[How it Works](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up Always the Almost Edward Underhill Save to Your Books [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/107860/9781250835208) [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250835208?tag=orlandoreads-20) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Queer as Books A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution on a frozen Wisconsin night to win regionals and win back his ex, but a new boy complicates things in Edward Underhill's heartfelt debut YA rom-dram, _Always the Almost_. Sixteen-year-old trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Year’s resolutions: 1) win back his ex-boyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane McIntyre, and 2) finally beat his slimy arch-nemesis at the Midwest’s biggest classical piano competition. But that’s not going to be so easy. For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shane’s stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other. Plus, Miles’ new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that he’s playing like he “doesn’t know who he is”—whatever that means. Then Miles meets the new boy in town, Eric Mendez, a proudly queer cartoonist from Seattle who asks his pronouns, cares about art as much as he does—and makes his stomach flutter. Not what he needs to be focusing on right now. But after Eric and Miles pretend to date so they can score an invite to a couples-only Valentine’s party, the ruse turns real with a kiss, which is also definitely not in the plan. If only Miles could figure out why Eric likes him so much. After all, it's not like he’s cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin. He’s not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles. Nothing’s ever been as easy for him as for other people—other boys. He’s only ever been almost enough. So why, when he’s with Eric, does it feel like the only person he’s ever really not been enough for...is himself? Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Queer as Books [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 31](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [🏳️‍⚧️ 30 Trans Books to Read All Year 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/TVz8wynkKCqWg1axSvBr/) Because every story matters. 🩵🩷🤍 * * * 30 books 6 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 20 2025](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Book Recs 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/HAFW7kiE3nvZvc7TZ3Dn/) Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon starting on March 21st! * * * 15 books 1 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 18 2025](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [🚀 Early Access 🚀 Trans Book Recs 🏳️‍⚧️ 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/vhqijAdnPuxT9tj12CAl/) Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon that starts on March 21st and all year! * * * 15 books 1 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Nov 20 2024](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [YA Book Recommendations](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/oJZuut7bjiNC9lz0JPXG/) * * * 16 books [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Nov 20 2024](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [Queer YA Books with Romance](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/Eg0dVicfWm2VpA9EHXhq/) * * * 18 books Posts about this book from across Bindery [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 31](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) \\ \\ Join for free or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/TVz8wynkKCqWg1axSvBr/) [🏳️‍⚧️ 30 Trans Books to Read All Year 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/TVz8wynkKCqWg1axSvBr/) Because every story matters. 🩵🩷🤍 * * * 30 books 6 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 20 2025](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [🏳️‍⚧️ Trans Book Recs 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/HAFW7kiE3nvZvc7TZ3Dn/) Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon starting on March 21st! * * * 15 books 1 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Mar 18 2025](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) \\ \\ Upgrade for $5 or login](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/vhqijAdnPuxT9tj12CAl/) [🚀 Early Access 🚀 Trans Book Recs 🏳️‍⚧️ 📚](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/vhqijAdnPuxT9tj12CAl/) Perfect for the Trans Rights Readathon that starts on March 21st and all year! * * * 15 books 1 [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Nov 20 2024](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [YA Book Recommendations](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/oJZuut7bjiNC9lz0JPXG/) * * * 16 books [Queer as Books\\ \\ José\\ \\ • Nov 20 2024](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/) [Queer YA Books with Romance](https://queerasbooks.binderybooks.com/item/Eg0dVicfWm2VpA9EHXhq/) * * * 18 books [Ezeekat Press\\ \\ Jaysen\\ \\ • Mar 14 2023](https://ezeekat.binderybooks.com/) Join for free [Honestly I think this one is on him. 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