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chronicacademia's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Homophobia
Minor: Xenophobia and Racism
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Miles only made two New Years Resolutions this year: win back his ex (Shane), and finally beat his arch-nemesis at the state-wide piano competition. The first is proving difficult, since Shane broke up with Miles after he came out at trans. And now, Shane won't even acknowledge his presence--or answer his text messages. And it's distracting him from his piano.
However, when Miles meets the new kid in town, Erik, he feels an almost instant connection. After all, he's one of the first people to immediately ask Miles his pronouns when they meet. They start an easy friendship that evolves into something more. But Miles doesn't get what Erik sees in him. To land the boy and win his piano competition, Miles has to learn to finally feel like enough for himself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of Always the Almost by Edward Underhill to review! From the moment I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this book. Plus, who doesn't love a good queer romance for the Valentine's Day season?
From the beginning, I loved the voice in this. Miles has just recently come out as trans, and he's still trying to get used to being out. He has two best friends who are willing to go to bat for him in pretty much anything. Does their friendship get messy because of romance in the book? Yes. But all teenage relationships kind of get messy. It's just a fact of life.
Miles and Erik also have a great chemistry, even though Miles is trying to work through his own insecurities throughout the book. He doesn't feel like he's worthy of someone like Erik, and his process working through this feels realistic throughout the book. And being able to build confidence in his piano playing. I loved his relationship with his new piano teacher, who helps him use his own identity to make his piano playing better. Plus, she shows him that there's more to music than just winning competitions, and we love to see it.
There's some great character development in this book too, from Miles's friends to his parents and even Erik's sister. There's a whole great cast of characters, and it's helps in making you want to fly through this book.
All in all, I couldn't put this book down once I started it, and I already want more from Edward Underhill! Can't wait to see what he does next.
However, when Miles meets the new kid in town, Erik, he feels an almost instant connection. After all, he's one of the first people to immediately ask Miles his pronouns when they meet. They start an easy friendship that evolves into something more. But Miles doesn't get what Erik sees in him. To land the boy and win his piano competition, Miles has to learn to finally feel like enough for himself.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced copy of Always the Almost by Edward Underhill to review! From the moment I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this book. Plus, who doesn't love a good queer romance for the Valentine's Day season?
From the beginning, I loved the voice in this. Miles has just recently come out as trans, and he's still trying to get used to being out. He has two best friends who are willing to go to bat for him in pretty much anything. Does their friendship get messy because of romance in the book? Yes. But all teenage relationships kind of get messy. It's just a fact of life.
Miles and Erik also have a great chemistry, even though Miles is trying to work through his own insecurities throughout the book. He doesn't feel like he's worthy of someone like Erik, and his process working through this feels realistic throughout the book. And being able to build confidence in his piano playing. I loved his relationship with his new piano teacher, who helps him use his own identity to make his piano playing better. Plus, she shows him that there's more to music than just winning competitions, and we love to see it.
There's some great character development in this book too, from Miles's friends to his parents and even Erik's sister. There's a whole great cast of characters, and it's helps in making you want to fly through this book.
All in all, I couldn't put this book down once I started it, and I already want more from Edward Underhill! Can't wait to see what he does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Transphobia, and Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Bullying, and Dysphoria
Minor: Sexual content, Misogyny, and Sexism
caseythereader's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Thanks to Wednesday Books for the free advance copy of this book.
- Oh my heart! This book! I love it! It's tender and prickly and full of confusion and love and passion.
- Miles and Eric are so sweet. I loved watching them figure out themselves and each other, even when they made silly teenagery mistakes.
- This book does have elements of transphobia and queerphobia, but it's ultimately about joy. Joy in yourself, in your hobbies, in your relationships.
- Oh my heart! This book! I love it! It's tender and prickly and full of confusion and love and passion.
- Miles and Eric are so sweet. I loved watching them figure out themselves and each other, even when they made silly teenagery mistakes.
- This book does have elements of transphobia and queerphobia, but it's ultimately about joy. Joy in yourself, in your hobbies, in your relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Infidelity, Bullying, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Cursing
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Sexual content
halfwaytoaugust's review against another edition
5.0
This is a fast favorite and let me tell you why.
Miles' boyfriend breaks up with him when he comes out as trans, but Miles has a plan to win him back. Not only that, but he wants to win the biggest piano competition in the Midwest. But will his plans stay on course when the new kid in school catches his attention?
This book is unapologetically trans. And it is amazing. We watch Miles socially transition by changing his name & pronouns, there are open discussions about binding & what Miles wants in the future regarding his transition, we see Miles struggle with dysphoria and find moments of euphoria, and there's even a character who asks his pronouns first.
But I want to put a warning out there for my trans friends - the transphobia is a bit heavy. We see it subtly within his family, explicitly on online forums, there are instances of misgendering, and Miles is referred to by his birth name in any pre transition parts of the book. Please be aware of this and if you need to, set the book down until you're ready.
Another reason I love this book is Eric. Miles and Eric are precious and deserve to be protected at all costs. I would have loved some more exploration with Eric's character & his relationship to gender (no specifics to avoid direct spoilers), or even another book dedicated to him would be ideal??
Anyway, everything was just done very well - the characters, the details, the conflict, the growth. I was hooked from the start and could not put it down.
Rep: trans MC, gay MC, pan SC, lesbian SC, Chinese SC, Latine SC, SC with Down Syndrome
CW: deadnaming, misgendering, transphobia, homophobia, racism, bullying, trauma, dysphoria, infidelity
Rating system:
5 - absolutely love, little-to-no dislikes that did not impact my reading experience
4 - great book, minor dislikes that did have an impact on my reading experience
3 - good/decent book but for some reason did not hook me or there were some problematic things that just were not addressed or greatly impacted my reading experience
2 - is either a book I did not click with and did not enjoy, problematic aspects are not addressed and severely impacted my reading experience, or I DNF'd but think it has potential for others
1 - is very problematic, I would not recommend the book to anyone
Thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected pub date: February 14, 2023.
Miles' boyfriend breaks up with him when he comes out as trans, but Miles has a plan to win him back. Not only that, but he wants to win the biggest piano competition in the Midwest. But will his plans stay on course when the new kid in school catches his attention?
This book is unapologetically trans. And it is amazing. We watch Miles socially transition by changing his name & pronouns, there are open discussions about binding & what Miles wants in the future regarding his transition, we see Miles struggle with dysphoria and find moments of euphoria, and there's even a character who asks his pronouns first.
But I want to put a warning out there for my trans friends - the transphobia is a bit heavy. We see it subtly within his family, explicitly on online forums, there are instances of misgendering, and Miles is referred to by his birth name in any pre transition parts of the book. Please be aware of this and if you need to, set the book down until you're ready.
Another reason I love this book is Eric. Miles and Eric are precious and deserve to be protected at all costs. I would have loved some more exploration with Eric's character & his relationship to gender (no specifics to avoid direct spoilers), or even another book dedicated to him would be ideal??
Anyway, everything was just done very well - the characters, the details, the conflict, the growth. I was hooked from the start and could not put it down.
Rep: trans MC, gay MC, pan SC, lesbian SC, Chinese SC, Latine SC, SC with Down Syndrome
CW: deadnaming, misgendering, transphobia, homophobia, racism, bullying, trauma, dysphoria, infidelity
Rating system:
5 - absolutely love, little-to-no dislikes that did not impact my reading experience
4 - great book, minor dislikes that did have an impact on my reading experience
3 - good/decent book but for some reason did not hook me or there were some problematic things that just were not addressed or greatly impacted my reading experience
2 - is either a book I did not click with and did not enjoy, problematic aspects are not addressed and severely impacted my reading experience, or I DNF'd but think it has potential for others
1 - is very problematic, I would not recommend the book to anyone
Thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected pub date: February 14, 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Dysphoria, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Racism, Homophobia, and Infidelity
hilwithonel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was... beautiful.
The prose were lovely while still having that YA approachability. All of the main characters were multi faceted. All the plot points were equally special: the music competition, Mile's identity, and the love story.
I can't personally speak to the challenges Miles dealt with as a trans male teenager but I can say that his heartbreak, his mistakes, and his growth were all just beautifully told.
Absolutely loved.
The prose were lovely while still having that YA approachability. All of the main characters were multi faceted. All the plot points were equally special: the music competition, Mile's identity, and the love story.
I can't personally speak to the challenges Miles dealt with as a trans male teenager but I can say that his heartbreak, his mistakes, and his growth were all just beautifully told.
Absolutely loved.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Minor: Bullying and Racism
ilana_banana's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria, Bullying, Homophobia, and Racism
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