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The Rabbit & the Squirrel
A love story about friendship. A fable for grown-ups, with illustrations by Stina Wirsen.
The Squirrel's greatest joy is dancing in the forest with the Rabbit--her beloved friend and equal of heart. While the duo is inseparable, fate has other the feisty Squirrel is forcibly married to a wealthy boar and the solitary Rabbit enlists in a monastery. Years later, a brief, tragic reunion finds them both transformed by personal defeats. And yet, to each other, they are unchanged, and their private world--where sorrow registered as rapture and wit concealed loss--is just how they had left it. A story of thwarted love, and an ode to the enduring pleasures of friendship, The Rabbit and the Squirrel is a charmed fable for grown-ups, in which one life, against all odds, is fated for the other.
The Squirrel's greatest joy is dancing in the forest with the Rabbit--her beloved friend and equal of heart. While the duo is inseparable, fate has other the feisty Squirrel is forcibly married to a wealthy boar and the solitary Rabbit enlists in a monastery. Years later, a brief, tragic reunion finds them both transformed by personal defeats. And yet, to each other, they are unchanged, and their private world--where sorrow registered as rapture and wit concealed loss--is just how they had left it. A story of thwarted love, and an ode to the enduring pleasures of friendship, The Rabbit and the Squirrel is a charmed fable for grown-ups, in which one life, against all odds, is fated for the other.
48 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
9 books123 followersShanghvi was born in Juhu, Mumbai, India in 1977. He is an alumnae of Mumbai’s Mithibai College, and later pursued an MA in International Journalism at the University of Westminster, London, where he specialised in Photography in 1999.
He is an Indian author in English-language whose notable books include, The Last Song of Dusk and The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay. His book, The Last Song of Dusk, has been translated into 10 languages.
He is an Indian author in English-language whose notable books include, The Last Song of Dusk and The Lost Flamingoes of Bombay. His book, The Last Song of Dusk, has been translated into 10 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 14, 2025
The Rabbit & The Squirrel is a tender, hauntingly beautiful tale of friendship, love, separation, and fate. It tells the story of two inseparable souls — the Rabbit and the Squirrel — whose bond is pure and deep. Yet, destiny has its own plans. The Squirrel is forced into a marriage with a wealthy Boar, while the Rabbit, heartbroken, chooses the path of solitude and joins a monastery.
Years pass. Lives change. But memories linger — and one day, fate stirs once more.
Books without happy endings are always hard to digest. And this one—though simple in appearance—left me quietly shaken. Midway through, I had a feeling this wasn't just fiction; it felt like fragments of the author’s own soul were stitched between the lines. (Later clarify in the author's note) .The pain was so raw, yet expressed with such eloquence and lyrical grace.
Author’s writing is different from regular reads—more flowy, gentle yet piercing. It’s filled with quotes that echo long after the last page. Some lines struck such a deep chord with me, I couldn’t help but share them in my post. They didn’t just tell a story; they mirrored life itself.
The illustrations by Stina Wirsén are minimalist, yet powerful. They perfectly complement the mood of the story—subtle, emotional, and striking. A heartfelt thank you to the team for the beautiful postcards that came along with this book—they made the reading experience even more special.
This short read is written with such emotional depth, it seeps into your core. For me, it’s a solid 4.5-star read. I highly recommend it to anyone who cherishes stories that are tender, seems much real, and unforgettable. I'm truly looking forward to reading more from the author. Lastly, the cover is also beautiful and vibrant, designed by Bonita Vaz- Shimray.
Years pass. Lives change. But memories linger — and one day, fate stirs once more.
Books without happy endings are always hard to digest. And this one—though simple in appearance—left me quietly shaken. Midway through, I had a feeling this wasn't just fiction; it felt like fragments of the author’s own soul were stitched between the lines. (Later clarify in the author's note) .The pain was so raw, yet expressed with such eloquence and lyrical grace.
Author’s writing is different from regular reads—more flowy, gentle yet piercing. It’s filled with quotes that echo long after the last page. Some lines struck such a deep chord with me, I couldn’t help but share them in my post. They didn’t just tell a story; they mirrored life itself.
The illustrations by Stina Wirsén are minimalist, yet powerful. They perfectly complement the mood of the story—subtle, emotional, and striking. A heartfelt thank you to the team for the beautiful postcards that came along with this book—they made the reading experience even more special.
This short read is written with such emotional depth, it seeps into your core. For me, it’s a solid 4.5-star read. I highly recommend it to anyone who cherishes stories that are tender, seems much real, and unforgettable. I'm truly looking forward to reading more from the author. Lastly, the cover is also beautiful and vibrant, designed by Bonita Vaz- Shimray.
June 7, 2025
A relationship that I feel is very underrepresented in fiction or given the role of second lead through its course is friendship, where it is mostly depicted as a subplot or symbol of protagonist having company or is extroverted, or the friends comes and goes as the plot suits, and not how it is in real where they are so many times the plot in someone's life or the disrupter of it🫣 And thus while reading The Rabbit and The Squirrel, the depiction of friendship stayed with me.
