{"product_id":"always-the-almost-hardcover","title":"Always the Almost - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEdward Underhill\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA 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, \u003ci\u003eAlways the Almost.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSixteen-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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen 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. \u003ci\u003eNot\u003c\/i\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003enot\u003c\/i\u003e 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 \u003ci\u003eboys\u003c\/i\u003e. He's only ever been \u003ci\u003ealmost\u003c\/i\u003e enough. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSo why, when he's with Eric, does it feel like the only person he's ever really not been enough for...is himself?\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEDWARD 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. \u003ci\u003eAlways the Almost \u003c\/i\u003eis his debut novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 320\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.2 x 8.5 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e February 14, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42725331501119,"sku":"9781250835208","price":24.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/d5f9558f9264669990c6f4e8290ec731.webp?v=1765106136","url":"https:\/\/dhlswag.com\/products\/always-the-almost-hardcover","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}