Four and a half stars: A beautiful, poignant, emotional book that features two romances as well as a tour of Cuba. Don’t miss this one.

Marisol’s heart is hammering. She is finally here in Cuba, the country of her grandmother’s birth, the place she has been dreaming of since she was a small child. Unfortunately, Marisol’s beloved grandmother isn’t here to see Cuba with her after all these years. Hidden in the depths of Marisol’s bag are her grandmother’s ashes. Marisol has been tasked with finding the perfect place to spread her grandmother’s remains. As Marisol explores Cuba, she makes new friends, finds love, and discovers some heartbreaking secrets about her grandmother’s past. Will Cuba break Marisol’s heart as well?
What I Liked:
*Next Year in Havana is a lovely read that blends the past and the present beautifully. This is the story of two women who fell in love in Cuba during turbulent times. It is also a tale about Cuba, its people and its history I loved the way this story moves back and forth through time, as it weaves together two romances, while exploring Cuba’s troubling past and uncertain future. Don’t miss this one.
*What I loved the most about this book was exploring Cuba. Living in the United States, Cuba is an enigma. Most of us know very little about this clandestine country other than it has great cigars and rum, a despot leader, and the turbulent relations between the U.S. and Cuba. This book peels back the layers and exposes Cuba’s bloody past during Castro’s revolution in 1959, and then it returns to the present as the Cuban people look to the future with hope once again. It was fascinating and terrifying to explore Cuba’s history, and its present conditions. If you are like me and have little knowledge of Cuba, I urge you to read this book.
*I loved the writing. Ms. Cleeton takes the reader on tour through Cuba. She manages to grab the reader with rich and enticing descriptions of aromatic foods, colorful and majestic buildings, classic cars, breathtaking ocean views and mesmerizing sunsets. I felt like I was transported to Cuba both present day and the Cuba of 1959. I quickly found myself googling images of all the places described in the book. Outstanding attention to detail.
*The romances are both beautiful and heartbreaking. I was torn between the two. Elise, Marisol’s grandmother, is a nineteen year old, wealthy heiress living in Cuba’s grand Miramar community. Her life is balls, dresses and finery. Everything changes when the revolution begins to build. The movement snatches away her brother and soon her heart. Elise falls hopelessly in love with an older man. He is a lawyer, handsome, charming and educated. The problem is that he is a revolutionary, and a relationship with him is forbidden, yet she falls in love anyway. As the world falls apart around them, Elise and Pablo find comfort in each other’s arms. Such emotion! Fast forward to present day when Marisol visits Cuba. She stays with her grandmother’s best friend, Ana, and soon finds herself unexpectedly developing feelings for Ana’s grandson, Luis. Marisol learns that Luis is a revolutionary in his own way, fighting to bring hope to Cubans. At first, I was enamored by Elise’s romance, but soon I was just as invested in Marisol’s affair. I loved the way the author wove both romances together.
*One of the most poignant moments of the story occurs toward the end when Marisol meets a man who comes forward to help her and Luis. This was such an unexpected and moving part of the story. It brought tears to me eyes.
*I was shocked to learn about life in Cuba. The author does an amazing job of exposing what the regime has done to the people, the country and the way of life in Cuba. It is heartbreaking and horrifying to see what tight control the government has over the people. Yet, they continue to fight, to hope and to live, always wanting for things to get better. This was such an informative read, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about Cuba.
*The book ends in a good spot, with hope for the future, yet a tantalizing thread is left dangling regarding Marisol’s alluring Aunt Beatriz. I am eagerly looking forward to Beatriz’s story.
And The Not So Much:
*The book opens with the Perez family in 1959 fleeing Cuba as Fidel Castro’s regime takes control. I kept hoping to learn more about Elise’s life after she left Cuba for the United States. Unfortunately, this part of her life is barely touched upon. I was curious to know how the Perez family reestablished themselves. I especially wanted to know more about Elise and how she ensure her own future.
*Marisol’s father is a mystery. I wanted to know more about him and his life.
*I felt like at certain points that the book got too wordy when it came to describing the conditions in Cuba. Some things were repeated, and it started dragging a bit.
*I was bothered by the way Luis’ mother and Christina treated Marisol. Why were they so hostile from the beginning?

