Practice Makes Perfect

A brilliantly witty Irish romance about fake dates and real sparks from from Clodagh Murphy Must-read for fans of Phoebe Macleod, Catherine Walsh and Marian Keyes!

Claire Kennedy is the anonymous voice behind a wildly popular sex blog – smart, sassy, and always up for an adventure.... Or so her fans think.

In reality, Claire is quiet, bookish, and hasn’t been on a date in over a year. But when Mark – the charming publisher she’s been flirting with online – suggests they meet in real life, the fantasy risks falling apart.

Mark is offering everything Claire’s ever wanted: an actual relationship, a hot book deal, and a foot in the door of London’s literary scene. There’s just one problem – she needs dating experience, fast.

Enter Luca: laid-back, infuriating, and annoyingly attractive. He agrees to help Claire with some very hands-on research... as long as she doesn’t get the wrong idea. He’s not boyfriend material – and this is strictly practice.

But as sparks fly and lines blur, Claire starts to wonder: Can the rough draft end up being better than the real thing?

Previously published as Some Girls Do.

Praise for Clodagh Murphy:

‘Beautifully written, funny and warm, Murphy has done it again’ Joanna Bolouri

‘A wonderful story of romance, sisterhood and community with a really strong will they/won’t they vibe’ BookMadJo

‘Once again, I loved my trip to Halfpenny Lane and I adored this book. I cannot wait for another visit’ Herding Cats

‘Sweet and funny, this second chance romance was a fun read’ Reviews in Heels

‘If you haven’t started this series yet there is still time to book your trip to the theatre – you don’t know what you are missing’ Kirsty’s Book Reviews

‘This is a lovely series and although it can be read as a standalone, reading the first in the series will add to the enjoyment’ Books, Life and Everything

"Practice Makes Perfect" was written by Clodagh Murphy.

Clodagh Murphy is an Irish author of romantic comedy novels. Most of her books are set in her hometown of Dublin, but in 2025 she started a new series set on the beautiful, rugged coastline of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. She lives in Dublin with a sibling and a cat and writes in a cabin in the garden. Clodagh is published by the award-wnning publisher Boldwood Books.