Write your own review!
Borderlass, Belmont, MA
Cuba Libre Comes to Women's Fiction: History Made Accessible
Writer Chanel Cleeton does some of her best work here in this tale that incorporates the intertwined lives of three different women over three time periods. Cuba's political history serves as a backdrop to this contemporary murder mystery cum modern romance. The book has much to commend it for book clubs and individual book lovers. An accompanying reader's guide will enliven any group discussion.
Sandi W. (East Moline, IL)
A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder
Thank you to Berkley and BookBrowse for giving me a copy for a unbiased review. Expected publication September 30, 2025.
Life in post revolutionary Cuba, with all the challenges that so many faced, was the basis for this story. It stung together the thread connecting three timelines in this book. A fictional book drove all three timelines. There was Eva in 1900 - who wrote the book. Then Pilar in 1966 who saved the book. And Margo in 2024 who tracked down the book.
This novel was well put together. A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder and all was wrapped up expertly.
Lee L. (Los Angeles, CA)
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
It's actually a little bit ironic that the first ARC I'm starting with this year doesn't publish until July, but that's how things ended up turning out. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is Chanel Cleeton's latest Cuban-themed historical fiction novel and it's definitely a good one! I've read most (but not all) of Cleeton's past novels and especially enjoyed her series about the Perez family, though her other novels (the ones not about the Perez family) have been a hit or miss for me overall. With this latest one, I'm guessing I enjoyed it so much because the storyline revolves around a lost book and its connection
…more to three women from three different time periods.
In the present timeline (London in 2024), Margo Reynolds is hired to help her client find a rare book that was written 120 years ago, but there is a huge catch – only one copy of the book is currently in existence. Though Margo accepts the challenge, she quickly realizes that she may actually be in over her head as other parties interested in the book start to come out of the woodwork and her life is placed in danger. The timeline then moves to Havana in 1966, where librarian Pilar Castillo lives in grief and anger over the loss of her husband, who was arrested and imprisoned for going against Fidel Castro's regime. Pilar comes into possession of the mysterious book when it is turned over to her for safekeeping by a neighbor and eventually becomes more than a source of comfort for her as she endures the difficulties of living under Castro's repressive regime. Finally, the third timeline, in 1900, introduces us to the author of the book, Eva Fuentes, a Cuban teacher who is given the opportunity to travel to the United States as part of a summer cultural exchange program at Harvard University. During Eva's stay there, she experiences both joy and heartbreak that not only end up altering the course of her life, but also provide the inspiration for her novel.
I have to admit that I was a bit dubious at first how the story would unfold given how far apart the three timelines were. It turns out I didn't have to worry though, as Cleeton definitely knew what she was doing in making Eva's book the central thread that connected the seemingly disparate timelines together, but in a way that was seamless and made sense for the story's development. Given my affinity for historical fiction, no doubt that I enjoyed Eva's and Pilar's timelines more -- Margo's timeline was well done overall, but since the three timelines alternated with each chapter, it did feel a little jarring to jump from an early 20th century historical setting to a modern day murder mystery setting in 2024. Things turned out fine in the end though.
As an avid reader and also a writer myself, I love learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of how a particular story came to be as well as the inspirations for certain characters and events, which is perhaps why Cleeton's latest work resonated with me more than her previous novels did. Speaking of behind-the-scenes, Cleeton writes in her Author's Note that The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a "love letter to the power of books and the impact they leave on our lives," which is one of the main reasons why she had Eva's fictional book be what links the three women in the three different timelines together. I couldn't agree more! Cleeton fans will definitely want to pick this one up, but those who enjoy "books about books" will likely enjoy this one as well.
Received ARC from Berkley via Book Browse First Impressions program. (less)Having read and reviewed several of Chanel Cleeton's novels, I find The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is the best yet. I was drawn in to the strong and defiant women characters immediately. With the history of Cuban life brought in with the setting it was also a chance to experience life in Cuba in 1900 and 1966.
The Cuban-American cultural exchange was also a very interesting historical element that I had never heard about. The mystery develops rather quickly as our present day heroine Margo is involved in trying to recover an important book which has only one existing copy in the world. It seems that it is worth
…more more than anyone can imagine to certain people. The background of this book involves the woman who first wrote it, the woman who was given it to rescue and the generations after who desired it.
If you have ever found a book that personally resonated with you then you will surely empathize with this story. It is a story of women who have the courage to fight for what they want and about a book that changes all of their lives. (less)Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The story unfolds in three parts across three distinct time periods: Margo, an American living in London in 2024; Pilar, a woman navigating life in Havana under the Castro regime in 1966; and Eva, also a Havanan woman, working as a teacher in 1900.
