Always the Almost
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Description
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?
Book Information
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I am Miles Jacobson. I am trans. I am queer. Not almost. I just am.
Eine wunderbare Geschichte über Selbstfindung, Identität und Sexualität. Ich habs auch als Reread wieder geliebt, Miles Weg mitzuverfolgen und seine Entwicklung zu sehen. Besonders gefällt mir der Fokus aufs Klavierspiel und die Verbindung zum eigenen Selbst. 🥰💛 Miles ist ein Charakter der Fehler macht und aus ihnen lernt. Er lernt aber vor allem auch sich selbst kennen und schätzen. Das ist so so schön. Und Eric war ebenfalls ein toller Charakter, von dem ich gern noch mehr gelesen hätte. Ach, und ein Hoch auf Stefania, ich feier sie!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy for review. Miles is a 16-year-old trans boy who is wanting to win back his ex and annihilate his rival in the upcoming piano competition. What he wasn't expecting was Eric. But is Miles so super focused on revenge and winning back his ex that he can't see what's right in front of him? I truly loved this book. It is very well written and is such an excellent book for everyone to read. The author isn't shy about putting on paper the thoughts along with the internal and external struggles that Miles is going through as a newly out trans boy in high school. I felt for him and wanted to just wrap him in a hug and take on his battles. I definitely recommend this for anyone.
Description
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?
Book Information
Posts
I am Miles Jacobson. I am trans. I am queer. Not almost. I just am.
Eine wunderbare Geschichte über Selbstfindung, Identität und Sexualität. Ich habs auch als Reread wieder geliebt, Miles Weg mitzuverfolgen und seine Entwicklung zu sehen. Besonders gefällt mir der Fokus aufs Klavierspiel und die Verbindung zum eigenen Selbst. 🥰💛 Miles ist ein Charakter der Fehler macht und aus ihnen lernt. Er lernt aber vor allem auch sich selbst kennen und schätzen. Das ist so so schön. Und Eric war ebenfalls ein toller Charakter, von dem ich gern noch mehr gelesen hätte. Ach, und ein Hoch auf Stefania, ich feier sie!
**Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy for review. Miles is a 16-year-old trans boy who is wanting to win back his ex and annihilate his rival in the upcoming piano competition. What he wasn't expecting was Eric. But is Miles so super focused on revenge and winning back his ex that he can't see what's right in front of him? I truly loved this book. It is very well written and is such an excellent book for everyone to read. The author isn't shy about putting on paper the thoughts along with the internal and external struggles that Miles is going through as a newly out trans boy in high school. I felt for him and wanted to just wrap him in a hug and take on his battles. I definitely recommend this for anyone.