Next Year In Havana.

 

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                                          CONTAINS SPOILERS

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. 

 

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I'm at a loss for words, again. Next Year in Havana , a beautifully written book about family, loss, love, and courage. Reading this book, I felt myself being transported to Cuba. I was captivated by Havana's beauty. I had never been to Cuba, but after reading Next Year In Havana , I felt as I have been; as I pictured all of the breathtaking views that Chanel Cleeton described through the book. I wanted to go there; for a chance to explore Cuba for myself. I love books that take place in another country and love learning about their history. I didn't know much about Cuba, but once I read Next Year In Havana , I learned so much. I researched on my own once I finished the book, wanting to learn more. Next Year in Havana was a narrative novel, or at least it felt like it was. That's one of the things that I loved about the book, and it made everything come to life. I found myself being transported between 2017 and 1958. It was magical. 

I loved books that are told from multiple points of view. I loved that this was told in different timelines. While reading, I found myself comparing Marisol and her grandmother, Elisa, and how similar they were. Marisol might not go what Elisa had, but both had courage. I loved both of their stories, but Elisa's story appealed to me more than Marisol's. There was more happening during 1958, and I cannot even imagine living during that time. Elisa, she's an extraordinary woman, to have to go through what she had. I did wonder why she never told Marisol about her old love? Maybe because it was painful to talk about him or because she wanted to forget what had happened during that time. I loved the relationship between her and Pablo, the passion that the two of them had; it was clear how much they loved each other. Marisol and Luis had passion, but it wasn’t the same passion that Elisa and Pablo had. 

There is romance in the book, but it’s not a romance book. It’s history. There was so much information about Cuba. I love when I get a chance to learn something new. I have read books that took place in different countries but have never read one that took place in Cuba. Now, I am fascinated by the country. Next Year In Havana is the second book that I have read by Chanel Cleeton , and it won’t be the last. Cleeton has a way to catch the reader’s attention. This isn’t a book that you will want to put down. I’m eager to see what another magical world she will take us in next.