Singing to the Sun
A Novel
Will be published approx. on 20. January 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
431 pages
978-1-6625-3244-3 (ISBN)
Description
A young woman from Barcelona embarks on a life-changing adventure in an exuberant, emotional, and relatable novel about family, coming of age, and finding oneself in the most unexpected places.
After Rita Racons fails her college's required English course and her plans for a summer with friends are ruined, she loses all sense of direction. Until Rita heeds her free-spirited grandmother's advice to get off their roof terrace and go out and find her place in the world. Boarding a plane from Barcelona to New York is just the beginning. Fate eventually lands Rita in Atlanta as an au pair with two questions: What is an au pair, and where the hell is Atlanta?
The Booklands, a cultured, well-read, picture-perfect American couple, have hopes that Rita will be up to the standards set by their three intellectually gifted children. She won't be. Entirely. But Rita can brush up on her English, the kids can refine their Spanish-and what's more, during Rita's sometimes-chaotic stay in America, her charges will experience a life beyond books and privilege. As for Rita, her grandmother's words have never sounded truer: "You don't go travelin' to escape. You go travelin' to find yourself." Rita is well on her way.
After Rita Racons fails her college's required English course and her plans for a summer with friends are ruined, she loses all sense of direction. Until Rita heeds her free-spirited grandmother's advice to get off their roof terrace and go out and find her place in the world. Boarding a plane from Barcelona to New York is just the beginning. Fate eventually lands Rita in Atlanta as an au pair with two questions: What is an au pair, and where the hell is Atlanta?
The Booklands, a cultured, well-read, picture-perfect American couple, have hopes that Rita will be up to the standards set by their three intellectually gifted children. She won't be. Entirely. But Rita can brush up on her English, the kids can refine their Spanish-and what's more, during Rita's sometimes-chaotic stay in America, her charges will experience a life beyond books and privilege. As for Rita, her grandmother's words have never sounded truer: "You don't go travelin' to escape. You go travelin' to find yourself." Rita is well on her way.
Reviews / Votes
"It's so rare for a debut to be written with such good craft, with scenes and dialogues so hilarious and on point, so well thought out and carried out. The protagonist feels like flesh and bone and the array of secondary characters is memorable. The action unfolds at high speed, mixing smiles and tears, just like life itself!" -Diari Ara"A novel to regain faith in humanity." -ElNacional.cat
"A great read." -Julia Guillamon, La Vanguardia
"A tender, wild, and hilarious novel." -Marc Giro, award-winning Spanish journalist
"The success of this book reveals the ambition and talent of a storyteller who knows how to reach everyone with a good story." -Antoni Bassas, Diari Ara
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Seattle
United States
Publishing group
Amazon Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 215 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
446 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6625-3244-3 (9781662532443)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Regina Rodriguez Sirvent was born in Puigcerda, Spain. A graduate in psychology, Regina studied screenwriting at Escola Superior de Cinema and creative writing at Ateneu Barcelones. She has written for various newspapers and media outlets. Singing to the Sun, a literary sensation in Spain and winner of the L'Illa dels Llibres popular-vote award, is her first novel to be translated into English.
Beth Fowler has been a translator since 2009, working from Spanish and Portuguese to English. She won the Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize in 2010, and her published translations include Open Door and Paradises by Iosi Havilio; Ten Women by Marcela Serrano; and We All Loved Cowboys by Carol Bensimon. She lives in the west of Scotland.
Beth Fowler has been a translator since 2009, working from Spanish and Portuguese to English. She won the Harvill Secker Young Translators' Prize in 2010, and her published translations include Open Door and Paradises by Iosi Havilio; Ten Women by Marcela Serrano; and We All Loved Cowboys by Carol Bensimon. She lives in the west of Scotland.