When We Left Cuba - Review & Giveaway!

Author: Chanel Cleeton
Genre: Historical Fiction
Type: e-book
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Berkley
First Published: April 9, 2019
Opening Lines: "It arrives just after midnight, in the waning hours of night, those magical haunting hours, bundled in an elegant basket adorned with an exuberant red bow, delivered by an officious man in a somber suit who leaves as quickly as he comes, ferried away form the stately Palm Beach address in a silver Rolls owned by one of the island's most notorious residents."

Book Description from GoodReads: In 1960's 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.

My Rating: 3 stars

My Review: When We Left Cuba is a companion novel to Cleeton's popular Next Year in Havana which continues following the Perez family during the tumultuous 1960's when they were forced, like many Cuban families, to flee their country and find asylum in the US.

I wanted and expected to love this book as much as Next Year in Havana but there were a few things that got in the way. First, there's a lot going on in this book but the story felt like it lacked direction. We have the Perez family dynamics (which play out in the background) and there's an elicit romance (which distracted from the political espionage) and a story that follows the politics of the time and how it influenced Cuban refugees living on US soil. 

I liked the premise of continuing the Perez family story through the eyes of another sister. In this book, the focus is on Beatriz - the head-strong, confident sister who goes against social convention and whose main goal is to return to her beloved homeland. I love that Beatriz is a strong female character, but I didn't find her compelling or that she developed enough which influenced my connection to her and her story.  

Overall, this is an interesting book that brings to light the political tensions and the personal sacrifices many Cuban citizens faced during a volatile period in history. While I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as Next Year in Havana, I still recommend it for people who want to learn more about the history and politics of the 1960's and get a better idea of how they effected Cuban people and their culture. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway 

The author is giving away a $100 Amazon gift card, Lilly Pulitzer palm tree necklace and earrings set, When We Left Cuba coffee mug, Besame cosmetics vintage-inspired lipstick, signed When We Left Cuba recipe cards and signed bookmarks. The giveaway runs until April 20th! 

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