Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton picks up on the recent political climate of Cuba and also goes back to the beginning of the Castro regime. As often in historical fiction, this book follows the story of two individuals in two time periods. As with books of this structure, the story one time period and one character has a stronger pull. In this case, it is definitely the story of the 1950s, not just Eliza but the entire Perez family. Eliza's story keeps me reading until the final page.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/05/next-year-in-havana.html

Reviewed for NetGalley

This book is told in parallel narratives, so it is half historical fiction, half contemporary fiction. It's romantic and has a strong sense of place. You'll feel like you're in Cuba.

I think this book was absolutely raw and beautiful. the cover is captivating and the story inside of the pages flows as beautifully. A true love letter to her grandmother. learned a lot about cuba and culture and cant wait for the next installment

Well-written novel set in the present with flashbacks to the turbulent Cuban revolution and Castro's overthrow of Batista. The novel chronicles the revolution and love stories in both time periods.

I really really enjoyed this book! Next Year in Havana takes you to Havana, Cuba during two different times periods (1958 and 2017). I was hooked right from the beginning. Marisol and her grandmother (Elise) were thick as thieves. Marisol thought she knew everything about Elise and her life in Cuba before she came to Miami as a teenager escaping the revolution but when tasked with spreading her grandmothers ashes in her beloved Cuba she learns there is a whole side of her grandmother and Cuba that she never really knew.

Marisol goes to Cuba in 2017 to scatter her beloved grandmother's ashes in the country that she loved. Marisol had grown up hearing stories about the beauty of Cuba from her grandmother and family but that is not the Cuba she finds when she visits. This is a beautiful, heartbreaking story told in two time lines - Marisol's story in in 2017 and Elisa's (her grandmother) story in the late 1950s/early 60s.

Elisa and her family are rich and live in a beautiful house in Havana in the 50s. Her father has made his money from sugar and as the revolution is starting up, he backs Batista as do most of the well to do in Cuba at that time. When Castro's people start to take over the island, Elisa and her family are exiled to the United States. For the rest of their lives, they and other Cuban exiles long to return to the Cuba in their memories. When Marisol goes to Cuba, she is surprised to find so much suffering and such a lack of modern day luxuries. She struggles to join her grandmother's stories with what she sees while still carrying out Elisa's final wishes.

This love story is not only between characters in the book but it is also a love story to Cuba. Along with a wonderful story, I learned a lot about the history of the revolution and the main people involved. I recommend this to everyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.

I really didn't know what to expect from this book because I rarely read historic romance but being Chanel who wrote it and having loved her books in the past I knew I needed to read it.

Next Year in Havan is told in two different voices, one is Elisa, she is living in Cuba in a tume of political turmoil, through her eyes we see what it was like living in Cuba at that time, the heartache she experience at seeing her world change drastically and how she fell in love with a man that she knew was going to bring her so much sorrow.

The other narrator is Marisol and through her eyes we see modern Cuba, how people live and how much thinga need to change for the people living there. Marisol meets Luis and she finds what it was missing from her previous relationships but she knows them being together is going to be very hard.

Chanel writes about Cuba in a way that makes you want to go and find books on these historical moments, she made want to find out more and more about it and also she made me remember when I was there visiting a few years ago.

I found this book beautifully written, whit rich characters that commanded your attention. I look forward to put more pieces together in the Perez family history.

Cuba is one of those places that has always been a mystery to most of us, namely because of the embargo and the tenuous relations between our countries. It’s a place I have always been drawn to, perhaps because of the mystery surrounding it and because people describe it as a place stuck in time. As a history lover and a nerd, that’s the closest to time travel I’ll ever experience, so my curiosity is piqued, to say the least. As it happens, when I heard about this book last year, I was excited. I wanted to read it and I was determined that I would. I was not at all disappointed.