Next Year in Havana is a moving story that weaves together two forbidden romances. One in present day, and one during the Cuban revolution in 1959. I loved exploring Cuba and learning more about its bloody past, and uncertain future. If you want to know more about Cuba, you must read this book. It is haunting, heartbreaking and beautiful. I won’t forget this one anytime soon.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

I kind of want to give this book a standing ovation. If you’ve read other works by this author, you should go in knowing that this is nothing like anything else she’s ever done before. Certainly there are love stories in this book – but the greatest love story of all may be between the richly layered characters Ms. Cleeton has given us, and the country that broke their hearts. It’s beautifully and authentically written, and I sit here a little bit in awe of everything I just read.

The story is told in dual time periods where we get a portrait of Elisa’s life during the volatile revolutionary period of the late 1950’s Cuba, and a portrait of Marisol’s as a Cuban American in present time. The storylines seem to run parallel to each other – events from Elisa’s life in the past often mirroring Marisol’s life in the present – and the storytelling is unparalleled. My heart belongs to both of these fierce, brave women and it breaks for the cruel realities of the hands they were dealt, and how they made the most of things. As I mentioned, there are so many love stories contained within these pages – and each one is incredibly rewarding in its own right.

Truly, I was drawn so far into this story, I began to feel Elisa and Marisol’s experiences tangibly. My heart raced, my arms ached with the need to hug these women who felt so real to me, my eyes welled with tears for each of them and the beautiful country they loved so dearly. I was fascinated by the history – beautifully and engagingly laid out for us in a way that not only held me captive to this story, but also had me googling events and places in Cuba so that my mind and heart could more fully embrace the words I was feeding them. In all, this was a stellar foray into historical fiction. I cannot recommend it highly enough, and I absolutely cannot wait for more!

Cuba is on the short list of places I want to visit and after reading this book, it completely remains there. A country that almost had the pause button pushed on innovation and infrastructure and has survived through many a men with differing opinions on how to move the country forward. I have never read a book set in Cuba and after reading this one, I am going to seek out more!

A dual narrative with one taking place in our current day of 2017 and the other 60 years ago when Fidel was coming to power and the people of Cuba were wondering if this change of power would be a good move. I loved the reason that Marisol goes to Cuba, but I wish her grandmother had left her more than a box of letters. I didn't love that I was reading the full story of Eliza while Marisol was getting a very edited version, I had to remind myself that Marisol didn't know everything I did, wish we were discovering things together.

All in all, I completely adored this book. I would love to read more fiction that takes place in Cuba to learn more about this country both in the time frames presented here and more. Have you read any really good fiction set in Cuba? What is a country that you would love to dive into a fiction story of?

I absolutely adored this book! With such imagery and heartfelt writing, I was unable to put it down. The story of Elisa and her experiences as a young woman who finds her heart, family and country torn apart by the Cuban Revolution unfolds in a breathtaking tale of high society, political tensions, and love. As her granddaughter Marisol travels to Cuba to carry out Elisa’s final wishes she stumbles upon Elisa’s secrets, and must decide for herself what holds more power... her heart, her family or her country. I highly recommend this book and hope to read more by Chanel Cleeton.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

When I first heard about this book, I was dying to read it.  First of all, I've always had a fascination with stories about Havana especially around the Revolution period.  Whether it's movies or books, it just draws me in and I want to know more.  And honestly, if that beautiful cover doesn't make you want to pick it up then I don't know what else can.

From the moment I cracked it open one thing was clear.  This was going to be an emotional ride.  NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, closure and new beginnings.  About sacrifice and pride.  And in the midst of that it also gives us a genuine glimpse into real life events from a perspective that is not often what we hear about from history books.

Marisol Ferrera is a young Cuban-American who travels to Cuba after her grandmother's death to spread her ashes.  Her grandmother's last wish was that of returning to the homeland she was ripped away from without a choice when she was a young woman.  In that process, Marisol gets to connect with a country and roots that she only ever heard of through stories.  But aside from trying to find herself and where she belongs through the streets of 2017 Havana she also learns who her grandmother really was.  That young woman that her grandmother had to leave behind all those years ago.

This story is narrated in dual POVs and two time periods.  Marisol, the granddaughter in 2017 and Elisa Perez back in 1958-1959.  Both stories had me riveted to the pages.  Both stories heartbreaking for different reasons.  And also both so intertwined and connected.  It would've been easy to connect more with one than the other but the way Ms. Cleeton delivers this story is masterful.  It felt alive, intense, it had it's own heartbeat and I was enthralled with it.  Truly riveting and unputdownable.  I didn't want this story to end while at the same time I needed to get to the end and find out what happened.

