My prior exposure to Julie Murphy was through her middle-grade and young adult novels like DUMPLIN'. I was broadly aware of the fact that she had co-written a series of adult romances with a Christmas theme, but until I picked up FUNDAMENTALS OF BEING A GOOD GIRL, I had no idea just how adult Murphy's collaboration with Sierra Simone could be.

Here the co-authors begin a new series called Academic Affairs, set at fictional Astra University in Mount Astra, Kansas. It opens as Bram Loe, a professor of ecology, meets up with a group of his lifelong friends at the local dive bar. Much to his own surprise, he ends up drunkenly hooking up with a young woman celebrating her birthday. As a divorced dad of three and a tenured professor, it's been a long time since he's let himself loose like that, but he reassures himself that it was a one-night stand.

"Spicy scenes between Bram and Maddie punctuate a humorous and occasionally thoughtful narrative...landing this series launch firmly in the 'raunch-com' category."

That is, until the birthday girl shows up on his doorstep. She has been placed with Bram's family by a nanny agency to offer after-school care while his ex-wife is overseas doing glacier research. Her name is Madelyn Kowalczk, and she has signed up with the agency to supplement her paltry stipend as an adjunct lecturer in the political science department. Unknown to Bram, she is also living out of her car because she recently suffered a toxic breakup that has left her more or less penniless. Her ex, an aspiring politician from a political family, has decided (based on focus groups) that her saucy attitude and curvy body are a liability rather than an asset to his campaign.

Bram, who has twin daughters as well as a teenager, is desperate for some help around the house. But despite their best efforts, he and Maddie just can't deny their ongoing attraction. Even after they agree that they can maintain a secret sexual relationship, it's not long before they’re harboring real feelings for each other.

Spicy scenes between Bram and Maddie punctuate a humorous and occasionally thoughtful narrative (complete with snarky footnotes contributed by Bram's friend, Joey), landing this series launch firmly in the "raunch-com" category. There are some serious undertones here --- Bram's attempts to branch out from his focus on family and faculty meetings, and Maddie's attempts to come into her own political future now that she's out from under the weighted thumb of her toxic ex.

Several supporting characters (especially the colorful ones from Bram's friend group) add humor and intrigue, and readers will find themselves hoping that they get their own Academic Affairs. Fans of Murphy and Simone's Christmas Notch books should take note as there are several cameos by characters from that series as well.