From the bestselling author of THE GIRLS WITH NO NAMES, a new historical novel based on the dazzling story of one of Hollywood’s most celebrated Hispanic actresses and her daughter’s search for closure.“Told in a series of letters, FIND ME IN HAVANA is a beautiful and heart-wrenching story of mothers and daughters, and the American Dream that comes with the biggest price of all. I couldn’t put it … all. I couldn’t put it down!” — Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author
Cuba, 1936: When Estelita Rodriguez sings in a hazy Havana nightclub for the very first time, she is nine years old. From then on, that spotlight of adoration—from Havana to New York’s Copacabana and then Hollywood—becomes the one true accomplishment no one can take from her. Not the 1933 Cuban Revolution that drove her family into poverty. Not the revolving door of husbands or the fickle world of film.
Thirty years later, her young adult daughter, Nina, is blindsided by her mother’s mysterious death. Seeking answers, the grieving Nina navigates the troubling, opulent memories of their life together and discovers how much Estelita sacrificed to live the American dream on her own terms.
Based on true events and exclusive interviews with Nina Lopez, Estelita’s daughter, Find Me in Havana weaves two unforgettable voices into one extraordinary story that explores the unbreakable bond between mother and child, and the ever-changing landscape of self-discovery.
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This was an interesting book based on a real person and a true-life crime. It centers around movie star Estelita Rodriguez, her past in Cuba, and her daughter, Nina. It’s heart wrenching at times, but a well-written book worth reading. It also has delightful times that ease the difficult ones. The book is told in an epistolary fashion, alternating letter or diary like entries from Estelita and her daughter. They cover the difficult time Nina had dealing with Estelita’s fame, time commitments, and serial husbands.
This is first and foremost a love story between mothers and daughters, but especially between Estelita and Nina. After that, it uses politics, particularly in Cuba in the mid-twentieth century, and Hollywood movie glitz. Famous names are tossed around in the Hollywood scenes, but it’s done more to set the scene than brag. There is no solid conclusion as to what happened to Estilita at the end, just a solid guess, but it does offer a happy ending for Nina.
WARNING:
There are no truly graphic scenes, but this book does included episodes of child molestation, rape, suicide, excessive drinking, kidnapping, brutality, and spousal abuse.
While parts of this book are disturbing to read, overall, I thought it interesting and a touching remembrance of a kind and well-meaning woman.
I won an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I thank the author, the publisher, and Goodreads for their generosity in making this book available to me, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.
The page-turning, heart-breaking story of Estelita Rodriguez, vividly told in the form of letters between Estelita and her daughter Nina. Family friend Burdick weaves the facts of Estelita’s life into fascinating fiction, perfect for historical fiction fans. Gripping, gritty, beautiful.
Very interested story about Estelita Rodriguez and her life in Cuba, then the US. I do t know much about the Cuban conflicts and the harsh reality of living through the revolutions. I felt the book gave me a better understanding of that time and the emotional toll it took. As well as demonstrating that decisions are not always clear cut.
Find Me in Havana is a fabulous story! It was a breath of fresh air reading about a different setting and time period than the normal historical fiction. I will be looking up her previous books!
Based on the true life of Estelita Rodriguez and interviews with daughter Nina, “Find Me In Havana” is a beautiful and heart wrenching tribute. The epistolary style narrative between the mother and daughter reads like an intimate diary, giving insight into each perspective of the events in their tumultuous life. It’s that interweaving storyline which gives such depth to their complicated relationship.
Tragic and emotional, their intriguing story transports you from Cuba to NYC, Mexico and California. From nightclub beginnings to movie studio parties, international kidnapping and the Cuban Revolution. From humble beginnings to a mysterious end, the story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter Nina is one you will not forget.
Before reading Find Me in Havana, I had never heard of Cuban-born singer and actress Estelita Rodriguez. So reading this book was very interesting to me. I love discovering new people and places.
I was also intrigued Cuban history is rarely written about so learning about it was really a blessing.
