She adeptly maneuvers the many different feelings Cubans then and now have and by doing so demonstrates the current political climate without making this novel too politically charged or telling you what to think. Moreover, Cleeton remains unbiased through her characters and gives them each their own interpretation of the socialist policies of the era. I grew up in South Florida so I was familiar with some Cuban history, but I think it’s a historical subject that doesn’t get explored enough in mainstream media or in literature. I truly felt this setting come to life and it made me want to make my own trip to Cuba.Īs far as the historical elements, Cleeton really explains the political tensions that existed during this time period and the contrasting emotions of those who fled Cuba and those who stayed behind. Cleeton’s descriptions are lush and filled with the sights, smells, tastes, and sounds of a bustling Havana city. The book alternates between two points of view: Elisa who hails from a prominent sugar family during Fidel Castro’s rise to power and her granddaughter Marisol who is learning that her grandmother excluded some important details about her family history.

Chanel Cleeton’s writing whisks us away to both 1950s and modern-day Cuba. 📚| Review: Next Year in Havana is simultaneously travel guide, history course, and a whirlwind romance. As she explores the country she’d heard about but never visited, Marisol uncovers secrets about her grandmother’s past and her mysterious family history. PBR Favorites Classics Book Clubs Next Year in Havana. 📓| Summary: After her grandmother dies, Marisol makes a pilgrimage to Cuba to spread her ashes in her homeland. Our Book Club page for Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton- includes Book Club Discussion Questions, Author Website, Book Summary, Talking Points, Review & Reader Comments.

Chanel cleeton next year in havana