Tributes from across the book industry have been paid to “rare and radiant force” Sareeta Domingo after she died “suddenly” on Friday, 12th September. Domingo most recently held the role of publishing director at Jacaranda Books, having only joined the company in May this year.
Jacaranda paid tribute to Domingo, calling her a “trailblazer” within the publishing industry, adding that the “outpouring of love that has followed the announcement of her passing is a testament to the breadth of Sareeta’s impact as friend and champion of many across the industry”.
The publisher added that her passing is not only a “profound loss for our team” but also for the publishing industry, where she was regarded as a pioneering force. A statement added: “Her contributions as an editor, author, and champion for voices long underrepresented leave a legacy that will continue to shape the publishing industry.”
Valerie Brandes, founder and CEO of Jacaranda Books, said: “Sareeta was a brilliant publishing professional and a cherished friend whose beautiful smile, extraordinary creativity and kind generosity inspired us all who had the privilege of knowing her and working with her. Personally, I was deeply excited to begin this next chapter with her at Jacaranda and saw the spark and intention she brought to her role, which confirmed that the vision for the mission of Jacaranda was not just safe in her hands but would be expanded and built upon in the best ways possible. Beyond her professional brilliance, Sareeta’s contribution to literature and culture was extraordinary. Through her own writing and her editorial work, she was a keen supporter of underrepresented voices, championing stories of love, identity and belonging that too often go unheard. She was committed to ensuring that readers could see themselves reflected, and in doing so, she helped reshape the literary landscape to be more inclusive, authentic and rich with diversity. Her work opened doors, created opportunities, and has inspired countless writers and readers alike.”
She began her publishing career working as a fiction packager at Hothouse Fiction and Harlequin Mills & Boon before moving to Trapeze, an imprint of Orion, as editorial director in 2022. She was a “passionate champion for diverse voices”, and while at Trapeze she acquired and published authors including Kelechi Okafor and Stephanie Yeboah.
Katie Espiner, CEO of adult trade divisions at Hachette UK, said: “We are shocked and devastated to hear the news about our colleague, author and friend, Sareeta. She was truly extraordinary – an indefatigable champion of underrepresented voices, particularly those of Black British women, who worked tirelessly to raise others up, to share her platform and to challenge the industry to do better. Everyone who knew her could not help but be indelibly touched by her passion, her determination and her peerless style. We are richer to have known her. We will all miss her deeply and send our love and condolences to her family, her community, and everyone who loved her.”
Magdalene Abraha, publishing director nonfiction at Jacaranda Books, said: “Sareeta Domingo was a rare and radiant force. To work alongside Sareeta was to experience this firsthand, to witness her extraordinary ability to uplift others and to nurture stories with care. She brought light and depth to the written word every time. Beyond her immense talent, Sareeta carried herself with such warmth and humanity that everyone who met her felt truly seen and valued. Her passing is an immeasurable loss to us all, and we will endeavour to cherish her memory in our hearts and honour her incredible legacy.”
As an author, Sareeta’s novels include The Nearness of You (Piatkus, 2016), If I Don’t Have You (Jacaranda, 2020), and most recently, Possibility (Renegade, 2025). She was the creator, editor and a contributing writer of Who’s Loving You?, a celebration of love written by women of colour. She also published books for young adults with Hachette Children’s Books, numerous erotic short stories with Pavilion Books, and her journalism was featured in publications including Black Ballad, gal-dem, and Stylist.
Domingo’s literary agent, Lizzy Kremer at David Higham, said: “It was an honour to know Sareeta as a writer and as a person. As an acclaimed author of love stories, her gifts seemed to offer her access to our inner joys and griefs and desires. She and I shared an utmost respect for romance: which for me, translated into pure delight in her work. Sareeta’s latest novel, Possibility, was a particularly personal and important book. I learned so much from talking with Sareeta about this story, of a woman who, as she had, decides to make the very most of every moment she is given in life. Sareeta’s life was rich and well-lived, and she will be terribly missed.”
Christina Demosthenous, her former publisher at Renegade Books, said: “Possibility is a novel about making the most of every moment – a philosophy that Sareeta lived by, as well as wrote about. As an author, she was whip-smart and intuitive; she knew how to get to the very heart of characters and the glorious messiness of humans. As a colleague and friend, she was passionate, kind and had a wicked sense of humour. She cared deeply and this shone through in all the work she did to break down barriers in this industry and make a real difference. I will cherish the memories of working with Sareeta for the rest of my life. We will miss her tremendously.”