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Apricots
Apricots is the tender and whimsical sequel to Tangerines, told once again through the unforgettable voice of Gilly.
A year after the forest night that changed everything, Gilly finds herself back at school, learning to write about the past, the present, and the things you hold onto.
When Monty, a guitar-playing foster teen, enters her life and shakes up her friendship with Oggy, Gilly must navigate grief, change, jam games, and the kind of love that doesn't always end the way she hoped.
With her signature blend of imagination and honesty, Gilly takes us on a journey filled with apricot pits, ghost prayers, almost-weddings, and the quiet strength it takes to accept what can’t be changed.
For readers who believe that sometimes, the best stories are the ones you write for yourself.
A year after the forest night that changed everything, Gilly finds herself back at school, learning to write about the past, the present, and the things you hold onto.
When Monty, a guitar-playing foster teen, enters her life and shakes up her friendship with Oggy, Gilly must navigate grief, change, jam games, and the kind of love that doesn't always end the way she hoped.
With her signature blend of imagination and honesty, Gilly takes us on a journey filled with apricot pits, ghost prayers, almost-weddings, and the quiet strength it takes to accept what can’t be changed.
For readers who believe that sometimes, the best stories are the ones you write for yourself.
- GenresFiction
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
11 people are currently reading
719 people want to read
About the author
Tsvi Jolles
6 books37 followersTsvi Jolles writes stories for young readers and reflective fiction for adults. His middle-grade novels explore imagination, loss, and belonging, while his literary work focuses on family, memory, and the quiet strangeness of everyday life. He lives in Georgia with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 20, 2025
Just letting my new book land softly here. The first reviews always take a little while. If you do read Apricots, I’d love to hear what you think.
August 25, 2025
Pencils, Ghost-Prayers and Love Help Build a Young Girl's Courage! We pick up, once more with Gilly, a year older, and once again facing new challenges with her notebook and pencil in tow! The diary-like format of the story takes us into her vivid imagination and how she handles the world around her. And much is happening in the world around her! From changes to her family situation, a new teenager's arrival in the neighbourhood, a challenging time with her friend Oggy, and another very different adventure in the forest, Gilly learns new lessons in growing up. When an accident hits close to home, Gilly's world is shaken, and she is tumbled into the land of loss and sorrow. She explores this new territory through her special way with prayers--and not least the power of writing--to gain courage in holding on to love, which keeps her strong, even when things fall apart and life takes unexpected turns. Beautifully written, tough and tender themes have been rendered with sensitivity and charm, and the quirky humor laced throughout the story lifts the heart all the while. Literary references and hints of magical realism add delight. How good it was to be back with Gilly, who seems like such a wise old soul in a young body! Her stories live long in the heart and mind after reading. I very much look forward to the further adventures of this bright young girl, her charismatic personality, and her budding literary ambitions!
September 11, 2025
The sequel to, Tangerines, we find ourselves back with Gilly a year later. I greatly enjoyed getting to read another book from her point of view and through the lens of child-like wonder and understanding. As circumstances changes and new challenges come up, its interesting to see how she processes the events and decides to respond. New friend, strong emotions, and eventually the loss of a parent, I look forward to reading more from Gilly's point of view as she continues to grow and experience life.
Thank you Goodreads for the e-copy.
Thank you Goodreads for the e-copy.
September 23, 2025
It’s nice to read a sweet and whimsical story as we follow Gilly on her adventures, and she has taken us again with her great imagination and perceptions through her writing.
With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co.
With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co.
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December 7, 2025DNF
This review is based on an ARC of Apricots which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Victory Editing Co-op).
As a DNF, I don't feel merited to properly review this novel, so I will keep this short. While I appreciate the creativity and imagination at play, I was wholly confused as to what was real and what was merely Gilly's imagination. Given that I did not read the previous novel in this series, I also struggled to place characters and their dynamics. Now, a little over a week later, I have but a faint recollection of what I read in Apricots, and no intention to return to it.
