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Always the almost :

Title :

Always the almost : a novel / Edward Underhill.

Title:

Always the almost :

Author:

Underhill, Edward

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

307 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

ISBN:

9781250835208

Production / Publication Information:

New York : Wednesday Books, [2023]

Summary:

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson's New Year resolutions include winning back his ex-boyfriend and winning the Midwest's biggest classical piano competition, but when a new, proudly queer boy moves to town, Miles reconsiders who he was and who he is now.

Target audience note:

Ages 12-18.

Language:

English

Genre:

Novels.

Subject Term:

Transgender people -- Fiction.

Gay teenagers -- Dating -- Fiction.

Competition -- Fiction.

LGBTQ

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	TEEN FICTION UNDERHILL	31330009304894	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Amesbury Public Library	YA FIC UNDERHILL	32114002784883	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Burlington Public Library	YA UNDERH	32116003956048	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Dracut - Moses Greeley Parker Memorial Library	YA/FIC/UNDERHILL	31482003076174	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Haverhill Public Library	YA/UNDERHILL E	31479007599185	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Ipswich Public Library	YA FIC UNDERHILL, EDWARD	32122003020603	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lowell - Pollard Memorial Library	YA FIC UNDERHILL	31481005680215	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Methuen - Nevins Memorial Library	YA UND	31548003467306	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Middleton - Flint Public Library	Y UNDERHILL	32126001901755	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newbury Town Library	YA UND	32127001342446	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... North Andover - Stevens Memorial Library	TEEN UNDERHILL	31478010220631	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Rowley Public Library	YA FIC UND	32130001059861	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Tewksbury Public Library	TEEN FICTION UNDERHILL	32132003368795	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Westford - J.V. Fletcher Library	YA F UNDERHILL	31990005231357	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, Always the Almost.

Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year's resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest's biggest classical piano competition. But that's not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane's stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles' new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he's playing like he "doesn't know who he is"--whatever that means.

Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does--and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine's party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it's not like he's cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He's not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing's ever been as easy for him as for other people--other boys . He's only ever been almost enough.

So why, when he's with Eric, does it feel like the only person he's ever really not been enough for...is himself?

Reviews (3)

Publisher's Weekly Review

A trans teen pianist grapples with coming out, competition, and romance in Underhill's exuberant debut. Sixteen-year-old Miles Jacobson has two goals: beat rival pianist Cameron Hart in the Tri-State Piano Competition, and persuade his football player ex-boyfriend, Shane McIntyre, that he's still the same person he was before he came out as trans. Despite his enthusiasm regarding his plans, however, he struggles with his brusque piano teacher's insistence that his playing needs to have a personal meaning if he wants to beat Cameron. His desire to win Shane back is also complicated by growing feelings for Latinx artist Eric Mendez, a newcomer to Miles's small Wisconsin town who is immediately supportive of Miles's queer identity. A breakthrough with his concert piece leads to a successful preliminary competition round, but when Miles makes an relationship mistake that jeopardizes his budding courtship with Eric, he struggles to navigate myriad tertiary conflicts while trying to repair the romance. A beginning note promising a book "full of joy" lives up to that assurance; building nuanced characters with relatable problems, high emotional stakes, and earnest first love, Underhill delivers a delightful triumph. Most characters read as white. Ages 12--up. Agent: Patricia Nelson, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Feb.)

Kirkus Review

Sixteen-year-old Miles has two goals for the year: beat his rival at the Tri-State Piano Competition and win back his ex-boyfriend. Miles Jacobson, a White trans boy from Wisconsin, had been dating Shane McIntyre for a year before Miles came out and Shane broke up with him. He believes that if Shane really loved him, his gender shouldn't matter. But Miles' New Year's resolution to win Shane back is complicated by the arrival of Eric Mendez, a cute Latine guy who actually is queer and also likes Miles. As Miles works toward his piano goals with Stefania Smith, his demanding new teacher, a romance blossoms with Eric--even though Miles still has Shane on the brain. Underhill makes it clear in a preface that this is a joyful queer story, and it lives up to that promise. The book captures the delight of being not just accepted, but also understood--as well as the pains of being misunderstood. It celebrates Miles' real triumphs, from finding a suit that fits to mastering a Tchaikovsky concerto. Miles is likable and relatable as he tries to discover who he is on his own terms, not based on what others think of him. The author has chosen to include Miles' birth name prominently; this is uncomfortable but realistic for someone early in his transition. The supporting characters, especially Stefania, are well developed and bring life to Miles' world. A warm, optimistic transgender coming-of-age and queer romance. (author's note) (Romance. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

Miles has always loved (and hated) the piano. But with a high-stakes competition looming and his new teacher asking him to truly own the music he's playing, he's forced to confront who he is when he plays. That question is compounded by even bigger questions hanging over him--like whether his father will ever be completely comfortable seeing him as a guy, or if his ex, the football player Miles is still in love with, will realize that he's the same person he was when he went by another name. Complicating things is a new guy, Eric, who immediately accepts Miles for who he is. In his first novel, Underhill--himself queer and trans--doesn't shy away from tackling the very real struggles and bigotry trans teens face, while also simply letting them be kids in high school, navigating friendships, crushes, and whatever else life throws their way. Always the Almost is a sweet queer love story sure to delight any YA rom-com fan.