I loved this book! I have been a fan of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction books featuring Cuban characters since she started writing them. I was really excited to learn that this book would feature one of the Perez sisters but once I started reading and found in addition to a Perez sister we also get to read about their mother, Alicia, and their aunt, Rosa. I was pulled into this story from the first page and hated to put the book down until I had reached the very end.

Isabel is the oldest of the Perez sisters. When she learns that her sister, Beatriz, is missing in Barcelona, she travels to Spain hoping to find her. She soon meets Diego and the pair set off to track her down. Years earlier, Alicia also traveled to Spain with her young daughter, Isabel. While Alicia is in Spain, the county is filled with violence with war on the horizon. Rosa is a new wife back in Cuba who must say goodbye to her husband and he leaves to go to Spain to fight.

I was swept away by the stories of these women and the choices that they had to make. All three tried to balance the needs of their family against the things that they really want out of life. These women were loyal and passionate while trying to do the best they could in incredibly difficult situations. I was glued to the pages as they struggled to find the best future possible. I really liked the dynamics between the Perez sisters and liked that we got to see Alicia in both of the timelines.

I would highly recommend this book to others. It was hard not to fall in love with this group of characters and the story was filled with the perfect combination of passion and excitement. I cannot wait to read future works by this talented author.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

Thank you so much to Berkley Pub for an advanced copy of this book. I loved it!

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pub Date: May 24, 2022

I was highly anticipating this book, but I was also dreading it because Isabel was, up to this point, my least favorite Perez family member. This book completely changed that for me!

First off, can we all give a standing ovation to Isabel Perez in this story? Her heart, her courage, and her decisiveness all give me reasons to cheer for her. She started the story unsure of herself and her position, and by the end, she was a take charge of her future kind of girl. I loved that she evolved so much throughout the story! And, I love Chanel Cleeton's ability to create certain, tangible relationships among her characters. From the moment Diego stepped onto he pages, I knew he belonged with Isabel.

Second, Alicia. Talk about a storyline that broke my heart. I'm a sucker for missed chances when it comes to love, and Alicia missed her chance big time. It broke my heart, and the further I got into her storyline, the more my heart broke. I understand Alicia in a bigger way now, but I still feel like there is so much left to her story. I would love to know more about her time after returning to Emilio in Cuba.

Third, can we also give Chanel Cleeton a standing ovation? This book and the perfect way it pulled little Easter eggs from previous characters in her books was just amazing. I felt like I was returning to my own family reading this book because the characters were that familiar to me. And, I can't say it enough regarding Chanel Cleeton's ability to create the most tangible, strong relationships among her characters. She is a master of the pen and always keeps me wanting more from her relationships.

And that ending? Be still my heart. Perfection.

What a wonderful treat to be able to revisit the Perez sisters/family!


Barcelona, 1964

The book begins when Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to save her sister, Beatriz. While there she is joined by an unlikely ally and learns a little3 more about her family’s history.

Barcelona, 1936

Alicia Perez has traveled from Cuba to Barcelona with her young daughter in tow. But soon violence breaks out in Spain, and she is reunited with someone from her past.

In this book Isabel and Alicia's story lines intertwine.

Chanel Cleeton is such a gift writer who has done an impeccable amount of research in writing this book I really enjoy when I not only learn, but I am also entertained and moved by books and this one fit that bill!

I found this book to be gripping from the beginning. I enjoy her use of history and how it shapes her character's lives. Cleeton never disappoints and she nailed it once again in this book. I already have my hopes up that she will have another book out soon!

If you have not read her work, I highly recommend doing so.

Gripping, beautifully written, evoking emotion and hard to put down!

Thank you to Stephanie Felty, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Perez family returns in Chanel Cleeton’s new book.

In this installment we follow Isabel Perez in 1964 who goes to Barcelona looking for her sister, Beatriz, who has disappeared. In Barcelona she discovers a secret of her family’s past.

It’s 1936 and Alicia Perez, the matriarch of the Perez, family travels to Barcelona from Cuba with her little girl, Isabel. Her marriage is in jeopardy and the country is on the brink of war. She’s unexpectedly reunited with a man that she once loved. Will she stay in Barcelona or return to Cuba to save her marriage?

It’s a beautifully written story of dual timelines. It a story of love, sacrifice and family. The book is considered a historical fiction, but Cleeton does an amazing job weaving historical events with the personal lives of the characters. This can be read as a standalone, but if you haven’t read the other books I highly recommend because in each book you get to know the Perez sisters and the tragedy that their family has dealt with in Cuba.

Thank you so much to Berkley and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have read and loved all of Chanel Cleeton's Historical Fiction that she has released in the last couple of years and her newest release is no exception. One of my favorite things about her books is that they fuel my love of history and researching new events that I was not aware of. Even though I was a history major in college my primary focus was European mostly focused on England so her books have opened my eyes to other events I was not very knowledgeable on.

In this book we are following two timelines, the first is Isabel's story set in Barcelona in 1964 where she is trying to find her missing sister, Beatriz. While looking for her sister Isabel meets Diego who is also looking for Beatriz and the two embark on a journey that makes Isabel question what she thought she knew about her entire life. The second story line takes us back to Barcelona in 1936 when Isabel's mother Alicia was there visiting family and experiences the civil war that was going on in Barcelona at that time. I loved both stories and how they were woven together to show that both woman were in similar situations and how that both dealt with them. I love this family so much and I really hope we keep getting stories about them. Thank you Berkley for my #gifted copy for review!

I am SO GLAD @chanelcleeton has chosen to bring us back into the Perez sisters’ lives. I loved them in Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba. I will say it again: WELCOME BACK, THESE WOMEN FEEL LIKE OLD FRIENDS!

I sat down to read this immediately and I continued to devour their stories, learning more and more about the girls’ mother, her life as a young woman, the decisions she makes, as well as those closest to her from her own generation.

I adored Diego- like SERIOUSLY adored his character, how Isabel handles the scenes with him. I also adored Beatriz (of course) and how she’s that strong independent female character that snuffs societal expectations in exchange for her own personal duty.
There were so many mysterious hints throughout the novel I kept wanting (okay, NEEDING) to know what was going to happen, why x,y,z happened…all of it was so worth it at the end.

Can’t say enough good words about this book-read it, y’all!

OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA by Chanel Cleeton is a heartfelt story of family, love, courage and sacrifice. This is the author’s third book about the Perez family. This book focuses on Isabel Perez’s story in the 1960s, but also flashes back to the 1930s with the stories of Isabel’s mother, Alicia and her father’s cousin, Rosa. Isabel has always been the quiet sister that did whatever was expected of her, including marrying an older American man for the sake of her family’s reputation in Palm Beach after their exile from Cuba. When Isabel’s sister Beatriz stops communicating with her family, they fear something bad has happened to her in Barcelona where has been living. Isabel travels to Barcelona to search for her. There she meets, Diego, a friend of Beatriz’s, and the pair form an unlikely alliance to find Beatriz. While doing so, Isabel unexpectedly unearths a shocking family secret that will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s past. Back in 1936, Alicia left her husband in Cuba and traveled to Barcelona with their baby, Isabel. Spain is on the brink of civil war and has become a dangerous place to be. Alicia must make heart-wrenching decisions about her marriage and future. The stories from the past and present are skillfully interwoven against the vivid backdrop of Barcelona. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the book as well as the portrayal of the relationships between the strong women in the story and their parallel journeys of self-discovery. I highly recommend this beautiful book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

Another stunning novel from gifted storyteller Chanel Cleeton. Her writing, as usual, proves thoughtful and purposeful as she weaves this story through the lens of another character who I definitely wanted to know more about. This story brings to light more struggle in a times of war and uncertainty. Struggle in Country, family, and relationships but within those struggles is always hope and so much love and understanding. The great depth and care Cleeton shows for these times is always so impressive and really immerses the reader fully in her stories. Rich in history, the women of this story overcome. Cleetons championing of women is another reason why I love this series of stories so much. The strength they find and belief they give us as readers is inspiring. This book is another that I will love to read again.