The story begins with the Perez family leaving their beloved home. They’re a wealthy family, one whose daughters have been well protected by the unrest that had begun to encircle them. Once Fidel took over, the life of privilege and shelter is ended. Yet we are instantly shown that this is a family who refuses to be seen as weak. Heads held high, best clothes on, the family boards a plane and begins their journey away from home. No one really knows what’s next. There is a dual timeline, one that introduces us to Marisol, Elisa Perez’s granddaughter, who is heading to Cuba to bring Elisa home finally. The trip is emotional for Marisol given her closeness to her grandmother.


It’s also one that will introduce a secret to Marisol, one that will tell her about her 25010072-_sy540_grandmother and Cuba; how they’re inextricably bound and its effect on the young woman herself. The trip will change Marisol’s life forever, but will she be brave enough to chase a happy ending? Or will she leave the land she feels speaks to her soul and heart?


Firstly, I love how Ms. Cleeton blended the two timelines. It’s a skillful talent that some authors haven’t mastered; some aren’t able to make the change between timelines blend cohesively, leaving you to wonder, “what do these have to do with one another?” This is not one of those books. This is a book where the author has clearly done her homework and put her heart and soul into. It’s a story close to her heart, given that her own family emigrated in the 1960s. Secondly, there is history given! I love history and I felt the romance aspect took a slight backseat to the historical part. You don’t lose anything by that, I promise. You’ll be just as drawn in.


The story is strong and you’ll feel like you’re in Havana too. Ms. Cleeton has a masterful command of language and knowledge, tying both of those skills into a lush, delectable 3638745story that will leave you wanting more–which is good since next year, she’ll have another book out featuring Beatriz, Elisa’s sister. (Link to the Goodreads page below!) The sights, the smells, the taste..the spirit. All seemingly reach out from the pages, drawing you in.


An evocative and beautiful story, you’ll be swept away, just as I was. I absolutely cannot wait for Ms. Cleeton’s next book. This will almost certainly be a book that you’ll want to read over and over.

Next Year in Havana was a read that really touched my heart. I loved that it was told through two perspectives: Marisol—present day—and her Great Grandmother Elisa—past. Although I've never been to Cuba, it was interesting to get their perspectives on a country where their people struggle daily, unless they are born into wealth.

Marisol was in Cuba so she could scatter her Grandmothers ashes. She met a lot of people that her Grandmother knew and saw a different side to Elisa, that left her wondering if she truly knew the person who raised her. She uncovered secrets, discovered some truths and allowed her heart to fall for someone when she least expected it.

I loved Elisa's perspective, seeing the difficulties she had to face and how politics dictated her life. She fell in love with a guy that her family would never approve of and was willing to put herself in danger to save him. She had to leave the only home she knew to begin again in a new country. I could never imagine how hard that would be!

I've read about 90% of Chanel Cleeton's work, and to be honest, I wasn't sure that I'd enjoy this one, so boy was I happy to be proven wrong! I loved both time-lines and was introduced to a lot of characters, some I can't wait to see more of. The romances were sweet and the story was addictive, even with the hint of danger on the horizon. I would've liked a little more of Marisol after she returned home, instead the ending felt a little rushed. I am looking forward to Beatriz's story (Elisa's sister). Being the carefree and deceptive sister, I'm sure it will be an entertaining ride!

Being the daughter of immigrant parents this book intrigued me. I got to see and read about Cuba through Elisa's eyes-(Marisol's grandmother) which was in the past and through Marisol's eyes-the present.

Right from the first chapter I felt as I was there in that time frame with Elisa and I could feel the emotions she herself was going through. I also got to picture what many of us may never ever see.

With the fall of Cuba's current dictator, Marisol has hopes that things will be different but is surprised when she travels and sees how mistaken she is. She didn't expect to find herself drawn to someone that has connections to her family's past....this totally threw me off.

There were so many layers to this story it and it helped me to see and learn something from a country that's so close yet so far away. A beautiful story of faith, love and looking towards the future.

Marisol’s grandmother (Elisa) has passed away. Elisa has requested that Marisol take her ashes back home to Cuba, where she was born and raised. Elisa was like a mother to Marisol, and she wants nothing more than to grant her grandmother’s wishes. Her trip to Cuba takes her on a journey far beyond just looking for the perfect spot to lay her grandmother’s ashes. She discovers that she did not know her grandmother nearly as well as she thought she did.

