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Stuck
Each death is unique. Will you recognize when yours begins?
John Camden doesn't realize he's dying, yet the physical signs are becoming more clear, and he's having recurring visions where he is trapped in a tight space.
Everything changes when his best friend Eddie convinces him to go on a poorly planned caving trip as a form of immersion therapy.
Soon the lines of reality blur as John finds himself lost and alone, deep underground where all is not as it seems, and the person he trusted most may have sinister intentions.
John Camden doesn't realize he's dying, yet the physical signs are becoming more clear, and he's having recurring visions where he is trapped in a tight space.
Everything changes when his best friend Eddie convinces him to go on a poorly planned caving trip as a form of immersion therapy.
Soon the lines of reality blur as John finds himself lost and alone, deep underground where all is not as it seems, and the person he trusted most may have sinister intentions.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2023
114 people are currently reading
1007 people want to read
About the author
Ben Young
13 books113 followersBen lives in the Cincinnati, OH area with his family and dogs, where he is currently working on more stories which may or may not ever see the light of day. He does not enjoy writing about himself, especially in the third person like this. Find him online at www.benyoungstories.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
May 23, 2024
I wanted to like this book. I liked both subplots and they come together in a comprehensive way. I liked the characters, but the I found myself looking to do other things rather than finish this book. I also found myself skimming through some of the pages to get to the end because I DID want to know how it ended.
August 24, 2023
"Each death is unique. Will you recognise yours when it begins?"
Ben Young's debut novel has cemented his place as a force to contend with. An absolute powerhouse of grief horror with elements of the parapsychology expertly interwoven through the story, we're presented with the story of John. John's whole life seems to be falling down around him and he reluctantly agrees to a caving expedition with his friend Eddie. Eddie thinks it will help because John is stuck. But what are Eddie's real motives?
The narrative switches between John and an ex-hospice nurse, Lucy, whose life is also in a downward spiral. Lucy is special, but will she realise it in time to help those who need her most?
As John and Lucy's stories begin to intertwine, the pace ramps up as we navigate the twists and turns that are so wonderfully crafted throughout the book. Prepare to feel ALL the emotions with this one!
I've had the pleasure of reading some of the authtors short form work, and he never leaves me any less than impressed. Ben has a natural talent for storytelling, and his prose flow perfectly. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Stuck and getting in on the ground floor with an author who is set to become one of the next big names in horror 🖤
Ben Young's debut novel has cemented his place as a force to contend with. An absolute powerhouse of grief horror with elements of the parapsychology expertly interwoven through the story, we're presented with the story of John. John's whole life seems to be falling down around him and he reluctantly agrees to a caving expedition with his friend Eddie. Eddie thinks it will help because John is stuck. But what are Eddie's real motives?
The narrative switches between John and an ex-hospice nurse, Lucy, whose life is also in a downward spiral. Lucy is special, but will she realise it in time to help those who need her most?
As John and Lucy's stories begin to intertwine, the pace ramps up as we navigate the twists and turns that are so wonderfully crafted throughout the book. Prepare to feel ALL the emotions with this one!
I've had the pleasure of reading some of the authtors short form work, and he never leaves me any less than impressed. Ben has a natural talent for storytelling, and his prose flow perfectly. I highly recommend grabbing a copy of Stuck and getting in on the ground floor with an author who is set to become one of the next big names in horror 🖤
September 10, 2023
Updated review:
Stuck: adjective 1– confined, trapped or unable to move 2– unable to find a solution or resolve a problem 3– resigned to an unpleasant situation one cannot avoid 4– infatuated with, unable to remove one’s attention from
Exactly what definition of the word stuck does the books title imply. What if I told you the story is as complex as its definition? I've sat and pondered for upwards of two weeks on how I want to review this book. I still fear what I've come up with fails to live up to the praise this DEBUT deserves. Yes, folks, you heard me correctly. This is a DEBUT novel.
STUCK is one of the most unique stories I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Even weeks later, my head is still spinning.
Do you suffer from Bathophobia, Speluncaphobia, or claustrophobia? Yeah, me too. Consider this as a potential trigger. There were parts that had my chest feeling heavy and my anxiety high, but if you can handle that...it's worth every minute!
On the surface, this book is about a man and woman who are at the end of their lines. Life has knocked them on their asses hard! John has lost his car, his job, his home, and the girl that he loves? Well she's married to his best friend. Lucy has lost her daughter, her job, her reputation, and her will to live. Their stories will intersect, but I refuse to tell you how! You've going to have to find that out on your own.
If you take the chance on this novel and crawl into its depths, you will see that this story is so much more. It's a story of life, death, loss, pain, grief, and, most importantly, healing. Ben Young writes beautifully and has a natural ability to tell an amazing story.