Whenever I think of my family history, I try to remember that everyone of the people who came before me had hopes, dreams, loves, or heartaches, just as people today do. And the larger events of those times likely affected each of their lives in some way. Whether it was from war, natural disaster, or a world-wide pandemic, one can't help but be shaped by the larger events of the world.

That is why I love reading historical fiction, as it brings the events of the past to life through the stories of everyday people. Author Chanel Cleeton has created a family saga centering on the women of the fictional Perez family that spans the centuries from Spain to Cuba to the United States. Her books are about the compromises women are willing to make, and what happens when they decide to break free of the expectations of others.

Her latest book, Our Last Days in Barcelona, has two storylines. In the nineteen thirties, Alicia (the prim mother of the Perez sisters in later books) has left her husband and flees to her family in Spain to decide what to do next. There is fierce fighting between Franco's nationalists and the republicans who want more freedom. In the nineteen sixties, it's Alicia's daughter, Isabel, who is in Spain looking for her sister Beatriz (and also trying to figure out what to do with her own marriage).

I loved the parallel storylines, and the themes of family obligations versus what the heart actually wants. As always, the author does a wonderful job of layering personal stories with historical events. This was also a very romantic book. I appreciated that the romance was realistic, and not insta-love. And there are some truly harrowing historical events that add much tension to the novel. This was a page-turner! Although the author has now written five novels based on these fascinating women, I hope that she will continue to find more stories to tell us about this family. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

What I Liked:

Settings:

Spain and Cuba in the nineteen thirties were both exciting places to visit, and extremely dangerous places if you didn't agree with the leaders of those places! At the time of this story, Spain would soon be led by the fascist Francisco Franco, and Cuba would have it's own dictator, Fulgencio Batista. There were bombings, protests, and people disappearing if they said the wrong thing.

In the nineteen sixties the story is set in Palm Beach, Florida, amid the emerging Cuban immigrants population, and in Spain (where Franco is still in power). In Palm Beach, the Perez family is working hard to match the prestige and the lifestyle they once had in Cuba. In Spain, there is still an aura of danger and people are on their guard. Beatriz works at an embassy (and also possibly for the CIA) where she finds all sorts of diplomatic troubles.

I also appreciated that the author took the time to show how social standards dictated the lives of women in both eras. Avoid scandal was of the upmost importance. And women were (as always) held to a higher standard than men in regards to love and relationships. Since women were much more dependent on men, it is important for the author to emphasize this. If women are involved in scandals that will impact their families, they will lose their support, and protection. And in those times, that means a life-sentence of poverty.

Characters:

What struck me about all of the women in this novel is that they all are similar, even though the stories are decades apart. Alicia and Isabel find their marriages to be untenable. Rosa and Beatriz each realize they let the love of their life go. All of them feel the burdens of living up to the expectations of either their families or society. And none of them realize that they are not alone in their struggles. I think we can all relate to that!

Parallel Stories:

The story in nineteen thirty-seven and the one in nineteen sixty-four are very similar. Alicia is having doubts about her marriage and leaves for Barcelona to think about if she wants to stay in her marriage. In the later time period, it's Alicia's daughter, Isabel, who is wondering if she can remain in her own marriage. Both mother and daughter face the same pressures and challenges. But if they were to sit in the same room, neither would admit it to the other! Oh how alike mothers and daughters can be.

We also see why Alicia, in particular, makes the choices she does. Events happen in Spain that make Alicia see clearly what the best decision will be for her. As I said in my introduction, historical events can influence our lives in many unforeseen ways.

What I Was Mixed About:

As much as I love this series, I really wish there was a glossary of people, or a short summary of the previous books included with each new novel. It is a little hard to remember who everyone is in relation to everyone else. This had me struggling to remember important details that would have made helped me understand the current story a little easier.

Our Last Days in Barcelona is another great addition in the Perez Family Cuba series. I have literally been enamored by each novel, and this one continues that spirit. This story has Isabel traveling to Barcelona soon after her wedding to find out why her sister Beatriz isn't responding to their many messages.

