
🪴 Down bad, possessive, and obsessed with plants MMC
🫦 Plus-size FMC rep
🪴 Spice and kink
🫦 Strong friendships and found family
🪴 Queer normative world
I found the characters to be surprisingly three dimensional and fully formed people. When spice is so front and center in books, I find that characterization can be put on the back burner, but Maddie and Bram both had very built out personalities and backstories. Maddie struggled with money, her mom’s mental health condition, and her ex’s horrible behavior. Bram has had a tough upbringing when his parents passed away and then had to be the responsible one from a young age as a teenage father. Those backstories really informed their dynamics (Bram is unrufflable and Maddy loves to get a rise out of him. Maddy doesn’t want to rely on anyone and Bram gets joy out of taking care of people), including their sexual dynamics, in a way that felt layered and nuanced.
I also thought the portrayal of Maddy as a plus sized woman was really well done. As a plus sized person myself, I like that Bram was obsessed with Maddy and that Maddy had a lot of self-confidence in herself but we didn’t just glaze over how fatphobic the world is. I find that sometimes with plus sized representation, there isn’t a ton of focus on how shitty the world can be and for me, pretending it doesn’t exist just makes me feel more alone (though I can understand why others wouldn’t want to read it and would like to get that escape). For example, this book used the term “fat” in a completely neutral way and in a derogatory way, which felt right because both things are currently true in our world. I liked that it didn’t shy away from those realities.
The only characteristic that felt slightly off was Maddie’s storyline about running for Congress. We learn that Maddie helped run campaigns in high school and college and that her ex comes from a political dynasty, but because the focus was so much more on the latter (her ex and how his aspirations caused her to dim her light and lose herself), her potential desire to go into office felt more like a plot device to create tension (you can’t run for office when you are sleeping with your employer – or maybe you should if you’re a man) instead of a genuine personality trait. And that just felt kind of off from the rest of the book.
The prose was really well written and I LOOOOVE footnotes in a book (it makes sense and fits well when the book is set in an academic setting), but reading a contemporary romance that is over 400 pages should be illegal. I can tolerate it when it is sci-fi or fantasy because there is a big world to build, but baby, we are in modern day Kansa. And it did feel long at times especially in the middle. The prologue was also slightly confusing but it makes way more sense after you read the book.
Now for the spice. There was a lot of it – I think there were around 7ish scenes and the majority of them happened before we even crossed over into the second half of the book. Because Bram and Maddie had the one night stand at the very start, these two were horny for each other early and often. I would say that the majority of the spice scenes helped advance their relationship or established new wrinkles and details to their relationship but a few just felt repetitive. But I think the joy of reading open door romances is that you get to explore what you like within the safe environment of a book. While this brand of spice was not necessarily for me, I know that it will be hot, hot, hot for other folks. Also, I feel like dancing around what “good girl lessons” are does no one any good, so here is my attempt to give you a flavor of the spice so that you can decide if this is something you like or want to explore: brat / brat tamer (he does call her a “brat” like 40 times to which I say, “sir, you are a tenured professor. Let’s get you a thesaurus.”), a dash of praise kink (with the good girl and good boy of it all), spanking, possessiveness, and power play. I am sure there are others I missed but go forth and enjoy if this is your cup of tea.
Overall, the book was fun but long and spicy but sometimes repetitive. If you want to read about a grown man who is obsessed with plants and becomes obsessed with a curvy, strong willed woman, you might love this book.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: January 13, 2026
______________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I just want to dissociate and read some nanny x single dad spice. ✌️
Look, I had wanted to just turn my brain off and read some spice but then I remembered that I, in fact, overanalyze and overthink everything so here I am, writing a dissertation about this book instead 😂. Overall, I think I ended up enjoying the non-spice aspects of this book more than the spice. There was a lot to like about the books, even though it felt long at times. In “Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl,” Maddie is getting a new start in Kansas as an adjunct poli sci professor after a really shitty breakup. A one night stand with a hot, tall, single dad is a delightful way to start her new life. Except when she shows up to her nannying gig the next day and said dad is her employer. Bram (I think pronounced like it rhymes with ham) is an ecology professor at the same university as Maddie and he is desperate for help while his ex-wife is away on a research trip. Maddie is broke, so even though it is exceptionally complicated, she stays on as the childcare provider while also teaching in the building next to Bram. The sexual tension? Thicker than molasses all while Bram and Maddie have to navigate their complex relationship, Maddie’s bratty behavior, and Bram teaching Maddy how to be a good girl.
You will probably like this book if you like:
🫦 Single dad x nanny
🪴 Age gap (26F / 35M)
🫦 Academia setting
🪴 Down bad, possessive, and obsessed with plants MMC
🫦 Plus-size FMC rep
🪴 Spice and kink
🫦 Strong friendships and found family
🪴 Queer normative world
I found the characters to be surprisingly three dimensional and fully formed people. When spice is so front and center in books, I find that characterization can be put on the back burner, but Maddie and Bram both had very built out personalities and backstories. Maddie struggled with money, her mom’s mental health condition, and her ex’s horrible behavior. Bram has had a tough upbringing when his parents passed away and then had to be the responsible one from a young age as a teenage father. Those backstories really informed their dynamics (Bram is unrufflable and Maddy loves to get a rise out of him. Maddy doesn’t want to rely on anyone and Bram gets joy out of taking care of people), including their sexual dynamics, in a way that felt layered and nuanced.
I also thought the portrayal of Maddy as a plus sized woman was really well done. As a plus sized person myself, I like that Bram was obsessed with Maddy and that Maddy had a lot of self-confidence in herself but we didn’t just glaze over how fatphobic the world is. I find that sometimes with plus sized representation, there isn’t a ton of focus on how shitty the world can be and for me, pretending it doesn’t exist just makes me feel more alone (though I can understand why others wouldn’t want to read it and would like to get that escape). For example, this book used the term “fat” in a completely neutral way and in a derogatory way, which felt right because both things are currently true in our world. I liked that it didn’t shy away from those realities.
The only characteristic that felt slightly off was Maddie’s storyline about running for Congress. We learn that Maddie helped run campaigns in high school and college and that her ex comes from a political dynasty, but because the focus was so much more on the latter (her ex and how his aspirations caused her to dim her light and lose herself), her potential desire to go into office felt more like a plot device to create tension (you can’t run for office when you are sleeping with your employer – or maybe you should if you’re a man) instead of a genuine personality trait. And that just felt kind of off from the rest of the book.
The prose was really well written and I LOOOOVE footnotes in a book (it makes sense and fits well when the book is set in an academic setting), but reading a contemporary romance that is over 400 pages should be illegal. I can tolerate it when it is sci-fi or fantasy because there is a big world to build, but baby, we are in modern day Kansa. And it did feel long at times especially in the middle. The prologue was also slightly confusing but it makes way more sense after you read the book.
Now for the spice. There was a lot of it – I think there were around 7ish scenes and the majority of them happened before we even crossed over into the second half of the book. Because Bram and Maddie had the one night stand at the very start, these two were horny for each other early and often. I would say that the majority of the spice scenes helped advance their relationship or established new wrinkles and details to their relationship but a few just felt repetitive. But I think the joy of reading open door romances is that you get to explore what you like within the safe environment of a book. While this brand of spice was not necessarily for me, I know that it will be hot, hot, hot for other folks. Also, I feel like dancing around what “good girl lessons” are does no one any good, so here is my attempt to give you a flavor of the spice so that you can decide if this is something you like or want to explore: brat / brat tamer (he does call her a “brat” like 40 times to which I say, “sir, you are a tenured professor. Let’s get you a thesaurus.”), a dash of praise kink (with the good girl and good boy of it all), spanking, possessiveness, and power play. I am sure there are others I missed but go forth and enjoy if this is your cup of tea.
