The first book of Cleeton's I read was Next Year in Havana. Although it wasn't my favorite, I enjoyed her writing enough to keep an eye out for future books. When I read When We Left Cuba I was really enjoyed it, and knew I'd be reading more of Cleeton's work. The Last Train to Key West was not a disappointment. I was drawn into the story from the very start and enjoyed the interwoven stories of three very different women. The historic Florida setting and backdrop of the Labor Day hurricane lent a level of excitement and urgency to the story. I did feel this could have been explored a bit more deeply, the actual hurricane hit felt briefer and less intense than I imagined. At its heart, though, this book is far more romance than action, so I suppose I shouldn't be that surprised. The ending and "plot twists" did feel a bit too predictable and convenient, but I can forgive it that as it is an enjoyable read.

I’m a huge fan of Cleeton’s previous Cuban themed historical fiction novels, and The Last Train to Key West is no exception. Cleeton has created a fictional world of strong female protagonists exploring the nuances of Cuban and American politics across her companion novels, and while each story explores a fascinating mix of history, drama, and romance, I found The Last Train to Key West to be my favorite yet!

The Last Train to Key West has subtle nods to Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba, featuring a protagonist who is Beatriz and Elisa’s aunt, Mirta, who’s just been married off to an American “businessman” and left Cuba for a honeymoon in the Florida Keys. While as an avid fan of Cleeton’s first two novels I enjoyed the references to the Perez family, reading her prior books is not necessary to enjoy this story. Cleeton’s third novel focuses less on post WWII Cuba and more on Cuban American politics, taking place in the Florida Keys during the great depression and exploring the aftermath of WWI on the country. The story also follows three separate women, all from very different backgrounds and geographic locations: Mirta from Cuba, Elizabeth from New York, and Helen from Key West. While it was my first time reading a Cleeton novel that centered protagonists outside of the Perez family, I found the different POVs to be well written and they all intersected and were woven together perfectly to create a cohesive story.

Helen, a waitress at a local diner, is in a marriage she longs to escape but feels bound by societal pressure and has a baby on the way. Her job sets the scene for many of the pivotal encounters of the story, as key players to the plot pass in and out of the diner and interact with her. She’s steady, thoughtful, and resilient. I loved her story of quiet strength and think out of all of the characters she had the greatest character arc, from downtrodden wife to resilient mother in just the space of a few days.

Elizabeth is a former socialite who’s family fell into financial ruin due to the Great Depression. She’s decided to take fate into her own hands by traveling down to Key West from New York by herself to find a long lost relation who she believes can help save her family. She ends up meeting and teaming up with a federal investigator when she reaches Key West and finds herself involved in an organized crime investigation. Elizabeth’s story took quite a few turns and yet paralleled the other two women’s in its own way.

Mirta, the Perez family’s relative, has just arrived in Key West on her honeymoon with a man she barely knows, a “businessman” from New York with a questionably large sum of money and even more questionable connections. Through Mirta readers gain insight into the unrest that’s befalling Cuba, with Machado falling out of favor and Batista taking over (an interesting parallel to Next Year in Havana when Elisa’s family is then dealing with the same predicament when Castro comes to power and ousts Batista). Mirta is unsure of her new husband’s temperament and motivations and what life away from her beloved Cuba will be like. I found her story to be the most interesting and actually really enjoyed the romance between her and Anthony!

I loved that all three protagonists had different motivations, goals and priorities and though they all went about their journeys in different ways, their paths kept crossing (even if they didn’t realize it). There were a few twists and connections I was able to guess early on View Spoiler » but others that really took me by surprise but were excellently and sneakily woven in by the author View Spoiler » The fact that the author was able to make me so invested in the characters’ lives in a book that essentially takes place over the course of a long weekend was truly impressive, and I would 100% love to see these women pop up in Cleeton’s future works, even in just cameo appearances! I would also say that this novel is less political and more character driven than Cleeton’s other installments in this series, which makes it a quick, page turner of a read but is still clearly well researched and adds color and life to elements of Depression-era history that many may not be familiar with, including the WWI veterans’ camps in the Florida Keys and The Bonus Army.

I can’t fail to mention the backdrop and perhaps catalyst for the entire story, the Labor Day hurricane. I did a little internet sleuthing and this hurricane was one of the deadliest to ever make landfall in the United States and pretty much obliterated the Keys- and the author pays homage to the devastating experience in her writing. All three of the women face the hurricane in different dire circumstances, from being trapped in a floating cottage that’s been ripped from it’s foundation to dealing with desperate looters to being swept away in the storm surge itself; the descriptions of what the characters faced were truly catastrophic and mind-boggling. As someone who lives nowhere near a hurricane zone, it’s hard to fathom the magnitude of the damage but Cleeton paints the terror and sensory experience of the storm so vividly, and doesn’t hold back in detailing the horrific aftermath.

Overall: The Last Train to Key West is a fabulous, fast paced historical fiction novel that explores the intersection of the lives of three dynamic women and their journeys through finding both independence and romance. The plot was intricately crafted and even the smallest details seamlessly came together by the end of the story. I can’t recommend this book enough for even the most casual fans of historical fiction!

