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The Perez Family #5
Our Last Days in Barcelona
When Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to save her sister Beatriz, she discovers a shocking family secret in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s new novel.
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.
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.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2022
879 people are currently reading
25985 people want to read
About the author
Chanel Cleeton
22 books7,112 followersChanel 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, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Cuban Heiress, and The House on Biscayne Bay.
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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,231 reviews
March 22, 2022
I’ve enjoyed this Cuban series, following the Perez family from the Cuban revolution and now, into the mid1960s. When Beatriz, in Barcelona, stops responding to her family’s messages and calls from Palm Beach, her older sister Isabel crosses the Atlantic to find her.
The story also flashes back to 1936 and we hear from their mother, Alicia and her cousin, Rosa.
I found all three of these women engaging and their stories interesting. Isabel, as the eldest daughter, has been the one to always sacrifice her own happiness for her family. She’s loyal, she has a strong moral compass. If her sister is the passionate one, Isabel is the strong silent type. Alicia also married to please her family. And while Rosa married for love, her marriage wasn’t a match made in Heaven either.
Cleeton does a great job of weaving these three stories together. They all have aspects of familial duty. She also is a pro when it comes to weaving historical facts into the plot so I learned more about the Spanish Civil War, the earlier Cuban unrest and the Spanish-Cuban alliance in the 1960s. The scenes in Guernica are a horrible parallel to the situation in Ukraine, down to the false news of the day.
There is a strong romance factor to this story, which at times bordered on being too much for me, but I have a low tolerance for romantic plot lines.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
The story also flashes back to 1936 and we hear from their mother, Alicia and her cousin, Rosa.
I found all three of these women engaging and their stories interesting. Isabel, as the eldest daughter, has been the one to always sacrifice her own happiness for her family. She’s loyal, she has a strong moral compass. If her sister is the passionate one, Isabel is the strong silent type. Alicia also married to please her family. And while Rosa married for love, her marriage wasn’t a match made in Heaven either.
Cleeton does a great job of weaving these three stories together. They all have aspects of familial duty. She also is a pro when it comes to weaving historical facts into the plot so I learned more about the Spanish Civil War, the earlier Cuban unrest and the Spanish-Cuban alliance in the 1960s. The scenes in Guernica are a horrible parallel to the situation in Ukraine, down to the false news of the day.
There is a strong romance factor to this story, which at times bordered on being too much for me, but I have a low tolerance for romantic plot lines.
My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance copy of this book.
May 24, 2022
What a wonderful treat to be able to revisit the Perez sisters/family!
Barcelona, 1964
The book begins when Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to save her sister, Beatriz. While there she is joined by an unlikely ally and learns a little3 more about her family’s history.
Barcelona, 1936
Alicia Perez has traveled from Cuba to Barcelona with her young daughter in tow. But soon violence breaks out in Spain, and she is reunited with someone from her past.
In this book Isabel and Alicia's story lines intertwine.
Chanel Cleeton is such a gift writer who has done an impeccable amount of research in writing this book I really enjoy when I not only learn, but I am also entertained and moved by books and this one fit that bill!
I found this book to be gripping from the beginning. I enjoy her use of history and how it shapes her character's lives. Cleeton never disappoints and she nailed it once again in this book. I already have my hopes up that she will have another book out soon!
If you have not read her work, I highly recommend doing so.
Gripping, beautifully written, evoking emotion and hard to put down!
#OurLastDaysinBarcelona #NetGalley #Berkely
Thank you to Stephanie Felty, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Barcelona, 1964
The book begins when Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to save her sister, Beatriz. While there she is joined by an unlikely ally and learns a little3 more about her family’s history.
Barcelona, 1936
Alicia Perez has traveled from Cuba to Barcelona with her young daughter in tow. But soon violence breaks out in Spain, and she is reunited with someone from her past.
In this book Isabel and Alicia's story lines intertwine.
Chanel Cleeton is such a gift writer who has done an impeccable amount of research in writing this book I really enjoy when I not only learn, but I am also entertained and moved by books and this one fit that bill!
I found this book to be gripping from the beginning. I enjoy her use of history and how it shapes her character's lives. Cleeton never disappoints and she nailed it once again in this book. I already have my hopes up that she will have another book out soon!
If you have not read her work, I highly recommend doing so.
Gripping, beautifully written, evoking emotion and hard to put down!
