Monday, February 12, 2018

Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Kindle Edition, 400 pages
Expected publication: February 6th 2018 by Berkley


After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.

My Thoughts…
                        
Next Year in Havana is told in dual time periods.  Elisa Perez  tells her story from the 1950’s Cuba and Marisol Ferrera, Elisa’s granddaughter, tells of the 2017 Cuba.   Many years separate their stories, things have changed, things have stayed the same, and there is so much of Marisol’s family history to be discovered while in Cuba.

I have never been to Cuba and have no ties to Cuba.   Yet, while I was reading the book I felt like I was there.    I could picture Havana, see the beautiful water, and feel the struggles of the Cuba people.    I could also imagine Marisol’s awe at going to a country that she had only heard stories about yet it still played such a huge part of her life.    Her entire family history centered on and around Cuba and now she was there.    

Next Year in Havana is an emotional story that tells so much history and family stories.   There is hope, love, and strength in family.   It is early in 2018 but this is definitely going to be on my favorite reads of 2018 .

Thank you Matt Campbell at Berkley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Purchase your copy at AMAZON or BARNES AND NOBLE




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