The Rabbit & The Squirrel by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi as the name suggests is the story of the inseparable duo of the rabbit and the squirrel. When the marriage of the squirrel is fixed with a wealthy boar, fate forces them to be separated. But what will happen when fate, though in the form of a tragedy brings them together and so their friendship? Read the book to find out.
This book reminded me of my friends and how real friendships work in real life - how when friends are separated for weeks, months and sometimes years and yet when they meet again, they begin from where they left off and how seamless and timeless it feels. And it was so beautifully represented in the story, something that I'll remember and go back to time and again.
The story is also complicated with the beautiful, minimalistic and yet joyous illustrations by Stina Wirsén and it elevates the storytelling even more. And though friendship remains at the core of the book, the author very effectively shows how marriages are forced upon and how it affects the people involved in it.
Overall, it's a memorable book and if you want to read something that cherishes the beauty of adult friendship or looking forward to gifting something to a friend, this is a perfect book.
The Rabbit & The Squirrel by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi as the name suggests is the story of the inseparable duo of the rabbit and the squirrel. When the marriage of the squirrel is fixed with a wealthy boar, fate forces them to be separated. But what will happen when fate, though in the form of a tragedy brings them together and so their friendship? Read the book to find out.
This book reminded me of my friends and how real friendships work in real life - how when friends are separated for weeks, months and sometimes years and yet when they meet again, they begin from where they left off and how seamless and timeless it feels. And it was so beautifully represented in the story, something that I'll remember and go back to time and again.
The story is also complicated with the beautiful, minimalistic and yet joyous illustrations by Stina Wirsén and it elevates the storytelling even more. And though friendship remains at the core of the book, the author very effectively shows how marriages are forced upon and how it affects the people involved in it.
Overall, it's a memorable book and if you want to read something that cherishes the beauty of adult friendship or looking forward to gifting something to a friend, this is a perfect book.
April 9, 2025
The only love that sticks around is the love you let go.
The Rabbit and the Squirrel is a poignant tale of a deep, enduring friendship between two unlikely companions, a spirited Squirrel and a gentle Rabbit. The two share a bond so strong that they dance together in the forest, a perfect harmony of hearts. But life has other plans. Squirrel is forced into a marriage with a wealthy boar, while Rabbit retreats into a solitary life at a monastery. Years later, they are reunited, but the world has changed them both. Despite personal losses and the passage of time, they still find each other unchanged, holding on to their secret, beautiful world where sorrow is intertwined with joy and wit masks pain.
This story left me reflecting long after I finished it. The author, with such grace, explores how love and friendship can transcend time and hardship. The fable-like quality of the narrative, paired with Stina Wirsen’s delicate illustrations, brings a sense of quiet beauty to the themes of loss, change, and the resilience of human connection.
It’s a delicate reminder that some bonds are stronger than the forces that try to break them. The story touched me in a way that felt both simple and profound, and I think it’s a beautiful read for anyone who has ever cherished a friendship, regardless of the passage of time. It's a story told in the least of words but holds a meaning so profound. However this book is disguised as a children's illustrated book, but it's meant for young-adults and anyone older!
The Rabbit and the Squirrel is a poignant tale of a deep, enduring friendship between two unlikely companions, a spirited Squirrel and a gentle Rabbit. The two share a bond so strong that they dance together in the forest, a perfect harmony of hearts. But life has other plans. Squirrel is forced into a marriage with a wealthy boar, while Rabbit retreats into a solitary life at a monastery. Years later, they are reunited, but the world has changed them both. Despite personal losses and the passage of time, they still find each other unchanged, holding on to their secret, beautiful world where sorrow is intertwined with joy and wit masks pain.
This story left me reflecting long after I finished it. The author, with such grace, explores how love and friendship can transcend time and hardship. The fable-like quality of the narrative, paired with Stina Wirsen’s delicate illustrations, brings a sense of quiet beauty to the themes of loss, change, and the resilience of human connection.
It’s a delicate reminder that some bonds are stronger than the forces that try to break them. The story touched me in a way that felt both simple and profound, and I think it’s a beautiful read for anyone who has ever cherished a friendship, regardless of the passage of time. It's a story told in the least of words but holds a meaning so profound. However this book is disguised as a children's illustrated book, but it's meant for young-adults and anyone older!
April 9, 2025
Framed as a love story, the book is a deeply affecting tale of friendship in its fragility, endurance, and quiet.
In just a handful of pages, Shanghvi offers readers a life: one that moves through betrayal, heartbreak, disillusionment, and a rare, gentle redemption. The squirrel, bright and full of promise, is married off by her parents to a wealthy boar. This marriage is not a union, it is a sentence. Branded unstable and unfit, she leaves behind her child, her name, and any remnant of belonging. The rabbit, on the other hand, spends his years avoiding love, institutions, and self before settling into a life of flowers and memory.
