{"id":53436,"date":"2025-08-08T17:46:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/53436\/"},"modified":"2025-08-08T17:46:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T17:46:12","slug":"read-julie-murphy-and-sierra-simones-fundamentals-of-being-a-good-girl-excerpt-see-cover-reveal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/53436\/","title":{"rendered":"Read Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone’s \u2018Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl\u2019 Excerpt, See Cover Reveal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Julie Murphy<\/a> & Sierra Simone<\/a> are truly BFF goals. When they first burst on the scene together with A Merry Little Meet Cute,<\/a> we could not believe the power duo that was being created and immediately had to run to the nearest bookstore to pick up a copy for ourselves. And now their taking their iconic partnership one step further with a brand new series that will have you ready for the kind of lessons that they can only teach.<\/p>\n

Cosmopolitan has an exclusive first-look at Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone’s Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl<\/a>, which is set to be released on January 13, 2026. The book follows recent law school grad and new nanny Maddie as she finds out that the guy she is nannying for is none other than the guy that she had major sparks with just day before. So what’s going to happen when this new poli-sci adjunct’s brattiness crosses paths with an ecology professor and single dad who knows a thing or two about rules? Here’s some more info from our friends at Avon<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u2026Class is in session.Maddie Kowalczk is ready to be a bad girl. When the rookie lecturer lands at Astra University, she\u2019s looking to start fresh after a messy breakup. But her first night in town takes a twist when she bumps into Bram Loe\u2014a 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s divorce celebration brings him face-to-face with the same delectable brat who stole his parking spot, he\u2019s ready for a night to remember. But the next morning, Bram\u2019s world turns upside down (and that\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

Maddie is desperate and broke, so when Bram offers her a raise and the chance to set some ground rules, she can\u2019t 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\u2019t resist the temptation of instructing Maddie in the fundamentals of being a good girl. <\/p>\n

And it turns out Maddie\u2019s a hands-on learner\u2026<\/p>\n

Typically, we don’t judge a book by it’s cover. But when it’s *this* good, well, we know that it’s going to be an incredible read. Check out the official cover reveal below which also features the fun sprayed edges that we absolutely dare you to have out on your shelf. Along with the sprayed edges, the deluxe hardcover edition will also feature illustrated endpapers that we’re dying to see!<\/p>\n

\"book<\/p>\n

Avon Books<\/p>\n

And because Julie and Sierra know that Cosmopolitan readers are the ultimate good girls, they are also revealing an excerpt that you can out below! Just make sure to pre-order Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl<\/a> and check out more of Julie Murphy<\/a> and Sierra Simone<\/a>‘s previous reads!<\/p>\n

An Excerpt From Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl
By Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone<\/p>\n

9:17 P.M.<\/p>\n

Joey returns with the shots as the lights dim and the familiar strains of Lesley Gore\u2019s \u201cIt\u2019s My Party\u201d start playing.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomeone\u2019s about to get birthday spankings!\u201d Joey calls out fondly as he passes out the shots. (He bought an extra shot for himself, something called a Big Guy Touchdown, and as a big guy who is a high school football coach, it was clearly calling his name.) \u201cOkay, on the count of three, everyone!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s in this?\u201d Leo asks as he holds the green and copper drink up to the barely there light.<\/p>\n

Joey doesn\u2019t have the time to fight with Leo about this and also, he doesn\u2019t remember what\u2019s in it. \u201cIt\u2019s your medicine. Our medicine. We are going to drink these and then we are going to have a Best Night Ever. You hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Leo looks doubtful, but Sloane is nodding and Bram looks too ready to wash away the memory of dog vomit to say no. They hold up their shots, clink them together, and chant optimus noctem!1 Then they all give a good, old-fashioned Astra University Copperheads hiss before they toss the shots back and slam the glasses on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou brought us glasses of poison,\u201d sputters Leo when he can speak again.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlasses of magic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish Alessandro were here,\u201d Leo grumbles, and Sloane nods too. Alessandro Ottaviano is a professor of neurosurgery at the Astra University Medical Center and is too busy digging inside people\u2019s brains to come hang out. He\u2019s the only one of the group aside from Sara who isn\u2019t here tonight.2<\/p>\n

