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A review by thebookishlifeofnicole
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
5.0
As soon as I finished Next Year in Havana, I knew I needed to get my hands on When We Left Cuba. I was really drawn to Beatriz in the first book and was so excited to hear that When We Left Cuba would be exploring her story. It did not disappoint, not one bit.
In Next Year in Havana, Cleeton brought to life Cuban culture and the history of Fidel Catsro’s regime. In When We Left Cuba we follow Beatriz and the Perez family following their flight from Cuba as they adjust to being immigrants in Florida and try to fit in with the Society there. Filled with espionage, romance and rich historical detail, this book was a home run for me. In Beatriz we find a headstrong, fiery protagonist with a deep and passionate love for her country as well as a will of iron. She is a character with real depth and flaws and I loved every part of her. One of the things I love about Cleeton’s writing in both this book and her prior one is how she stays true to her characters. She lets them make the hard or wrong choice because that’s true to their personality and values and I really respect that. As a reader it really makes the characters more fleshed out and real and I find it helps me connect with them.
This book was mysterious, suspenseful, heartbreaking and romantic. Much like Next Year in Havana, I came away feeling that I had learned so much about Cuban history and politics that I was unaware of before. I love books that expose me to a new place or new ideas and make me curious to learn more. Cleeton is a master at weaving historical details and events into her stories in a way that is not only educational, but enlightening and fascinating. I loved the espionage element to this book, it was well balanced with the romantic storyline and for that reason I liked this more than Next Year in Havana. I am totally hooked on this author and will instantly pick up anything of hers in the future.
In Next Year in Havana, Cleeton brought to life Cuban culture and the history of Fidel Catsro’s regime. In When We Left Cuba we follow Beatriz and the Perez family following their flight from Cuba as they adjust to being immigrants in Florida and try to fit in with the Society there. Filled with espionage, romance and rich historical detail, this book was a home run for me. In Beatriz we find a headstrong, fiery protagonist with a deep and passionate love for her country as well as a will of iron. She is a character with real depth and flaws and I loved every part of her. One of the things I love about Cleeton’s writing in both this book and her prior one is how she stays true to her characters. She lets them make the hard or wrong choice because that’s true to their personality and values and I really respect that. As a reader it really makes the characters more fleshed out and real and I find it helps me connect with them.
This book was mysterious, suspenseful, heartbreaking and romantic. Much like Next Year in Havana, I came away feeling that I had learned so much about Cuban history and politics that I was unaware of before. I love books that expose me to a new place or new ideas and make me curious to learn more. Cleeton is a master at weaving historical details and events into her stories in a way that is not only educational, but enlightening and fascinating. I loved the espionage element to this book, it was well balanced with the romantic storyline and for that reason I liked this more than Next Year in Havana. I am totally hooked on this author and will instantly pick up anything of hers in the future.