Although born in America, Cuba has always been at the heart of Marisol Ferrera’s upbringing. Regaled with tales of its complex and rich history, her grandmother has always instilled in her a sense of pride in her. It’s through the loss of Grandmother that Marisol embarks on her first visit to Cuba. Professionally she is there to write a tourism piece, but most profoundly she is there to fulfil her grandmother’s wishes of having her ashes scattered there.

During her time in Cuba Marisol visits the places her grandmother spoke about, as well connecting with people who knew her best. It’s through these connections Marisol discovers some secrets that are as dangerous today as they were back then.

The beauty of this story is that we not only get Marisol’s story but her grandmother Elisa’s, too. Very much alike in character, it’s a wonder to see the parallels in journeys their lives take.

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is a triumph and testament to Chanel Cleeton’s outstanding abilities as a writer. So beautifully written the novel is steeped in the history and vibrancy of Cuba. Much like an artist Cleeton paints a glorious picture which is enriched by her style and imagery. The heaviness of politics is balanced by the delicate relationships between family, and the hope that blooms with tentativeness of romantic ones.

It was first time reading a Historical Fiction by Chanel, and with the excitement that Beatriz will be getting her own novel also, it will also not be the last.

4.5 Stars. This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2018, and it did not disappoint. I savored this novel of family secrets, star-crossed lovers, and self-discovery amidst the chaotic, paranoid culture of revolution. The Cuba portrayed here is an island of contradictions. Beautiful, evocative descriptions of an island paradise and its proud inhabitants interspersed with moments of horror and acts of war. Decadent wealth and privilege coexisting alongside destitute poverty. A generation of genteel young scholars who become radicalized, whose ideals and hopes for the future manifest in acts of terror and guerilla warfare. Families torn apart by conflict and new relationships born in uncertainty. But above all, this is the story of two women who discover in very different ways what it means to be Cuban.

Elisa Perez, a sheltered, naive society girl living under the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, longing for something more out of life, falls in love with a revolutionary fighting against everything Elisa's family represents: "the haves" who prosper under a corrupt government while the "have nots" live in poverty, the wealthy who benefit from Batista's patronage, though for many his favor was a double-edged sword. Faced with the truth of this dichotomy in Cuba, and her family's role in it, and the ideals her beloved is fighting for, Elisa is compelled to question her life as she knows it and how she fits into this new idea of Cuba that is coming closer to fruition one bloody battle at a time.

Decades later, her granddaughter Marisol Ferrara, visiting a land still under the Castro dictatorship, comes to realize that Cuba is a contrast of the very best of her grandmother's cherished memories and an ugly and dangerous environment where one wrong word can still land a person in jail...or worse. Where beautiful beach resorts and historic homes recall a bygone time when food wasn't scarce and people were free to follow their dreams. The more she sees of the island and her people, the more she is captivated. And yet the more she wishes she belonged there, the more she realizes she never will. And just when she finds a true romance of her own, a connection that fills her with hope for the future, she is harshly reminded that she is not in America, that the freedom to live one's life as one chooses is rarely granted in Cuba.

My biggest worry when I picked up this book was that Castro and Guevara would be romanticized, but that is not the case. It's heartbreaking in hindsight to watch the Cuban people trade one type of dictator for another, and I had not realized how their revolution mirrored many aspects of the French Revolution. I had not realized the cost of America's presence in Cuba, nor the extent of how the Cuban people suffer under American policy for the sins of their rulers. I think Ms. Cleeton does a fantastic job of never depicting anything in stark black-and-white terms, presenting a well-rounded portrait of this country of contradictions, of why people made the choices they made and continue to make. The pride of the people who stayed and their resentment of those who fled, the risks they take in the name of a free Cuba; the sense of belonging many exiles have never found in their new homes, always longing to return to their homeland, the hatred they feel for the Castro regime, the guilt they feel for having gotten away. I marked over a dozen passages that really spoke to me, that I thought so eloquently expressed.

"Ninety miles. Ninety miles separate Cuba from Key West, the southernmost tip of the United States. Ninety miles that might as well be infinite...How many people on both sides of the water have stared across the ocean, yearning for something they can't have—a family member, a lost love, the country where they were born, the soil where they took their first steps, the air they first breathed?"

For me, this was story was like stepping into a new world, one we don't often get to experience so intimately. And woven into this immersive, eye-opening world is a very emotional story of two young women whose hearts are broken by their love for their homeland and their inability to save it. From quiet moments of poetic contemplation to heart-pounding moments of danger, I loved the way Marisol's journey paralleled her grandmother's and kept me in suspense until the last pages.

Though I didn't think it was entirely perfect—I thought the pacing lagged in a few places, and it probably could have been a few pages shorter; there's a ton of introspection that grows a bit repetitive, though that is where many wonderful observations are found—the beauty of the writing, the emotions this story evoked, and the new eyes it has given me through which to view Cuba transcend those little quibbles. This is the best sort of historical fiction—transporting, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying storytelling that is educational and thought-provoking. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction with romantic elements. I'm thrilled to see a companion novel is forthcoming.

