THE REAL SPAIN 

Fines & Fiestas invites you into the colourful, unpredictable, and often hilarious world of expat life in rural Spain. What begins as a dream of sun, sangria, and simple living quickly turns into a series of encounters with the wonderfully eccentric realities of life under the Spanish sun. Parking fines that appear from nowhere, forms that require three different stamps and a signature from someone who’s gone for a two-hour lunch, and fiestas that last until dawn when all you wanted was an early night — it’s all here.

At the heart of the story are the much-loved characters from the Brits Abroad series, stumbling, laughing, and sometimes despairing their way through a lifestyle that promises paradise but delivers it with a few sharp edges. You’ll find yourself swept up in the noise, the colour, and the chaos of village fiestas, where dancing in the streets is mandatory, brass bands play until your ears ring, and strangers become friends after one shared glass of vino tinto.

But behind the comedy lies something deeper — the warmth of community, the beauty of Spanish traditions, and the realisation that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful. Fines & Fiestas captures that mix of laughter and frustration, joy and exasperation, that anyone who has lived abroad — or even holidayed long enough to scratch beneath the surface — will instantly recognize.

If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping to the sun, if you’ve ever sat in a café in Spain and watched the world go by, or if you simply enjoy a story that mixes humour with heart, this book will make you laugh, nod in recognition, and maybe even long to pack your bags. A warm, witty, and unforgettable read that proves paradise is always better when shared — even if it does come with the occasional fine.

FINES AND FIESTAS