Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (Jan 13, 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: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 