It's 1959 and the opening scene is fraught with tension as Elisa Perez and the rest of her family silently walk through the airport under the guise of a happy family going on vacation. The truth is that this well-to-do family, the cream of the crop of Cuba's upper class is leaving the country for good. They've watched their country change before their eyes and seeing the writing on the wall, they accept that they must say goodbye for now and hope to return in a few years when the political climate has settled down. Elisa couldn't have known then that it would be the last time she'd see her beloved country. That when she'd finally return decades later, it would be so her precious granddaughter Marisol could bury her ashes in her homeland that she never stopped yearning for. It's through the dual points of view of Elisa and Marisol that Chanel Cleeton shows us the Cuba of the past leading up to Castro's revolution, and the Cuba of now years after the revolution. The old family friends that Marisol meets welcomes her with open arms. But it's with the help of a young man, a history professor, who serves as her tour guide who shows her the Cuba of the in between. And as she searches for the perfect place to bury her grandmother's ashes, she unearths secrets about her that sends her on a life-changing journey.


Simply put, Next Year In Havana is stunning and exquisite. Based on and inspired by her Cuban grandmother, Cleeton has delivered a love letter to the country and its people, inviting her readers to see its complex history and wealth of culture. I hardly know anything about Cuba but I feel I've received an outstanding introduction through the historical information that she includes in the story. Perhaps most illuminating is what it means to be Cuban and the dividing line between those who stayed and those who left.


Amidst the political turmoil is a heartbreaking love story and another that rings of a possible future. I'm always looking for that book that'll draw me in and become a part of me. This one wrung my heart out. I've read all of Cleeton's books - she's written a variety of genres - and I can say that Next Year In Havana is the most beautiful story she has written. With breathtaking descriptions, she brings the Cuba of her grandmother's generation to life and also shows compassion for what Cuba is today. The contrast between the before and after are staggering. But at its very heart is the people and through reliving the past, a budding romance and a suspenseful turnabout, I cannot express enough how much I've been moved by Next Year In Havana and that it's one of my favourite books of this year.

Next Year in Havana is a book that explores the Cuban heritage and history with acute detail and the deepest love. If there was one truth I could share about this story, it would be that Cleeton has created something meaningful, a book that has authenticity and heart permeating every single word. You cannot read this book and not examine your own life and the blessing of freedom that you have been given. The Cuban people have endured intense suffering, injustice, and fear with pragmatic determination to overcome every obstacle. All with the hope that there will someday be a better tomorrow, a chance to finally be free and undivided.

There are two alternating timelines, the first takes place in 1958/1959 during tumultuous revolutionary Cuba, centering around nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez and her family. Each side of the story had a purpose and a destination, cautiously and carefully unfolding truths and heartbreaks in order to bring you full circle in the end. Personally I feel as if I was more invested in Elisa's timeline: her unexpected forbidden love as the violent rebellion broke out all around her. Her family members were all fascinating in their own right, most especially Beatrix who is destined for greatness. She had such courage, charisma, and fiery passion that she stole the scene throughout the entire book.

Elisa was such a brave and kind woman, and it was a treat to read from her perspective. Not just getting to know her as a person, but discovering what it was like to live through such turmoil and uncertainty was an eye opening experience. Elisa grew up in a pampered lifestyle, a pretty bird in a gilded cage. That veneer of safety was bought and paid for by her father by siding with a dictator, a sacrifice he was willing to make in order for them to have a semblance of a comfortable life. This life they had grown accustomed to was far from stable, and they were going to have to redefine survival when their country is completely torn apart.

I admired Elisa for finding the courage to form her own opinions and discover more than what was inside her sheltered, structured world. Her love affair with Pablo was reckless, but showed her loving and open heart. She wanted to see the best in everyone, she became a champion for this man who fought for everything her family stood against. She was torn by a deeply entrenched family loyalty and the idealism for reform that Pablo had introduced her to.

From the very beginning, we know that the Perez family will eventually flee Havana and start a new life in the United States. They may have been forced into exile from their homeland, but the hearts, minds and spirits will never let go of the precious memories they hold of the years before they lost everything. Family heirlooms were buried and hidden away, their dreams of returning one day were the only thing they could cling to. A large part of the book explores the dichotomy between the exiles, and those who stayed and gambled on the regime.

In the second timeline we meet Elisa's granddaughter Marisol in 2017, who is tasked with bringing her grandmother's ashes back home to their final resting place. There, she meets her grandmother's best friend Ana, and her grandson Luis. Acting as her tour guide as she researches for an article she's writing, an instant attraction sparks that quickly burns out of control. During her trip to Havana, she must reconcile the stories she was told of her family's home to the desperation and poverty that the regime has wrought. She struggles to find her place in everything, and her identity when she feels as if everything she knew about her grandmother is nothing at all. Her family has secrets that when uncovered will rock her entire foundation.

The speed with which Marisol fell head over heels for Luis wasn't entirely working for me, being only a matter of a few days. But I was invested all the same, and curious to see if the romantic parallel would continue on until the end, or if the would forge a path of hope with each other somehow. Additionally, I felt as if it took me a long time to wade through the political history and that slowed down my reading experience considerably. At times I felt as if the history on the government became repetitive, and bogged down the pace unnecessarily. Did I still adore the strong female protagonists, the rich setting, and the greater understanding I developed for this country? Unequivocally, yes!