A simple photo of a man, women and child at a cafe in Barcelona is where it all begins for the sisters as they unravel a family secret, harbored passions and the true power of family. This novel is everything I enjoy in historical fiction - strong female leads, lush settings and a story that has you feeling all the emotions.

These novels are truly some of my all time favorite reads.

When I tell you that I LOVE the epic story of the Perez family that Chanel Cleeton has created, I am not kidding! Every installment in the series is an instant “add-to-TBR” book for me, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review an early copy of the newest addition to the Perez family’s history, Our Last Days in Barcelona.

In Cleeton’s newest novel, readers follow eldest Perez sister Isabel who’s often been in the background as the dutiful, quiet sister. After a few years from their escape from Cuba to Florida, Isabel has been married off to a much older man, living a safe yet boring life to help elevate her family’s status in their new community. After a few years of complacency, Isabel grows restless when her headstrong sister, Beatriz, disappears in Barcelona after they have a falling out. Driven by equal parts guilt, curiosity, and love, in an uncharacteristically bold move Isabel heads to Barcelona herself to find her sister and learn the truth about her secrets.

In true Chanel Cleeton fashion, the novel not only follows Isabel’s quest to find Beatriz, but also jumps back and forth between their mother’s generation and her own journey to Barcelona to escape a fraught marriage. As a reader who’s encountered the intimidating and inflexible Alicia Perez in prior novels, it was fascinating to see her daughter’s personality traits reflected in her as a young woman, before she had fully committed to the Perez life. As she visits family in Barcelona, the impacts of World War II mirror some of the dangers that Isabel and Beatriz encounter during the Spanish civil unrest in their time. As per usual, Cleeton navigates the political backdrop well and weaves the societal issues into the stories of her characters. This story in particular really mirrored the two generations in the different generational POVs. There’s also some fun easter eggs for fans of prior Perez family novels, such as cousin Mirta (who I believe was in The Last Train to Key West) and cousin Rosa. I really appreciate how Cleeton has created such a cast of very different, very strong women and continues to weave them in each other’s stories.

I will note, compared to some of my favorite books in this series (The Last Train to Key West, Next Year in Havana, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba), this book is a bit slower and more reminiscent of When We Left Cuba (which makes sense, as it’s set shortly after that book timeline wise). It’s still, however, well worth the read.

Overall: I have no idea when Ms. Cleeton plans to wrap up her writing on the Perez family, but I sincerely hope it’s not for a long, long while- I could read books about the Perez sisters forever!

Great intro into a new series - and the Spanish Inquisition. Such a facinating historical error. Lynes did an amazing job bringing this era to life - the terror, desperation, neighbors and families turning on each other.
Isaac and his wife, Maria, converted from Judaism to Catholicism shortly after their marriage, more than 15 years earlier.
Seville has avoided interrogation by the Spanish Inquisition thus far - yet the death of a young boy supposedly at the hands of a Jew for blood libel brings them to town.
So much conflict and intrigue, a family struggling to remain safe while watching their lives collapse.
Just so well done.

Our Last Days in Barcelona is another solid historical fiction story of the Perez family. These are best described as "companion" novels rather than a series so don't worry necessarily about reading each one in order. This one tells the story of the eldest Perez sister, Isabel, who travels to Barcelona when her family is worried about the silence from her sister Beatriz. While there, she discovers secrets about her family and herself. Chanel Cleeton's novels are great summer reads. A bit of history/politics, a dash of romance, and a family saga all in one.

