First published 2010
Two trailers sit in a strawberry field, one for men and one for women. The international crew of fruit pickers includes Irina, freshly arrived from Kiev, who won't speak to Andriy, a miner's son. There's Yola, the voluptuous team leader, with her niece Marta. Emanuel brings fervent Christian faith from Malawi. Tomasz wears stinking shoes. Two women are simply called Chinese Number 1 and Chinese Number 2. Life becomes a nightmare when Russian gangster Vulk becomes obsessed with beautiful Irina and kidnaps her. Andriy, who absolutely and certainly is not in love with this haughty girl, rushes to rescue her. As troubles multiply, the small group embarks on a long flight across England, searching for work and perhaps freedom. Lewycka creates a tragicomedy filled with greed, bitter humor, desire, and fresh strawberries.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, social-issues
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: England, Kiev, Malawi
Period: 21st-century
445 pages · Paperback · Alto
Content warnings: kidnapping