A side note that's of little importance but that I found to be cool was that I've personally been to a couple of locations from this story, in particular Dinosaur World and Mammoth Cave. Having been inside these caves myself and experiencing their beauty and potential for horrors made this story feel so real for me. A truly amazing experience! I can't praise or recommend this book enough. Please consider giving it a chance, I guarantee it will easily be a top read of the year for you!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Stuck: adjective 1– confined, trapped or unable to move 2– unable to find a solution or resolve a problem 3– resigned to an unpleasant situation one cannot avoid 4– infatuated with, unable to remove one’s attention from
Exactly what definition of the word stuck does the books title imply. What if I told you the story is as complex as its definition? I've sat and pondered for upwards of two weeks on how I want to review this book. I still fear what I've come up with fails to live up to the praise this DEBUT deserves. Yes, folks, you heard me correctly. This is a DEBUT novel.
STUCK is one of the most unique stories I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Even weeks later, my head is still spinning.
Do you suffer from Bathophobia, Speluncaphobia, or claustrophobia? Yeah, me too. Consider this as a potential trigger. There were parts that had my chest feeling heavy and my anxiety high, but if you can handle that...it's worth every minute!
On the surface, this book is about a man and woman who are at the end of their lines. Life has knocked them on their asses hard! John has lost his car, his job, his home, and the girl that he loves? Well she's married to his best friend. Lucy has lost her daughter, her job, her reputation, and her will to live. Their stories will intersect, but I refuse to tell you how! You've going to have to find that out on your own.
If you take the chance on this novel and crawl into its depths, you will see that this story is so much more. It's a story of life, death, loss, pain, grief, and, most importantly, healing. Ben Young writes beautifully and has a natural ability to tell an amazing story.
A side note that's of little importance but that I found to be cool was that I've personally been to a couple of locations from this story, in particular Dinosaur World and Mammoth Cave. Having been inside these caves myself and experiencing their beauty and potential for horrors made this story feel so real for me. A truly amazing experience! I can't praise or recommend this book enough. Please consider giving it a chance, I guarantee it will easily be a top read of the year for you!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2024
A great debut story from Ben Young: it pulls the reader into the strange relationship between Ben & Robbie and begins to unravel their unexpected and mysterious story. Readers also get to follow another narrator, Lucy, on her supernatural journey.
Honestly, this story did take a little bit to dig into, and the section breaks/excerpts were jarring. I also guessed some of the twists pretty early on, but it was still a great read!
Many of the scenes had me feeling claustrophobic and not trusting the narrative, as it sometimes intentionally misdirected. This led to me being on the edge of my seat wondering what reveal was coming next.
Honestly, this story did take a little bit to dig into, and the section breaks/excerpts were jarring. I also guessed some of the twists pretty early on, but it was still a great read!
Many of the scenes had me feeling claustrophobic and not trusting the narrative, as it sometimes intentionally misdirected. This led to me being on the edge of my seat wondering what reveal was coming next.
July 2, 2024
This was not what I was expecting at all, it was so much more, it was unique, spell-binding and mesmerizing. Beautiful narration and an intriguing storyline, with strong King vibes. I have personally dubbed it as Insidious meets 127 Hours, at The Overlook Hotel! A psychological tale of grief, complete with premonitions, ESP, and lots of other brilliant paranormal aspects, this story was immediately captivating, chilling and enthralling. Claustrophobic in parts, I felt myself on the verge of panic several times. It's so vivid and real in its imagery.
This book deals with grief and dying in a poignant, moving and very powerful way, an in depth, deep and dark journey through one man’s mind and his slow, scary decline physically and mentally. Bringing light to facing your fears, pushing through and overcoming things like guilt and shame, and your jaw will drop nearer and nearer to the floor as the story unravels. There were several shocking moments that did just that for me.
A true page turner for sure, I pretty much told myself “Just one more chapter”, (helped by the short chapters, which I love), the whole way through, I read this book in two sittings and I was hooked by every single one of those 382 pages!
John Camden loses his job, and sees the almost immediate decline in his health on the same day. His closest friend Robbie, however, see’s this as an opportunity to help his friend, the pair are as close as you can get, and he wants to help, to open John’s eyes to overcoming what holds him back from moving on to a better place. Robbie believes that John needs to face his fears of being trapped, to confront them head on, and so he persuades John to go caving with him. Once inside the cave though, John sees a whole other side to his best friend, and realisation starts to hit, and hit hard!
Lucy is an alcoholic, infamous through the death of her daughter. She sees things in other people that most wouldn't, the alcohol helps to suppress those things. So, when she has an involuntary detox in a police cell one night, things start to gain a stronger pull, and she realises someone desperately needs her help, her ‘gift’, but she isn't strong enough anymore, is she? A visit to her daughter's bedroom brings on an unexpected reaction from her and makes her start to reconsider and to validate her new purpose…
When Lucy and John’s lives collide, it's a big help to both of them, but in very different ways. They are both saved from falling into a situation that might lead to regret, pain and anguish forevermore….
This book breathes life into that old saying that when you're dying, your whole life flashes before your eyes. We see it from different angles in this story, some sad, some shocking, some having a profound effect on you as you read, physically and mentally. You're drawn deep into the world of John and Robbie, and as your understanding slowly and astonishingly unfolds, you will become completely enthralled….I dare you not to be! I really enjoyed all the little excerpts inserted throughout, helping you to understand what is going on, giving some great insight into what is coming and teasing you along, tempting you in even further.
