When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

Star rating: 4/5

"Men come and go, revolutions rise and fall, and here we stand." The companion to Next Year in Havana revolves around Beatriz Perez, the scandalous and legendary oldest Perez sister. 

Summary:

It has been almost a year since the Perez family fled Cuba following Castro's rise to power. They are all still mourning the death of Alejandro, but Beatriz especially, as he was her twin. She is determined to avenge him by killing Fidel Castro, so she begins working for the CIA. Along the way, she falls deeply in love with a politician. She knows that their lives will never work together, but she cannot walk away from him either. Read as Beatriz fights fiercely for love, family, and Cuba's independence. 

Review:

I had high hopes for this book. Beatriz was alluded to throughout Next Year in Havana as the infamous, scandalous, heart-breaking sister. When We Left Cuba started out strong, but ultimately, I was sadly underwhelmed. Her romance with the Senator felt like it didn't align with her character - it felt like romance simply for the sake of romance. I think this book could have been a lot stronger if the romance aspect had been removed entirely. That said, I loved the fierceness with which Beatriz fought for her country, and that Cuba never stopped being her top priority, that not even love could stand in the way for her. What I love about this series is getting to learn about Cuban history, and the history of Cuban-American relations, from a very unique, inside perspective. The story was slow and a bit boring at times, but overall, Cleeton's writing is beautiful and descriptive. If you enjoyed Next Year in Havana, I recommend continuing with When We Left Cuba!