Postponed Kisses — Vidkladeni potsilunky (Ukrainian Edition, Paperback) by Maryana Bozhko

Postponed Kisses (Ukrainian: Відкладені поцілунки) is a refined psychological novel about first love, shattered dreams, emotional pressure in relationships, family, choices, and the cost of intimacy. Geometrically precise in its structure, the story is anchored by the interaction of four strong characters, with Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square serving as its primary inspiration.

The events of the novel unfold in Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region on the eve of February 2022—a time when personal dramas became impossible to separate from a major historical turning point. The characters discuss the possibility of a Russian invasion, argue about the future, and cling to their familiar comforts, family, and finances—all while being forced to confront each other with uncomfortable questions about love, loyalty, Ukrainian identity, and the right to be oneself.

This book is for those who appreciate psychological prose filled with tension, strong emotions, vivid characters, and honest, recognizable truths about people. It is a novel that touches the personal and painfully reminds us of who we were just before the full-scale war began.

Edition details: Ukrainian language, paperback, 283 pages, A5 (145 × 205 mm), 80 g offset paper, no illustrations. Published by Orlando Publishing House (ВД «ОРЛАНДО»), 2026. ISBN 978-617-95486-1-1.

About the author: Maryana Bozhko is a writer, co-founder of the “Writer’s Method” school, and a certified instructor of the “Jack Grapes Method of Writing” in Ukraine. She is also a psychologist, art therapist, facilitator of therapeutic sessions, and specialist in the psychology of creativity and text. She runs two book clubs and maintains her own blog, “The Book Snob.”

She writes in a vibrant, conversational style, preserving in her texts the spirit of her authentic native village (now a combat zone) and the city of Dnipro, where she lived from 2009 to 2022. Maryana’s goal is to create high-quality contemporary Ukrainian literature and help other authors believe in their own voices, texts, and creative dreams.