I was really excited about this book since I adored both Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba, however, I was a bit disappointed with this one. I had a difficult time getting into it at the beginning and just when the story started to pick up it came to an abrupt end and I was left wanting to know more about where the characters would end up. On a positive note, Cleeton found a little known piece of history to write about. The Last Train to Key West is based on the incredible true story of the powerful hurricane that hit the Florida Keys in 1935; an historical event I did not previously know about, so I did learn something new by picking up this book.

This was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. This is about three very different women, and the men they find themselves with, in the Florida keys with the backdrop of the worst hurricane to ever hit Florida. I did not know anything about the hurricane that hit the Florida keys in 1935 or about the WWI veterans who were down there in labor camps to build a highway. What I love about historical fiction is that I always want to learn the true history about what I am reading in the fictional book. I recently visited Key West which is what made me want to read the book.

This neat little story intertwines the lives and loves of three women who find themselves in Key West and surrounding environs as they each face a personal fork in the road during a powerful hurricane that threatens to upend their already tenuous grasp on survival during the Great Depression. Recommended for fans of Beatriz Williams and Fiona Davis.

Set in the 1930s, Chanel Cleeton's most recent novel is a beautiful weaving story of three women, strangers to one another, at different stages in relationships as a horrible hurricane heads their way.

The way Cleeton introduces depression era Key West in a whimsical, raw, and haunting way will stay with me for some time.

Chanel Cleeton has become a must-read author for me! I enjoy historical fiction, and her books are always very well researched. I appreciate that effort!

The story follows three women in the Florida Keys: Elizabeth, running from a forced marriage in New York; Mirta, Cuban, and just married to a man she barely knows, and Helen, pregnant, with an abusive husband. Their lives intersect in a surprising way during a devastating 1935 hurricane, which was one of the most powerful ever to hit the US. This novel is page turning historical fiction at its best: intriguing women dealing with situations they did not choose, and an intense storm that changed everything. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the ARC.

Gripping novel of three women from different backgrounds, that endure the Hurricane of 1935 during Labor Day weekend in 1935.
All three wanted to escape to a better life, but did they fulfill there dreams or meet a certain tragic end?

Three women, tied together through their men and a hurricane, live their lives trying to escape from more than a hurricane.

Helen is a pregnant waitress with an abusive fisherman husband. Elizabeth is a former debutante who is in Florida looking for her brother and Mirta is a newlywed in the area on her honeymoon. Helen is trying to figure out how to survive and leave her abusive husband to protect her unborn child. Elizabeth is engaged to someone she doesn't want to marry because her family's fortune disappeared during the Great Depression and several of her family members took their own lives. Mirta is married to a man she barely knows, far away from her native Cuba where she left her family and friends. All three women are at a precipice in their lives and at that moment the moment, one of the worst hurricanes to every hit the East Coast of the United States strikes the Florida Keys.

The Last Train to Key West is another amazing book by Chanel Cleeton. Despite having an infant at home, I could not put this down! I was drawn into the world of Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth in 1935. I loved all of their stories, but especially enjoyed the masterful way in with Cleeton connected them. I love books with multiple points of view and Cleeton does this so well. Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth were all so different, but I loved how they were intertwined. Every time I read one of Chanel Cleeton's books set in or around Cuba, I want to dive into the history of that time period and always find myself googling to learn more. I've loved all of her books so far and this one was incredible. I highly recommend pre-ordering this so you have a copy when it releases on June 16th.

Thank you to Netgalley, Berkley, and Chanel Cleeton for an ARC of The Last Train to Key West in exchange for an honest review.

I will update with the link as soon as I share it to my instagram account.

Read in March: I tried to wait until closer to publication date to read this one but it was just calling to me. And what better book to read during Women's History Month than the third installment in the Havana series featuring three amazing, strong female leads. I thought the story had great pacing and seamlessly shifted between points of view and storylines. If you're also a fan of the series, this is one you will absolutely not want to miss when it hits shelves in June.

3 for neutral, will update if able to read in entirety and enjoy. Tried on multiple occasions, but just couldn’t get into it. Will update if able to at a later date!

If you are a fan of Chanel Cleeton's other books then this will already be on your TBR list. If you haven't discovered her yet start with The Last Train to Key West and you will want to read her others asap. This was my favorite so far. You might not even need a book mark because you won't be able to put it down! I became so invested in the intertangled lives of these women's stories and needed to know how it would all play out for them with urgency. Yes, you could say I was swept right up in the storm.
If you are looking for historical fiction that doesn't leave you feeling ripped apart, then this is for you.

Solid historical novel! I will admit I knew nothing about the Great Depression in Florida before reading this book. To be honest, when I imagine the Great Depression, I always picture the Dust Bowl and westward expansion. However, I appreciate historical fiction that makes me consider something I've never thought of before, so this one was right up my alley. Economic insecurity, an incoming hurricane, a gangster turf war, new and old love, the pathetic treatment of veterans, questionable decisions by the government ... this book has plenty to root for (and root against).

