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Armand Meintjes Buy Almost

Armand Meintjes

The Book

The story, a look inside, the details, and how to get your copy.

The book

Almost isn't just a love story.

It's about first love, yes. It's also about friendship and identity, about anxiety and depression, about loneliness, and about the fear of losing someone by telling them how you really feel. And underneath all of it, about hope: the stubborn kind.

  • First love
  • Friendship
  • Identity
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Loneliness
  • Hope
  • Growing up
  • The fear of losing someone by telling them how you really feel

What happens when the person you want most only sees you as a friend?

The story

Jamie Carter is seventeen, and he has become very good at keeping parts of himself hidden. At Ashford High he gets through the days quietly: overthinking every conversation, carrying anxiety and depression, and caring far more than he ever manages to say.

Then there is Ethan.

Ethan is funny, warm and a little chaotic, the kind of person who makes any room feel easier to be in. Around him, Jamie feels something he does not quite know what to do with.

And Ethan does not feel the same way.

Not yet.

Almost lives in the in-between: the friendship Jamie is afraid to lose, the things that can't be said out loud, and the small, stubborn hope that feelings can change. It is about being close to something you desperately want, and learning that sometimes "not yet" does not have to mean "never."

Some stories begin with a kiss.

Some begin with a friendship.

Almost begins with a question:

What if?

Inside Almost

A few short passages, shared when they are ready.

Real life wasn’t like that. Real pain learned how to smile. Real pain
answered, “I’m fine,” without hesitation. Real pain sat beside friends
at lunch and laughed at jokes while quietly wondering whether anyone
would still be laughing if they knew the truth.

“Some characters spend an entire novel searching for that answer.
Others spend their whole lives pretending to be someone they aren’t
because they believe the truth won’t be accepted.”
- Mrs. Williams, English teacher

Oddly enough, Jamie had discovered that silence wasn’t
uncomfortable when it was shared with the right person.

Instead, change had arrived slowly. One ordinary day at a time. One
conversation after another. One laugh. One shared silence. One
friendship that had quietly become something Jamie couldn’t imagine
living without.

Jamie had spent years hiding parts of himself from the world. He had
become so used to pretending that it almost felt natural. Smiling when
he wanted to disappear. Saying he was fine when he wasn’t. Laughing
at jokes while trying to ignore the storm inside his own head.

Cover of Almost, a YA coming-of-age novel by Armand Meintjes

Book details

Title
Almost
Author
Armand Meintjes
Genre
Young Adult Contemporary Fiction
Pages
Approximately 201
Release
Language
English
Country
South Africa
ISBN
978-1-0483-3709-9
  • Young Adult
  • Contemporary Fiction
  • LGBTQ+ Romance
  • Coming-of-Age
  • Mental Health / Emotional Fiction
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Almost releases on 31 January 2027. Reserve your copy now and pay securely through PayFast.

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Total
R409.99

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Questions

What is Almost about?

Almost follows Jamie Carter, a 17-year-old navigating depression, anxiety, loneliness and the confusing emotions of growing up. When he starts to develop feelings for his friend Ethan, who does not feel the same way (not yet), the story becomes about identity, friendship, vulnerability and hope. It is not a simple romance.

Who is Almost for?

Almost is a young adult contemporary novel for anyone who has ever felt like too much, not enough, different, confused or lonely, or who has been waiting for something that might never happen. It deals honestly with depression, anxiety and loneliness, so please read it gently.

Is Almost based on a true story?

Almost is fiction, inspired by real emotions and experiences from Armand's life. Names, details and circumstances have been changed, but the feelings behind the story are real.

Where can I buy the book?

You can buy Almost using the links in the Book Details section.

When is Almost released?

Almost officially releases on 31 January 2027.

Will there be another book?

Yes. Almost is intended to be the beginning of a larger story, and the next story is titled Always.