With the short teaser at the end of the book for Beatiriz's story, it made me even more eager to continue on with the series to see her fully fleshed out and in the spotlight where she belongs.

Oh my, it is impossible to give this book the proper review it deserves. I can't summarize it in a way that shows you just how wonderful this book was to read, you just have to read it yourself. Next Year in Havana is a beautiful, heart wrenching tale that brings Cuba and its inhabitants, and exiles, to life. It's one of the best Historical Fictions I have read in a very long time, with incredible, descriptive writing and a story that pulled so much emotion from me. I found myself entranced, enjoying the opulence of upper-class life with Elisa Perez as Chanel Cleeton took us back in time to 1959 and the magical, but increasingly dangerous streets of Havana. Told from the dual perspectives of Elisa in the past and her great-granddaughter, Marisol, in the present, readers get to visit the city frozen in time. It's about love, passion, history, freedom, and patriotism.

"I can't do this. I can't leave. I can't stay."

Elisa and Marisol's time in Cuba mirror one anothers, with Marisol learning far more about the woman she called grandmother while on the streets she once roamed. I really appreciated how similar Elisa and Marisol were, yet their differences were distinct and profound when you consider the locations and politics that each grew up in. They each are strong, stubborn women who yearn for knowledge and adventure that their families do not understand. Marisol's knowledge of Cuba is from romantic stories of the past, an impossible dream that reality could never live up to, and so similar to the viewpoint that many young Americans still have. Her view is changed as she sees Cuba as it is today, crumbling, but still sparkling and strong. Elisa's view is from the viewpoint of a woman on the cusp of true adulthood, her place in the world not meant for politics and social injustice, but her love of a passionate, educated man challenges that.

"These are the stories of my childhood come to life, the spirit of my grandmother, my family, our legacy, everywhere i turn."

Chanel Cleeton details the pre-revolution change and present day regime with extensive detail, bringing emotion and personal feelings into a story we only know from the pages of history books. Both secondary male characters, Pablo and Luis, open up the main character's eyes, their quiet insubordination and challenge of the power exerted on them shaking up the comfort each has had in their unenlightened lives. There is so much grace in how Elisa and Marisol accept the difficulties presented to them, with Elisa embracing the struggles of exile and Marisol adopting the same courage many Cubans do with seeking and sharing the realities and truths of life in Cuba. Then there's the many secondary characters, beginning with Ana and growing increasingly more interesting with each interaction with the people of Elisa's past, like Magda, and the new people in Marisol's present, like Luis, Cristina, and even her great-aunt Beatriz. Each shares their view on Cuba as it was and is today, their stories shaping Marisol and bringing her even closer to her grandmother and to the country that feels like home.

"It's raucous and beautiful, and more than anything, I want to belong here, want this city to become a part of me."

Next Year in Havana was such a powerful story for me, with Cuba coming to life with Chanel Cleeton's imagery and the detail given to the injustices of life there so evocative. The novel came across as very authentic, with two equally important plots, the romance of the characters and the romance between the country and its people. I was so overcome with emotion, I cried at times that weren't truly sad moments in the story, but rather tugged at my heart as I pictured Cuba and its resilient people. It took this book from a historical romance to a literary masterpiece, the pages filled with culture and people devoted to a country that has let it down.

“ ‘Next Year in Havana. It’s the toast we never stop saying, because the dream of it never comes true.’ ”

Next Year in Havana is a romantic, hopeful story with well-developed characters whose adventures parallel one another in past and present Cuba. I really fell in love with this novel and have so much compassion for the characters. It's a thoughtful novel, poignant and very relevant to the times. Historical Fiction fans will fall in love with Next Year in Havana and Chanel Cleeton's lyrical prose. You'll find yourself wandering the streets of Havana, admiring the vintage cars and the bright colors, and you won't regret a moment spent living in this book. If you're a sentimental girl like me, grab a pack of tissues for when you start your journey.

I picked this book up & could not put it down.

Told in alternating chapters from 2 different points in time. One from Elisa Perez at the start of the Cuban Revolution & the other of Marisa, Elisa's granddaughter in current time.

Marisa heads to Cuba to perform a task & to write a small article about Cuban life for her job as a journalist.

We learn about Elisa's family through her parts of the book, but we learn even more of it from Marisa's part, as she reads letters left behind in Cuba of her grandmother's.

There is so much about Cuban history that I know nothing about & this book touched on some parts of it. The turmoil, the power by many, the people -such a moving part of this book. Scary in many ways to see how one man ( or men over time) can come to power on lies & start wars. It was not lost on me to find comparisons, to me, about certain parts of our political state here in the US

But most of the story was about family & love lost & found. Written vividly & beautifully, I soaked in every word & loved these characters.

Thank you for this advance copy from Net Galley & Berkley Publishing, my review is my own.

Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway: NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA by Chanel Cleeton https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-aAO
Publication Date: February 6, 2018
Genre: Historical / Women’s Fiction
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars

NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA is the book I’m going to be telling all my friends, all my relatives, random people on the street and anyone else who will listen to me, to read this year! I absolutely loved it! The characters, the story, the setting, the imagery and all the other little aspects Chanel Cleeton put into this book, made it something beautiful and epic. The present day story is told by Marisol when she travels to Cuba to spread her grandmother, Elisa’s ashes. Then we also get Elisa’s story in Cuba in the 1950s. I don’t want to go into details about the plot because it has some surprises I don’t want to ruin. Their stories will live with me for a long while. I truly loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone. Pour a glass of wine, set some music and curl up with this book. You’ll enjoy it.

*Review copy provided by Penguin in exchange for an honest review.

6 stars!

Told in split timelines, this is the story of two women in Cuba: one facing a revolution that would tear apart everything she knows, one facing a Cuba she has only heard about in family stories.

Elisa Perez was privileged, as the daughter of a sugar baron, she knew the revolution was growing, but her sheltered experience kept her from seeing the effect until a secret affair with a revolutionary opens her eyes to the struggles around her.

Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing stories of her grandmother’s childhood in Cuba, of the home and friends left behind when the Perez family fled Cuba. Now she is tasked with scattering her grandmother’s ashes in the homeland she dearly missed.

The secrets that Marisol reveals as she explores Cuba for the first time, through the lens of the stories she has heard over and over as a child, rock everything she thought she knew about her grandmother. As she learns more about the woman who had such a huge impact on her life, Marisol begins to realize that there was a whole side of her grandmother she never knew.

This left me reeling in a way that even days later I can’t find words to express what I felt reading this. I am one more generation removed from my Cuban roots than Marisol, but many of her thoughts echo thoughts I have had as I consider where my roots are and how connected (or disconnected) they may be.

The descriptions, settings, and characters were beautiful in their depth and breadth. I felt like I was making that journey right alongside Marisol. As the story switched between Marisol’s and Elisa’s journeys, the beauty and peril flowed from one time period to the other, building and twisting as Marisol learns more about her grandmother, and more about the man she finds herself attracted to.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Beatrice is a bit of a mysterious firecracker, and I can’t wait to see where her adventurous streak took her, as the bits and pieces Marisol knew can only be the surface. Beatrice has her secrets and I can’t wait for them to come to light.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Cuban-American, freelance writer (Marisol) visits Havana, Cuba, to spread her grandmother's (Elisa) ashes, she discovers a family secret.

This dual-timeline story was told from the perspective of Elisa, the grandmother, in 1958 and Marisol, her granddaughter, in present day. When Marisol visits Havana to spread her grandmother's ashes at her request, she discovers not only a family secret long buried but so much about herself and the country in which her family fled after Fidel Castro and his men overthrew the government.

As Marisol toured Havana with Luis, the grandson of her grandmother's best friend, I found myself googling each of the sites. Check out how gorgeous everything is ...

Old Havana:
<img src="https://media.gq.com/photos/5914dd2943572d096b80c8f3/16:9/pass/guide-to-old-havana-cuba.jpg" width="350" alt="Old Havana"/>

Old Havana - Capitol Building:
<img src="http://traveltheworldguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Old-Havana-Capitol-Building.jpg" width="350" alt="Old Havana - Capitol Building"/>

Old Havana - Hotel Nacional de Cuba:
<img src="http://architectlarryladelfa.com/consumers_blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/The-Hotel-Nacional-de-Cuba.jpg" width="350" alt="description"/>

Old Havana - Museum of the Revolution:
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Museum_of_Revolution_Cuba.jpg" width="350" alt="description"/>

Old Havana - Cathedral of Havana:
<img src="http://www.tampachanging.com/photos/reother/cuba-LOC-4a05166a_new.jpg" width="350" alt="description"/>

I was mesmerized not only by the love between the characters, but also by their immense love for their country. I would highly recommend this story of love, courage, and hope. <i>“As exiles … hope is embedded in the very essence of our soul. 'Next Year in Havana.' It’s the toast we never stop saying, because the dream of it never comes true.”</i> Year after year, those exiled from Cuba still hope to one day, return. Their "ojala," or hope, is never ending.

Not only was the cover stunning, but so was the story! I didn't know much about Cuba, or the struggle of her people, but now that I do, I have a feeling this story will stick with me for a long time... which is a good thing because there will a sequel. YES! I am so excited to learn more about the Perez family, and Cuba.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars!

“Am I dangerous?”
“I have a feeling you just might be.”



I made a resolution to myself last year that I would make more of an effort to read new to me authors when selecting future books. Chanel Cleeton is a new to me author, and when I saw the cover and title of this book I knew I needed to get my hands on it. And man oh man am I so glad I did because I loved this story.

Next Year in Havana is told in present day by Marisol, a young woman grieving her recently deceased grandmother, Elisa, and goes to Cuba to spread her ashes. We also get Elisa’s story in 1958 Cuba, a story of love and a divided country.

That’s all I’m going to say about the plot, but know both stories present and past are beautiful and will surprise you.

“I walk down these streets, and I look out to the sea, and I want to feel as though I belong here, but I am a visitor here, a guest in my own country.”
“Then you know what it means to be Cuban.”

