A Measure of Us

Hi, loves ♡

Welcome to A Measure of Us.

This is only my second novel, so pressing publish on another completely new story feels equal parts exciting and terrifying. But when I saw Inkitt’s Lessons in Longing 2026 contest, I couldn’t resist throwing another story into the world.

And somewhere along the way, Aurelia Whitcomb and Maksim Bennett happened.

A Measure of Us follows two musicians at Bellamont Academy who couldn’t have arrived there more differently. Aurelia was practically born into its halls—an old-money legacy, a flutist, and someone who has spent her life surrounded by opportunities. Maksim arrives as a transfer student and recipient of Bellamont’s prestigious Monte Gail Scholarship, carrying little more than an extraordinary relationship with a piano and a determination to prove that he earned his place there.

They are competitors.

Eventually, they might be something else.

But one thing will not change:

There can only be one Laureate.

This story will follow them through two years of college, music, competition, friendship, family, growing up, falling in love, and figuring out who they are outside of everything that has always defined them.

And because I apparently enjoy making my own life difficult, I haven’t decided who wins the Laureate.

Seriously.

I don’t know. 😂

Aurelia doesn’t know. Maksim doesn’t know. Neither of them is getting handed the title because they’re the main character, and there will be no convenient tie. When we reach that stage, one of them will win because they earned it.

So we’ll find out together.

This story is a slow burn. We’re going to actually spend time at Bellamont. We’re going to know these characters, their friends, their families, their ambitions, and the lives they’re building before rushing them toward the finish line.

There will be romance. There will be competition. There will be mistakes, ridiculous amounts of musical stubbornness, some very adult moments later on, and probably more longing than either of these two would ever willingly admit.

Most importantly, this isn’t a story about love making someone smaller so the other person can shine.

Aurelia and Maksim are going to push each other to become better.

And then they’re still going to try to beat the hell out of each other.

With love, of course. ♡

Thank you for giving my second book a chance and joining me at the very beginning of this one. A Measure of Us is being submitted to Inkitt’s Lessons in Longing 2026 writing contest, and I’m incredibly excited to see what this story becomes as we make our way through Bellamont.

So...

Welcome to Bellamont Academy.

One competition. One Laureate. And absolutely no losing on purpose for love.

— M.L. Delune