A story of letting go of the past, of forgiving yourself, of coming unstuck and moving on, to finally be at peace. The way this all comes together, how everything merges and ties off, is pure genius. This book goes DEEP!! It's incredible, it's raw, it's visceral, real and so powerful. It's straight into my top reads for this year. Don't forget your flashlight, oh, and you might want to take a tissue or two as well. 🖤
This book deals with grief and dying in a poignant, moving and very powerful way, an in depth, deep and dark journey through one man’s mind and his slow, scary decline physically and mentally. Bringing light to facing your fears, pushing through and overcoming things like guilt and shame, and your jaw will drop nearer and nearer to the floor as the story unravels. There were several shocking moments that did just that for me.
A true page turner for sure, I pretty much told myself “Just one more chapter”, (helped by the short chapters, which I love), the whole way through, I read this book in two sittings and I was hooked by every single one of those 382 pages!
John Camden loses his job, and sees the almost immediate decline in his health on the same day. His closest friend Robbie, however, see’s this as an opportunity to help his friend, the pair are as close as you can get, and he wants to help, to open John’s eyes to overcoming what holds him back from moving on to a better place. Robbie believes that John needs to face his fears of being trapped, to confront them head on, and so he persuades John to go caving with him. Once inside the cave though, John sees a whole other side to his best friend, and realisation starts to hit, and hit hard!
Lucy is an alcoholic, infamous through the death of her daughter. She sees things in other people that most wouldn't, the alcohol helps to suppress those things. So, when she has an involuntary detox in a police cell one night, things start to gain a stronger pull, and she realises someone desperately needs her help, her ‘gift’, but she isn't strong enough anymore, is she? A visit to her daughter's bedroom brings on an unexpected reaction from her and makes her start to reconsider and to validate her new purpose…
When Lucy and John’s lives collide, it's a big help to both of them, but in very different ways. They are both saved from falling into a situation that might lead to regret, pain and anguish forevermore….
This book breathes life into that old saying that when you're dying, your whole life flashes before your eyes. We see it from different angles in this story, some sad, some shocking, some having a profound effect on you as you read, physically and mentally. You're drawn deep into the world of John and Robbie, and as your understanding slowly and astonishingly unfolds, you will become completely enthralled….I dare you not to be! I really enjoyed all the little excerpts inserted throughout, helping you to understand what is going on, giving some great insight into what is coming and teasing you along, tempting you in even further.
A story of letting go of the past, of forgiving yourself, of coming unstuck and moving on, to finally be at peace. The way this all comes together, how everything merges and ties off, is pure genius. This book goes DEEP!! It's incredible, it's raw, it's visceral, real and so powerful. It's straight into my top reads for this year. Don't forget your flashlight, oh, and you might want to take a tissue or two as well. 🖤
September 7, 2023
"On the worst day of his life so far John Camden was both fired from his job writing parking tickets and started dying."
I really struggled with this one. It isn't a very long book but it's taken me 4 days to get through it. The beginning was incredibly slow, and a little boring. There are a lot of inserts from experts in between some of the chapters and I felt it really stopped the flow of the book and maybe that's why I had such a difficult time getting into it. Towards the end, the story started picking up, however, it was still at a pretty slower pace than I usually like. Some of it was quite predictable, but there were parts that were a little surprising.
As always, these are my thoughts and mine alone, so please don't let my review put you off giving this book a read.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
I really struggled with this one. It isn't a very long book but it's taken me 4 days to get through it. The beginning was incredibly slow, and a little boring. There are a lot of inserts from experts in between some of the chapters and I felt it really stopped the flow of the book and maybe that's why I had such a difficult time getting into it. Towards the end, the story started picking up, however, it was still at a pretty slower pace than I usually like. Some of it was quite predictable, but there were parts that were a little surprising.
As always, these are my thoughts and mine alone, so please don't let my review put you off giving this book a read.
Thank you to the author for sending me an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
May 17, 2024
I never really knew what grief horror was (except for maybe Pet Sematary), but Ben Young’s Stuck is the perfect example and my new go-to recommendation for the genre.
While on its surface, Stuck is about a pair of friends exploring a cave while trying to work through their issues. It quickly spirals into something much more complex. Interspersed throughout the story are passages from medical journals and psychological papers that give a deeper meaning to the themes in the book.
Check it out if you want something well thought-out, unique and unexpected.
While on its surface, Stuck is about a pair of friends exploring a cave while trying to work through their issues. It quickly spirals into something much more complex. Interspersed throughout the story are passages from medical journals and psychological papers that give a deeper meaning to the themes in the book.
Check it out if you want something well thought-out, unique and unexpected.
May 29, 2024
5/5 Stars
So I’ll be honest, I’m going into almost all of the Brawl books totally blind. So far, I’ve been nothing but pleasantly surprised, though I will admit it took me a minute to figure out where this book was going. This is a slow-burn horror that is absolutely genius in its structure, once you get far enough to understand what that structure is.
This ones really hard to talk about without spoilers. Even after finishing it, I went back and read the synopsis to see what details could be given away. So for those who haven’t read the synopsis like me, here’s the basics– John’s been having recurring anxiety attacks in which he feels “stuck,” and his best friend Robbie leads him to a cave to confront his fears.
