Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Release Date: May 4, 2021
Genre: Historical Fiction
At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman--Evangelina Cisneros--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 lands a job at Hearst's newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.
Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women's jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. When Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper, proclaiming her, "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba," she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.
With the help of Marina Perez, a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana, Grace and Hearst's staff attempt to free Evangelina. But when Cuban civilians are forced into reconcentration camps and the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.
My Review 🖤
I watched a documentary about Cuba several years ago, and fell in love with the country, and its rich history, so when I had the opportunity to read The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba presented itself I jumped at the chance. This is the first time I've read anything by Chanel Cleeton, and am awestruck by the incredible writing, the talent full of such detail and heart, it is practically spilling off the pages. I was instantly transported back to a unique time in history that I had previously known very little about.
Cleeton did a masterful job with her research, the details captivating, and the exploration and research, especially of Evangelina Cisneros, and the war between publishing giants William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, masterfully done. Though there is a lot of details about the Cubans fight for freedom, I never once felt like I was reading a history book, and much of the book is historically accurate!
I learned so much that I wasn't aware of before! There were moments where my heart literally ached, my mind dazed with the thoughts that these events actually happened. Unbelievable! I have heard about the Cuban suppression and struggle for independence from Spain, but I didn't realize the horrors the Cubans endured at the hands of this power-hungry country. While I was reading I couldn't help but wonder if Hitler took a few notes from the Spanish before pouring out his evil on the Jews during World War II, the parallels undeniable.
What inspired me the most was how strong Evangelina, Grace, and Marina were as they endured the war, each fighting for the freedom of their beloved country in their own ways. I love reading about women who can rise above their circumstances and show their true strength.
I have always been a historical fiction lover, and this novel just made me fall more in love with the genre, and opened my eyes to another historical incidence that I want to learn more about. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is truly a great story that was poetically told by a terrific new author to me that has now gained herself a new fan! My Rating: ★★★★★
Other Books by the Author
About the Author
Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick 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 grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.
Connect with Chanel: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Content Warning: Adult themes, including mild, brief nudity, attempted sexual assault, and mild sensuality
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.
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