Maybe somebody will find this story endearing and enchanting. Personally, I would not recommend it as it was more of a brain teaser than a relaxing escape.
This review is based on an ARC of Apricots which I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher (Victory Editing Co-op).
As a DNF, I don't feel merited to properly review this novel, so I will keep this short. While I appreciate the creativity and imagination at play, I was wholly confused as to what was real and what was merely Gilly's imagination. Given that I did not read the previous novel in this series, I also struggled to place characters and their dynamics. Now, a little over a week later, I have but a faint recollection of what I read in Apricots, and no intention to return to it.
Maybe somebody will find this story endearing and enchanting. Personally, I would not recommend it as it was more of a brain teaser than a relaxing escape.
October 8, 2025
Apricots, the sequel to Tangerines, contains the diary entry follow ups from Gilly. She returns to school to write about memory, loss & growing up. When new friend Monty complicates her bond with Oggy, she learns to face grief, change & the imperfect way love can take shape. Whimsical & deeply honest, it’s a story about finding peace in what can’t be undone… and writing your own ending.
I loved this book as much as I loved Tangerines. I’ve said it once & I’ll say it again, this is a book that sticks with you.
I loved this book as much as I loved Tangerines. I’ve said it once & I’ll say it again, this is a book that sticks with you.
March 17, 2026
ITA
Torniamo da Gilly che adesso ha 11 anni.
Sia lei che Oggy diventano fratello e sorella: Gilly ha una sorella più piccola appena nata, Gilma, mentre i genitori di Oggy adottano un ragazzo, Monty.
Una seconda novità è che Gilly è tornata a scuola e una delle lezioni di cui parla sempre è quella di scrittura creativa.
Terzo vengono piantati degli albicocchi, in realtà dove Monty va lo precedono questi alberi.
Nel libro ho trovato tanti temi.
Uno è il concetto di famiglia: a volte la si intende in un solo modo, ma qui le famiglie di Gilly e Oggy, Monty stesso, mostrano che la famiglia è altro. Chi è il papà di Gilma?
Secondo tema è quello della morte, del lutto che viene introdotto parlando di un cimitero nelle vicinanze.
Terzo, il mio preferito, il rapporto che Gilly ha con la natura. Il suo bisogno di sentire gli odori della natura, il rumore del vento, abbracciare Orti, il suo albero per mandarini, per ricentrarsi.
Prima di scrivere questa recensione, avevo visto un video sull’effetto che ha un classico, il fatto che portano con sé una sorta di “bellezza”. Il content creator aveva detto qualcosa tipo “provate ad andare in un parco dopo aver letto di come Tolkien descrive gli alberi” e ho capito quello che voleva dire. (p.s a un certo punto Gilly legge Lo Hobbit) Le stesse cose che a me piacciono del rapporto con la natura è esattamente quello che descrive Gilly, la cosa che mi manca di più da quando abito in città è vedere un cielo stellato.
Infine, ma non meno importante, il tema dell’identità: chi sei? Da dove vieni?
Mi è venuto in mente questo tema perché Gilly cerca sempre di ricordarsi chi è suo padre, per non perdersi, e lo fa con i suoi libri, con una agenda dove scrive tutte le cose che si dicono mentre lei lo va a trovare. In un capitolo del libro incontra un personaggio che vive in una caverna e le regala un libro che scrisse suo padre, e lei scopre in quel momento che suo padre era uno scrittore.
Molto consigliato. Se qualcuno lo vuole tradurre in italiano, ne vale la pena.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.
ENG
Let’s go back to Gilly, who is now 11 years old.
Both she and Oggy become siblings: Gilly has a newborn younger sister, Gilma, while Oggy’s parents adopt a boy named Monty.
Another new development is that Gilly has gone back to school, and one of the classes she’s always talking about is creative writing.
Third, apricot trees are planted; in fact, these trees are already there wherever Monty goes.
I found many themes in the book.
One is the concept of family: sometimes we understand it in only one way, but here Gilly’s and Oggy’s families, and Monty himself, show that family is something else. Who is Gilma’s father?
