Anya and Milka are best friends coming of age in the Soviet Union in the 1980s as the country opens up and then crumbles. As members of the perestroika generation, Anya, Milka, and their classmates have a unique vantage point within the Soviet consciousness. They are old enough to have lived under the Soviet Union's iron fist but young enough to have hope for the future as new leadership and policies signal change to come. At home, Anya's parents and grandmother talk frequently about the hardships of the Second World War, life under Stalin, and argue over the foundations of the Soviet Union. Amongst friends, however, Anya and Milka experience a life freer than the ones of her parents when they read banned books, listen to Queen, learn English, and talk about traveling the world. But even within this friend group exists a microcosm of Soviet political conflict - one friend argues for change and eventually protests the 1991 coup while another who benefited during the height of the Communist era argues for stability. As Anya and Milka enter young adulthood, the Soviet Union begins to collapse, and so too do the lives and dreams that Anya and Milka have built together. The Orchard is Gorcheva-Newberry's debut novel, and in many ways it mirrors the experiences her own life. Above all, however, this is a book about a beautiful friendship navigated through the dangerous waters of circumstance, politics, and hardship beyond control.

A Masterpiece debut novel by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry. It is a timely novel considering what is happening in Ukraine. I truly have a book hangover, and I will definitely be suggesting The Orchard to my book club in May when we pick books to be read from June-May of next year. This book is described as a coming of age novel but I think it is so much more. The author introduces us to two young girls. The book is told from the point of view of Anya Putova who lives in a three room apartment with her parents and grandmother. Her parents have university degrees. Her friend is Milka Putova who lives with her mother and step-father. Her dad was killed in a car accident when Milka was a baby. Growing up together, these two experiment with life. Milka travels with Anya’s family to spend time in their small dacha where her family has an apple orchard. Set against the background of Breschnev, Andropov, Gorbochov, Chernenko, to Putin, the reader watches the girls grow up with most of the time spent their junior and senior years in high school. So many emotions felt while reading. I did gloss over some of the teenage sex scenes.

I particularly liked the senior class trip to the Baltic Sea, the scene with Anya and her grandmother where the grandmother tells Anya about what happened in the siege of Leningrad, and the scenes with Anya and Petya. Part II of the book takes place twenty years later in the US which finds Anya married to an American and Anya returns home for a few weeks to help her parents figure out how they can save their Dacha being sold. The Orchard is a novel that this reader will not forget and one that will be read again. My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own

Excellent book! This is the story of four young people growing up in Moscow during the last years of the Soviet empire, "Generation Perestroika." Many books coming out about Soviet life portray the hardships, paranoia, and oppression of the Soviet Union. In this book, those elements are there but take a back seat to teenagers struggling with issues typical of teens in the West as well. They fall in love, have sex and drink behind their parents' backs, run off in cars, and hang out by themselves in a rural dacha.

The book also includes a story of a teen sexually abused by her step-father and the awful fallout from that situation. People die, and the survivors are scared for life. The book ends with the age of the oligarchs, as the state assets are bought up by individuals and fortunes are made, while most of the population remains very poor.

This book was written before Putin's invasion of Ukraine. There are lines in this book which are prescient, almost foretelling this war. Many lines will make you wince, knowing what comes next.

Beautifully written, highly recommended.

The Orchard opens with a gorgeous description of childhood innocence/paradise. There are very clear connections with The Cherry Orchard by Chekhov, well before the name and title dropping begins. I struggled, though, because it is neither close enough nor different enough from the play.

Additionally, the “less than innocent” components are unnecessarily crude/vulgar, bordering on the gratuitous, distracting from the other elements of the work. The pacing is similarly extreme, either very slow or hurtling at breakneck speed.

The book comes in at a solid ok for me. I doubt I will be seeking our others by this author or using this one in my classes. Thank you to Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

When we think of the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, it's with the kind of excitement that we viewed the fall of the Berlin Wall a few years earlier--wow, those Soviets must be itching to be free, to travel, to not have to stand in line to buy anything, to have more options! In Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry's excellent novel "The Orchard," we see a different response. Primarily a book about friendships, they are friendships forged during a period that Soviets saw as frightening rather than thrilling.

