One of the first things I noticed about the writing is that it’s so vivid and lush, and paints you such a picture while you read. It pulled me in immediately.

Having read this I will say that the story has remained with me and it's a definite recommendation. I am really looking forward to listening to the entire series on audio.

* I implore you to not make the same mistake I did - this was my first read by the author and I regret that I didn’t start at the beginning of this series. While the books in this series can be read as stand-alones, I wish I had started at the very beginning before reading this title.

Maybe a new favorite Chanel Cleeton book. Isabel travels to Barcelona when she loses contact with her younger sister who has worked for the CIA in the past. Thirty years before, her mother made the same trip with a young Isabel in tow but now refuses to admit it. What secrets is she hiding and how will it change the lives of the Perez women throughout the year?

I'd never read any of Chanel Cleeton's books but had heard tremendously positive things. Therefore, I was excited when I received an advanced read of Our Last Days in Barcelona.

Cleeton's writing is deeply emotional. She excels at bringing her female characters to life on the page. You don't read about the women's lives, you feel the emotions along with them. I wish the men were as equally well drawn, but given these are female-centric books, it's a minor nitpick.

Our Last Days in Barcelona is book 4 of a series about the Perez family. While it stands alone, I found myself wishing I'd begun with book 1 so I better knew all the characters. Cleeton has created a sweeping family saga reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s. Such series are meant to be savored from the very beginning, not entered midstream.

Overall, I recommend this book and am already planning to read another of her titles. I have no doubt fans of this series will be in heaven.

I’ve loved all of the books that Chanel Cleeton has written about the Perez family, and I was thrilled that she returned to them with Isabel’s story. Our Last Days in Barcelona is a heartfelt and passionate story about Isabel’s journey to Barcelona to find her sister Beatriz, but it is Isabel’s journey to find her passion and follow her heart that is the center of this book. Isabel’s story takes place in the 1960s but we also go back in time to 1937 in both Spain and Cuba, to follow the stories of those who came before Isabel, shaping her life and her future by the choices they make. During this time of great tragedy in Ukraine, I could not help but see the parallels between this story of exiles and attacks on innocent citizens during wartime.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this delicious book.
Let me start by telling you I am a great fan of Chanel Cleeton. A series of books that follow the Perez family from Cuba are well-researched and engaging reads.
This novel looks at three sisters in the family with Barcelona as the background. Covering their history from the Cuban Revolution to the mid 1960s Cleeton offers us well-rounded characters who are seeking their independence and exploring their relationships with each other.
We are even afforded the chance to go back to the 1930s to include the voice of their mother.

I love the history, the characters, and the writing is captivating.

Highly recommend this book!

I really look forward to visiting the Perez family every time Cleeton releases a new book. She somehow manages to keep each story fresh, new, and exciting.

This time, Isabel travels to Barcelona to see her estranged sister, Beatriz. While there, she finds out a shocking family secret and the story unfolds from there.

I enjoyed this one just as I have Cleeton's previous novels. Though each story builds on the next, they're also their own installments in the Perez legacy so it's not necessary to read them in succession or to remember all the details.

As with the books that came before, they are packed with a Cuban vibe and I continue to learn more about Cuban history. This one also includes a lot of Spanish/Cuban history and I was totally interested.

I don't know if Cleeton plans any more books about the Perez family, but if she does, I'm here for it!

Ah to be reunited with the Perez family! I always count down the days to the release of a new book from Chanel Cleeton and Our Last Days lived up to this hype. Our Last Days in Barcelona continues the story of the Perez sisters, this time deepening the history of this persevering family as the oldest sibling, Isabel, travels to Spain once her risk-taking younger sister Beatriz goes missing. Not only do we see Barcelona through the eyes of Isabel in 1964 but we also follow their mother, Alicia Perez, through Spain in 1936 as they are on the brink of war. Family secrets are uncovered as both mother and daughter grapple with the roles they must play to protect their family and still find love. Cleeton writes the beauty of Barcelona in the vivid way that she did Cuba in her previous books. I find Cleeton's historical fiction immensely entraining and educational full of romance, suspense and the strength of family. The passion that Cleeton puts into her novels is so clearly influenced by her own family history and her roots in Cuba. This is a must read! Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced copy.