#OurLastDaysinBarcelona #NetGalley #Berkely
Thank you to Stephanie Felty, Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 30, 2022
4.5 stars
I’ve read all of the books in Chanel Cleeton’s Cuban series about the Perez family and have enjoyed each one (though some more than others). Of course, the one that will always be my favorite is the first book from 2018, Next Year in Havana , which introduced us to the Perez siblings and the entire extended family. Though that first book was essentially from the perspective of the third Perez sister Elisa, it did such a great job laying the story groundwork for this fascinating family that by the end of it, I was hoping we would get additional books for each of the other sisters as well. That wish was granted in 2019 when Cleeton published her second book in the series, When We Left Cuba , which is from the perspective of fiery and passionate second sister Beatriz (who, remains one of the most beloved characters from the Perez family saga). After that, as Cleeton indicates in her Author’s Note, she took a break from writing about the Perez sisters and instead, came out with 2 novels about the lives of 2 different Perez ancestors — the sisters’ aunt Mirta Perez in The Last Train to Key West and their cousin Rosa’s grandmother Marina Perez in The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba . With her newest novel (which published this month), Cleeton returns to the Perez sisters, this time giving us eldest sister Isabel’s story with Our Last Days in Barcelona .
Picking up essentially where When We Left Cuba ended, Our Last Days in Barcelona has Isabel heading from Palm Beach, Florida to Barcelona in Spain to locate her sister Beatriz, who is involved in dangerous intelligence work with the government. Once there though, Isabel finds herself partnering with an unlikely ally, Beatriz’s friend Diego, with whom she eventually forms a close bond. But that’s not all — in Beatriz’s apartment, Isabel discovers a photograph of herself at barely 2 years old, sitting with her mother Alicia Perez in a Barcelona cafe meeting with a mysterious man — though when Isabel asks her mother about the photo, she vehemently denies ever having been in Barcelona. While looking for her sister, Isabel also unearths additional fragments of the story behind the photograph, which eventually changes her life in profound ways. In an alternating timeline between present day (1964) and the past (1936), the story of Isabel’s mother Alicia as well as her father Emilio’s cousin Rosa unfold. Later, both timelines intertwine as Isabel faces some of the same struggles and family expectations that her mother did 28 years ago — in the end, will Isabel choose the same path her mother does or will she follow her heart instead?
In this novel, Cleeton does the same wonderful job as she did with her previous 4 novels conveying the historical context related to Cuba, though this time, it’s the country’s relationship with Spain and the civil war that occurred there that provides the backdrop for Isabel’s and Alicia’s stories. One of the reasons I like reading historical fiction is to learn about historical time periods, events, people, places, etc. that I didn’t know about, which has certainly been the case with Cleeton’s works. Though the Perez family is fictional, Cleeton has done such a great job developing these richly nuanced characters (especially the Perez women) that I couldn’t help feeling as though I was reading about a real family (as mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, Cleeton herself is Cuban-American and actually wove in some of her own family’s history as well as experiences fleeing from Cuba into the Perez family story). Each time I read one of Cleeton’s books featuring a character from the Perez family, I feel like going back and re-reading Next Year in Havana all over again (the only thing holding me back from doing a re-read of any book is my overflowing TBR and a dogged determination to get through every single book on the list), since that’s the book that kicked things off and first introduced us to the family.
Speaking of the characters— up until this point, my favorite Perez sibling was Beatriz and while I still love her dearly (especially her fiery and defiant personality), I’ve also come around to Isabel too now and consider her a favorite as well. I also appreciated how we were given additional insight into Alicia as a character and the background of some of the things that happened in her life during her youth that eventually shaped the woman she became later (especially in the context of her role as wife, mother, and Perez family matriarch). I’m not sure whether Cleeton will write another book about the Perez siblings (my guess is yes, as there is still one more Perez sister’s story left to tell — youngest sister Maria’s), but having followed this fictional family from the beginning, there’s no doubt that I will want to read that book as well (if / whenever it comes into being). While technically it’s not necessary to read the previous 2 books about the Perez sisters in order to read this one, I do recommend doing so only because you get the full background of the family history — which, for me, makes a huge difference in terms of reading experience. Even if Cleeton’s next novel won’t be about the Perez sisters specifically, I’m pretty sure she will incorporate another character from the Perez family into it — identifying the connection between the characters in each of her books to the ones in the original story (as well as to her other books) is part of the “fun” of reading her novels, at least for me.
