For readers 18+ only!
Coming on January 13, 2026
Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl
Academic Affairs #1
Age range: 18+
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!
✔️ College town
✔️ Single dad professor
✔️ Adjunct lecturer by day/nanny by…late afternoon
✔️ “Lessons”
✔️ Age Gap
✔️ Zany group of friends who won’t mind their own business, goddammit
✔️ Forearms (as exposed by rolled up sleeves)
✔️ Fast sex burn/slow emotional burn
✔️ Spanks
✔️ Inappropriate use of a Sharpie
✔️ Me, an intellectual: My romance novel about getting railed into next week has footnotes
Please note: This is a VERY spicy adult romance novel and is intended for readers 18+!
Preorder now!
This deluxe paperback edition will feature stenciled edges
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Praise for A Merry Little Meet Cute
★ Booklist
“Very flirty, a little dirty, and very, very funny…”
★ Library Journal
“A holiday rom-com full of quirky and fun characters, witty dialogue, and over-the-top Christmas cheer…”
Kirkus
“Laugh-out-loud funny and so deliciously hot… readers will be glad it’s made for chilly weather. A sexy holiday romp that's the perfect combination of naughty and nice.”
NPR, 2022 “Books We Love” staff pick
“This holiday romance is naughty and nice and everything in between.”
Olivia Dade, National bestselling author of Ship Wrecked
"This book is a joy to read, and readers will be clamoring for more stories set in the same world."
Tessa Bailey, #1 New York Times best-selling author
"The audacity of this magical author duo to sneak in and steal Christmas in the sexiest way possible. A Merry Little Meet Cute is the charming holiday romp you absolutely need in your life!"
Nisha Sharma, Author of Dating Dr. Dil
"This is what a holiday romance should be!”
Helen Hoang, New York Times bestselling author of The Kiss Quotient
“The holiday romcom of my dreams! Sexy, progressive, hilarious, and full of good cheer.”
Zoraida Córdova, Nationally bestselling author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
“Murphy and Simone are a dream team, delivering a deliciously spicy romance perfect for any season.”