Our Last Days in Barcelona
by Chanel Cleeton
Pub Date: May 24, 2022
Berkely
Thanks to the author, Berkely, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
* Historical Fiction * Romance

I enjoyed this Cuban series, following the Perez family from the Cuban revolution and now, into the mid1960s. When Beatriz, in Barcelona, stops responding to her family’s messages and calls from Palm Beach, her older sister Isabel crosses the Atlantic to find her.
The story also flashes back to 1936 and we hear from their mother, Alicia, and her cousin, Rosa. The story was beautifully done and Cleeton does such a good job weaving historical facts into the plot so I learned more about the Spanish Civil War, the earlier Cuban unrest, and the Spanish-Cuban alliance in the 1960s.
There is a bit too much romance for my taste, but that's a personal preference.
4 stars

If you have read any of Chanel Cleeton's other historical fiction novels, this newest release, "Our Last Days in Barcelona," will feel like coming home. While this book could be read as a stand alone, I believe it's best enjoyed after reading "Next Year in Havana" and "When We Left Cuba," Cleeton's other books following the lives of the Perez sister's after the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s. Those books follow Elisa and Beatriz into their new lives in America, but this new story from Cleeton follows the eldest sister, Isabel, into her own adventure, America to 1960s Spain.

Cleeton herself is a Cuban American with Spanish ancestry, and the passion and connection she feels to these cultures and times in her family's history is evident in her telling of these stories. Throughout the book I could feel her falling in love with Isabel's character, and the journey of her growing into herself and out of the expectation and obligation was beautiful and refreshing. I couldn't help but admire the conviction and bravery of this sister (and truly, this family as a whole). Cleeton is wonderful at capturing the voices and tones of a story that spans several decades, following Isabel, her mother, and the nation of Spain on their respective paths. Cleeton tackles a generational family trauma narrative in a way that feels compassionate and succinct.

I absolutely recommend this book. The last two pages alone are worth the investment of time in reading. History, romance, character development, appreciation of art and beauty, love between mothers and sisters - what else could you want? I will continue to read Chanel Cleeton's historical fiction as long as she writes it. 4.5/5 stars.

OUR LAST DAYS IN BARCELONA
by Chanel Cleeton
Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley
Pub Date: May 24

I adore Chanel Cleeton's books, including her latest historical fiction gem, Our Last Days in Barcelona.

In 1964, Isabel Perez goes to Europe to find sister Beatriz, who's gone missing from Barcelona. While there, she uncovers an unsettling family secret that alters her life.

In 1938, Alicia Perez travels to Barcelona from Cuba with daughter Isabel, her marriage in shambles. As Spain nears Civil War, Alicia's past comes to the fore as she encounters a man she once deeply loved.

Cleeton reveals the gripping story through dual timelines and POVs that give great insight into the brave Perez women, whom we cheer on through many trials. Another triumph for the author!

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#OurLastDaysInBarcelona #ChanelCleeton #NetGalley #historicalfictionnovel #dualtimelinehistoricalfiction
#novelsetinbarcelona #strongwomencharacters
#bookstagramcommunity

This book is everything. Loved all of it. I will read anything Chanel Cleeton writes. OBSESSED.

Did I mention I loved this book? In typical Chanel fashion, it’s based on true events, has adventure, strong women, and romance. I loved reading the story of another Perez sister and the dual timeline was amazing too. Just loved it!!!

I’m going to be honest, I loved the other books in this series. This one just wasn’t my favorite. Sometimes books just aren’t for you and this one wasn’t for me.

I’ve enjoyed this Cuban series, following the Perez family from the Cuban revolution and now, into the mid1960s. When Beatriz, in Barcelona, stops responding to her family’s messages and calls from Palm Beach, her older sister Isabel crosses the Atlantic to find her.
The story also flashes back to 1936 and we hear from their mother, Alicia and her cousin, Rosa.
I found all three of these women engaging and their stories interesting. Isabel, as the eldest daughter, has been the one to always sacrifice her own happiness for her family. She’s loyal, she has a strong moral compass. If her sister is the passionate one, Isabel is the strong silent type. Alicia also married to please her family. And while Rosa married for love, her marriage wasn’t a match made in Heaven either.
Cleeton does a great job of weaving these three stories together. They all have aspects of familial duty. She also is a pro when it comes to weaving historical facts into the plot so I learned more about the Spanish Civil War, the earlier Cuban unrest and the Spanish-Cuban alliance in the 1960s. The scenes in Guernica are a horrible parallel to the situation in Ukraine, down to the false news of the day.
There is a strong romance factor to this story, which at times bordered on being too much for me, but I have a low tolerance for romantic plot lines.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

I was so lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I have absolutely loved all of Chanel Cleeton's prior books and I knew from the first page that this would be amazing as well. This book is absolutely amazing. It can be read as part of the series OR as a stand alone. So good! I promise, you will love it!