Cuba has always been a subject of interest for me, but not one strong enough for me to do some heavy research. Reading this book I felt I learned a lot about the country and its history, its present day happenings as well. At times the characters I felt got a little bit too political and by that I mean I did skim some political stuffs because it was feeling repetitive and preachy, but I honestly didn’t mind it that much because I’m giving it 4.5 stars.

Normally when a book is told from two point of views I find I like one more than the other, but that really wasn’t the case in this book. I loved Marisol and Elisa’s stories equally, wanting to know more about both and never wanting to skip a POV. Both women are caught in impossible situations because of issues beyond their control. They feel powerless, and yet do everything they can for the people they love.

Reading this book I felt as if I was transported to Cuba. I’ve never been but felt I have based on the descriptive nature of this book. Cleeton is excellent at bringing her readers into her story and I honestly can say I am dying for her to write more books like this one.

I know I will remember this book for years to come.

“No one warned me love would hurt so much.”

ARC provided by the publisher

This is going to be a hard review to write, because no matter what words I use to try and convey my love for this story, I’m going to fall short. Reading Next Year in Havana like being hit with a ton of bricks. The description of not only the setting, but the emotions, gripped me from the beginning. It was brimming with history and intrigue, and I knew from the very first page I was going to love this book. I just didn’t know how much. I’m not going to go into too much detail in this review, because there are so many things that could be spoilers, and I think it’s imperative readers discover things for themselves.

The writing in this story was absolutely gorgeous. Every single word on these pages was given careful consideration, and it’s clear the author poured her heart and soul into this story. The amount of research that had to have gone into this book is astounding. I loved the way it flipped back and forth between the past and the present. I was equally invested in both stories, and the way Marisol was unknowingly following in Elisa’s footsteps was brilliant. There were so many surprises, and while I saw a few of them coming, they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story. I swear I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book. I never stopped waiting for the other shoe to drop; I just didn’t realize that I should have been waiting on both timelines. The exploration of blood vs. country was so well done here, the push and pull so tangible. The decisions made and the events that unfolded were heartbreaking, but I loved the way things came full circle at the end of this story. I was so mad at Cuba, and frustrated that she was so beloved by her people despite their devastation. Things felt hopeless to me as the reader, yet there was hopefulness among some of the citizens.

There were four sisters in the timeline from the past, and I think we’ll be getting all of them - the oldest three at least. Beatriz’s story is next, and I can’t wait to read it. She was so intriguing, and there was one hell of a line she delivered in this story that left me needing her story immediately!

It’s obvious I loved Next Year in Havana, and whether you’re a fan of romance or intrigue, historical fiction or contemporary, I think you will, too. There’s no one I wouldn’t recommend this book to.

The cover of this book may be stunning, but it's nothing compared to the pages beneath.

Favorite Quote: To be Cuban is to be proud— it is both our greatest gift and our biggest curse. We serve no kings, bow no heads, bear our troubles on our backs as though they are nothing at all. There is an art to this, you see. An art to appearing as though everything is effortless, that your world is a gilded one, when the reality is that your knees beneath your silk gown buckle from the weight of it all. We are silk and lace, and beneath them we are steel.

The above quote is on one of the first pages in the book and I feel like it really tells a lot about this book. I have been waiting for this book since I first saw Cleeton announce it. It is definitely a departure from her previous books, which are firmly romance. On Broken Wings was on of my favorite reads for 2017 and was an angsty, emotional and sexy story. Next Year In Havana is a beautiful and emotional love story. Love of family, love of country, romantic love all make appearances here and I loved every moment of it.

It’s told from the past by Elisa and modern day by Marisol, Elisa’s granddaughter. Elisa is 19 and it’s 1956 right in the middle of the Cuban revolution. Her family is a wealthy, influential family in Havana. She is a product of privilege and until this point has not been too impacted by the upheaval occuring around her. Her family has to decide if and when they will leave Cuba. There is a lot of history about the Cuban revolution and I found it fascinating. But the most gut-wrenching part was the belief that exile would be temporary.

Marisol in modern day has traveled to Cuba to scatter her grandmother’s ashes. She’s grown up hearing stories of Cuba, as she was mostly raised by her grandmother. Marisol stays with her grandmother’s best friend, Ana and her family. Ana gives Marisol a box that belonged to her grandmother and it is filled with glimpses into Elisa’s past. Marisol works through these pieces and learns more about her grandmother’s life and secrets. Additionally Marisol has to work through where and how she fits in to modern Cuba.

I am Cuban, and yet, I am not. I don’t know where I fit here, in the land of my grandparents, attempting to recreate a Cuba that no longer exists in reality.

Of course there is love in this book. Elisa and Marisol both find love in Cuba. Elisa falls in love with a revolutionary. Marisol finds love as well. She’s only in Cuba for a week so it is kind of a forced proximity situation. The love comes on fast, but I enjoyed Luis and Marisol together.
Quote: “I thought you were laughing at me,” I confess. “I thought you were charming,” he says. “And yes, you made me laugh, but not at you. And then I drove you through Havana, took you to your family’s house and saw the way you looked at it, heard the way you spoke of your family, of what being Cuban meant to you, and I knew.” “Knew what?” “That you were here for me.”



