Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Our Last Days in Barcelona by Chanel Cleeton Published by Berkley on May 24, 2022
Genres: Historical Fiction
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Barcelona, 1964. Exiled from Cuba after the revolution, Isabel Perez has learned to guard her heart and protect her family at all costs. After Isabel’s sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her. Joining forces with an unlikely ally thrusts Isabel into her sister’s dangerous world of espionage, but it’s an unearthed piece of family history that transforms Isabel’s life.
Barcelona, 1936. Alicia Perez arrives in Barcelona after a difficult voyage from Cuba, her marriage in jeopardy and her young daughter Isabel in tow. Violence brews in Spain, the country on the brink of civil war, the rise of fascism threatening the world. When Cubans journey to Spain to join the International Brigades, Alicia’s past comes back to haunt her as she is unexpectedly reunited with the man who once held her heart.
Alicia and Isabel’s lives intertwine, and the past and present collide, as a mother and daughter are forced to choose between their family’s expectations and following their hearts.
The history and culture of Cuba and Spain are brought to vivid life against the backdrop of the ongoing Perez family saga. Chanel Cleeton has been a long-time familiar author, but with the books focused on the Perez family, she captivated me with her lush depictions of characters, relationship, plotting, and historical background. I was pulled into the Perez family world.
Our Last Days in Barcelona is the fifth book in the ongoing Perez family saga as told through the eyes of the women of each generation. These are standalone books, but are connected. This one is particularly connected to Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba as those are the stories of this younger heroine’s sisters.
In 1960’s Barcelona, young bride Isabel has come to find her fiery younger sister, Beatriz, who is determined to bring the new Cuban government to its knees and free her people. Isabel and Beatriz had a falling out over Beatriz’s love life and other life choices, but she wants to find her and reconcile. They do this, but end up on a quest to learn a family secret their mother has been keeping for decades.
In 1930’s Barcelona, another young bride and her young daughter arrives after fleeing a cheating husband. Alicia isn’t sure of anything at this point, but Spain is in tumult and so is her heart when she runs into a past love. Meanwhile back in Cuba, Rosa, cousin to Alicia’s husband, is struggling to fit in with her high society in-laws after her new husband rushes off to fight in Spain.
Our Last Days in Barcelona brings the story of four incredible women and is charged with emotion, vitality, and a bittersweet tone. The writing is superb and drew me in immediately and those final stunning pages left me feeling bereft. The pace is gentle and the suspense is subtle, but I still found it a riveting story I didn’t want to put down.
I love how the author writes of so many women, but they each feel distinct and the generations that separate them felt distinct as well, though the locale was the same. I loved feeling I was inside their minds getting their feelings and motivations as well as seeing their actions. There is romance throughout this book and yet I felt it was the women’s stories that shone brightest. Isabel is not as dynamic as Beatriz and yet I enjoyed seeing this oldest of the three sisters have a surprising story. I found the look back at their mother in the early days of her marriage was even more compelling as a character. These female protagonists make the books alongside the other great protagonist, Cuban and Spanish culture.
All in all, it was another incredible read from the author and dive into her Cuban American world. Those who enjoy historical fiction focused on women protagonists should definitely slip this book and the rest of the Perez books onto their pile.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I do intend to read this author even though I don’t read too much historical fiction. I was lucky enough to meet her at RT 17 and have her autograph one of her earlier books I have.
I enjoyed her fighter pilots trilogy of romances, but I think she hit her stride when she did this Cuban family saga. They are historicals, but because mostly are in the 60’s, they don’t feel all that historical. 😉 Hope you get the chance, Anne!
I was denied this book on NetGalley, it looks so good. I’m still going to try to get to it as I love that time period. Wonderful review, Sophia!
Oh no! I hate it when I get denied. Yes, worth picking up at the store or library. 🙂
Great review you have here. I am always intrigued by her historical fiction, I am glad to see that the characters shone so brightly in this story.
Thanks, Renee! Yes, her historicals really shine.
I really loved this one! I thought that she did such a great job bringing these Perez women’s stories to life. I also really appreciated Alicia’s story.
Agreed! I liked what the author said in her note about really loving Isobel after deciding to do her story. Beatriz is still my favorite Perez, but Isobel and Alicia’s stories were pretty good.
This sounds like it was informative and a good read. That’s always a good thing.
Yes, the history and Cuban culture really came alive, but didn’t drown out the fab characters and plot.
I’m reading this one right now and really loving it!
No doubt, Suzanne! 🙂
Very interesting – does each book feature two generations? Are the generational stories balanced within the book, or is one more of a side story?
Each book is structured differently. First book is a split time line, but for a modern woman who is a granddaughter and then the Perez sister, Elisa. The next book is Beatriz Perez’s story with no split times. There are a couple older extended family Perez women stories and then this one comes back to tell Isobel Perez’s story and the three sister’s mom. In the split ones, the story seems balanced between times and characters.
This sounds like a great book club book
I know a lot of book clubs used the first book, but I agree that any would make a good discussion read.
I’ve had this author on my TBR since her first Cuba related book. This sounds fantastic! I have no idea why I haven’t read her books yet but I’m really looking forward to picking this one up!
I think you’ll enjoy them, Katherine. Oh, yes, the neverending stack that we pile more onto is my excuse for the ones I haven’t gotten around to yet. 🙂
Hi Sophia!
Next year in Havana has been on my TBR for ages. I actually have a physically copy of it as well, but still haven’t read it. Even after all the wonderful things I’ve heard. Can’t believe it’s 5 books into the series already.
Our Last Days in Barcelona does seem like a brilliant read as well. I need to start with this series!!!
Lovely review.
I’ve said something similar before about other series. Oh yes, you’re in for a good read with that one. 🙂
I like series where the books can be read as standalones, but are also connected. I think it gives some continuity feel to the series. It sounds interesting how she mixes different generations and characters in one book. It sounds like it works well. I think I read one of this author’s earlier books.
I agree. It’s nice to have connected books, but not have to read them in order. I end up liking one time line over the other usually, but that didn’t happen with this book, thankfully.