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Sandcastles

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One rainy morning in July 2011, Selena Rocha wakes up to find her carefully woven, quiet life flipped over - the past she had buried a decade ago reappears as two men. She must choose between calm lies and destructive truths, to protect her twelve-year-old twins, Nayna and Ruby, from both.

Neil Shaw returns after a lifetime of fleeing from himself, to redeem what he foolishly lost to his naivety. But it demands something close to fatal, not just love and regret, from him.

Ten years behind bars, Dr. Vincent Gomez has to forgive one person now – himself. And there is only one way to do it, which is but the beginning of a bigger question.

A coming-of-age tale of three girls who entered Goa Medical College in 1997, Sandcastles subtly interlaces the sensitive and strong layers of family, friendship and love with the resurgent strength of women, affirming that forgiveness and acceptance are the ultimate forms of love.

340 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2019

3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read

About the author

Hamna Labeeb

6 books25 followers
Dr. Hamna Labeeb has been a poet and story-writer long before she decided to be a Homoeopathic Physician. Until March 2022, she wrote under the pseudonym 'Sana Rose' under which she published two novels and poetry collections. Her debut novel Sandcastles was shortlisted for ARL Literary Award 2018 for Best Author Shortlist. Her second novel The Storyteller came out in 2020. Currently, she is working on her third novel, which is a psychological thriller.

She was one among the 52 poets published in the anthology Breaking Silence – A Poetic Lifeline from Slavery to Love (2013). Her poetry has appeared in online journals like The Sketchbook Journal, The Galway Review, Rat's Ass Review (April 2016), Ithalukal (an e-zine by Keralites in Singapore) and she was one of the two featured poets in the May 2016 Issue of the Ashvamegh International Journal of English Literature. Her poetry has also appeared in the Shakespeare-themed Anthology, Shakespeare Sings published by the Publication Division of Farook College (Calicut) in 2017.​

She holds a Masters in Applied Psychology and moved careers from medical practice to the fields of mental health care and content marketing apart from the creative writing pursuit. Currently, she lives in Kadalundi, a seaside town in the Calicut district of Kerala, with her husband and daughter.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Ayushi Nair.
133 reviews37 followers
January 17, 2019
I loved the way author had portrayed the pure love between brother and sisters in a unique way. Language is lucid & easy to understand for all kind of readers. Narration was okey but in some part i feel too draggy & characterization needs to be more strong. Sandcastles one of the beautiful tale of pure love. Recommending to all the readers for a heart wrenching tale of love.
Profile Image for Kaushik Chakraborty.
98 reviews11 followers
February 11, 2019
👉Coming to the story of the book .
• Plot was simple yet it was body shivering at some parts .
• Though I ccategorized the story as fiction genre , but at many times it made me feel realistic .
• In the beginning , the story is slow paced , but soon catches to a fast pace . • Though I took the book to complete in 2 days , but the story was quite intriguing and gripping till the end. • What I found most interesting is usage of simple and lucid language throughout the book along with interesting metaphors and idioms .
• Every character has been properly explained . And no exaggeration .
• The story deals with many aspects of life like that of friendship, love, the generation gap and parenthood problems.
• The title of the book is also perfect and appropriate. .
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Guys this book , " SANDCASTLES " by @sanahrose is highly recommended. You will get to know about human emotions , feelings , along with that , the book also depicts some part of feminism . .
Profile Image for Mehak Asif.
39 reviews11 followers
January 17, 2019
The book is all about love, romance, pain and motherhood. The story starts off with Selena, a mother, whose life revolves around her two beautiful daughters. One fine morning, her doorbell rang, and the person she sees standing on the door, brings back a lot of memories and scars, which she buried a decade ago.
It's a good, fast-paced story with a perfect blend of emotions, suspense and bonding. Although, I was a bit discouraged as first few chapters were slow-paced and not very engrossing, but later I was so invested in the story, that I didn't care about anyone or anything around me.
Well developed characters and creative unique plot components combined with unusual twists and turns make this an unforgettable read.

Read full review on my blog.
https://liveitqueensize.wordpress.com...
Profile Image for Silsilah Ali.
9 reviews
January 12, 2019
I have picked Sandcastles to read solely on basis of my acquaintance with the novelist. And now I am happy that I read it. Sandcastles is a delightful novel.

Though set in a backdrop that is very familiar to me, I couldn't find any misfit in the flow of the theme.Being a sucker for romance,the novel kept me hooked on right from the prologue. It was a highly emotional journey that I was dewy eyed most of the time.