Received ARC from Berkeley Books via Edelweiss.
I’ve read all of the books in Chanel Cleeton’s Cuban series about the Perez family and have enjoyed each one (though some more than others). Of course, the one that will always be my favorite is the first book from 2018, Next Year in Havana , which introduced us to the Perez siblings and the entire extended family. Though that first book was essentially from the perspective of the third Perez sister Elisa, it did such a great job laying the story groundwork for this fascinating family that by the end of it, I was hoping we would get additional books for each of the other sisters as well. That wish was granted in 2019 when Cleeton published her second book in the series, When We Left Cuba , which is from the perspective of fiery and passionate second sister Beatriz (who, remains one of the most beloved characters from the Perez family saga). After that, as Cleeton indicates in her Author’s Note, she took a break from writing about the Perez sisters and instead, came out with 2 novels about the lives of 2 different Perez ancestors — the sisters’ aunt Mirta Perez in The Last Train to Key West and their cousin Rosa’s grandmother Marina Perez in The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba . With her newest novel (which published this month), Cleeton returns to the Perez sisters, this time giving us eldest sister Isabel’s story with Our Last Days in Barcelona .
Picking up essentially where When We Left Cuba ended, Our Last Days in Barcelona has Isabel heading from Palm Beach, Florida to Barcelona in Spain to locate her sister Beatriz, who is involved in dangerous intelligence work with the government. Once there though, Isabel finds herself partnering with an unlikely ally, Beatriz’s friend Diego, with whom she eventually forms a close bond. But that’s not all — in Beatriz’s apartment, Isabel discovers a photograph of herself at barely 2 years old, sitting with her mother Alicia Perez in a Barcelona cafe meeting with a mysterious man — though when Isabel asks her mother about the photo, she vehemently denies ever having been in Barcelona. While looking for her sister, Isabel also unearths additional fragments of the story behind the photograph, which eventually changes her life in profound ways. In an alternating timeline between present day (1964) and the past (1936), the story of Isabel’s mother Alicia as well as her father Emilio’s cousin Rosa unfold. Later, both timelines intertwine as Isabel faces some of the same struggles and family expectations that her mother did 28 years ago — in the end, will Isabel choose the same path her mother does or will she follow her heart instead?
In this novel, Cleeton does the same wonderful job as she did with her previous 4 novels conveying the historical context related to Cuba, though this time, it’s the country’s relationship with Spain and the civil war that occurred there that provides the backdrop for Isabel’s and Alicia’s stories. One of the reasons I like reading historical fiction is to learn about historical time periods, events, people, places, etc. that I didn’t know about, which has certainly been the case with Cleeton’s works. Though the Perez family is fictional, Cleeton has done such a great job developing these richly nuanced characters (especially the Perez women) that I couldn’t help feeling as though I was reading about a real family (as mentioned in my review of the first book in this series, Cleeton herself is Cuban-American and actually wove in some of her own family’s history as well as experiences fleeing from Cuba into the Perez family story). Each time I read one of Cleeton’s books featuring a character from the Perez family, I feel like going back and re-reading Next Year in Havana all over again (the only thing holding me back from doing a re-read of any book is my overflowing TBR and a dogged determination to get through every single book on the list), since that’s the book that kicked things off and first introduced us to the family.
Speaking of the characters— up until this point, my favorite Perez sibling was Beatriz and while I still love her dearly (especially her fiery and defiant personality), I’ve also come around to Isabel too now and consider her a favorite as well. I also appreciated how we were given additional insight into Alicia as a character and the background of some of the things that happened in her life during her youth that eventually shaped the woman she became later (especially in the context of her role as wife, mother, and Perez family matriarch). I’m not sure whether Cleeton will write another book about the Perez siblings (my guess is yes, as there is still one more Perez sister’s story left to tell — youngest sister Maria’s), but having followed this fictional family from the beginning, there’s no doubt that I will want to read that book as well (if / whenever it comes into being). While technically it’s not necessary to read the previous 2 books about the Perez sisters in order to read this one, I do recommend doing so only because you get the full background of the family history — which, for me, makes a huge difference in terms of reading experience. Even if Cleeton’s next novel won’t be about the Perez sisters specifically, I’m pretty sure she will incorporate another character from the Perez family into it — identifying the connection between the characters in each of her books to the ones in the original story (as well as to her other books) is part of the “fun” of reading her novels, at least for me.
