If you love historical fiction with a side of glamour, romance, and intrigue, When We Left Cuba will be right up your alley and I highly recommend it. There were a couple of places where the pacing felt heavy, but this is the kind of story where you can feel how much love and history has been poured into each chapter. The descriptions and imagery are vivid, the storytelling is sharp, and the characters pop off the page. Glamorous and Intriguing Historical RomanceĬleeton does such an amazing job of bringing both the United States and Cuba of the 1960s to life.

When We Left Cuba Summaryīeatriz’s tale is full of espionage, covert operations, and dangerous missions-but aside from her desire for revenge, she’s a woman who falls in love with a man who will never be able to leave his own sense of duty and obligation for her, she’s a woman who fights for her place in a society that looks down on her for being an outsider, and she’s a daughter who will never be a placid and demure wallflower looking to be taken care of by a husband.īeatriz is formidable and fierce and she doesn’t need a man to rescue her, thankyouverymuch.

Now that I’ve finished The Silent Patient I’m continuing w. This striking story about a woman who makes it her mission to avenge her brother’s death and bring down the man responsible is riveting from beginning to end. 221 likes, 15 comments - cincy, oh (korinnebailey) on Instagram: 'What are you currently reading. WHEN WE LEFT CUBA by Chanel Cleeton is the gripping story of Beatriz Perez, the daughter of a sugar baron in Cuba whose family fled when Castro’s army took over the island paradise. By turns a captivating historical novel, a sweeping love story, and a daring tale of espionage - I absolutely adored this gem of a novel. Well, I got my wish, and When We Left Cuba is all about Beatriz and what happened after her family was exiled from Cuba to southern Florida by the Castro regime in the 1960s. WHEN WE LEFT CUBA Chanel Cleeton’s dazzling return to the Perez family is Beatriz’s glamorous and heartbreaking story, set against the vividly drawn backdrop of the Cold War.

As I was reading Next Year in Havana (read my review here) last year, I was so intrigued by the fiery and outspoken sister, Beatriz, and hoped that we would get to hear her story.

Chanel cleeton when we left cuba