It would be a disservice to not mention to the love of Cuba in this book. While I was reading I was thinking that there are really three love stories in this book, Elisa’s, Marisol and Luis, and the love of Cuba. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of dialogue spent on the issues of Cubans then and now. But through Elisa’s eyes we see the Cuba she loved. Through Marisol’s eyes we see the Cuba she grew up knowing and then for herself. Cleeton herself is a Cuban-American and has said this books was influenced by her own life. It took me a good portion of the book to really get where the “Next Year in Havana” came from, but when it did, it really brought all the pieces together for me. I can only speak for myself when I say, I grew up knowing minimal things about Cuba. And I certainly never really considered how hard is for a person to leave their home not knowing when or if they may ever be able to return. There were also some parallels and mention to the current political situation of the United States. I think it would be hard to write a book that covers historical and current political situations and not mention it. One quote I pulled out really resonated.
Very few can afford the luxury of being political in Cuba.” “And no one can afford the luxury of not being political in Cuba,” he counters.

Cleeton wove together a story of past and present that resulted in a beautiful and moving story. There is love and loss, a little bit of mystery/intrigue and some surprises as well as laughs. Marisol and Elisa have many parallels in their lives, but it never felt heavy handed to me. This is definitely a women’s fiction book, but it had enough romantic elements to satisfy me. Marisol’s journey of self discovery was priority number one, but love was strong too. If you’ve watched and enjoyed the Netflix show One Day at a Time, I recommend this book. Or if you’ve read or plan to read this book, I recommend you watch ODAAT, specifically season two, episode four.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to Beatriz’s, Elisa’s sister, book.

Grade: A

"I've fallen in love with a revolutionary."

or two...

Two couples.
Two different times.
One revolution.
ALL THE FUCKING FEELINGS!!!

Every now and again a book completely takes you by surprise. Next Year in Havana is one of those books. I have read and loved some of Chanel's books, but none of them has made me feel the way this book did. One moment I was on my couch reading, and the next one I was in Havana eating, breathing, and living this story.

The first chapters got me hooked instantly, but Chanel seemed to be going for my heart. And she definitely got it.

"I can't imagine him in my world, and I certainly don't belong in his. Where does that leave us?"

The bittersweet journey these two couples travel is a total experience. This is the kind of book that will make your heart ache, but at the same time, it will fill it with so much love and hope. This book, in a word: POWERFUL.

"It's as though Cuba has awoken something in me, and I can't–don't want to–shut it off."

Without divulging too much, Next Year in Havana is a story that explores a lot of themes, it goes from love to revolution, from family loyalty to secrets. It's definitely so much more than just a romantic Cuban experience. This is the kind of love story where hope prevails and words linger, long after the final page.

With a breathtaking prose, endearing characters, and a poignant story, Next Year in Havana is not only my favorite book by Chanel Cleeton, it's one of my favorite reads of 2018.

"You never know what's to come. That's 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."

My heart is full. Full with love for the characters of this book. With shame about my ignorance of the danger and problems Cuban people still face on a daily basis. Admiration for their bravery and pride. Affection for their good hearts. Sadness for their heartbreak. I struggle to get a grip on my emotions as I sit here and write my review.

-- How long will we be gone? When will we return? Which version of Cuba will greet us when we do? --

Marisol's exiled grandmother's last wish was for her remains to return to the home of her heart, Cuba, one of the priceless gems in the Caribbean Sea. Marisol only knows her country from stories her grandmother Elisa told her, who raised her and who she was closest to. Arriving in Cuba she traces back Elisa's life. At her side is Elisa's best friend Ana's grandson Luis. Together they uncover secrets only a few people apart from Elisa knew about.

Two timelines follow alternating Elisa and Pablo as well as Marisol and Luis. There are parallels between Elisa's love for Pablo and Marisol's for Luis. Both of them love highly educated men, who have a deep love for their country. Patriotism isn't just a word for them, they live it, breathe it...die for it. And both of these men possess a quiet strength, an earnestness and intensity that draws both Elisa and Marisol in.

It isn't surprising that Marisol and Elisa fall in love with men who have so similar character traits. Marisol and Elisa share the same kindness, brave heart, curiosity and love for their country. When Elisa's secret start to surface it throws Marisol a little bit for a loop. Doubts about her knowledge of the woman who raised her arise, make her question if she knew her grandmother at all. Slowly she also realizes how romanticized her image of Cuba is.

-- I am Cuban, and yet, I am not. I don’t know where I fit here, in the land of my grandparents, attempting to recreate a Cuba that no longer exists in reality. --

Luis and Marisol's instant attraction becomes complicated fast, their connection turns quickly into deep feelings. But how can they be together when neither of them fits into the world of the other? This stalemate situation makes you understand, however, that as divergent Luis and Marisol are, they also have a lot in common. It's exactly the same situation Marisol's grandmother and Pablo found themselves in, when they fell in love.

