Book Summary
From the moment Glen Russell arrives at Winton College—one of the nation’s top Historically Black Colleges—nothing goes according to plan. Move-in day is a total disaster, his best friend Reshard is late (of course), and to make matters even more frustrating, Glen keeps hearing his real name (which he hates) way too often.
The only thing that could really turn his world upside down? Someone finding out his Body Count card has yet to be stamped!
Thanks to a computer glitch, Glen gets stuck with two unexpected roommates for the semester:
Braylon Davis, a faith-filled freshman fighting back the freshman fifteen, wants to use
his voice and big heart to light up Winton College for Jesus. And Grayson Stewart, a first-gen student consistently turning girls’ heads with his dazzling smile and well-toned physique, is set on hooking up with as many of them as he can while at Winton. (His "extracurricular activities" will not be on the report card to Mama.)
Three freshmen. Three completely different views on college, ladies, and life. Glen secretly plots to lose his virginity, while Braylon proudly guards his own. And Grayson? His reckless hookups might just get him in more than just serious trouble.
As academic pressures and campus life heat up, Glen, Braylon, and Grayson each face choices that could change everything.
Exactly How It’s 'Posed to Be
A raw, funny, and heartfelt story about friendship, faith, temptation, and the consequences of our decisions—perfect for fans of coming-of-age novels who want a real look at college life, with all its highs, lows, and unforgettable moments.
Discover the compelling journey of three young men away from home for
their freshman year at HBCU, Winton College. The young women are plentiful,
but will navigating school along with dating, relationships, and the challenge
to wait until marriage for sex may prove to be too much for them?
Also Available as an AUDIOBOOK!
Learn More
Who Is This Book For?
Especially young, Black men dealing with the confusing world of relationships with young women.
For most, everyone seems to be “doin' it!" But what looks like fun, may turn out to be something else entirely. This entertaining, faith-based romance will help them think about the long-term NOW,
so they can make good decisions for a successful future down-the-road.
Who Else Is This Book For?
Parents, you may not have waited until you were married for sex, but now you wish you had.
This faith-based romance is a GREAT conversation starter for you and your sons (and even daughters) to talk about the uncomfortable topic of dating, premarital sex, and the right way to handle it all.
Who Else Is This Book For?
Anyone who positively influences these young men—youth pastors, uncles, aunties, play cousins, madeas, grammies, poppies, and the rest of y'all!
This college love story underscores the consequences of premarital sex and will be a blessing to ANY young person whose hands you put it in!
Founded in 1902 by twin brothers, Johnson and Aldous Winton, this school—one of the nation's finest Historically Black Colleges or Universities —exemplifies high achievement in every aspect of life.
450 acres of high-tech facilities, laboratories, libraries, dorms, and classrooms.
This institution stands as one of the finest pillars of Black educational excellence and is the exquisite backdrop for this story.
Check Out A Piece of the Novel
No one would argue that the Winton College Back-2-School-Bash is the highlight of Welcome Week. In fact, Glen and his best friend, ride-or-die, Reshard have thirsted for the Bash ever since high school. Now that they've made it to Winton, everything Glen (in particular) has dreamed of awaits him at the end of the line to the Bash.
Expand the section below to check out this excerpt from the novel and see what happens as the two await entry to the dopest party of the semester!
“Oh, it’s straight lit up…in…there! Bananas!” Reshard proclaimed. His lanky vantage point provided a clear view of the action at the end of the lengthy line he and Glen stood in. “Oooh, I’ve been waitin’ to get up in there my whole life!”
“For real? Your whole life?” Glen responded.
“You know what I mean! It’s the Bash! We’ve been talkin’ about this since freshman year at Hamilton! Now we here!”
The Back-to-School-Bash, the final party before classes started every fall, held a cult-like status among incoming freshmen, by far the most anticipated event of Winton College Welcome Week.
“You ready?” Reshard asked Glen.
Glen side-eyed his friend; his ego refusing to allow him to answer out loud.
Born…ready.
“Don’t know why I even asked. Look at your `fit!” Reshard noted.
Glen spun quickly allowing a view of the pristine, white suit he wore from all angles.
“The suit’s straight fire! For real!” Reshard said. “And the red bow tie... torch, bruh. Torch!”
A young lady poured into a sparkly black dress strolled by, winking at Glen as she too noticed his killer outfit. A second girl passed, and threw a similar glance his way.
“Bro, once we get inside, you’re gonna have more hunnies than you can handle! Check out how they’re throwin' eyes at you!” Reshard stated.
Glen nodded confidently while inside his stomach flipped.
The line pressed forward. The music grew louder, and Reshard followe suit, growing even more animated.
Then with only two students in front of them, Reshard elbowed Glen and said, “Got your ID? They’re checkin’ them at the door.”
“Yeah, right here,” Glen said holding up the brand-new Winton College ID he’d just worked so hard to secure.
Reshard busted out in laughter.
