Next Year in Havana

The beautifully written and richly detailed Next Year in Havana is so much more than a gorgeous cover.  

The story within is both heartbreaking and hopeful, with the love of a torn country and her people dreaming of a better future passionately portrayed on every page.

Next Year in Havana Summary

Marisol is a journalist who recently lost her grandmother, Elisa, who was the most important person in her life.  As part of her Elisa’s last wishes, Marisol embarks on a somewhat harrowing journey to Cuba with ashes smuggled in her suitcase.  

Once she is in Cuba, family history and buried secrets come to light, requiring Marisol to pursue leads and piece together the details she never knew existed about her grandmother.  

With the help of her tour guide and love interest, Luis, Marisol finally finds the truth about the woman she adored but never really knew fully.

Past Meets Present in this Historical and Contemporary Romance

The timeline in Havana switches between Marisol’s present and her grandmother’s past, and I love how they intertwine to create a complete story.  

Both of these women are strong and passionate, while honoring the bonds of family and of truth to themselves.

Cleeton does an excellent job of bringing the plight of the people from now and then to the forefront of every scene.  It almost feels as if Cuba and its revolution are another set of characters in the plot of the story.  

While I enjoyed the story and the immense detail, I did feel that it weighed down the pacing.  However, I am highly anticipating the next installment of this family’s saga, When We Left Cuba.