Getting Schooled

by A.J. Truman

This is a fun short story prequel for my South Rock High series.



Rafael

As principal, my schedule is chock full of mentoring students, coffee (obviously), and butting heads with construction worker Clint. His laid-back parenting style for his detention-prone nephew is making my job extra difficult. And it doesn’t help that whenever he comes in for a meeting, I imagine him grinding me like a pencil sharpener.



The highlight of my day is talking to Mr. Appleseed, my email pen pal. With each message, he worms his way closer to my heart. Is this a one-sided love connection destined for another heartbreak?



Clint

One day, I’m chugging along as a lifelong bachelor. The next, I’m an instant parent to my nephew after my sister unexpectedly dies. He’s hurting, and I can’t do anything right. The last thing I need is for some fancy-pants principal to remind me that I’m floundering in my new role.



At least I have CactiGuy. He’s the one person in this world I can truly confide in, the one person who makes me believe I can do this dad thing.



But now he wants to meet. Will he like the man behind Mr. Appleseed?




Getting Schooled is a sexy, sweet novella containing all your enemies-to-lovers, single dad, anonymous pen pal vibes…plus an apple tree, cacti, and karaoke machine to keep things interesting. It’s a prequel to the South Rock High series, but can be enjoyed on its own.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Novella

Unknown Binding

About the author

Welcome! I’m a gay male author who writes MM romance filled with humor, heart, and hot guys. My characters fall into bed and fall in love, usually in that order. Think LOL meets DTF.

I live in central Indiana, surrounded by churches and Olive Gardens, with my husband, kids, and cats. When I’m not writing, I’m chasing around a toddler or sneaking off to a movie.

Make sure to sign up for my newsletter The Outsiders to get the latest updates on my books and to start reading free stories.

http://www.ajtruman.com/outsiders/

Reviews

[Betty Loves Books Galore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anonymous online penpals to more romance, featuring Rafael and Clint, and is a standalone Novella and is a prequel to the South Rock High series.

Rafael is the high school principal and clashes with Clint over how to handle Clint’s nephew, all while secretly falling for his anonymous online penpal. Meanwhile, Clint is struggling to raise his nephew after a family tragedy and finds comfort in his online friend CactiGuy.

Ok I am all caught up now on the free books AJ Truman has available on his website. It was so good to see Clint and Rafael’s story.

Things to expect in this book are:
Standalone
Novella
MM romance
Principal x guardian
Anonymous online penpals
Opposites attract
MCs in their forties
Cacti enthusiast
Meet in person / date
Spicy times
Car s*x
Found family
HEA

[c · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful exquisite fantastic decadent. short, sweet, and fucking HOT. i could’ve easily read a full book about these two like the messaging!? talk about my type on mf PAPER. ugh. anyway i’m diving into the teacher’s series LFG.

[Jessie (thatchickwithabook) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A little bit cringey, but also a good setup for the series. I’ll try book 1 and report back 🫡

[Boys From The Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute quick read. This novella introduces the characters from the ‘South Rock High’ series.
I loved reading about how principal Aguilar met his partner.
A great little read from a favourite author.

[Kevin Donato · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Getting Schooled” by A.J. Truman is a fun, short prequel to the South Rock High series, introducing readers to Rafael, the no-nonsense principal, and Clint, the rugged construction worker suddenly thrust into the role of a guardian. Rafael is dedicated to his students, coffee, and online pen pal, Mr. Johnny Appleseed. Meanwhile, Clint struggles to find footing as he cares for his nephew, Terrence, and clashes with Rafael at every turn. Little do they know, the anonymous confidants they have been pouring their hearts out to online are, in fact, each other.

This novella had some great moments, with an engaging enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the added fun of an anonymous pen-pal romance. I enjoyed the setup and the lightheartedness, but it didn't give me enough time to invest entirely in the relationship as a short story. Some moments felt rushed, and I wished for more depth in the interactions before their feelings developed. That said, it was a cute, quick read, and I liked seeing the setup for the South Rock High series. If you are a fan of Truman’s books, this is a nice addition, but I didn't love it as much as his full-length stories. -3 Stars!

[lmreadsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the prequel novella Getting Schooled by AJ Truman and it was a great prelude into the South Rock High series (even though I’d already read the first book)!
I highly recommend reading this to add to your experience and get to know the characters.

Raphael, the principal and Clint, who has become a parent to his nephew Terrence 6 months prior, who is a student at South Rock High. They are clashing as principal/parent in real life and are unknowingly pen-pals via email as CactiGuy and Johnny, respectively. They have been each other’s confidants and support person.