-- “In this moment, I want you. But after that—”
“Then maybe we just have this moment.”
“Is that enough?”
He smiles, a tinge of sadness on his face. “I have a feeling there will never be enough moments with you, Marisol.” --

As we follow Marisol and Elisa we learn about the Cuba pre-revolution and the Cuba of today. Chanel Cleeton draws the country in brilliant and rich colors and makes you want to get on a plane and visit, to see it with your own eyes. I adored all the main characters and Luis' grandmother Ana. There is a warmth, a gentleness to all of them despite the harshness they experience.

Cuba is the fifth star in this story and she is as beautiful as she is terrifying. The author weaves her immense and profound knowledge of the country into the story and fascinates us with historical details. I suspect she also poured a lot of herself into Marisol and Elisa.

-- There is no home for us in a world where we can’t speak our minds for fear of being thrown in prison, where daring to dream is a criminal act, where you aren’t limited by your own ability and ambition, but instead by the whims of those who keep a tight rein on power. --

This story is powerful and extraordinary. It's a history class with a handsome professor who has the ability to captivate and enchant you with spellbinding, informative and lovely narration about the people, politics and history of a beautiful country. Yes, there is a lot of historical details in the beginning and while this makes for a slower reading in the first 30 to 40% it is absolutely essential to understand the bigger picture. I loved learning about the Cuban revolution from somebody with such intimate knowledge about it.

But do not fear, the story picks up at around 40% and then it reaches that level of unputdownable that I experience with all Chanel Cleeton books. I love all her stories but this time she has outdone herself.
 
Heads up - this is not romance. I think it qualifies more as fiction with romantic elements. But don't let that keep you from reading it, it packs a good amount of romance and love.
This is the book I never knew was missing from my life. It has made me richer and given me an insight into the dangers Cuban people are still dealing with. I can't stress how important this story is, how fascinating, emotional, wonderful and educating. I have a new understanding of the history and I hope one day Cuban people will be free and rid of the regime so that their inherent exuberance and vibrancy can shine again with full power.
 
-- We carry our home with us in our hearts, laden with hope. So much hope. --

 
Next year in Havana. Ojalá.

What incredible imagery this author created. I was just a few chapters in and already had the urge to google Havana, Cuba trying to find the homes being described in 1958. This was a very unique book for me. Full of Cuban politics and flashing back and forth in time between two couples. One in 1958 and one in present time. Elisa and Pablo. Marisol and Luis. Grandmother and granddaughter. Their lives so different but so similar when they meet the love of their life. I can't get over how the author was able to bring both their stories to life in the way that she did. The struggles in Cuba that just seems so helpless in both times. The type of men they both fell in love with and their struggle with doing right by their country over personal wants. This book was more than a romance book. It was also a history lesson, a cultural lesson through the eyes of two very strong women and their men. Don't judge me but I'm not a fan of politics or history so the fact that the author had me mesmerized is no small feat. This book did not end on a cliffhanger but I also felt it wasn't over. I'm hoping this means she plans to write more. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Let’s just start by saying that the cover for this is gorgeous! As someone who isn’t very familiar with the history of Cuba and the revolution, this part was eye opening. The people you expect to be your saviors don’t always turn out that way which was the case in Fidel. Marisol is in Cuba writing an article about tourism but she’s really there to scatter her grandmother’s ashes. What she doesn’t expect is to uncover her grandmother’s life and love before she moved to Miami. This is a great story about finding out your family history and realizing you have more in common with them then you thought.

Is a squeal an acceptable review? This book is gorgeous. From the cover to the content inbetween. I can't wait to have it sitting pretty on myself. A dazzling tale of love and life and the things that matter. Family. Culture. Getting to know who you are and where you came from. Absolute favorite book by this author. 6 stars.

4,5-5 Beautiful stars

"At the end of the day the only thing you have left is what you stand for."

I'm speechless, such a beautiful and powerful story!I have no words, I'm still processing what I just read!I have read and loved almost all Chanel's books but nothing is like that!This was amazing!Next Year in Havana is an emotional,intense, heartbreaking and heartwarming story!

Next Year in Havana follows two different timelines. The first timeline tells the story of Elisa in 1958 Havana, Cuba, and the second timeline follows Elisa’s granddaughter, Marisol, as she travels back to Havana to scatter her grandmother’s ashes.I loved both Eliza and Marisol but for some reason I felt more connected with Eliza and her story!Her story was so intense I have so many feelings and I find myself crying at some points.Marisol life was easier but still I love her she was strong heroine!

The writing is so beautiful and flawless, the story is poignant and the characters amazing!I was fascinated by the history in this one, it makes me want to travel in this place!This is a must read!If you are looking for a brilliant story with history,romance and heartbreaking moments this is perfect for you!!

"Ninety miles. Ninety miles separate Cuba from Key West, the southernmost tip of the United States. Ninety miles that might as well be infinite. "

Passionate, emotional and heart-stopping, 'Next Year in Havana' exceeded all my expectations. I was reluctant to read this because having grown up in South Florida, I set a high bar for this story. Ms. Cleeton surprised me with her portrayal of Cuba and of the tragic and proud inhabitants of the island.

