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Sing to Me
This is a story of confronting reality, how to forgive, and be forgiven, reclaiming life and rediscovering the soul’s song.
On every mountain a melody can be heard, each melody is unique. Even on two sides of the same mountain range, the songs will differ, they will not share the same key nor will their words share the same history.
“Raw and emotive, Jelena’s debut novel sweeps you up and transports you to a world rarely spoken about, but with stories and details that are totally relatable. A great read,” Marijana Rudan former SBS Television presenter.
On every mountain a melody can be heard, each melody is unique. Even on two sides of the same mountain range, the songs will differ, they will not share the same key nor will their words share the same history.
“Raw and emotive, Jelena’s debut novel sweeps you up and transports you to a world rarely spoken about, but with stories and details that are totally relatable. A great read,” Marijana Rudan former SBS Television presenter.
318 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 29, 2025
A captivating literary fiction debut set in the 1980's about a Croatian immigrant who faces his painful past and finds a way to heal through is love of music. It is at times sad but also sharp and witty.
November 11, 2025
Very enjoyable read! How good would it be to have a soundtrack to this book! Is there such thing as soundtrack for books, if not why not, if yes how do we get this going?
December 3, 2025
Sing to Me sneaks up quietly and then absolutely hijacks your heart. Jelena Ćurić’s writing is so vivid and cinematic… I was pulled straight into the world she created. Every scene feels painted — and then lovingly smudged — in the best way.
I laughed, I cried, I had hope… and, inexplicably, I found myself craving Rakija like I’d been born in a Balkan tavern.
It’s beautifully crafted, emotionally rich, and I absolutely loved every second.
I laughed, I cried, I had hope… and, inexplicably, I found myself craving Rakija like I’d been born in a Balkan tavern.
It’s beautifully crafted, emotionally rich, and I absolutely loved every second.
January 16, 2026
Sing to Me is a powerful read.
The main character, Pero, stuck with me long after finishing the novel. It is a migrant story of a Croatian immigrant living in Sydney, Australia, set in 1980. Pero returns to Croatia to see his sick mother. What unfolds in Pero's character during his return is sad, heartbreakingly tender and beautiful. I loved the music references throughout the book. It gave me a sense of Croatian culture.
The main character, Pero, stuck with me long after finishing the novel. It is a migrant story of a Croatian immigrant living in Sydney, Australia, set in 1980. Pero returns to Croatia to see his sick mother. What unfolds in Pero's character during his return is sad, heartbreakingly tender and beautiful. I loved the music references throughout the book. It gave me a sense of Croatian culture.
November 7, 2025
What a fabulous read! Finally something different and interesting. The writer is so descriptive in the detail of her characters and places. I was engaged from beginning to end. Can't wait for her next book!
January 14, 2026
I enjoyed the story line of this book and overall, thought it was well written. My only complaint is the poor proof reading, so many spelling and grammar errors. We got course instead of coarse, quite instead of quiet and use instead of used to name a few.
November 11, 2025
I typically read mysteries, tried something different and loved it. I finished this in a few days, it was a quick read for me, I loved the journey and it had me laughing and crying.
January 24, 2026
This is a debut novel that I was excited to read for several reasons.
1. The author is Australian which usually means any references to people or places here will be a little more vivid in my mind.
2. The protagonist in the novel is Croatian definitely not many books I’ve read in my life reference Croatia. Check my reading history, I’ve been to Paris a million times, Italy or Germany are frequented as well. So an opportunity to read about the motherland… I’m not skipping that for sure.
3. It’s set in the 1980s best decade ever.
4. It’s also cool to not need a dictionary or google for all the Croatian words included in the passages.
Pero is an immigrant living in Sydney who returns to Croatia to visit his sick mother. There is nothing I liked about Pero in those opening scenes but I read on with curiosity why did a talented musician stop playing music? Why did he leave Croatia?
I enjoy books that are character driven with lots of dialogue and how the complex dynamics of each relationship are depicted, it always makes me look at myself and reflect on how I would handle the situation if it where me.
It was a delight to travel with Pero to Croatia and discover his past and what shaped him and see if he has learned anything by going back. The music/songs included throughout is typical of Croatian families as they are very social. I remember the parents playing cards and singing till late in the night on most weekends when I was young.
Balkan heritage or not I recommend this one.
1. The author is Australian which usually means any references to people or places here will be a little more vivid in my mind.
2. The protagonist in the novel is Croatian definitely not many books I’ve read in my life reference Croatia. Check my reading history, I’ve been to Paris a million times, Italy or Germany are frequented as well. So an opportunity to read about the motherland… I’m not skipping that for sure.
3. It’s set in the 1980s best decade ever.
4. It’s also cool to not need a dictionary or google for all the Croatian words included in the passages.
Pero is an immigrant living in Sydney who returns to Croatia to visit his sick mother. There is nothing I liked about Pero in those opening scenes but I read on with curiosity why did a talented musician stop playing music? Why did he leave Croatia?
I enjoy books that are character driven with lots of dialogue and how the complex dynamics of each relationship are depicted, it always makes me look at myself and reflect on how I would handle the situation if it where me.
It was a delight to travel with Pero to Croatia and discover his past and what shaped him and see if he has learned anything by going back. The music/songs included throughout is typical of Croatian families as they are very social. I remember the parents playing cards and singing till late in the night on most weekends when I was young.
Balkan heritage or not I recommend this one.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews