I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

It’s the early 90s in a post-Soviet Union Russia and two men are soon faced with dealing with their childhood memories. Gor is being plagued by some strange goings on in his home while practicing for a magic show and making new friends and Tolya wakes in a sanatorium with no memory of how he got their. He soon meets a student doctor who is happy to listen to him talk about his childhood.

This book was a nice, heart-warming read that eventually makes you appreciate having the people in your life and all the oddballs as well. A majority of the characters are a little bit eccentric and have their own little quirks that are shown throughout the story and it gave the book a nice, whimsical feel. The ‘villain' in this book was also great, and really had me infuriated at them throughout and eager for their comeuppance.

The writing flowed really well and I definitely got easily sucked into the story. I read big chunks of it without even realising i had read so much in a short space of time. This is a book, story and characters you can lose yourself in. This is a character-driven story in my opinion, so people who like those quiet stories that bury their way into your heart will love this. Also anyone who loves a story set in Russian or full of Russian people. All the people in this book for the most part grew up in the Soviet Union and under Stalin’s rule so that was interesting when they talked about their childhoods.

Weird side note: All of the names in this book are just beautiful and I loved reading them all in full. One of those weird things that just made me happy.

This is good book for people who like quiet, heart-warming stories about loneliness and companionship and what the simple act of listening and being there for someone can do for people who are in desperate need of it. I recommend to people who liked A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.