Half an Apple — Halyna Vdovychenko

At the heart of the story are four friends (Galina, Irina, Marta, and Louise). They are completely different in personality, profession, and life circumstances, but they are united by a strong, long-standing friendship. They meet regularly in cozy Lviv cafés to share their joys and worries.

The women’s lives change dramatically when an unusual object—a wooden apple shaped like half a fruit—accidentally finds its way into their hands. This souvenir, crafted by a talented artisan, turns out to be magical. It has the power to fulfill the deepest, even unconscious desires of whichever friend holds it.

Each of the heroines has her own secret dream or pain:

Some long for love and the comfort of family life.

Some seek professional recognition and creative fulfillment.

Some are trying to come to terms with their past.

The magical half-apple passes from one friend to another in turn, setting off a chain of amazing, sometimes funny, and sometimes dramatic events that force each of them to rethink their lives.