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BL Maxwell
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Better Together (Better Together Universe Book 1) Kindle Edition

by BL Maxwell (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 124 ratings
Since being thrown out of his home by his parents, Caden has been struggling to survive on the streets.He lives in constant fear, stresses over his next meal, and dreads trying to find a safe place to sleep at night. He eventually finds an unlocked car and settles in to sleep, but is soon interrupted when someone steals the car. With little choice but to ride along, Caden soon learns that first impressions aren’t always correct.

Seventeen-year-old Damario has been raising his little brother and sister by himself since his parents were deported. He never knew how hard it was going to be paying the bills and making sure there was always food on the table. Or how hard it would be to hold his family together when they all depended on him to do it. He finds himself stealing cars to make ends meet, but he never expected to find someone sleeping in the back of one of them. And he really didn’t expect this stowaway to change his life.

When Damario brings Caden home, it was supposed to be just for a shower and a hot meal, but he can hardly kick him out onto the streets again. There is no way he could have seen that by saving Caden that night, he was also saving himself. When Damario’s world starts to fall apart, they both realize that the answer to all of their problems is helping each other, and although the world tries to drive them apart, they really are better together.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Better Together Universe
  2. Print length
    328 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 2018
  6. File size
    2.6 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked. Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she's trying to sleep.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CZD8286
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.6 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Better Together Universe
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 124 ratings

About the author

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BL Maxwell

BL Maxwell

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

BL Maxwell grew up in a small town listening to her grandfather spin tales about his childhood. Later she became an avid reader and after a certain vampire series she became obsessed with fanfiction. She soon discovered Slash fanfiction and later discovered the MM genre and was hooked.

Many years later, she decided to take the plunge and write down some of the stories that seem to run through her head late at night when she’s trying to sleep.

BL Maxwell loves to hear from readers who enjoy her stories, so feel free to reach out at any of these links:

Website: https://blmaxwellwriter.com/ (Free book)

Newsletter: https://sendfox.com/blmaxwell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bl.maxwell.35/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/bl-maxwell

BingeBooks: https://bingebooks.com/profile/blmaxwell

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
124 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Charles G
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book and definitely fits today’s times.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Excellent book and it is so sad this is happening right now in America. To deport parents and leave a 17 year old to look after and support 2 small children is a total disgrace. Luckily in this novel things worked out great and fairytales do come true. I highly highly recommend reading this book. Five stars to the author for opening people’s eyes to the problems facing the American community.
    One person found this helpful
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  • R Keebler
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet love story.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Caden was kicked out by his parents when he was seventeen. When they discovered he was gay, his father told him to put a few clothes into a backpack and drove him to somewhere he had never been. Kicking him out of the car and telling him to never come back. Homeless and not worldly enough to know how to care for himself, he lived in constant fear. One night he finds an unlocked car to sleep in.

    Damario “Rio” is seventeen, parenting his younger sister and brother. His parents were deported. Working, still going to school, he steals cars to make enough to support his family. Scared, alone and afraid he is slowly going under from the responsibilities heaped on him.

    The night he steals the car Caden is sleeping in became the best night of his life. Together these young men learn to accept that they are so much better together than apart. The life lessons they teach each other turning them from boys to men. With help along the way from friends they didn't even know they had. Rio credits it to the sweet guy that he stole.

    This was a sweet, touching book. I enjoyed watching them grow together, taking everything life threw at them and making it work. I liked that the author let them mature a little before they fell in love and began a relationship.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Oor Janie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Together they are stronger
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is a great story of two lost souls who find each other at a dark moment in their lives. Seeing Caden learn to trust after the way his parents treated him, was beautiful. Damario has a lot on his plate, but Caden brings his help and humor and together they are strong. So many emotions play out as this book unfolds.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • ~Jenny Is My Name~
    3.0 out of 5 stars Cute
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2018
    Format: Kindle
    I have to first point out that I am such a sucker for single dads, or brother’s that step up and take care of their siblings. Hot guys with kids are just an overall must read, for me. In this one, we start off with Caden, who has the world worst parents. Upon finding a m/m romance novel in his room, they give him 10 minutes to pack a couple things and then his dad drives him far away from home and just drops him off in an abandoned parking lot. Literally, like a dog they wanna dump, they just load him up and haul him off. What I do not understand, is why nothing was done about this when he didn’t show up at school or whatever. The cops came and they told him he was a runaway, but the sister, she should’ve said something. Why did she not tell anyone the real story??? Why didn’t Caden?? His parents should’ve been punished for what they done, not only once, but they done it TWICE!

    Damario, or Rio, has he’s called…. Is just shy of seventeen when his parents get deported over something ridiculous. I hope our government isn’t that terrible that a simple address change can get you deported, but anyway….It didn’t seem believable that three minor children would just be left to their own devices when the parents got deported, the youngest being six. I mean, they had a neighbor that helped out a bunch, sure, but they were all still minors… how did nobody catch on to that?