Anya and Milka have been friends almost from birth. Milka's father died when she was a child, and after her mother remarries she spends most of her time at Anya's with her friend's scientist parents and grandmother who survived the Blockade of Leningrad during WWII. The family has a dacha only 30 minutes from their Moscow suburb, and the girls spend lazy summers in a rustic place with an apple orchard. They grow into teens who love Freddie Mercury and the Soviet rockers of the time. They get boyfriends whose named Trifonov and Lopatin, whose personalities shadow those of characters with similar names in their favorite play, Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard."

This is a beautifully written book that will embrace you from the first page and take you on a journey of love and longing. These kids are like teenagers everywhere but the swirl of change around them makes them like teens from nowhere else. Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry is an exciting new voice and I look forward to her next novel.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for digital access to this remarkable book.

The Orchard
by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books
genre: Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction

This is a coming of age story about four Soviet teenagers as they face the loss of their country and their friendship. The book is in the genre of literary fiction and women's fiction. This is a complex book, and readers should be aware of the strong language and sexual references.

The Orchard reads like a diary. We see the world of Russia thru a young girls eyes during the 1970s and 80s. Anya and Milka yearn for a joyful life. But life under the Soviet Regime seems dreary. Together with their boyfriends they rebel in their small ways and argue about literature, politics and sex. The collapse of the Soviet Union changes their lives almost as much as the death of one of their group. Fast forward 20 or so years and Anja is an American returning to her country. Seeing all the changes and finding the answers to some questions in her past help her move forward in life. This is not a happy book but I was very drawn to the characters and learning about Russia through them.

Gorcheva-Newberry’s novel is a sad, beautifully written debut, set in the 1980s, during the collapse and dissolution of the Soviet Union. I enjoyed learning about that time, as most books that I have read occurred either before or after this. Reading the book now, as Russia is attempting, by force, to rebuild the Soviet Union, was especially interesting and heartbreaking. Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard is woven throughout the book, deepening and enhancing the themes of friendship, power and loss.

The book started out slow for me. The first 30% of the book is a coming-of-age story, focusing on the friendship between Milka and Anya, and I had a hard time finding the rhythm. But after Lopatin and Trifonov were introduced, the pace quickened, and I flew through the rest of the story. Gorcheva-Newberrry is a talented writer, and I look forward to reading more of her books.

My thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in any way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this exploration of two friends living in 1980's Soviet Russia; I loved the time jump with Anya, who later comes back to Russia. Overall, the novel was quite sad but very moving. It was also inspired by Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. I really enjoyed seeing Anya explore her identity and what it means to from a specific place.

The Orchard
by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry
Pub Date: March 15, 2022
Ballentine
Four teenagers grow inseparable in the last days of the Soviet Union--but not all of them will live to see the new world arrive in this powerful debut novel, loosely based on Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard.
Happy Publication Day!~
Thanks to the author, Ballentine, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I would really like to listen to it.
Don't miss reading the author's note.
I think the best word I can use to describe this book is melancholy. There was such a deep sadness throughout. While there is sometimes beauty in sadness, but really had to push myself to get through it.
3 stars

The Orchard by Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry is a coming of age story set in the final days of the USSR. Anya and her best friend, Milka, try to envision a free and hopeful future for themselves, like the one they are told happens in America. They spend their summers at Anya’s family dacha (country house) outside of Moscow and exploring the apple orchard there. When they are fifteen, the Soviet Empire is on the verge of collapse, they begin to spend time with two male classmates, Petya and Aleksey. Together, the four friends discuss history, politics and forbidden books, as well as share secrets and desires. As the world is changing, they soon find that their time together is drawing shorter and shorter. When the family’s apple orchard is threatened, Anya realizes that memories do not fade as they are the connection from our past. Inspired by Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, The Orchard chronicles the lives of four Soviet teenagers as they struggle to survive.
I was intrigued by the premise of teenagers during the last years of the Soviet Union. However, the story was very slow and I found myself drifting as I read. There was no beauty or poetry to the language used as the story did not flow. There was a lot of showing and not telling. All the characters are flawed; however, I found myself not caring about them or their growth, if they had any growth at all. There was a lot of focus on sex and the descriptions of their bodies. While I am not a prude, the vulgarity of the language used was shocking and a turn off. While inspired by Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, any parallels between the play and the book were lost on me as I have not read The Cherry Orchard. I may read The Cherry Orchard and return to The Orchard to reread to find more similarities, symbolism and meaning. However, right now, it was a book I found hard to read.

