Book Review: Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone
Publish Date: January 13th, 2026
Rating: 8 out of 10
Spice Level: 3 out of 5
Cover Grade: A
Audiobook Narrator: Excellent delivery by Connor Crais & Victoria Connolly
Synopsis
In this spicy academic romance, Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl, a newly-hired political science lecturer, Maddie Kowalczk, arrives at Astra University seeking a fresh start, only to encounter Bram Loe—the handsome ecology professor whose parking spot she stole—during a wild birthday celebration at a local bar. Their undeniable chemistry is complicated the next morning when Maddie discovers she’s been hired as the nanny for Bram’s three children. Desperate for income, she accepts his offer despite their professional connection at the university, setting up a delicious power dynamic where their heated arguments blur into attraction, and the normally composed professor can’t resist teaching his defiant nanny some very personal lessons.
Strengths: This romance delivers a pleasant, straightforward arc from start to finish. The writing style feels warm and intimate, making it accessible and easy to read. Characters share enjoyable chemistry—super steamy at times—with likable leads you’ll root for. Humorous moments balance the emotional ride, while functional character arcs and straightforward locations serve the romance well. Academic themes support the story without dominating it, and it wraps up with a solid HEA as expected in the genre. Overall, it felt good; a nice emotional journey that left me satisfied.
Weakness: The story follows predictable beats, offering few surprises, some, but phew.
Verdict
Yes, sir, and thank you, sexy dominant professor, bratty and intelligent FMC, lots of daddy talk, and with lines like “Jerk off for me,” there are plenty of very steamy sexual encounters. I am usually turned off by the presence of children in a story, but it did not interfere with the romance side of the narrative and added to the love connection quite well. I didn’t realize I’d enjoy a single daddy as much as I did. Yes, Professor Loe. (8/10)
Tropes: Boss/Employee Romance, Age Gap, New in Town, and Single Parent
Trigger Warning: Consensual Dominance-Submission Play, Emotional Abuse Referenced, and Self-Deprecating References to Being Fat/Body Image Issues
Thank you to Julie Murphy, Sierra Simone, Avon Books, and Libro.fm. I received advance review copies for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Order Your Copy
Aber Stoat Books (print)
Bookshop.org (eBook)
Libro.fm (audiobook) 🎧
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From the Publisher:
Series: Academic Affairs
Publisher: Avon Books
ISBN: 9780063338371 / 9780063338401
416 pages / 11 hours 54 minutes
Narrator(s): Connor Crais & Victoria Connolly
Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy
Fiction / Women
Fiction / Romance / New Adult
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Fiction / Romance / Erotic
Description:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Murphy and USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone comes a brand-new college town raunch-com about a sexy single dad professor and a feisty law school grad turned nanny in this steamy tale of Academic Affairs…
Class is in session.
Maddie Kowalczk is ready to be a bad girl. When the rookie lecturer lands at Astra University, she’s looking to start fresh after a messy breakup. But her first night in town takes a twist when she bumps into Bram Loe—a reserved but incredibly handsome single dad she (not so accidentally) stole a parking spot from earlier that day. The unspoken chemistry as he locks eyes with her while she gets a birthday spanking at a local bar is hotter than a Bunsen burner at full flame.
Bram is looking for a break from his hectic life as an ecology professor and dad to rambunctious twins and a busy teenager. So when his college friend’s divorce celebration brings him face-to-face with the same delectable brat who stole his parking spot, he’s ready for a night to remember. But the next morning, Bram’s world turns upside down (and that’s not just the hangover talking). His new nanny? None other than Maddie, who also happens to be the new poli-sci adjunct at the university where he teaches.
Maddie is desperate and broke, so when Bram offers her a raise and the chance to set some ground rules, she can’t say no. As the two settle into their new roles, the normally unruffled Bram finds that no one riles him up like Maddie does, which is a problem when every argument feels like foreplay. Of course, Bram is an educator first and foremost, and he very quickly finds he can’t resist the temptation of instructing Maddie in the fundamentals of being a good girl.
And it turns out Maddie’s a hands-on learner…
TROPES
Single Dad
Nanny x Boss
Small Town Romance
“Light Academia”
Author Bio:
Julie Murphy splits her time between North Texas and Kansas with her husband, who loves her, and her cats, who tolerate her. She is the author and coauthor of over twenty books for all ages including Dumplin’ (now a Netflix original film) and the Christmas Notch series cowritten with her best friend, Sierra Simone. When Julie isn’t writing, she’s hunting for the perfect slice of cheese pizza, discovering a new hobby that she will soon discard, and planning her next travel adventure.
Sierra Simone is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former library employee (who spent too much time reading romance novels at the information desk). Her notable works include Priest, American Queen, and Salt Kiss. She lives with her husband, teens, and two giant dogs in the Kansas City area.
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