But here’s the thing the synopsis doesn’t tell you; there's a second perspective character, a former nurse named Lucy who is on a journey of her own. At first, I was blasting through John’s chapters as he’s led further and further past a point of no return in these caves on an incredible tense journey. Lucy’s story, on the other hand, unfolds organically, giving some breathing room as the larger story takes shape. Again, once you figure out the structure, her journey of finding purpose and understanding her unusual talents is absolutely perfectly woven into the story.
It wasn’t until I was a little less than halfway through the book that all the pieces really fell into place for me, and I found myself completely sucked into both characters stories. From the midpoint on the book is absolutely impossible to put down as we discover how our characters' fates intertwine.
If you aren’t like me, and did read the synopsis, you’d also know this book is largely a rumination on death and dying. The books filled with these interlude chapters about the transition to death that fit right in contextually with the narrative, lifting an already stellar story into even greater heights.
In the end, Stuck is a thought provoking, intensely human story that will “stick” with you long after the journey is over (pun absolutely intended).
So I’ll be honest, I’m going into almost all of the Brawl books totally blind. So far, I’ve been nothing but pleasantly surprised, though I will admit it took me a minute to figure out where this book was going. This is a slow-burn horror that is absolutely genius in its structure, once you get far enough to understand what that structure is.
This ones really hard to talk about without spoilers. Even after finishing it, I went back and read the synopsis to see what details could be given away. So for those who haven’t read the synopsis like me, here’s the basics– John’s been having recurring anxiety attacks in which he feels “stuck,” and his best friend Robbie leads him to a cave to confront his fears.
But here’s the thing the synopsis doesn’t tell you; there's a second perspective character, a former nurse named Lucy who is on a journey of her own. At first, I was blasting through John’s chapters as he’s led further and further past a point of no return in these caves on an incredible tense journey. Lucy’s story, on the other hand, unfolds organically, giving some breathing room as the larger story takes shape. Again, once you figure out the structure, her journey of finding purpose and understanding her unusual talents is absolutely perfectly woven into the story.
It wasn’t until I was a little less than halfway through the book that all the pieces really fell into place for me, and I found myself completely sucked into both characters stories. From the midpoint on the book is absolutely impossible to put down as we discover how our characters' fates intertwine.
If you aren’t like me, and did read the synopsis, you’d also know this book is largely a rumination on death and dying. The books filled with these interlude chapters about the transition to death that fit right in contextually with the narrative, lifting an already stellar story into even greater heights.
In the end, Stuck is a thought provoking, intensely human story that will “stick” with you long after the journey is over (pun absolutely intended).
September 13, 2023
This was a good solid debut novel. Told from two different POV's. John whose life is crumbling around him, seemingly the only thing he has left is his best friend Eddie, who convinces him to go on a poorly thought out caving trip to help get him out of a rut but is all as it seems?
Then there's Lucy who is pretty close to rock bottom, but who starts to engage with a side to herself that she has previously denied.
I struggled with the first part of the book. I didn't really connect with John initially, it seemed a little choppy with his little episodes and a seemingly random idea to go caving, having finished the book I now get it but at the time, it seemed a bit odd. I also didn't really like the 'expert' excerpts, I felt they pulled me out of the story, however they were clearly well thought out and researched, I just felt there were too many of them.
However, I was intrigued by Lucy's story and eventually John's, so kept on reading and I'm glad I did.
About halfway through it became a real page turner and while I had an idea where it was going, it was interesting to see how the author started to merge the two stories together, the end is maybe a little out there but that is to be expected in a horror novel.
Overall an enjoyable read and I will look out for future books by this author.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Then there's Lucy who is pretty close to rock bottom, but who starts to engage with a side to herself that she has previously denied.
I struggled with the first part of the book. I didn't really connect with John initially, it seemed a little choppy with his little episodes and a seemingly random idea to go caving, having finished the book I now get it but at the time, it seemed a bit odd. I also didn't really like the 'expert' excerpts, I felt they pulled me out of the story, however they were clearly well thought out and researched, I just felt there were too many of them.
However, I was intrigued by Lucy's story and eventually John's, so kept on reading and I'm glad I did.
About halfway through it became a real page turner and while I had an idea where it was going, it was interesting to see how the author started to merge the two stories together, the end is maybe a little out there but that is to be expected in a horror novel.
Overall an enjoyable read and I will look out for future books by this author.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2024
Poor John, everything in his life is falling apart, but his friend Robbie helps him out when he needs it. The two decide to go on a trip to a cave, and that's where things get worse for John.
Wow, this book was not at all what I thought it was, but I loved it. It was so good and an emotionally amazing read. The writing was terrific a definite 5 stars
Wow, this book was not at all what I thought it was, but I loved it. It was so good and an emotionally amazing read. The writing was terrific a definite 5 stars
August 3, 2024
The two parallel stories ran separate for too long (and even when you find out how they're connected, I still didn't understand WHY). I found myself starting to skim by the halfway mark, the Webster dictionary definition/articles/expert opinion pieces between the chapters quickly became pages I entirely skipped over. Maybe if the story was condensed down to a 200 page novel it would have held my attention better. I would have DNF'd this if not for the Books of Horror Brawl.