    Anyway, while out doing some shady business to make a little extra cash, Rio finds Caden sleeping in the back of a car he’s trying to steal, and sees how skinny and unkempt he is. He takes him along with him and decides he’s going to help him. I thought this was admirable because the kid and his two siblings didn’t have much, but Rio wanted to help Caden. It was cute, if not a bit unrealistic. I can say with absolute certainty that in no way would I have trusted my little siblings alone with a homeless stranger I met an hour ago… no matter how harmless he seemed. I didn’t like that, it again seemed unrealistic.

    I did like how each boy felt like the other saved them in a way… it felt like young love, and I found myself rooting for them both. I was glad that eventually, everything started working out. I had thought that they’d have a lot more trouble from the guy boosting cars when Rio just wanted to quit. Typically, when you start doing shady work for shady people, they don’t’ just let you leave whenever you want to. So, I was glad that wasn’t the case, but again, it just felt unrealistic to me. I feel like I’ve used that word a lot in this review, but if I had to describe it all in one word, that’s what it would be.

    It was a cute story, a bit mushy in some places but overall, it was cute. I was happy with the way it ended and though Rio’s family didn’t ever make it back into the states, I was glad that they were able to visit them often and everyone seemed to be happy and healthy and together.

    3 stars from me!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I loved the book. Families are what you make them to be and this story proves that to be true. Can't wait to read the next part.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book was good I enjoyed it just like the first one both characters need help and they found it in easy other
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • AussieReader
    5.0 out of 5 stars The title says it all - loved it
    Reviewed in Australia on March 31, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Well I read this series backwards but that was fine. I loved that I got the 'now' for Caden and Rio in Chains Required then got to go back and find out how they got where they are. BL Maxwell has done an amazing job here of drawing the reader in and making you feel everything these two went through. To say they have had it hard is an understatement but to see them pull together and work through what is thrown at them at the same time as learning to trust each other and those around them was done in a way that was very real and written in a way to keep you turning the page to get that amazing ending of it all coming together.
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  • Sarah Bates
    5.0 out of 5 stars So sweet
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is the sweetest story of two struggling boys who find each other and make everything better. Well written, likable characters that you quickly care for, this is the first in a series I want to read more of.
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  • エミねむ
    4.0 out of 5 stars So many kisses, so many ”I love you”ｓ
    Reviewed in Japan on August 22, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Audible版を含めてのレヴューで、”cute" "sweet" という形容詞が付いていたけれど、粗筋を読んだら、この状況でどうやったらそんな話になるのだろうと疑問に思った。

    息子がゲイだという理由で非常にも路上に捨て去る父親(両親）ーーー男らしくて強い父親にとって、息子がゲイだというのは、自分の傷みたいに感じるのかもしれないけどーーーというのが、小説とかに割とよく出てくるのにはびっくりした。この話も1960年代のストーン・ウォールの時代ならまだしも、同性婚が合法になって数年がたったカリフォルニアの町というから、驚きではある。
    片やそんな両親に捨てられて路上生活を余儀なくさせられていたCadenと、両親がいきなり国外追放になってしまって、幼い弟妹の面倒を一人で見なければならなくなったRioが偶然出会う。二人ともまだ17歳の高校生。
    このどん底の状態でどうやったらーーーというわけで冒頭の感想になるわけだけれど、ーーー読んだ結果すごく納得した。
    ともすれば共依存的な関係に陥る危険性はあるのに、2人ともが「家族」のために自分にできることを精一杯頑張って、それぞれに自立した大人になっていく。その過程で、互いへの愛情が育まれていくのは、読んでいて感動もしたし、幼い弟妹達もそれぞれに性格が書き分けられていて、存在感があったしで、とても良かったのだけど、どう考えても17，18歳位の男の子が言うようなセリフかな、というのが多すぎて、途中から辟易しだした。この部分だけはどうにも現実性が無いようで、逆に冷めてしまって、星ー１。
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  • Vania
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a beautiful, heart-warming story!
    Reviewed in Italy on January 15, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I absolutely adored Caden and Rio, from the very first moment they met to everything they go through together. They are so young and yet so strong, and so caring and giving!
    The story starts when they are both 17 years old: Caden has been kicked out by his parents for being gay and is living on the streets; Rio is left in charge of his baby siblings and is doing his best to jostle parenting, finishing high-school and a job to keep a roof over their had and food on the table.
    I love that the book has no unnecessary drama, because the hurdles that these two sweet guys have to overcome to begin with are hard enough without adding more to it! But, as the title suggests, they are better together, they find help and strength in each other and they create a wonderful family based purely on love, if not blood!
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  • Little Lucy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Young, but lasting love
    Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Two 17 year olds met and worked together to care for Rio's siblings. They fell in love and it happened slowly and made you feel that this was a love that would last. Their story was beautifully written and I highly recommend it.
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