I enjoyed how the book was written from two different points of view so you were able to get the full scope of emotions and what was happening. The writing was phenomenal and I truly got caught up in this story about a real person and true events.
Overall a wonderful read I could not put down.
This book is written as a mother and a daughter writing letters to each other through the good and bad days of their lives. I loved that this book was based on a real mother and daughter. The mother, Estelita, and her daughter Nina learn how each other is feeling through the years. Estelita is an actress and a singer born in Cuba. The story tells how she grows up and ends in the United States. Both Estelita and Nina had many good and bad things happen through their lives. This is a very sad story but there are many happy points. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin through Netgalley for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick
Narrated by Marisol Ramirez; Frankie Corzo
Harper Audio Harlequin Audio
Coming in March 29th, 2021
This historical fiction book is based on the true story of Cuban-born actress, Estelita Rodriguez and her family. The story is heartbreaking and sometimes raw. Estelita’s once wealthy parents lose almost everything due to political unrest in 1930’s Cuba. Her mother leaves her husband and children in Cuba at the start of Batista’s tenure, taking Estelita to New York to make a record. Thus begins the tragic saga of Estelita, her mother, and Nina, her daughter. It is difficult to watch the poor choices, hard choices and the need to be loved .
I loved the audio version of this book! It brought the characters to life and made me feel as if I were in the middle of it. It was beautifully done.
#findmeinhavana#NetGalley #Harperaudio
Thank you to #NetGalley and Harper Audio for the Advanced Audio Copy.I always review books that I enjoy so that others can enjoy them, too.
Find Me in Havana by Serena Burdick is an excellent historical fiction (that is written about true characters and events) kept me fascinated and enthralled from beginning to end.
This novel tells the story of Estelita Rodriguez and her daughter, Nina Lopez (Rodriguez) in alternating chapters and in letter form. Each chapter is written as a journal entry/letter to the other woman. It was wonderful to be able to enter the life and minds of both women and see each event as it unfolded within their own viewpoints and feelings. Being able to see each half, and fusing those visions together, gives the reader the ultimate image of a complicated, volatile, and passionate mother-daughter relationship. Each woman has their own hopes, dreams, insecurities, hang-ups, and fears.
I have to admit that before I had read this book, I had not heard of Estelita Rodriguez ( I know, I know), and that the author was able to write and create such vivid picture of her tragic and complicated life to make me feel as if I knew her personally, blew me away.
The stories of both Nina and Estelita, the flawed beings that they are, is packed, eventful, and stunning. I cannot imagine going through a fraction of the things either went through. From their times in Cuba, LA, and the eras that both lived (a time that was definitely not kind for women and especially women of color), they experienced far more then any person should.
This book felt so personal, so raw. It was heartbreaking to see all of the horrible events occurring that were beyond either woman’s control, yet frustrating when bad choices were sometimes made. (Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.) The push-pull relationship of a mother-daughter was heartwarming, yet tragic and hard to read. To see that each woman was desperate for love, acceptance, affection, forgiveness, and to feel safe was so real and should seem so attainable, yet for this story was very difficult to obtain. For Estelita, I am not sure if she ended up ever experiencing that feeling before her untimely death. At least for Nina, especially all the tragedies and horrific experiences she encountered, I was pleased to see that she found a happiness and stillness in her adult life. The adoration she had for her mother, despite her faults, and her quest for acknowledgement, attention, and love from her mother was so difficult to read due to the miscommunications and slights that she felt she was given in return.
I loved the prose, the literary descriptions of being in Cuba, experiencing the Old Hollywood scenes, and the dusty plains of the Mexican towns were all unbelievably amazing and depicted to the point as if I was literally there. I was stunned by all the imagery, the passion, and the story. Also, the author’s ability to interweave real people and events with a fictional storyline was nothing short of amazing.
This book was truly a wonder and it is one that I will truly remember for many years.
An excellent book that I highly recommend.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Park Row for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.