Two words stripped Austin Pritchard of the privileged life he’s used to. The moment he uttered the words, “I’m gay,” he realized there is no such thing as unconditional love. Now, he’s gone from traveling the world with his family to living on the streets trying to figure out how he’s going to stay in school.
A chance opportunity changes everything. Austin impresses the foreman and lands a job, but even more, he catches the eye of David Becker, who is determined to teach him that true love doesn’t come with strings.
The only thing David had as a child was love. His family struggled to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. That has driven him to stay focused on his goals; become a tenured professor at a university and save enough money to build a home of his own. It’s not until he sees an insecure college student working on his new house that he realizes that he hasn’t planned on someone to share his life with. He’s about to learn that everything he’s already accomplished is nothing compared to the task of making Austin see that he is worthy of love.
Teach Me…
to love myself the way that I am
to allow myself to be loved by others who truly know and care about me
to not care how other people view me and my choices
to not runaway when reality is not what I want or expect
to not seek approval from those who wouldn’t give it to me anyway
to realize that unconditional love doesn’t come with strings
These are the lessons that David Becker helps Austin Pritchard to learn as they pursue a relationship, despite their age difference and life experiences.
All it took was Austin coming out to his family to alter his life inexplicably, but even though his life is stripped away from everything that he once knew on a materialistic level, he finds himself learning how to exist in his new life with the help of David and a few friends who befriended him when he was at his lowest. With David’s help, Austin learns a lot about himself and the man he wants to become, and while their relationship has a few bumps in the road due to insecurities and a lack of communication, they work towards building something solid as long as Austin can stay out of his own way and let David teach him what it’s like to be loved for who he is not for who he should be.
I’m a huge Sloan Johnson and M/M genre fan, so requesting an ARC of Teach Me was a no brainer for me. Overall, I enjoyed Austin and David’s story and the lessons that were taught through Austin’s struggles. But I didn’t find myself completely immersed into the storyline. I’m not sure exactly why that is…it might be because it was a rather quick read, which left me wanting a little bit more insight into Austin’s growth. I also didn’t feel as connected to David throughout the story. Yes, I would say that Teach Me is predominantly Austin’s story, but David is a huge factor in shaping who Austin is, so I guess I just wanted to know and understand David better. But despite slight disconnect to the characters, I really appreciated the lessons that Sloan Johnson taught through the storyline and its characters, and I’m definitely looking forward to more M/M stories from her.
A complimentary copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 poison apples
cautiously follow suit and sit on the other. “Were you serious last night when
you told Bill that you were interested in working for him this summer?” David
asks.
It’s not like it matters to him, but the way he leans in as he talks to me, I
start to feel like he truly cares.
okay?” I nod and find a spot on the floor to hold my attention because I’m
terrified to look into his eyes. He’s too close, too friendly, and already he
makes me want things I shouldn’t with him. “Good. Now, I want you to come to
dinner with me tonight.”
me. Everything I’ve been thinking about David is obviously way the fuck off
base because now he’s trying to bribe me. Fuck that. I storm down the driveway,
ready to give up the only opportunity I’ve had to save myself because I’m not
going to let anyone play games with me. Before I make it halfway to the street,
David’s hand is wrapped around my arm, pulling me back.
jaw is somewhere just below the surface. I clench my eyes closed, taking a few
breaths as I remind myself there’s no one to bail me out of jail if I do hit
him and he presses charges.
demand, David’s grip tightens when I try to jerk away from him. Now, I’m
pissed. I turn on my heel and shove David away. “I don’t know what fucked up
game you’re playing, but I’m not about to be your little bitch boy. If me
working for Bill depends on me being at your beck and call, tell Bill I’ll find
something else. I’m not a whore.”
perfectly distressed jeans. And the arrogant fuck looks as if he’s about to
laugh at me.
asks. I swallow hard, regretting saying anything. No, I don’t really think
David’s trying to buy me, but no other scenario makes any sense. “Austin, look
at me.”
lift my gaze. What I see terrifies me more than the thought of trading my body
for a job. David seems genuinely hurt by my accusation. Rather than apologize,
I walk away. I’m not running this time, but I have to get someplace where I can
sit before my knees buckle beneath me.
as he settles back as well. “Austin, what is this about? Have I done something
to offend you or make you feel uncomfortable?”
and really think about it, he’s been nothing but kind to me. “No. Don’t mind
me, it’s been a rough month and I’m a bit stressed.” I chew at the inside of my
lip to stop myself from saying anything else. David can’t know why I’m
stressed. Yes, I’m ashamed of my life as it is right now, but if no one else
knows, I don’t have to see the pity in their eyes.
Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.
When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.
Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?
Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.
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