Practice Makes Perfect

by Clodagh Murphy

A brilliantly funny, charming read from Clodagh Murphy, perfect for fans of Catherine Walsh and Marian Keyes. Claire Kennedy is the anonymous voice behind a wildly popular sex blog – smart, sassy, and always up for an adventure.... Or so her fans think.

In reality, Claire is quiet, bookish, and hasn’t been on a date in over a year. But when Mark – the charming publisher she’s been flirting with online – suggests they meet in real life, the fantasy risks falling apart.

Mark is offering everything Claire’s ever an actual relationship, a hot book deal, and a foot in the door of London’s literary scene. There’s just one problem – she needs dating experience, fast.

Enter laid-back, infuriating, and annoyingly attractive. He agrees to help Claire with some very hands-on research... as long as she doesn’t get the wrong idea. He’s not boyfriend material – and this is strictly practice.

But as sparks fly and lines blur, Claire starts to Can the rough draft end up being better than the real thing?

Previously published as Some Girls Do.

Praise for Clodagh

‘Beautifully written, funny and warm, Murphy has done it again’ Joanna Bolouri

‘A wonderful story of romance, sisterhood and community with a really strong will they/won’t they vibe’ BookMadJo

‘Once again, I loved my trip to Halfpenny Lane and I adored this book. I cannot wait for another visit’ Herding Cats

‘Sweet and funny, this second chance romance was a fun read’ Reviews in Heels

‘If you haven’t started this series yet there is still time to book your trip to the theatre – you don’t know what you are missing’ Kirsty’s Book Reviews

‘This is a lovely series and although it can be read as a standalone, reading the first in the series will add to the enjoyment’ Books, Life and Everything

Genres: Romance

480 pages, Paperback

Published January 2, 2026

About the author

Clodagh (rhymes with Yoda) is an Irish writer of romantic comedies. She lives in Dublin with a large circle of imaginary friends.

You can find Clodagh on Facebook too:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clodagh...

Reviews

[Kiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I loved this book, it was quite hefty and even though it wasn't action packed I felt it really allowed me to get to know the characters in the story. It reminded me a little of 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' by Sarra Manning, one of my favourite books although maybe slightly less problematic.

Claire works in a bookshop but posts on her anonymous blog about her many sexcapades, this is entirely the work of fantasy as in real life she works at the bookshop and then goes home to look after her elderly mother who is in need of a hip operation. Everything is ticking along smoothly until there is a promise of a book deal. Claire is plagued by doubts that once the publishing team know the real her they will lose interest in her book and it doesn't help that she finds Mark, the publishing guy, very attractive. With little to no dating experience let alone the experienced woman of the world she portrays to be on the blog she is at a loss of what to do and desperately afraid of embarrassing herself.

Enter Luca, a mutual friend of one of her colleague's that she meets at a party, he doesn't do serious relationships and is hardup for cash, he could be the perfect practice for her. The only requirement is she can't fall for him and this stays a mutually beneficial arrangement until Claire is ready to go steady with Mark.

It honestly felt like such a cosy reading, and the plot is not completely original but still cute and the characters are likeable. It was interesting how the length of the book is good and yet I still had questions about Luca and Claire and their earlier lives. I found the pacing to be truly perfective.

The scene where Luca is reading Pride and Prejudice and making her roast potatoes, is possibly one of the most romantic things I have ever read.

There was also a scene where Claire's relatives clean her out of a bunch of food that people have cooked and prepared for her while she is going through a hard time. This made me laugh, as it reminded me of my wedding where some of my relatives took pretty much all of the catering for themselves and I remember feeling so angry and hurt by this because it was so mindbogglingly inconsiderate.

[Letizia Venturini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho scoperto questa romcom su TikTok per puro caso: le citazioni giuste, la curiosità è partita e io ho iniziato a leggere. È stata sicuramente una lettura divertente, che mi ha intrattenuta e mi ha fatta più volte sorridere di cuore e che ha dimostrato avere un accettabile (molto risicato) compromesso tra ciò che mi è piaciuto e tra ciò che invece secondo me non ha funzionato.
Via il dente via il dolore, la nota dolente riguarda il fatto che il libro si concentra al 90% solo sulla parte romance. Anche quando emrgono potenziali altri temi interessanti da analizzare e che sono in linea con cosa sta accadendo, la storia d'amore ha la precedenza. Questo si nota soprattutto, a mio parere, verso i 3/4 del libro. Fino a quel punto, la storia mi è sembrata equilibrata e nel complesso molto ben funzionale nelle sue parti. Poi è arrivato il dramma e... Ammetto che avrei preferito una trattazione differente.
Le note positive sono invece tanto positive. E mi hanno lasciata profondamente sorpresa!
In primis il personaggio maschile. Onesto, consapevole dei propri limiti, dei propri traumi, di come si comporta e delle conseguenze delle sue azioni, capace di chiedere scusa e di ascoltare. Mi è sembrato di star leggendo un miraggio. Forse perché è da un po' che non leggo romance.
Secondo: i personaggi parlano come due persone adulte, alleluia! Pensano "A", dicono "A" e risolvono "A". Così semplice, ma così bello da vedere su carta. Mi sono commossa a leggerlo. Come semplice e leggera è la storia nel suo complesso.
Terzo: la storia si incentra tanto su come la donna ha diritto a sentirsi a letto, a livello di piacere fisico. Più volte ricorda che anche la donna ha voce in capitolo sotto le coperte, che anche il suo piacere ha diritto a essere espresso e soddisfatto. Il tutto a mio parere con una semplicità, una delicatezza e un'onesta che mi ha colpita e soddisfatta. Perché mi viene automatico trasportarlo nella vita reale, e per me è sempre bello vedere questo tipo di attenzioni.
Mi ritengo nel complesso soddisfatta? Decisamente ;).

[Ana Decosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay book. Surely, Claire and Luca were doomed from the start, as it was obvious they were going to end up together (in the last few pages, but still). As for my wishes, I'd like more written action one on one between them instead of juicy descriptions of Claire's imaginary, made up sex scenes with non-existing men. Surely the author was aiming to picture their relationship having some depth and mutual understanding in order to build some groundwork for them being more than fuck buddies, but still, too much talking and not enough action (in words).
Slow burn it was and I give it 3 stars.

[Susan in Perthshire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sorry but this is not for me. The start was so awful. Even though sh was making up the blog, the idea that some jerk wanted to take a dump on her was vomit inducing.

The rest of the book was pedestrian, predictable and uninspiring - but it may well be that the author’s starting point was simply impossible for me to ignore and affected my reading of the book. Quite why anyone thought poop was a good start to a romance remains a mystery.

[Katy Cameron · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've started to think of books in terms of whether I want to jump into bed/lie on the sun lounger and read it more than anything else. Unfortunately this failed dismally, with so many weirdly offensive, but minor things that it just left a bad taste in my mouth

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging and entertaining read. Perfect beach read!

[Rona Nimmo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very easy read, a well written book. An eclectic collection of characters some very likeable others not so much. My only fault in this ending was rather abruptly finished almost like the author ran out of steam , otherwise it would have been 5/5

[Erin Conahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I downloaded it randomly on my iPad and I thought it was fun, sexy and cute! What a fun read!

[Jenny Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good journey, built their relationship nicely. Glad there was no extended ending of marriage and kids, letting the relationship be whatever it may be. An easy read.