Always the Almost is a cute romcom coming of age queer musical story with such joy just radiating off the pages. It’s rare (at least in my experience) to find good queer books by queer authors and I’m beyond thrilled at having found this book. I love both Miles and Eric and I love how they’re not perfect, they’re flawed and still discovering who they truly are, who they want to be and how they work together. I’ve never experienced anything that Miles experiences in this book, but from a cis point of view it was written very well, written in a way was easy to understand for someone who’s never experienced that before. Miles is such a rich character, an absolute superstar and I will forever protect him. Another thing I loved was the romance mixed with the self discovery but not just for Miles and Eric but for the people surrounding them too. All in all a really beautiful read, one I’m so glad to have picked up!

Edward Underhill's debut is staggeringly good. Hearfelt and dreamy, I couldnt put it down so I didn't.

Miles is trans and a teenager. This brings such complexity to a chracter that it could've easily gone wrong. Underhill's skill as a writer layers each character with a sense of individuality especially queer realness.

Highly recommend for any YA reader interested in LGBTQIA+ stories full of joy and creativity.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was an incredibly sweet and wholesome read, but not so much as to be over the top saccharine happy.

Miles has his struggles: his gender identity, parents who strive to be accepting but don't totally understand, and an ex-boyfriend who dumped him two weeks after he came out.

Over all though, the characters are realistic, and well written. Miles' self doubts and angst is presented as pretty typical for a teenager trying to find their place in the world, but at the same time it did not dismiss the added element of his transness and the extra pressure that brings.

Eric's own self doubt and struggles with identity also ring true, and though their relationship is not without issues, it is thoughtfully presented and again, realistic to teenagers experiencing first love.

I would highly recommend this book to those interested in stories of first love, teens looking for stories of LGBTQ acceptance, and anyone looking for a happy ending!

This book was phenomenal! I devoured it over the course of a few days. I loved how true to life the story felt. Each character was incredibly developed and interesting. (Legit would read an ENTIRE book about Rachel...I hope one day there is one). LOVE LOVE LOVED this book. <333

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

This was honestly one of my favorite reads of this year. The way the author writes the characters just made me relate to them so much. I cannot wait until I can buy my own copy of this gem. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This is one of the most beautiful books I've read in a long time. It absolutely resonates with queer joy. I fell in love with Miles and his connection to music almost immediately (it seriously had me crying three chapters in) and got very, very invested in a fictional piano competition as a result. Also, Stefania is one of my favorite mentor characters of all time.

I swooned, I got misty-eyed. I loved every minute of this one!

There are so many things to love about this one! I'm not a musician but I could feel Miles love for music, for playing the piano, his dedication too! And I don't draw but you could feel Eric's creative streak and his struggle with his comic.

There were rainbow socks and bathroom brigades, there were dimpes and dancing waffles, there were kisses over pizza. This is a book with a transgender MC but that's not the story. It's a love story, a story about finding out who you are, what you stand for, and who you want to be. There were so many special moments to smile about and sure, some mistakes, but who doesn't make 'em, right? I loved all of them all even more for it! This book was so fun and so perfect. I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

this book deals with some serious topics in a very well written way. It was a very emotionally written book, so peep those content warnings if you feel you need to, but it was a great book to read!

thank you to the author and publisher for providing this ARC on netgalley for me to review

Always the Almost delves into serious issues—coming out as a transgender boy in the Midwest, healing from breakups with little closure, trying to figure out who you are in high school—but, from start to finish, this story is infused with joy, hope, and every form of love.

This book is deeply emotional, captivating, and so much fun. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

In true YA fashion, this book addresses big issues and topics in an easy to digest and relatable format.

I loved the writing of this book and loved all of the characters. I thought each character was truly and distinctly their own person, I loved the secondary story of the main character and figuring out how to tap into their purpose while playing piano. I loved so so so much about this book.

However, I wanted more out of the ending, which is why I took a star away. It's hard to describe what exactly I wanted from the ending- just that I wanted MORE. Although this book is still fantastic apart from my feelings about the ending.

This book was absolutely charming. Miles was a relatable, realistic character whose actions made sense, even when they infuriated me. Often, the conflict in realistic fiction, especially in romance, feels contrived, but this book avoided that. Each fight in the novel was the logical conclusion of characters' previous actions. Even when I disagreed with characters (I'm looking at Miles re: Shane), I understood them because their motivations were so well established in-text.

The romance and friendships were so sweet. Eric's character was truly fleshed out, which was refreshing given that many love interests are one-dimensional. That being said, I wish we saw more of his characterization in the first half of the book. I loved the way his relationship with his sister was written as well. While I cannot comment on the accuracy of the Down Syndrome representation for Nina, it delighted me to see disabled representation so casually and lovingly included. The growing romance between Eric and Miles was treated with similar care. Their halting steps and occasional stumbles into a relationship were both adorable and entirely believable for two high schoolers.

