The Orchard

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Four teenagers form an unbreakable bond during the final days of the Soviet Union, but not all will witness the dawn of a new era in this poignant debut novel inspired by Chekhov's work. Growing up in the USSR during the 1980s, best friends Anya and Milka dream of a liberated future while spending summers at Anya's dacha near Moscow, enjoying the apple orchard, listening to Queen, and imagining life as American teens. Meanwhile, Anya's parents recount their struggles during World War II and the Blockade. As the Soviet Empire teeters on the brink of collapse, the girls, along with classmates Trifonov and Lopatin, navigate the joys and turbulence of adolescence. However, their time together is abruptly shattered by a sudden tragedy. Years later, Anya returns to Russia from America, having crafted a life distanced from her family and the bittersweet memories of her friends. Upon reuniting with Lopatin, now a self-assured businessman intent on purchasing her parents' dacha, Anya confronts the enduring nature of memory. She realizes it connects the past to the future, intertwining joys and sorrows. This compelling narrative explores the complexities of grief—whether for a dear friend, a lost ideal, or the fleeting nature of youth itself.