The Air You Breathe: A Novel

Set in 1930s Brazil, the novel tells the story of an intense, lifelong female friendship between two girls from vastly different worlds. Skinny, nine-year-old orphaned Dores works in the kitchen of a sugar plantation, where she meets Graça, the clever, spoiled, and ill-behaved daughter of the wealthy sugar baron. The girls quickly bond over shared mischief and, on a deeper level, over music. Dores feels melodies in her soul and writes lyrics, while Graça has a mesmerizing voice. Music becomes their shared passion, partnership, and rivalry, offering them the only way out of the lives they were born into. As teens, they run away to the rowdy streets of Rio de Janeiro's famous Lapa neighborhood to pursue their dreams of becoming singers. Their volatile, intimate bond, fueled by affection, envy, and pride, travels with them from Brazil to Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The story unfurls a moving portrait of a lifelong friendship—its unparalleled rewards and lasting losses—as only one of the two is destined to become a star, and their relationship will haunt their memories and determine each of their fortunes.

Store Availability