Member Reviews

this was better than i expected. i really like the cover as well, very eye catching at a first glance. i think that the plot started a little bit slower, more so than I think would be ideal. however it was good ultimately

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- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- this was a story filled with trans joy and moments of pain, but the characters made you want to root for them. there was an aspect i didn’t like, and that was the cheating plot (why do we need those) but overall, i really enjoyed this story!

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Such a great book. Great to see trans rep in a YA book! It does touch on some harder/darker subjects so check the content warning before you read!

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SWOONY. Ok I loved this book. the trans joy that is on full display here is so lovely and had me tearing up at moments. The characters and story felt so real and genuine. I feel like I would go to the ends of the earth for Miles and Eric and Rachel and Nina and Stephania and jsut wow.

I really need more people to read and fall in love with Miles' story and friends and family so that I can gush about them constantly.

I just finished and already want to start it over again. A big fat 5 stars and I'm already excited to see what else this amazing author publishes in the future!

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Thank you to netgalley for an e-arc of Always the Almost.
This was such a solid young adult novel - the writing was strong, the story so full of joy, the plot and characters all so well written and interesting. The side characters were all so well developed
overall, this was such a great book, and i look forward to more from the author

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This is a sweet and heartfelt queer YA romance. The book was filled with queer (particularly trans) joy and self-discovery. Any instrumentalist or teen at the top of their field will relate to Miles and his piano-playing ambitions. And anyone who has ever still had a crush of their ex, wanted a relationship who wasn't right for them, or fallen for someone unintentionally, will be able to relate to the romance.

This is certainly a book I will recommend to teens who like reading romance.

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Far too late for me to be leaving a review here, but this is one of my new favourite YA novels! I absolutely loved seeing Miles grow more confident in himself and get to experience queer and trans joy. Truly such a treat of a book.

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This was an interesting story about a trans pianist struggling with coming out and revealing that they are trans. It notes the struggles with how people changed their relationships with him, how they addressed him and the derogatory comments that were associated with determining that they wanted to live their life as their true self. It sometimes comes off a bit whiny, but overall it covers the issues and struggles that people in these situations might face. It's not a light subject to cover, but I believe it was well done.

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This was actually my first book with a side character with Down syndrome and I just loved it... Unabashedly queer and trans rep as well. There isn't much that I can say besides read the book because it is a must read.

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My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC. This is my honest review.

Always the Almost is a romance, a coming of age, a story about being true to yourself, finding your place, and persevering.

The blurb gives us a great synopsis.

Miles is an engaging character. His POV is approachable, relatable, and touching. He's finally determined to live his life true to himself and who he is, but he has some relationship issues--his dad and his former boyfriend--that leave him troubled.

He's also a spectacular pianist who is preparing for one of the biggest competitions of his life..

He meets new kid, Eric, at the right time and right place and their relationship grows from friendship to something much more. Eric is everything Miles needs and wants and Eric cherishes who Miles is in a way many around him do not. I appreciated Eric so much. He's a wonderful character and the chemistry between Eric and Miles was significant.

The piano competition story that runs through the book is well done. Stefania, Miles new piano instructor, is an intriguing and compelling character--brusque, determined, intimidating, and deeply caring. The other piano competitors are delineated characters, not melding into the background but feeling unique and recognizable.

Miles's two best friends create some tension in the dynamic and have some relationship issues of their own. They are handled fairly well overall, perhaps could have benefitted from a bit more characterization.

Miles's ex, who broke up with him when he transitioned, certainly could be an antagonist here and in some ways he is, but the author eventually gives us a nuanced view at his perspective and the emotions and confusion that he is struggling with as he attempts to move from boy friend to simply a friend. There are some bumps in the road for that too, and some questionable choices made by the characters but it is believable for their age and situations. It was overall handled well.

This was an engaging read, with relatable and interesting characters. The relationships felt realistic and I think this was a great queer YA story with a trans protagonist.

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Always the Almost is a story about feeling like we're always one step away. A step away from being the love, being the chosen one, the winner. Almost good enough, almost the person we are meant to be. From that premise alone, I was smitten. It's this universal feeling. This heartbreak, this yearning, this feeling of loneliness. But what Underhill does is delivers a story about love and joy. It's not just a love story, it's also a story about embracing ourselves.

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This could have been a really cute, queer story about a trans boy, his piano competition and his friends, but the author's choice to introduce a controversial conflict later on in the story left a bitter taste in my mouth and made it difficult to enjoy the ending.

As a rule, in YA it's better to just not have a cheating storyline in the story at all and this story decided to have two of them. What's worse is how badly they were handled, with Miles turning into a self centered asshole and even telling his friend, who is a lesbian that was cheated on that she should be happy, because the girl her girlfriend cheated on her with had come out? He the proceeded to call her hysterical.

Overall I'm glad for Miles and his friends that they were able to move past this, but I couldn't. I love messy queer people but Miles come across as toxic, and I found myself wishing that his friends simply ditched him after his actions. The story could have been such a happy, positive story of being trans without the conflict.

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This book will have you cheesing. You will feel those warm fluttery butterflies long after putting this book down. It is just happy, comfort fluff, and I loved it.

