Stuck With You

by 'Nathan Burgoine

Two frenemies become lovers in this story of Queer joy and playful romance.

Stuck With You is a story of Queer joy and a playful teen romance, following two frenemies as they fall for each other while stuck in adjacent seats on a day-long train trip.

Ben is on a train back to Ottawa after a visit with his dad in Toronto when he runs into the last person he wanted to see: Caleb, the handsome, confident boy who recently and accidentally broke Ben’s phone. Preoccupied by worrying about whether he should take a gap year, Ben has little time for Caleb’s jibes.

But when the two start talking, not only does Ben find himself won over by Caleb’s roguish charm, but he also learns his seatmate is also bisexual.

Stuck With You discusses important issues facing teens as they contemplate their futures within the context of a light-hearted romance plot with witty dialogue and charming interplay, almost all taking place within the space of a single long train trip.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary, M M Romance, Canada

176 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

'Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller. His first published short story was "Heart" in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. Since then, he has had dozens of short stories published, and despite being "the tall queer guy who writes mosly shorter queer fictions" novels have happened between the novellas and short stories.

A cat lover, 'Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing "cat or dog?" détente ended with the rescue and adoption of huskies. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where socialized health care and gay marriage have yet to cause the sky to cave in.

You can find 'Nathan on the web at nathanburgoine.com.

Reviews

['Nathan Burgoine]

Update, May 10th, 2024: Ohmigosh, check out this awesome list from the School Library Journal, 24 Hi-Lo Books for Striving Middle Grade and YA Readers, which was kind enough to include their starred review of Stuck With You!

Woo-hoo! Apparently, Stuck With You went live on Kindle today! So for those of you asking about an ebook option? The answer is... yes!

Eee! Another wonderful review, this time from CM: Canadian Media Reviews. "Stuck With You, part of the “Real Love” series, is a well-written and believable narrative that addresses the many struggles people who identify as LGBTQ+ may face. .... The text does deal with weighty issues, but they are presented in a way that would be accessible to most readers because they are not dramatically highlighted but are simply there. Highly Recommended."

Oh wow, School Library Journal gave Stuck With You a starred review! That has never happened before. "...a hilarious and all-around enjoyable read. VERDICT: Highly recommended for hi-lo readers who loved Heartstopper."

Kirkus said really nice things about my debut Hi/Lo—"An adorable romance with strong coming-of-age elements."—and for those of you outside Canada, I'm glad y'all get a chance to hop on a train with Ben and Caleb really soon.

--

I'm really, really chuffed I got to take part in the Lorimer Real Love Series, which is a queer themed hi/lo line. (If you don't know what hi/lo is, don't worry, neither did I until I first bumped into one—they're high-interest and low reading complexity. Meaning, they're for readers who maybe don't have a high reading level thanks to having fallen behind, learning English as a second language, reading disabilities, or any other factor, who still deserve stories about people like them with plots that are interesting, but paired with a comprehension level that's accessible).

At its heart, Stuck With You is an upbeat, fun YA queer rom-com, though it also includes how ridiculous it is to be 17 and expected to know where your life is going, gap years, cute boys, impact-vs-intent, biphobia, apologies, and the horrifying realization you want to kiss the boy you thought was so annoying four hours ago.

Ben gets on the train home to Ottawa hoping to put a horrible March Break with his father behind him, only to find the person who'd made that week all the more horrible—Caleb Khoury—will now be sitting beside him for the next four and a half hours. It's the worst.

Until it's not the worst. And then, maybe, it's not even bad. Wait. Is Ben enjoying Caleb's company? What is even happening?

[QuietlyKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! What a sweet little slice of sunshine in the rain. The perfect pick me up for a crummy day.

I typically borrow Burgoine books from the library before buying them but this is my 11th Burgoine read and I’ve loved them all so at this point he’s a trusted autobuy for thoughtful, authentic, inclusive queer representation.

Support queer authors. Read diverse books. Dismantle oppressive power systems.

[M'rella]

How does the pricing work on Amazon? Who sets the price?

Why is it relevant to this review? Well, unless I can put this book ($9.99 for 178 pages) next to my collection of Shakespeare, Oscar Wild and Stephen Fry, there is no chance I am buying and reading it.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute but too short

[Jen Desmarais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was prepared for amazing. I've read this author before, so I know how good he is.
But I think I forget in between times just HOW good he is.
This was an absolute DELIGHT to read. I zipped through it. I had 20 pages left last night and I really, really didn't want to put it down.
And those last 20 pages were even better. I scream-laughed twice in the last chapter alone.
Omg Ben's relationship with his step-dad was my favourite thing of life.
And I fell in love with Caleb at the same as Ben. He would charm me as a parent. Ben's parents are going to be thrilled.