Received ARC from Berkeley Books via Edelweiss.
June 27, 2022
Our Last Days in Barcelona by Chanel Cleeton is the 5th book in the series. It just read like the 5th book in a series. I did not enjoy it as much as the others. It lacked a connection. Chanel Cleeton left it open to continue the Perez sisters series. Here is to the next book.
June 24, 2022
I was so excited when I realize that this book featured the Perez sisters from Chanel Cleeton’s previous books. This book picks up right where When We Left Cuba leaves off. You do not need to have read the prior book/s to appreciate this one. This book features the oldest Perez sister Isabel. 1964 Isabell the silent propper sister is headed to Spain to find out what’s going on with her rebellious sister Beatriz. Not only do we get Isabell’s story, we also learn more about the sister’s mother Alicia. 1936 Alicia flees to Spain to figure out her future. The book seamlessly weaves together these two time periods. I also love learning more about the complicated histories of both Cuba and Spain. Two strong smart women learning more about themselves and one another. Especially Isabel who truly saw an entirely new side to her mother after visiting her past. There is also some romance in the story, but it takes a backseat to the plight of these women. The backdrop of historical Spain was so interesting and evocative. Another beautifully told story from Chanel Cleeton that hit me right in the heart and taught me so much.
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
*** Big thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
May 25, 2022
4.5 Stars
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary eARC of #OurLastDaysInBarcelona upon my request. All opinions are my own.
In 1964, Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to check on her sister Beatriz after the family loses contact with her. The family is worried about her disappearance because they fear Beatriz may be involved in espionage. Isabel meets a (handsome) gentleman friend and coworker of Beatriz’s who helps locate Beatriz. While in Barcelona, Isabel stumbles upon an old picture that causes her to question her family history. The story takes us back to 1936 as family secrets are revealed.
Having read three of Chanel Cleeton’s most recent releases, I’ve deemed her a reliable, auto-buy author. What I love most about Cleeton’s stories is the easy way she engages readers. I’m invested in the story from page one. Even though her stories have a vivid historical sense of place, we are never overwhelmed with historical facts. In my mind, I categorize her stories as women’s fiction in a historical setting. For me, her writing style is “easy reading” while still providing substantial content.
Do you love complicated family drama? Although Cleeton’s main characters in each book are all connected to the Perez family of Cuba, each book can be read as a stand-alone. In dual timelines, Our Last Days in Barcelona shares the story of Isabel (1964) and her mother (1936). They are each inspiring, independently minded, strong, and brave women. We see how cultural expectations, family traditions, and circumstances attempt to shape their lives.
Cleeton writes satisfying endings for her stories. I love how the two timelines of Our Last Days in Barcelona come together. The story has an especially satisfying ending tied up in a big fluffy bow.
Thoughtful themes include mothers and daughters, family loyalty, sibling conflict and devotion, independence, taking risks, friendship, reconciliation and forgiveness, living in times of civil war and political unrest, and desperate measures in desperate times.
Readers who are looking for non-WW11 histfic will appreciate Our Last Days in Barcelona, and fans of substantial women’s fiction will be delighted. A thoughtful beach read for summer! Rich discussion possibilities also make this an engaging book club selection or buddy read.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary eARC of #OurLastDaysInBarcelona upon my request. All opinions are my own.
In 1964, Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to check on her sister Beatriz after the family loses contact with her. The family is worried about her disappearance because they fear Beatriz may be involved in espionage. Isabel meets a (handsome) gentleman friend and coworker of Beatriz’s who helps locate Beatriz. While in Barcelona, Isabel stumbles upon an old picture that causes her to question her family history. The story takes us back to 1936 as family secrets are revealed.
Having read three of Chanel Cleeton’s most recent releases, I’ve deemed her a reliable, auto-buy author. What I love most about Cleeton’s stories is the easy way she engages readers. I’m invested in the story from page one. Even though her stories have a vivid historical sense of place, we are never overwhelmed with historical facts. In my mind, I categorize her stories as women’s fiction in a historical setting. For me, her writing style is “easy reading” while still providing substantial content.
