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kdailyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
haley49's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to love this so much more than I did. I loved the last train to Key West by the same author. The premise was really intriguing. It was well written and interesting with good pacing.
However, a few things put me off. The love interest annoyed me so much. He and the fmc had so many conflicting approaches to politics and he kept sweeping her experiences aside and acting like she was irrational. Actually so many people acted like she was behaving irrationally when she made good points. She was a bit reckless but they all seemed to talk down to her despite her capability. Most of the side characters were condescending at one point or another.
They kept saying how wrong for each other they are but they aren’t star crossed. They could be together if they weren’t so stubborn. I don’t get it. It just got annoying when the author would act like they are soulmates only for them to refuse to do anything serious about their relationship because of their ideological differences. It took away from the fmc growth to have her always go back to this guy who didn’t support what she wanted from life.
Also, for a book about history and politics it really doesn’t get into much of either. All the history is very vague and all the politics are very surface level. The fmc even studied politics and yet we the readers aren’t sure where she sits on the spectrum or why. It doesn’t have to be crazy political but I would have thought there would be more of a discussion. We got brief bits of diplomacy versus espionage and which is better in times of tension.
However, a few things put me off. The love interest annoyed me so much. He and the fmc had so many conflicting approaches to politics and he kept sweeping her experiences aside and acting like she was irrational. Actually so many people acted like she was behaving irrationally when she made good points. She was a bit reckless but they all seemed to talk down to her despite her capability. Most of the side characters were condescending at one point or another.
They kept saying how wrong for each other they are but they aren’t star crossed. They could be together if they weren’t so stubborn. I don’t get it. It just got annoying when the author would act like they are soulmates only for them to refuse to do anything serious about their relationship because of their ideological differences. It took away from the fmc growth to have her always go back to this guy who didn’t support what she wanted from life.
Also, for a book about history and politics it really doesn’t get into much of either. All the history is very vague and all the politics are very surface level. The fmc even studied politics and yet we the readers aren’t sure where she sits on the spectrum or why. It doesn’t have to be crazy political but I would have thought there would be more of a discussion. We got brief bits of diplomacy versus espionage and which is better in times of tension.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Sexism
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Racism and Xenophobia
mariposa517's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Sexism, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Alcohol, War, and Classism
Minor: Blood and Murder
kimveach's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an excellent follow-up to Next Year in Havana. I would have preferred more spy intrigue than romance, but I appreciate that Beatriz didn't need to get married to feel fulfilled.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Classism