While both time periods feature a romance, there's something about Elisa's love story that gutted me.  The love was deep and real, the sacrifices were immeasurable.  While Marisol's romance is nowhere near that and the ending to their love story was probably an easy out, I was still happy with it.  But this is about so much more than the romance to me.  The picture it vividly painted about Cuba then and now was touching and thought-provoking.  Fair warning... this is most definitely an ugly cry book.

I don't think I can recommend this book enough.  It's by far my favorite book by this author and I'm so excited that she'll be releasing another book set in this world and this time give us the story about another one of the Perez sisters.  I'm already impatiently waiting.

When I first saw the cover of this book, I fell in love with it! The romance continued with the title and carried through to the last page! I knew so little of the history of Havana and knew little of the horrors of Fidel Castro. But even in the story of revolution and war there is beauty and love through the generations! A beautiful story of a grandmother and granddaughter!

The two-perspective/dual-timeline is getting to be an overused gimmick, and needs to be done really well or not at all. In this case it was not done well - both perspectives are written in first person present tense which makes them blend together instead of being distinct.

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton is quite the departure from Cleeton's contemporary romance series, but she delivered a rich, detailed historical fiction with an air of mystery and a look into Cuba's history, culture, and people.

Well, this book just about destroyed me, folks. I wasn't sure if Next Year in Havana would be my kind of book, but when a friend recommended it, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It's safe to say, this friend definitely has incredible tastes, and I'm so grateful that she got me to pick this book up because it's one that will stay with me forever and also one I will eagerly revisit in the future.

Next Year in Havana is told in two POVs that cover two different timelines. The first timeline tells the story of Elisa in 1958 Havana, Cuba, and the second timeline follows Elisa's granddaughter, Marisol, as she travels back to Havana to scatter her grandmother's ashes. I'm always wary of books that tackle dual timelines, but I had nothing to worry about here because Chanel Cleeton weaves the two of them beautifully. I think why it worked brilliantly here for me was because of the equal attention she gives the two characters. I had no favorites when it came to the characters. I found both to be equally powerful, and equally enticing. Elisa's story is perhaps more heartbreaking, and more infused in danger, given the political climate of Cuba during her years of growth. I loved Elisa's story. It's just full of emotions and it's so poignant. She grows up part of the Cuban high society and has had more of a sheltered life than others in Cuba. She meets a charming older man at a party and falls passionately and hopelessly in love with him. Only thing in their way? He's a revolutionary secretly working with Fidel Castro to upend the government. I fell hard for these two characters, and it was tough at times watching the two of them go through what they had to. Cleeton does a beautiful job at highlighting the despair in Cuba but also the hope that exists between them. I swear there were times I was full-on sobbing, curled up in a fetal position - yeah, it's THAT kind of book.

Marisol's story is equally compelling. She grew up very close to her grandmother and thought she knew everything possible about Elisa, but upon arriving in Cuba, her life turns upside down when makes new revelations. As she travels through Havana in attempt to find the perfect place to scatter her grandmother's ashes and meets people her grandmother knew in her younger days along the way, she not only discovers more about the hopes, dreams and sorrow that her grandma faced, but also discovers more about her own self. Marisol also finds romance in the arms of a swoony history professor, grandson of Elisa's best friend, who also happens to have his share of secrets. The romance here is subtle, but it's not lacking of really sweet and emotional scenes as the two get to know each other.

Besides the amazing characters, Next Year in Havana is full of rich history and culture. I knew the basics of the Cuban revolution, but this book taught quite a few things. I was horrified and fascinated, and I just felt all the emotions. I have to applaud Cleeton's writing abilities here. She made the atmosphere come alive in both timelines with her flawless prose. I was there along with Elisa and Marisol as they navigated Havana. There are also some fascinating secondary characters here, who seemed to have their own share of stories. Of particular interest to me was Elisa's rebellious sister, Beatriz. I've been told she's getting a book of her own, so I'm really excited.

I really hope you guys consider reading Next Year in Havana. It's such a poignant and vivid historical fiction, with absolutely luscious writing, and it's a book I know will stay with me for the longest time. Read it, and fall in love with these two characters as I did.

