Chanel Cleeton has done it again! I was completely captivated by this book. I knew very little about Cuba’s fight for independence and the Spanish-American war. Cleeton’s book is well-researched, fast paced, and wholly enjoyable. She gives us three plucky heroines to root for and once again showcases the strength of women in a time when they weren’t expected to do much other than host dinner parties.

Read if you:
• Liked Cleeton’s previous books about Cuba
• Liked The Alice Network or Lilac Girls
• Are looking for historical fiction not set during WWII

Thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the eARC.

"I might have been born a lady, but we are remade in times of war."

When I read this was a story inspired by real-life events, I knew I was going to be hooked, but I had no idea it would truly pull me in and leave me gasping for more.

In 1896, Evangelina Cisneros is unrightfully incarcerated after trying to defend herself against the advances of Colonel Berriz. The officials thought this was Evangelina's ploy to attempt to free prisoners, which is why she's taken to a prison for women, one of the worst jails in Cuba.

In New York, we have Grace, a woman with dreams of making it big at a newspaper firm. Hearst from the Journal gives her an opportunity to be a stunt reporter. It is here she finds out about what's going on in Cuba, how there are many Americans who sympathize with the Cubans, and how Evangelina, a very attractive woman who was wrongfully jailed, could be the key to free Cuba from Spain.

"I cannot think of a place I'd rather be than sitting among a group of women plotting revolution."

Chanel Cleeton keeps demonstrating how intricate her writing is. She really depicts the life of a woman, a Cuban one at that, during the late 1890's━it's hostile and alarming. While describing this much needed story so eloquently, Cleeton had me almost biting my nails in anxiousness over the need for survival these characters had. I felt like I was right alongside them in their fight to free Cuba, Evangelina, and the prisoners. There were so many sacrifices that had to be made and my heart broke every single time.

"If you saw something you didn't like in the world, you should do what you could to change it."

Once again, Chanel Cleeton didn't disappoint and showed just how amazing she is at story-telling, world-building, and making the reader feel as if they were a part of the story.

The most beautiful girl in Cuba is a historical fiction novel set in the late 1890s during the Cuban War of Independence. The novel centers around real-life historical figure Evangelina Cisneros. Evangelina was a Cuban who was wrongly imprisoned by the Spanish for defending herself against a Spanish official who assaulted her. Her story is told in this novel alongside stories from two other perspectives: Marina, who is a message courier for the Cuban resistance; and Grace, who is a reporter for the Journal, a newspaper whose staff played a pivotal role in the gain for support for Cuban independence.

It took me a bit to get into this book at the beginning because my pea-sized brain had a difficult time keeping the three POVs straight. But once I was able to understand the POVs, I was entranced by the story. I didn’t know much about Cuba’s fight for independence from Spain or about the Spanish American war before I read this book and I am glad I was able to learn a little about those events from this book.

Chanel Cleeton is a highly talented writer who can masterfully weave story lines from different perspectives together. Her writing in this book is exquisite! Her style and prose evoked deep emotions in me and I loved that feeling of being invested in the story. I loved that this novel focused on strong and independent women who could hold their own in a war dominated by men. Their stories of sacrifice, courage, integrity, and fierceness were inspiring.

Of course, as a romance reader, I was instantly drawn to the love stories in this novel. Evangelina, Marina and Grace each had their own love story and each one made my heart melt. Their passionate romances made me feel things!

This is my favorite Chanel Cleeton book so far! If you are a historical fiction fan, this is a must-read for 2021!!!

Steam level: 🔥🔥
⚠️: war, imprisonment, sexual harassment, assault, poor living conditions, misogyny

Let me preface this review by stating that I know very little about Cuban politics and history. It’s not a subject that’s focused on in the American public school system and I am also not a history scholar so my knowledge on this topic is greatly limited. However, I am a big fan of Chanel Cleeton, read her consistently when she was writing contemporary romance and when she made the transition to historical fiction, I, too, took the plunge with her.

