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Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl
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…
She wants to be a good girl. He’s dying to teach her.
New to town and freshly single, rookie lecturer Maddie isn’t looking for trouble … until she ends up in bed with Bram – a sexy, grumpy single dad – on her first night.
The catch? He’s her new boss at home (he needs a nanny), and her colleague at work (he's a professor, too). So to make it work, they set some ground
- No more sex
- They can never be alone in the house together
But Maddie’s great at breaking these rules, and Bram’s even better at dishing out consequences…
She wants to be a good girl. He’s dying to teach her.
New to town and freshly single, rookie lecturer Maddie isn’t looking for trouble … until she ends up in bed with Bram – a sexy, grumpy single dad – on her first night.
The catch? He’s her new boss at home (he needs a nanny), and her colleague at work (he's a professor, too). So to make it work, they set some ground
- No more sex
- They can never be alone in the house together
But Maddie’s great at breaking these rules, and Bram’s even better at dishing out consequences…
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2026
493 people are currently reading
13087 people want to read
About the author
Julie Murphy
41 books6,805 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 926 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 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 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 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.
January 31, 2026
Fundamentals of being a good girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone
-Professor Bram can get it
-the spice immaculate, the sexual tension delicious , love the we shouldn’t but also can’t stop vibes 🤪
-eating up the nanny trope/ forced proximity yes yes yes 🔥
-this was spicy fun book
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Professor Bram can get it
-the spice immaculate, the sexual tension delicious , love the we shouldn’t but also can’t stop vibes 🤪
-eating up the nanny trope/ forced proximity yes yes yes 🔥
-this was spicy fun book
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 ✨
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 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!
Read
January 31, 2026coworker book club
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25
I am going to be feral for Leo's book... please tell me it's actually next?!
nanny/single dad
divorced dad
age gap
brat / good girl
slutty little glasses mmc
good boy
SPICY
feisty/ bad ass FMC
great guy friend group
"“I know you’re going to have some reason why we shouldn’t—” “Reasons, plural—” “— and I think we should just skip over that part and get to the part where we see how much of you can fit in my mouth.”
“You look like the world belongs at your feet,” I tell her, and I mean it."
Goodness gracious this was a SPICY good time. Maddie was young compared to our daddy Bram but she didn't come off as a immature kid like most FMC's in age gaps this big. Despite the big ole hurdles life throws at her she has a great head on her shoulders and is a smart bad ass.
Brams friends are officially my favorite and I am feral for this series to continue!!
Thank you Avon Harper voyager for this arc!
I am going to be feral for Leo's book... please tell me it's actually next?!
nanny/single dad
divorced dad
age gap
brat / good girl
slutty little glasses mmc
good boy
SPICY
feisty/ bad ass FMC
great guy friend group
"“I know you’re going to have some reason why we shouldn’t—” “Reasons, plural—” “— and I think we should just skip over that part and get to the part where we see how much of you can fit in my mouth.”
“You look like the world belongs at your feet,” I tell her, and I mean it."
Goodness gracious this was a SPICY good time. Maddie was young compared to our daddy Bram but she didn't come off as a immature kid like most FMC's in age gaps this big. Despite the big ole hurdles life throws at her she has a great head on her shoulders and is a smart bad ass.
Brams friends are officially my favorite and I am feral for this series to continue!!
Thank you Avon Harper voyager for this arc!
February 5, 2026
I was excited to start this, I expected a fun and kinky story, but this was not it.
I was expecting some tension or buildup towards a romance, but the sexual aspects started out right away and never had any actual substance. There were sometimes when the main characters stated that it was bad that they were sleeping together and shouldn’t do it again. But that lasted all of five pages before they were at it again. With no buildup, I honestly don’t care about the sex scenes.
And I didn’t find the sexual dynamics believable. We get to know that Bram married his high school sweetheart and that Maddie is the first woman he been with since the divorce. We don’t get any information if Bram was a player before Sarah, but I read it as Maddie was the second woman he been with. There were no references to a spicier sex life with Sarah, nor did he express to possess a desire that wasn’t met. So where did this side of Bram, where he wanted to be dominating and teach Maddie to be a “good girl”, come from? Did it just pop up from nowhere?
