"Free. Democratic." He lifts the cigar to his mouth, inhaling in one deep breath. He exhales a cloud of smoke. "I would like to shout. The freedom to protest when I do not agree with what my government is doing without fear of retribution. The freedom to listen to music without the fear that the regime will accuse me of being too "Western" and throw me in jail. I don't want to spend my days looking over my shoulder, wondering if my neighbor is really a member of the secret police, that one of my students in my classroom isn't there solely for the purpose of spying on me for the government, that I won't accidentally say something that could result in me being thrown in jail or worse. I want to own something of my own, something the government can't take away from me, something that is mine."

I loved this book for so many reasons. The writing is so lush and beautiful that I felt transported on to the streets of Cuba myself -- I could feel the hot wind on my face, smell the delicious aromas coming from Ana's kitchen, hear the traffic in the streets, and see the beautiful old buildings and architecture. Cleeton completely immersed me in her world and I enjoyed every minute of it. The story begins with Marisol who, grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother Elisa, decides to make the journey to Cuba to honor her grandmother's wish and spread her ashes in her homeland. Marisol is a bright, inquisitive writer who grew up listening to her grandmother spin fantastic tales of her life as the daughter of a Cuban sugar baron. Knowing only the romanticized version of her grandmother's life, Marisol is met with the conflicting reality of what life was really like for her grandmother once Marisol's feet hit Cuban soil.

The book alternates between Marisol in the present day and her grandmother and her sisters as they live through the Cuban Revolution. Strong female characters are in abundance throughout this book and I devoured the chapters that were told from Elisa's point of view. I loved that the author wrote all the female protagonists as fiercely independent, resourceful women. Young Elisa falls deeply in love with a passionate, political revolutionary as the fighting between Castro and Batista's men intensifies. Soon she and her family become targets as former supporters of Batista and they are forced to make the agonizing decision of whether or not to stay in the land that they love or to flee in exile as Castro comes to power. As Marisol and Elisa's stories intertwine, Marisol is forced to come to terms with the reality that her grandmother lived and what she herself will risk for the man that she loves.

I did not know much about the Cuban Revolution or the brutality in which the Cuban people were treated. I was not aware that the excessive restrictions placed on the freedom of press, expression and due process are still huge problems that the people of Cuba face today. This book definitely sparked an interest to learn more and seek out other literature about Cuba, it's politics and it's people. Next Year in Havana is about heritage, love, sacrifice and loyalty. It's about deciding what you believe and having the courage to stand for it, no matter the cost. Cleeton's incredible knowledge of the history of this vibrant country was as informative as it was intimate, and I am anxiously waiting for her second book, When We Left Cuba, to be released. Fall in love with the people, the country, and the Perez family in this heartbreakingly beautiful family saga. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for providing a copy of this gorgeous work in exchange for my honest review.

Next Year in Havana is a gorgeous book. Chanel Cleeton’s writing is lush and lyrical and her love of Cuba and its people shines through on every page.

Next Year in Havana travels back and forth between past and present, the story told through the eyes of Elisa and her granddaughter Marisol. In 1958 Elisa is part of the Havana elite, the daughter of a wealthy sugar baron. She’s kind, smart, and far stronger than many would give her credit for. Elisa isn’t flawless; she’s young, passionate, and makes mistakes, but she’s got a good heart. Through her eyes we see the multiple sides of a Cuba rapidly being torn apart. Not only is Elisa’s brother, Alejandro, part of a student revolutionary group working for a democratic Cuba, Elisa falls in love with Pablo, a revolutionary with close ties to Castro. As her world begins to crumble around her, Elisa’s eyes are opened and she begins to question everything. Her journey is beautiful and sad, but also hopeful. I admit I only have a passing knowledge of Cuban history and politics, and I really enjoyed learning more (and being lead to research more) as I read this story. Ms. Cleeton does a fantastic job of weaving fact and fiction.

In 2017, Elisa’s granddaughter Marisol travels to Cuba to spread her grandmother’s ashes. Marisol’s journey is both similar and different to Elisa’s and I was equally captivated by both. Marisol is a journalist who is eager to see the Cuba she’s heard of in her grandmother’s tales. Life in post-revolutionary Cuba is a culture shock for the Florida-raised Marisol. She learns what Cuban life is really like for everyday people and I enjoyed watching her start to question her own beliefs and become invested in the welfare of Cuban people as she never had been before. Marisol is a genuinely lovely heroine and a great stand-in for an American reader. The revolution, its aftermath, and the effects both positive and negative politics has had on the Cuban people is an important subject and it’s important to note that Ms. Cleeton treats these real-life matters with the weight and respect they deserve.

Internal and external conflicts abound in Next Year in Havana, but the book has a smooth, lovely flow to it. The characters are all well-developed and I cared about Elisa and Marisol’s friends and loved ones. It would be remiss of me not to mention the love stories, because the Elisa/Pablo and Marisol/Luis romances were captivating. All in all, I highly recommend this book. Chanel Cleeton’s writing is phenomenal and I cannot wait to read about Elisa’s sister, Beatriz, in When We Left Cuba.

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.