Stuck with You

Gr 7 Up–A laugh-out-loud hi-lo gay romantic comedy set almost entirely on a train. Ben, a gay teen nearing graduation, is not only stuck on the train for more than four hours with a broken cell phone—he is stuck on a train with the guy who broke his phone! The story begins with Ben having just finished a miserable visit with his father who disapproves of Ben’s decision to take a year off before going to college. This visit was made worse because, his phone being broken, Ben had no ability to contact his friends. When Caleb Khoury, the boy who broke his phone, sits down next to him on the train, Ben thinks Caleb is a stereotypical jock; when they are stuck together for more than four hours, he learns that Caleb is kind, funny, and bisexual. Proximity and understanding lead to a budding friendship and the beginnings of a romance. This is a hilarious and an all-around enjoyable read. The secondary drama among Ben’s friends in the Rainbow Alliance is painfully realistic, foreshadowing the all-too-common biphobia that exists (even in LGBTQIA+ spaces) before readers are introduced to the bisexual love interest. Even though the plot takes place almost solely on one train ride, the romance never drags or feels rushed. The book is written at a third grade reading level.