Review:

If you could be friends with any animal, which one would you choose? 

‘There is always a divine plan and a time to hear it.’

~ from the book Arribada by Samantha Kochharr .

The Spanish word ‘Arribada’ means arrival by the sea, and it perfectly captures the enchanting essence of the book. The captivating cover and title immediately drew me in, and the story itself compelled me to return to its pages time and time again. It’s a treasure I will cherish forever. My Book 94 of 2023, is a beautiful, intriguing, and heartwarming tale.

If I have to describe this book in a line, It would be- 

‘Arribada’ is a book that deserves to be savoured slowly, allowing the beauty of Samantha’s words and the magic of the tale to seep into your soul.

The sea has always had a healing effect on us, rejuvenating our spirits and washing away our worries. Life beneath the waves offers us protection. Each of us has a purpose to fulfill, chosen by the universe, and it guides us through different paths to achieve our goals. The universe communicates with us in various ways if we are attentive. ‘Arribada’ tells one such story.

Samantha Kochharr’s ‘Arribada’ is a story of  Ollie, a turtle, and Joy, a boy from the village of Goa, who are destined to cross paths. The book takes readers on a transformative journey of self-discovery, healing, love and friendship.

Joy has created a pleasant life for himself in London, and his marriage is filled with happiness, until tragedy strikes and they lose their son. The death of a loved one has a profound impact, teaching us lessons and transforming us from within. The loss of their son takes a toll on Joy and his wife’s relationship, and when Joy’s mother falls ill back in Goa, he returns to India. Reluctant to leave his ailing mother, Joy’s decision leads to the deterioration of his marriage. Joy became worst day by day as he found his wife cheating on him. 

Burdened with worries, Joy finds solace in his favourite spot near the sea, where he contemplates life for hours on end. This place has witnessed his tears and sorrows. However, on that particular day, he is not alone. A turtle emerges from the sea and approaches him. Ignoring the turtle initially, as he had other plans, the turtle found the boy who used to play with him when he was young. He finally met Joy.

Driven by anger, Joy steps onto Anthony’s boat, the person with whom his wife had cheated, intending to destroy it. Little does he know, the sea has a different journey in store for him. Caught in a storm and lost in the middle of the sea, Joy finds himself accompanied only by the turtle. Thus begins their friendship, and Joy names the turtle ‘Ollie.’

Ollie, becomes a companion on Joy’s path. As their friendship blossoms, Joy opens up about his sorrows, and Ollie, in his own mysterious way, guides Joy through the trials and tribulations of life. Their evolving relationship is heartwarming and highlights the transformative power of friendship. 

Where is Ollie leading Joy? What plans does the sea spirit have in store for them? With countless questions and a quest for answers, Samantha takes readers on a journey of hope, goodness, friendship, and second chances. The plot of this story is captivating, and as we immerse ourselves in it, we can see fragments of ourselves in Joy. Ollie, too, receives guidance from the sea spirit, while he shares his own story and ultimately completes his mission of leading joy to Africa as a new life awaits him there. While he takes Joy to Africa, both of them go through various challenges and the way they tackle them is inspiring. How both of them save each other.

Samantha takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster ride amidst the vastness of the sea.  She touches on profound themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the importance of embracing change. As Joy embarks on his journey of self-discovery, readers are invited to reflect on their own lives and the lessons they can learn from the characters’ experiences.

This book is about moments. The small moments that strengthen their friendship. The moments of wait, trust and being there for each other. Through her words, readers are transported to the depths of the sea, immersing themselves in the profound messages hidden within its pages.

With a gripping, descriptive narrative and immersing writing style, Layers by layers as the story unfolds, we see ourselves evolving, understanding more and more about life and love, about the universe. This book is about learning and unlearning truths, about what true friendship means, and working on ourselves.

In this journey, we discover the truths of life and how we begin to understand who we really are, and our life purpose when we open our hearts to love and trust. With each chapter, we understand the meaning of friendship, love and life. With each chapter, it gets intense and exciting to know where this journey will take joy while we learn our lessons along the way.

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One of the strengths of Arribada lies in its well-developed characters. Joy is a relatable protagonist, struggling to find meaning and happiness after enduring heartbreak. Ollie, the wise and compassionate turtle, symbolizes the guiding force of nature and serves as a catalyst for Joy’s transformation. The other characters too, add depth and richness to the story, enhancing the overall reading experience. I loved Ollie’s character the most.

While keeping the story light and entertaining,  Samantha makes us understand the meaning of life and our responsibility towards nature. The pacing of the story is well-balanced, allowing readers to absorb the layers of emotions and revelations as they unfold. I loved the second half of the story. The way the story was shaped made it more exciting.  The climax of the story was indeed surprising and satisfying. One feels content as the story ends.

We heal as we read this book. Samantha here shares about healing, how we need to let go of memories, people and our old self to connect to the universe. She emphasizes how people enter our lives to teach us valuable lessons. From dealing with rejection to forgiveness, from understanding love and friendship to embracing togetherness, this book portrays the beauty of these aspects.

‘There are no partings or endings inside of you. Sometimes, some ties need to be untied. We need to drift away for us to reach where we are supposed to go.’

~ from the book ‘Arribada’ by Samantha Kochharr.

Ending the review with my favourite line from the book.

‘Arribada’ is more than just a story; it is a testament to the power of nature, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative effects of genuine friendship as we explore the complexities of life, love, and the universe.

It’s a beautiful and absorbing journey that celebrates the beauty of life and our interconnectedness with the universe. Within its pages, we find ourselves becoming more connected to the universe. It is an inspiring read that encourages us to surrender ourselves to the universe—an emotionally moving and captivating story that is an absolute must-read. A book that I would go to again and again.

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