"Havana is like a woman who was grand once and has fallen on hard times, and yet hints of her former brilliance remain, traces of an era since passed, a photograph faded by time and circumstance, its edges crumbling to dust."

The story alternates between the time of Fidel Castro overthrowing the Batista government and the present. Marisol's beloved grandmother Elisa has passed away, and she entrusted Marisol with bringing her ashes back to her beloved Cuba and scattering them there. Marisol, who grew up in Miami as the grandchild of exiles, travels alone to Cuba to fulfill Elisa's wishes.

Marisol is stunned to discover that Elisa, who grew up in a wealthy, privileged family, kept many secrets from her family and was not the grandmother that Marisol thought she knew so well. Marisol discovers that Elisa had fallen in love with a revolutionary, something that was absolutely forbidden by her family and extremely dangerous at that time in Cuba.

"She was the constant in my life, the person I knew would be there for me no matter what, the one person in my family who accepted me without reserve, who didn’t attempt to shape me into the Perez mold. That makes this discrepancy between the woman I thought I knew and the woman she was cut the deepest."

Through a series of letters written by Elisa's lover Pablo, Marisol learns of the terror and torment that both Batista and Fidel Castro brought upon the Cuban people. And she learns of the great love affair between her grandmother, only 19 at the time, and Pablo.

"Pablo steps behind me, close enough that his fingers brush against the line of tiny buttons running down my spine. It feels like an eternity before his fingers slip the button through the slim hole, setting it to rights. It could be my imagination, but I swear his fingers twitch against me, or perhaps it’s my own body that shudders. There’s a novelty to this that catches me off guard. He is both old and new at once, and I can’t ignore the voice inside me that’s pushed out my mother’s now—Pay attention. This is important. He is important."

Marisol meets Luis, the son of the host of her guest house, or casa particulares. He dreams of a free Cuba and is bitter towards the Castro regime and those who left in exile. He is passionate, intelligent and articulate. And very dangerous.

Marisol's modern-day romance with Luis parallel's her grandmother's romance with Pablo in 1958. The similarities brought me to tears - both forbidden and seemingly doomed. Both Elisa and Marisol loved Cuba with all their heart but did not know how to help and how to cause change. Both were from wealthy and privileged families, making it dangerous to cause trouble or bring any attentions to themselves.


“I wish things were simpler,” Pablo adds. “I wish you could live in my world and I could live in yours. I wish there wasn’t such a sharp divide between those who have everything and those who simply yearn for a chance at more.”

“At the end of the day, the only thing you have left is what you stand for. If I said nothing, if I did nothing, I could not live with myself. I would not be a man. This is the position I choose to take, and for better or worse, I will accept the consequences of my actions.”

Marisol is simply stunned to discover that her grandmother loved a revolutionary and cannot wrap her head around it. The parallel loves stories were simply breathtaking!

"What happened between them? Were they separated by the revolution? Did she forget him when she met my grandfather? My grandmother loved a revolutionary. I can’t quite wrap my mind around it.

Why didn’t my grandmother tell me these stories? Why didn’t she trust me with this?"

In addition to the gorgeous love stories. the author's recounting of the Communist revolution and of modern-day Cuba are spot-on. I could feel the terror of the citizens as the revolution overtook them and feel the hopelessness of the current citizens of Cuba. I applaud Ms. Cleeton for insightful look into the current situation in Cuba!

"For the first time in my life, I know true, bone-chilling fear. For the first time in my life, I understand the precarious frailty of freedom."

This book was thrilling and passionate and emotional and romantic and SO satisfying! Marisol and Luis and Elisa and Pablo felt like close friends by the end of this novel. I highly recommend 'Next Year in Havana' this to all romance readers and to anyone even remotely interested in Cuba, an island that is a mere 90 miles from U.S. shores, but might as well be 5,000 miles away.

"This island will break your heart if you let it."

When I started this book, I never would have thought it would be so...

Amazing. There's truly no other word to define it. It's rich in history, details. You feel everything, as though you are there. It had a very powerful impact on me, maybe because of my own country's similar history. Communism is communism, no matter the place. I may not have been around for that regime, when it all went down, but I too have heard stories from my grandparents and parents.

There are two story lines, one in the fifties, the other in the present. Grandmother and granddaughter.

Marisol is American-Cuban and she was raised by her grandmother, Elisa, who has fled Cuba with her parents when she was only nineteen. Marisol grew up eating Cuban food, hearing all the stories about Cuba, what she thought was the good, the bad and the ugly. Her grandmother's dying wish was to be cremated and her ashes scattered in her home country. So Marisol packed her bags and with the excuse of writing an article about today's Cuba, she was off.

But she found more than she bargained for. Secrets were revealed, truths were, in fact, lies and she realized she didn't know anything, after all. I love how history repeats itself; the love stories in ugly times; the similarities between the characters and their circumstances. The year may be different but everything else is the same.

My heart broke so many times; for these characters, for the tragedies they had to go through. The ending killed me. It slayed me. I cried a lot, so thank you for that, Ms. Cleeton.

In all seriousness, this book will definitely be on my favorites list this year because, as I said, it was amazing. Read it.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy of this book through Netgalley and my rating is 5+++ stars.