August 5, 2024
So, this book is really hard to rate because I didn’t much care for the first half of the book but really enjoyed the second half of the book.
At 46%, I was considering DNFing this. But I pushed on, because I needed to see what the hell was going on. I’m GLAD I did because the story definitely perked up in the second half.
While I didn’t really feel very surprised with the twists themselves, they made sense within the story, and were rather enjoyable. I liked how it all came together in the end.
I found the notes at the beginning of each chapter to be quite jarring, and they kept sucking me out of the story. Not going to lie, by chapter 5, I wasn’t even reading them anymore. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything, now that I’ve finished, and skipped them all.
The writing was decent and well edited. Everything flowed together well. I just think the pacing was off in the first half.
Overall, this was a great debut from Ben Young and I do look forward to seeing what he comes up with next, but this one wasn’t really for me, and honestly, I only read it because of the Indie Brawl — otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up.
At 46%, I was considering DNFing this. But I pushed on, because I needed to see what the hell was going on. I’m GLAD I did because the story definitely perked up in the second half.
While I didn’t really feel very surprised with the twists themselves, they made sense within the story, and were rather enjoyable. I liked how it all came together in the end.
I found the notes at the beginning of each chapter to be quite jarring, and they kept sucking me out of the story. Not going to lie, by chapter 5, I wasn’t even reading them anymore. I don’t feel like I’m missing anything, now that I’ve finished, and skipped them all.
The writing was decent and well edited. Everything flowed together well. I just think the pacing was off in the first half.
Overall, this was a great debut from Ben Young and I do look forward to seeing what he comes up with next, but this one wasn’t really for me, and honestly, I only read it because of the Indie Brawl — otherwise, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up.
May 16, 2024
This is the first book I've read from Ben Young and it won't be the last. The story surrounds a man named John, whose life is falling apart. His friend takes him on an expedition. However, John is suspicious about his friend's intentions. Then the story switches to a nurse named Lucy.
Both of these stories come together in what turns out to be a thrilling story. However, it will also be an emotional ride as John ends up going back to his painful past. For the first book I've read by Ben, it was great. I can see what the hype is all about. I will also say it was not what I was expecting, but that proved to be a great thing.
Wonderful story, you should give this one a read!
Both of these stories come together in what turns out to be a thrilling story. However, it will also be an emotional ride as John ends up going back to his painful past. For the first book I've read by Ben, it was great. I can see what the hype is all about. I will also say it was not what I was expecting, but that proved to be a great thing.
Wonderful story, you should give this one a read!
July 4, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ this book was not at all what I expected, but as a hospice and palliative care nurse I really loved all the excerpts from On Death & Dying
September 2, 2023
I went into this blind and it turned out to be the weirdest horror novel of 2023 I’ve read so far! “Weird” not in the sense that it’s bonkers; hardly, it makes perfect sense once you get into it. But it’s no doubt weird when the story turns out to have very little to do with either the synopsis or the creepy cover (by the talented Ruth Anna Evans!). Ben Young's debut novel, ‘Stuck,’ employs the entire arsenal at a writer’s disposal to create a fascinating yet cunningly crafted story full of imagination and emotion: the unreliable narrator trope; deceiving flashbacks; subtle hints about what’s really going on; and multi-level narration through extended book quotations, article abstracts, and the occasional newspaper article, sometimes the one responding indirectly to the other. Admittedly, this makes the first half of the book a bit hard to read, but the payoff is worth it: eventually all the pieces fall into place and the novel proves itself to be a masterpiece of grief horror!
Figuring centrally are John, who finds his life socially and emotionally collapsing around him (his car stolen, he loses his job on top, and he has Eddie, his best friend, bullying him around), Lucy, a former nurse who’s lost her eleven-year-old daughter, and a so-called parapsychology expert, from whose book we get nasty quotations on how belief in parapsychology is “lunacy” and the thing simply doesn’t work. Lucy has met the expert sometime in the past, and we are allowed a glimpse into her response; but John has met neither, and Lucy won’t interact with him until the last fifty pages or so. The narrative seemed to me to be essentially the journey of each person, respectively through despair (John stuck in a cave, sort of), grief and guilt (Lucy touching rock bottom), and anger (the expert, whose displays of arrogance I found rather comical). All three are stuck, emotionally and mentally. Two of these people will get unstuck; parapsychological phenomena prove to be key for this. But Young has such amazing storytelling skills, it’s impossible to guess which direction the story actually takes: the insight into the grieving mind is unparalleled, and by the end, I came to the conclusion that this debut novel might as well be a superb meditation on the meaning of dying well, dying free of pain and fear. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author for kindly providing me with an ARC!