Do you love complicated family drama? Although Cleeton’s main characters in each book are all connected to the Perez family of Cuba, each book can be read as a stand-alone. In dual timelines, Our Last Days in Barcelona shares the story of Isabel (1964) and her mother (1936). They are each inspiring, independently minded, strong, and brave women. We see how cultural expectations, family traditions, and circumstances attempt to shape their lives.
Cleeton writes satisfying endings for her stories. I love how the two timelines of Our Last Days in Barcelona come together. The story has an especially satisfying ending tied up in a big fluffy bow.
Thoughtful themes include mothers and daughters, family loyalty, sibling conflict and devotion, independence, taking risks, friendship, reconciliation and forgiveness, living in times of civil war and political unrest, and desperate measures in desperate times.
Readers who are looking for non-WW11 histfic will appreciate Our Last Days in Barcelona, and fans of substantial women’s fiction will be delighted. A thoughtful beach read for summer! Rich discussion possibilities also make this an engaging book club selection or buddy read.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
May 27, 2022
The Fountains of Silence (Ruta Sepetys) introduced me to the Franco era in Spain following the Spanish Civil War, and I couldn't get enough. Similarly, Chanel Cleeton's earlier books introduced me to political upheavals and revolutions in Cuba and got me interested in that period of history.
Beatriz was my favorite Perez sister, so I was very excited to read the latest release (in fact Amazon had it on my doorstep the very day it was released).
Unfortunately, the parallel stories of Isabel (married to Thomas) going to Spain and falling in love with Diego and her mom Alicia (married to Emilo Perez) heading to Spain and falling for her crush Nestor harkened back to the sappy romance writing of earlier novels. If only the women in this family could follow their hearts instead of doing what society (and their parents) expected of them! As if. Then there's Rosa (married to Gonzalo) who really loved Felipe, but was duped. And Consuelo who became pregnant by . . .
There were so many similarities between all of these story lines that it was a challenge to keep straight who loved who. So often the dialogue between these couples was repetitive and didn't move the plot forward. Plus, the transitions from each of the various timelines was often abrupt and a bit jarring. The love interests were well-developed, but the poor husbands languishing at home got just a few sentences.
I learned very little about Spain (or Cuba, or WPB Fl) and didn't really care much for how the Perez sisters handled themselves. The most redeeming quality of the novel was the sweet loose end tied up by the ending.
Beatriz was my favorite Perez sister, so I was very excited to read the latest release (in fact Amazon had it on my doorstep the very day it was released).
Unfortunately, the parallel stories of Isabel (married to Thomas) going to Spain and falling in love with Diego and her mom Alicia (married to Emilo Perez) heading to Spain and falling for her crush Nestor harkened back to the sappy romance writing of earlier novels. If only the women in this family could follow their hearts instead of doing what society (and their parents) expected of them! As if. Then there's Rosa (married to Gonzalo) who really loved Felipe, but was duped. And Consuelo who became pregnant by . . .
There were so many similarities between all of these story lines that it was a challenge to keep straight who loved who. So often the dialogue between these couples was repetitive and didn't move the plot forward. Plus, the transitions from each of the various timelines was often abrupt and a bit jarring. The love interests were well-developed, but the poor husbands languishing at home got just a few sentences.
I learned very little about Spain (or Cuba, or WPB Fl) and didn't really care much for how the Perez sisters handled themselves. The most redeeming quality of the novel was the sweet loose end tied up by the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
The Perez family saga continues with Cleeton's work of historical fiction. This is another engrossing story about the family, exiled from Cuba after the takeover by Castro. This time the focus is on oldest daughter Isabel. It is 1964 and Isabel is worried about her sister Beatriz who has disappeared in Barcelona. Leaving her husband behind, Isabel flies to Spain to find her sister despite their difficulties the two have shared in their relationship. While is looking through Beatriz's apartment, Isabel finds a picture of her mother Alicia in a Spanish cafe sitting beside a strange man and holding Isabel on her lap. We also get to hear Alicia's story from 1936, her escape to Spain, and the horror of being caught up in the turmoil of the Spanish Civil War.
Cleeton's story shines with her vivid portrayal of place and time. Her talent for creating strong female characters and relationships that ring true continue in this novel. She is a master of weaving history with fiction, and characters that grow and evolve from their experiences, with a satisfying and believable resolution. If you have not read the other books about the Perez family, I encourage you to do do, but this novel works as a standalone story. Richly detailed, well researched, with excellent writing, this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction as well as women's fiction.
