A HELLO SUNSHINE x REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK“A beautiful novel that’s full of forbidden passions, family secrets and a lot of courage and sacrifice.”—Reese WitherspoonAfter the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity—and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution…Havana, 1958. The daughter of a … revolution…
Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba’s high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country’s growing political unrest—until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary…
Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa’s last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.
Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba’s tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she’ll need the lessons of her grandmother’s past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.
more
I enjoyed the history of Cuba and the glimpse of what it was like for Cuban citizens during that particular period.
This book was SO different from anything I’ve ever read before–I don’t read a lot of historical fiction and/or romance, for reference. In Next Year in Havana, the story alternates between the perspectives of Elisa, in Cuba, at the time of Fidel Castro’s takeover, and Marisol, Elisa’s granddaughter, vising Cube in the modern day as a journalist and to bury her grandmother’s ashes. This book gives such fascinating insight on Cuba, both as it was and as it is now, while also telling an emotion story about family, what it means to be Cuban, and two women connected by more than they ever realized. While this isn’t the type of story I normally gravitate towards, hype around the third book in the series that was recently released made me give it a try, and I’m so glad I did. I can’t wait to read the next two!
Already familiar with this author’s work in her contemporary military romance trilogy, I was intrigued by this latest project with its blend of historical fiction, women’s fiction, and star-crossed romance. With a setting like modern Cuba and the Cuba of the late fifties, I was well aware this would be a bittersweet story to savor.
Next Year in Havana tells the tale of Elisa Perez in the waning years of 1950’s Cuba and of her granddaughter, Marisol Ferrara in the present day. Their stories are told in first person point of view as the book flips back and forth between them.
Elisa’s story pulled me in more deeply, I admit. I think it was the danger of living daily with a revolution coming closer and closer and Elisa’s family being on the wrong side of the wave’s swell. During this time, she falls in love and with someone she should not. Pablo is a revolutionary and holds with ideology that she does not share and she definitely doesn’t hold with the extreme ways the revolutionaries are willing to get what they want. And yet, they are in love in the stormy last days of Batista’s corrupt government, the strengthening angry sounds and voices of revolution, and talk of her family fleeing to America.
And, paralleling Elisa’s story is Marisol seeing the result of Castro’s revolution, the deprivations and fear most Cubans live with even after Castro’s death, and her own first real encounter with love while she is following the trail of her grandmother’s past. Marisol’s story is gentler and more introspective. I liked it, but was not exactly riveted until after the half-way point when the twists happened and things got a whole lot more exciting for her.
The historical and cultural setting along with the way the characters fit in these settings seemed quite authentic to me. It was my first real encounter with a book centered in Cuba and about Cubans and Cuban Americans. I felt it was balanced in how it looks on the present and the past by offering up more than one outlook which is my favorite way to experience historical fiction. It is a complex situation and not to be treated in stark black and white just as the characters were thinking and take actions that were not simple.
There is romance- glorious, painful circumspect romance for both women. Both were a first encounter attraction. Elisa’s was a gradual build to love after several fleeting encounters. Marisol fell hard and fast. I bought it because I think their family connections, her reason for the visit and similar interests made the quick transition to love easier to believe. I also think it all worked because in my mind, Marisol’s romance with Luis was the second chance that her grandmother and Pablo never got.
Though this was a bittersweet romantic story, I feel that the reader should think of it more along the lines of historical and modern women’s fiction. It’s the story of Cuba told from the lives of the cast of characters. It is introspective and thoughtful with a few moments of suspense. Its about discovery and growth. I felt this book’s impact from page one. I was touched emotionally, but also it appealed to my mind. It’s a book that will challenge its readers, but also deliver a beautiful story. I think historical fiction fans and those who enjoy reading about other people and cultures and times with a good dose of romance are the best matches.
I thoroughly loved this book from start to finish. Beautifully written, wonderful rich characters, giving voice in an unobtrusive way to different perspectives of Cuban history.
Wonderful historical fiction with great characters.
Great history of Cuban revolution. Predictable ending
Really enjoyed this book. There is a delightful twist to the story.
Great look at Cuba as Castro took over. One of the best books I’ve read this year.
It was fun to weave through Cuba’s history with strong memorable characters.
This book offered an interesting and engaging way to learn about Cuba during the late 50s.
This book entranced me as if I was a person in this novel. Yet, it resonates with the realities of the Cuban people who endured this time period.
It is the story of too many people who I know and love, with variations in this story. The tragic conundrum of the Cuban people who had to make life altering decisions that changed the course of generations of the families and friends, as well as their contemporaries is to be admired ; feel the pain, doubt, triumph or losses suffered.
“Next Year in Havana” is a true reminder of the resilience of the human heart, body and soul. Cuba’s loss of its citizenry has been America’s gain with our Cuban American Citizens and the culture they brought to America’s shores
This story is full of joy interwoven in the adversities and tragedies!
A most wonderful reading experience, if only 10 Stars could be given, it would have 10+ Stars from me.
Living in Miami and hearing of the Cuban emigration story first hand from so many, this book edifies the emotional experiences that people who are uprooted from their homelands due to political situations experience. So insightful. A must read for anyone who is interested in learning and understanding history in the last half of the 1900’s.
To those who believe socialism works, please read this book about the real face of socialism and the way it destroys lives, productivity, and freedom. This book accurately reflects the stories I’ve heard from people who escaped Cuba.
It was great to learn about the political turmoil in Cuba – I never knew the turmoil. It opened my mind to the separate factions in the country.
A wonderful thought-provoking novel about Cubans who left and Cubans who stayed when Fidel Castro came into power.
This was a wonderful book that explores the difficult political climate that has plagued Cuba over the years. The past and present story line kept your attention and flowed smoothly. However, listening to the audiobook version made it a little more difficult to transition from one time period to another.
Getting involved in Marisol’s adventure in Cuba and her grandmother’s life growing up in Cuba was interesting and entertaining. There were a few twists that grabbed your attention and had you racing ahead to find out what would happen next. I’m looking forward to the next Havana book.
I loved this book. I listened to it on audible and loved it. So beautiful and taught me about Cuba as well!
Puts you in a world you can’t typically visit!
I can’t recommend this book whole heartedly. I kept waiting for this book to pick up the pace. It’s told by two people — Elisa (the grandmother) and Marisol (her granddaughter). Elisa’s story takes place during the Cuban Revolution; Marisol’s story takes place in present day. For me, the descriptions of feelings, places, etc., were too long. I can see why many readers enjoyed this book but I didn’t care for this style. The story did have some twists (some you can figure out early on). Again, give this book a chance and it could just be your cup of tea!
I couldn’t put this book down! The changes in Cuba during the last of Batista’s regime, the beginning of Castro’s rule, and the present were breathtakingly captured. It was so easy to identify with the characters and marvel at the extraordinary measures they took to survive and prosper. The writing is awe inspiring.