Author: Trisha Das
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
I was provided a media copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
What would be your definition of Home?
Home has always been a temporary arrangement for Samara Mansingh, a
wayfaring wedding photographer and the daughter of a diplomat. When her father
is uprooted once again, Samara needs a place to stay in Delhi. Next stop: the
Khanna family. Samara’s memories of the Khannas are vague at best, but she
doesn’t remember their home feeling so much like a war zone. And the last thing
their surly eldest son, Sharav, wants is a houseguest eavesdropping on the
chaos. Sharav has a melodramatic sister pushing back on an arranged marriage, a
withdrawn leadsinger brother who won’t sing, and a widowed mother hiding her
grief in the garden. Sweeping into the household like a tornado, irrepressible
Samara is a practically perfect distraction. She has a mind to help a girl find
true love, push a young man to find his voice, and bring a lonely and loving
widow out of mourning. Maybe Samara can even get on Sharav’s ruggedly handsome
good side. The only sure thing is that the Khanna family will never be the same
again. Neither will Samara, who may finally find what she’s been missing her
entire life: a home.
The book is a wonderful story of how the idea of home is something we are all looking for, sometimes in a place, sometimes in a person, but the pursuit of that home is what makes our life. The writing of the book is quite engaging and keeps you hooked. What worked for me in the book was the linear storytelling and the manner in which the situations develop in the book. I loved how a “pre-Samara” dinner at Sharav’s house is shown, and the change that happens when Samara comes to live with them. Samara’s interactions with each family member have been planned and written quite nicely. Trisha takes each family member and their interaction with Samara to bring out various aspects of the plot. Another aspect of the book that I loved was the Sharav-Samara interaction. Right from the first moment to the last page, Trisha writes a roller-coaster ride of emotions. The whole scene about Sharav’s arranged marriage was just so perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor in the book is on point and you’ll definitely laugh like a crazy person whenever you come across a humorous part of the book. The climax is the highlight of the book and the comedy of errors is quite a fun part to read and at the same time, heartwarming in the manner it is written.
The characters in the book have been written in detail. Trisha has given
due thought to the characters and each of them has been crafted to fit into the
story perfectly. I liked the manner in which Samara’s character has been
written. She has her own flaws, but I loved how she makes the lives of those
around her better. The way she helps Sharav’s sister find love, his brother his
voice and herself a place she could call home. Sharav’s character as the “in-charge”
of the Khanna household who likes to take charge and keep things in control was
also something that was fun to read. Nonita and her family deserve a mention
just for the fun they brought into the plot.
Overall, this is a book that is equal parts funny and heartwarming. The
book is highly recommended to anyone who loves reading a well-written story.
The book scores a 4.81/5 for me.
Get a copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest bookstore.
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