[David Glisch-Sánchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story! I loved Ben as the narrator, his internal dialog was totally relatable. I also think both Ben and Caleb were really well written as teenage characters, which is not an easy thing to do. A lot of writers overlay teenage characters on top of adult talk, thought, feelings, and behavior, and thankfully Burgoine avoided these pitfalls completely. Ben’s convo with his stepdad, Mick, was also a high point for me in the story. I love any scene where a parental or adult figure lets a child/teenager be themselves, supports them in their wants and desires and doesn’t treat the child’s wants and needs as less important than there own. A lot of adults and parents could take some lessons from Mick’s example. My only real complaint is that I wanted a longer story. I wasn’t ready to leave the characters, but I’m so glad I picked up this book and got to meet them!

[mwana]

I loved Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks and have yet to revisit this author, something that must be rectified

[Laurali · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely delightful story aimed to young adults (although a fun read for any age). The characters feel very authentic, and I quickly came to love Ben and Caleb. I cannot wait to pass this on to my 15 year old son!

[Jen Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute book, but I wish it had been a bit longer. The ending seemed a little abrupt, even though we all knew what was going to happen lol. Would definitely be interested in reading a sequel, though. I did enjoy the story. It just seemed a bit rushed at the end.

[dobbs the dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so this was ridiculously sweet. Highly recommend if you’re just looking for a quick palate cleanser, or if you need a good read for a reluctant reader or someone who finds reading challenging. This is a hi-lo reader, meaning high interest, low readability; basically a lovely story with a larger size font and spacing, as well as easy language.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and quick read. Future Hallmark movie

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one's entertaining and funny and sweet, YA but not childish, and short but with some depth. I was afraid it might not appeal, but, as usual, the author won me over.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, funny, adorable but not cloying or simplistic take on the "enemies to lovers" trope. I couldn't put it down. Both main characters are endearing, and the evolution of their relationship feels realistic and well-paced.

[Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben isn’t having any of it.

When his cell phone is broken while he is visiting his father, Ben survives by sheer will alone. Unable to text his mother or his friends for three weeks has put Ben in a bit of a foul temper. It doesn’t help that his father really doesn’t understand him or bother trying. Ben tells himself that he only has to put up with his father and Toronto for three weeks out of the year, but when one day feels like a long time, three weeks is forever.

All he’s looking forward to is the train ride home so that he can see his mother, stepfather Mick and his friends again. He just wants to pretend the last few weeks didn’t happen and get back to where he’s accepted. At this point, he just wants to be left alone. When he sees Caleb walking towards him, Ben groans inwardly. As if three weeks with his father isn’t enough, he has to spend the entire trip home with the guy who broke his phone.

However, even through the anger, Ben can’t deny how cute Caleb is. Ben also can’t deny how nice Caleb looks in a white t-shirt, if you like that kind of thing. However, when they begin to talk, Ben is surprised to know that Caleb knows who he is and that breaking the phone was an accident. Ben is used to riding the rials, going from point A to point B, not making waves or being seen. It’s more comfortable him that way.

As they continue talking, Ben realizes that he’s misjudged Caleb a little, even if he did break Ben’s phone. It gives them a common ground and somehow melts the ice between them, or at least the upset that Ben is holding onto. When their conversation turns to family, Ben is surprised when Caleb not only reveals that he has two gay dads.

The fact that Ben is starting to develop a crush on Caleb and his gorgeous arms (no one should look that good in a t-shirt) is besides the point. When Caleb reveals that he’s bisexual, Ben starts to see Caleb, and himself, in a whole new light.

The train ride has gotten a lot more interesting…

I’m always amazed by ‘Nathan Burgoine. He always manages to fill his books with characters that are so real that by the ending of the book, I’ve met new friends that I feel like I know completely. He creates such real people that they live off the page. I’ve been thinking about Ben, Caleb, Raj and everyone in this book since I finished reading it. Burgoine manages to write characters that stay with you.

I love Ben so much. I see so much of myself in him. I was so introverted in high school and didn’t want people to notice me, mostly because I was so desperate to fit in. I did what I could to ride the rails and not make waves and not be seen, yet there was something within me that people saw anyways. Ben wants to hide, but he never hides who he is. He doesn’t hide the fact that he’s gay; in fact, that he’s a part of the Rainbow Club. I love the fact that though he wants to remain hidden, Ben doesn’t hide who he is.

The other thing that stuck out to me was that, while Caleb had well muscled arms, Burgoine makes it known that he doesn’t have a totally muscular physique. I love the fact that, though Caleb is athletic and plays basketball, he doesn’t have the typical jock physique; he’s just comfortable with who he is. He’s open about who he is and doesn’t care what others think about him or his sexuality. This really hit home for me and went against the norm. Caleb is a jock character who isn’t physically perfect and he’s openly bisexual. This plays totally against the jock character stereotype and I’m so thankful to see that on the page.