The narrative style is such a way that the story keeps us captivated till the end.

Sensuous, poetic, wondrous.You nailed it, Sana Rose.
Profile Image for Aasiya Iqbal.
2 reviews6 followers
December 19, 2019
“Gone moments and washed off sandcastles were the same. Only memories of both remained.”

Can’t agree more with the talented author of her debut novel- SANDCASTLES: A NOVEL. which had been nominated in the best author category of the ARL LITERARY AWARDS 2018. I decided to read after a long while and the book didn’t disappoint at all.

It narrates a loving, warm and heart touching story of Selena, a young medical student who had to make difficult choices which tested her loyalty, self esteem and love.
Given the fact that the author hasn’t ever been to Goa, the place wherein the story is set, and yet she was able to beautify the essence of that place so very well in the book.
Being a medical professional myself, I found the book a bit nostalgic, taking me back to my college days. Moreover the art of conveying the story so well really made this novel a pleasant read.

I do recommend this to all those who like reading romantic drama as well as to those who don’t! It will be worth your time!
Profile Image for Suman Panda.
148 reviews1 follower
February 12, 2019
Few losses are as painful as the death of someone you love. No valley is as vast as grief, no journey as personal and life-changing. Compassionate and wise guides, Sana Rose, shine a light on the road through grief. They can help you endure the anguish; understand the stages of grief; sort through the emotions of anger, guilt, fear and depression; and face the God who allowed you to lose the one you love. This series of thoughtful daily devotions shares wisdom, insight and comfort that will help hurting people through and beyond their grief.

I never ever leave reviews but this book is so powerful that I felt the need to. This book has helped me deal with my grief and realize some emotions that I wasn't trying to deal with. Very quick chapters, that get to the raw feelings that we have with losing someone so close to us. No sugar coating the grief. Grief is painful and hard and difficult to navigate but this book has helped me not only turn my life over to God but help my mind and heart process the pain. Wonderful book and I would like to buy many copies for others going through this painful journey too.

I can't say enough about the healing aspect of this book. We all experience the death of someone close to us from time to time. The chapters are very short and easy to read and bring meaning to the loss and how to navigate through the pain. Every aspect of loss is covered with God being the central figure - and that in itself is what kept me going. It's not an overly religious book but that aspect of it kept me focused on the fact that God IS in control and cares about our sorrow and pain.

Once read, it becomes a tremendous reference book for quick pick-me-ups when needed because you can easily pin point the area of help you want. The book can be applied to any kind of painful loss.
Profile Image for Rutuja Ramteke.
1,982 reviews96 followers
January 17, 2019
Book Name: Sandcastles
Author: Sana Rose
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Turquoise publishers
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Plot: Selena Rocha must choose between calm lies and destructive truths, to protect her twelve-year-old twins, Nayna and Ruby, from both the mens who were in her past.
Ten years behind bars, Dr. Vincent Gomez has to forgive one person now – himself. A coming-of-age tale of three girls who entered Goa Medical College in 1997, Sandcastles subtly interlaces the sensitive and strong layers of family, friendship and love with the resurgent strength of women, affirming that forgiveness and acceptance are the ultimate forms of love.
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My Opinion: I really am not sure, whether it's fiction or semi- fictiom because most of the incidents felt real. The book was very heart warming and an amazing winter read for me. There is no such single protagonist in the book- as there are many many characters & each has their own importance. On the other hand, the book is mostly based on feminism & talks about female rights too which I pretty loved. The author has an amazing sense of humour which was visible in her writing. The book isn't a too short read or a book that could be done in a single reading but yes it was intriguing to help the reader to glue to it more & more. Most of the part was fast paced. Taking about the- it's good but yes could be better. Title does go with the story line.
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Pros: Language was easy & gripping. It helped me to explore many aspects of life personally. Contrasting characters in book made it more interesting. Plot was simple yet it was heart thumping at times. I highly recommend this read to my dear readers.
Cons: Irrelevant incidents destroyed the fun of reading at times. The author had jumped from one incident to another which could be difficult for some to understand the actual situation. Still beginners can go for this book.
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Rating: 4.15🌟
66 reviews9 followers
January 17, 2019
This books is beautifully constructed and you get captivated in it for page 1. It focuses on so many important topics like death, motherhood, early pregnancy etc.
It not only does justice to raise such important matter but represents women as a powerful being who isn't subjugates to man. 😊
Another best things is the writing. It's beautiful and captivating. You can't help but fall for some characters.😍
It so represents different family Dynamics which we can all relate to.❤️
Do pick up the book for an emotional ride..
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I highly recommend this book to everyone
Profile Image for Chresann Dsouza.
194 reviews9 followers
March 22, 2019
I had the most wonderful time reading this book.  This is the kind of book that shall make you cry, laugh at the same time.