Overall, the book was fun but long and spicy but sometimes repetitive. If you want to read about a grown man who is obsessed with plants and becomes obsessed with a curvy, strong willed woman, you might love this book.
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: January 13, 2026
______________________________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I just want to dissociate and read some nanny x single dad spice. ✌️
Read
January 17, 2026well, that was definitely a book
June 27, 2025
5⭐️ 3.5🌶️
GAHHHHHHH THIS WAS UTTER FUCKING PERFECTION!!!!!
GAHHHHHHH THIS WAS UTTER FUCKING PERFECTION!!!!!
January 13, 2026
Maddie + Bram
Maddie was just broken up with by her fiancé's 'people'.
She's not 'fit' to be a politician's wife.
That's why she's not in California anymore and that's also why she's now living in her car in Kansas while making enough money to rent an apartment.
Money is being made as a professor and a nanny in the afternoons.
Bram is the nanny part of the job. His ex wife is out of town for a couple of months so he needs help with his six year old twins.
Is it weird that he unknowingly had a one-night stand with his new nanny the night before?
Probably.
And she's also working at the same university as him.
Plus we're still super attracted to each other...
Let the fun times begin...
═══════════════
Well...that was ... adorable.
What you will notice is that it is very sexy. A bit kinkily baby-BDSM-ishly slightly cringily sillily sexy. But it was okay. It kinda fit the story.
But next to all the sexy moments we have so many other different things!
We have the sexy nerdy plants Professor with his adorable six year old twin girls and a 17 year old who wants to be school president just so that her ex won't get the job.
Then we have our just dumped plus sized heroine who is living in her car. She's a law student turned professor, but she's not sure if this is her future. She's dreaming of being a politician.
We have a big dog! (All my books need a dog!)
We have adorable and funny moments and of course all those erotic moments.
And now the best part of the book: the friend group! (Including his ex-wife and her new partner!)
Bram has an amazing friend group. They've been besties for decades now.
And since this is a series, I really hope that we get some of their stories.
Especially....drumroll.... LEO! Oh Em Gee!
Are you familiar with Harlan Coben's Myron Bolitar books??
(if not - go read them now!)
I present you: Windsor Horne Lockwood III two point oh!
Leo Saint James! Chocolate Imperium Billionaire Heir of Leisure and (ex) highschool bully.
I need his book. His trilogy. His own tv show!
I really enjoyed reading this.
I think with all the 'things' in this book, it could've been a trilogy for Bram and Maddie alone. Which - who knows - might still happen - I'm only halfway through as I'm typing this. But I hope for Leo next!
FUNDAMENTALS OF BEING A GOOD GIRL was an adorable and funny and very sexy age gap professor single dad love story - READ IT!
Tiny little info: Maddie is the sister of Nolan (from Julie + Sierra's Christmas Notch series) who will have a little cameo here. You do not have to read those books to enjoy this one, but why not?
Another tiny thing. The review copy was very complicated to read - which is not the fault of the story or the authors - it was just almost unreadably formatted. The story has footnotes - which I loved, but they were all over the place and not at the bottom where they belong. I'm sure they will change that for ebook readers before the book comes out!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
January 4, 2026
This was a cute and steamy cleanser that had lots of spice and tackled more serious issues as well. I liked the representation and how issues like fatphobia, how women are treated in academia etc. Both mcs are in academia and while the fmc is new to it. We watch her navigate it with all the males in the field. The mmc is a divorced father and needs a nanny which is how the fmc connects with him. Actually it starts with sexy time between the mcs when they didn’t know each other and they are surprised when they meet when the fmc is called to nanny the mmcs kids. Alot of this story is spice spice spice which was fun. I liked seeing them grow past smut to a real relationship with each other and the family. Overall fun, thanks to the publisher for this arc.
January 14, 2026
Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️
January 2, 2026
Ummmmmm okay I don’t know how I’ve been sleeping on these authors for so long because the spice in this book felt life changing to me.
Single dad? Okay
Nanny? Okay
He’s a professor…. At the university that she just started teaching at? Okay
And they role play teacher x student????
‼️ Ahhhhh okayyyyyy ‼️
The storyline was engaging, the spice level was high, and the fact that they added footnotes to a romance novel… hahahaha I’m sold!
🥵 “Counterargument: no one has to know that you’re screwing your nanny.”
🥵 “And don’t you dare tell me I can’t love you, because I do and I have and I will. If you’re changing and growing, I want to be there to witness it. Can’t you see that?”
Single dad? Okay
Nanny? Okay
He’s a professor…. At the university that she just started teaching at? Okay
And they role play teacher x student????
‼️ Ahhhhh okayyyyyy ‼️
The storyline was engaging, the spice level was high, and the fact that they added footnotes to a romance novel… hahahaha I’m sold!
🥵 “Counterargument: no one has to know that you’re screwing your nanny.”
🥵 “And don’t you dare tell me I can’t love you, because I do and I have and I will. If you’re changing and growing, I want to be there to witness it. Can’t you see that?”
October 4, 2025
For me, this title was a bit mixed. I enjoy an academic setting and felt that the plot had a great start. However, it seemed like there was way more spicy parts than anything else. I have really loved Julie Murphy’s work in the past but realized now it was Young Adult and “clean” or closed door romance. Personally I am not a fan of the smut, and I usually skim past these parts. There was so much that I ended up reading the entire book in only 2 hours. If you like spicy books and a nanny trope you will probably really enjoy it!
January 11, 2026
Okay Julie & Sierra, I am onto your game and oh boy, am I a fan.
𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙 had me CACKLING. Think multiple instances of snort inducing laughter. I highlighted and sent lines to friends like a madwoman.
I’ll admit, I was initially hesitant because a lot of these tropes are not usually my jam—but boy am I glad I grabbed this one. This story is spicy and sexy and fun, but it shines for so, so much more than that.
Every bit of the story is deeply full of heart and longing and intimacy. I adored how the connection between Maddie & Bram blossomed. This Plant Daddy is the exact kind of patient, persistent, & perpetually-uplifting champion that Maddie needed at this moment of her life.
And watching him girl dad like a king on top of that? So good, and so hot.
𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒐;
🌺 Sharp, smart writing
✂️A beautiful, healthy portrayal of divorce
❤️Incredible rep—both plus size & LGBTQ+
📝Found family with fabulously intrusive side characters you’ll obsess over
🌵An age gap romance without a power imbalance, that never feels uncomfortable
💛 Lessons in girl bossing
🪴 Plant nerdiness that is adorable and swoony
I loved this. I need more of it—specifically, a sequel with a certain rich, lazy, platinum-haired prat & the mousy curly-haired librarian he used to bully. Please!!!
Thank you Avon for the ARC!
𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐵𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝐺𝑖𝑟𝑙 had me CACKLING. Think multiple instances of snort inducing laughter. I highlighted and sent lines to friends like a madwoman.
I’ll admit, I was initially hesitant because a lot of these tropes are not usually my jam—but boy am I glad I grabbed this one. This story is spicy and sexy and fun, but it shines for so, so much more than that.
Every bit of the story is deeply full of heart and longing and intimacy. I adored how the connection between Maddie & Bram blossomed. This Plant Daddy is the exact kind of patient, persistent, & perpetually-uplifting champion that Maddie needed at this moment of her life.
And watching him girl dad like a king on top of that? So good, and so hot.
𝑨𝒍𝒔𝒐;
🌺 Sharp, smart writing
✂️A beautiful, healthy portrayal of divorce
❤️Incredible rep—both plus size & LGBTQ+
📝Found family with fabulously intrusive side characters you’ll obsess over
🌵An age gap romance without a power imbalance, that never feels uncomfortable
💛 Lessons in girl bossing
🪴 Plant nerdiness that is adorable and swoony
I loved this. I need more of it—specifically, a sequel with a certain rich, lazy, platinum-haired prat & the mousy curly-haired librarian he used to bully. Please!!!
Thank you Avon for the ARC!
