Singing to the Sun

A Novel

De: Regina Rodríguez Sirvent, Beth Fowler - translator

Narrado por: Elena Rey

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.

©2022 by Regina Rodríguez Sirvent. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2026 by Beth Fowler.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“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 tender, wild, and hilarious novel.”—Marc Giró, award-winning Spanish journalist

Funny and Heartfelt

I truly loved this book from start to finish. Singing to the Sun delivers a refreshingly honest, funny, and deeply human look at what it feels like to be in your twenties and have absolutely no idea what you are doing with your life and to be completely terrified about it.
The main character is unforgettable. Watching her journey from Barcelona to the United States, barely speaking English and carrying a head full of TV shaped expectations about America, was both hilarious and touching. Her confusion, culture shock, and slow, awkward, very real progress with the language felt authentic in a way that made you root for her instantly. You do not just read her story. You feel like you are walking beside her as she figures things out one uncomfortable, funny, and meaningful moment at a time.
One of the most refreshing elements of the story is how the language barrier is portrayed. She knows some English when she arrives, but landing in New York then going to the sourh makes understanding the language even more difficult. The regional dialect, slang, and rhythm of speech create an extra layer of confusion that is both humorous and eye opening. It offers a thoughtful look at how dialect and accent can deeply affect comprehension, even when you technically know the language. This added a layer of realism that made her experience feel even more genuine.
What makes this story shine is how unapologetically herself she is, even while she is still trying to figure out who that self actually is. She leaves an imprint on everyone she meets, and in return, they shape her in ways she never expects. The relationships, the growth, and the quiet realizations along the way make this book feel incredibly personal and sincere.
This is a beautiful story about identity, language, belonging, and the messy uncertainty of early adulthood. Honest, heartfelt, and often laugh out loud funny, this book feels less like a novel and more like someone sharing their life with you.