Figuring centrally are John, who finds his life socially and emotionally collapsing around him (his car stolen, he loses his job on top, and he has Eddie, his best friend, bullying him around), Lucy, a former nurse who’s lost her eleven-year-old daughter, and a so-called parapsychology expert, from whose book we get nasty quotations on how belief in parapsychology is “lunacy” and the thing simply doesn’t work. Lucy has met the expert sometime in the past, and we are allowed a glimpse into her response; but John has met neither, and Lucy won’t interact with him until the last fifty pages or so. The narrative seemed to me to be essentially the journey of each person, respectively through despair (John stuck in a cave, sort of), grief and guilt (Lucy touching rock bottom), and anger (the expert, whose displays of arrogance I found rather comical). All three are stuck, emotionally and mentally. Two of these people will get unstuck; parapsychological phenomena prove to be key for this. But Young has such amazing storytelling skills, it’s impossible to guess which direction the story actually takes: the insight into the grieving mind is unparalleled, and by the end, I came to the conclusion that this debut novel might as well be a superb meditation on the meaning of dying well, dying free of pain and fear. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author for kindly providing me with an ARC!
May 31, 2024
One time I showed a group of friends The Descent without explaining to them anything. Their faces during THAT scene definitely matched my face during THAT scene of Ben Young’s Stuck. I went into this book totally blind other than I had read one of Ben’s shorts and loved it. Stuck ranked the same for me. Stuck was a study of how to make characters interact in my eyes. The story was driven by what was going on with each person’s mind and created a totally uneasy sense of feeling… stuck… HA! One of the best psychological horror books I’ve read in a long time sprinkled with some heavy supernatural. Pair this with Wendy Dalrymple’s It Doesn’t Go Away and feel like you do not know the difference between reality and a Walmart melatonin induced dream. K thx.
May 2, 2024
This was outstanding. The continuous sense of impending doom, mixed with a deep empathy for MC, makes this a truly suffocating and entrancing read. Never had a book made my skin crawl, my breath catch on my throat… multiple times. It just kept getting more and more unsettling, like layers of hell-sand slowly drizzling onto your shoulders, your head, while you’re encapsulated in a literary hourglass, fighting against the odds, against time… to see what happens. What happened? My brain broke. My heart broke. My soul shrank away on fear… at how absolutely immersive and terrifying this was written. Unknown-Cave-exploring has officially been redacted from my Bucket List. The physical horrors mixed with the inner-battles and demons of the characters were written so relatable it was easy to feel for (or against) any character. And the end? Oof. Read this.
August 31, 2023
I havent read the blurb or any reviews so I was based only on the cover which is pretty awesome. I thought it will be the kind of book that will describe in excruciating detail the main character's last moments while he is traped in a cave. Couldn't be farther from the truth. This story is so much complex and it gives insight in the mind of two people as their destinies are brought together for an epic reason, which you will need to read the book to discover it. I really enjoyed the story and the moments in the cave where very intense (yes there is a cave, but you'll be surprised to discover what the cave actually is). For a debut novel, Ben Young really nailed it, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
September 15, 2025
'Stuck' by Ben Young is marketed as a horror thriller but unfortunately it is a supernatural drama more than anything else.
Does that make the book "bad"? No. It is still a well written book at 368 pages but you should know it is not a horror story.
We follow John and Lucy in their separate stories until the two merge in a satisfactory way. Each character within is fairly likable which I cannot say about most narratives lately! The grammar and writing style are pretty consumable. There are parts of the story that do seem more like a word count exercise than a driver of the narrative but it is not filled with hyperintellectual vocabulary.
Ben Young does a good job of reconnecting John's tale within to the "twist" of the story. 'Stuck' ends in a fairly tidy acceptable way - even if it isn't wholly realistic. I can appreciate that it doesn't end with a "or did it?" moment.
The reason for the lack of star is simply that it is not a horror story. It's a story about grief, shame, denial, and reconciliation. While there are a few intense moments or thrills, the story is no rougher than watching a primetime tv show. I also didn't enjoy the "twist" in the story as it is not a new concept and it was predictable (for me).
I definitely could recommend this to more mainstream "horror" readers though. It is well written enough and not something I had to drag my feet through. It could be a good autumn/fall/spooky season read for those who don't have the heart or stomach for more grotesque books.
Does that make the book "bad"? No. It is still a well written book at 368 pages but you should know it is not a horror story.
We follow John and Lucy in their separate stories until the two merge in a satisfactory way. Each character within is fairly likable which I cannot say about most narratives lately! The grammar and writing style are pretty consumable. There are parts of the story that do seem more like a word count exercise than a driver of the narrative but it is not filled with hyperintellectual vocabulary.
Ben Young does a good job of reconnecting John's tale within to the "twist" of the story. 'Stuck' ends in a fairly tidy acceptable way - even if it isn't wholly realistic. I can appreciate that it doesn't end with a "or did it?" moment.
The reason for the lack of star is simply that it is not a horror story. It's a story about grief, shame, denial, and reconciliation. While there are a few intense moments or thrills, the story is no rougher than watching a primetime tv show. I also didn't enjoy the "twist" in the story as it is not a new concept and it was predictable (for me).
I definitely could recommend this to more mainstream "horror" readers though. It is well written enough and not something I had to drag my feet through. It could be a good autumn/fall/spooky season read for those who don't have the heart or stomach for more grotesque books.