January 1, 2026
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone team up as a dynamic duo in “Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl,” the first novel in a newly untitled series featuring an age-gap romance between a nanny and the single father of three girls.
Twenty-six-year-old Madelyn “Maddie” Kowalczk has recently left Los Angeles after her politician boyfriend, Gentry Cooper Wade III, ends their relationship by sending his political advisor, Penelope Pike, to do it for him. A recent law school graduate who has yet to take the bar exam, Maddie moves to Mount Astra, Kansas, to work as an adjunct professor in the political science department. Struggling to pay off student loans now that she is single, Maddie signs up with a nanny agency. On the night of her birthday, just before she is set to begin her new nanny job, Maddie heads to a local bar, where she reunites with the man whose parking space she stole earlier that day.
Thirty-five-year-old Bram Loe, a professor of ecology at Astra University, has been divorced for five years and maintains a healthy friendship with his ex-wife, Sara, and her fiancé, Asher. When Sara receives a grant to work on a glacier in Alaska, Bram takes over caring for their seventeen-year-old daughter, Fern, their first-grade twins, Letty and Barry, and Sara’s dog, Hester Prynne. Overwhelmed by the prospect of months of solo parenting, Bram hires a nanny through an agency to help manage the household.
After Hester Prynne eats chocolate ice cream, resulting in an expensive vet visit during which Bram must carry her several blocks thanks to an unknown woman cutting him off, Bram meets up with his group of friends, the Andromedas, for what they call a “Best Night Ever.” When he spots the same woman from earlier, clearly enjoying a birthday celebration that includes spanking, Bram approaches her to tell her she is being a “bad girl.” After several rounds of drinks, the two head upstairs to the vacant apartment above the bar.
The next morning, Bram opens his door to discover that the woman from the night before is Maddie, his new nanny. Forced to work together, the two must navigate their new professional dynamic while attempting to establish boundaries.
Murphy and Simone’s novel is filled with kinky sex scenes and an endearing supporting cast that evokes childhood friendships built on inside jokes and deep familiarity. Unlike their “Christmas Notch” series, which features toxic commentary, this novel largely avoids that pitfall. Still, it contains some cringe-worthy dialogue and sex scenes. However, the most damaging flaw of the novel is its main female character, Maddie.
As a political science major, law school dropout, and poll worker, I am well aware of the political sphere and the machinations that take place behind closed doors. Readers are asked to believe that a twenty-six-year-old woman would be endorsed as a political party nominee simply because she helped a future politician cover up controversies. This scenario is far-fetched and not believable. Maddie goes from being jobless, lacking career ambition and foresight, to suddenly being recruited to run for office. Almost overnight, she becomes politically driven, hyper-ambitious, and willing to throw anyone under the bus, including betraying her own values, to get ahead. This abrupt shift is unconvincing and poorly developed.
Bram’s character, by contrast, is refreshing and the epitome of a green flag. He is a selfless father who actively works with his daughters and their mother to nurture their growth while reassuring them that he will always be there when things go wrong. As an intellectual professor and advocate for environmental laws and regulations, Bram is written as a nearly flawless character. Unfortunately, his counterpart, Maddie, is deeply unlikable. This imbalance makes it difficult to root for their relationship, as one character is portrayed as superior in nearly every way while the other is frustratingly inconsistent and poorly constructed.
I received an ARC through Edleweiss and NetGalley courtesy of Avon and HarperCollins in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Twenty-six-year-old Madelyn “Maddie” Kowalczk has recently left Los Angeles after her politician boyfriend, Gentry Cooper Wade III, ends their relationship by sending his political advisor, Penelope Pike, to do it for him. A recent law school graduate who has yet to take the bar exam, Maddie moves to Mount Astra, Kansas, to work as an adjunct professor in the political science department. Struggling to pay off student loans now that she is single, Maddie signs up with a nanny agency. On the night of her birthday, just before she is set to begin her new nanny job, Maddie heads to a local bar, where she reunites with the man whose parking space she stole earlier that day.
Thirty-five-year-old Bram Loe, a professor of ecology at Astra University, has been divorced for five years and maintains a healthy friendship with his ex-wife, Sara, and her fiancé, Asher. When Sara receives a grant to work on a glacier in Alaska, Bram takes over caring for their seventeen-year-old daughter, Fern, their first-grade twins, Letty and Barry, and Sara’s dog, Hester Prynne. Overwhelmed by the prospect of months of solo parenting, Bram hires a nanny through an agency to help manage the household.
After Hester Prynne eats chocolate ice cream, resulting in an expensive vet visit during which Bram must carry her several blocks thanks to an unknown woman cutting him off, Bram meets up with his group of friends, the Andromedas, for what they call a “Best Night Ever.” When he spots the same woman from earlier, clearly enjoying a birthday celebration that includes spanking, Bram approaches her to tell her she is being a “bad girl.” After several rounds of drinks, the two head upstairs to the vacant apartment above the bar.
The next morning, Bram opens his door to discover that the woman from the night before is Maddie, his new nanny. Forced to work together, the two must navigate their new professional dynamic while attempting to establish boundaries.
Murphy and Simone’s novel is filled with kinky sex scenes and an endearing supporting cast that evokes childhood friendships built on inside jokes and deep familiarity. Unlike their “Christmas Notch” series, which features toxic commentary, this novel largely avoids that pitfall. Still, it contains some cringe-worthy dialogue and sex scenes. However, the most damaging flaw of the novel is its main female character, Maddie.
As a political science major, law school dropout, and poll worker, I am well aware of the political sphere and the machinations that take place behind closed doors. Readers are asked to believe that a twenty-six-year-old woman would be endorsed as a political party nominee simply because she helped a future politician cover up controversies. This scenario is far-fetched and not believable. Maddie goes from being jobless, lacking career ambition and foresight, to suddenly being recruited to run for office. Almost overnight, she becomes politically driven, hyper-ambitious, and willing to throw anyone under the bus, including betraying her own values, to get ahead. This abrupt shift is unconvincing and poorly developed.
Bram’s character, by contrast, is refreshing and the epitome of a green flag. He is a selfless father who actively works with his daughters and their mother to nurture their growth while reassuring them that he will always be there when things go wrong. As an intellectual professor and advocate for environmental laws and regulations, Bram is written as a nearly flawless character. Unfortunately, his counterpart, Maddie, is deeply unlikable. This imbalance makes it difficult to root for their relationship, as one character is portrayed as superior in nearly every way while the other is frustratingly inconsistent and poorly constructed.
I received an ARC through Edleweiss and NetGalley courtesy of Avon and HarperCollins in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 30, 2025
It is with great pride and honour that I enthusiastically induct the newest member of the Pathetically Down Bad™ Association, by unanimous vote, Professor Bram Loe! 🎉
Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl is, at its core, a damn fun read. It is spicy, lively, and has just enough academia for it to be a solid setting and core element of the characters' relationships and development, but not too much that it resurrects the latent trauma of anyone who survived academia by the skin of their teeth and has the loans to prove it.
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are truly a dynamic duo. Their writing styles blend well and are infused with so much personality and humor that the result is this spirited type of prose that complements the story so well.
Let's get into the stars of the show. Maddie Kowalczk is fierce and feisty in a plump package. She is a woman unleashed. After being stifled and twisted into being good, she is ready to be bad, bad, bad. Bram Loe is EXACTLY who his name suggests. The human embodiment of cool, calm, and collected. I love that Bram centeredness is the yin to Maddie's bold yang. These two complemented each other so well, and their romance is marked by patience, courtesy, and unconditional support, which I loved. (And yes, down and dirty attraction of course.)
This book is far more than just scandalous tropes in an academic setting. The characters have depth and identity. Their lives are thoroughly and thoughtfully constructed. Their stories are meaningful and relatable. I adored them. Honourable mention to Bram's innumerable quotable moments. I usually try to avoid pulling quotes from ARCs, but let me say... the MOUTH on this man! Bram is 10/10, chef's kiss. (Chapter 21 had me SICK I loved it so much.)
My only critique is that the story was, at times, a little discombobulated. There is a decent amount of well-fleshed side characters, footnotes, and tangential thoughts that left me a little lost, like being in the middle of the party where you only know one person and can't find them. To argue against my own opinion, though, I can see this being done intentionally to speak to the history and closeness of the Andromeda Club, as well as being just a unique trait of the Murphy/Simone blended prose.
I can't wait to get more from this duo! I promise to be such a good girl if it means we get more of this friend group! Coughcough Junie and Leo next pretty please cough cough.
Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl is, at its core, a damn fun read. It is spicy, lively, and has just enough academia for it to be a solid setting and core element of the characters' relationships and development, but not too much that it resurrects the latent trauma of anyone who survived academia by the skin of their teeth and has the loans to prove it.
Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone are truly a dynamic duo. Their writing styles blend well and are infused with so much personality and humor that the result is this spirited type of prose that complements the story so well.
Let's get into the stars of the show. Maddie Kowalczk is fierce and feisty in a plump package. She is a woman unleashed. After being stifled and twisted into being good, she is ready to be bad, bad, bad. Bram Loe is EXACTLY who his name suggests. The human embodiment of cool, calm, and collected. I love that Bram centeredness is the yin to Maddie's bold yang. These two complemented each other so well, and their romance is marked by patience, courtesy, and unconditional support, which I loved. (And yes, down and dirty attraction of course.)
This book is far more than just scandalous tropes in an academic setting. The characters have depth and identity. Their lives are thoroughly and thoughtfully constructed. Their stories are meaningful and relatable. I adored them. Honourable mention to Bram's innumerable quotable moments. I usually try to avoid pulling quotes from ARCs, but let me say... the MOUTH on this man! Bram is 10/10, chef's kiss. (Chapter 21 had me SICK I loved it so much.)
My only critique is that the story was, at times, a little discombobulated. There is a decent amount of well-fleshed side characters, footnotes, and tangential thoughts that left me a little lost, like being in the middle of the party where you only know one person and can't find them. To argue against my own opinion, though, I can see this being done intentionally to speak to the history and closeness of the Andromeda Club, as well as being just a unique trait of the Murphy/Simone blended prose.
I can't wait to get more from this duo! I promise to be such a good girl if it means we get more of this friend group! Coughcough Junie and Leo next pretty please cough cough.
Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
December 21, 2025
This book has some of my least favorite tropes in it and yet Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy effortlessly pulled me in. EFFORTLESSLY. FROM PAGE ONE.
Age gap: yes, I’m one of the few romance readers who doesn’t care for age gap relationships but I really enjoyed it here. Bram is stable, which Maddie needs after her years of turbulence. And Maddie provides a new perspective for Bram, who is set in his ways and needs a good shaking up.
Boss/nanny & professor/student (sort of): again, not a trope I go for but Bram and Maddie made me care. The power dynamic is only “used” (if that’s the right word) with consent during sexy times - the rest of their relationship is on even footing and with mutual respect.
Knowing the boys of INK, I knew Maddie would be a sassy bitch and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed hearing from Bram’s perspective: he isn’t just a one-dimension daddy dom with a thing for women ten years younger than him. He falls first. He pines. He wants the whole relationship package. Their character arcs weave together but they both do the work.
I was skeptical about reading a book with these tropes - but if Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone write it, imma read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone, and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Age gap: yes, I’m one of the few romance readers who doesn’t care for age gap relationships but I really enjoyed it here. Bram is stable, which Maddie needs after her years of turbulence. And Maddie provides a new perspective for Bram, who is set in his ways and needs a good shaking up.
Boss/nanny & professor/student (sort of): again, not a trope I go for but Bram and Maddie made me care. The power dynamic is only “used” (if that’s the right word) with consent during sexy times - the rest of their relationship is on even footing and with mutual respect.
Knowing the boys of INK, I knew Maddie would be a sassy bitch and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed hearing from Bram’s perspective: he isn’t just a one-dimension daddy dom with a thing for women ten years younger than him. He falls first. He pines. He wants the whole relationship package. Their character arcs weave together but they both do the work.
I was skeptical about reading a book with these tropes - but if Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone write it, imma read it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone, and Avon Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2026
“In a world full of Gentrys, be a Maddie.”
I absolutely loved this spunky, spicy, and sassy book. The age-gap, guiding-light dynamic was done to perfection, and the tension and build were truly top tier. This plot was PLOTTING in the best way.
That said, this was my first book by these authors, and I did feel like I may have missed a bit of universe setup - there were quite a few crossovers mentioned that longtime readers will probably appreciate more.
We all need a Plant Daddy in our lives. 🌱🔥
I absolutely loved this spunky, spicy, and sassy book. The age-gap, guiding-light dynamic was done to perfection, and the tension and build were truly top tier. This plot was PLOTTING in the best way.
That said, this was my first book by these authors, and I did feel like I may have missed a bit of universe setup - there were quite a few crossovers mentioned that longtime readers will probably appreciate more.
We all need a Plant Daddy in our lives. 🌱🔥
January 14, 2026
Single dad/professor x Nanny with an age gap, and a good girl kink mixed in…consider me sold. This book had a fun bit of humor, and a whole lot of spice. I had a lot of fun reading this, but it’s definitely one of those books that I have to be in the mood for. I read this coming off reading a lot of fantasy, and I definitely enjoyed it as a palette cleanser. There were definitely a few things I struggled with while reading this that just didn’t resonate with me, but overall I loved the small town vibes and the dirty talk was chefs kiss.
Thank you so much to Avon for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to Avon for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 1, 2025
It was an immediate yes when I saw the cover and title combination. It was a “now I’m running” when I saw this was nanny x single dad PLUS coworkers in an academic setting. You couldn’t curate a better line up for me.
From the first few pages I knew this was going to be hilarious, raw, witty and extra spicy. I was correct. Add in the thoughtful and hilarious footnotes throughout the book and it was a win for me.
Though there were some inconsistencies and pacing things here and there that took me a bit out of the story, I really appreciated the depth, range and intelligence given to the characters in what could have been a one dimensional story. Everyone, even the silly side characters, felt alive. It gave an authentic and grounded feel to a genre (or even specific tropes) that can sometimes leave you feeling a bit like… but where was the heart and soul?
And the spice? Well, those moments were worth the read alone. (Props for a plus size characters and an appropriate age gap!)
This is my first time reading either author and I have to say I wouldn’t mind searching through either backlogs now when I need something witty, light and of course spicy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
From the first few pages I knew this was going to be hilarious, raw, witty and extra spicy. I was correct. Add in the thoughtful and hilarious footnotes throughout the book and it was a win for me.
Though there were some inconsistencies and pacing things here and there that took me a bit out of the story, I really appreciated the depth, range and intelligence given to the characters in what could have been a one dimensional story. Everyone, even the silly side characters, felt alive. It gave an authentic and grounded feel to a genre (or even specific tropes) that can sometimes leave you feeling a bit like… but where was the heart and soul?
And the spice? Well, those moments were worth the read alone. (Props for a plus size characters and an appropriate age gap!)
This is my first time reading either author and I have to say I wouldn’t mind searching through either backlogs now when I need something witty, light and of course spicy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2026
what a hoot. such funny moments. so freaking hot. 🥵 plant daddy bram loe is down BADDDD and a great brat tamer.
i had fun reading this book. couldn’t put it down.
sierra and julie always write so well together and i really felt like i was essentially watching a movie with how detailed it all is.
things i need in my life after reading this:
- plant daddy bram
- sharpie
can’t wait to see more of this series (and loved getting to see nolan and bee 💕)
ty avon for this arc ✨
i had fun reading this book. couldn’t put it down.
sierra and julie always write so well together and i really felt like i was essentially watching a movie with how detailed it all is.
things i need in my life after reading this:
- plant daddy bram
- sharpie
can’t wait to see more of this series (and loved getting to see nolan and bee 💕)
ty avon for this arc ✨
January 14, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️
I loved the tie-ins to the previous novels Julie & Sierra wrote together. Hoping we get a series out of this new group of people!
2.5/5 🌶️
I loved the tie-ins to the previous novels Julie & Sierra wrote together. Hoping we get a series out of this new group of people!
January 24, 2026
Thank you, @avonbooks for the gifted digital copy!
Maddie is a recent law school grad starting over in a small Kansas town after finally finding the strength to leave a controlling ex and rebuild her life on her own terms. She’s taken an adjunct position at the local university (read: underpaid), and to make ends meet, she reluctantly accepts a nannying job on the side. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a way forward - and Maddie is determined not to put anyone else first ever again. No strings. No love.
Which is exactly why she cuts loose on her first night in town and has a one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger at a bar. A fun, unforgettable night with a man she’s sure she’ll never see again.
Except…he turns out to be Bram. The single dad she’s nannying for. And a tenured professor at the same university where she’s teaching.
Naturally, they set ground rules: no more hooking up, no being alone together, absolutely no complications. And then they proceed to aggressively break every single one because the chemistry is off the charts. Maddie wants no strings. Bram’s life is all strings—kids, pets, a house, an ex-wife, and a deeply involved, meddling, found-family friend group. The question isn’t whether they want each other—it’s whether this can possibly work.
Is this book like half spice? Probably. Is it one of my absolute favorite found family stories where I’m dying to know more about every single one of the members of Bram’s friend group? 100% Does it have a fantastic, hilarious use of footnotes? Absolutely. Are all of the relationships fun and full of growth? Yep. Does the plot sometimes get a little lost in the spice? Sure. However, I’m on board for the whole series. A really fun one.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Connor Crais, Victoria Connolly, Teddy Hamilton are three of my favorite audio narrators, so it was obvious that I was going to do an immersive read with digital and audio. I am so glad I did! Crais voices Bram with so much warmth and steadiness, Connolly captures Maddie’s vulnerability and wit perfectly, and Hamilton narrates the footnotes with impeccable comedic timing that adds so much charm and found-family energy. Highly, highly recommend experiencing this one in audio.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Maddie is a recent law school grad starting over in a small Kansas town after finally finding the strength to leave a controlling ex and rebuild her life on her own terms. She’s taken an adjunct position at the local university (read: underpaid), and to make ends meet, she reluctantly accepts a nannying job on the side. It’s not glamorous, but it’s a way forward - and Maddie is determined not to put anyone else first ever again. No strings. No love.
Which is exactly why she cuts loose on her first night in town and has a one-night stand with a gorgeous stranger at a bar. A fun, unforgettable night with a man she’s sure she’ll never see again.
Except…he turns out to be Bram. The single dad she’s nannying for. And a tenured professor at the same university where she’s teaching.
Naturally, they set ground rules: no more hooking up, no being alone together, absolutely no complications. And then they proceed to aggressively break every single one because the chemistry is off the charts. Maddie wants no strings. Bram’s life is all strings—kids, pets, a house, an ex-wife, and a deeply involved, meddling, found-family friend group. The question isn’t whether they want each other—it’s whether this can possibly work.
Is this book like half spice? Probably. Is it one of my absolute favorite found family stories where I’m dying to know more about every single one of the members of Bram’s friend group? 100% Does it have a fantastic, hilarious use of footnotes? Absolutely. Are all of the relationships fun and full of growth? Yep. Does the plot sometimes get a little lost in the spice? Sure. However, I’m on board for the whole series. A really fun one.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Connor Crais, Victoria Connolly, Teddy Hamilton are three of my favorite audio narrators, so it was obvious that I was going to do an immersive read with digital and audio. I am so glad I did! Crais voices Bram with so much warmth and steadiness, Connolly captures Maddie’s vulnerability and wit perfectly, and Hamilton narrates the footnotes with impeccable comedic timing that adds so much charm and found-family energy. Highly, highly recommend experiencing this one in audio.
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
January 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing and ARC in exchange for honest feedback.
I feel like this book had a lot of promise, and while I definitely did enjoy parts of it, the execution didn’t quite line up withe my expectations based on the synopsis. Going into it, I was expecting the story to be more focused on the central relationship between Maddie and Bram, but what actually played out felt scattered. It was as if the book was having a bit of an identity crisis.
The synopsis reads like it will drive the main plot, but in reality ended up folding out like a subplot. There was a significant amount of time spent diving into Maddie’s history and career in ways that pulled focus away from the primary relationship with Bram and the other close characters at the college. While the alternate story line was interesting and well-written, it just felt distracting to me.
Overall, I did absolutely enjoy the book (and the spice was exactly what I expect from this author duo!) but wish it stayed more focused on the trope I was expecting. Will definitely still continue reading more from Julie and Sierra!
I feel like this book had a lot of promise, and while I definitely did enjoy parts of it, the execution didn’t quite line up withe my expectations based on the synopsis. Going into it, I was expecting the story to be more focused on the central relationship between Maddie and Bram, but what actually played out felt scattered. It was as if the book was having a bit of an identity crisis.
The synopsis reads like it will drive the main plot, but in reality ended up folding out like a subplot. There was a significant amount of time spent diving into Maddie’s history and career in ways that pulled focus away from the primary relationship with Bram and the other close characters at the college. While the alternate story line was interesting and well-written, it just felt distracting to me.
Overall, I did absolutely enjoy the book (and the spice was exactly what I expect from this author duo!) but wish it stayed more focused on the trope I was expecting. Will definitely still continue reading more from Julie and Sierra!
November 9, 2025
i continue to be the sunk cost fallacy’s worst nightmare bc i made 78% of the way through this and just did not feel any desire to complete it at all
i didn’t hate it entirely, i actually really initially enjoyed the beginning like the intro being done from a side character’s POV (even though it took me till the end of the chapter to realize what was going on…) unfortunately that was the best and most seamless integration of the side characters throughout the entire book…
for some reason every side character was described in such a vague (kinda villain-y??) way that I felt like pinning down their characterization wasn’t even worth it as an endeavor bc there was absolutely no reason for any of them to be taking up so much space in the book while contributing absolutely nothing (except what i assumed was meant to be banter but truthfully i understood maybe 40% of the references being made in the whole book and none made me laugh - I mean I completed undergrad but maybe I’m simply not smart enough to understand the humor?) idk at some point I just got so irritated that the book I was currently reading wasn’t even all that invested in its own characters story as much as it was invested in potentially dropping hints that these other characters might get their own book!!!
