Rain Holiday

by Shreya Ramachandran

"Rekha and her best friend Latisha are inseparable, but now, things are about to change… Rekha and Latisha have been friends since Grade 1. It has been many years of swimming lessons, secret jokes, and creating the monster a gentle giant with boots on his feet and the whole city in his stride. But on a rainy Tuesday, when the relentless monsoon shuts down school and all Rekha wants to do is spend time with Latisha, her best friend suddenly retreats to her room and refuses to see anyone. At first Rekha thinks it’s a passing sulk, but when Latisha stops responding to her call and texts, worry sets in. This isn’t like Latisha at all! Determined to find out, Rekha launches an investigation. She quizzes classmates, parents and building security guards to follow a trail of clues that winds through muddy streets, flooded parks and secret animal rescues. Meanwhile, her own home life is unsettled by the sudden reappearance of her father and his strange request for Amma’s most treasured possession. Over the course of thirteen rain-soaked days, Rekha navigates small mysteries, big feelings, and unexpected allies. With the help of Mighty, she discovers that helping a friend sometimes means listening, sometimes means playing, and when the world seems too dark, it could simply mean being there for each other without saying a word. Set against the backdrop of a rain-slick Mumbai, Rain Holiday is a tender, funny, and hopeful story about sadness, anxiety, joy, and the magic of friendship when the clouds roll in."

216 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2025

About the author

writer @ large. worrier.

Reviews

[Deepa Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Aritri Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Rain Holiday" by Shreya Ramachandran is a beautifully tender and hopeful story set against the rain-soaked backdrop of Mumbai. It revolves around Rekha and her best friend Latisha, whose close friendship faces unexpected challenges when Latisha suddenly retreats during a relentless monsoon that shuts down schools. Rekha’s journey over thirteen rainy days is a touching mix of mystery and discovery. She navigates her worries for her friend, uncovers clues with the help of their imagined gentle giant "Mighty," while dealing with her own family complexities. The story captures the magic of friendship, and the anxieties and joys of growing up, it also goes on to show how simply being there for someone can make all the difference.

This book resonated deeply, especially with how it captures the authenticity of childhood friendships and the small yet significant moments that become memories. The vivid rainy Mumbai setting brought the story to life, making me feel the monsoon’s soft drumming and the sticky emotional textures of Rekha’s world. It’s relatable in how it portrays anxiety and the confusion that comes with change, yet it leaves you with hope.

"Rain Holiday" is not just a book, it feels like a heartfelt letter to anyone who’s ever struggled with the fear of losing something or someone precious and found strength in quiet companionship instead. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Shreya Ramachandran wove sadness and resilience in such an engaging and memorable narrative, making it a truly rewarding read for me.

[Divya Shankar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review - We all have had a phase where a best friend not talking to us, not answering our calls or replying to texts has upset us more than anything in the world. Rekha, a class 6 student in a Mumbai school, feels lonely and is worried when her classmate & best friend since grade1, Latisha isn't coming to school and talking to her. In cracking the mystery of what's wrong with Latisha, Rekha takes help of her classmates Faiz and Raji. As the classmates spend time together, Raji, who Rekha finds is super annoying, becomes a great friend and Faiz, whom Rekha wishes to keep at an arm's distance like all other boys of her class, turns very special. And, Latisha stays her best friend forever.
Along the resolution of ‘The Latisha Conundrum’, Rekha understands her parents (who are divorced) better, appreciates all that Mala Akka does for her when her mother is away at work, accepts both happy and sad feelings with a mature grace and equanimity.

That we all put up a ‘happy’ exterior even when nestling a sad interior, that the sadness seeps out at times, that we are happy inside-out at other times, that this is all fair & perfect, that to accept our friends for who they are on their worst days, to listen to them talk or just stay by their side quietly is the biggest support we can offer are the primary themes. The characters & their lives are shaped well to convey the above messages. Rekha’s writing down her reflections in her diary, her drawing and colouring an imaginary monster ‘Mighty’ along with Latisha are effective storytelling tools. The unrelenting rain in Mumbai that upturns normalcy makes a perfect setting.

“And what can mental health mean in a nation that wants an injection to put it back on its feet the next morning?” (from Jerry Pinto's Em and the Big Hoom). For a nation that still thinks so, for parents who need to see/understand a rapidly changing world like today's pre-teens/teens do, this book is quite important. A gentle yet profound read not just meant for young readers aged 11yrs +, I enjoyed reading this!

Thank you Speaking Tiger publishers for providing a review copy in lieu of an honest opinion.

[Acham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rain holiday is a gentle melancholic take on young friendships, mental health and families. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai monsoons, the city and the weather are key characters to the narrative as well. The author's languid style draws you into Rekha's world and soon you get immersed into the mystery she is working hard to unravel. loved the character sketches and the world as seen from the wide eyes of pre-teens.

[Shloka · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favourite books of all time, and an excellent example of what the modern-day middle grade novel should aspire to be <3

[Sayari Debnath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.5. This was great