The storyline was beautiful, unique, captivating and heart wrenching.

It speaks about love, friendship, destiny, sacrifices that brew between these teenagers.

The writing style was, but it was too dragged at times.

The language used was easy going and lucid.
The narration too was done quite well.

I loved the ramble dash of poems & musings that came my way as i was reading the book, it enhanced my reading experience.

The characters and their backgrounds were really well developed.

The plot was fresh, strong and intruding.

The story was unpredictable, the suspense was caught up till the end!

It takes time to get into the story, considering the fact that the story takes the reader 10 years down the memory lane.
But once you get into it, you shall definitely love it!

The author has announced the sequel for it, & i can't wait to know what happens in selena 's , ruby's and nyna's life ahead!


MY RATING: 4.5/5🌟
Profile Image for Dharani Kannan.
Author 5 books19 followers
July 10, 2020
BOOK REVIEW:


Title: SANDCASTLES

Author: Sana Rose

Genre: Fiction

Ratings: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


I was spell bound by the beautiful narration of the author. The descriptions are amazing. I could feel the thoughts and feelings of Selena! It was as I was travelling with the characters, exclaiming of the things that take place- ‘Oh! How will Selena manage this situation! Uff… It’s seriously tough to decide’


First of all, the book cover and the title ‘SANDCASTLES’ made an impact on my heart just because of the beautiful and thought provoking subtitle ‘When grief and guilt intertwine to test the heart, love and trust are only as string as you are…’


Selena’s life was calm with her self-built life, accompanying her 12 years old daughters- Nayna and Ruby. Nayna didn’t mind being stubborn when she wanted something. Ruby was easier than Nayna. They are twins.


But the secrets that she hid from them over decades ago, now follows her. May be, she shouldn’t have opened the door that day morning. The one she saw in the doorstep was a shock to her. She adjusted the door to obstruct any view he could gather of her personal life. In addition, she meets another in the workplace though she does not want to. Who are they?


This is a story of love, hope and most importantly a tale that shows the power of motherhood. The book is nothing but emotions and you could feel it in every word. I wish to recommend this book to everyone who liked to read books about motherhood.
Profile Image for Priyambada Das.
152 reviews1 follower
April 23, 2019
"We're never too young to think about anything. But sometimes we are too young to understand some things. And sometimes too old to understand some other things."
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A tale of three girls who turned into a family, started when they entered the Goa Medical College in 1997. Leno, Trisha and Ria lived and loved in the beautiful state of Goa.
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LIFE.
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No matter how unfair or lost life may seem sometimes, it'll eventually all make sense. What's meant to be, will be yours one day.
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Sana Rose has done a commendable job at weaving a tale so moving and real. Every page in this book is filled with emotions, with the essence of life. Promises. Truths and Lies. Family. Friendship. Relationships. Motherhood. To forget and to forgive. To second chances. To letting go of all the things that won't do any good. Death. And to life. To live it, and to accept it knowing there's the Almighty who has everything planned for you.
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I immensely loved Sand Castles. Sana Rose has narrated so well that you'll stay connected to each incident and each character. You'll get to know the characters, to see how they grow up from being carefree teenagers to adults who can sacrifice their life for the ones they love.
The plot is flawless and as unpredictable as life itself.
The women in this book are so strong, so dedicated to the people they love. The emotions are pure and real.
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Absolutely recommend.
Profile Image for Roshna Ikbal.
26 reviews17 followers
October 3, 2019
I was off reading for a long while now. I had a pile of books I wanted to read but couldn't get myself to do it at the same time. That's when I got my hands on Sandcastles and gave it a go and there it was, once I started reading the first few chapters, I couldn't stop reading and I was teary-eyed from almost half of the book!
This coming of age women fiction which narrates the story of three girls right from when they begin their Medicine career to be shaped into strong women who learn to face life's adversities is an emotional journey in itself.
Life can be really playful in the ways things turn out. A certain event or decision that we take on can simply tip you off your feets and change yours as well as your loved ones' life's forever. But it can also bring out the inner strength in you that you never knew existed within. This book that mostly has it's setting in Goa and with typical English names gave me the feels of an 80s English romance novel and also gave the feels of a typical Indian Medical college scenario.
A story which shows how death can deeply shatter humans, a story which portrays the depth of love and human connections, a story that teaches how much one is ready to take on for the sake of love, a story that speaks of true friendship, forgiveness, revival and much more. Sandcastles is more than just an emotional read !
Profile Image for Pooja Farwaha.
148 reviews16 followers
February 17, 2020
This book is so filled with love and other emotions that nothing I say here would give you a whole picture of it. I would remember this book for a very long time because I had an amazing experience reading this all-in-one kinda book.
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I was dying to read a book from YA romance and I got my hands of this piece at the perfect timing. I was completely engrossed in it because of elements like mystery, love, college day emotions and hence risks and regrets all together.
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Reading the blurb gives a little idea of the awesomeness written inside. The moment I finished reading first few pages, I was shamelessly sold to the author's writing style.
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The storyline was really captivating, but in between the story became a bit predictable. Though I was happy seeing my hopes coming true yet I feel it would've been much better to keep something elusive till the very end.
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By and large, I do not for a second regret reading this impeccable piece of art and it is definitely a book worth re-reading. And the title, nothing in this whole book is as beautiful as the title and the complementary cover picture.
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As I already said, nothing I say would give you the whole picture but I would absolutely recommend it. Pick it up if literary fiction or light thrilling stories is your choice of interest.
Profile Image for Kirti Changlani.
Author 4 books29 followers
January 18, 2019
#bookreview
SANDCASTLES
Author - Sana Rose
Ratings - 4🌸