Stuck With You is such a wonderful story that goes beyond all of my expectations (and they were very high!). The story gave me all the feels and left me with a genuine feeling of joy and warmth that has stayed with me. I can’t wait read Stuck With You again and fall in love with the story and characters once more.

‘Nathan Burgoine has written a true gem of a book and boy, does it ever sparkle.

[Jeff Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck With You Review
by Jeff Baker
(August 29, 2023)

‘Nathan Burgoine’s YA novel “Stuck With You” is the latest Hi/Lo from Lorimer Books’ “Real Love” imprint.
A Hi/Lo being a “high interest, low reading complexity book” meant for young readers who do not have a high reading level for one reason or another.
“Stuck With You” is told from the vantage point of Ben Ross. About to turn eighteen and on the train from his yearly visit to his Father in Toronto going home to his Mom and Stepdad in Ottawa. He’s Gay, out and without his cellphone as Caleb Khoury had accidentally broken it with a basketball back at school. Ben, therefore has been without contact to his support system of friends and the school’s Rainbow Club during his stay with his Father with whom he has nothing in common.
The last person Ben wants to see is Caleb Khoury.
Guess who sits down in the seat next to him?
The last thing Ben wants is a four-hour train ride with Caleb.
So it stretches to over five hours thanks to a rainstorm.
This gives the two teens a chance to talk, reluctantly and with a lot of tension at first as they begin to open up because they have nothing else to do. And here is where I, as a reader, worried because this was a “frenemies to boyfriends” story, so I wondered if the inevitable changes in their relationship would seem contrived or forced or fake. None of that happened. It seemed natural and very genuine, including Caleb’s revelation that he is bisexual.
It says a lot about Burgoine’s skill as a writer that he humanizes these two characters who could have been wooden cliches in lesser hands.
The train ride (on the “Via Train”) is evoked perfectly. Readers who have ridden that route have praised the descriptions, and I must give a nod to Burgoine’s fun chapter titles, all of which reference Caleb. (“Caleb Khoury Never Shuts Up,” Caleb Khoury Flexes a Lot,” “Caleb Khoury Is Into Guys.”)
Aimed at a YA audience, “Stuck With You” is a fun, breezy read. A train ride into the world of young love, and is highly recommended.

---end---

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben has not enjoyed his week in Toronto with his dad. True, he never enjoys it, but it's been worse this time because Caleb, a kid from school, broke Ben's phone just before the trip and Ben's dad can't be bothered to help him replace it. So when Ben gets on the train for the four hour trip back to Ottowa and his mom and stepdad, he's relieved to be going home but still mad that he's had no contact with anyone for a week. And then, who ends up in the seat beside him? Caleb, of course. Ugh, can Ben's luck get any worse??? And it really doesn't help that Caleb is incredibly attractive, charming, and irrepressible...and bi??? Wait, WTH??? Over the course of the journey, they spend a long time talking and laughing and...oh no, is Ben actually falling for Caleb???

This was utterly delightful, even knowing exactly how it would end; you go into this kind of book with that knowledge, so you can read safely and know full well you're not getting your heart ripped out. Quite the reverse. There is lots of character building, with enough family detail to paint a clear picture of their lives without losing the focus on the moment. Ben is stressed about the year after graduation, since he doesn't have the grades or money for college. Caleb is stressed by his parents' perpetual busy-ness and lack of attention, and assumption that he will follow in their footsteps. Plus he's being text-nagged by the girlfriend who broke up with him, who is a real piece of work. Anyway, this was a quick read I couldn't put down, and it made me smile.

[Samy Mitchell]

A funny and light hearted read, depicting the inner thoughts and feelings of Ben, a seemingly ordinary kid who happens to be gay. Ben is portrayed as the typical ordinary average adolescent, with many conflicting thoughts, worries and anxieties, which are often take the form of overthinking. The author (Burgoine) seems to have created an endearing and entertaining story without the use of any serious drama. Both male protagonists live ordinary teenage lives, have ordinary families (who love and support them but get on their nerves), but are portrayed through the author's words as extraordinary. He gives both Ben and Caleb big and likeable personalities that readers will find them so endearing. Their back and forth banter on the train is so refreshing and light hearted. I love the representation of the LGBTQ2S+ community as Burgoine instills two gay characters as main protagonists in the book, along with a transgender best friend side character. By having these main characters represented in the LGBTQ2S+ community, Burgoine is giving the spotlight to the community, something that is long over due. Another thing that I appreciated in this book is the confident sense of identity that the characters have, despite bullying, or break ups due to bigotry (it was for the best, Caleb). Burgoine also sparks some importance discussion about topics such as homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia which I feel is important to talk to youth about. Definitely a recommended read for Northern lights.