<i>There's a violence to our history that gets lost somewhere in the telling, buried beneath beautiful scenery, the deceptively blue sea and sky, the palm trees swaying placidly in the breeze. It's the sound of firing squads that echo in the wind.</i>

As a fan of Cleeton's light, yet angsty, funny and sexy air force series, I was looking forward to -- and greatly curious as to -- how she would tackle a heavier more historical family saga which was nothing like what she had offered us before. NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA was so much more than I thought it would be and nothing like I expected.

<i>To be in exile is to have the things you love most in the world -- the air you breathe, the earth you walk upon -- taken from you.</i>

First of all, I have to bring attention to the best part : the author's writing. Cleeton's narrative is romantic, stark, hopeful, and devastating. Her prose is stunning and jawdropping, lyrical and brutal, and I was honestly blown away by some of the passages I encountered. Some needed to be read more than once and I was still left in awe.

<i>It's impossible to stand near the flame consuming everything around you and not have some of that fire catch the hem of your skirt, too.</i>

The history is the main focus of this story. The politics, the social climate of Cuba, the struggles and losses, the revolutions, the dreams of a better future even after countless broken promises.. it is so very real. This is the heart of Cleeton's novel. This <b>is</b> the novel. There is romance woven through, two different ones, separated by sixty years, and yet the love story feels stronger between the Cuban people and their country than it did the characters; at least in the case of the contemporary couple.

"<i>I wish there wasn't such a sharp divide between those who have everything and those who simply yearn for a chance at more.</i>"

I definitely felt more of a connection with Elisa's storyline -- one of four daughters of a wealthy and respected sugar baron -- in the '50s than I did with Marisol, Elisa's granddaughter who is journeying back to Cuba to scatter Elisa's ashes, in 2017. While there was hardly a moment that wasn't tied up in politics and history, I felt it overshadowed the present day story and timeline and made the romance between Marisol and Luis during their whirlwind adventures together even less believable. I understand the need for the history lesson, the politics, but it started to feel a little less like discussion and more like a textbook. But every moment with Elisa, her sisters, the whole dynamic, really moved me. Not to mention how her story ends..

<i>It is a remarkably painful thing to have someone you care about and admire judge your existence, your very identity, the world you inhabit, and deem it rotten to the core.</i>

There were a few little throwaways near the end of the book that make me curious about a possible sequel/companion. It's probably way too early to be wondering about that as this book isn't even out yet, but I would be all over that. Beatriz was one of my favourite characters and I would absolutely love to hear her side of things and experience all the adventures she's surely had.

<i>Can you have a relationship where you exist in half measures, or does the very nature of love demand you throw yourself into it with gusto?</i>

I think a lot of fans of Cleeton's prior books will be really impressed with what she's offered here. And while I might have preferred more time spent on a more solid foundation for the romance and a teensy bit less rehashing of political debates, you can absolutely feel the love woven into the soul of this tale.

3.75 "why do people always seize on the spark that can peter out as the measure of a relationship" stars

What a book to start off my 2018! Next Year in Havana is a spellbinding tale told from two points of view, and times in history. Present day journalist Marisol has traveled to Cuba to spread her beloved grandmother, Elisa’s, ashes. Elisa was like a mother to Marisol and told her all her tales of growing up in Cuba- romanticism at its best. When she then travels to Cuba, Marisol is unprepared for the contrast between her grandmother’s Pre-Fidel, Batista Cuba, to the Post-Fidel Cuba she finds herself in. There is beauty in this story and in the history of Cuba’s heart. When you revisit history, you are sure to stumble upon secrets you never knew were there.

Discovering a grandmother she thought she knew, Marisol learns the truth and finds she is more like her grandmother than she ever could have possibly imagined.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All Opinions are my Own.

The imagery in Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton will transport you to Cuba 1958 from page one. The author does a nice job of describing Cuba in such a way that it makes the reader feel as though they were there before and through the revolution when Fidel Castro and his comrades took over and Batista fled the country.

What I liked most about this book is that Elisa's and Marisol's (her granddaughter) stories are narrated in past and present real-life events, which I thought added the "X" factor to the story and made the characters three dimensional.

Next Year in Havana isn't a romance novel, though there are two romances that develop but again the romance isn't the focal point of the story. The focus of this book is on the sacrifices people made, whether they were right or wrong, with the goal to have a free, democratic Cuba, and have the ability to provide a better way of life for their loved ones. Oh boy, did their effort bite them in the ass?

