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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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🧡🤍

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.

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.

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."

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!!

Absolutely loved this coming of age story. This did not disappoint or read like a debut and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future

I received an arc of Always the Almost from Netgalley! Thank you.

I loved the writing style was easy to read, and I love how Miles grew more confident in himself throughout this story. Eric was a sweetheart, and I loved seeing their relationship develop between them.

It was a joy to follow Miles on his journey to re-evaluate his life, his relationship with Shane, and his family

If I could sum up this book in one word, it would have to be joyous!! These characters in this book were enjoyable to read.

My first time reading from this author Edward Underhill, and I don't usually read this kind of story, but did enjoy it. Thank you.

If there is one thing I must say, it is thank you endlessly Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book.

Almost the Almost is a beautiful story that follows Miles, a trans pianist who recently came out. The story flows fluidity much like that of his identity as we explore the difficulty of coming out and looking for acceptance. Eric, a new student who befriends Miles, loves him for who he truly is, rather than the masks he has worn his whole life.

I loved the young and carefree queer joy of this story! The writing was often rushed and eccentric, but I feel this really added to Miles’ character and his rushed need to express himself through his music.

Edward Underhill truly speaks through these characters with heart and I can’t wait for everyone in the world to read this book! Thank you again Netgalley.

Absolutely show stopping! Loved this book cannot wait to recommend it to everyone I know. I haven’t been the biggest fan of ya contemporary in recent times but this one here definitely changed that

What a stunning stunning novel. It grasped the complexities of being a teenager, of being seen and ignored, of feeling loved yet unlovable, and more. I appreciated how nuanced Miles’s trans experience was and how despite not being similar to my identity was incredibly relatable nonetheless. I loved how the subplot of the piano competition was a perfectly paired supplement to this journey of self realisation. Amazing story!

A very sweet story about coming into who you are confidently while also finding love.

This book is chock full of things to love:
- unabashedly queer & trans
- full of joy despite pain (definitely check CW before reading) like finding your first suit
- queer friend group also learning to grow and change
- looks at a kid's relationship with their parents after coming out (even self-proclaimed feminist parents don't always "get it" fully)
- tropes: fake dating quickly leads to real dating
- full of creativity, art & activism
- beautiful portrayals of classical music and performance/competition
- first book I've read with a side character with Down Syndrome

Always the Almost is a story about a gay transformation teenager who's trying to learn about himself while preparing for a piano competition.

This was very cute and well done. Miles and Eric were very cute together while also being strong characters on their own. I enjoyed how their relationship wasn't the center of the entire book and Miles developed as a person not just because of Eric. My one gripe with this book is that there wasn't a scene of Eric and Miles discussing what happened with Shane. There is a period of "groveling" but Miles never really explains why he kissed Shane to Eric. The side plot of his friends Rachel and Paige was interesting but again it would have been interesting to see the actual scene where Rachel finds out about Paige cheating on her.
Overall this book was lovely. The representation was well done and the characters were throughly developed however the actual "drama" or climax of the story involving the relationship needed more added. Definitely recommend!

💡Disclosure: I received a free eARC of this book on NetGalley.

📖 I loved this very much. I don’t read a ton of YA contemporary at the moment compared to other genres, but I still pick up new releases from time to time because there is something so sublime about a perfect YA contemporary. This is one of those!

📖 These teenagers are pitch-perfect, trying to do right by themselves and the people around them and messing up and trying again. The friends-family-crush stakes are all spot on.

📖 For me, more of the tension came from the piano competition plot (…maybe because I read this during a huge competition I was doing in law school, 10 years older than Miles and a lot less practiced at competing??). I loved getting this look inside competitive piano. I knew a bunch of people in high school who played instruments in competitions, but except for the people in marching band, I had no idea what those competitions looked like. We get a ton of detail here about music, strategy, finding your voice as an artist—it was all hugely interesting, unexpectedly so to me, a completely un-musical person, lol.

📖 Identity is a huge part of this book, including Miles’s struggles and insecurities with his identity (though he comes out, socially transitions, and gets through initial stages of being out prior to the start of the book). I was glad to read all of Miles’s thoughts and feelings, and I look forward to filling out my shelf with more trans YA contemporary so I have a range of books to recommend, including books about identity and working through identity questions as well as books where that internal (and external) questioning is less present.

📚 All this to say, I loved this one, and can’t recommend it enough for readers of YA contemporary!

This was a solid read, kind of.

I thought it was a pretty decent read, great representation, and the writing was pretty good. Then there was some cheating, and then there was some more and I wasn't sure what to think of the book anymore.

I'm not coming into this book with a delusion that cheating shouldn't happen in fiction it was just a strange choice to have in the book, especially more than once. The coming age part is great but the cheating detracted from that, and yet I also see how sometimes teenagers can make these careless and impulsive mistakes.

I would still recommend this book, just be aware that if that is something you are vehemently against reading, maybe don't pick this up.

Oh wow I really enjoyed reading this!! The characters felt authentic and I really appreciated the diversity too. I t think teens will really connect with it.