This book has 3 main protagonists and while each of them lead wildly different lives, their stories all intersect at pivotal moments in their respective lives. It’s also worth mentioning that the events in this book are lifted straight out of history and one of the main protagonists existed in real life. Since the book jumps back and forth between each of the women’s POV, I thought it would be best to break the review down by each of the main protagonists:

Evangelina

Evangelina Cisneros, aka “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” as she was labeled by the American Press, existed in real life. Her story is really what kicks off the book. At the beginning of the book, she’s a mere 18 years old, a Cuban revolutionary exiled to the Isle of Pines with her imprisoned father. A simple Wikipedia search will confirm that she existed and the events laid out in this book are pretty faithful to the actual events that occurred in her storied life. (I would also urge readers to read the author’s note at the back of the book which lays out in great detail the research that was done to uncover the details of this story). She was attacked late at night by a Spanish colonel and saved by her fellow revolutionaries, imprisoned in Recogidas prison in Havana for rejecting the Spanish colonel’s advances and protecting the identity of her rescuers. Her story gained fame and notoriety in the American press and with the help of American journalists from the New York Journal, she escaped from prison and fled to freedom in this country. Back in the late 1800s, there was no internet, instagram influencers or YouTubers, but Evangelina Cisneros, by strength of her determination and courage and refusal to take the easy way out, became a celebrity and in part, the face of the Cuban revolution. She arrived in New York after her daring escape, became a highly sought after speaker, landed a book deal (this part amused me in part because somethings never change, even in the 1800s), and married one of the people responsible for her escape out of prison and to America. Her story was fascinating to read about, all the more so because it was all based on factual events.

Grace

Evangelina’s story bleeds into Grace, a fictional character inspired by the famed journalist, Nellie Bly. Grace is professionally ambitious, much to the dismay of her family. Instead of marrying well, Grace has aspirations of becoming a journalist, which is most unusually at a time when being a woman meant your options were severely limited. But never one to take no for an answer, she gets a job working for William Randolph Hearst at the New York Journal. Though her story, more so than the other two protagonists in this book, does contain some romantic elements, it is hardly the focus. Grace, unbeknownst to Hearst, is initially working as a spy for Joseph Pulitzer, Hearst’s main competition and owner of the New York World. She dreams of reporting on stories that actually matter, that make a difference in the world, and through her work for Hearst, she becomes immersed in the Cuban revolution. Grace is pretty much my favorite type of historical fiction heroine in that she has utter disdain for the rules that govern society and is much more interested in living her life on her own terms. I liked the evolution of her character, enjoyed the scenes that showed her at work, and also liked the romance between her and Rafael Harden, an American born businessman with Cuban heritage. Grace’s meeting with Evangelina is really interesting because it’s an interesting commentary on how the press helps shape the narrative of people in the public eye. The press and the public help to glamorize Evangelina in a way that makes helping her something palatable and worthwhile to them. And as Grace astutely points out, Recogidas houses many women prisoners who are also deserving of help. All of this leads Grace to Cuba and ultimately, to the final protagonist in the book.

Marina

Marina is a Cuban revolutionary, and while she’s fictional, she’s based on many of the women who fought for Cuban independence. Kicked out of her rich Cuban family for marrying a poor farmer, the book finds Marina and her young daughter and mother-in-law forcibly moved from their farm to a reconcentration camp in Havana under the dictates of General Weyler of the Spanish Army. Her husband is off fighting the Spanish as a Cuban revolutionary and it’s up to her to keep the rest of their small family safe. It’s fascinating to read the dichotomy between Evangelina and Marina, who both end up at Recogidas at different times and both of whom play pivotal roles in helping each other gain freedom. While Evangelina becomes famous and renowned as a Cuban hero, Marina’s story remains largely untold and forgotten, despite the fact that she works as a spy for the Cuban revolution, acting as a courier and carrying secret messages.

I found this book really fascinating and engaging and I’ve always enjoyed Chanel Cleeton’s writing. However, there is one thing that bothered me about this book and actually, I had a similar complaint about her last book, The Last Train to Key West, which also focused on the narratives of 3 female protagonists. The ending all seems to be tied up a little too neatly and maybe this is due to the fact that Chanel Cleeton began her writing career as a romance author and so HEAs are sort of part of the package for her. However, having all three of these narratives tie up as neatly as they are, feels a little disingenuous almost. Obviously, Evangelina’s part of the story ended the way it did because she was a real person and much of the book took its research from her autobiography. However, being that Grace and Marina were fictional characters, I think the book would have been a little bit stronger had the ending not been quite so perfect for both of them, especially Marina. Marina’s story ends in such a way that it’s almost like a fairy tale except that it takes place against the grim backdrop of a country torn apart by colonialism and war. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the HEA but this book doesn’t really require every single storyline be wrapped up quite so neatly.

Regardless of that very small complaint, I did really enjoy this book tremendously. The setting was lush and also stark, the characters memorable and engaging, and I learned something about a country that remains mostly a mystery to me.

In this work of Historical Fiction, we are transported to Cuba, before it had gained its independence from Spain, at a prison. We also see New York and the socialite scene from the lenses of a gutsy female reporter. Finally, a female secret spy, devoted to her family and her country. Inspired by true events of a woman imprisoned in the late 19th century, three strong women are determined to do what it takes to free her.

3 POV, a time in Cuba’s history that isn’t talked about a lot, characters that are strong and their stories woven together.

Three cheers for revolutionary women 💪🏼! (Thank you to @berkleypub for the arc of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba! #berkleyig )
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This book opens to Gilded Age New York where one of our protagonists, Grace, is trying to become a journalist. Preferably for Joseph Pulitzer, but her journey brings her to tycoon William Randolph Hearst. I WAS INSTANTLY HOOKED and INTRIGUED! We alternate POVs and also see through the eyes of Evangelina and Marina, women living in Cuba during Spanish oppression.
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The three women’s stories are excellently interwoven, showing how the media played such a tremendous role in international affairs. As this is a time period and particular conflict with which I have little prior knowledge, I feel like I learned a ton! And wow, the writing is AMAZING! I will be reading all Cleeton from here on out 😁.
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Additionally, the splash of romance GAVE ME LIFE! I love romance when it isn’t the main focus of a story and Rafael and Grace just made me swoon!
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I would recommend to:
🇨🇺 Fans of historical fiction
💪🏼 Those who love stories with strong women
😭 People who love to cry (of course 🤣)
🖊 Those who enjoy succinct and powerful writing!
💕 Those who want a romance element in the story

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is the first Chanel Cleeton novel that I have read, hopefully the first of many! This novel tells the story of 3 different women, each from their own point of view. I had a little trouble getting sucked into the book at first as each point of view felt quite separate but this passed quickly. Grace Harrington was by far my favorite character as I most strongly identified with her ambition and desire for her own career. Evangelina Cisneros was a real historical figure and her story is fascinating. The author did a great job bringing her to life, although things felt a little murky in regards to her at the end of the novel. History indicates that she was married and then she seems to have disappeared from public view which was probably a huge challenge for the author... I wouldn't have minded if Cleeton had taken more liberty and added in more fiction to round out the ending.
I think that Marina may be a connection between this novel and Cleeton's other works which is exciting but unverified. Further reading is needed on my part to confirm the connection.

Though the author has many other books that look fabulous this is my first read by her.
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is based on many true events that took place.
I absolutely love reading historical fiction because of what I learn from them.
The author has put in double time doing her research for this one I do believe!
It was fascinating to learn so many facts that were previously unknown to me such as the fierce circulation war between William Randolph Hearst Sr. and Joseph Pulitzer. Hearst got ahead by sensationalizing his paper's headlines. This newspaper battle takes place during the Gilded Age New York City where showgirls and yacht parties were commonplace for these tycoons.
There are three story lines going here with the fight for freedom of Cuba mainly focusing on the extraordinary woman, Cuban revolutionary Evangelina Cisneros.
She was exiled with her father to the Isle of Pines and then imprisoned in Recogidas prison which had horrific conditions. She was helped to escape by a Journal reporter.
She became famous after her jail break and many newspaper articles were written about her.
She was given the title of "The Most Beautiful Girl In Cuba" by the American newspapers.
Many of the articles written about her were a caricature of her and people's opinions were shaped by how the articles were written not by Evangelina's true character.
"The war for independence from Spain is one of the darkest and most heartbreaking times in Cuban history" While not having the exact number it is estimated that one third of Cuba's population was sent to Spanish concentration camps which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Very dark time for Cuba!
I am sure Cuba still celebrates it's formal freedom today after gaining it from the United States May 20th 1902.
I suggest you read the author's notes at the back of the book that accompany the story.
Absolutely excellent book, a story that needed to be told!

Pub Date 04 May 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

“At the moment, I cannot think of a place I’d rather be sitting than among a group of women plotting revolution.”👸🏻 Happy pub day to @chanelcleeton! 🥳 I finished this one over the weekend & can now say she’s done it again! | @berkleypub @netgalley #gifted ⁣
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I’ve pasted the full synopsis in the comments below. THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN CUBA is more of what Cleeton does so well. She writes unique perspectives on historical events that are always both rich in history and really entertaining. In this one we read about three *amazing* revolutionary woman fighting (in their own ways) for Cuba, Gilded Age NYC, a feud between newspaper tycoons, and more. Bonus: this one has my favorite love story she’s written yet. It’s also the one where I’ve learned the most; it was clearly meticulously researched. ⁣
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Long story short, I really enjoyed it, but I expected nothing less. Is anyone planning to grab a copy of this one? I 100% recommend ALL of her Cuba series.