I look forward to more novels from this author.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC
Cleeton's story shines with her vivid portrayal of place and time. Her talent for creating strong female characters and relationships that ring true continue in this novel. She is a master of weaving history with fiction, and characters that grow and evolve from their experiences, with a satisfying and believable resolution. If you have not read the other books about the Perez family, I encourage you to do do, but this novel works as a standalone story. Richly detailed, well researched, with excellent writing, this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction as well as women's fiction.
I look forward to more novels from this author.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the e-ARC
December 30, 2021
The fabulous Perez sisters, plus the glorious backdrop of Barcelona – what more could any reader want? I absolutely loved this story of courage, sacrifice, family and love. Nobody writes about the special bond between sisters as well as Chanel Cleeton. This is the book you’re going to want to read this summer!
September 13, 2022
"Our Last Days in Barcelona" is the fifth book in the series about the Perez family who escaped to Florida after Fidel Castro took power in Cuba. This book has two timelines set mostly in Spain in 1936 and 1964.
In 1936, Alicia Perez takes her young daughter, Isabel, to Barcelona to visit with her parents after she discovers that her husband had been unfaithful. Spain is in a state of unrest as fascism is rising, and the Spanish Civil War erupts. Alicia witnesses the bombing of Guernica by the Germans before making her way back to Cuba. Meanwhile, her cousin Rosa is dealing with family problems in Cuba.
In the 1964 timeline, Isabel is worried about her sister Beatriz after she disappears in Barcelona. Beatriz is involved in anti-Castro espionage, although she has a cover job at the American Embassy. Isabel travels to Barcelona to locate Beatriz. Isabel has been feeling weighed down by an unhappy marriage, but finds satisfaction when she uses her artistic talents.
In addition to the interesting historical elements, themes of love, duty to their family, and personal fulfillment are important. While it is not necessary to read the entire series before this book, the first book, "When We Left Cuba," is a good introduction to the characters and the political situation as the Perez family flees from Cuba. Chanel Cleeton's writing is warm, emotional, and entertaining.
In 1936, Alicia Perez takes her young daughter, Isabel, to Barcelona to visit with her parents after she discovers that her husband had been unfaithful. Spain is in a state of unrest as fascism is rising, and the Spanish Civil War erupts. Alicia witnesses the bombing of Guernica by the Germans before making her way back to Cuba. Meanwhile, her cousin Rosa is dealing with family problems in Cuba.
In the 1964 timeline, Isabel is worried about her sister Beatriz after she disappears in Barcelona. Beatriz is involved in anti-Castro espionage, although she has a cover job at the American Embassy. Isabel travels to Barcelona to locate Beatriz. Isabel has been feeling weighed down by an unhappy marriage, but finds satisfaction when she uses her artistic talents.
In addition to the interesting historical elements, themes of love, duty to their family, and personal fulfillment are important. While it is not necessary to read the entire series before this book, the first book, "When We Left Cuba," is a good introduction to the characters and the political situation as the Perez family flees from Cuba. Chanel Cleeton's writing is warm, emotional, and entertaining.
January 3, 2025
Our Last Days in Barcelona is the fifth book of the lives of the Perez sisters, this featuring the stories of Alicia and Isabel as their lives intertwine with the past and the present colliding as mother and daughter grapple with many of the same issues although a generation apart. A continued theme and strong thrust of the narrative is on the fleeing of the Perez family from Cuba after the takeover of Fidel Castro, many to Spain. Our Last Days in Barcelona takes place at a very volatile time in Barcelona as Franco has assumed power but the Spanish Civil War erupts as many Americans come to Spain to assist the Republicans in the fight against Franco.
A strong thread in the narrative is the power and the tragedy of the bombing of the Basque city of Guernica by the Germans. And the inspiration of Pablo Picasso after reading an eyewitness account and gave the world the artwork of Guernica. Isabel, as she gazes upon the piece at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, notes that the background is one of colors and brushstrokes powerful and seeming to leap off the page. Its sheer size is staggering, the images looming. It is noted that as a form of resistance to Franco, prints of this painting secretly hang in homes while Franco keeps a strong grip on the country. This story unfolds in two time periods in Barcelona with the life of Alicia Perez in the 1930s and that of Isabel Perez in the 1960s. The lives of both mother and daughter intertwine as the past and the present collide forcing each to choose between their family’s expectations and following their hearts. This may be one of my favorite of Chanel Cleeton’s books.
