When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton | Published April 9th 2019 by Berkley Books |  346 Pages | Goodreads

✅ REVIEW

“If I’m going to have regrets in this life, I’d rather them be for the chances I took and not the opportunities I let slip away.”

Compelling and evocative.

I was eager to get into this book since I loved NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA from the same author. In this novel, the story continues following the lives of the Perez’ family but the focus is on the character of Beatriz and her wild, non-traditional, adventurous spirit.

The books continues where NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA left off. It explores politics, forbidden romances, the Cuban Revolution, espionage, conspiracies, and the untamed, strong character of Beatriz Perez.

I enjoyed the story but not as much as the author’s previous book, which I absolutely loved and recommend to everyone who enjoys historical fiction.

✅ PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION

“In 1960s Florida, a young Cuban exile will risk her life–and heart–to take back her country in this exhilarating historical novel from the author of Next Year in Havana, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

Beautiful. Daring. Deadly.

The Cuban Revolution took everything from sugar heiress Beatriz Perez–her family, her people, her country. Recruited by the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro’s inner circle and pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, Beatriz is consumed by her quest for revenge and her desire to reclaim the life she lost.

As the Cold War swells like a hurricane over the shores of the Florida Strait, Beatriz is caught between the clash of Cuban American politics and the perils of a forbidden affair with a powerful man driven by ambitions of his own. When the ever-changing tides of history threaten everything she has fought for, she must make a choice between her past and future–but the wrong move could cost Beatriz everything–not just the island she loves, but also the man who has stolen her heart…”

✅ BOOK SOURCE AND FORMAT

Loan from Miami-Dade’s Library Overdrive, audiobook