Ready to take a journey back in time?

Who else remembers the phrase “yellow journalism” from their AP US History class? This book takes place during the Gilded Age in NYC, when William Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer were running competing newspapers. It covers the series of events that lead to the U.S. getting involved in the Spanish-American war, including the sinking of the USS Maine and the the true story of Evangelina Cisneros, a Cuban woman with a legendary impact.

One of my favorite things about reading this book was that it transformed a period in time I found a bit dry to learn about in school and created this incredible narrative that I will always remember. It’s really true that adding a personal story behind historical events makes them so much more memorable!

I thought this was another slam dunk of a book from Chanel Cleeton! She’s become an auto-read historical fiction author for me, because her books always have incredible female heroines set against the backdrop of historical events that I’ve never read about before. You can tell how well researched this book was while reading, especially after reading the author’s note as well.

Continuing her Cuba Saga, Chanel Cleeton brings us another Cuban historical fiction book. Grace Harrington has gotten a job at the Hearst Newspaper empire. Taking place at then end of the 19th century, it is Harrington’s goal to learn about the legendary Cuban woman, Evangelina Cisneros. Cisneros, an 18-year-old is imprisoned in a notorious Havana jail for her dreams of a Cuba freed of Spanish rule. Told from the newspaper writers point of view, there was plenty of tension, and for those seeking to learn more about Cuba, this will be helpful.

Favorite Quotes:

It feels as though we are waiting to die here, growing mad minute by minute, our bones aging, the life leeching from us.

My debut was far from a splash, more like a slow drizzle, and now at twenty-five, unmarried and living with my mother’s eccentric sister, I am hardly marriage material.

In my current attire, everyone makes a concerted effort not to make eye contact with me as I pass by them. My appearance provides the perfect opportunity to work as a courier because no one, least of all the wealthy and privileged citizens of Havana, wants to confront the human face of this war.

It’s impossible to feel victorious when the “victory” leaves your country in ruins.



My Review:

I must confess other than knowing where it is on the map and the lore of their famous cigars, I am woefully ignorant about Cuba, Cuban history, and Cuban culture. I wore Mr. Google out while I read this tome and was astounded at how much of this story was actually true or based on true events. The author must have researched thousands of hours and brought history to life. She often walked a fine line to avoid being overwrought, as there was agony in every character’s storyline, so - much - agony. This was an informative as well as a challenging read for me and she implanted me so deeply within the narrative, I was struggling along with the characters. There was no shortage of despair, fear, misery, abuse, deprivation, and horrific conditions. The writing was highly descriptive as well as emotive and heart-squeezing and was intermittently paced yet quite eventful and busy. I need a spa day and a vat of wine to recover.

Recommended Read!

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is a story of three women, yes not just one, amid the war between Cuba and Spain in the nineteenth century. Grace Harrington, an American reporter who is trying to make her way in a man’s world, Marina Perez, an undercover revolutionary, and Evangelina Cisneros, a prominent member of the revolution to free Cuba. All had played a very important role in paving the way for the people of Cuba and the women in both countries. It’s a story of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.

Cleeton’s story revealed the gut wrenching truth of what women in this time lived through. She pulled me in her story and let me experience it as if it were my own. I felt their need to survive, to fight, and to sacrifice what was needed. What these women sacrificed for the sake of freedom and survival was heartbreaking yet awe inspiring and heartwarming. I cried for the sacrifices they made and relieved for them when the war was over.

I absolutely love everything about this book, especially the characters and the stories that made them as real as you and me. I don’t know how many times, I will say this but yet again, Cleeton did not disappoint.

Chanel Cleeton, the author of “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World in Cuba” has written a captivating, and intriguing novel. The genre for this novel is Historical Fiction. This is a book based on many true events and facts. I appreciate that the author has spent hours researching. The timeline for this novel is set in the late nineteenth century. The author describes her characters as complex, complicated, quirky, ambitious, and brave. Some of the women are extremely brave.

Cuba has a complex history, and the Spanish control, fighting, and imprisoning Cuban rebel fighters, and their families is a dark side in Cuba’s history. Spanish oppression has crushed the spirit of many and energized others to fight for their freedom. Some people believed if Americans would enter the war, it would help free Cuba. The Spanish government would imprison many women and children in Cuba in deplorable conditions. One of those women was Evangelina Cisneros.