The Orchard is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

DNF

I kept reading this until I just couldn't anymore. I could see what was coming and I knew I just couldn't go there.
This book would be a tough read at any time [most books about or set in the U.S.S.R/Russia usually are], but right now, given the current events, its an extremely hard sell. There is just no happiness here; even when the girls are at the dacha and swimming in the river etc, there is little happiness in their lives. And it doesn't take a detective to figure out what is going on and that it is going to end in tragedy.
I ended up stopping at 44% when I realized that I was dreading reading this every day. It was just overwhelmingly sad and I already have so much of that in my life. I am disappointed as I was looking forward to this book, not really knowing what it was about. I give full props to those who could finish this - they are much stronger than I am.
I DID give this 2 stars and here is why; this rating is simply because in the midst of the slowness and plodding and blatant vulgarity, there were real gems here - some beautiful sentences and writing and that is what kept me going until I just couldn't anymore.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry, and to Random House Publishing House/Ballantine for asking me to review this book and providing the ARC to do so.

Anya tells the story of her life and friendships in Moscow during the 1980s and beyond in this novel I almost put to the side due to current events. Don't do that because you will miss a well written and thoughtful tragedy with prescient commentary, especially during the arguments between Anya's parents. Anya and Milka meet as first graders. Anya is a loved daughter and granddaughter whose family owns a small dacha with an orchard while Milka lives with her mother and despised stepfather. The plot is pinned to actual events (deaths of various leaders, Samantha Smith and so on) but what stands out is the devotion of these two girls to each other and later to Trifanov and Lopatin. Life in Moscow isn't easy but the dacha provides light for everyone, not only in the form of apples but also in a sort of freedom. It's a coming of age story, for sure, and know that there is a surprising (at least to me) focus on sex- not steam, there isn't steam, but there's a fair amount of thinking about it. It's the small things that shine through-the birthday party, a special Christmas present, the debates about Chekov. Don't worry, btw, if you've not read Chekov for years, or never read him for that matter, but you might find yourself heading off to pick up his work. There's a lot of darkness here- a lot (no spoilers)- but it's enlightening. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Wonderful read.

The story takes place in USSR in the 1980's, best friends Anya and Milka try to envision for themselves a free and joyful feature for themselves. They spend lazy summers at Anya's dacha just outside Moscow lazing in the apple orchard listening to Queen songs and fantasizing about trips abroad in the lives of American teenagers. Meanwhile Anya's parents talk about world war II the blockade the hardships they endured.

By the time on Tanya and Milka reach 15 the Soviet empire is on the verge of collapse. The pair up with two classmates Trifonov and Lopatin. The four talk about forbidden songs, forbidden books, history, and politics.

The second half of the book shows Tanya in America. Married and has been away from Russia for ten plus years. She received a emergency call to come back to Russia as someone wants to purchase the dacha. Tanya goes back to Moscow and confronts her past. With Milka stepfather, Lopatin, and her own father.

"Your the who blames America for all the worlds sins.' The mother says.
"Not all but many. Just like they blame us." The father says.
"Americans don't give a dam its Russian propaganda." Tanya says.
"Propaganda you think the Russians are too stupid to know it just like everyone else Americans want to expand their territories in Ukraine and Georgia why so they can build military bases there station troops along the border to surround Russia and weakend our borders." Father says

Tanya has become Americanized.

The overall story was lazy not much structure to it there's a lot of sex and whatever teenagers do. In this case drink and smoke. The second half of the book is bad. Things felt rush. Tanya I've been gone for 10 plus years and she thought that she could just waltz right into Moscow and fix everything. Sometimes you just need to let things go.

This was really a coming of age story told through the eyes of Anya, but she has always been with her best friend, Milka. Both have turned 15. Life is at an uncertain path, and her grandmother lived through the wrath of Stalin and raising her Mother under that environment. To have friends or family suddenly disappear was expected. Anya’s mother is a romantic at heart, but also teaches Anya not to expect much from life. Anya’s mother and father have a running commentary of political debate. The mother is more open to change, but in a dour and pragmatic way. Her father, is a true believer in the Communist cause and is very reluctant to see any change occur, even as he lived under oppression.