The second theme is death and mourning, introduced by a mention of a nearby cemetery.
Third, my favorite, is Gilly’s relationship with nature. Her need to smell the scents of nature, hear the sound of the wind, and hug Orti, her mandarin tree, helps her find her center again.
Before writing this review, I had watched a video about the impact of a classic—the fact that they carry a certain kind of “beauty” with them. The content creator had said something like, “Try going to a park after reading how Tolkien describes trees,” and I understood what he meant. (P.S. At one point, Gilly reads The Hobbit.) The very things I love about my connection to nature are precisely what Gilly describes; the thing I miss most since living in the city is seeing a starry sky.
Last but not least, the theme of identity: Who are you? Where do you come from?
This theme came to mind because Gilly is always trying to remember who her father is, so she doesn’t lose herself, and she does this through his books and a journal where she writes down everything that’s said when she visits him. In one chapter of the book, she meets a character who lives in a cave and gives her a book her father wrote, and she discovers at that moment that her father was a writer.
Highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Torniamo da Gilly che adesso ha 11 anni.
Sia lei che Oggy diventano fratello e sorella: Gilly ha una sorella più piccola appena nata, Gilma, mentre i genitori di Oggy adottano un ragazzo, Monty.
Una seconda novità è che Gilly è tornata a scuola e una delle lezioni di cui parla sempre è quella di scrittura creativa.
Terzo vengono piantati degli albicocchi, in realtà dove Monty va lo precedono questi alberi.
Nel libro ho trovato tanti temi.
Uno è il concetto di famiglia: a volte la si intende in un solo modo, ma qui le famiglie di Gilly e Oggy, Monty stesso, mostrano che la famiglia è altro. Chi è il papà di Gilma?
Secondo tema è quello della morte, del lutto che viene introdotto parlando di un cimitero nelle vicinanze.
Terzo, il mio preferito, il rapporto che Gilly ha con la natura. Il suo bisogno di sentire gli odori della natura, il rumore del vento, abbracciare Orti, il suo albero per mandarini, per ricentrarsi.
Prima di scrivere questa recensione, avevo visto un video sull’effetto che ha un classico, il fatto che portano con sé una sorta di “bellezza”. Il content creator aveva detto qualcosa tipo “provate ad andare in un parco dopo aver letto di come Tolkien descrive gli alberi” e ho capito quello che voleva dire. (p.s a un certo punto Gilly legge Lo Hobbit) Le stesse cose che a me piacciono del rapporto con la natura è esattamente quello che descrive Gilly, la cosa che mi manca di più da quando abito in città è vedere un cielo stellato.
Infine, ma non meno importante, il tema dell’identità: chi sei? Da dove vieni?
Mi è venuto in mente questo tema perché Gilly cerca sempre di ricordarsi chi è suo padre, per non perdersi, e lo fa con i suoi libri, con una agenda dove scrive tutte le cose che si dicono mentre lei lo va a trovare. In un capitolo del libro incontra un personaggio che vive in una caverna e le regala un libro che scrisse suo padre, e lei scopre in quel momento che suo padre era uno scrittore.
Molto consigliato. Se qualcuno lo vuole tradurre in italiano, ne vale la pena.
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente.
ENG
Let’s go back to Gilly, who is now 11 years old.
Both she and Oggy become siblings: Gilly has a newborn younger sister, Gilma, while Oggy’s parents adopt a boy named Monty.
Another new development is that Gilly has gone back to school, and one of the classes she’s always talking about is creative writing.
Third, apricot trees are planted; in fact, these trees are already there wherever Monty goes.
I found many themes in the book.
One is the concept of family: sometimes we understand it in only one way, but here Gilly’s and Oggy’s families, and Monty himself, show that family is something else. Who is Gilma’s father?
The second theme is death and mourning, introduced by a mention of a nearby cemetery.
Third, my favorite, is Gilly’s relationship with nature. Her need to smell the scents of nature, hear the sound of the wind, and hug Orti, her mandarin tree, helps her find her center again.
