YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults nominee , 2023
A March/April 2023 Kids Indie Next Pick
One of Buzzfeed's "18 Trans Books to Look Out For in 2023"
One of Seventeen Magazine's "11 Most Anticipated Young Adult Books of 2023"
“Exuberant…building nuanced characters with relatable problems, high emotional stakes, and earnest first love, Underhill delivers a delightful triumph.” –Publishers Weekly (starred)
“A sweet queer love story sure to delight any YA rom-com fan.” –Booklist
“A warm, optimistic transgender coming-of-age and queer romance.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Underhill nails every element here, from the wit to the romance to the fun and supportive cast, and you'll definitely be cheering by The End.” Buzzfeed
“Underhill brings nothing but joy to [this] tender romance.” –PopSugar
“This book promises joy and it delivers! [An] all-around endearing trans coming-of-age story.” –Book Riot
“A beautiful story of love, identity, discovery, and redemption....[recommended for] readers looking for authentic trans voices.” –School Library Journal
“Uplifting, filled with trans joy and a healthy heaping of existential angst, Always the Almost shines with tender self-discovery, nuanced characters, sweet prose and ends up hitting all the right notes.” –The Nerd Daily
“Filled with sparkling joy, tender hope, and resounding heart, Always the Almost is an ode to finding yourself, your people, and your own power.” —Adib Khorram, award-winning author of Darius the Great Is Not Okay
“Always the Almost is a warm-hearted coming of age story about the complexities of friendship, romance, and overcoming adversity both on and off the stage. A virtuosic masterpiece.” —Phil Stamper, bestselling author of As Far as You’ll Take Me
“Deeply witty, romantic, authentic, and above all, triumphant. Edward Underhill is unquestionably a debut to watch.” —Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer
“An unapologetic story of a trans boy finding love that never shies away from just how messy love can be; this stunning debut made me laugh and then broke my heart into pieces before putting it all back together again.” —Mason Deaver, national bestselling author of I Wish You All the Best and The Ghosts We Keep
"Edward Underhill has composed the perfect piece to tug on your heart. Miles's journey coming into his own shows us that love can take many forms: love of your friends, love of your passions, love for a special someone, and most importantly, love for yourself. Always the Almost is music for the soul!" — Jason June, author of Jay's Gay Agenda and Out of the Blue
“Always the Almost is an empowering, beautifully-written story about rewriting your life, living your truth, and finding joy. Filled with wisdom and warmth, it’s a book that will touch your heart!” —Bill Konigsberg, award-winning author of The Music of What Happens
“This gem of a debut novel exquisitely renders the complexity of friendship, love, and family. It elevates the joy one finds when truly and fully accepting all of who you are, but mostly it's a heart-thumping, great read of a romance. I loved Miles and his journey. You will, too.” —Jaye Robin Brown, author of The Meaning of Birds
“Taking a deep dive into identity and the multi-faceted struggles of being trans in a world that struggles to keep up, Always the Almost is a coming of age story full of heart and heartache that illustrates the power, freedom, and joy of refusing to deny your most honest self.” —Emery Lee, author of Meet Cute Diary and Café con Lychee
“Always the Almost is a thoroughly delightful debut. A nuanced portrait of a trans teen’s coming of age, this book illustrates the deep impact of finding the right mentor, accompanied by pitch-perfect Midwestern queer vibes. An ode to joy.” —Miel Morland, author of It Goes Like This
2022-11-16
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)