The same can be said for the references to Bram being bi. He’s been with one woman and never acted on this sexual desire. We don’t even get any references to him WANTING to act on it. So it felt like it was added just to give the book a feeling of inclusion.
Maddie is also supposed to be a nanny, but she seems totally shitty at this work. She forgets to tell the kid’s father (Bram) that they have a playdate, so he freaks out when they are gone. Because Maddie is busing taking a shower and starts bawling when he asks her the simple question where his kids are, that she’s paid to watch. She is paid to cook a homemade dinner five times a week, but the first thing she says is that they will have take out two days. BUT YOU’RE PAID TO COOK?
The first time she meets the kids, they are playing in the sprinklers, and Maddie turns this into a wet t-shirt competition. She’s literally wearing a white shirt and no bra, so she’s flashing these kids her nipples the first time they interact. When Bram asks if she wants to put on dry clothes, she’s all “is this distracting?”. Shouldn’t she act and dress professionally in front of the kids? Maddie is a stranger to the kids.
The plotline of Maddie being an aspiring politician felt absurd. Why would anyone pick her as a candidate? What are her goals?
This book also forced me to read the sentence “His hips jerk as he paints my womb with his milky ejaculate”, which made me regret having eyes and I will never forgive it for that.
Final verdict: simply horrible.
I was expecting some tension or buildup towards a romance, but the sexual aspects started out right away and never had any actual substance. There were sometimes when the main characters stated that it was bad that they were sleeping together and shouldn’t do it again. But that lasted all of five pages before they were at it again. With no buildup, I honestly don’t care about the sex scenes.
And I didn’t find the sexual dynamics believable. We get to know that Bram married his high school sweetheart and that Maddie is the first woman he been with since the divorce. We don’t get any information if Bram was a player before Sarah, but I read it as Maddie was the second woman he been with. There were no references to a spicier sex life with Sarah, nor did he express to possess a desire that wasn’t met. So where did this side of Bram, where he wanted to be dominating and teach Maddie to be a “good girl”, come from? Did it just pop up from nowhere?
The same can be said for the references to Bram being bi. He’s been with one woman and never acted on this sexual desire. We don’t even get any references to him WANTING to act on it. So it felt like it was added just to give the book a feeling of inclusion.
Maddie is also supposed to be a nanny, but she seems totally shitty at this work. She forgets to tell the kid’s father (Bram) that they have a playdate, so he freaks out when they are gone. Because Maddie is busing taking a shower and starts bawling when he asks her the simple question where his kids are, that she’s paid to watch. She is paid to cook a homemade dinner five times a week, but the first thing she says is that they will have take out two days. BUT YOU’RE PAID TO COOK?
The first time she meets the kids, they are playing in the sprinklers, and Maddie turns this into a wet t-shirt competition. She’s literally wearing a white shirt and no bra, so she’s flashing these kids her nipples the first time they interact. When Bram asks if she wants to put on dry clothes, she’s all “is this distracting?”. Shouldn’t she act and dress professionally in front of the kids? Maddie is a stranger to the kids.
The plotline of Maddie being an aspiring politician felt absurd. Why would anyone pick her as a candidate? What are her goals?
This book also forced me to read the sentence “His hips jerk as he paints my womb with his milky ejaculate”, which made me regret having eyes and I will never forgive it for that.
Final verdict: simply horrible.
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 30, 2026
This book was preposterous and horrible??? So many issues:
1) Why is a nearly irrelevant side character footnoting the story? Did the two leads write all of their horny thoughts down and ask the friend to add contextual footnotes? Why is all of the information just random backstory or setting detail that doesn't matter? Why didn't an editor just tell the writers to delete them???
2) The lead characters never makes sense. It feels like them during the sex scenes and them in every other part of the book are two different sets of characters. Consequently, it's never believable that, for instance, the straitlaced plant science professor who runs his life with intense precision would say or do any of the things he says or does during the sex scenes.
3) All of the conflict of this story comes from random directions that have no true bearing on the relationship--a few times, they say "oh man maybe it's bad that we're sleeping together" but aside from the one brief "let's never see each other again! until 15 pages from now!" we get way at the end, their relationship never feels in jeopardy. Instead, they're just battling their way through random subplots that I had no reason to invest in. Makes the book feel very unfocused and jumbled.
