Ancient History: An MM Second Chance, Nerd/Jock Romance (South Rock High, Book 1)

Where has this author been all my life? I was definitely missing out! I grabbed this book because the blurb sounded great and I was laughing out loud by page 2. What a glorious book! It was so entertaining. It was smartly written, laugh out loud funny, sexy, romantic, heartwarming, and had incredible dialogue. I liked Amos and Hutch right from the start. This was a second chance romance with them reconnecting after breaking up 10 years earlier in high school. As soon as they saw each other again you could just feel their connection. Due to past circumstances they try to avoid each other at first but their draw to one another is just too strong. I absolutely loved everything about them falling in love all over again. They were mature and had honest conversations about their feelings. They were relaxed with each other and their relationship just felt so natural. They were surrounded by friends and family that just added so much to the story. Amos and his friend's text exchanges had me roaring with laughter. Hutch's pops was such a wonderful character. Everything about this book just worked for me. I was sad when I got to the last page, but thrilled to see it's a series and book 2 is coming soon! Now I'm off to read everything else this author has written!

"Ancient History" is a sweet story about forgiveness. Amos was hurt badly by Hutch. Hutch allowed himself to be bullied by a classmate named Seth. Hutch broke up with Amos despite being desperately in love with him. A decade passes. Amos wants nothing to do with Hutch even though the attraction he felt in high school surges each time Hutch walks by. After this emotional dance, Hutch begs Amos for a second chance. Amos retorts, "Okay but don't F it up." Hutch puts his best Romeo moves into the courtship. Amos is sufficiently wooed. I loved Hutch's relationship with his father Bud who supports Hutch. Their relationship is candid and very sweet as the parental tables are turned with Hutch helping his dad recover from a heart attack. The gay men that have come to be Amos' family are entertaining. I particularly liked Everett the drama teacher who often finds fault and whose tongue burns like a flamethrower. The "trial" where Amos' decision to fail a student was superb. When Hutch stands up for him, the romance skyrockets. Truman's book is deliciously sweet. Enjoy!

I've realized that the main challenge with these stories is maintaining interest after the couple confesses their love. This isn't achieved. The last 20% of the book is spent promoting the couple from Book 2 and providing filler details. The first half is entertaining and sweet. It features a couple who could easily be clones because they both respond the same way to everything. Fortunately, one is a history teacher and the other a gym teacher, otherwise I wouldn't know which is which.

In this first installment of the South Rock High School series, A.J. Truman exposes us to high school culture with a fantastic look back at the 1990’s. At that time, Hutch, a soccer prodigy, and Amos were eagerly anticipating their prom. But circumstances ended that quickly with a text that broke up their planned attendance. Later, Amos would learn that one person had threatened outing Hutch and therefore ending his future sports career. How ten years makes a difference. Amos teaches at the school where he formerly attended, and Hutch shows up as a temporary coach having ended his professional career with a knee injury. The two engage in banter, with Amos specifically trying to steer clear of the man who abandoned him. Circumstances drive them to each other, and the romance begins, thanks also to Hutch’s father, who does not match a stereotype. This is a happy ever after, but like some other A.J. Truman books, the adventure to the happy ever after is joyous with some light angst. Key among them is a challenge to a grade given a soccer team star that boots him off the team and puts Coach Hutch’s hopes of advancing to the next level of high school soccer and fulfilling a legacy when he played to an end. That episode is one of the best things in the book, as it really showcases the sports and academic high school tensions. This book is part of an ecosystem created by Truman with the high school series and the single dads series. Given certain election results, some of this…

This book was a fun read. The characters were enjoyable. They felt familiar. The friendships felt authentic. It was funny at some places. Tender in others. Definitely sweet. The pacing was great.