Oh my, oh my—this book is an emotional roller coaster. It’s such a tenderhearted love letter to the making of art, to found family, and to finding yourself along the way.
Tiller grows up in a small town in Tennessee. His mother died when he was a baby, and his father is an absent alcoholic. Thankfully, he has his wise, protective older brother, Smith, who loves him fiercely. But this is the late 1960s, and the Vietnam draft comes knocking.
Somehow, almost randomly, Tiller finds himself through puppetry. He sees a puppet show at church and is completely entranced. Growing up on an apple farm, he doesn’t know much beyond farming apples, but that chance encounter changes everything. Before long, he’s off to 1977 New York, where he finally finds his people, his found family.
I’m not even sure how this book will be marketed…romance? historical fiction?…but it is one of the most purely beautiful stories I’ve read. It’s coming-of-age, grief, friends-to-lovers romance, and a shining example of how art can save people. This is one of those books you have to put down just to cry.
When Tiller declares his love for Julie… wow. Some of the most beautiful prose I’ve read in a long time. If I wasn’t already married, I’d be stealing lines from this for my wedding vows.
I almost never read books written by men, but my goodness…Jeff Zentner is an absolute artist.
The book is written like a documentary about a 1970s puppet show called Imagine Nation. Think The Muppet Show, but aimed more at teenagers, helping them navigate life. It didn’t run long, but it built a huge cult following. Most of the narrative is Tiller looking back, telling the story of how it all happened, and it’s just… beautiful.
By far the best historical romance of 2026 and one of my favorite novels of the year.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. I can’t wait for everyone to read this when it comes out in November.
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