Elisa's and Pablo's romance develops in 1958-1959, and I have to say this was my favorite part of the story. I thought the love they had for each other was genuine and the struggle of their stolen moments to see each other while the revolution was happening translated on the page perfectly. 

Now, fast forward to 2017 when Marisol meets Luis at the Havana International airport. Their attraction is palpable from the moment they set eyes on each other, and I really liked their banter. But soon after I found that I didn't really care for them. Luis is an alright character until he has to make a decision and the wrong one at that because he's just too freaking stubborn to accept his reality. It's almost as though he wants to make the same mistake Pablo made with Elisa decades ago. Marisol is supposed to be in Havana only one week, so I had a hard time believing how she could fall head over heels for someone in a day or two, to the point of confessing "I love you". Excuse me, but it's 2017. People have casual sex any day of the week and they're not saying "I love you" the next day. 

I loved this book until I didn't so much. It was great until Marisol uncovers her grandmother's secret. That was a SHOCKING plot twist I didn't see coming and thought it was nicely done. The problem was that soon after that the story just dragged. I felt there was inner monologue on Marisol's POV that was overdone with how much she felt and she thought, and blah blah blah, which turned the story boring when it should've been wrapping up.

Overall, Next Year in Havana is a good story that many will enjoy. I know I did up until after its climax. If it hadn't been for what I thought was unnecessary thoughts/fillers, the story would've been one of my favorite books this year.

Some reads give me an escape.

Some reads give me an education.

And every once in a while, I'm lucky enough to read something that gives me both an escape and an education.


Today, I finished Next Year in Havana and Chanel Cleeton immersed me in love story that was heartbreaking and sweet and so very educational. She made me fall in love with Elisa and Marisol and showed me the downfall of romanticizing places and revolutions. Not only did she have my heart aching and breaking and swooning over the stories of Elisa and Marisol and their complicated connections to Cuba, she plunged me into a time of revolution and fear and hope. She showed me how layered and complex the history and future of Cuba is and she did this as she had me falling for the loves of Elisa and Marisol.


Hours later, I'm still contemplating this novel. I keep thinking about all the Elisas and Anas and Marisols that have lived (or, are living) through such sweeping change in their countries. I think about the various decisions that have to be made and lived with--and how one difference in a decision can change the outcome of everything. I think about the power of love and friendship and hope and courage.


Next Year in Havana is a story of love and loyalty between a young woman and her family, her lover, her country, and her friend. It's one that will keep you thinking long after the story has ended.

I enjoyed this book very much.

The cover is so pretty and captures the essence of the book perfectly.

Chanel Cleeton's descriptions of Havana through the scenery, neighborhoods, the homes and kitchens, the food, and environment is detailed enough to make you feel as if you are there. The plot, the characters, the setting, and the relationships were very well written. I enjoyed both stories so much that I was wistful when the chapters ended and transitioned between Elisa and Marisol. I wanted to keep going with the current character's story!

I loved how the 2 storylines converged in such an unexpected way.

I loved the strong grandmother-granddaughter relationship between Marisol and Elisa. It had me thinking about how a relationship with a grandmother can be so different than a relationship with a mother.

You can feel the author's personal connection in the story because Chanel Cleeton’s family fled Cuba in the late 60s. The political climate during the time of President Bautista and Fidel Castro is so vivid and descriptive.
The characters passionate feelings about their country and reflections of the political unrest were obviously written by someone who experienced it firsthand.

You don't have to know anything about Cuba or have visited the country to appreciate this book. It also made me thankful to be a United States citizen where political freedom of expression is welcomed.

If you have an interest in the history of Cuba, or if you want to learn more about it through historical fiction, Next Year in Havana is a book that you won't want to miss!

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

This was courtesy of another NetGalley request. Have I mentioned how much I love NetGalley? Getting a chance to read books early is my favorite!

Anyway. So, Cuba.

I’m not going to lie….I don’t profess to know a lot about Cuba, it’s culture, or the revolution that has led to it’s current state. This book, while fiction, still provides a great history lesson for those of us not in the know.

The story of Marisol Ferrera and her journey to connect with her Grandmother’s home country of Cuba after her passing is very moving. Told between Marisol’s journey, and the time leading up to her Grandmother’s family fleeing the country after Fidel Castro takes power. Marisol learns secrets of her Grandmother’s life that change the way she looked at her family and the country that she had never been to before.

