Title: Love, Like Apples
Author: Jeff Zentner
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Publication date: November 3, 2026
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Summary
Tiller Loomis seems destined to a hard life in Sawyer, Tennessee. With an alcoholic father, Tiller’s brother Smith is the only light in his life. But when Smith is drafted into the Vietnam War, Tiller’s world tilts. It’s a children’s puppet show at a local church that ends up being his salvation.
Chasing his dream to puppeteer full time, Tiller finds himself in New York in the 1970s where a group of misfits are making a puppet show for teenagers. It leads him to a found family as well as Julie, a woman who encourages him to live his life to fullest. Framed documentary style, Tiller tells the story of his work on Imagine Nation and the ways that it changed his life.
Review: Love, Like Apples
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Love, Like Apples by Jeff Zentner to review! Zentner is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I was excited to jump into his latest book. The documentary framing of the story worked really well, once I got the feel for it. It helps the story come full circle by the end.
Fans of Zentner will enjoy an appearance from a character from another novel (hint: it’s my favorite book by him!). It’s a blink and you might miss it kind of reference, but it’s par for the course for a Zentner book. Zentner’s lyrical prose is on full force in this; I wish I would have highlighted some passages because there are some truly beautiful moments.
While this story takes places in the 1970s, there’s a lot that happens that reflects our current time as well. Especially the reason that Imagine Nation eventually gets taken off the air. Fair warning, it might make you angry.
Overall, this story is an ode to found family, making art, and falling in love. It’s definitely one I’ll keep thinking about long after finishing it.
4.5/5 stars