Genre - Women's Fiction / Romance

The story here revolves around one strong protagonist Selena Rocha, one fine regular morning she receives a knock at her door, which shifts her life upside down.
That leads to reveal of all the stories and scars she thought she had buried in past but they come back at the noise of that knock had the power to unfold those mysteries.


This story is soft, mild and poetic.
Written with pure emotions, it highlights the importance of past playing an important role in even in your present.



Although the pace gets slow at moments it's still a very touching read.

The narrative is divided into around six parts and that goes back and forth between past and present.


This has many sub elements to it, like that of friendship, love, the generation gap and parenthood problems.

Also, i would like to address that the emotions of characters are so well portrayed that they touch the emotional chord of the readers.

You will possibly fall in love with the characters.


And there is a very riveting theory behind the name of the book being 'Sandcastles' i quite liked it.


Overall it's a fresh read and a book of its own kind!
Profile Image for Kaviiiii Krish.
179 reviews11 followers
December 18, 2021
What comes first in your mind when you hear the word Sandcastle?

To me it was always a feeling of remaining temporary, a feeling of powerless and a feeling of getting destroyed. Sandcastles used to scare me for their lifetime. Thus was my thought about this book. I expected it to be powerless, hopeless, chaotic and depressing. But, the rest you should know.

When was the last time you soaked yourself in the first rain enjoying the petrichor hitting your senses, making you go wild and trance, welled up with undiscovered emotions to the peak, taking you to the new you? That's what this book did to me. I was like a page soaked in the fresh water which made me realise how transparent, subtle and living I am.

A book that can make you happy at the end is similar to having a good cup of coffee after a tiresome struggle. It just hits your senses and makes you feel better. Upon diving through the story, I cried, laughed, blushed, felt sorry, got confused as the characters did, got hurt and by the end, I was content. In short, I was travelling along with the characters. No life is perfect and so is the literature. But it's extremely appealing when you feel the beauty of the imperfections, both in life and books.

The life of Leno, Trisha, Ria, Neil and Vince who met each other at college become so closely bonded that later their life affects Nayna and Ruby. The unsaid love between Leno and her mother, friendship of Leno, Trisha and Ria, the love bond of Neil-Leno, the brother sister bond of Cyril and Leno, the complications in Trisha's life, the unprecedent responsibilities that Leno takes up, the loneliness of Dr. Vince, the confusions that Nayna and Ruby have regarding their life etc are the major incidents through which the book goes. The story unfolds the philosophy of love and life with the tint of twists and turns that sublty takes the reader from one to another level. The book had various literature references like Shakespeare's sonnet, Oscar Wilde's poem which made the book feel rich in emotions and poetry. The story might seem simple and normal to people but the way it is portrayed and the perspective it provides is the true essence of the book.

The idea of Sandcastles got a new angle once I read the book. I had never even tried to equate the word with hope and love, I was scared. But this book just blew my mind. I remember sharing my reading experience with my friends and they commenting that I haven't been this happier in the recent times. Not just people but books can also make you glow.
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