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A review by legalplanner
Always the Almost by Edward Underhill
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
First and foremost thank you to Net Galley, the author and publisher for my copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
A coming of age story about loving yourself, fighting for your dreams, and being true to yourself.
The authors note at the beginning of this book notes that not all stories are happy go lucky stories, and that this one may not be as well. The fact that this was gritty and not glossing over tough subjects was refreshing. Miles is in his final year of high school and all he wants is to win back his boyfriend and beat his arch nemesis in the piano competition. But when new boy Eric shows up everything changes.
This didn't feel like someone was writing about an experience that they hoped would be rainbows and butterflies but about an experience that is real--Especially for those coming out. That kind of representation in books is very important and necessary.
The author wove the teenagers experience perfectly with a hobby that doesn't always get the same love as sports: classical music. This addition made my heart sing as a piano kid. Their passion for piano and classical music showed that you don't have to be playing cool things to enjoy playing and wanting to be good. I think that Miles relationship with his piano teach played an important role in his discovery of who he was and is, and showing that in a cut throat world Miles had a place.
Eric and Miles relationship/friendship felt important to the plot in the way that Eric was just trying to be supportive of Miles regardless of who he is. I found myself crying and laughing with Miles and relating so much to this experience even as someone not walking the same path as Miles and that to me screams a successful novel. I think the title was super fitting because we all feel like we're almost in our own story.
This is a great LGBTQIA+ novel that shows that things can be hard when going through change but finding your people helps.
A coming of age story about loving yourself, fighting for your dreams, and being true to yourself.
The authors note at the beginning of this book notes that not all stories are happy go lucky stories, and that this one may not be as well. The fact that this was gritty and not glossing over tough subjects was refreshing. Miles is in his final year of high school and all he wants is to win back his boyfriend and beat his arch nemesis in the piano competition. But when new boy Eric shows up everything changes.
This didn't feel like someone was writing about an experience that they hoped would be rainbows and butterflies but about an experience that is real--Especially for those coming out. That kind of representation in books is very important and necessary.
The author wove the teenagers experience perfectly with a hobby that doesn't always get the same love as sports: classical music. This addition made my heart sing as a piano kid. Their passion for piano and classical music showed that you don't have to be playing cool things to enjoy playing and wanting to be good. I think that Miles relationship with his piano teach played an important role in his discovery of who he was and is, and showing that in a cut throat world Miles had a place.
Eric and Miles relationship/friendship felt important to the plot in the way that Eric was just trying to be supportive of Miles regardless of who he is. I found myself crying and laughing with Miles and relating so much to this experience even as someone not walking the same path as Miles and that to me screams a successful novel. I think the title was super fitting because we all feel like we're almost in our own story.
This is a great LGBTQIA+ novel that shows that things can be hard when going through change but finding your people helps.
Content Warnings
Minor: Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Transphobia
The content warmings are brief and not graphic but want people to be aware.