Another captivating historical fiction novel about the women of the Perez family written by Chanel Cleeton. Told in dual timelines, the story follows the eldest Perez daughter, Isabel, in the year 1964 in Palm Beach, Florida and her mother, Alicia, in the year 1936 in Barcelona. The story of Alicia’s cousin through marriage, Rosa, is also told in the year 1936 in Havana. Isabel, always the rule-follower and example in properity, is concerned when her sister, Beatriz, is not in touch with the family for several weeks. Beatriz is living in Spain and, if history is any indication, may be involved in some dangerous activities. Isabel decides to travel to Barcelona to locate her sister and make sure she is safe. Leaving behind a loveless marriage of convenience, Isabel is suddenly enticed by the freedom and possibilities Beatriz’s life holds. Alicia’s story begins as she travels to Barcelona with a young Isabel, upset and humiliated after finding her husband is in the midst of an affair with another woman. Alicia has left under the guise of visiting her parents and sister who fled to Spain from Cuba during the revolution. While in Barcelona, Alicia must make a decision about the future of her marriage. Alicia leaves behind her cousin, Rosa, a newlywed whose husband has just revealed his plans to fight with the International Brigades in Spain. Although Rosa believes herself to be happily married, things aren’t always as they seem. The stories of these three women, both past and present, are intricately and expertly woven together with reflections on war and exile, bravery and strength, passion and prudence as they find a balance between following their own path and finding true love and the importance of loyalty and duty to family.

In Our Last Days in Barcelona we revisit the Perez sisters we first met in Next Year in Havana. This latest book follows the dutiful and quiet older sister, Isabel. When Isabel's younger sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel travels to Spain to find her. In Spain, she not only learns of a shocking family secret, but she also starts to re-examine her life and the choices she made to keep her family safe. The book has three POVs: Isabel's, her mother Alicia's, and Alicia's cousin, Rosa's.

I am a big fan of Chanel Cleeton's books and Our Days in Barcelona didn't disappoint. I loved revisiting the Perez sisters, I loved Barcelona setting and I loved the romance. Cleeton writes the best romantic heroes. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction fans!

I loved this book, and even though I hadn't read the previous books about the Perez sisters, this one stands on its own. It has alternating timelines as the story unfolds and takes us to Barcelona in the 60's and Spain in the 30's. The richness of the history comes through with every word. I now want to read the other books about these sisters and the courageous lives they led.

Amazing, I love these sisters and the look this book gave us of their mother. Each one of these books seems better than the last in truth, they are all incredible reads I enjoyed the tie in with Spain and Cuba. This is the best kind of historical fiction!

Synopsis: After fleeing Havana for Palm Beach Florida, Isabel Perez married an American man Thomas to help stabilize her family. Three years later, Isabel is worried about her sister Beatriz after not hearing from her for an extended period of time. She makes the trip to Barcelona Spain to find her sister. While there she meets Diego, a friend of Beatriz, and they begin the search together to find Beatriz. A story of finding oneself, your true passions, and true love.

My thoughts: I have only read Next Year in Havana, and that was in 2019. While this is not considered a series, it does have the same family involved and reverts back to people in the family. The author did a pretty good job of helping us to know who each character was even if we haven’t read the previous books, but I feel like it would be beneficial to know them better.

I really enjoyed reading Isabel’s story in finding herself. Finding her love for painting, recognizing the sacrifices she made for her family, and coming to the realization that her happiness matters! The flashbacks to her mother Alicia’s story in the ‘30s was such a great added element. Helped to understand why her parents made the decisions they made.

This is a book about the bonds of family, but more importantly the bond sisters have for each other. Helping each other reach their full and true potential. Also included is a romantic plot line about finding a partner that will love and support all your passions and help you grow.

The author also did a fantastic job at including historical elements into the book. I learned so much about the contentions in Spain during the mid ‘60s and the political unrest the people faced.

I can’t wait to read the earlier books about the Perez family!

This is the second novel that I've read by Chanel Cleeton and I'm yearning to go back through all her books, now, that I've missed. 

This book is about Isabel Perez, who goes to Barcelona to find her sister, Beatriz, in the 1960s. 

Told in a non-linear format, we get the story of some of Isabel's family in the 30s--and how they affected where Isabel is in her time. 

I absolutely loved the story because it wasn't just a woman trying to find her sister--it was a woman trying to find herself, as well. 

Chanel Cleeton is a master at historical fiction with her descriptive settings and fleshed-out characters that left me tangled up in this story. 

My review will be available at the link given on 5/24/22.

I enjoy this series so much, so when I had the opportunity to read the ARC, I jumped at the chance! And it didn't disappoint. I loved it! And that ending! WHAT?!