The writing style was a little simplistic, but this seemed appropriate for the age range and content matter of the book. It did not require flowery descriptions or vivid metaphors to get its point across.

Overall, I thorough enjoyed this novel!

This is Miles’ journey throughout his coming out as trans and gay. The story revolves around his quest to finally be himself and winning his ex back.
I loved the side characters so much because even if the book was not about them, each and every one of them had their own interesting storyline. I loved Rachel’s feminism, Eric’s artsy side, Shane’s evolution, etc. Surprisingly, the character I had less affinity with was Miles. I just could not see past how he treated Eric at first, almost using him to get over his ex.
The story was beautifully written, and the author’s reality showed through it. The characters were very realistic, the plot was not predictable without being over the top and Stefania as a piano teacher merits her own book (I loved her so much).
Overall, I really enjoyed the book and read it in almost one setting. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the trans experience or who just want to enjoy a cute YA novel.

This book was something that I wasn't expecting! I can't believe it's graced us with it's presence! We don't deserve it! I was hooked from the first page and the it's grip would not let me go! I loved every single second of it. The characters are memorable, the story is beautiful, and the ending had me in utter tears. This is one of the best books I have ever read and anyone reading this needs to trust that THIS BOOK IS IT! Buy it. Gift it. Devour it.

When I say this has been one of my most anticipated releases from debut author, Edward Underhill, that doesn't even begin to describe how hyped I've been for this book. So I might have shrieked just a tiny bit when I got the email with an ARC for this one. And I was kind of terrified - how could it possibly live up to all of my expectations?

Oh, readers, it did. And more.

Always the Almost is the story of trans pianist Miles Jacobson, having just recently come out to his friends and family and trying to achieve two very teenage New Year's resolutions: win back his ex-boyfriend, and defeat his arch-nemesis in the state's biggest piano competition. It's hard to focus on any of that, though, when there is also new-to-town Eric Mendez, queer cartoonist who is so kind and respectful and caring and...

Where Always the Almost is so magical is in how beautifully and messily it depicts teenage life. Miles is not a perfect character; he's a bit of a wreck who doesn't know what he wants out of life or romance or the people around him, and that is so very accurately teenager that even when you're frustrated with him as a reader, you understand exactly why he acts like he does. Yet, even through all of that, the angst and struggles that Miles faces in his life from his friends and family are never because of his trans or queer identity, and that was lovely to read. Of course there is queer angst in the story, but it's reserved for background and unnamed characters. More of the focus is on queer joy and discovering your identity and place in the community. The secondary characters are well-developed, especially Eric (who is so so SO lovely), and add interesting pieces to the story themselves.

Always the Almost is such a delightful read and I cannot wait for everyone to be able to get their hands on this debut novel!

This was an interesting take on a tougher subject matter. I loved it. The author is incredible and I was intrigued. Can’t wait for another.

I really enjoyed this book. As a musician, this story hit close to home. I felt that the author did a really great job at describing the music and emotions behind the music being played in the story. Miles felt like a well-developed character who made mistakes along the way. I wish that the side characters had a little more substance, but that wasn't something that took. away from the story.

Wow! I loved this story, seriously. A great romance story, a great emotional story, and an overall novel that brings some beauty to this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was the perfect queer contemporary coming-of-age story! Heartfelt, warm, and dramatic (in the best way), ALWAYS THE ALMOST follows Miles, a trans pianist, as he comes into his own while simultaneously trying to win back his ex, who he dated before coming out--but that plan goes awry when he meets Eric.
Underhill imbues this book with so much queer joy my heart melted. Though there are highs and lows & angst and miscommunication, the end result was something exceptionally wonderful. As someone who's going through their own stage of gender-questioning, Miles was an incredibly relatable and endearing protagonist to follow. I would definitely recommend this to others!

I have a lot of feelings about this book, some of them good, some of them not so good. In theory, everything about this book I should absolutely love. Miles, a trans pianist, is on a journey to become who they have always been. A cast of queer friends, an ex they want to win back, and a quirky artistic new love interest. But I honestly feel like the book was bogged down by awkward pacing, and weird dialogue that didn't feel like anything teens might actually say. The bright standout moments were the piano recitals where you could feel the pacing suddenly get into its groove and really show us how passionate and how fun the writing could be.

These are my own opinions of course and maybe I just wasn't in the right headspace while reading it but it just felt so messy. The drama in the last act of the book was - there - and then it all gets wrapped up nice and tidy (mostly) for the ending. I wish the book had leaned in more to its romantic side, I felt that Miles and Eric never really got to show off just how much chemistry they had and how much their bond really helped them both. It was told to us of course, but I felt like the book never gave enough space around these moments to really show it.

At the end of the day, I thought that this was an okay book with some promising ideas and characters. I'm glad so many other people who have reviewed it seem to have loved it though!

It was well written. Would be good for high schoolers.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.