About the Book
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, hope that Rita will meet 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.
About the Author
Regina Rodríguez Sirvent is a novelist based in Barcelona. She has a degree in psychology and runs a boutique company offering private culinary tours of the city—two rather different worlds that often find their way into her writing. She has also contributed to newspapers and written for satirical programs, reflecting her fondness for humor and the quirks of everyday life. Her debut novel, Les calces al sol, was published in Catalan in 2022 and became an unprecedented word-of-mouth phenomenon. Four years later, it remains among Catalonia’s bestselling books, having spent more than 200 weeks on the charts and sold nearly 150,000 copies. It has been translated into several languages and published in English as Singing to the Sun. A film adaptation and a stage musical are currently in development. Her second novel, Crispetes de matinada—which translates as Popcorn at Dawn—was published in March 2026 and has remained near the top of the bestseller lists ever since. That same year, Forbes Women named her one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Catalonia. She is still processing all of this.
About the Moderator
LeGrand Elebash is a top Charleston real estate agent with more than two decades of experience. His diverse background, spanning roles as project manager, developer, and lead broker, gives him a unique perspective that has fueled his success and earned him a loyal clientele. He’s consistently ranked among the top agents in the Charleston area, with more than $236 million in sales during the last five years, placing him in the top 1% of local agents. Growing up in Charleston, LeGrand was immersed in real estate through his father, a member of the Kiawah Island Real Estate team, and his mother, an interior designer. After graduating from Yale and serving as a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He then worked in real estate development, including roles at Rivers Enterprises, I’On Group and Kiawah Partners, where he helped launch a luxury resort in St. Kitts. In recent years, LeGrand transitioned to residential real estate, focusing on sales and partnerships. He has consistently ranked among the top Realtors in the region, known for his work ethic, integrity and record-breaking sales. Outside of real estate, LeGrand is active in several local nonprofits, including Charleston Moves and Operation Home, and serves on multiple boards. LeGrand and his wife, Allison, a renowned interior designer, live in the I’On neighborhood and enjoy Charleston’s food scene.