This is my favorite kind of book to read. A book that weaves fact and fiction, so that by the end of the story I walk away feeling like I have learned a little something. This book is all about Cuba – past and present. By using a dual timeline we learn about the Cuban government, its history, current tourism, and life of a Cuban citizen. There are many cities visited and landmarks talked about. I found myself, on a few occasions, looking these places up in order to gain a visual.

With the amount of factual information contained in this book you would think that it would read more like a history book, but it didn’t. Chanel Cleeton did a great job of entertaining the reader and giving us quite an education about a country that I did not know a lot about prior to reading this book. I can’t even imagine the amount of research that must have gone into writing this story.

The characters were likeable and strong in their convictions. This fascinating story is told from the heart, with very beautiful imagery. I really enjoyed this book and the in-depth look at Cuba, and look forward to reading more by this author.

Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton surprised me with how excellent it was. I did not know anything about the Cuban revolution going in. All I had to go on was some bloggers talking about how enjoyable it was via twitter. In addition, there’s the gorgeous cover which is the easiest way to get me to read a book. It was so hard to set down, once I started reading book. Cliche as that sounds, Cleeton’s writing pulled me in and would not let go.

Cleeton’s Next Year In Havana follows a dual timeline. One timeline is set in present day. Marisol is the point of view character. She is visiting Cuba now that Castro has passed. Marisol has her grandmother Elisa’s ashes in tow and is looking for the perfect place to scatter them. The other storyline follows Elisa. Elisa’s story takes place at the height of the Cuban revolution. Her wealthy sugar baron family is affected by the Revolution. Also, she’s fallen in love with exactly the wrong person.

Elisa grows up with all the trappings of wealth. She is one among several siblings. Actually, she is basically one of the middle children. Anyways, one day Elisa goes to a party with her sisters. Elisa meets a revolutionary named Pablo at the party and falls in love. From there, she questions a lot of things.Unfortunately, Castro is closing in on Havana and Elisa’s life is about to change. She’s so incredibly brave, however.

As for Marisol, Elisa’s granddaughter, she is excited to visit Havana. She was essentially raised by Elisa, because Marisol’s parents are trash. The United States travel ban ended, however. Marisol is among the first tourists. She is there ostensibly to write a travel article. Still, Marisol ends up falling for a professor. His name is Luis. He is the grandson of her grandmother’s former best friend. Anyways, Marisol thinks the affair is innocent until she realizes that the Cuban government has their eyes on them. Meanwhile, Marisol is about to unravel a secret that Elisa had.

Next Year In Havana is a beautifully written book. In addition, Chanel Cleeton mastered writing a book where you learn and are entertained. I find myself really excited to read her next book which will star Beatriz, Elisa’s sister. Cleeton really captures Havana. Her storytelling made me want to go to Cuba but also not, because their government is kind of scary. This book is one I would absolutely say you need to read if you just want to be transported.

Next Year in Havana was a very unique read, I loved traveling back to the past to read Elisa’s story and seeing Marisol learning bits of it in the present while also presenting us her life. The two stories sort of work together at pulling you in and holding interest. I questioned what Marisol would discover as she visited Cuba and the places her grandmother had told her stories about.

I really loved how this book gave a heartfelt story about these characters while also giving Insight to real travesties of Cuba and those who call it home.

I don’t want to give away any of the elements of this story that pulled me in because I feel this is a book best enjoyed while going in blindly - I think the effects will be more profound.

But one thing I do have to say is that Cleeton has woven beautiful imagery that will make you not only feel a part of the settings of this story but also that will draw you in feeling the emotions of the characters, their love, their heartbreak and everything in between.

I always enjoy knowing an author’s inspiration for a story. In the acknowledgments, which introduce the book, Chanel Cleeeton call this “the book of my heart” and thanks her family for sharing their stories. It wasn’t until I heard her in an interview relating a story that her father told her about how people would put their valuables in boxes and bury the box before they left Cuba, that I knew this specific thing. This seemed to reflect a hope that they would someday return. A box buried by a young girl as she and her family flee Cuba in 1958 is a meaningful part of this novel. I loved knowing that this was the spark that started this story and that she is connected to the narrative because her family did indeed flee Cuba after the revolution.