Her Grandmother Elisa’s last wish is to have her ashes spread over the country she loved, and she trusts her favorite grandchild to do it. Marisol travels to Cuba, not knowing what to expect. She connects with Elisa’s best friend and starts to learn more about her Grandmother’s life before the revolutionaries took over. Her family was rich and friendly with the Batista regime, which is what the revolutionaries were fighting against. The story shows how Elisa meets a young man who changes her view on both the regime and Fidel’s revolution. Ultimately her family needs to flee and heads to Miami. They rebuild their lives there and Elisa starts a new life.

Marisol is on a journey of her own back to her grandmother’s homeland. She meets a young man who inspires her in ways she didn’t know. Even though Fidel is dead, there is still crack downs on protests, bloggers, and revolutionary ideas. Marisol realizes that there is a lot left to learn about Cuba and her family. A major secret is revealed which puts her and her fellow in danger. There plight mirrors what Elisa went through during the Fidel revolution.

I have to say, I loved learning more about Cuba’s history. This book will eventually follow with another story about one of Elisa’s sisters who may or may not have worked with revolutionaries in the past. I’d be excited to read that one too!

While the book started slow, once the revolution kicked off in Elisa’s time and Marisol started to learn more about her Grandmother’s life the book really started to hook me. By then I couldn’t put it down (metaphorically of course….I was reading it on my kindle.) I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Also, I loved learning that Cuban exiles toast ever year with the saying “Next year in Havana…” They are always tied to their country, even if they don’t know if they’d ever go back or make it back.

This was a great book that tied history, mystery, and romance

My first read of 2018 was an unexpected treasure. I knew that I would enjoy NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA by Chanel Cleeton based on who recommended it to me, but I didn't realize how much I would get from the book. The story follows a Cuban family (Elisa and her granddaughter Marisol) and is told in dual timelines - when Fidel Castro came into power and when he died. You can tell that there are a lot of actual family history that were passed down to the author to enable her to write with such authority and passion. There is so much angst and struggle in this book yet it always has hope. This book is a gem that I often stopped reading so that I could check something out online or stop to think about how it would feel to live in that kind of an environment. While historical fiction is not a text book, I do appreciate it when it makes you stop and think about something that happened and sparks an interest and an understanding. This book did have one part that was aggravating only because it was tied up too nicely but the content and composure in the rest of the novel made this forgivable. The writing in this book is even more beautiful than the cover which is saying something as well. I will purchase this one and re-read it and think that it would be an exceptional choice for a book club book.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this peak into the world of Cubans, both in Cuba then and now and in Florida.

My Review of “Next Year in Havana” by Chanel Cleeton

I loved everything about “Next Year in Havana” by Chanel Cleeton. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction and Fiction. I appreciate the descriptions of the beauty and destruction of Cuba, and both the hope and despair of the Cuban people.

The timelines for this story are 1958 in Havana Cuba, where we meet Elisa Perez, a 19-year-old unaware of Cuba’s political problems. Elisa’s family is very wealthy and produces sugar. Elisa happens to meet a young revolutionary, and her life changes forever. When Fidel Castro takes over Cuba, the Perez family is forced to leave Cuba to go to Miami.

In 2017, in Miami, Journalist Marisol Ferrara, granddaughter of Elisa is dealing with her grandmother’s death. Marisol was brought up by Elisa and has always heard stories about growing up in Cuba. Elisa honors her grandmother’s written request to take her ashes to Cuba, and find the appropriate place to scatter them.

The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complex and complicated, perhaps due to the political climate of the times. The characters are brave, courageous, and have secrets. In both timelines, it is evident that no one lives in a “free” society in Cuba. Marisol gets to see the Cuba of her grandmother’s dreams. It is an eye-opening experience in Cuba, to see how the people live today.

Kudos to the author for weaving her novel with two stories with such appropriate and descriptive detail. The author describes the importance of family, friends, loyalty, courage, love and hope. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of Historical Fiction. I received An Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

You can add this gorgeous book to your #TBR list. Every page is as beautiful as the cover, definitely 5 star. Can't not wait to read the next book. A great insight into Cuba that many of us have never seen. Great historical detail and remarkable characters. I would definitely recommend to friends and readers of historical fiction.