Margo's and Pilar's stories felt realistic and engaging, but Eva's narrative didn't ring as true for me. In Chapter 3, she's described in a way that suggests she has considerable teaching experience, but the text later reveals that she was born at the end of the Ten Years' War, which would make her only twenty-two in 1900. I
…more realize teacher training requirements were different in the late nineteenth century, but that discrepancy stood out. Additionally, part of Eva's story involves spending significant time alone with a man, including public displays of affection—behavior that seems unlikely for a young, unmarried woman of that time. Her lack of concern about her reputation or the social norms of the era made her character less convincing to me.
While I found Pilar's and Margo's stories compelling, the novel's central focus on a book Eva wrote—and my difficulty connecting with her character—made the overall reading experience less satisfying. (less)Chanel Cleeton provides them all in this book. She has chosen to reveal them all through the revolving chapters among three women, Eva a Cuban teacher living in Cuba at the turn of the 20th Century, Pilar, a librarian, also Cuban who leaves for Florida during Fidel's rule, and Margo, a Brit in modern London who is a finder for a fee of lost or stolen items for rich clients.
Needless to say the lives of Eva and Pilar and their friends and family describe the history of Cuba from its overthrow of Spanish dominian, through the short-lived influence of the United States, to the revolution that brought Fidel Castro
…more into power and reduced the country to one of submission and fear.
It is during these chapters that we learn of Eva's experience as a member of a group of teachers who came to Harvard to learn about American educational practices and to show Cuban life and culture to their nearest neighbor now that they were free of Spanish rule and could establish themselves as an independent nation, Here, too, we are privy to the short romance between Eva and an American, James Webber. A romance that lead to heartbreak for her, not a real surprise. It also resulted in her penning of a novel she wrote about the experience called A Time for Forgetting. This book becomes the real star of Cleeton's book! And its writing is the first of Cleeton's demonstration of the importance of books--here to the writer-- allowing her to express her sorrow and grief and alleviate the pain somewhat.
Also Pilar's story takes place under Fidel's rule. Her husband has been taken by his troops. She has no idea where he is of if alive. But, in an effort to defy the regime in some small way, Pilar has taken to rescuing books of families who are fleeing Cuba and cannot take them. Some are very valuable and should be turned over to the soldiers but she hides them and as the time goes on this activity brings her into danger. Once she uses the frying pan she too must flee Cuba. But, one of the books in her care is Eva's novel and she searches for Eva and returns the book to her. Once she lells Eva of how important the book became to her in her loneliness and then grief at the loss of her husband, Cleeton's second belief that some books are meant for some people and give them the strength or hope needed to live.
And finally, we have Margo and her ex-husband Luke, in London looking for Eva's novel. No one seems to know what happened to it and they must learn its story and whereabouts without Cleeton giving them the information we, the readers, have. And this is the rom-com, mystery piece. Several people seem to be looking for the book. Margo has a client as does Luke both interested in finding it. Why? My first thought was the secret of a child in the book--an effort to keep it a secret. Then, still related to the child, I thought it was for money. Either blackmail or a claim to an inheritance. Well, money is involved--isn't it always? Along with the mystery, Margo and Luke analyze their failed marriage and look, they are getting together again--easy to see it coming. But, here is the last point of importance of books--can give someone a place in the world, a knowledge of one's heritage and its importance.
An easy read, that covers all these aspects surprisingly well with good integration. Some of it is obvious in its conclusions but the parts pursuing Eva's novel is complex enough to keep it interesting.. (less)An interesting mix of historical fiction and adventure. The story braids the stories of three women over the last 125 years who have a connection with a book, The Story of Forgotten Time, written by the first woman, Eva, in 1900. Eva was a Cuban teacher who participated in an American program which brought over a thousand Cuban teachers to Harvard for a summer in a bid to Americanize Cuban education.
I very much enjoyed learning about the Harvard Cubans, something I had not known anything about. The second woman, Pilar, lived in Cuba at the time of the Cuban Revolution. She was a book-loving librarian who
…more rebelled against the oppression of the Castro Regime by protecting books. The third woman, Margo, is an American living in London in the 2020s who is hired anonymously to find the only copy of Eva's book.
I appreciated being reminded of how rich Cuba's history and culture are, and how important books are in the lives of some. I personally had a harder time immersing myself in the action-adventure of the contemporary sections of the novel, but given how popular action thrillers are, that may not be a problem for many. I have read several of Chanel Cleeton's novels, and enjoy them. (less)Once you get sorted with the three time periods/voices the book moves quickly. I especially enjoyed the voice of Eva, a young, naive Cuban teacher having the adventure of a lifetime as a summer student at Harvard. Her story was well drawn and compelling. Margo our present day narrator had a complex story and interesting life.
The author meshed their story and created the center of the story. With Pilar, the third voice, we get the insight into Cuban life during a time of great strife and difficulty. And at the core of the book lies the heartfelt novel written by Eva as a way to deal with the trauma that played
…more out after her summer in the US.
Definitely enjoyed and would recommend to lovers of novels with strong female characters and historical fiction. (less)
.png)