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Always the Almost is a great fluffy romance palate cleanser when you’re not looking for anything too dark or troubled. It’s that light in that shines through the sun and makes you remember that ah yes, things can be good.

I loved how easy this was to read through and how the music was as much a part of the story as Miles and Eric were. While I didn’t play the piano, I was in band and I felt Miles’s nerves like my own waiting for solo and ensemble.

I do wish the whole Shane mess wasn’t a thing and felt a bit like a third act breakup cop out but I understood the story needed a bit more drama to shake it up.

I did however, enjoy the trans part of this story. It felt so authentic but not in a traumatic way. It was just there because that’s all it had to be.

Overall a good read and something I would recommend to someone looking for a cute, quiet YA romance!

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I'm not going to rehash the story because the blurb does a great job of that.
I will say however, if you are looking for a book that will keep you smiling long after you finish it...this is that book!

Its one of those YA books that really talk about growing into yourself and not being afraid to be who you are.

Yes, there is some infidelity in the book, but its handled in a really sensitive way, almost to the point where you can understand WHY it happened.

Thank you so much to St. Martin and Negalley for the ARC!

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Thank you NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the review copy!

This book is soo cute, extremely fun to read & very enjoyable🤍
Really like it🧡🤍

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I loved this so much!! Miles’s story is going to be so important for trans (and queer) teens. As a main character, Miles was messy and three-dimensional. At the end of the day, I really rooted for him. His trans identity was an aspect of his story, but Miles was also just a wonderfully crafted, well-rounded protagonist. I liked the side characters as well - Edward Underhill’s character work was definitely the best part of this novel. ALWAYS THE ALMOST is a standout YA debut.

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Real rating 3.5

I love music and books when they’re paired together. So it was no surprise when I added this to my TBR. (And let’s be honest, the cover is also cute sooooo lol) I was super excited to get to this one. I pre-ordered on Audible, but I didn’t listen to it right away. Good thing too, because it was the perfect book to read first for the #TransRightsReadathon!

So starting with what I wasn’t fond of… The plot. I’m usually a fan of books and music, but when that’s ALL it’s about? And when the music is classical? Yeah I needed a bit more. After a bad few years in middle and high school, I cut myself off from classical music. I still have a few songs I listen to, but that’s it. So basically I was hoping there was more than just the piano competition happening. I just wanted more if that makes sense. I know it’s a coming of age, but it was just a bit slow and about something I wasn’t really into so it took me a minute to get into.

BUT it was also really, really good at everything else. Like the characters! I loved Miles! He was really so smart, and I imagine he was also a really great pianist. But he was also the embodiment of trans joy! Throughout the stories he goes through a lot to find himself, but once he gets there he has a shift in who he is. I felt it happen as I read it. Like my heart twinged a bit. And that’s always how I know I enjoy something. When I have a real life feeling from just reading the book.

The romance itself was also cute. I wished there had been a bit more about them together, but I also understood that this was a coming of age novel instead of strictly a romance. Which actually made the romance in this more special to me. Idk it felt like more because it didn’t happen until Miles was ready. When he really came to himself and knew who he was. Idk maybe it’s the romantic in me, but it was like the embodiment of “you can’t love anyone else until you love yourself” kind of vibe. I’m sure he wasn’t exactly loving himself yet, but he was learning and on his way to being there. And yes, I wanted more them and less Shane if you know what I mean. That second to last scene with Shane shouldn’t have happened. And I don’t like how Shane just did it. He didn’t ask or anything. Not a good look.

This was good but it was missing a small bit of something for me. Maybe it was just my expectations? Whatever it was I wasn’t all the way sold. I wanted a bit more umph? I know it’s a me thing, but again, this is just my opinion.

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Thank you to Wednesday books for this eARC! I had such an amazing time reading this story. Always the Almost is the story of Miles, a recently-out trans boy pianist, who is preparing for a piano competition while also reeling from a breakup and trying to define his own identity. This book promises from the very beginning to be full of trans joy and to deliver the happy ending that so many queer books do not contain. Edward Underhill comes through on both fronts. That is not to say that the story is without conflict or depth, it is almost a relief to know that this boy will get all of the happiness he deserves. After reading this, Underhill will be an auto-read author for me, and I can't believe that this is a debut novel. I want to leave this review with one of my favorite quotes from the novel, "I am the crashing chords of joy. I am the reaching, searching melody. I am the cascading arpeggios and the waves of scales and the pounding octaves. I am queer. I am trans. I am full of joy."

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What a cute fun time!!

I absolutely adored this book! This book is pure joy! I’m so happy this is a Young Adult book because queer kids need this book.

Miles is such a good MC, I want to give him the world! Every character has flaws and struggles, but that’s what make them feel so real and so amazing!
I will never experience what Miles went through, but this gives me insight to that experience. He is searching for who he really is and where he belongs.

I think this also shows real aspects of high school, unexaggerated. I enjoyed how all the relationship and romance aspects were intertwined with the plot and not the main focus. Eric is a cutie and I love him.

The whole piano plot line was so fun! His piano playing being a part of the self discovery journey was so fun and smart. I 100% had a crush on his piano teacher.

I hope queer kids find this book and love it!!

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