**Review will be published May 24th, 2022 on blog/Instagram/Goodreads, etc.**

LOVED THIS.

I have been a fan of Cleeton’s since her first historical fiction book came out, and once again I completely enamored with a sweeping story of loss, love, and choosing your path. I truly loved getting Isabel’s story. She was an incredible main character. I like that she stuck to her personal truths, but allowed her self room for growth within them. Making the harder decision to find HER happiness and being the woman that she’s had to stifle for so long.

Interspersed were other POV chapters (one mentioned in the synopsis and one not!). It was really great not to have these chapters overwhelm Isabel’s own story. They drifted in at the right moments to add more background and understanding for present characters and found ways to pull at my heartstrings.

The love stories interwoven were romantic and sweet. I love the way Cleeton builds these in such a short time where I continually find myself reading with intense focus because I MUST HAVE A HAPPY ENDING. And while there’s a rise and fall to that ending, it’s good. It’s lovely. And it’s what sealed the deal on another incredible read.

Overall audience notes:
- Historical fiction + romance
- Language: a little
- Romance: closed door
- Violence: mild blood/gore
- Trigger/Content Warnings: war theme, air raids, teen pregnancy, infidelity, divorce, gun violence

Isabel, the eldest Perez sister, travels from Florida to Barcelona in search of Beatriz, her estranged sister who was working for the CIA. Once there, she meets with Beatriz and learns secrets about their family which threatens to tear them apart.

Ahhh, back with this wonderful series. I adore these books! I loved how this book was Isabel’s story, but it also was their mother, Alicia, and their aunt, Rosa, story as well. I enjoyed the dual timelines and POVs and I was totally engrossed in figuring out the secrets and family connections between all of the characters. Further, Beatriz might be my favorite character out of these stories, so I was so happy to have her back in my reading.

Thanks to Berkley Pub for the publicity review copy, pub date May 24, 2022.

Chanel Cleeton has a way of writing that brings you right to the heart, emotion, and action of times and places we will never truly be able to visit.
Just like that we are back to the Perez sisters, this time it's Isabel's story intertwined with Alicia (the matriarch of the Perez family), alternating between the 1960s and the 1930s. I was fully engrossed in the family saga, female relationships, and multiple romantic storylines.

Our Last Days in Barcelona is a nearly perfect example of the multi-timeline, intergenerational format of historical fiction that is a form of the genre I have so much love for. My expectations were pretty high, based on my immense enjoyment of the author's previous books on the Perez family, but they were more than met. The drama is legitimately gripping, the family dynamics are by turn heartrending and heartfelt, and the three romantic storylines are sincerely, compellingly, believeably wonderful.

Additionally, spectacular examples of historical fiction that falls outside of many of the genre's most well-tred settings (WWII Europe, for example) always lends a certain refreshedness to the read.

A nice continuation to the stories of the Perez sisters that didn’t really capture my heart but was still very pleasant to read. Perhaps it was the gentle nature of Isabel, the eldest Perez sister, that made it really hard to get a grip of her as the main character, or the lack of action (except for romance) in the book, but it was a good pageturner that didn’t trigger any lasting emotions in me though.
I however really enjoyed reading the parts of Alicia Perez, the matriarch, as well as Rosa, her cousin by marriage, which gives us a little background of the family dynamics and decisions that led to certain events in the books and beyond.

The Perez sisters are concerned when no one has heard from Beatriz. Isabel flies to Barcelona in search of her sister. There she meets up with a friend of Beatriz, Diego, who tries to help her locate her sister. In some alternating chapters are also the story of Alina Perez, who is the matriarch of the family. Unbeknownst to the Perez sisters, their mother had spent time in Barcelona and has been hiding a family secret.

I love Chanel Cleeton books, and I enjoyed this book. However, I did find it predictable in some sense. I was kind of hoping that Diego would end up being a bad spy in a way, but I did love the twist at the very end of the book.