So, Anya and Milka are the new generation. At a young age each is looking for fun, adventure, boyfriends, and sexual experience. Although, I think the intense friendship bond was well displayed and could relate to that experience at that age, it did drag a bit for me. Talks here, there, and everywhere while sneaking a smoke got a bit repetitive. They meet classmates, Trifornov and Lopatin who become Anya and Milka’s boyfriend. The four are now always together as the girls start to experience a more adult oriented life. They love singing, ‘We are the Champions’ by Queen, long to see American Movies, wear Levi’s and want something bigger out of the world. Yet, there is a divide, as they also cherish the old, especially going to the country, Dacha, we’re gardens are grown and large Apple Orchards blossom. This is where the parallel to the Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard comes into play. I have not read the book, but think it represents that The Apple Orchards we’re the old life and if they are ever taken away, life will never be the same. This is where Anya and Milka spent their childhood and her parents most enjoyed being. Her grandmother would also come each season. This is also where the Grandmother tells Anya a shocking secret about survival.

So, Russians are thought to culturally not express emotion, not smile, and not expect life to work out. Yet, each generation has lived through so much. Anya’s seems the most promising as Generation Perestroika, having grown up in the 80’s, except she saw constant change of leadership and values for the Soviet Union. Then the Soviet Union completely collapses. In this atmosphere it is hard to have a childhood, as most young people may want change, to get educated, to go abroad and possibly stay in another country, but a part of theme longs for home, wherever that home was. It really is a story on one level of growing from a child into an adult, and wanting to always have your best friend by your side to do this. Underneath this is a feeling of loss for country, for friends who either leave or some awful things happen to, for a sense or identity when your ‘home’ seems to have lost one. It made me much more aware of the experience many faced in the Soviet Union. It was not all positive. Yet there is much darkness, but also light. The Russians do not want to lose hope completely.

Overall, a compelling book and so timely in understanding the Russian mindset. Putin was referenced many times as Anya in 2005 goes back to visit her parents. Some think he will bring former glory back, others certainly do not, but it’s another very different leader who plays by his own rules.

Thank you NetGalley, Kristina Gordneva-Newberry, and Ballentine for an ARC of this book.

Beautiful book based in Russia beginning in the 1980s with Andropov as the leader of the country to Putin. This was particularly interesting timing as just two weeks ago, Russia has invaded Ukraine.

I loved reading about the feelings and struggles and joys of these Russian characters as they live through so many leaders and their imposed changes in such a short amount of time. This book doesn’t shy away from pain and heartache and the author describes characters in a way that makes them incredibly relateable. I love novels with complex relationships and this book
has them. Perfect for a book discussion group a lots to discuss about the plot as well as about the recent history of Russia. It’s a wonderful book and I’m so grateful to Ballantine for the advanced Copy.

I had a hard time with this reading during the start of the Russian invasion into Ukrain. Then I just read it as a book of the Russian people and their survival as just people. This is a book about loss- of your country, your family and your friends. Anya and Milka are two young ladies who are best friends and what that relationship costs, because there is a cost for every relationship. Milka wants to read and live. Anya follows along and assists. It’s about their families and being children in Russia, and young teenagers. They have two friends, Lopatin and Trifonov. Lopatin is the heavy handed drinker, not studious, but caring for his friends. Trifonov is the thinker, reader with bad asthma that totally limits his abilities. The four do life together in their Russian town.
This is not an uplifting book except in the sense of what you get from the relationships. They are soul mates all four. The caring for each other is astounding and so real. Life is hard but their love is the binding agent. This is based on the life of the author, Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry. Written as if a memoir of her life but is fiction.
Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine books for this book.
# NetGalley #BallentineBooks #PenguinHouse

The premise to this novel sounded so interesting, but I found the writing to be too simplistic for my tastes.

The Orchard is a coming of age story that begins in 1980's in the USSR. Four friends share experiences and dreams and then a tragedy changes all of their lives. This book is filled with grief, sadness, and heartache. There were parts I found incredibly hard to read, but this story of friendship and loss is one that will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.

A story of friendship, family and heartbreak. Anya and Milka are two friends who grow up in Russia. The story catalogs the events that shape them. The political events that take place within the country and around the world that impact their social and economic status. There is poverty and violence associated with the events that shape the future. The author does a good job of explaining how it all comes together for the survivors.