A review by themoonphoenix
The Price of Paradise by Susana López Rubio

emotional 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

4.25

1947 Havana, Cuba, Havana is a popular city, it’s beautiful and glamorous, and even Hollywood stars visit it, to buy the latest in fashion and to enjoy the tropical climate, but beneath the pretty facade hides a corrupt government, ruled by the mafia.

Patricio is a Spaniard who recently arrived on the island, without money but charismatic, he has a gift for pleasing and entertaining people; Gloria is a very pretty Cuban, who has the misfortune of meeting a gangster who falls in love with her and forces her to marry him. Patricio and Gloria crossed (or collided) paths at El Encanto, a department store (that existed) where you could find everything, and it was where you went if you wanted the latest in fashion. Patricio works as the errand boy and thanks to the charisma he is climbing, they will get to know each other little by little in conversations behind the counter, because theirs is a forbidden and dangerous romance.

It is an agile story, easy to read, it has two narrators, Patricio and Gloria, who take turns in chapters over decades and in that time we see them go through everything. We see them fall in love, be happy, and jealous, be afraid, and grow up. There are multiple secondary characters, Patricio's friends and Gloria's daughter and grandma were my favorites. 

They are easy to empathize with, they feel realistic and they are brave despite their circumstances (especially Gloria) they do not lose their humor. I love that Gloria is passionate about science and reads about it.

I enjoy the setting, you feel like you are in Havana, the author describes a city, full of life, glamorous and colorful, in the mornings we walk along the boardwalk and go shopping at Encanto and at night we visit bars or parties. Most of the story takes place before the revolution, in a Cuba that reminds me a little of Gatsby's New York.

Overall, love the different setting, the story feels realistic, I think I learned something new about Cuba, there are cameos by Ava Gardner and Frank Sinatra; Patricio and Gloria are nice characters, and there is a little bit of everything, romance, drama, friendship, plot twist, etc. 

Read it if you want:
  • Historical fiction
  • A different setting
  • Style similar like Isabel Allende