4) There's this entire cast of side characters that are friends with the male lead. Never really understood who they were but always felt like I was supposed to have felt really invested in/connected to their dynamic. But all of their bond is just stuff we hear as summary/retelling from their pasts. They also get a bunch of subplots I didn't feel invested in.
5) The random aspiring politician plotline for Maddie becomes, for a time, central to the story, but it's never explained well? We have no idea what she stands for or what kind of platform she supports, so it's hard to root for her when it seems like she just wants to become a politician simply to be one (and is willing to work with a bunch of oil companies to do it? or something?).
6) The academia stuff was totally wack! Sorry!
Ultimately this book feels like the sex scenes were written first and then everything else around it was hastily slapped together to make it 400 pages.
1) Why is a nearly irrelevant side character footnoting the story? Did the two leads write all of their horny thoughts down and ask the friend to add contextual footnotes? Why is all of the information just random backstory or setting detail that doesn't matter? Why didn't an editor just tell the writers to delete them???
2) The lead characters never makes sense. It feels like them during the sex scenes and them in every other part of the book are two different sets of characters. Consequently, it's never believable that, for instance, the straitlaced plant science professor who runs his life with intense precision would say or do any of the things he says or does during the sex scenes.
3) All of the conflict of this story comes from random directions that have no true bearing on the relationship--a few times, they say "oh man maybe it's bad that we're sleeping together" but aside from the one brief "let's never see each other again! until 15 pages from now!" we get way at the end, their relationship never feels in jeopardy. Instead, they're just battling their way through random subplots that I had no reason to invest in. Makes the book feel very unfocused and jumbled.
4) There's this entire cast of side characters that are friends with the male lead. Never really understood who they were but always felt like I was supposed to have felt really invested in/connected to their dynamic. But all of their bond is just stuff we hear as summary/retelling from their pasts. They also get a bunch of subplots I didn't feel invested in.
5) The random aspiring politician plotline for Maddie becomes, for a time, central to the story, but it's never explained well? We have no idea what she stands for or what kind of platform she supports, so it's hard to root for her when it seems like she just wants to become a politician simply to be one (and is willing to work with a bunch of oil companies to do it? or something?).
6) The academia stuff was totally wack! Sorry!
Ultimately this book feels like the sex scenes were written first and then everything else around it was hastily slapped together to make it 400 pages.
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!
February 1, 2026
4.5/5
I truly enjoyed this book!!! The banter, the endless flirting and tension??? Like wow, plus the found family that Bram has is top tier!!!
I ate this book up and couldn’t put it down! 😂 I truly enjoyed it and I think anyone who loves a forced proximity should read this cute romance. Plus who doesn’t love a woman coming into her own power 😮💨. Plus a supportive man who gives her the space she needs. Bram is a such a cinnamon roll with a need to teach her bratty attitude some lessons. 😉
If you catch my drift then you’ll enjoy this story where the smut is part of the plot and it works beautifully!
I truly enjoyed this book!!! The banter, the endless flirting and tension??? Like wow, plus the found family that Bram has is top tier!!!
I ate this book up and couldn’t put it down! 😂 I truly enjoyed it and I think anyone who loves a forced proximity should read this cute romance. Plus who doesn’t love a woman coming into her own power 😮💨. Plus a supportive man who gives her the space she needs. Bram is a such a cinnamon roll with a need to teach her bratty attitude some lessons. 😉
If you catch my drift then you’ll enjoy this story where the smut is part of the plot and it works beautifully!
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.
January 30, 2026
Footnote…
I hated this. Spoilers to come.
Maddie is the least suited for politics compared to literally anyone else in the book. Assumes her boyfriend ditched her because she is fat but later someone else gives reasons why she can be ruined in politics.
The footnotes added nothing at all. The amount of names that are dropped that do not matter at all bothered me as well. And Brams friends… well they seems kind of shitty having a group chat without him in it.
Is Maddie a professor? Does she have a phd? I feel like she doesn’t have the credentials. The amount of inappropriate shit she did, while also “being properly trained” makes no sense.
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.
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