In America, there is a Journalistic War of sorts. Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst both have newspapers and are in serious competition. The issues of Cuba are newsworthy, and both want stories, and get them in different ways. Grace Harrington is ambitious and a young want-to-be journalist, and approaches Joseph Pulitzer for a job. He feels she isn’t ready, so she goes to William Randolph Hearst.

While Evangelina is still in prison, another captive prisoner, Marina Perez is able to sneak in notes letting Evangelina know there might be an opportunity for her to escape. Hearst calls Evangelina “the most beautiful girl in Cuba”. She is rescued, and once in America, helps to call attention to what is going on in Cuba. Grace Harrington helps tell her story. Will Cuba ever be free?

I would highly recommend this memorable and thought-provoking book to others.

A story of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba standing up for her country and calling for America to help Cuba defeat the Spanish and give Cuba the freedom they desire. Every part of this historical fiction book gave me insight into life during a war. The camps that citizens were forced into, the prisons they lived in, and the love they lost and found during a time of unrest all brought the story to life and gave me a new view of Cuban history.

The story newspaper moguls, Hearst and Pulitzer, fighting to be the biggest paper in New York during the Gilded Age was interesting. I loved Grace and the fact that she stepped outside of the usual woman roles by becoming a stunt writer. She pushes the boundaries and succeeds in reaching her goals.

Chantel Cleeton writes about the women in Cuba with a style that pulls the reader in, brings Cuba to life, and teaches the history in a fictional book with as much truth as possible.

It's been one of the highlights of the last few years for me to read each new novel in Chanel Cleeton's based in or about Cuba. I've delighted in the stories she's brought to life about the people in the era.

In The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, set in the late 1800's, she introduces three women who are unyielding in their principles. There's the idealist, Grace, who has aspirations to become a journalist eager to cover the hard-hitting stories but that are only trusted to the men. Evangelina is a young Cuban woman who opposes Spanish rule and is determined to help her country get out from under its thumb. And finally, Marina who along with her husband has been fighting for the revolutionaries. In a nice bit of coming full circle, this Marina who secretly transports messages, is the ancestor of the Perez family we met in Next Year in Havana. These women's lives, so drastically different, intersect and the impact is forever life changing.

Grace captured my attention probably because she's this wide-eyed ambitious young woman determined to succeed so she walked away from her family's money to do this on her own terms. Considering the time period, it's a courageous choice. I was especially taken with her composure. Her storyline introduced me to "yellow journalism" and the rivalry between William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. I can't tell you the number of times I set aside the book so I could look up more about the two men. And it's also through Grace's eyes that we see how Hearst played a role in getting America to intervene on Cuba's behalf. It's amazing how much influence he exerted. Once he heard about the plight of Evangelina Cisneros who was imprisoned by the Spanish government, he got personally involved in the plot to help her escape.

Evangelina's story both scared me and angered me. There's unfortunately not much historical information about her personal life, especially after she escapes, but Cleeton pieces together what is available to show us a picture of an impressive woman, often stoic in the face of the injustice thrown at her. Unaware at first of the media sensation that is built around her imprisonment, she becomes the poster girl and rallying cry for Cuba's freedom in America. Once she's free, she's booked for several tours around America, meeting with high-level officials and organizations to garner support among Americans for Cuba's freedom. The tone of Evangelina's story changed once she arrived in America as she went from an imprisoned woman to a woman putting on the persona that the media created for her. It made me mindful of how to this day the media does still latch onto an idea or a person, making them the face of whatever the topic is, and just runs with it. Evangelina's experience highlights that. I'll admit to being a little bored with her story as it wore on because her life in the spotlight became repetitive, and I sensed that Evangelina herself got weary of playing to the public's expectations. She probably wanted to be more directly involved in the revolutionary efforts but accepted that her role was to be the face and mouthpiece of her country and people.

Marina's is probably the most suspenseful story here. As a courier, she's tasked with delivering messages within a secret and tight-knit network of individuals plotting against Spain. Like Grace and Evangelina, she's given up the comforts of home and family. Unlike her wealthy family, she's chosen her side and fixed firmly there. She recalls stories of a thriving Cuba and longs to see that again. Marina is the everyday civilian who gives us a glimpse of a devastated country, and of its people struggling to put food on the table. Now with a resolute sense of duty, she willingly and without hesitation puts herself in the midst of danger. Her chapters were a tense experience as I was either worried for her or her daughter's safety.

