[Review] Always the Almost - Edward Underhill

Summary: 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? (Pub Date: Feb 14 2023)

 

It's not a dramatic book, don't worry. But it was still painful to read all that Miles had to go through as a trans boy. On the other hand, Eric is vert fluffy and cute and I loved him and his art.

3+

I don't understand a thing about piano or classical music, so I I had to take the narrator's word to be true. Still, those parts were very cool, it transpired how much Miles loved his music, even if things didn't come easy for him. (That doesn't stop him from not being that likeable a character to be honest)

This was a nice book to read, talking about how much you need to sweat for your passions and being true to yourself, the deep stuff, but also with fun tropes like fake boyfriends. I also liked the part with the ex-boyfriend, even if it was a bit heartbreaking, at least it wasn't black and white. It's not memorable, and it may take you time to see the book's worth. However, it's a good coming-of-age story with a cute romance.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 3 out of 5.