“Nah man! Not that ID,” he declared. “Your Body Count card!”
“My…Body Count card?”
“Dude, stop actin’ simple,” Reshard said. “You know you gotta show your Body Count card to get up in the Bash! You think they’re lettin’ virgins up in this one? Nah, bro! That ain’t happenin’! They gotta see your card!”
Beads of sweat began forming across Glen’s face. He reached for his wallet and started leafing through the various froms of plastic inside.
“Bruh, what're you sweatin’ for? You don’t have to worry about nothin’,” Reshard said. “I know you get yours! Probably got plenty of stamps on your card!” He smugly held up his own Body Count card before presenting it to the guardians at the front door of the Bash.
Panic swept over Glen.
“Card please,” the door attendant said with an extended hand.
He felt a drop of sweat slide along his face and eventually fall from his chin.
“C’mon Glen,” Reshard said standing in the doorway of the Bash. “Just show them your card and get your a-- in here!”
Two of the hottest young women Glen ever laid eyes on suddenly appeared from the depths of the party taking Reshard by the arm.
“Card please.” The door attendant’s voice grew more impatient.
“Hurry up Glen! Get in here!” Reshard beckoned.
“Yeah, hurry up Glen. Get in here!” the two young women with him echoed.
“Uh, if you don’t have a Body Count card, you’re gonna have to leave!” the door attendant seemed to shout.
Damn. Why you talkin’ so loud? Glen thought.
He glanced around at a sea of thirsty freshmen staring at him…the dude holding up the line to the Bash.
“Uh, I can’t seem to find…” his voice trailed away.
Why Is This Book So Necessary Today?
Well, here are just a few statistics...
90%
of men have already had sex before marriage. The stats are not much better for women at 89%
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
72%
of Black men have had a child out of wedlock.
According to Pew Research
69%
of Black women give birth outside of marriage.
According to Child Trends
Without fathers...
children are at FOUR times greater risk for poverty. SEVEN times more likely to become pregnant as teens. TWO times more likely to drop out of school. More likely to go to prison. More likely to commit crime. More likely to face abuse and neglect. More likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. More likely to have behavioral problems.
According to the National Fatherhood Initiative
One In Five
One out of every five people in the U.S. have a sexually transmitted infection or disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
This is NOT what GOD intended for us!
These statistics are stunning! God never wanted us to live like this! He wants us to experience His best in life. Waiting until marriage for sex as He instructed helps us avoid all of this! We are exposed to all of these things that can harm us physically, emotionally and relationally when we do things our own way. If we would just follow His instruction, we'd live above all of this drama and pain. But it's up to us. We have to choose!
That's why this book was written!
To encourage young men to choose a different way. To consider the long-term benefits of waiting for sex until marriage rather than walking the same path of promiscuity that so many walk today. Not in a preachy, finger-pointing, holier-than-thou kind of way, but through a dope, entertaining, down-to-earth practical story that all can enjoy.
If that’s you, or if you want to sow into the life of a young man on the verge of deciding which path to take, you'll want to grab a copy of this book right away.
Buy the Book NowPeople LOVE this book! It's changing lives!
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be
"This is the book I never knew I needed. It is an entertaining yet purposeful journey that helps cultivate a desire for sexual purity in young men. It's an awesome read and a fun time that you'll enjoy every page of!"
"I can confidently say that this book is a must-read for young men preparing to get out on their own in the world. Not only is it an excellent and entertaining story, but it is an insightful and purposeful read that will undoubtedly leave a mark on anyone who opens it."
"This book will literally change any young Black man's life (or anyone else really). I read it (nearly 500 pages) in one day!"
"This book is great for helping college students keep it together while trying to navigate relationships away from home."
"An entertaining book that makes you think....makes you think A LOT. It will challenge you—what are you going to do? Read it and let it change you."
"It is an enthralling and touching story that tells a cautionary tale of the importance of sexual purity. I cannot recommend this book enough."
This college love story is a reason "WHY.” Yes, the Bible tells us to wait for sex until marriage
(1 Corinthians 7; Hebrews 13), but we don’t always talk about the WHY behind the wait.
Does God just want to keep us from having fun? Absolutely not! When you do things God’s way, the result is always amazing— so much better than the counterfeit happiness the world offers.
But at a young age, it’s difficult to see that.
My prayer is that this HBCU romance novel will give readers a WHY. I want it to give you a reason bigger than yourself, your present reputation, and even the things your own body may be telling you to do.
I want to give you permission to relax—to enjoy youth and not create a complicated, drama filled life by
“just havin' fun" with premarital sex like so many others.
I want to give you (and others you will turn these pages) something to aspire to—God’s best in your future
marriage and family. The best is yet to come, my friend!
Enjoy!
After experiencing this novel, the story, the characters, and the message will become part of you. Grab one of these 🔥 T-shirts to not just remind you of the great book you just read, but how important your decisions are. Let it signal your commitment to making the right choices in life moving forward.