Reading this felt very "real time" to me, like I was transported there to see these events unfolding. Evangelina's story, Cuba's fight for independence, America's stake in Cuba, Heart's and Pulitzer's rivalry ... all of it riveted the entire nation, and me. One common thread in all these novels is that her heroines are brilliantly resilient in the face of adversity. They wear their pride and love for country on their sleeves. Cleeton beautifully brings out the richness and complexity of Cuba's long history so it shouldn't be a surprise that The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is as spellbinding as her previous novels.

~ Bel

I was already an admitted Chanel Cleeton fangirl. I devoured Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, and last year’s The Last Train to Key West, but, with The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, Chanel cements her spot among some of the best historical fiction writers today. Fantastically written and clearly meticulously researched, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba takes the story of three very different, but all equally courageous women and weaves together a story that is multi-layered and addictive.

I've read Chanel Cleeton before and I really loved her book.
When i began reading The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, I didn't know anything about Evangelina Cisneros. Evangelina was a woman who became a prominent figure during Cuban Independence. So, this book, is historical fiction.

What I loved the most about it is how Cleeton weaves in the story of 3 women's experiences during the Independence war. Though Evangelina was seen as the hero through American eyes, Cleeton shows other unsung heroes as well. I loved that. She explores the Cuban side of things but also the views of an AMerican journalist reporting on the war. In this book,t here are 3 heroines - and I love that they are all female.

I loved this book. Highly recommend it. I'll be writing a more detailed review in my blog (www.booksblissandbiscuits,com) later this week.

I first fell in love with the Cuba series when the first book, Next Year in Havana, was selected as a Reese's Book Club pick, and I have thoroughly enjoyed how Cleeton makes the characters and setting jump from the page. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is no different.

The very first thing I loved about this book is that it is centered on a piece of history I am less familiar with: Cuba's fight for independence from Spain in the late 19th century + the Spanish-American War. If you've followed me for any period of time, you may know historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I love it even more when I find a book that teaches me about a piece of history I don't know much about.

Cleeton crafts such interesting, complex, deep characters. It's truly incredible. I've felt this way about characters in all of her books. In this installment, we have three leads—Evangelina (who was a real person!), Marina, and Grace. I love that there is something to learn from each of them: Marina teaches us about the beauty of unconditional love, Grace teaches us the power of following your gut and pursuing your dreams, even if they seem out of reach, and Evangelina teaches us what true loyalty looks like. Their stories weave together beautifully, something I imagine is very difficult when you have a story as layered as this one is.
Something else you should know about Cleeton's books is that she brings her setting to life. I haven't visited Cuba, but she truly does transport the reader. You can feel the humid air, taste the food (although not so much in this one because it's set in wartime and the Cubans' conditions were horrific), feel the ocean breeze—it's just incredible. She also brought 19th century NYC to life, and I loved learning more about the Hearst and Pultizer newspaper machines of the late 1800s.

I think it's important to know going in that this one is much more history-focused than the other books (the others are definitely history-focused, too, but this one felt more so). It just has to be. There's so much Cleeton has to set up for the reader so you truly understand the time period. I know that may not be for everyone, but I think if you know this going in and set your expectations accordingly, you'd still appreciate this book even if historical fiction isn't typically your favorite genre. It's just clear that Cleeton researched the heck out of this book—from the "war" of newspapers in NYC to the fight for independence in Cuba and harsh conditions in Cuba due to Spanish occupation.

And a note on the title: I was pleasantly surprised to see how that came together and the sentiment behind it from the woman deemed "the most beautiful girl in Cuba." It's not a major spoiler if I share it here, but I think it's more powerful coming from Cleeton's words, not mine.

I still need to read The Last Train to Key West, which I plan to read this month. So as you can see, I am reading them out of order (only slightly), and that's totally fine! This isn't a series you absolutely need to read in order.

Chanel Cleeton writes beautiful works of historical fiction about pieces of history that are not popularly written about. I knew nothing about the Spanish-American war and the crisis in Cuba that spurred it. This story follows three storylines of women who live very different lives but whose stories eventually intersect. Unfortunately the different storylines just didn't totally work for me. The storyline I cared about the most was Grace's which didn't feel right - I wanted to care more about the Cuban women who were suffering as a result of the Spanish occupancy but I just didn't feel like their characters were as developed. That said, I did overall enjoy this compelling story.