Told through minimal prose, watercolor-like illustrations by Stina Wirsén, this is a story that whispers rather than declares. Its silence is deliberate. Shanghvi uses stillness to full effect, letting the white space do the grieving.
At its core, this is not a love story in the traditional sense. There is no romance as a resolution. No climax, no neat closure. Instead, it is a story of emotional return. When the squirrel turns up at the rabbit’s doorstep, there are no grand speeches. Just the soft recognition that sometimes, in the ruins of what could have been, something tender survives.
It’s not a comeback. It’s something gentler. A homecoming, maybe. One stitched together not by time, but by memory.
In just a handful of pages, Shanghvi offers readers a life: one that moves through betrayal, heartbreak, disillusionment, and a rare, gentle redemption. The squirrel, bright and full of promise, is married off by her parents to a wealthy boar. This marriage is not a union, it is a sentence. Branded unstable and unfit, she leaves behind her child, her name, and any remnant of belonging. The rabbit, on the other hand, spends his years avoiding love, institutions, and self before settling into a life of flowers and memory.
Told through minimal prose, watercolor-like illustrations by Stina Wirsén, this is a story that whispers rather than declares. Its silence is deliberate. Shanghvi uses stillness to full effect, letting the white space do the grieving.
At its core, this is not a love story in the traditional sense. There is no romance as a resolution. No climax, no neat closure. Instead, it is a story of emotional return. When the squirrel turns up at the rabbit’s doorstep, there are no grand speeches. Just the soft recognition that sometimes, in the ruins of what could have been, something tender survives.
It’s not a comeback. It’s something gentler. A homecoming, maybe. One stitched together not by time, but by memory.
April 9, 2025
📚 BOOK REVIEW
The Rabbit & the Squirrel
by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi Stina Wirsén
The Rabbit and The Squirrel is short story written by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi. The book is adorned with beautiful illustrations filled with vibrant colors. It is a beautiful story of a rabbit and squirrel. They were best friends and loved each other dearly. But fate played the cruel game and separated them apart. One day they both parted, the squirrel was married to a wealthy boar while the rabbit joined the monastery. They met once again during their final years and seek to be united once again.
It is an emotional adult story which resonates deeply with the people around us. It reflects upon love, loss, longing, suffering, human connections and relationships. The pace of the book is slow and reflective. It provides an immersive reading experience which helps the readers to reflect upon their own lives.
A literary fiction which delves deeper into the complexities of life and human relationships. This story is about true love which can never be forgotten. It stays in the hearts forever untill one departs from the world.
The Rabbit & the Squirrel
by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi Stina Wirsén
The Rabbit and The Squirrel is short story written by Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi. The book is adorned with beautiful illustrations filled with vibrant colors. It is a beautiful story of a rabbit and squirrel. They were best friends and loved each other dearly. But fate played the cruel game and separated them apart. One day they both parted, the squirrel was married to a wealthy boar while the rabbit joined the monastery. They met once again during their final years and seek to be united once again.
It is an emotional adult story which resonates deeply with the people around us. It reflects upon love, loss, longing, suffering, human connections and relationships. The pace of the book is slow and reflective. It provides an immersive reading experience which helps the readers to reflect upon their own lives.
A literary fiction which delves deeper into the complexities of life and human relationships. This story is about true love which can never be forgotten. It stays in the hearts forever untill one departs from the world.
April 9, 2025
🍁Book:- The Rabbit & the Squirrel
🍁Author:- Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
🍁Publication:- Harper Collins India
🍁Printed Price:- Rs. 599/-
"Without love, age leapt into him like a demon."
The Rabbit and the Squirrel were the best friends but they were vividly attached to each other for something more than a friendship. One day the Squirrel was bound to marry a wealthy boar and the intense friendship was ended then and there. They met each other after a long time and what happened to them?
Readers hook into the book untill they know their final fate. This is a fable for grown ups, easy to read and enjoyable. Moreover, the illustrations of the book provide a soothing vibe to the readers.
"Those secrets and quirks were like gold coins buried in crevices in tree trunks - only the one who hid them knew them."
🍁Author:- Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi
🍁Publication:- Harper Collins India
🍁Printed Price:- Rs. 599/-
"Without love, age leapt into him like a demon."
The Rabbit and the Squirrel were the best friends but they were vividly attached to each other for something more than a friendship. One day the Squirrel was bound to marry a wealthy boar and the intense friendship was ended then and there. They met each other after a long time and what happened to them?
Readers hook into the book untill they know their final fate. This is a fable for grown ups, easy to read and enjoyable. Moreover, the illustrations of the book provide a soothing vibe to the readers.
"Those secrets and quirks were like gold coins buried in crevices in tree trunks - only the one who hid them knew them."
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews