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Between Here and Gone
One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2016
"Ferrer’s brilliant, vivid, heartbreaking novel follows a young woman’s pursuit of safety and what little joy she can afford after her aristocratic family narrowly escapes Cuba on the eve of Castro’s ascendance."
In 1959 Cuba, Natalia San Martín was nothing short of a princess: sheltered, pampered, and courted by her very own prince, a childhood friend turned lifelong love. All that changed on the fateful New Year's Eve when Fidel Castro and his followers seized control of the country, with tragic consequences for not only the island, but Natalia herself.
Five years later, in 1960s New York, she’s known as Natalie Martin―living a life that’s bleak, but thankfully anonymous. However, when the enigmatic Jack Roemer offers her a job writing the memoir of a starlet on the brink of self-destruction, she sees not only opportunity, but unexpected echoes of a fairytale long forgotten.
As she knows all too well, however, the prettiest façade can hide the ugliest of truths― and peeling back the layers of someone else’s past forces Natalie to confront her own.
"Ferrer has created a story that’s breathtaking in its scope, and a heroine whose strength will leave readers in awe." -Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"Ferrer’s brilliant, vivid, heartbreaking novel follows a young woman’s pursuit of safety and what little joy she can afford after her aristocratic family narrowly escapes Cuba on the eve of Castro’s ascendance."
In 1959 Cuba, Natalia San Martín was nothing short of a princess: sheltered, pampered, and courted by her very own prince, a childhood friend turned lifelong love. All that changed on the fateful New Year's Eve when Fidel Castro and his followers seized control of the country, with tragic consequences for not only the island, but Natalia herself.
Five years later, in 1960s New York, she’s known as Natalie Martin―living a life that’s bleak, but thankfully anonymous. However, when the enigmatic Jack Roemer offers her a job writing the memoir of a starlet on the brink of self-destruction, she sees not only opportunity, but unexpected echoes of a fairytale long forgotten.
As she knows all too well, however, the prettiest façade can hide the ugliest of truths― and peeling back the layers of someone else’s past forces Natalie to confront her own.
"Ferrer has created a story that’s breathtaking in its scope, and a heroine whose strength will leave readers in awe." -Publishers Weekly Starred Review
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2016
79 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Caridad Ferrer
10 books52 followersBarbara Caridad Ferrer is a first generation, bilingual Cuban-American, whose young adult debut, Adiós to My Old Life won the Romance Writers of America’s 2007 RITA® for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance as well as being named to the 2009 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults list, awarded by the ALA. Her second novel, It’s Not About the Accent was released in 2007 with Publisher’s Weekly stating, “…this twisting book amply rewards readers.”
She has also contributed to the anthology, Fifteen Candles: 15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and Other Quinceañera Stories. When the Stars Go Blue, a contemporary retelling of Bizet’s Carmen won the 2011 International Latino Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel.
She has also contributed to the anthology, Fifteen Candles: 15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and Other Quinceañera Stories. When the Stars Go Blue, a contemporary retelling of Bizet’s Carmen won the 2011 International Latino Book Award for Best Young Adult Novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 10, 2016
Everyone has their own favourite genres, and few people ever read outside of those genres if they don’t have to. However, getting out of your box can broaden your interests, or be a refreshing change from your usual fare. Sometimes, when choosing books based on a cover and a blurb, books from a “taboo” genre slip onto my list.
One of my least favourite genres is Romance. The radioactive mushroom cloud of Romance has grown out of the self-publishing boom, along with the lucrative opportunities for writers submitting books to companies such as Harlequin. I tend to avoid it, as I find the plots too predictable, uninteresting and the cliche-ridden style all too often nauseating. Yet here I am; having read a Romance novel from cover to cover, and sitting down to thrash out my opinion of it.
Set in the 1960s, Natalia San Martin de Betancourt is a Cuban socialite who flees in a boat with her family on the eve of Castro’s revolution. Raised in luxury, she must make it on her own in New York City, haunted by the demons of her past (and present) until one night, she receives a stunning offer to ghostwrite the biography of a Hollywood starlet. As she is brought into a world of wealth and glamour, the memories of her old life threaten her new reality. Her secrets are exposed, and she must do what she can to stay afloat, borne along under the watchful eye of Jack Roemer, her dashing employer, who has dark secrets of his own.
At first I was interested in the plot, as the exciting escape and the horrific violence of the revolution was something with which I was unfamiliar. It aroused my curiosity. Then the bleak reality of Natalia’s present life upset me, and I became invested in her character. So far so good. However, as the book went on, it felt like the drama never eased up, not for one moment. Instead of having the usual pattern of setting the scene, building up to conflict, climax, resolution, denouement, this book was a relentless pounding of drama echoed in telenovelas and soap operas, and it got old fast. It became exhausting, and I got more and more annoyed by Natalia’s intense emotional reactions to things that were not… that… terrible, really – fainting and vomiting and running through a blizzard because someone found out your real name? Seriously? Well, there goes any emotional investment in her.
The style started off well: vivid descriptions of the sights, and smells, and feelings; contrasts between the warm sunny evenings of Cuba compared to the grey gloom of New York in winter; detailed descriptions of delicious-sounding foods at Mercier’s. However, this too became relentless. I found myself skimming lengthy descriptions of clothing, jewellery, makeup, cars, rooms, as the words became more and more florid while the picture became less and less distinct. Every time a terribly romantic but horribly vague adjective leapt out at me, I was jolted out of the immersion and grew tired. Things that were cues for later instances – descriptive Chekhov’s guns – were either introduced too early, meaning they were forgotten by the time they were mentioned again, or far too late, which ruins their effect. I lost track of where they were or what they were doing, and lost interest.
Luckily I was able to follow the plot through the expository dialogue. It is through the dialogue that the entire story takes place, and it is a pity that the delivery of it was awkward; each character ended up having the same voice and the same face, making long speeches of plot exposition and explaining their motivations. It was clumsy and disappointing. By this point I was forcing myself to read, which is a pity, because as far as Romance novels go this one is really not all that bad.
