You Got Scrooged

by A.J. Truman

How the dickens did Geoff Anderson’s life end up like this? One moment, he was a Broadway-bound actor, and the next, he’s playing Bob Cratchit in a community theater production of A Christmas Carol opposite Harvey, the most chipper (and attractive) Scrooge in history. For Geoff, Christmas is filled with painful memories he’d prefer to wash away with his flask full of bourbon. After a diva-tastic meltdown backstage on Christmas Eve, Geoff storms out of the theater, ready to spend another holiday alone. But instead, he totally gets Scrooged.

Join Geoff on a journey revisiting the heartache of his past and the blindspots of his present, with Harvey, who also has secrets of his own, along for the ride. As the night wears on, these two mismatched co-stars start to bond, but will it be enough to prevent the nightmare vision of Geoff’s future from coming true?

You Got Scrooged is a short story of 18,000 words that will be sure to scratch your holiday itch. Although if it’s still itching, you might want to see a doctor.

Genres: M M Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Contemporary, Short Stories, Romance, LGBT

53 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2016

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

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the one steamy scene hadn't faded to black and the ending had been less abrupt. I always doubted whether Scrooge could keep up his positive attitude all year long, and Geoff's change of heart was even less convincing.

The graveside dream scene was OTT, more farcical than poignant. Peeing on the grave is total frat boy humor. I enjoyed the story more before Geoff's dream.

But Harvey was cute, and Lilly the dog stole my heart!

P.S. While Geoff stewed in his resentment and jealousy for way too long, Danny was not blameless. He may not have held the knife that stabbed Geoff in the back, but he made no effort to remove it either.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just okay for me.

I didn't like Geoff and that whole dream thing made me roll my eyes.

And fade to black sex - enough said.

[Eli Easton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was awesome! The writing is my favorite kind--super clever, witty and snarky. I have never read this author before, but I will hunt them down now. Really amazing and fun Christmas story. My favorite this year so far.

[Mercedes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Best Christmas story I have read this year. Although is shortish it was very well rounded and not overly simplistic. Also has the perfect amount of holiday magic to make things work. I was very pleasantly surprised because I thought it would be mostly fluff but there was actual character development. Great job!

[Anyta Sunday]

YES!

This is a perfect Christmas story with a wonderful twist on Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

Geoff's character development is wonderful. A lovely short story full of feels and great pacing and emotion!

[Debbie McGowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story and exactly what the title suggests. The last chapter felt like a bit of a jump, but then, I don't think it would've worked any other way, and it follows the structure of the original, so it's probably a good thing. It would make a brilliant TV Christmas movie.

[Liam Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously this a retelling of A Christmas Carol. Grinchy McGrincherton's heart (among other things) grows several sizes, he de-douchifies himself, and gets himself a boy for Christmas.

Everyone loves a story about redemption. There's something about a dick head waking up and realizing he's been a dick head and then changing. Probably because it never happens in real life. Hell, we only believe it in stories because of the meddling of ghosts, cartoons, or other similarly far-fetched situations that force the character to see things they wouldn't normally see.

Therefore, this is about as nonsensical as these types of stories are, but if you let go of the whole "need it to be logical or make sense" bit, it's a cute enough little Christmas tale.

Plus a bonus appearance from Walker & Cameron from the Browerton series. I like it when authors connect books that aren't "connected". It makes me ridiculously happy.

[Bitchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty much what it says on the cover, a modern day, M/M Scrooge story. As such, the MC was supposed to be unlikable, and boy, was he.

Instead of ghosts, we mostly get things through memories and seeing the stories of people around the MC, which made the sudden vision of the future a bit jarring. Maybe if the guy had hit his head, or just been asleep.

It ended as you'd expect, too, with a sudden personality transplant. To be honest, I think I would have liked the change if it had happened without the weird future vision. Geoff was already figuring some stuff out on his own, but he threw another tantrum,before storming out and having the vision. It just would have been more satisfying if the guy had realized he was just a jerk and changed on his own.

[DaisyGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 Stars

Life has kicked Geoff around a bit and as a result, he's a bit of a scrooge. Bah humbug! Along comes Harvey who's cheery optimism grates on Geoff. Nonetheless, they get together. Sadly, Geoff bails because culture shock from being a scrooge too long but everything works out in the end.

Bottom line: An okay Christmas short.

[Rissa (an M/M kinda Girl!!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short & Enjoyable

However...I was disappointed with the fade to black sex scene (not all things are better left to the imagination)
and the 'dream' scene was pretty...ummm....eww. lol
#Christmas #tistheseason

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get that this was a modern day scrooge story so the MC has to turn his life around but I just didn't like him and there wasn't enough for me to change my mind at the end. I guess scrooge stories just don't work for me.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You Got Scrooged
By A.J. Truman
Self-published, 2016
Four stars

This is a sweet, thoughtful spin on my favorite holiday book ever, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. I’ve read that classic dozens of time, and it never fails to move me. Most of the dramatic and or film productions of the story leave out most of the really subtle, powerful and funny details that abound in Dickens’ prose. That fact enters into this completely charming short story.

Geoff Anderson is bitter and alone. He’s only 32, but when his career was supposed to take off, it was his boyfriend who took off with his career.

At least that’s how Geoff remembers it.

So we have a still-young man resenting his presence in a small-town community theater production of “A Christmas Carol,” and lashing out at all of the amateurs around him without bothering to given even the smallest thought to who these people are and what is going on in their lives. There’s a bit of magic (or not), and an awakening to the possibility of finding joy in life when everything hasn’t quite turned out the way you expected.

[Manfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet and funny Christmas story. Everyone likes Scrooge and how he turns into a really good person at the end. Of course this is exactly what happens here as well, and it's definitely a nice transition. But honestly it was a little too much for my taste. From asshole to Saint in one night, I mean no one expects holiday romance to be realistic but this one was definitely overdone on the last pages.
The beginning was quite good and the writing really nice and enjoyable.
Maybe a little less exaggeration would have been better for the story and although it was very short it could have scored much higher with a still sweet but not so over the top ending.
3 holiday stars for me!

[Shaztwirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

A cute modern take on the Dicken's classic A Christmas Carol. A lovely bit of humour in a very sweet story.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title is appropriate.
In this wonderful retelling of a modern day retelling of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol."

Geoff Anderson graduated the top of his class, was destined for greatness, and it did not come. He believes it all stopped when his then boyfriend stole a role he was to play. And since the book's blurb notes this is a retelling of Dickens' piece, Geoff makes himself quite hated by his denouncing others for their roles in the stage version this small theatre group is doing. Only in this case, the off-stage antics of Geoff protesting the other members of the troupe is what they will remember.

The portion of the story that puts Geoff into receiving the message of A Christmas Carol is told after the supposedly last performance of the group's. It comes with his attraction to and from the man who plays Scrooge, and becomes a relationship.

The story of his suffering dog is tear jerking, and offers the Tiny Tim happiness. The story is wrapped up loosely, but enough to accurately reflect the intent of Dickens' plot with our now open-eyed Geoff getting everyone together for a special Christmas Day version of "A Christmas Carol," his admission of his lack of really seeing the friends that were available to him, and his admission that he had been too self-centered to be worthy of their friendship.

Some might complain this wraps up too neatly, but we know "A Christmas Carol" means just that, a happy ever after, just at Christmas.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little Xmas goodie about Geoff, a pretentious actor performing the role of Bob Cratchit in a community run version of the play, "A Christmas Carol." Geoff is a frustrated actor, flaunting his experience over his fellow community actors and acting generally like a jerk. Harvey plays the role of Scrooge, a role that Geoff wanted. So there's some snow, an unfortunate spin-out on the road, a cast party, an ex-boyfriend who is now a star and Harvey who is being very nice to Geoff and Geoff doesn't know why. Snarky and excellent writing with some standout lines "His weatherman charm did a good job of shellacking his personality. Maybe if Geoff had bothered to talk to him during their weeks of rehearsal, he could’ve gotten some clues." "He was going to roast his chestnuts all over Geoff's open fire, and he couldn't wait." Very enjoyable spin on the Dickens tale.

[His Reading Renaissance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love everything A.J writes and this was no exception. I wanted to start the New Year with a short holiday story and this was just the right way to start 2025. You got Scrooged ,as you might imagine has A Christmas Carol play a big part to this story. A group of actors are putting on a community production of the Charles Dicken's classic and our protagonist has the supporting role of Bob Cratchit and he's got a Scrooge personality. Yes, the character playing the lead Scrooge is to sunshine counterpart ironically. This is a one sitting quick and cozy read with some spice to keep warm! I also highly recommend Hot Mall Santa, which is a novella. Grumpy Sunshine romance, small town vibes, winter setting, and a cute queer take on a Christmas classic.

[Bookreader87(Amanda) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Buh humbug

Yeah, Geoff was a do**che who was completely unlikable. The guy ended a long term relationship over petty jealousy which then he let his failures turn him into a bitter a**h*le. Danny didn't deserve his treatment. I am happy he became a star and Geoff did not. Karma, Geoff.
Geoff is lucky Harvey found something in him he liked because Harvey was precious.
Yeah, I get the whole point is this story is suppose to be a Christmas Carol and Geoff turns around at the end but meh I didn't care enough about him by then.
Harvey and Lilli kept me reading :)

[isthisakink · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5. Needed editing, extremely OTT and cheesy to the point where I gave my dog the snack I was munching on (because I didn’t need the string cheese anymore, clearly), but at the same time… it definitely fits for xmas stories. Like, that’s the vibe. It wasn’t for me, but it had its moments. I think everyone agrees that it was mid and Geoff was insufferable and undeserving of anything Harvey ever put down, and we’re also painfully aware that this was a story written before this author found their groove with shorter works later on down the line. Just enjoy it for what it is.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a nice book, but it as a novella it didn't really have enough time to develop anything. So I didn't like the main character throughout the whole book and his sudden about face at the end because of a dream he had didn't really make up for it.

[Laks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short Christmas romance which started off good with a little angst to show us why Geoff turned out to be a scrooge! I found Harvey's cheer and good spirits a bit too much. Similarly the abrupt change in Geoff's character from a nasty grumpy loner to a sunny happy loving person was over the top.

[Skye Blue ☆*~ﾟლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A modern day, Scrooge story.
The MC was very unlikable.
I know it's a Scrooge story, and the MC is supposed to turn his life around over night, but I'm sorry, I still couldn't like him.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and quick read.

As A Christmas Carol comes to life for one of the actors, he sees himself for real. Life can be like a movie or in this case a play.

[Diva007 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable take on “A Christmas Carol”

[Reagan James · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 So it’s kind of a fade to black but it is a fun twist on a Christmas Carol

[Lover&Hitwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute and fluffy, sweet and grumpy Christmas love story!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cheesy but that’s what makes a cute holiday story. A modern, retelling of The Christmas Carol. Enjoyable, light, quick read and had some characters from one of the Out series books.

[Tia Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to read!

What a treat! The modern angle of this story does not disappoint. A very clever take on a classic Christmas tale.

[Shawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of the author but this was a big miss for me.

[jæ_cœb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute MM Christmas novella!