on to bram and maddie, who were both truly Fine! i think the peak of their connection fizzled out for me after the third random ahh use of “good girl” like i get it their dynamic was supposed to be sexy and at times it was (when they were purely having sex) but truly every lead up & non sexual conversation they had gave me nothing to swoon over despite how much the narrative is struggling to give them conflicts to discuss & hash out?? i am not at all usually one of the people who wishes for LESS smut if i believe the couple is actually exploring their connection but i did feel like maybe bram and maddie peaked too early
also random but i almost feel like the “good girl” uses wouldn’t have bothered me as much if it wasn’t also in the title like cmon…
my final pet peeve and a small but mighty reason i shouldve known this wasn’t going to ultimately be for me was the trope i’m gonna start referring to as “bisexual in name only” trope which both bram and maddie unfortunately suffered from but that usually serves as a blinking red flag to me of a potentially underdeveloped character - i’m not policing the way bisexuality is portrayed in *ultimately mf* romances but it definitely makes me sigh when it’s kind of only brought up in passing to be like “wow wish i could makeout w someone rn - a him or her!” like alright yeah sure
that being said things that tricked me into reading this for much longer than i should’ve: maddie’s teaching journey was so fascinating to me and I really kinda think the story could’ve been narrowed down tremendously to just that bc the whole nanny thing only really worked for the spicy scenes and outside of that, felt so forced and odd along with the kind of feminist narrative (like the scene where bram comes home to maddie and the kids and calls her a good girl for like taking care of them or something idk like ok sure man…), it was one of the better & more realistic depictions of academia that i’ve read and i felt soo horrible for maddie that im pretty sure i was just reading to see how that wrapped up (and then after a while i realized it simply wasnt worth it to sit through more of bram’s thoughts going “how did i end up with this sexy adjunct in my lap?” like that specifically was quite cringey to me)
(after some time has passed) i do think a large part of why i don’t think this fully feels well rounded is that realistically, i would hope that maddie at least would in text grapple with the care labor dynamic between her and bram like sure she loves the kids but theres no point where she really reflects on the fact that theyre both academics but she’s doing silent labor that essentially “lets him thrive” WHILE actively kinda having a bad time esp at the start like that would have been a great source of tension from her POV that could be expected (also considering bram is mr i’m so smart, i actually would’ve preferred if his character was framed more by that as well! like the knowledge that she works with him is treated more like what it is textually meant to be - an inconvenience to their budding relationship but its so strange that a large part of the book is also maddie actively struggling with teaching (and ig wanting to do politics) but the huge glaring amount of care labor she’s doing - mind you for another female academic to continue Her work- is like completely brushed over in place of like his friends joking about her being his nanny and him blushing and going guysss nooo then later literally admitting he likes that nanny fantasy so like ???) idk theres just a much more compelling way that all could have been shaped and it was not at all that and in fact made me really upset bc these characters conceptually could have explored a lot within the framework we’re given (academia, politics) even if it was just as means of bulking up their characterization instead of whatever was going on with their bram’s friend group taking main stage
i do have to add that the writing was a strong part of why i continued reading as well so perhaps if none of this is a dealbreaker, this book might be more your speed!
thank you so much to netgalley and avon for this arc to review!
i didn’t hate it entirely, i actually really initially enjoyed the beginning like the intro being done from a side character’s POV (even though it took me till the end of the chapter to realize what was going on…) unfortunately that was the best and most seamless integration of the side characters throughout the entire book…
for some reason every side character was described in such a vague (kinda villain-y??) way that I felt like pinning down their characterization wasn’t even worth it as an endeavor bc there was absolutely no reason for any of them to be taking up so much space in the book while contributing absolutely nothing (except what i assumed was meant to be banter but truthfully i understood maybe 40% of the references being made in the whole book and none made me laugh - I mean I completed undergrad but maybe I’m simply not smart enough to understand the humor?) idk at some point I just got so irritated that the book I was currently reading wasn’t even all that invested in its own characters story as much as it was invested in potentially dropping hints that these other characters might get their own book!!!
on to bram and maddie, who were both truly Fine! i think the peak of their connection fizzled out for me after the third random ahh use of “good girl” like i get it their dynamic was supposed to be sexy and at times it was (when they were purely having sex) but truly every lead up & non sexual conversation they had gave me nothing to swoon over despite how much the narrative is struggling to give them conflicts to discuss & hash out?? i am not at all usually one of the people who wishes for LESS smut if i believe the couple is actually exploring their connection but i did feel like maybe bram and maddie peaked too early
also random but i almost feel like the “good girl” uses wouldn’t have bothered me as much if it wasn’t also in the title like cmon…
my final pet peeve and a small but mighty reason i shouldve known this wasn’t going to ultimately be for me was the trope i’m gonna start referring to as “bisexual in name only” trope which both bram and maddie unfortunately suffered from but that usually serves as a blinking red flag to me of a potentially underdeveloped character - i’m not policing the way bisexuality is portrayed in *ultimately mf* romances but it definitely makes me sigh when it’s kind of only brought up in passing to be like “wow wish i could makeout w someone rn - a him or her!” like alright yeah sure
that being said things that tricked me into reading this for much longer than i should’ve: maddie’s teaching journey was so fascinating to me and I really kinda think the story could’ve been narrowed down tremendously to just that bc the whole nanny thing only really worked for the spicy scenes and outside of that, felt so forced and odd along with the kind of feminist narrative (like the scene where bram comes home to maddie and the kids and calls her a good girl for like taking care of them or something idk like ok sure man…), it was one of the better & more realistic depictions of academia that i’ve read and i felt soo horrible for maddie that im pretty sure i was just reading to see how that wrapped up (and then after a while i realized it simply wasnt worth it to sit through more of bram’s thoughts going “how did i end up with this sexy adjunct in my lap?” like that specifically was quite cringey to me)
(after some time has passed) i do think a large part of why i don’t think this fully feels well rounded is that realistically, i would hope that maddie at least would in text grapple with the care labor dynamic between her and bram like sure she loves the kids but theres no point where she really reflects on the fact that theyre both academics but she’s doing silent labor that essentially “lets him thrive” WHILE actively kinda having a bad time esp at the start like that would have been a great source of tension from her POV that could be expected (also considering bram is mr i’m so smart, i actually would’ve preferred if his character was framed more by that as well! like the knowledge that she works with him is treated more like what it is textually meant to be - an inconvenience to their budding relationship but its so strange that a large part of the book is also maddie actively struggling with teaching (and ig wanting to do politics) but the huge glaring amount of care labor she’s doing - mind you for another female academic to continue Her work- is like completely brushed over in place of like his friends joking about her being his nanny and him blushing and going guysss nooo then later literally admitting he likes that nanny fantasy so like ???) idk theres just a much more compelling way that all could have been shaped and it was not at all that and in fact made me really upset bc these characters conceptually could have explored a lot within the framework we’re given (academia, politics) even if it was just as means of bulking up their characterization instead of whatever was going on with their bram’s friend group taking main stage
i do have to add that the writing was a strong part of why i continued reading as well so perhaps if none of this is a dealbreaker, this book might be more your speed!
thank you so much to netgalley and avon for this arc to review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
December 20, 2025DNF @47%
Coming into this story, I felt like I was 2 steps behind. There were inside jokes and references I didn’t understand. As a reader, I don’t like feeling on the outs. It’s just not my preference. The characters also didn’t feel like real people to me. Everyone’s personalities were exaggerated to the point that they felt like caricatures. I also didn’t care about the main romance or… anything happening really. I think this is the last time I try these authors together. It just doesn’t work for me.
Coming into this story, I felt like I was 2 steps behind. There were inside jokes and references I didn’t understand. As a reader, I don’t like feeling on the outs. It’s just not my preference. The characters also didn’t feel like real people to me. Everyone’s personalities were exaggerated to the point that they felt like caricatures. I also didn’t care about the main romance or… anything happening really. I think this is the last time I try these authors together. It just doesn’t work for me.
January 13, 2026
I really enjoyed the book but feel the story dragged on a little bit. The spice between Maddie and Bram was hot but I would have taken more. I loved seeing the interactions with Bram and his friend group. I wouldn’t mind if some of them had books as well. Maddie being plus size was very well written. It wasn’t an afterthought and wasn’t treated as a fetish. Bram gave good Daddy energy. I’m giving the book 4 stars and look forward to reading more from these authors.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2025
My GOD. How can I inject this book into my bloodstream?? I will be thinking about Bram and Maddie for WEEKS, if not months. This was a delicious surprise of an ARC, and I’ll be going back through both authors’ backlogs looking for this high. This was such a fun combination of coworkers, also single dad/nanny that I ate up every bit of this book.
The writing style of both authors combined gives readers such witty, spicy, and hilarious dialogue between not only the two MCs, but the entire cast of characters. Not only do you love both Maddie and Bram, but the Andromeda friend group, Bram’s Ex-Wife, the kids, and Maddie’s friends are all so well rounded and developed. Every scene was well paced, and while the third act break-up/drama had me internally screaming, I LOVED the reunion.