My review of this book is deeply affected by my hatred of the Romance genre; however, I went into reading it without knowing it was a Romance novel, and instead expected it to be an Alice Hoffman or Gabriel Garcia Marquez-like Latin-American historical novel. And I loved the historical elements of it, such as the descriptions of the revolution, as well as the brief mentions of the Black Civil Rights movement. I wanted more of that, and could have done without the melodrama. In its favour is the depth of the characters of Remy, the Creole Chef, and Natalia. However, I was put off by the over-dependence on flashbacks, poor pacing, florid descriptions and drama, drama, drama! People who are fans of the genre will enjoy this book. It wasn’t for me.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Read more reviews at Literogo.com.
One of my least favourite genres is Romance. The radioactive mushroom cloud of Romance has grown out of the self-publishing boom, along with the lucrative opportunities for writers submitting books to companies such as Harlequin. I tend to avoid it, as I find the plots too predictable, uninteresting and the cliche-ridden style all too often nauseating. Yet here I am; having read a Romance novel from cover to cover, and sitting down to thrash out my opinion of it.
We should have just flown. We should have left – long before Papi made the decision. I tried telling them. I had desperately wanted to leave. Almost as much as I wanted to stay. Wanted things to be the way they’d been, childish pipe dream that it was. Wanted to curl up and die.
Set in the 1960s, Natalia San Martin de Betancourt is a Cuban socialite who flees in a boat with her family on the eve of Castro’s revolution. Raised in luxury, she must make it on her own in New York City, haunted by the demons of her past (and present) until one night, she receives a stunning offer to ghostwrite the biography of a Hollywood starlet. As she is brought into a world of wealth and glamour, the memories of her old life threaten her new reality. Her secrets are exposed, and she must do what she can to stay afloat, borne along under the watchful eye of Jack Roemer, her dashing employer, who has dark secrets of his own.
Mami and Abuela had always said that it wasn’t that the men in our lives didn’t care or weren’t aware. Just simply that they couldn’t handle our pain. It overwhelmed them. So instead they focused on believing we were delicate flowers requiring protection. We allowed them the illusion. To protect them. And because it suited our purposes.
At first I was interested in the plot, as the exciting escape and the horrific violence of the revolution was something with which I was unfamiliar. It aroused my curiosity. Then the bleak reality of Natalia’s present life upset me, and I became invested in her character. So far so good. However, as the book went on, it felt like the drama never eased up, not for one moment. Instead of having the usual pattern of setting the scene, building up to conflict, climax, resolution, denouement, this book was a relentless pounding of drama echoed in telenovelas and soap operas, and it got old fast. It became exhausting, and I got more and more annoyed by Natalia’s intense emotional reactions to things that were not… that… terrible, really – fainting and vomiting and running through a blizzard because someone found out your real name? Seriously? Well, there goes any emotional investment in her.
Entering Mercier’s kitchen was akin to entering another world. One where the aromas of chicory-spiked coffee and the house gumbo and butter melting over crusty, fresh-baked bread combined into a mélange so rich and heady, it created an ambience where time and season had little meaning. In this one small corner of New York, it wasn’t a blustery, frigid January afternoon…In here, it was always spring in New Orleans.
The style started off well: vivid descriptions of the sights, and smells, and feelings; contrasts between the warm sunny evenings of Cuba compared to the grey gloom of New York in winter; detailed descriptions of delicious-sounding foods at Mercier’s. However, this too became relentless. I found myself skimming lengthy descriptions of clothing, jewellery, makeup, cars, rooms, as the words became more and more florid while the picture became less and less distinct. Every time a terribly romantic but horribly vague adjective leapt out at me, I was jolted out of the immersion and grew tired. Things that were cues for later instances – descriptive Chekhov’s guns – were either introduced too early, meaning they were forgotten by the time they were mentioned again, or far too late, which ruins their effect. I lost track of where they were or what they were doing, and lost interest.
More miles disappeared as he lapsed into silence once again, clearly struggling with the effort of condensing a lifetime of drama into the miles that remained. As if in response, the car slowed yet again, buying more time.
Luckily I was able to follow the plot through the expository dialogue. It is through the dialogue that the entire story takes place, and it is a pity that the delivery of it was awkward; each character ended up having the same voice and the same face, making long speeches of plot exposition and explaining their motivations. It was clumsy and disappointing. By this point I was forcing myself to read, which is a pity, because as far as Romance novels go this one is really not all that bad.
He sat, silently staring out at the sheets of rain. Long enough for the storm to subside to a gentle shower, faint slashes of blue bleeding through the grey morass of clouds. “I know I should tell you to stay here. That this is my battle and I need to finish it by myself, but I don’t want to. I need to know that someone’s beside me for once.” He took my hand, his hold light, yet conveying a wealth of emotion. “I suppose I can add selfish bastard to my list of sins.”
My review of this book is deeply affected by my hatred of the Romance genre; however, I went into reading it without knowing it was a Romance novel, and instead expected it to be an Alice Hoffman or Gabriel Garcia Marquez-like Latin-American historical novel. And I loved the historical elements of it, such as the descriptions of the revolution, as well as the brief mentions of the Black Civil Rights movement. I wanted more of that, and could have done without the melodrama. In its favour is the depth of the characters of Remy, the Creole Chef, and Natalia. However, I was put off by the over-dependence on flashbacks, poor pacing, florid descriptions and drama, drama, drama! People who are fans of the genre will enjoy this book. It wasn’t for me.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Read more reviews at Literogo.com.
March 21, 2016
Please check out all of my reviews at http://ultraviolentlit.blogspot.ca!
My main issue going into this novel was that, based on the synopsis, I was expecting historical fiction, and instead it turned out to be a romance novel with only tenuous historical ties. However, I think the plot would be confusing even for fans of the romance genre, as it doesn’t follow any of the usual tropes. The love triangle, if you can call it that, was very messy and did not feel very realistic. The few scattered historical facts were interesting, but there just weren’t enough of them to flesh out the novel.
The story begins in the 1950s, with Castro’s takeover of Cuba. Natalia and her family, members of the Cuban aristocracy, flee to the United States – but instead of starting fresh, they cling to the old customs, living in limbo as they hope to return to Cuba to resume their former lives. Natalia, however, wants to move forward, and even Americanizes her name to Natalie. She fully embraces her new reality, moving to New York and finding a job in a restaurant, as well as another job tutoring students. She abandons her former life of privilege, and exists in poverty, sending her meagre earnings home to support her family and pay for her brother’s private school.
Natalie’s immigrant experience was actually really interesting for the first half of the book, and her character was sympathetic, with a lot of depth. It was a coming of age story in an unfamiliar world, with no familial support. However, the plot took several completely unexpected (and really, unexplained) detours in the second half, and the novel became very hard to follow. Natalie runs into complications at work, and ends up being hired to ghostwrite the autobiography of a wild young socialite. Meanwhile, she stumbles into romantic relationships with two different and unlikely men. The twists became melodramatic and I just couldn’t suspend disbelief enough to buy into the story.
Between Here and Gone started out strong with the historical background, but the romance plot couldn’t stand alone once the author abandoned the historical details. It almost felt like two different novels that were forced together into one, and I ended up skimming over a lot of unnecessary descriptions. Natalie was a strong young woman who became weak, and I lost interest in her story.
I received this novel from Diversion Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
My main issue going into this novel was that, based on the synopsis, I was expecting historical fiction, and instead it turned out to be a romance novel with only tenuous historical ties. However, I think the plot would be confusing even for fans of the romance genre, as it doesn’t follow any of the usual tropes. The love triangle, if you can call it that, was very messy and did not feel very realistic. The few scattered historical facts were interesting, but there just weren’t enough of them to flesh out the novel.
The story begins in the 1950s, with Castro’s takeover of Cuba. Natalia and her family, members of the Cuban aristocracy, flee to the United States – but instead of starting fresh, they cling to the old customs, living in limbo as they hope to return to Cuba to resume their former lives. Natalia, however, wants to move forward, and even Americanizes her name to Natalie. She fully embraces her new reality, moving to New York and finding a job in a restaurant, as well as another job tutoring students. She abandons her former life of privilege, and exists in poverty, sending her meagre earnings home to support her family and pay for her brother’s private school.
Natalie’s immigrant experience was actually really interesting for the first half of the book, and her character was sympathetic, with a lot of depth. It was a coming of age story in an unfamiliar world, with no familial support. However, the plot took several completely unexpected (and really, unexplained) detours in the second half, and the novel became very hard to follow. Natalie runs into complications at work, and ends up being hired to ghostwrite the autobiography of a wild young socialite. Meanwhile, she stumbles into romantic relationships with two different and unlikely men. The twists became melodramatic and I just couldn’t suspend disbelief enough to buy into the story.
Between Here and Gone started out strong with the historical background, but the romance plot couldn’t stand alone once the author abandoned the historical details. It almost felt like two different novels that were forced together into one, and I ended up skimming over a lot of unnecessary descriptions. Natalie was a strong young woman who became weak, and I lost interest in her story.
I received this novel from Diversion Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2022
Natalia San Martin comes from a wealthy Cuban family ... a family that has to go on the run after Castro's regime takes over. So, they come to Florida first (by boat) and then Natalia moves to her dream city of New York.
There, she works as a restaurant hostess while tutoring well-to-do boys at the local prep school, as she promised to send money to her family. Still, when a local publisher sees her reading on her breaks, he suspects there's more to Natalia, now known as Natalie Martin, than initially meets the eye. After seeing some samples of her work, he asks Natalie to ghost write an autobiography about a model -- who happens to be a family member of one of his firm's associates.
I have to say, every-damn-body in this book is hiding some nasty secrets. I don't even know how to complete a review without delivering spoiler after spoiler. Natalia and Jack (the publisher's attorney) are constantly working through some horrible thing together -- and trying to deny how they feel about each other. And that denial? It's because of some nasty secrets on both sides, all of which are eventually revealed throughout the book.
Barbara Ferrer's prose is stunning, and she puts you right into the middle of the action without pulling any punches. Still, it's a hard read at times since you have to work your way through the ugly.
There, she works as a restaurant hostess while tutoring well-to-do boys at the local prep school, as she promised to send money to her family. Still, when a local publisher sees her reading on her breaks, he suspects there's more to Natalia, now known as Natalie Martin, than initially meets the eye. After seeing some samples of her work, he asks Natalie to ghost write an autobiography about a model -- who happens to be a family member of one of his firm's associates.
I have to say, every-damn-body in this book is hiding some nasty secrets. I don't even know how to complete a review without delivering spoiler after spoiler. Natalia and Jack (the publisher's attorney) are constantly working through some horrible thing together -- and trying to deny how they feel about each other. And that denial? It's because of some nasty secrets on both sides, all of which are eventually revealed throughout the book.
Barbara Ferrer's prose is stunning, and she puts you right into the middle of the action without pulling any punches. Still, it's a hard read at times since you have to work your way through the ugly.
January 20, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for giving me an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Between Here and Gone is the story of a young woman who comes to America as a teenager at the start of the Cuban Revolution and comes of age in the harsh reality of New York City in the early 1960’s.
Natalia San Martin and her family are members of the privileged class in pre-Castro Cuba. As Castro and his rebels begin to gain ground and the revolution begins, the family makes the life-changing decision to leave behind all of their wealth and all they have known and leave for the United States in a boat. The story picks up about five years later and Natalie, as she now calls herself-- having renounced her Cuban heritage upon reaching New York, is working at a French restaurant and tutoring at the Concord School, a boy’s prep school for New York’s elite. Her work as tutor is dreaded but it gives her the extra money that she sends home to her family in Florida. Little is revealed about what happened between the time Natalia and her family reached the US and the time she came to NYC, but small details are slowly uncovered throughout the course of the novel.
It is through her work at the French restaurant that Natalia is befriended by Greg Barnes, owner of one of New York’s publishing houses who recognizes her love for the literary world. At a Christmas party, Mr. Barnes approaches Natalia to act as ghostwriter for his wild and reckless goddaughter, Ava. Ava, a model and debutante from one of New York’s old money families is turning thirty and much to the horror of her family, has now decided she wants to write her memoir. Ava’s cousin and attorney, Jack Roemer, along with Mr. Barnes, is in charge of finding a suitable writer who can portray Ava in a flattering light and also protect the wealthy family’s interests. That being said, it is because of this proposition and search to find exactly the right ghostwriter that some of Natalia’s past is uncovered. Her acceptance of the offer not only gives her a chance to escape her current way of life but also gives her a glimpse into the life of the privileged—a life that she might have had, had she remained in Cuba.
Natalia follows Ava to California to begin work on the memoir and is met there by Jack. Once Ava’s shortcomings are revealed to Natalia, Jack also discloses his own family secrets and Natalia realizes that she is not the only one who has hidden things from her past. Together they chase Ava to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and finally to Montgomery, AL. It is here that Jack discloses the last of his secrets in an explosive denouement that was unexpected by this reader.
This book is not what I expected but I don’t mean that in a bad way. As historical fiction, I was hoping for more of a story with links to the past—what, in my mind, qualifies as a great book of that genre. However, the book did not disappoint. Ms Ferrer has written a beautiful novel of love, loss and starting over and I was thoroughly engaged in the story throughout its twists and turns and the ending left me satisfied in the way that a good novel should.
Between Here and Gone is the story of a young woman who comes to America as a teenager at the start of the Cuban Revolution and comes of age in the harsh reality of New York City in the early 1960’s.
Natalia San Martin and her family are members of the privileged class in pre-Castro Cuba. As Castro and his rebels begin to gain ground and the revolution begins, the family makes the life-changing decision to leave behind all of their wealth and all they have known and leave for the United States in a boat. The story picks up about five years later and Natalie, as she now calls herself-- having renounced her Cuban heritage upon reaching New York, is working at a French restaurant and tutoring at the Concord School, a boy’s prep school for New York’s elite. Her work as tutor is dreaded but it gives her the extra money that she sends home to her family in Florida. Little is revealed about what happened between the time Natalia and her family reached the US and the time she came to NYC, but small details are slowly uncovered throughout the course of the novel.
It is through her work at the French restaurant that Natalia is befriended by Greg Barnes, owner of one of New York’s publishing houses who recognizes her love for the literary world. At a Christmas party, Mr. Barnes approaches Natalia to act as ghostwriter for his wild and reckless goddaughter, Ava. Ava, a model and debutante from one of New York’s old money families is turning thirty and much to the horror of her family, has now decided she wants to write her memoir. Ava’s cousin and attorney, Jack Roemer, along with Mr. Barnes, is in charge of finding a suitable writer who can portray Ava in a flattering light and also protect the wealthy family’s interests. That being said, it is because of this proposition and search to find exactly the right ghostwriter that some of Natalia’s past is uncovered. Her acceptance of the offer not only gives her a chance to escape her current way of life but also gives her a glimpse into the life of the privileged—a life that she might have had, had she remained in Cuba.
Natalia follows Ava to California to begin work on the memoir and is met there by Jack. Once Ava’s shortcomings are revealed to Natalia, Jack also discloses his own family secrets and Natalia realizes that she is not the only one who has hidden things from her past. Together they chase Ava to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and finally to Montgomery, AL. It is here that Jack discloses the last of his secrets in an explosive denouement that was unexpected by this reader.
This book is not what I expected but I don’t mean that in a bad way. As historical fiction, I was hoping for more of a story with links to the past—what, in my mind, qualifies as a great book of that genre. However, the book did not disappoint. Ms Ferrer has written a beautiful novel of love, loss and starting over and I was thoroughly engaged in the story throughout its twists and turns and the ending left me satisfied in the way that a good novel should.
March 4, 2016
I was fortunate to read a pre-release publisher's copy of Between Here and Gone. The novel, set in the late 50's during Castro's rise to power in Cuba, moves forward through the 60's, and gripped me from the first page. 'Talia', or 'Natalie', is a Cuban refugee who lands on the shores of Florida desperate to hold on to her old life, but smart enough to know the days of her privileged Cuban upbringing are gone; never to return. Desperate to forge a new identity in the US, she creates a life for herself in New York, far from her family and her history, in Miami. This story, in some ways, is a coming of age story. However it is more a story of survival, of finding meaning in life, in learning to love after tragedy, and finding one's strengths in a world that doesn't necessarily want her to succeed.
There were a few scenes that didn't quite gel with me, but the flow of the novel was wonderful. The author could have made some easy choices to follow traditional roles and instead branched out to let the broken be unapologetically broken - a choice I admire. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in strong female characters, Cuban history or just a wonderful, engaging read.
There were a few scenes that didn't quite gel with me, but the flow of the novel was wonderful. The author could have made some easy choices to follow traditional roles and instead branched out to let the broken be unapologetically broken - a choice I admire. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in strong female characters, Cuban history or just a wonderful, engaging read.
June 4, 2017
I enjoyed part one but felt part two was a completely different book/style. Historical fiction turned into a slightly erotic romance novel....the writing in the first part is so much better and the prose so beautiful. What happened to the second half?? And the ending felt rushed; a little too convenient.
December 19, 2016
A love-story, not so sweet. I appreciate her wisdom & strength.
August 11, 2021
I was super excited to read this book as I love books set in the 1960s. Barbara Ferrer's writing and attention to detail are exactly what you'd expect from an award winning author.
Sadly, plot wise, the book felt like two completely different stories. For half the book it was about the struggles of a Cuban refugee making her way as a single woman in New York. Then suddenly, it switched gears and became a love triangle involving a wealthy lawyer and his disturbed cousin. What's more, Ferrer seemed determined to throw in as much as she could - incest, rape, murder, grief, mental illness, the Freedom Riders. It proved too much. Color me disappointed.
Sadly, plot wise, the book felt like two completely different stories. For half the book it was about the struggles of a Cuban refugee making her way as a single woman in New York. Then suddenly, it switched gears and became a love triangle involving a wealthy lawyer and his disturbed cousin. What's more, Ferrer seemed determined to throw in as much as she could - incest, rape, murder, grief, mental illness, the Freedom Riders. It proved too much. Color me disappointed.
June 8, 2022
This book held my interest, first to last. There's some narrative roughness to it. I appreciated the historical insight, and am glad I read it before I read the Goodreads reviews. I felt the story-telling was heartfelt and honest, in the sense that it didn't conform to the usual formats, but was reflective of a real life, complete with human inconstancy, confused loyalty, stubborn prejudice, and all the other characteristics that distinguish humanity from fiction -- especially conventional fiction. If you're looking for a conventional story, horseman, pass by.
January 17, 2016
Title: Between Here and Gone
Author: Barbara Ferrer
Publisher: Diversion Books
Release Date: January 12, 2016
Genre(s): Historical Fiction
Page Count: 320 pages
Heat Level: # 2 flames out of 5
Rating: # 4 stars out of 5
Blurb:
In 1959 Cuba, Natalia San Martín was nothing short of a princess: sheltered, pampered, and courted by her very own prince, a childhood friend turned lifelong love. All that changed on the fateful New Year's Eve when Fidel Castro and his followers seized control of the country, with tragic consequences for not only the island, but Natalia herself.
Five years later, in 1960s New York, she’s known as Natalie Martin—living a life that’s bleak, but thankfully anonymous. However, when the enigmatic Jack Roemer offers her a job writing the memoir of a starlet on the brink of self-destruction, she sees not only opportunity, but unexpected echoes of a fairytale long forgotten.
As she knows all too well, however, the prettiest façade can hide the ugliest of truths—and peeling back the layers of someone else’s past forces Natalie to confront her own.
Review:
This story held a personal interest to me. I have a family member by marriage that escaped from Cuba with his family as a young boy. His family although not rich, was comfortable. They had a beautiful home that was left behind when they escaped from Castro’s Cuba and eventually settled in Elizabeth, NJ.
Barbara Ferrer has written a beautiful story portraying a strong woman making her way alone in New York City after so much personal loss. The loss of the status that she and her family were accustomed to. The loss of her home. The loss of the man that she loved. Ultimately the loss of the family after a disagreement. Trying to forget everything of her past life, Natalia reinvents herself as Natalie working as a hostess in a popular restaurant as well as a tutor in an exclusive private school where she is expected to do more than tutor. Her life is hard and although she has no contact with her family, she still feels obligated to send them money every month. If things couldn’t get any worse, her carefully built walls begin to be taken down when a patron of the restaurant she works at tries to make her life better with almost deadly results.
This was an interesting story of love, family and change that brings us back to a time where there was so much change going on.
Find this book on Goodreads
ARC provided by the author and Ink Slinger Promotions in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Mollien from Alpha Book Club
January 15, 2016
Between Here and Gone is powerful story of love, loss, and finding yourself in the midst of the chaos. This book was nothing like I expected and everything I needed to read in this story. Every once in a while you find a story that paints such a vivid experience, one that captures your attention and takes you someplace you didn’t expect. This book was just that. I don’t read much in terms of historical fiction (this books takes place in the 1950s and 1960s). I am more of a contemporary girl but this one was captivating. Barbara Ferrer is an incredible writer. Her story evokes emotion and her words paint a picture that you can literally see as you read. The descriptions and language in this story allows your imagination to picture every detail in beautiful technicolor. I loved how when Natalia daydreams, you are sucked right in with her, seeing the colors and smelling the air. This is a gift in the writing world and the ability to capture the senses in a story is spectacular!
Natalia is quite a character. This story goes from past to present during the first part of the story, allowing the reader to put the pieces together, understanding who she is and what has happened. She is an old soul, one who has lost tragically and endured the harsh realities of the world she lives in. It is even more of a stark contrast when you see who she was in Cuba, a princess of society, and where she is in New York, a woman desperate to make it on her own and face life’s cruelty in isolation. At times I forgot how young she was. Everything that happened in her life seems to have jammed into so few years. You see the reflection of her pain and loss in how she views the world around her. Reading this book in her POV allows the reader to understand the gravity of what she experienced and the way it resonates with what is happening in the present.
There is a romantic storyline, one that is well adapted to the story. I appreciated that she experienced so many types of love and romance, one thread that is so beautifully written for who she is. It is not rainbows and butterflies. It is messy and full of heartache and hope. Yet the romance is not what I took away. I loved that she had love in her life in different ways, but the story is about Natalia. It is about a young woman who learns who she is and what she wants. It is about a struggle to find her soul in the wreckage of her life. The more you learn about this young woman the more you cheer her to find peace and happiness. The emotional journey you walk with Natalia has some hard aspects to deal with. The cruelty of humanity she has experienced is harsh and leaves a nasty mark on who she is. Her growth and adaption to a new world in this book embodies the resilience of humanity. She is a beautiful character and I loved her story!
Natalia is quite a character. This story goes from past to present during the first part of the story, allowing the reader to put the pieces together, understanding who she is and what has happened. She is an old soul, one who has lost tragically and endured the harsh realities of the world she lives in. It is even more of a stark contrast when you see who she was in Cuba, a princess of society, and where she is in New York, a woman desperate to make it on her own and face life’s cruelty in isolation. At times I forgot how young she was. Everything that happened in her life seems to have jammed into so few years. You see the reflection of her pain and loss in how she views the world around her. Reading this book in her POV allows the reader to understand the gravity of what she experienced and the way it resonates with what is happening in the present.
There is a romantic storyline, one that is well adapted to the story. I appreciated that she experienced so many types of love and romance, one thread that is so beautifully written for who she is. It is not rainbows and butterflies. It is messy and full of heartache and hope. Yet the romance is not what I took away. I loved that she had love in her life in different ways, but the story is about Natalia. It is about a young woman who learns who she is and what she wants. It is about a struggle to find her soul in the wreckage of her life. The more you learn about this young woman the more you cheer her to find peace and happiness. The emotional journey you walk with Natalia has some hard aspects to deal with. The cruelty of humanity she has experienced is harsh and leaves a nasty mark on who she is. Her growth and adaption to a new world in this book embodies the resilience of humanity. She is a beautiful character and I loved her story!
January 17, 2016
The book spans the years of the start of Castro's rule in Cuba, into the 60s. It is the story of Natalia San Martín, part of a well to do family that fled Cuba for the United States at this time. Natalie is a teenager when they flee, and as her family resides in Miami. Her family still has hopes of returning to Cuba and it being like it once was, but all the events have taken a toll on Natalia, and she leaves her family a few years later, moving to New York.
In New York, she is known as Natalie Martin, and works as a hostess at Mercier's, a favorite restaurant of New York elite. She also works part time as a tutor at Concord, a private boys school - a job that isn't what it seems.
Natalia becomes friends with Greg and his wife Constance, who sense her true self, and offer her a job as a ghost writer for a family member's biography. Jack Roemer is cousin to this woman (Ava); a woman from a well to do family who is constantly doing, saying, and acting in a way that reflects on the family. Therefore, they feel Natalia will be the one person who can work well with her while writing a biography that most of the family feels is unnecessary.
What follows is a riveting story of not only Natalia's past, how she chooses to deal with it, how that changes as she comes to know Jack - but also of Jack's past that intercepts with the willful Ava's life.
I loved reading this book; I know no other way to put it. I enjoyed the author's writing; her descriptions not only of the era, but of Cuba. Of New York City. Of the characters. Beautifully written in such a way that you could see and feel everything happening around Natalia.
Further, you find yourself curious about the past of Natalia and Jack - why they are closed off from others as they are; how they feel drawn to each other; what they must do to heal themselves in order to move forward to happier, fuller lives.
Highly recommended reading for those who just love a good story with wonderful narrations that make you feel as though you are very much there.
ARC provided for honest review.
In New York, she is known as Natalie Martin, and works as a hostess at Mercier's, a favorite restaurant of New York elite. She also works part time as a tutor at Concord, a private boys school - a job that isn't what it seems.
Natalia becomes friends with Greg and his wife Constance, who sense her true self, and offer her a job as a ghost writer for a family member's biography. Jack Roemer is cousin to this woman (Ava); a woman from a well to do family who is constantly doing, saying, and acting in a way that reflects on the family. Therefore, they feel Natalia will be the one person who can work well with her while writing a biography that most of the family feels is unnecessary.
What follows is a riveting story of not only Natalia's past, how she chooses to deal with it, how that changes as she comes to know Jack - but also of Jack's past that intercepts with the willful Ava's life.
I loved reading this book; I know no other way to put it. I enjoyed the author's writing; her descriptions not only of the era, but of Cuba. Of New York City. Of the characters. Beautifully written in such a way that you could see and feel everything happening around Natalia.
Further, you find yourself curious about the past of Natalia and Jack - why they are closed off from others as they are; how they feel drawn to each other; what they must do to heal themselves in order to move forward to happier, fuller lives.
Highly recommended reading for those who just love a good story with wonderful narrations that make you feel as though you are very much there.
ARC provided for honest review.
January 19, 2016
"Between Here and Gone" is an utterly engaging novel which takes place in the sixties of the US and features a truly unique protagonist. The scope, description and incredibly rich plot details are astounding to read.
Natalia San Martin is Cuban royalty until Castro's revolution forces her family to flee to the US. Once in the states, her family must slowly rebuild their lives as best they can. Natalia, going by Natalie once stateside, is determined to make the best of her situation and is forced into remarkably complex decisions and multiple "tipping point" decisions which cast ripples for hundreds of pages to follow.
The complexity and depth of all the characters are well-depicted, but Natalie truly stands out. The plot moves like a sailboat over mirror-calm seas with deceptive speed. Stakes are raised, tension is cranked up to "11" but the skillful author allows her readers moments to pause and catch their breath.
It has been a very long time since I've read a novel in which I felt such sympathy for a protag as this. Strong, independent, forward-thinking and determined to succeed, following her own moral compass, Natalie is a compelling character to say the least.
Another aspect of this book which will stay with me for a very long time is the incredible sense of detail and setting. The descriptions of every room, each evening gown and clothes are just perfect. And the author does a truly admirable job of creating a rock-solid sense of setting despite multiple locations.
Some might argue this work is a period romance, but I'd respectfully disagree. Yes, there are common elements of such in "Between Here and Gone" but it is more than that. Themes of redemption, letting go of the past and bravely embracing an unknown future abound.
But in the end, this is simply a very satisfying read on multiple levels.
Natalia San Martin is Cuban royalty until Castro's revolution forces her family to flee to the US. Once in the states, her family must slowly rebuild their lives as best they can. Natalia, going by Natalie once stateside, is determined to make the best of her situation and is forced into remarkably complex decisions and multiple "tipping point" decisions which cast ripples for hundreds of pages to follow.
The complexity and depth of all the characters are well-depicted, but Natalie truly stands out. The plot moves like a sailboat over mirror-calm seas with deceptive speed. Stakes are raised, tension is cranked up to "11" but the skillful author allows her readers moments to pause and catch their breath.
It has been a very long time since I've read a novel in which I felt such sympathy for a protag as this. Strong, independent, forward-thinking and determined to succeed, following her own moral compass, Natalie is a compelling character to say the least.
Another aspect of this book which will stay with me for a very long time is the incredible sense of detail and setting. The descriptions of every room, each evening gown and clothes are just perfect. And the author does a truly admirable job of creating a rock-solid sense of setting despite multiple locations.
Some might argue this work is a period romance, but I'd respectfully disagree. Yes, there are common elements of such in "Between Here and Gone" but it is more than that. Themes of redemption, letting go of the past and bravely embracing an unknown future abound.
But in the end, this is simply a very satisfying read on multiple levels.
January 17, 2016
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review over on my blog Pretty Little Book Blog.
This story revolves around the fall of one family from being upper class in Cuba to becoming working class in America. Natalia is the character who we get to see all these events through and she starts out as this protected princess like girl being spoiled by her parents to being shoved off a boat with her younger brother to swim to shore in America. Then we fast forward a couple years and see that she is working as a hostess in a restaruant and being a tutor (sometimes more) at a prestigious private school. The scene that takes place there is one of the hardest to read (there are many points in this story that you hope things aren't going to go the way you think they might and then they do!)
While things do seem pretty bleak at times this is a story of strength, of discovering that you are exceptionally strong when tested with extraordinary circumstances. But in addition to this strength it's also about being proud of your heritage no matter what others may think of it. Since this story begins in the late 50s and the rise to power of Castro things were not the best for the Cuban people and times were tough for them even forcing some families to take the same journey that Natalia's family did. Historically I think it's an important time to shed some light on.
The author's writing style is all encompassing and I left the story with a clear idea of who these people are and you feel for them. You wish their struggles were less and you want to see them succeed and become okay with how their lives have changed. The formatting of how the pages were set up took a little getting used to but by the end I really enjoyed how it was all set up.
This story revolves around the fall of one family from being upper class in Cuba to becoming working class in America. Natalia is the character who we get to see all these events through and she starts out as this protected princess like girl being spoiled by her parents to being shoved off a boat with her younger brother to swim to shore in America. Then we fast forward a couple years and see that she is working as a hostess in a restaruant and being a tutor (sometimes more) at a prestigious private school. The scene that takes place there is one of the hardest to read (there are many points in this story that you hope things aren't going to go the way you think they might and then they do!)
While things do seem pretty bleak at times this is a story of strength, of discovering that you are exceptionally strong when tested with extraordinary circumstances. But in addition to this strength it's also about being proud of your heritage no matter what others may think of it. Since this story begins in the late 50s and the rise to power of Castro things were not the best for the Cuban people and times were tough for them even forcing some families to take the same journey that Natalia's family did. Historically I think it's an important time to shed some light on.
The author's writing style is all encompassing and I left the story with a clear idea of who these people are and you feel for them. You wish their struggles were less and you want to see them succeed and become okay with how their lives have changed. The formatting of how the pages were set up took a little getting used to but by the end I really enjoyed how it was all set up.
July 16, 2016
~Read and reviewed for the Historical Novel Society~
When Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba, the affluent Natalia San Martin fled to America with her family in the wake of personal tragedy. It’s now 1960s New York, and while Natalia has carefully hidden away her former self and changed her name to Natalie, her family is now estranged, and she’s struggling to make a living. But when she’s offered the job of ghost writing a starlet’s biography, dredging up another’s tangled past unwittingly reminds Natalie of her own, with things she’d like to forget. As truths are revealed, Natalie finds the strength to move on and love again.
Ferrer has done a fantastic job outlining the lives and sacrifices of the many families who have come to find a better life in America. I especially enjoyed the history and glimpses into Cuba, written in stark contrast to New York’s bustle. Her prose sends you on little adventures you almost hate to return from. Natalie is a likeable heroine, and easy to sympathize with. She’d like to love again, as indicated by some of her poor choices, but is tormented by her past until she finds the unlikely affection of the man who hires her to ghost write.
I had a little trouble mirroring the life of the starlet with Natalie’s past. This could be because she doesn’t make an appearance until the last third of the book, and at this point we have already learned a great deal about Natalie’s story. After Natalie finally meets her, I was disappointed to see the starlet become a sudden antagonist, her erratic behavior and final, harrowing moments pinned on an unnamed mental illness. I had to wait for the happy ending, but it comes along eventually.
When Fidel Castro seized control of Cuba, the affluent Natalia San Martin fled to America with her family in the wake of personal tragedy. It’s now 1960s New York, and while Natalia has carefully hidden away her former self and changed her name to Natalie, her family is now estranged, and she’s struggling to make a living. But when she’s offered the job of ghost writing a starlet’s biography, dredging up another’s tangled past unwittingly reminds Natalie of her own, with things she’d like to forget. As truths are revealed, Natalie finds the strength to move on and love again.
Ferrer has done a fantastic job outlining the lives and sacrifices of the many families who have come to find a better life in America. I especially enjoyed the history and glimpses into Cuba, written in stark contrast to New York’s bustle. Her prose sends you on little adventures you almost hate to return from. Natalie is a likeable heroine, and easy to sympathize with. She’d like to love again, as indicated by some of her poor choices, but is tormented by her past until she finds the unlikely affection of the man who hires her to ghost write.
I had a little trouble mirroring the life of the starlet with Natalie’s past. This could be because she doesn’t make an appearance until the last third of the book, and at this point we have already learned a great deal about Natalie’s story. After Natalie finally meets her, I was disappointed to see the starlet become a sudden antagonist, her erratic behavior and final, harrowing moments pinned on an unnamed mental illness. I had to wait for the happy ending, but it comes along eventually.
January 19, 2016
Also posted on gagaoverbooks.com.
First things first, I love the cover on this book. Second, I loved the manner in which it was written. This is the first book I have read from her and even though the story didn't quite click with me the writing certainly did.
I was into the book at first but then it kinda lost its appeal. It didn't make it matter to me.. If the writing hadn't been this great and descriptive and flowy I don't think I would have ever finished it.
Even though the story didn't really capture my attention -- I still wanted to read it. And even though I didn't truly grasp the pain and the demons our character's had -- I still wanted to -- BUT it still fell short for me.. I think I had another story in my head after the premise and it wasn't what I got..
And you may like this book better than I did.. Even though I am still confused about the whole thing..
So I am sorry for not really feeling but then again really feeling cos of that writing but it wasn't really the characters/story that I felt.. I know confusing, right?!?
