Introduction
Book Name- Almost The always
Author Name- Edward Underhill
Genre- LGBTQ+ Romance, Fiction
Language- English
About The Author
Edward Underhill grew up in the Wisconsin suburbs, where he couldn't walk to anything, so he had to make up his own experiences. As a child, he began writing (pretty awful) tales, and in his teens, he penned his first (also very bad) novel. He presently resides in California, where he makes music (mostly for cartoons) by day and tales by night, which aren't as horrible as they used to be.
As a queer trans guy, he is interested in novels in which queer and trans children may discover themselves. If you're one of those kids, he vows you'll always have a place in his novels.
ALWAYS THE ALMOST, Edward's debut novel.
About The Book
Miles Jacobson, a sixteen-year-old trans boy, has two New Year's resolutions: 1) reclaim his ex-boyfriend (and football team star) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally defeat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest's largest classical piano competition. That, however, will not be simple. For one reason, Shane ended their relationship two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane is stubbornly avoiding him, even when they actually bump into each other.
Miles' new, rather intimidating piano instructor also constantly reminds him that he "doesn't know who he is"—whatever that means.
Then Miles meets Eric Mendez, a visibly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks for his pronouns, cares as much about art as he does—and makes his tummy quiver. That's not what he needs to be thinking about right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date in order to get an invite to a couples-only Valentine's celebration, the fake becomes genuine with a kiss, which was also not planned. If only Miles could figure out why Eric adores him.
After all, he's not exactly cool, confident, or at ease in his own skin. He's not even skilled enough at piano to command the respect of his peers, especially now that he's Miles. Nothing has ever been easy for him. He’s only ever been almost enough.
Personal Review
ALWAYS THE ALMOST is a gripping and moving YA contemporary. Miles recently came out as trans, and while he believes he is being true to himself, he is concerned about how others perceive him. While his parents appear to be supportive, his mother is overjoyed to have a son but wishes he wasn't homosexual, and his father no longer speaks to him and instead leaves feminist literature for him.
His best buddies are wonderful, but they are also dating, making Miles feel like a third wheel. His ex-boyfriend is especially a raw area, as he broke up with Miles after he came out to him, and Miles is having difficulty shutting those sentiments off - he feels that he owes him something.
Miles has certain intentions for the new year, including convincing his ex to give him another chance and winning the piano competition, where he always comes in second to Cameron, a particularly arrogant and unpleasant musician. Everything is on the line this year for scholarships that will allow him to attend college for music as well.
Then there's Eric, a new student at school who looks easy to get along with when they meet in the auditorium as Miles practises on the piano. They become fast friends, and when they pretend to date in order to receive an invite to the major Valentine's dance, they quickly find they have feelings as well. Miles is incredibly welcoming of Eric and almost ideal; on the other hand, is still dealing with residual feelings for Shane. Simultaneously, he is working with a daunting new piano teacher to capture himself and his feelings in order to shine at the next tri-state competition.
Miles and Eric, of course, are both terrific characters. Miles' problems were very real and fascinating. He is struggling with cyberbullying from rivals, as well as the difficulties of high school romance, making errors, and clashing with friends.
He might be selfish at times, but he truly cares and wants to do the right thing, and this comes over in the tale. It's difficult not to recognise bits of him in yourself and want the best for him, even if it's not the best he sees right away. Eric is another interesting character who is suffering from his own bullying trauma.
He is welcoming and powerful, and I enjoyed watching him engage with his younger sister, Nina, who has Down Syndrome. He offers a secure atmosphere for Miles, which Miles desperately needs, and he is such a generous and compassionate guy. His storyline was subordinate to Miles', but I like how his tale progressed as well.
There are some really great, thought-provoking themes in the story about friendship and what it truly means, the critical importance of accepting people as they are, finding your joy, LGBTQIA+ rights, making mistakes and owning up to them, falling in love, being true to yourself and the joy that comes from being authentic, and all the challenges of being a teen, such as parental expectations, plans for the future, and all the challenges of being a teen.
Written By- Greeshma Chowdary
Edited By- Nidhi Jha
%20(1).jpg)
0 Comments