All top notch and well done. I will be RAVING about this book for months.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and authors for the ARC.
The writing style of both authors combined gives readers such witty, spicy, and hilarious dialogue between not only the two MCs, but the entire cast of characters. Not only do you love both Maddie and Bram, but the Andromeda friend group, Bram’s Ex-Wife, the kids, and Maddie’s friends are all so well rounded and developed. Every scene was well paced, and while the third act break-up/drama had me internally screaming, I LOVED the reunion.
All top notch and well done. I will be RAVING about this book for months.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and authors for the ARC.
January 15, 2026
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
This was a light and easy read that I generally enjoyed, but it didn’t fully click for me.
The writing was solid and made the book easy to get through, especially if you’re in the mood for something light and fun. That said, I never really connected with the main characters. Maddie and Bram were fine, but I didn’t find them especially interesting, which made it harder to stay invested in their story.
The side characters, on the other hand, were great. Bram’s friends and his kids were easily the highlight of the book for me and brought a lot more personality and warmth to the story. I found myself more interested whenever they were on the page.
As the story went on, my interest started to fade, and I did get a bit bored toward the end. The premise is fun, but it didn’t quite hold my attention all the way through.
Overall, this is a decent, light read with good writing and strong side characters. It just wasn’t very memorable for me, which is why I rated it three stars.
This was a light and easy read that I generally enjoyed, but it didn’t fully click for me.
The writing was solid and made the book easy to get through, especially if you’re in the mood for something light and fun. That said, I never really connected with the main characters. Maddie and Bram were fine, but I didn’t find them especially interesting, which made it harder to stay invested in their story.
The side characters, on the other hand, were great. Bram’s friends and his kids were easily the highlight of the book for me and brought a lot more personality and warmth to the story. I found myself more interested whenever they were on the page.
As the story went on, my interest started to fade, and I did get a bit bored toward the end. The premise is fun, but it didn’t quite hold my attention all the way through.
Overall, this is a decent, light read with good writing and strong side characters. It just wasn’t very memorable for me, which is why I rated it three stars.
October 26, 2025
I love Sierra Simone so I had high hopes for this but it did not deliver 😞
The writing felt like rocky terrain. The prologue was in neither main characters POV and it was super confusing. We also weren’t present for their initial meet up and literal one night stand that sets the stage for the entire book? But then we are told about it through the book and I didn’t like that.. why were we reading a chapter in another’s characters POV instead of being with them? Very lust driven in general after that which again felt odd since we weren’t there when they met :/
The FMC had the personality of a roach.. I really didn’t like her. I liked Bram, but what I didn’t like was mentioning he was bisexual and never got to explore but making this an MF book… idkk…Book could have hit super hard if it was MM though.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
The writing felt like rocky terrain. The prologue was in neither main characters POV and it was super confusing. We also weren’t present for their initial meet up and literal one night stand that sets the stage for the entire book? But then we are told about it through the book and I didn’t like that.. why were we reading a chapter in another’s characters POV instead of being with them? Very lust driven in general after that which again felt odd since we weren’t there when they met :/
The FMC had the personality of a roach.. I really didn’t like her. I liked Bram, but what I didn’t like was mentioning he was bisexual and never got to explore but making this an MF book… idkk…Book could have hit super hard if it was MM though.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
two things that i will always eat up: when the man is irrevocably obsessed and down bad for the woman, and a loving, quirky, and hilarious found family. and that’s exactly what was delivered in this steamy, bighearted romcom.
January 21, 2026
Thank you #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #FundamentalsofBeingaGoodGirl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone in exchange for an honest review.
I read two of the books in the Christmas Notch series and really enjoyed them so I was really looking forward to this book but overall I was disappointed in this one. First off, what I liked: the footnotes (love them actually, so much fun), the friend group, a main character with a good relationship with their ex (hats off to all co-parents who are able to do this IRL), the connection to the Christmas Notch series (always fun to get to visit with old friends), the spicy scenes, and Bram (with one exception which I will get to in a minute).
Now, for what didn't work for me: I'll start with the exception to my I like Bram comment - the plant analogies (can you say OVERKILL? I told someone that if a guy I was dating talked about me like I was a plant that much, I would throat punch him because the analogies just wouldn't stop.), the fact that Maddie was still processing her breakup and honestly, I have a hard time believing the HEA because it felt too soon (and yes, I understand not everyone needs a lot of time, but Maddie gave me the impression that she needed more), the fact that Maddie just dropped her dreams sooo quickly (at least it wasn't for love but still, it came across as hey, we need to come up with something to keep these 2 apart for a little while, oh, I know, let's give Maddie big dreams and we can set it up all book long and then once we use it to break the heart of Bram, we can give it half a chapter and then, Maddie can throw that dream away in the blink of an eye and then have a new dream that doesn't even feel true to her character because we really set up those other dreams.), pacing (this book started strong and was moving along and then something happened - probably it was all the plant analogies, have I mentioned that they were overkill? and the book ended up feeling about 60-75 pages too long), and lastly, Bram apologized to Maddie but Maddie never apologized to Bram over the breakup. I know that the newest thing with romance, especially contemporary romances, is for the MMC to be a total simp for the FMC, he cooks all the meals, he does all the cleaning, he does all the date planning, he does all the apologizing, etc and on one hand, I get it - for so many years, all of that and so much more fell completely on the females in MF relationships IRL so now, authors write these men who do all of that and these men won't allow the women to do any of it and honestly, I am just over it. If you want to give me that experience, write a fantasy romance with that. In contemporary romance, I want real people. I want MCs (of any gender) to fall hard for each other, I want them to work hard for and WITH each other, I want one MC to cook, and the other to clean or for them to cook and clean together, and if occasionally, one MC treats the other MC like royalty for the day because they've had a rough time recently or it's their birthday, bring it but it's not every single day because that's just not real. I'm not saying Bram didn't need to apologize for anything - he definitely should have apologized for making Maddie a plant that he needed to take care of but she really needed to do some apologizing for what she said and did during the break up. Oh wait, she did apologize - she apologized for what his childhood was like but not for breaking his heart. Finally, someone else pointed this out and now, I can't stop thinking about it - why is it that authors have decided to make the nannies in contemporary romances, the young woman who needs a job desperately and she doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life so I know, she can take care of kids because you know, anyone can do that. It's rather insulting to parents and childcare providers (and teachers) everywhere. If you are going to write a nanny romance, make the character have a desire to care for kids (like Rebekah Weatherspoon's Rafe - he wasn't a nanny because there was nothing else for him, he truly wanted to care for children).
Anyway, that being said, the writing style is excellent and while the bully-bullied romance is not my cup of tea so I'll probably skip Junie's story, I'm not opposed to giving other books by this author duo a shot.
I read two of the books in the Christmas Notch series and really enjoyed them so I was really looking forward to this book but overall I was disappointed in this one. First off, what I liked: the footnotes (love them actually, so much fun), the friend group, a main character with a good relationship with their ex (hats off to all co-parents who are able to do this IRL), the connection to the Christmas Notch series (always fun to get to visit with old friends), the spicy scenes, and Bram (with one exception which I will get to in a minute).