In Havana, in the late 1950s we meet Elisa from an affluent family, sugar barons as they are leaving Cuba. This narrative alternates with her granddaughter Marisol’s in 2017 as she goes to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes. The past story is a love story where the political history of Cuba in the late 1950s is played out. I have to admit how little I really knew about this complicated history from the not too distant past. That made it all the more interesting to me.

On one level you could read this as a love story and then there is another love story in the present day (which is not as believable as the earlier one ) or you could see the history and the politics, the Cuba of the past and present through these relationships. A story of family ties, love, and friendship woven into the politics and history of pre-revolutionary Cuba connecting it to the present day. Loyalty, love of country , the dangerous business of beliefs contrary to those in power told with the natural beauty of the island as the backdrop and the ambiance of Havana. I felt confident of the details of the politics given that the author has academic degrees in international politics. I thoroughly enjoyed this even with an ending that was a little too pat. It was well written and appealed to me from the beginning to the end.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Berkeley through NetGalley.

There are two stories being told simultaneously in Next Year in Havana. Elisa’s story–that of a sugar princess in Havana in the 1950s, and her granddaughter, Marisol’s story when she travels to Havana to spread her grandmother’s ashes in the country she loved, but fled with her family. I was captivated by both women, and both stories. I had only a cursory knowledge of Cuban history, and I was fascinated by the history of the revolution, and especially of the Cuban people. The story unfolded in such a way I learned so much, while being thoroughly entertained. Ms. Cleeton does an excellent job of presenting multiple perspectives of the revolution–Batista supporters, those who fought with Che Guevara and Fidel Castro, as well as those who opposed both Batista and Castro. So many interesting perspectives, it was a lot to think about and consider. The parallels between both women’s stories worked beautifully, both as fascinating stories, and to highlight the parallels of the lives of the Cuban people, both then and now. Nothing had really changed, only those with connections to regime held positions of power and privilege, while the majority of Cubans remain poor and exploited by those in power.

Marisol stays with Rosa, her grandmother’s childhood best friend and neighbor while in Havana. While Elisa’s family chose to leave Cuba for Miami, and were able to transition their sugar business to the US, Rosa’s family stayed in Havana, and lost their rum business when Castro nationalized all Cuban industry. It’s easy to understand why so many people left Cuba, this book left me feeling like I have a better understanding of those who stayed. After her arrival in Cuba, Rosa gives a box of Elisa’s mementos, including love letters, to Marisol. Reading the letters, and looking through the bits and pieces of her grandmother’s early life make her realize there was so much about Elisa she never knew. She sets off to discover her grandmother’s secrets. The mystery of Elisa’s early life in Havana during the revolution were riveting. The sense of mystery, danger, and romance kept me glued to my ereader. Ms. Cleeton’s beautiful descriptions of Havana and those who call it home–both currently and in the 1950s–had me longing to go see it all for myself. I have a friend who recently traveled to Cuba, and I felt compelled to contact her to talk about it (and to recommend this book to her). I loved this book. The complex situations and characters, the mystery, and yes, the romance. Read this book–you will be so glad you did.

I was drawn in immediately to a world in which I was unfamiliar. Cleeton successfully marries history, love, and suspense in a tale that is sure to be a hit! And the cover...everyone is talking about the cover...Love it! Thank you to Net Galley for a chance to read it in exchange for an honest review.

It was so refreshing to read a non-European parallel narrative! (Well, aside from Lucinda Riley's diverse Seven Sisters trilogy, but her modern characters all grew up in Europe.) I learned a heck of a lot through both timelines about Cuban history and culture. The plot on both sides was engaging, although as is often the case, I found myself drawn more to the historic Elisa than the modern Marisol. A lot of this could have to do with the romance factor, which was central to both timelines but felt forced in the modern one - I guess quick romances just don't seem realistic to the modern world! Despite that one small issue of personal taste, I would recommend this to all parallel narrative fans and anyone interested in learning more about Cuba in a non-textbook way.