March 9, 2024
5🔦🔦🔦🔦🔦
First of all, I'm so mad I didn't read this sooner. Stuck is an absolute thrilling and heartbreaking book. Beautifully written.
This is one of those books you can read in one sitting. As John battles his fears and his grief. Lucy finds her way back from her tormented life. This book will be "Stuck" in my head for a long time... lol.
Bathophobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of depths. Sufferers from bathophobia experience anxiety even though they realize they are safe from falling into or being consumed by depths. The feared object may be a long, dark hallway, a well, or a deep pool or lake.
"Sometimes, if we open up too far, hurtful things can come in."
Will you recognize the signs when your death begins, or will you be stuck?
Ben, I'm definitely hanging around for the next leg of adventures.
First of all, I'm so mad I didn't read this sooner. Stuck is an absolute thrilling and heartbreaking book. Beautifully written.
This is one of those books you can read in one sitting. As John battles his fears and his grief. Lucy finds her way back from her tormented life. This book will be "Stuck" in my head for a long time... lol.
Bathophobia: An abnormal and persistent fear of depths. Sufferers from bathophobia experience anxiety even though they realize they are safe from falling into or being consumed by depths. The feared object may be a long, dark hallway, a well, or a deep pool or lake.
"Sometimes, if we open up too far, hurtful things can come in."
Will you recognize the signs when your death begins, or will you be stuck?
Ben, I'm definitely hanging around for the next leg of adventures.
July 18, 2024
Being stuck in a cave sounds like the worst thing I could imagine, but somehow Ben Young found ways to make it worse. This book gave me some serious claustrophobia and managed to touch on one of my secret fears. I won't say more for fear of spoilers, but I definitely recommend checking this one out.
August 12, 2024
Pretty good for a new author! I did NOT expect the way this book turned out, which is always a treat. I’m slightly disappointed in the caving part as I love a good anxiety provoke, but it was still good, emotional read. I love that he was inspired to write because of SK. And his writing did not come across as amateur. I could do without the psych/afterlife portions, which is the only reason I’m giving it a 3 star instead of 4.
October 11, 2024
Stuck by Ben Young is a complete mindf*ck of a book! Honestly, I had no idea what was going on at any point—I just sat back and went along for the ride. It was a wild experience, and you know what? I’m not even mad about it! If you’re into stories that keep you guessing, give this one a shot!
June 23, 2024
This had a very promising premise, but it got very intellectual, and the story was kind of confusing.
June 13, 2024
Stuck by Ben Young has been on my list for some time. It’s always exciting to read an author’s debut & a new perspective, especially in the horror genre. Stuck promised claustrophobic horror, so I was here for it. What I got was what it promised and sooo much more.
Quick Synopsis:
John has terrifying visions of being trapped in unbearably tight spaces that harken back to ghosts of his past. His good friend tells him the only way to rid himself of the crippling nightmares is to face them in the most immersive way possible: Just go on a willy-nilly caving trip & that should fix everything! What’s the worst that could happen?
Spoiler/non-spoiler cuz the title…a fucking LOT.
Ok so full disclosure, I can’t send you into this like oooh it’s all in a cave and you’re going to gasping for air while you feel your bones crunching the whole time. Cuz yeah that’s about half of the story. The other half tunnels deeper (see what I did there?) and takes you on a whole other ride that feels a little disjointed at first, until Young pulls all the final strings together and lands a pretty-damned-well-executed chessboard of a story ending. You really do get multiple levels with this story: loss, grief, paranormal elements, body horror, & existential dread. A smorgasbord of trauma to fuck you up real good. I enjoyed it & recommend it to all!
Quick Synopsis:
John has terrifying visions of being trapped in unbearably tight spaces that harken back to ghosts of his past. His good friend tells him the only way to rid himself of the crippling nightmares is to face them in the most immersive way possible: Just go on a willy-nilly caving trip & that should fix everything! What’s the worst that could happen?
Spoiler/non-spoiler cuz the title…a fucking LOT.
Ok so full disclosure, I can’t send you into this like oooh it’s all in a cave and you’re going to gasping for air while you feel your bones crunching the whole time. Cuz yeah that’s about half of the story. The other half tunnels deeper (see what I did there?) and takes you on a whole other ride that feels a little disjointed at first, until Young pulls all the final strings together and lands a pretty-damned-well-executed chessboard of a story ending. You really do get multiple levels with this story: loss, grief, paranormal elements, body horror, & existential dread. A smorgasbord of trauma to fuck you up real good. I enjoyed it & recommend it to all!
November 22, 2023
I thought I was getting a caving story, but I couldn't have been more wrong; and I didn't even suspect anything for a while lmao.
A little slow, but very unique.
I think Lucy's book and the articles of the doc were very interesting additions to the book - I really enjoyed them.
A little slow, but very unique.
I think Lucy's book and the articles of the doc were very interesting additions to the book - I really enjoyed them.
May 17, 2025
I don't have anything nice to say about this one. The book's synopsis was incredibly misleading and I am disappointed.
August 26, 2024
“EACH DEATH IS UNIQUE, WILL YOU RECOGNIZE YOURS WHEN IT BEGINS?”