Really great story about the 1935 Hurricane that impacted the Florida Keys. Recently I had read The Last Train to Paradise which is a story of Henry Flagler and his desire to connect Key West to the rest of the United States thus opening up the Cuba and Caribbean trade. I loved this story because of the historic accuracy and because of how Cleeton intertwined the lives of three women from different backgrounds. Each of these believable female characters had a choice to make about their lives so that they could live as the women they were meant to be free of the constraints of their individual society. I liked that they were all women of different backgrounds facing the same challenges. Some twists and turns and nicely plotted with some tension that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Three women find themselves in the Florida Keys at major life decision points. As reports of an oncoming storm float around, the women will have to decide whether they can live with their choices. Author Chanel Cleeton digs into a fascinating true-life event with keen prose and distinct characters in The Last Train to Key West.

It’s the start of the Labor Day weekend, 1935, in Key West, but Helen Berner doesn’t have much to celebrate. Her fisherman husband, Tom, is either on his boat or drinking away what he earns. Helen’s learned not to complain. Tom makes sure she stays quiet, and if she ever forgets the bruises remind her.

In the past, Helen’s found ways to justify Tom’s behavior. Now she’s pregnant, and the baby is due within a few weeks. With motherhood descending on her, Helen finds it harder to convince herself she’s safe.

Mirta Perez has just arrived from Havana on the island with Anthony for their honeymoon. It should be a magical, romantic time…except that her wedding was a business transaction. The Cuban revolution of 1933 devastated her family; when Anthony asked Mirta’s father for her hand, Mirta agreed. Anthony got a wife, and her family got the funds needed to rebuild.

The flush of a new relationship is colored by Anthony’s profession. While he calls himself a businessman, Mirta knows he’s a gangster, albeit a handsome, well-dressed, rich one. She tries to reconcile that fact with the man who is attracted and attentive to her in surprising ways.

On the train down from New York, Elizabeth Preston arrives in Key West determined to save her family from ruin. She’s searching for the one person who can help her. His last letter carried a Key West postmark, and Elizabeth is convinced he’s in one of the veteran camps there.

The camps are supposed to give veterans of the Great War a chance to earn an honest living, but Elizabeth discovers they’re horrible places where the soldiers who fought to protect the country are shipped and forgotten. With the help of FBI agent Sam Watson, Elizabeth begins visiting the camps, keeping her eyes sharp for a familiar face.

All three women hear about the storm that so many Keys natives are sure will miss the islands. Weather experts can’t agree on where it will go. As it churns closer, Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth must all make the same decision about the storm and themselves: should they stay, or should they leave?

Author Chanel Cleeton takes several intriguing pieces of history and fuses them seamlessly. She highlights people suffering during the Great Depression between the World Wars, emphasizing the quiet desperation so many felt. By adding the real-life veteran camps in Florida, Cleeton emphasizes a fact that still haunts this country today: veterans who are forgotten after they return from service. With the inclusion of an ambitious railroad project and a record-setting hurricane, Cleeton creates the perfect storm for Helen, Mirta, and Elizabeth and their challenges.

Cleeton lends to each woman unique qualities that make them stand out. Helen’s weary tolerance as an abused victim juxtaposes Mirta’s hyperawareness of her abrupt change in circumstances from single girl to married woman, and both balance Elizabeth’s idealistic resolve to find her loved one and bring him home. Cleeton builds into the story layers of conflicts and challenges, and the storm looms over all three of them as it does everyone else in the Keys.

In describing the storm and the aftermath, Cleeton captures the hurricane experience with precision. Those who have lived through hurricanes will find themselves nodding along with her descriptions. Those who haven’t experienced one of the magnified storms will get a good idea of what it’s like.

While Cleeton relies a little bit on serendipity to bring the three women together, their encounters feel organic. The surprise she saves for readers at the end is welcome and a true “aha!” moment. Readers will finish this one grinning with delight at how it all comes together, which is why I recommend they Bookmark The Last Train to Key West.

I hate to say this but I think Chanel Cleetons books have gotten weaker as she writes... this felt like a novella. There didn’t feel like a lot of plot set up, character development felt nonexistent to me. I liked the idea of the plot but the execution wasn’t great. There are better historical fiction books out there, and I’d recommend her first 2 before I’d recommend this one. (Also based on other reviews I’m in the minority)

The Last Train to Key West
by Chanel Cleeton
Berkley Publishing Group
You Like Them
Berkley
Historical Fiction | Multicultural Interest
Pub Date 16 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 16 Jul 2020

Loved this new book by Chanel Cleeton. Thanks to Net Galley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC.
I knew very little of the hurricane and how it affected the area.
Great read!

I absolutely loved this book. I had no idea how bad things were for WW1 soldiers returning home or about the hurricane of 1935. I couldn’t put this book down. The drama, the romance, every story was so great. Usually I enjoy one story over the rest in books like this but that was not the case for this book. I would love for more stories to come from the main characters.