First things first, I love the cover on this book. Second, I loved the manner in which it was written. This is the first book I have read from her and even though the story didn't quite click with me the writing certainly did.
I was into the book at first but then it kinda lost its appeal. It didn't make it matter to me.. If the writing hadn't been this great and descriptive and flowy I don't think I would have ever finished it.
Even though the story didn't really capture my attention -- I still wanted to read it. And even though I didn't truly grasp the pain and the demons our character's had -- I still wanted to -- BUT it still fell short for me.. I think I had another story in my head after the premise and it wasn't what I got..
And you may like this book better than I did.. Even though I am still confused about the whole thing..
So I am sorry for not really feeling but then again really feeling cos of that writing but it wasn't really the characters/story that I felt.. I know confusing, right?!?
January 26, 2016
I found this to be a gripping read at the beginning. I was really excited for this book hoping although Romance it would be more of a historical type and give me more of a look at historical Cuba. Although it did do some it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
The romance aspect though was wonderful and kept me interested. There was so much drama and I actually enjoyed it. For me it helped keep the story going where it started to lull. The only parts where it lulled were where the descriptions seemed to get a bit winded. It wasn’t bad just long and in my opinion over descriptive.
Natalie was a bit overdramatic at parts but I think I was in the mood to read a character like that so I enjoyed it.
All in all I think this was a great story. Interesting read and different from the paranormal and new adult romance I tend to read. The characters where all interesting and the story had a decent flow. I think many who enjoy romances are going to enjoy this book.
January 21, 2016
Natalia San Martin belongs to a wealthy Cuban family and the book starts when her family flee to the US when Castro comes to power in Cuba. She is a teenager at the time and a few years later she leaves her family moves to New York where she becomes Natalie Martin.
Holding down two jobs one in a school and one in a restaurant and leads a fairly boring life. She then becomes friends with Greg and Constance and is offered a job as a ghost writer for Ava. Through this job she also meets Jack and the story tells of both Natalia's and Jacks pasts and how they change through meeting
A really good interesting, well written book, with a good storyline which I especially enjoyed as I have visited Cuba and discovered a lot of the history of the island when I was there
Thanks to Netgalley for ARC
Holding down two jobs one in a school and one in a restaurant and leads a fairly boring life. She then becomes friends with Greg and Constance and is offered a job as a ghost writer for Ava. Through this job she also meets Jack and the story tells of both Natalia's and Jacks pasts and how they change through meeting
A really good interesting, well written book, with a good storyline which I especially enjoyed as I have visited Cuba and discovered a lot of the history of the island when I was there
Thanks to Netgalley for ARC
June 4, 2017
I would rather give this book a 2 1/2 stars if I could. There were parts that were ok in the middle mostly but the very beginning and the last 1/3 weren't very good. I didn't realize it was a romance that's not usually more preferred genre. But this If a romance is good the characters are developed enough that you care what happens to them. In this story that was not the case. Maybe because author was trying to make heroine a shell of a person who had been hurt in the past and existed a small life rather than really living with feeling! The author didn't give the heroine enough substance for me to become attached to her or really any of the other characters either.
March 1, 2016
What do you do when the world as you know it changes in an instant? This is the question Natalia must answer for herself. It takes her awhile to get back to herself and it's an interesting road she takes. I guess actually it's the question all three main characters have to answer for themselves, and the answers are as different as the characters.
The novel is set during the '60s, outside the Civil Rights Movement which is different for me; seems like all the '60s novels I read have to do one way or another with race.
The novel is set during the '60s, outside the Civil Rights Movement which is different for me; seems like all the '60s novels I read have to do one way or another with race.
June 14, 2017
I felt lost in the first part of this book believing that the story was being told but unsure if all the story was being told. Finally, the story fit. A young Cuban girl, refugee fleeing Cuba, with her family in the 50's refuses to marry to up her social standing. She abandons her family and takes jobs that are horrifying to pay her way and to send money home. She dreams of being a writer and with the help of supportive friends finally rids herself if her demons.
April 25, 2019
Didn't finish it. Wasn't at all what I thought it'd be from the description. Didn't like the main character (I don't care how desperate you are - being used for sex by teenagers in a private school while you're supposed to be tutoring them is ridiculous and totally unbelievable to me about a character who is supposedly so "strong".) Thought the prose went on and on and on - gave up after 100 or so pages.
April 12, 2016
Natalia saw a lot of change in her life. From a Cuban princess who was so concerned about protecting her Paris shoes, to a refugee who sold herself for money and finally, to an independent woman. I liked that each chapter began with newspaper headlines that showed what was going on in the country at the time. I enjoyed the descriptive writing style especially.
March 4, 2019
Eh. I liked this enough, but it didn't really... go anywhere. The first half and second half were like totally different books. I enjoyed the first half a lot more - the second half felt a little boring and trite to me. The ending was a too clean and convenient. Overall I'm not mad I listened to this, but I've basically already forgotten it.
January 3, 2016
This was an interesting read. I still need a little time before I can write a review :)
So, the full review will be posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of Blog Tour hosted by InkslingerPR.
So, the full review will be posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of Blog Tour hosted by InkslingerPR.
January 24, 2016
Lovely story, compellingly told
This captivated me. It's a deep romance, deftly told. The characters are unexpected and imperfect and perfectly believable. The author holds no punches. I read this in two sittings.
This captivated me. It's a deep romance, deftly told. The characters are unexpected and imperfect and perfectly believable. The author holds no punches. I read this in two sittings.
January 27, 2016
I didn't intend to read the whole book in one sitting, but there was no point I could walk away. There is so much going on in this story!
June 7, 2016
really liked
May 29, 2016
I was looking for historical fiction. I got what felt to be a disjointed story, and often I wasn't sure who was the actual lead character: Natalia or Ava. Skimmed the last half.
Read
August 5, 2016I loved reading this book; I know no other way to put it. I enjoyed the author's writing; her descriptions not only of the era, but of Cuba and New York City
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