Always the Almost: A Novel A trans pianist makes a New Year's resolution

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 this heartfelt debut YA romdram.

Sixteenyearold trans boy Miles Jacobson has two New Years resolutions: 1) win back his exboyfriend (and star of the football team) Shane Mc Intyre, and 2) finally beat his archnemesis at the Midwests biggest classical piano competition.

But thats not going to be so easy.

For one thing, Shane broke up with Miles two weeks after Miles came out as trans, and now Shanes stubbornly ignoring him, even when they literally bump into each other.

Plus, Miles new, slightly terrifying piano teacher keeps telling him that hes playing like he doesnt know who he iswhatever 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 doesand 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 couplesonly Valentines 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.

It's not like hes cool or confident or comfortable in his own skin.

Hes not even good enough at piano to get his fellow competitors to respect him, especially now, as Miles.

Nothings ever been as easy for him as for other peopleother boys.

Hes only ever been almost enough.

So why, when hes with Eric, does it feel like the only person hes ever really not been enough for.

is himself?