This story packs a punch in a sort amount of pages, it’s funny, sweet and touching as they discover each other’s identities and realise they’re the perfect match. I could have had a full novel of these two, however I’m satisfied with their story! Onto book two!

[Ederisien · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sex scenes sounded mechanical.

While a novella doesn't lend itself to in depth plot, trying to tackle a teenage nephew with a dead mom (so he's become a parent overnight) and an online pen pal relationship where you've hid your real names, while it turns out your pen pal (oh btw they've shared intimate details via this Green Thumbs Forum but also are only lightly flirting but also definitely in love via email)

So your pen pal is the principal of your teenage nephew/now son, also you think that guy (the principal) is not on your side in this trying to raise your new son well.

Are you confused? So was I, but let's do some hand jobs upon meeting your pen pal in real life for the very first time and fast forward to an epilogue where the teenage son adores both of you and also there's gay sex.

[Jeremy Gines · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this four and not five is because I want more of Rafael and Clint story. This novella was amazing and I want to read more about the two men in it. I am sure they pop up throughout the South Rock High series which I can’t wait to jump into now.

[morten · Rating 3 out of 5]

nerdな高校教師とjockたちとのロマンスシリーズ番外編。サボテン大好きな高校の校長先生と、彼が園芸SNSで出会ってメッセージのやり取りをする内に好意を持つようになったappleseedさんの中編。appleseedさんが実は…！という筋と、傷ついた子供にどう接するか、という物語も含まれている。中編なのでサッパリとハッピーエンドに行きつく。シリーズで何度も登場してきた校長先生が、シリーズ前日譚としてこんなことがあったのね、と分かってよかった。

[Adhana Tapia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the prequel to the South Rock high series and it's about principal Aguilar and his husband Clint. Them being pen pals was so cute and I wish it had have been longer. May Cactus guy and Johnny Appleseed prosper.

[Helen Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rate this book a bit over 3 stars, rounded down to 3. The story was pleasant but unremarkable. I enjoyed that Rafael and Clint found each other, but wished that the journey had been fleshed out more fully.

[Julian White · Rating 4 out of 5]

On kobo (1230009014411, EPub 3, DRM-Free, 49 pages)

Entertaining, if slightly far-fetched... unless US schools are more accepting than UK ones. A quick read. A prequel to the South Rock High series.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story. Sweet and steamy with a bit of angst.

[Yohan Viveros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una buena precuela de un personaje de una saga de este autor

[Carlissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun getting Rafael's experience. He was such a funny character in the other books. Johnny Appleseed and CactiGuy were so cute!

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4

[Bruno Britos · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

nothing special but really loved to get to onow the principal more

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would’ve read (and loved) a full length novel about these two!

[Alexus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a cute and short novella. You can either read this before or after the series but either way you can read and jump in whenever you want. I read this after I read the main series and it was just as good. I loved seeing how the principal of South Rock High ended up with his man.

Rafael hasn’t been lucky in love and always ends up alone. He decides to just stick with his love for his cactus’s and continuing to write to his online pal that he met through an online forum for gardening and plants. Hoping maybe one day to meet but doesn’t want to lose that companionship that he found with this person.

Clint is having a rough time getting his nephew to go to school. He recently lost his mom and struggling with the lose and surviver guilt and not wanting to go to school. He doesn’t take to Rafael helping at first and takes him some time to come around and start accepting that he might need help. Through his friendship with his online pal who he later finds out is Rafael he starts slowly trying to help his nephew open up and know that no matter what he is there for him, always.

I really loved Clint’s relationship with his nephew and the love he shows towards him and wanting to be a better father figure for him really shines through and towards the end I love seeing them with Rafael and how much his nephew accepts him into their little family. It was really beautiful.

My only problem was since it was a novella it was short and it feels like we didn’t get enough time between Rafael and Clint the way I would have wanted to. I always want more. But still overall I loved getting to know them better and seeing how they ended up together. Clint really was such a perfect man for Rafael and the other way around with Rafael being just perfect for Clint. They understood each other on such a deeper level and I loved that.

Overall it was a nice and short read and I’ll definitely recommend giving this a read if you’re interested in reading the South Rock High series or just want something short to read. With this author you really can’t go wrong. It’s always a good and fun time with a good helping of spice.

[jæ_cœb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great novella by one of my favorites!

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s fine