Now, for what didn't work for me: I'll start with the exception to my I like Bram comment - the plant analogies (can you say OVERKILL? I told someone that if a guy I was dating talked about me like I was a plant that much, I would throat punch him because the analogies just wouldn't stop.), the fact that Maddie was still processing her breakup and honestly, I have a hard time believing the HEA because it felt too soon (and yes, I understand not everyone needs a lot of time, but Maddie gave me the impression that she needed more), the fact that Maddie just dropped her dreams sooo quickly (at least it wasn't for love but still, it came across as hey, we need to come up with something to keep these 2 apart for a little while, oh, I know, let's give Maddie big dreams and we can set it up all book long and then once we use it to break the heart of Bram, we can give it half a chapter and then, Maddie can throw that dream away in the blink of an eye and then have a new dream that doesn't even feel true to her character because we really set up those other dreams.), pacing (this book started strong and was moving along and then something happened - probably it was all the plant analogies, have I mentioned that they were overkill? and the book ended up feeling about 60-75 pages too long), and lastly, Bram apologized to Maddie but Maddie never apologized to Bram over the breakup. I know that the newest thing with romance, especially contemporary romances, is for the MMC to be a total simp for the FMC, he cooks all the meals, he does all the cleaning, he does all the date planning, he does all the apologizing, etc and on one hand, I get it - for so many years, all of that and so much more fell completely on the females in MF relationships IRL so now, authors write these men who do all of that and these men won't allow the women to do any of it and honestly, I am just over it. If you want to give me that experience, write a fantasy romance with that. In contemporary romance, I want real people. I want MCs (of any gender) to fall hard for each other, I want them to work hard for and WITH each other, I want one MC to cook, and the other to clean or for them to cook and clean together, and if occasionally, one MC treats the other MC like royalty for the day because they've had a rough time recently or it's their birthday, bring it but it's not every single day because that's just not real. I'm not saying Bram didn't need to apologize for anything - he definitely should have apologized for making Maddie a plant that he needed to take care of but she really needed to do some apologizing for what she said and did during the break up. Oh wait, she did apologize - she apologized for what his childhood was like but not for breaking his heart. Finally, someone else pointed this out and now, I can't stop thinking about it - why is it that authors have decided to make the nannies in contemporary romances, the young woman who needs a job desperately and she doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life so I know, she can take care of kids because you know, anyone can do that. It's rather insulting to parents and childcare providers (and teachers) everywhere. If you are going to write a nanny romance, make the character have a desire to care for kids (like Rebekah Weatherspoon's Rafe - he wasn't a nanny because there was nothing else for him, he truly wanted to care for children).
Anyway, that being said, the writing style is excellent and while the bully-bullied romance is not my cup of tea so I'll probably skip Junie's story, I'm not opposed to giving other books by this author duo a shot.
October 13, 2025
4 ⭐️
3.5 🌶
**ARC read on NetGalley**
"Learning yourself isnt something you have to do alone" SWOOOOON.
Maddie is a California transplant who moves to Kansas after a, "he broke up with me on a post-it" type of moment. Not exactly that, so don't worry that's not a spoiler. She is ready for a fresh start with no help and finds herself in situations none of us would want to be in. Luxuries stripped and this FMC takes it all in stride. She has some of the better character growth in the book.
Bram Loe is a divorced professor of ecology with 3 daughters (one totally smart and awesome teen and 2 adorable twins who are polar opposites and stinking adorable!) Bram is in need a nanny, excuse me, "childcare provider," to help out while the mother is out of town. They have one of those co-parenting relationships you wish every divorced couple could have. Honestly, it's model adult behavior. Bram is delicious for lack of a better term. I genuinely thought this took place in the UK because of how the characters are written... but sure. Kansas it is. Bram has gone through it all and has the best outlook on his life. We could all learn a lot from a Bram mentality. And you just want to hump, i mean hug him!!!
Enter the meet cute
Bram and Maddie have all the makings of a hot anger bang at first site. It doesn't go down that way, but damn did I love how they started. After a drunken night of arguing over parkign spaces and debauchery, Bram phones in for a childcare provider. Who shows up on his doorstep? Maddie. And now, the fun starts... (will leave out the plot to avoid spoilers).
I definitely had some eyeroll moments.
Examples: Bringing up the electoral college VS popular vote discussion. Anyone who believes the US should elect our president by popular vote really needs to do some research on how that completely robs all of middle America from having a voice... ANYWAY.
Another annoyance; whats the point of both MCs being bisexual if nothing comes from it? Why mention it in 1 sentence each and then not provide some good scenes. Total waste. Then another surprise bisexual in the epilogue. Zero point to it. Not icking a yum by any means. Just came off as trying to be inclusive for the sake of it. Totally missed the mark IMO.
Biggest ick of them all.. F-A-T. Why on earth would our beloved, dreamy, sexy, and just downright swoonworthy MMC call Maddie fat in the beginning?! Multiple times Maddie calls herself fat and then in other chapters she's curvy. Either we are insulting the FMC using a flat out rude description, or we are embracing the whole "big is beautiful" thing. Pick a lane.
My absolute favorite... Junie and the entire Halloween party scene. That was solid gold. I truly hope that she gets a book because I will be all over it!!
Political BS aside, this was super enjoyable. The political stuff did almost make me DNF. I think there is a way to bring politics into reading without rubbing people beliefs the wrong way (New Camelot series, perfect example). Thankfully, I was able to ignore it and finish because this really was a solid 4 star read and I would absolutely recommend it to others who want a solid MMC who's a total golden retriever modern day hero. The spice in this... TOP NOTCH. It was perfection 👌 Have your wands (or whatever) charged.
3.5 🌶
**ARC read on NetGalley**
"Learning yourself isnt something you have to do alone" SWOOOOON.
Maddie is a California transplant who moves to Kansas after a, "he broke up with me on a post-it" type of moment. Not exactly that, so don't worry that's not a spoiler. She is ready for a fresh start with no help and finds herself in situations none of us would want to be in. Luxuries stripped and this FMC takes it all in stride. She has some of the better character growth in the book.
Bram Loe is a divorced professor of ecology with 3 daughters (one totally smart and awesome teen and 2 adorable twins who are polar opposites and stinking adorable!) Bram is in need a nanny, excuse me, "childcare provider," to help out while the mother is out of town. They have one of those co-parenting relationships you wish every divorced couple could have. Honestly, it's model adult behavior. Bram is delicious for lack of a better term. I genuinely thought this took place in the UK because of how the characters are written... but sure. Kansas it is. Bram has gone through it all and has the best outlook on his life. We could all learn a lot from a Bram mentality. And you just want to hump, i mean hug him!!!
Enter the meet cute
Bram and Maddie have all the makings of a hot anger bang at first site. It doesn't go down that way, but damn did I love how they started. After a drunken night of arguing over parkign spaces and debauchery, Bram phones in for a childcare provider. Who shows up on his doorstep? Maddie. And now, the fun starts... (will leave out the plot to avoid spoilers).
I definitely had some eyeroll moments.
Examples: Bringing up the electoral college VS popular vote discussion. Anyone who believes the US should elect our president by popular vote really needs to do some research on how that completely robs all of middle America from having a voice... ANYWAY.
Another annoyance; whats the point of both MCs being bisexual if nothing comes from it? Why mention it in 1 sentence each and then not provide some good scenes. Total waste. Then another surprise bisexual in the epilogue. Zero point to it. Not icking a yum by any means. Just came off as trying to be inclusive for the sake of it. Totally missed the mark IMO.
Biggest ick of them all.. F-A-T. Why on earth would our beloved, dreamy, sexy, and just downright swoonworthy MMC call Maddie fat in the beginning?! Multiple times Maddie calls herself fat and then in other chapters she's curvy. Either we are insulting the FMC using a flat out rude description, or we are embracing the whole "big is beautiful" thing. Pick a lane.
My absolute favorite... Junie and the entire Halloween party scene. That was solid gold. I truly hope that she gets a book because I will be all over it!!
Political BS aside, this was super enjoyable. The political stuff did almost make me DNF. I think there is a way to bring politics into reading without rubbing people beliefs the wrong way (New Camelot series, perfect example). Thankfully, I was able to ignore it and finish because this really was a solid 4 star read and I would absolutely recommend it to others who want a solid MMC who's a total golden retriever modern day hero. The spice in this... TOP NOTCH. It was perfection 👌 Have your wands (or whatever) charged.
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