Audiobook Review: Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton

Author: Chanel Cleeton 
Narrator: Kyla Garcia, Frankie Maria Corzo
Title: Next Year in Havana
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Pages: Audiobook
Published:  02-06-18
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)



After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...

Havana, 1958. The daughter of a sugar baron, nineteen-year-old Elisa Perez is part of Cuba's high society, where she is largely sheltered from the country's growing political unrest--until she embarks on a clandestine affair with a passionate revolutionary...

Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth. 

Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage. 

I've had this on my list for so long to read! However, I decided to listen to the audiobook since I get one free a month. My patience is limited you see ;)

The story follows Marisol and Elisa. Marisol lives in 2017 and is going to Cuba to lay her grandma's ashes to rest. Along the way she gets to meet some people from her grandma's past who was not able or did not flee in the 50s after the revolution. We also get to Marisol's grandma, Elisa, as a young woman in the 50s before, during, and after the revolution that changed her way of life. 

I did like Elisa's POV better. I didn't mind the back and forth, but I think I would've prefered just Elisa's. Marisol wasn't bad, but it was pretty predictable and I didn't really care much for her romance with Luis. There was one twist that I didn't see coming so that was exciting.

It was honestly interesting to see the revolution's impact on Cuba and its people through the eyes of these two characters. In all honesty, I do not know much about Cuban history only the little bit that we learned. We really didn't discuss the cultural and personal impact it had on its people. It was pretty glossed over. I'm not surprised by what I read. Bloody revolutions tend to led to very bloody results. It's sad and do people not learn from history? It's really sad when the country turns on their own people and break all the promises they fought for. Sad. 

But yes, it was an interesting journey to listen to. I didn't cry though! I do not think I loved it as much as everyone else. 

I'm honestly glad I listened to the audio. I feel like I wouldn't have enjoyed this AS much as I did. The writing was good, but there were a lot of slow parts and lots of repetition of thoughts and ideas by our characters. I get it. We get it. Move forward. Slowly things down here. That is something you will see when you get 1st person POVs. 

The narrators did a good job. They fit the characters even though I had zero idea it was two different people. LOL. They sounded so similar that I was shocked when I seen it was two different people!!

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I do not think I enjoyed it nearly as much as some people, but it was a good one and I recommend it. Lots to learn and see and feel. The narrators did well even though I had no idea they were different people. My only real, big complaint is the fact that there was a lot of repetitions of thoughts and ideas...it seemed to bog some areas down. I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

Audiobook Review: The Japenese Lover by Isabel Allende

Author: Isabel Allende
Narrator: Joanna Gleason
Title: The Japanese Lover
Genre: Historical Fiction & Romance
Pages: Audiobook
Published: May 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

In 1939, as Poland falls under the shadow of the Nazis, young Alma Belasco's parents send her away to live in safety with an aunt and uncle in their opulent mansion in San Francisco. There, as the rest of the world goes to war, she encounters Ichimei Fukuda, the quiet and gentle son of the family's Japanese gardener. Unnoticed by those around them, a tender love affair begins to blossom. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the two are cruelly pulled apart as Ichimei and his family, like thousands of other Japanese Americans are declared enemies and forcibly relocated to internment camps run by the United States government. Throughout their lifetimes, Alma and Ichimei reunite again and again, but theirs is a love that they are forever forced to hide from the world.

Decades later, Alma is nearing the end of her long and eventful life. Irina Bazili, a care worker struggling to come to terms with her own troubled past, meets the elderly woman and her grandson, Seth, at San Francisco's charmingly eccentric Lark House nursing home. As Irina and Seth forge a friendship, they become intrigued by a series of mysterious gifts and letters sent to Alma, eventually learning about Ichimei and this extraordinary secret passion that has endured for nearly seventy years.

Yayy third audiobook of the year. Blodeuedd will be proud! 


This was a freebie Audible gave me for becoming a member. Which is exciting because I have been wanting to read this for a while now! 


First, the narrator was okay. I liked her voice. She had a way to make you feel. However, I feel that even in the happy moments I was sad and never felt truly happy. Plus, I feel her voice never really changed when she was doing other POVs. Slight changes, but nothing really different. You really had to listen to get when things changed. 


This story was sad. Very sad. There was hope and happiness and this was a reminder to live life to the fullest. By the end of the book, I was depressed. It made me sad. I wanted more for Alma and Ichimei. I wanted more for Irina and Seth. It made me dread getting old. Being an old person sucks. 


The story was intriguing to listen to. You know what happens, but at the same time, you don't. We constantly learn more about Alma and the other characters. When you think you know something, you suddenly learn a secret or you learn of something they did. I loved Alma, but there were things she did that made me shake my head at her.


I do wish the format was different. Maybe if I read the book I would've felt different, but it jumped around a lot and there were a lot of POVs running around. Maybe reading it would've been different. Who knows.  


This was a sad book and I cried a lot. It makes you think. Makes you feel. The author really did a wonderful job showing people. I do want to read more of her work. I recommend either reading or listening. It is a good story, but be warned you will feel and think. 


In the end, I'll stamp this with...mhmmm...3 stars. Nearly a 4, but the format and the narration lowered it a bit. Overall, worth it. I recommend it. Maybe I'll attempt reading it someday.