American writer Anna Todd explores Mallorca before her appearance at FLEM festival Credit: Instagram/AnnaTodd
Bestselling American author Anna Todd was among the biggest names at this year’s FLEM literary festival, joined by British writers as Magaluf put books and culture centre stage.
Anna Todd brings Mallorca novel home
Anna Todd returned to Mallorca this week to present Sunrise: The Last Sunrise, her latest novel and the first of her books to be set on the island.
The American author, best known for her global After series, appeared at the Festival de Literatura Expandida de Magaluf (FLEM) on Saturday, October 3, in what was her only appearance in Spain this year.
Sunrise, published in 2026, follows 23-year-old Oriah Pera, who travels to Mallorca with her mother and finds herself at a turning point in her life. A trip to the beach leads to a meeting with Julián, a local Spanish man, and a summer romance that becomes part of Oriah’s journey into adulthood.
Mallorca is therefore far more than a backdrop in Todd’s latest work. The island provides the setting for Oriah’s summer, her relationship with Julián and the experiences that force her to reassess her life.
The novel also touches on some of the tensions surrounding modern Mallorca, including the contrast between the island’s appeal to international visitors and the concerns of people living there. Todd discussed the book during her FLEM appearance, which came as she returned to an island that has become increasingly important to her work.
From After to Mallorca
Todd shot to international fame with After, which began as fan fiction before becoming a publishing phenomenon.
The series has been translated into 35 languages and sold more than 12 million copies worldwide, making Todd one of the most commercially successful authors of her generation. She has also worked as a producer and screenwriter on film adaptations of her books.
Her other work includes The Brightest Stars, The Spring Girls and the After graphic novels, while The Last Sunrise marks her latest move into a story rooted in Mallorca.
That connection gave FLEM a particularly strong local hook, with readers able to hear directly from an internationally successful author about a novel inspired by the island.
British authors join international line-up
Todd was not the only international literary star at FLEM 2026.
The festival’s programme included British novelist Anna Hope, author of Expectation, Wake, The Ballroom and Albion. British writer and journalist Lara Pawson also appeared, taking part in a conversation with Mallorcan author Aina Fullana.
Another British name on the 2026 programme was Ben Brooks, who appeared in conversation with German-Afghan writer and poet Aria Aber.
The international line-up helped make the sixth edition one of FLEM’s biggest yet, with more than 30 writers, artists and creators taking part.
Magaluf’s literary transformation
Held from October 1 to 4, the 2026 festival moved to a new home at INNSiDE Wave Calvià, bringing literature, music, podcasts, art and live events together under one roof.
FLEM is organised by independent Palma bookshop Rata Corner and INNSiDE by Meliá, with the aim of bringing literature to new audiences and challenging the traditional image of a literary festival.
The 2026 programme also introduced the new FLEM-Magaluf Novel Prize and a literary residency, adding a stronger focus on supporting emerging writers.
More than 13,000 people attended this year’s four-day festival, according to post-event coverage, an eight per cent increase on 2025.
For four days, Magaluf became an unlikely meeting point for bestselling authors, emerging writers and readers, with Anna Todd’s Mallorca-set novel providing one of the clearest links between the island and the international literary world.
