Always the Almost

Available
4.9/5.0
21,000+ Reviews
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Product Details
Price
$20.00  $18.60
Publisher
Wednesday Books
Publish Date
Pages
320
Dimensions
5.5 X 8.5 X 1.2 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Hardcover
EAN/UPC
9781250835208
BISAC Categories:

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About the Author
EDWARD UNDERHILL (he/him) is a queer trans man who grew up in the suburbs of Wisconsin, where he could not walk to anything, which meant he had to make up his own adventures. He began writing (very bad) stories as a kid and wrote his first (also very bad) novel in his teens. In college, he studied music composition, before earning a master's degree in film music composition. After a few years living in very tiny apartments in New York, he moved to California, where by day he writes music and by night he writes stories, which aren't as bad as they used to be. When not doing either of these things, he's probably gardening or hanging out with his cat. Always the Almost is his debut novel.
Reviews

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