This book is, quite literally, outstanding.
I am a die-hard horror fan. Grief-horror always seems like it should be in its own category, because the horror is so different than a “typical” horror story. Stories like ‘Stuck’ have a way of completely engulfing my heart and my soul.
All at once, the story is terrifying, it’s familiar, it’s beautiful, it’s ugly, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s heartwarming.
‘Stuck’ has this continuous sense of impending doom. This, mixed with a deep empathy for John, made this story a truly suffocating and entrancing read.
I’ve only had a handful of books that make my skin crawl while also catching my breath in my throat like a lump… multiple times. ‘Stuck’ just kept getting more and more unsettling.. It felt like layers of sand slowly drizzling onto your shoulders, your head, becoming heavier and more burdensome the longer you’re there. It was like being encapsulated in an hourglass, fighting against the odds and against time… just to see what happens.
So… what happened?
My brain broke.
My heart broke.
My soul shrank away in fear… at how absolutely immersive and terrifying Ben Young wrote this story. The physical horrors, mixed with the inner battles and demons of the characters, were so relatable. They felt real. And the way I felt about them felt real. It was very easy to feel for (or against) any character.
And the end?
Ooooof.
Just.. Read this.
“On the worst day of his life, John Camden was fired from his job writing parking tickets, and started dying.”
This book is, quite literally, outstanding.
I am a die-hard horror fan. Grief-horror always seems like it should be in its own category, because the horror is so different than a “typical” horror story. Stories like ‘Stuck’ have a way of completely engulfing my heart and my soul.
All at once, the story is terrifying, it’s familiar, it’s beautiful, it’s ugly, it’s heartbreaking, and it’s heartwarming.
‘Stuck’ has this continuous sense of impending doom. This, mixed with a deep empathy for John, made this story a truly suffocating and entrancing read.
I’ve only had a handful of books that make my skin crawl while also catching my breath in my throat like a lump… multiple times. ‘Stuck’ just kept getting more and more unsettling.. It felt like layers of sand slowly drizzling onto your shoulders, your head, becoming heavier and more burdensome the longer you’re there. It was like being encapsulated in an hourglass, fighting against the odds and against time… just to see what happens.
So… what happened?
My brain broke.
My heart broke.
My soul shrank away in fear… at how absolutely immersive and terrifying Ben Young wrote this story. The physical horrors, mixed with the inner battles and demons of the characters, were so relatable. They felt real. And the way I felt about them felt real. It was very easy to feel for (or against) any character.
And the end?
Ooooof.
Just.. Read this.
“On the worst day of his life, John Camden was fired from his job writing parking tickets, and started dying.”
June 9, 2024
This is one of my few 5 stars, what the f*.
This had me seriously anxious the entire time, and books these days don't really do that to me. I MISS that feeling.
I was so back and forth on what I thought was going on and what I was just making up as I went.
I'm still just sitting here staring at the end page.
I'm such a sucker for a unreliable narrator, especially when the author makes you trust him, even though the whole time your also side eyeing the character.
Just go read this immediately if you haven't already.
This had me seriously anxious the entire time, and books these days don't really do that to me. I MISS that feeling.
I was so back and forth on what I thought was going on and what I was just making up as I went.
I'm still just sitting here staring at the end page.
I'm such a sucker for a unreliable narrator, especially when the author makes you trust him, even though the whole time your also side eyeing the character.
Just go read this immediately if you haven't already.
September 22, 2023
A unique page-turning journey on the road to death: the confusion; the need for resolution; the need to let go.
Told through alternative POVs of John, who is clearly displaying symptoms of nearing death, and of Lucy, for whom death has catapulted her life into a downward spiral.
The levels of research are astounding; the diametrically opposing viewpoints of the ‘expert’ community presented through periodic excerpts whets the appetite for the chapters that follow.
John’s story is intense, while Lucy’s is slightly less dynamic - I found myself skimming though her internal monologues, although I recognise how challenging it is to describe action through first person narratives - but this in no way detracted from an impressive story.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
Cover art of Stuck by Ben Young shows a man stuck in a small cavern: illuminated only by a weak and ineffective torch light. He is reaching out to find a wall to guide his way. The cave wall is emblazoned with the title ‘Stuck’ reading from top to bottom in red letters. The authors name appears highlighted in yellow - directly in line with the torch light.
Told through alternative POVs of John, who is clearly displaying symptoms of nearing death, and of Lucy, for whom death has catapulted her life into a downward spiral.
The levels of research are astounding; the diametrically opposing viewpoints of the ‘expert’ community presented through periodic excerpts whets the appetite for the chapters that follow.
John’s story is intense, while Lucy’s is slightly less dynamic - I found myself skimming though her internal monologues, although I recognise how challenging it is to describe action through first person narratives - but this in no way detracted from an impressive story.
I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.
Cover art of Stuck by Ben Young shows a man stuck in a small cavern: illuminated only by a weak and ineffective torch light. He is reaching out to find a wall to guide his way. The cave wall is emblazoned with the title ‘Stuck’ reading from top to bottom in red letters. The authors name appears highlighted in yellow - directly in line with the torch light.
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