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ksilvio's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mariposa517's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoy the storyline, family, relationships, and romances in both the past and present timelines. There are many nuanced discussions about Cuba’s history and recent politics throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Grief, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Racism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Torture
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Title: Next Year in Havana
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Series: The Perez Family #1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: February 6, 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Passionate • Intimate • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Havana, 1958. Elisa Perez, the nineteen-year-old daughter of a sugar baron, is part of Cuba's high society. Largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest, she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary; an event that will change her life forever. As will being forced to flee her native land with her family under growing unrest.
Miami, 2017: In the wake of her beloved grandmother's death, Marisol, a Cuban-American is faced with carrying out her grandmother, Elisa's, last wish - to return to her country of birth and to scatter her ashes. While in Cuba, Marisol will come face-to-face with the country's contrasting identities; unearthing a family secret hidden for generations, and learning the true meaning of courage.
💠T H O U G H T S
Next Year in Havana wasn't at all what I was expecting (although I am not exactly sure what that was), and I was pleasantly surprised with how this story gripped my attention and taught me so much about a history I knew very little about.
This first installment in The Perez Family series is the perfect combination of mystery, history, and romance. Told is dual timelines, it compared and contrasted past and present day Cuba, as well as comparing the lives of war-torn Cubans. It opened my eyes to a different place than what I know, and see in all the vacation/tourism photos. I always have a deep appreciation for books that send me on a deep dive into researching and learning more, and this was certainly one of those books.
The atmospheric writing transported me into the story, and somehow felt very regency era-esque. At times, the structure made it so I forgot about the other timeline, and because the two had so many parallels, I sometimes mixed up small details. It is highly detailed, and lagged a little because of this. One of my favourite elements is the grandmother/granddaughter relationship, and how Marisol wanted to know her family history.
A story filled with intrigue, family secrets, identity, loyalty and forbidden love, Next Year in Havana weaves a beautiful tale of Cuban political history. It definitely left me thinking about the amount of families who have similar secrets. I look forward to continuing on in the series and learning more about the Perez family.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of family sagas
• historical romance and fiction enthusiasts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You never know what's to come. That is the beauty of life. If everything happened the way we wished, the way we planned, we'd miss out on the best parts, the unexpected pleasures."
"War is never anything other than bad, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar."
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Series: The Perez Family #1
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: February 6, 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Passionate • Intimate • Atmospheric
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Havana, 1958. Elisa Perez, the nineteen-year-old daughter of a sugar baron, is part of Cuba's high society. Largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest, she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary; an event that will change her life forever. As will being forced to flee her native land with her family under growing unrest.
Miami, 2017: In the wake of her beloved grandmother's death, Marisol, a Cuban-American is faced with carrying out her grandmother, Elisa's, last wish - to return to her country of birth and to scatter her ashes. While in Cuba, Marisol will come face-to-face with the country's contrasting identities; unearthing a family secret hidden for generations, and learning the true meaning of courage.
💠T H O U G H T S
Next Year in Havana wasn't at all what I was expecting (although I am not exactly sure what that was), and I was pleasantly surprised with how this story gripped my attention and taught me so much about a history I knew very little about.
This first installment in The Perez Family series is the perfect combination of mystery, history, and romance. Told is dual timelines, it compared and contrasted past and present day Cuba, as well as comparing the lives of war-torn Cubans. It opened my eyes to a different place than what I know, and see in all the vacation/tourism photos. I always have a deep appreciation for books that send me on a deep dive into researching and learning more, and this was certainly one of those books.
The atmospheric writing transported me into the story, and somehow felt very regency era-esque. At times, the structure made it so I forgot about the other timeline, and because the two had so many parallels, I sometimes mixed up small details. It is highly detailed, and lagged a little because of this. One of my favourite elements is the grandmother/granddaughter relationship, and how Marisol wanted to know her family history.
A story filled with intrigue, family secrets, identity, loyalty and forbidden love, Next Year in Havana weaves a beautiful tale of Cuban political history. It definitely left me thinking about the amount of families who have similar secrets. I look forward to continuing on in the series and learning more about the Perez family.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of family sagas
• historical romance and fiction enthusiasts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You never know what's to come. That is the beauty of life. If everything happened the way we wished, the way we planned, we'd miss out on the best parts, the unexpected pleasures."
"War is never anything other than bad, and anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Murder, and War
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content
danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
kaylamoran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this so much more than I thought I would. It was beautifully written. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Chanel Cleeton's books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jeanniea's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Elisa's story is much more enticing than Marisol's. Felt that a different approach to Marisol's character and storyline would've made for a more interesting story. Marisol was a REALLY annoying character at times. Almost DNFed it because of her character.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and War