Review

“Life is nothing but a sum total of our adventures. Live life to the fullest and accept every situation wholeheartedly, even if it’s totally devastating or unwell. Accept that it is what it is and from there try to change what you can and look for those. I guarantee you, those will always be there if we just look.”

I wanted to read something light-hearted, emotional, and different from my usual reads, and that’s when Paws Around the World by Prachi Sharma came to mind. Imagine experiencing life through a dog’s eyes – understanding how it feels to change homes, adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, build new relationships, and navigate a world where you have little control over your destiny. This book offers exactly that experience.

The story follows Oreo, an adorable, mischievous, and opinionated dog who has his own set of standards and isn’t afraid to express them. Born on a stormy night and adopted into a busy household, Oreo tries to understand his human family while adapting to their ways. However, he also has his own preferences, and he makes sure everyone around him knows exactly what they are. As circumstances change, Oreo finds himself becoming part of another family with whom he spends most of his life. Through his eyes, we witness the love, care, misunderstandings, adventures, and emotional bonds that shape his journey. The plot is engaging because it explores everyday life from Oreo’s perspective, making even ordinary situations feel fresh and entertaining.

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What truly stands out is Oreo’s personality. He is lovable, loyal, stubborn, and occasionally rebellious. There are things he absolutely refuses to accept, and watching him communicate those feelings in his own unique ways makes for many amusing moments. The book beautifully captures the process of humans understanding Oreo and Oreo learning to understand the humans around him. Prachi Sharma’s writing is simple, smooth, and easy to follow. The narrative carries a comforting warmth that keeps you smiling as you move through the chapters. You experience Oreo’s excitement, fears, confusion, loneliness, happiness, and unconditional love. The author succeeds in making readers step into Oreo’s paws and experience the world through his perspective.

One of the aspects I particularly enjoyed was observing Oreo’s evolving relationships with different family members. He clearly has his favorite humans, while remaining slightly reserved around others. His reactions when left alone, his excitement when surrounded by loved ones, and his determination to get what he wants all feel authentic and relatable. Within a few chapters, readers become deeply invested in his life and the people who care for him. Another element I appreciated was the family’s willingness to bend their own rules for Oreo’s comfort and well-being. Their affection for him feels genuine and heartwarming. Among the human characters, Manish, Nikhil, and Lipika stood out for me. Every family member shares a unique bond with Oreo, and Prachi Sharma portrays those relationships with warmth and sincerity.

Another aspect that stood out for me was Oreo’s journey across different cities and countries. His excitement while exploring Paris, experiencing new surroundings, and embarking on adventures with his family adds another delightful layer to the story. At the same time, the book doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges that come with these experiences. The scenes where Oreo has to travel alone in a crate are especially emotional. His fear, confusion, and uncertainty feel incredibly real, and readers can genuinely empathize with what he is going through. These moments remind us that what may seem like a routine journey for humans can be a completely different experience for a pet.

I also enjoyed reading about Oreo discovering new places, meeting new people, and enthusiastically marking his territories wherever he went. These moments bring humor to the narrative while also highlighting his instinctive nature. Through these travels, Oreo gradually learns to adapt to changing circumstances, making the theme of belonging even more meaningful. The book beautifully explores the idea that home is not merely a place but the people who love and care for us. Another aspect that makes the story enjoyable is watching the family’s constant attempts to make Oreo comfortable while also trying to maintain some order in their lives. The various dog houses arranged for him at different places and the chaos that followed whenever Oreo disagreed with those arrangements create some genuinely entertaining moments. These incidents not only add humor to the narrative but also reveal Oreo’s strong personality and determination to have things his way.

Oreo’s little love story is another delightful addition to the book. It brings a playful charm to the narrative and allows readers to see a different side of his personality. These moments are sweet, amusing, and contribute to the wholesome nature of the story. The book is slightly slow-paced at times, and certain situations feel stretched longer than necessary. A tighter pace in a few sections could have made the narrative even more engaging. However, the consistently light and comforting tone ensures that the reading experience remains enjoyable throughout.

One of the book’s biggest strengths is the way Prachi Sharma sustains Oreo’s voice throughout the narrative. Writing from an animal’s perspective can often feel exaggerated or unrealistic, but here Oreo’s thoughts, fears, excitement, possessiveness, curiosity, and affection feel natural and believable. The author manages to humanize Oreo enough for readers to connect with him emotionally while still preserving his instincts and behaviors as a dog. Despite being told entirely from Oreo’s perspective, the narration never feels forced or gimmicky. Instead, it successfully balances innocence, curiosity, humor, and emotion, allowing readers to see the world through Oreo’s eyes while still connecting deeply with the human relationships around him. This balance between light-hearted moments and emotional depth makes Oreo’s journey both entertaining and memorable.

The narrative also succeeds in balancing humor and emotion. The lighter moments, whether it is Oreo’s stubbornness, his territorial adventures, his reactions to unfamiliar situations, or the chaos he unintentionally creates, keep the story entertaining. At the same time, moments of separation, uncertainty, travel, fear, and change add emotional depth. This balance ensures that the book never becomes overly sentimental while still delivering several heartfelt moments. Beyond being a story about a dog, the novel quietly explores themes of belonging, adaptation, companionship, and unconditional love. Through Oreo’s journey, readers are reminded that home is not always a physical place; sometimes it is the people who stand beside us through every stage of life. This deeper emotional layer elevates the book beyond a simple pet story and makes it resonate long after the final page. The climax is entertaining and filled with drama, chaos, and humor, much of it caused by Oreo’s stubborn dislike for certain situations. These moments bring the story to a satisfying and memorable conclusion.

Overall, Paws Around the World is a charming, heartwarming, and delightful read that celebrates companionship, resilience, and the meaning of home. Through Oreo’s adventures, mischief, fears, and unconditional love, Prachi Sharma crafts a story that is both entertaining and emotionally fulfilling. If you love animals, enjoy feel-good stories, or simply want a light book that leaves you smiling while quietly tugging at your heartstrings, Oreo’s journey is one worth taking.

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