Next Year in Havana

Brought me back to Cuba

It has been, by far, the best novel I have listed to. Moreover, the narrators are more than perfect. I am usually turned off when it’s not the author reading. They are the perfect women for it.

I usually find stories about Cuba to be exaggerated in one way or the other. Too romantic or too tragic. Not this one. Chanel Cleeton clearly knows what she is talking about. The descriptions are simply perfect and real. I was taken back to every location.

I am Canadian, not Cuban. But I have been to the island 7 times, the last 2 living the Cuban life (in Centro Habana, Playa and San Antonio de les Baños) with my Cuban friends that I have I known for years. The discussions the main character had with Cubans are the one I have had over the years. Having been to every location mentioned, in Cuba and Florida, it made me feel like I was back there given how realistic the descriptions are:

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Breathtakingly Beautiful.

I came across this book by accident and its words swept me away to a Cuba I have seen and a Cuba that I have read about. This book is romantic and touching and heartbreaking all at the same time. It offers some wonderful history, as well as, a darkness that loomed during the revolution. I did not know the full extent of how the revolution of 1959 broke Cuba. I also did not know the extent of the Cuban spirit, although, in reflection I can now see the desire to endure despite of so many obstacles that was present when I traveled there. To read this may change how you feel about your travels to Cuba. I hope it does. Moreover, to read this book will offer you an in depth look into how the human spirit can prevail.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Amazing

Loved it. Finished it more quickly than usual. Chanel Cleeton transports you to Havana! A must read for our times.

Good!<br />

Great story with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. I learned a lot about the history of Cuba.

The narration was excellent!

interesting historical view of Cuba, and life befo

Interesting historical view of Cuba before and after the revolution. Great characters and good story

Engaging story featuring 1 place & 2 time periods

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The two stories (the grandmother's past and the granddaughter's future) had interesting parallels and their own romance, mystery, and relationships to Cuba.

You learn a lot about Cuba in this book, which is fine, but at times it came off too heavy-handed. Everyone seems to just talk to each other about Cuba, there is almost no non-Cuba-related dialogue in the entire book. Even lovers are discussing Cuban politics shortly after amorous activities.

My main complaint about this audiobook has to do with the author's style and its presentation in audio form. The two main characters have a lot of inner monologue that is no different in style from their spoken dialogue. The author does not use "I said" very often, which is normally fine (as some over use it), since distinguishing spoken dialogue and inner monologue would be easy when looking at the text. In the audio version, however, it is very difficult . This is the first audiobook that I've ever had major issues distinguishing inner and outer dialogue. It distracts from the experience and affects how you view the burgeoning relationships, depending on whether things are spoken aloud or not.

fantastic read, very educational

I loved the mix of romance, adventure, and history and learned so much from this story. I was unaware of the situation in Cuba and this story led me to learn more and have a completely different perspective if ever I was to travel there. Rich descriptions and great love story.

To Next Year, in Havana

When I began reading Next Year In Havana by Chanel Cleeton, I feared another cliché. We didn't need another story about a woman, who after the death of close relative discovers they weren't the person they thought they were. Turns out, we did need another. We needed one about Cuba.

Although the writing and narration at the beginning of the book felt stilted, the history of Havana politics and the cultural movement around it was fascinating The story jumps back and forth between present and past and Elisa's narrator brought the story to life for the listener.

Mesmerizing

Eye opening and heart breaking in the most beautiful way. I listened to it in preparation for my vacation in Cuba and it seriously inhanced my experience and changed my outlook.

Mostly a boring history lesson.

I found this story to be mostly boring but then I don't have a direct connection to Cuba. I'm sure part of it has to do with the mostly expressionless performance by the narrators.