I am not normally one of those weepy women who cry every time they read something incredibly romantic or reach an ending that they weren’t quite expecting. Maybe it’s because I read so many books; I average about two a week, and so maybe I’m jaded. Maybe I’m a bit desensitized by all the romance I’ve read, all the literary heartbreaks I’ve been through, and how easily I can put down one book and move on to the next.

There are, of course, a few books that hit me straight in the feels and don’t give me a chance to recover quickly enough to staunch the tears. The ending of 11-22-63. The pain endured by of one of the most sensationalized heroes in fiction; a tale of true identity in crisis via Rhett Butler’s People. The courage of one revolutionary woman in The Nightingale. But, while I am not averse to tears, they are not typically a part of my reading experience.

And then came along this little novel, Next Year in Havana, gliding on through and then slapping me like a ton of bricks. Just typing the title down gives me a little chill down my spine. From the opening pages, I could tell this book was going to be special. It’s that feeling I get so rarely, that warmth circulating my heart as I begin to anticipate which way the story will turn, how it will unfold and bloom around me. I sink in slowly, somehow knowing that I need to savor this or that particular set of written words. I’ve been lucky lately in that I’ve had the pleasure of reading some really well-written novels. Other regular readers and reviewers will know, there are typically more duds than there are potential bestsellers. In the wave of self-publication and lack of authentic editorial support, books are being pushed out at an alarming rate and the quality can be overlooked in the process. But this book, I tell you – it is special.

Two stories, two women. Both woven together by the most intricate of threads . . . by blood, by culture, by love.

Elisa Perez was a girl growing up in the most elite of circles. Haute couture skimmed the curves of her body, delicate freshwater pearls were strung around her neck, shoes imported from France (to match her mother’s infamous dining room table) were slid onto her feet. She was educated in the best of schools and had impeccable manners drilled into her by the time she could walk. As one of the Perez Girls (a title she shared with her three sisters) she was the closest thing to royalty in the city of Havana, living a charmed life from behind the gates of her mansion set upon the very edges of the Tiffany blue waters of the Caribbean.

The signs of impending revolution were all there; the underlying hatred for President Batista coursing its way through Havana and Cuba like so much poison in the vein. A land that was landing upon the cusp of something new, the air was charged and spiking with frenetic electricity every time Elisa stepped out from behind the gates and mingled with the general public. But as one of the elite and chosen, how close would the dangers actually come to her? Surely it would all dissipate soon, and things would go back to the order and refinement that she was so accustomed to. Dancing at parties with son’s of well-known diplomats, her father’s influence as a sugar baron establishing and cementing their place in society, and summers spent abroad in the most glamorous areas Europe and America had to offer . . . this was the life of Elisa Perez.

But in the smoky crowd at a forbidden party thrown in the wrong part of town, Elisa’s life changed in an instant. The white dress she’d worn made her stand out, which was not her intention. She was aware that she had overdressed and she remained underwhelmed with her surroundings as she watched her sisters Beatriz and Isabel flutter through the crowd and disappear within its murky waters, set upon a mission she had no interest in. Since their brother Alejandro had been banished from the family for his controversial political views, his twin Beatriz was constantly lurking around the fringes of the revolutionaries and their unsavory cohorts, desperate for any information she could garner. This party was just another excuse to mingle with the riff-raff. Isabel and Elisa followed in her steps when they could – the Perez Girls always had each other’s back – but something in the atmosphere made Elisa hold back.

She looked up and saw him. This tall, tanned, enigmatic man. The magnetic pull was palpable; two opposite sides of a coin being pushed towards a prime meridian. He felt her gaze upon him and met her eye, and it was as if the world stood still. Before she knew it, he was beside her, pressing her into the wall as the sticky arms, lithe legs, and dancing bodies around them seemed to swell with the crescendo of the music. The air was thick with the desire of escape, with the frenzy that comes with the terror of things being ripped away. This was the beginning.