• 100% cotton
• Sport Grey is 90% cotton, 10% polyester
• Ash Grey is 99% cotton, 1% polyester
• Heather colors are 50% cotton, 50% polyester
• Fabric weight: 5.0–5.3 oz/yd² (170-180 g/m²)
• Open-end yarn
• Tubular fabric
• Taped neck and shoulders
• Double seam at sleeves and bottom hem
• Blank product sourced from Honduras, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bangladesh, Mexico
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
Size guide
| LENGTH (inches) | WIDTH (inches) | SLEEVE LENGTH (inches) | |
| S | 28 | 18 | 15 ⅝ |
| M | 29 | 20 | 17 |
| L | 30 | 22 | 18 ½ |
| XL | 31 | 24 | 20 |
| 2XL | 32 | 26 | 21 ½ |
| 3XL | 33 | 28 | 22 ¾ |
| LENGTH (cm) | WIDTH (cm) | SLEEVE LENGTH (cm) | |
| S | 71.1 | 45.7 | 39.7 |
| M | 73.7 | 50.8 | 43.2 |
| L | 76.2 | 55.9 | 47 |
| XL | 78.7 | 61 | 50.8 |
| 2XL | 81.3 | 66 | 54.6 |
| 3XL | 83.8 | 71.1 | 58 |
FAQ's
Happy to answer your questions. I'm an open book. 😉
What inspired you to write this story?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be was originally going to be an HBCU vigilante superhero story until God interrupted my plan. He challenged me to write this story and help young people understand the power of choices and consequences.
How long is the book?
Exactly How It's 'Posed to Be has 43 chapters and is 485 pages long. The audiobook is 13 hours and 37 minutes long. Take a breath and don't get intimidated! It's a fun, engaging read that's finished before you realize it!
How old should you be to read this book?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be appeals to a wide age range of readers, but it's geared to young audiences. In fact, it's one of the best novels for young adults (if I do say so myself). Students in their early teens will benefit most from the book and its message.
Is there any cursing in the novel?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be is a Christian novel but it deals with real life issues. As such, some of the characters DO curse. However, it's featured as "sh--," "f---," or "b----" based on my convictions as the author. It does use the word "damn" in its entirety. I wanted the story to be real and relatable, while not polluting the soul of the reader.
Why did you choose an HBCU as the backdrop for the story?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be takes place on the campus of a fictional HBCU called Winton College. The novel could have been set at any college, but I chose to highlight the rich heritage and excellence of the HBCU experience that doesn't always get the attention it deserves Readers will find it engaging and endearing whether they attended a Historically Black College/University or not.
Why is the HBCU featured in this novel fictional?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be takes place on "neutral ground" at Winton College. I don't want anyone accusing me of preferring one school over another school. Anyone from any school should be able to read and relate to the things happening at Winton.
Are the characters in the novel based on real people?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be has a number of captivating characters and most of them are based on real people—many of whom I went to college with. To protect the "innocent" I will refrain from divulging exactly who each character is based on. However, I will say that Olivia is one-hundred percent my wife Sandra. (And I may or may not be similar to the Glen character. Hard to know for certain. 😉)
Is this a standalone book or will there be a sequel?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be will NOT just be a standalone book. I expect to write a sequel about one of the characters and his road to redemption after college consequences bite him in the tail. Be on the lookout for that story in the near future!
What makes your novel different from other coming-of-age stories?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be is different because of the clear and important message in this top Christian novel. Relationships are good. But if you don't handle them God's way, you'll run into trouble. This book will not tell you to do what feels right like most coming-of-age stories do. Instead it will show you the results of good choices and bad choices so that you can make the right ones for yourself.
Are there discussion questions available for book clubs?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be does have a companion study guide that's perfect for book clubs and group Bible study. You can learn more about this discussion guide here.
Where can I buy the book?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be is available on Amazon (paperback and hard cover) if you'd like a print copy in your hands. The audiobook is available on Audible, Spotify, Google Play, Apple Books and all other audiobook platforms. Learn more.
What genre is this book part of?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be is part of the Purpose Fiction genre—an entertaining, inspirational story with a purposeful message to improve the life of the reader. (Okay, I made that up, but it's spot on!)
Some may consider it Christian fiction. Others may think of it as a Young Adult novel. College drama, maybe? And there may even be those who view the book as a College Romance novel, although I'd rather NOT call it that). Relationship fiction is accurate also. Regardless of where it falls, it's got all of these elements, packing a ton of greatness into every page.
What's your favorite quote from the book?
Exactly How It's `Posed to Be has a lot of great quotes. Inspirational quotes. Motivating and encouraging quotes. But the one makes me smile every time is a fun quote. One of the characters is boasting about his singing voice and how "it's fire." Another character responds, "Bro, stop! The only way your voice is fire is if you're talkin' about HELL!"