The DJ comes on the microphone and shouts over the music, \u201cPlease give a big old Mount Astra welcome to tonight\u2019s birthday girl, Maddie Kowa-kowaltch . . . \u201d A pause. \u201cMaddie from California!\u201d<\/p>\n

The bar hoots and cheers as a fair young woman with golden hair takes the stage. She\u2019s fat, with smaller curves up top and hips and thighs for days, all of it showcased in a tight sweater set and pencil skirt. Her mouth is a little too wide and sinfully full, and her large eyes are as green as a pit viper\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s her,\u201d Bram says.<\/p>\n

His voice is strange . . . low and breathless. Like he\u2019s just won a race but he\u2019s pissed about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho?\u201d Joey asks, plucking his Big Guy Touchdown off the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe brat.\u201d<\/p>\n

The DJ now has Maddie from California facing the side wall with her hands splayed inside the Sharpie\u2019d outlines that have contained the hands of scores of birthday spank-ees throughout the years. The green and copper paddle comes out.<\/p>\n

Next to Joey, Bram stiffens.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow old are you today?\u201d the DJ asks.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty-six!\u201d chirps Maddie.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour safe word is cash tips only!\u201d the DJ says, and starts swinging. The swats start out as mere taps, but the bar shouts along with the DJ as if each tap is a catastrophic wallop, and Maddie looks to the side at the crowd, a smile on her plush mouth.<\/p>\n

And then she and Bram lock eyes.<\/p>\n

Bram\u2019s hand is a fist on the table. His jaw clenches.<\/p>\n

His eyes have hooded a little, and when the DJ gives Maddie a final, no-shit swat with the paddle\u2014hard enough to make her whimper\u2014Bram sucks in a breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe you should go discuss parking etiquette with her,\u201d Leo suggests with a bored expression. \u201cAfter you can stand up without committing a crime of public obscenity, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck off,\u201d says Bram, distractedly. His eyes are still on Maddie as the DJ helps her off the stage.<\/p>\n

A slow smile pulls across Leo\u2019s face, making him look briefly like one of God\u2019s favorite angels, all sculpted features and gorgeous symmetry. \u201cDid Bram Loe just tell me to fuck off?\u201d<\/p>\n

Joey claps his hands together. The shots are working already!<\/p>\n

\u201cMore shots!\u201d Joey yells and Leo holds out his credit card, the black metal one that looks like a prop from a movie about Wall Street stockbrokers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get this round,\u201d says the rich asshole. \u201cI want to see how far we can push Professor Nice Guy tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

1. \u201cBest night ever,\u201d translation courtesy of Leo\u2019s prep school Latin.
2. Except for Cole McKenney, whom Leo has never met and doesn\u2019t believe is real because he coincidentally transferred to Mount Astra High School the year that Cole moved away.<\/p>\n

Excerpt from THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BEING A GOOD GIRL by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone. Copyright \u00a9 2025 by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone. Used with permission by Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

Fundamentals of Being a Good Girl, by Julie Murphy & Sierra Simone will be released on January 13, 2026 by Avon Books<\/a>. To preorder the book, click on the retailer of your choice:<\/p>\n

AMAZON<\/a> AUDIBLE<\/a> BARNES & NOBLE<\/a> BOOKS-A-MILLION<\/a> BOOKSHOP<\/a> APPLE BOOKS<\/a> KOBO<\/a> LIBRO.FM<\/a> TARGET<\/a> WALMART<\/a> POWELL’S BOOKS<\/a> HUDSON BOOKSELLERS<\/a> GOOGLE PLAY<\/a> EBOOKS.COM<\/a>
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