Pablo was not the man for her on paper, but he was the man of her heart. She fell in love in a matter of minutes and the feelings only intensified as the days, weeks, and months went on . . . absence making the heart’s desires grow ever stronger. Elisa was scandalized even by herself, in her draw to the revolutionary man who was so intent upon doing everything he could to bring down everything she had ever known. A direct ally of Fidel Castro, the love of Elisa’s life was not the man she needed . . . but he was the man she so desperately wanted.

Decades later, Elisa’s granddaughter is set with a task. Her grandmother has died, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the grand bed under the roof of her palatial Coral Gables estate. The Perez family fled Cuba when things got too bad, when Batista was finally overthrown and Fidel Castro took upon his new role as puppeteer of the country of Cuba. They had no choice; it was either be imprisoned or killed, or seek refuge in America. In Miami, among the vast majority of others possessing Cuban descent and ingrained passion. They built an entirely new life, and they left nearly everything behind.

Marisol has never known poverty or governmental hardships, but she has an idea of the troubles it all brought. Sitting at her grandmother’s knee for the entirety of her life, Marisol grew to love Cuba through the stories she was told. A beautiful paradise, full of culture and music and food. An ocean the color of which could never properly be put into words. A people of spirit, but one that was nearly crushed with revolution and communism. She has grown up knowing the razor-sharp hatred her grandmother had for Fidel Castro.

A final request given to Marisol through her grandmother’s last will and testament will send her into a land that is equal parts past and present, and set her upon a quest to find out the secrets of her grandmother’s personal history. Finally able to put her own two feet on Cuban soil and feel her heritage seep into her soul organically, Marisol is desperate to find a final resting place for her grandmother and to embrace as much of her culture as she can. Walking among brightly painted buildings and streets saturated with iconic vehicles, it is like stepping into another era. How different is the Cuba today than the Cuba her grandmother lived in? To see the stories put to real life is sure to be a magical experience, only made richer by the people who will lead her along the way. An old best friend, beloved as a sister. A handsome history teacher. A woman in service to the Perez family. They will all tell the most important stories Marisol will ever hear. But danger still lurks behind the furthermost corners of Havana, especially for a Perez Girl.

Pulling together scraps of memories through a series of letters that were long ago buried under a palm tree amongst the sounds of a crashing ocean, Marisol will seek to reunite her grandmother with all that was taken from her as a young girl being forced out of Havana and a life she loved. What she will find along the way will surprise her, and rejuvenate her in ways she never expected . . . all while helping her to finally understand her Cuban heritage and what it means to yearn for that “next year in Havana.”

Chanel Cleeton, an author best known for her line of contemporary romances, has truly blown me away with this novel. Admittedly quite ignorant when it comes to Cuban history and of more recent political climates, I found myself completely wrapped up in the heartbreak of a country in turmoil. The death of one era was not the rebirth of another, as so many had hoped, and Cleeton perfectly married the two with a storyline that made perfect and appropriate sense. Cleeton was a mastermind at weaving history with real feelings, and not once did I feel anything was preachy or over-written. Sometimes historical novels set in times of war can feel heavy, but Next Year in Havana was fluid, bright, and smooth. I felt myself catching my breath more times than not, and the beautiful way in which Cleeton described the country of her heritage was singular and special. The tandem storyline was brilliant and wonderfully executed; the characters so richly drawn in incredibly vivid colors, and the overall effect was stunning and emotional.

Giving this novel 5 out of 5 stars, I am waiting on pins and needles for a sequel of sorts . . . as I’ve found out that Cleeton is penning a story of Elisa’s sister, the gorgeously mysterious Beatriz. I recommend this book to lovers of history and of strong female leads, and encourage readers of romance to give this lovely story a try. It will make you yearn for sugary beaches and flavorful Cuban food, for music set to drums and cocktail dresses that touch the knees, Panama hats and stolen kisses. This book was perfect.

This book was amazing. I loved the history intertwined with a love story and a mystery. Phenomenal.