[Sarah's library · Rating 4 out of 5]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

REVIEW - 4.5/5 - This was a really good book, i'm so shocked that everything got summed up through 176 pages. It was sweet and straight forward and I couldn't stop myself from smiling from the back and forth between Caleb and Ben, or Benny as Caleb likes to say. 10/10 would recommend.

SYNOPSIS -
Stuck With You is a story of Queer joy and a playful teen romance, following two frenemies as they fall for each other while stuck in adjacent seats on a day-long train trip.



Ben is on a train back to Ottawa after a visit with his dad in Toronto when he runs into the last person he wanted to see: Caleb, the handsome, confident boy who recently and accidentally broke Ben’s phone. Preoccupied by worrying about whether he should take a gap year, Ben has little time for Caleb’s jibes.



But when the two start talking, not only does Ben find himself won over by Caleb’s roguish charm, but he also learns his seatmate is also bisexual..



Stuck With You discusses important issues facing teens as they contemplate their futures within the context of a light-hearted romance plot with witty dialogue and charming interplay, almost all taking place within the space of a single long train trip.

[Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I managed to finish this in one night! For me, that is pretty hard so the fact it could keep my attention for two and a half hours was pretty impressive (two hours if you exclude me stopping to talk to myself). The pacing of it was actually incredibly good. It didn't feel it was dragging its feet or leaving me flipping back a few pages in confusion.
The end is obviously the only standout issue. If it had just been given a little room to breathe I think it would have been elevated to a higher level. Despite that though, I still adore it. The characters are especially sweet and I was cheering them on the entire time!!
I bought the book at a book fair and the author signed it for me! He seemed very cool and the book even managed to get me out of a reading slump so thank you Nathan Burgoine!! ☆

[A.E. Lister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book!

Having taken the Via train to and from Toronto many times, it was cool to ride along as Ben and Caleb got to know each other. I also use anger as a conduit to bravery in social interactions so I totally got Ben's angle. Loved that it made things happen between him and Caleb.

Their interactions were hilarious and believeable, and Burgoine captures the insecurity of two queer teens trying to figure things out.

Would have read it in one shot except I have a demanding family and I had to break for supper. :)

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in roughly two hours, I really enjoyed it, and I thought it was fun. I got it in a blind date with a book from my local library and immediately read it all without getting up. Him (Ben) taking a train from Toronto to Ottawa caught me so off guard (i didn’t read the back) because I live near Ottawa and travel to Toronto often. The ‘cute guy’ was a totally hilarious and relatable add. Another similarity, I am also in my second semester of gr12 and don’t know what i’m doing AND 💅🏼. Also, I think I love Caleb. Fantastic character. OMG ALSO THE MIYAZAKI MOVIE REFERENCES AHHH

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

People falling in love on trains should be it’s own genre.

It really says something that even though 90% of the story takes place during a single train ride, the characters are engaging enough that it’s fun to read. I don’t even like short stories, but this was the perfect low-stakes, slice-of-life, cozy read my brain increasingly needs. Plus, a great examination of biphobia/erasure as a minor plot point.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book -- it was such a great read, and the bonus for me was having taken the train many times between Toronto and Ottawa and seeing all the Canadian references was a fun addition. Benny and Caleb are wonderful characters, and I really appreciated how the author got the teen voices right without going over the top and without making them sound too adult. Overall, it's just such a fun read and I highly recommend it.

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This was a super cute YA, and I'm excited to see more queer hi lo books. I read it in one sitting and it put a huge smile on my face by the end. I also love books set on trips/travel and there's something about a train that lends itself to organic conversations. I thought it was going to end when they arrived in Ottawa, but I was pleasantly surprised we got a bit more!

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story

Short sweet and to the point.
Loved how casual the conversation felt. How genuine the character/ relationship develops. I liked how they didn't add filler to the other relationships in Ben's life. And how they showed their friends' personalities through his own thoughts and words to Ben instead of it feeling very expositiony.

[Pablito · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did you ever eat an ice cream sundae and after the last spoonful end up staring at the empty bowl wanting more?

That's me right now, wishing for more of Ben and Caleb, a crusty nerd and a jittery jock, who just happen to share a train ride from Toronto to Ottawa, and discover on the rails exactly how long a grudge can last.

For the record, I never lick the bowl.

Honest!

[Rebecca Froebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable LGBT+ high school romance story with believable dialogue and characters you just want to protect and love.

A great read! Fans of Heartstopper and Pumpkin will adore this! Highly recommend!

[Philippa Lodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two teen boys who barely know each other and up sitting next to each other on a long train ride.

Super cute and sweet, where attraction blooms, they talk out their problems, and there's that spark between them.

Low heat, low conflict, high reward

[Brady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet!

I really enjoyed this one, it was short and sweet! I liked that it was fast paced and I enjoyed Ben and Caleb’s banter on the train and it has such a sweet ending! Highly recommend if you are looking for a feel good queer story that is quick to read!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, simple, but nice.