Before writing this review, I had watched a video about the impact of a classic—the fact that they carry a certain kind of “beauty” with them. The content creator had said something like, “Try going to a park after reading how Tolkien describes trees,” and I understood what he meant. (P.S. At one point, Gilly reads The Hobbit.) The very things I love about my connection to nature are precisely what Gilly describes; the thing I miss most since living in the city is seeing a starry sky.
Last but not least, the theme of identity: Who are you? Where do you come from?
This theme came to mind because Gilly is always trying to remember who her father is, so she doesn’t lose herself, and she does this through his books and a journal where she writes down everything that’s said when she visits him. In one chapter of the book, she meets a character who lives in a cave and gives her a book her father wrote, and she discovers at that moment that her father was a writer.
Highly recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 26, 2025
Apricots is a quiet, thoughtful novel that lingers long after you’ve finished it. This is a story that doesn’t rush — it asks you to slow down, sit with the characters, and really feel the weight of memory, longing, and the moments that shape a life.
The writing is gentle but intentional, with small details carrying big emotional meaning. There’s a reflective quality to the storytelling that makes it feel intimate, almost like listening to someone share their life in fragments rather than a neatly packaged narrative. I really appreciated how much is said in what’s not spelled out.
This book is less about plot twists and more about human connection, memory, and the quiet ache of what’s been lost, missed, or misunderstood. It’s subtle, emotional, and beautifully restrained — the kind of story that makes you pause and think rather than race to the end.
If you enjoy literary fiction that focuses on interior lives and emotional truth, this one is absolutely worth your time.
The writing is gentle but intentional, with small details carrying big emotional meaning. There’s a reflective quality to the storytelling that makes it feel intimate, almost like listening to someone share their life in fragments rather than a neatly packaged narrative. I really appreciated how much is said in what’s not spelled out.
This book is less about plot twists and more about human connection, memory, and the quiet ache of what’s been lost, missed, or misunderstood. It’s subtle, emotional, and beautifully restrained — the kind of story that makes you pause and think rather than race to the end.
If you enjoy literary fiction that focuses on interior lives and emotional truth, this one is absolutely worth your time.
January 24, 2026
Oh my heart. Literally 1am and I kept telling myself, “1 more chapter!” as my heart was breaking. Really great book. Beautiful storytelling. I love the world through the eyes of a child with the biggest imagination. Then when real life hits, imagination and storytelling can’t undo it.
As with Tsvi Jolles’ other books, the artwork on the cover 100% sucked me in. It’s beautiful and gives the same vibes in the story throughout. I really enjoy how this author writes. It’s like I’m there. I already have another of his books ready to read and I can’t wait to start it soon!
I have to put a few of my favorite quotes because they hit just right…
“Prayers feel like they reach higher when you’re sitting in a tree.” (Love)
“The first one was awful, and I hoped my face wasn’t saying it.” (YES GIRL! RBF is real!)
“Instead of being mad, why don’t you play Give? (Give?) It’s a simple game. Just one rule: you offer something small and kind to the person you like the least. Somehow, it makes the bad feeling shrink. Like Magic. Or science. Or both.” (I think we all would benefit from this game.)
As with Tsvi Jolles’ other books, the artwork on the cover 100% sucked me in. It’s beautiful and gives the same vibes in the story throughout. I really enjoy how this author writes. It’s like I’m there. I already have another of his books ready to read and I can’t wait to start it soon!
I have to put a few of my favorite quotes because they hit just right…
“Prayers feel like they reach higher when you’re sitting in a tree.” (Love)
“The first one was awful, and I hoped my face wasn’t saying it.” (YES GIRL! RBF is real!)
“Instead of being mad, why don’t you play Give? (Give?) It’s a simple game. Just one rule: you offer something small and kind to the person you like the least. Somehow, it makes the bad feeling shrink. Like Magic. Or science. Or both.” (I think we all would benefit from this game.)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews