Release: May 4th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N.
__
__
At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in Cuba. And this is the true story of a legendary Cuban woman who changed the course of history.
A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington landed a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she finds herself in a cutthroat world. Here one scoop can make or break your career. But it is a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.
Eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros is in a notorious Havana women’s jail for no fault of hers. There, She dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. Now Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper. He proclaims her, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba. And she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.
Marina Perez is a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana. With her help, Grace and Hearst’s staff attempt to free Evangelina. During this period, the ruling regime pushes Cuban civilians into concentration camps. And the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war. At this stage, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.
About the Author:
Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.
Her books are, Next Year in Havana When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba.
Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution.
She had a passion for politics and history during her years of study in England. She earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond. Also, she got a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba Review:
The central aspect of “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” was the characters. I loved all three characters. Grace is strong and willful and a strong protagonist. On the other hand, Evangelina is probably the most complex character. There are times when you want her to do more rather than just playing a caricature. However, you understand her situation and know that she has no choice in the matter. But, my favorite character was Marina. She endures many challenges, some of which are life-threatening. The love and loss she faces of separation from Mateo and Isabella was heartbreaking. In some ways, she is the true heroine of the tale, but my heart went out to her when she did not get the same treatment as Evangelina. It was also interesting to see how the three characters got entangled in each other’s lives.
Moreover, the author does an admirable job with the romance. While it was not required, I enjoyed the romantic pairings between Grace and Rafael. While I was skeptical that it would stray from the plot, the author blended it nicely into the story.
The author did a beautiful job in depicting the events of Spanish American War. As I had limited knowledge of the Spanish Oppression in Cuba, I was fascinated with the events that transpired in the story. Post-reading the book, I spent time researching the subject and appreciated the author for exploring the timelines to make it accurate.
The only minor complaint I have is the pacing. At times, the story was over detailed in some scenes and rushed towards the climax, with multiple things happening.
But, overall, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” is a beautiful historical fiction novel where the author brought the characters and the events to life.