“I’ve always felt that cities have their own character, a personality shaped by their histories and the people that call them home. Barcelona is a city of whispers and secrets.”
“The sensation that everything around me is temporary, that one day I will wake up and it will all be gone, is one I cannot shake. When you have lost everything in one sweep, it is impossible to believe that it will not happen again; you mistrust whatever happiness you might find as transient, subject to the whims of whatever calamity may befall you.”
A strong thread in the narrative is the power and the tragedy of the bombing of the Basque city of Guernica by the Germans. And the inspiration of Pablo Picasso after reading an eyewitness account and gave the world the artwork of Guernica. Isabel, as she gazes upon the piece at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, notes that the background is one of colors and brushstrokes powerful and seeming to leap off the page. Its sheer size is staggering, the images looming. It is noted that as a form of resistance to Franco, prints of this painting secretly hang in homes while Franco keeps a strong grip on the country. This story unfolds in two time periods in Barcelona with the life of Alicia Perez in the 1930s and that of Isabel Perez in the 1960s. The lives of both mother and daughter intertwine as the past and the present collide forcing each to choose between their family’s expectations and following their hearts. This may be one of my favorite of Chanel Cleeton’s books.
“And still if Fidel dies, will I ever go back to Cuba? To visit, perhaps. But at this point, it is beginning to feel like I have one foot in the past, one foot in the present, as though I am straddling two countries and two lives. How many times do you have to start over.”
“Perhaps that’s what men like Franco and Fidel fear the most, the power of speech, the power of art to galvanize the will of the people, the power of some positive creation to counterbalance the destruction they have wrought. To conquer, to destroy, you must subvert and eradicate the will of the people: their joy, their spirit, their hope.”
June 12, 2022
This was a really fun read. I didn’t realize it was part of a series, but I didn’t feel that it took away from this story as a standalone. It was fun for me personally that I was in Barcelona when I read this. The writing was excellent and I liked the story a lot. The main character, Isabel, has always been the responsible sister but when her sister Beatriz stops responding she travels to Barcelona to find her. While there she discovers her family has some secrets and she also discovers herself. The story was sweet and a good escape and a good look into the people had been forced to leave Cuba. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
May 24, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
I loved this book! I have been a fan of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction books featuring Cuban characters since she started writing them. I was really excited to learn that this book would feature one of the Perez sisters but once I started reading and found in addition to a Perez sister we also get to read about their mother, Alicia, and their aunt, Rosa. I was pulled into this story from the first page and hated to put the book down until I had reached the very end.
Isabel is the oldest of the Perez sisters. When she learns that her sister, Beatriz, is missing in Barcelona, she travels to Spain hoping to find her. She soon meets Diego and the pair set off to track her down. Years earlier, Alicia also traveled to Spain with her young daughter, Isabel. While Alicia is in Spain, the county is filled with violence with war on the horizon. Rosa is a new wife back in Cuba who must say goodbye to her husband and he leaves to go to Spain to fight.
I was swept away by the stories of these women and the choices that they had to make. All three tried to balance the needs of their family against the things that they really want out of life. These women were loyal and passionate while trying to do the best they could in incredibly difficult situations. I was glued to the pages as they struggled to find the best future possible. I really liked the dynamics between the Perez sisters and liked that we got to see Alicia in both of the timelines.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was hard not to fall in love with this group of characters and the story was filled with the perfect combination of passion and excitement. I cannot wait to read future works by this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
I loved this book! I have been a fan of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction books featuring Cuban characters since she started writing them. I was really excited to learn that this book would feature one of the Perez sisters but once I started reading and found in addition to a Perez sister we also get to read about their mother, Alicia, and their aunt, Rosa. I was pulled into this story from the first page and hated to put the book down until I had reached the very end.
Isabel is the oldest of the Perez sisters. When she learns that her sister, Beatriz, is missing in Barcelona, she travels to Spain hoping to find her. She soon meets Diego and the pair set off to track her down. Years earlier, Alicia also traveled to Spain with her young daughter, Isabel. While Alicia is in Spain, the county is filled with violence with war on the horizon. Rosa is a new wife back in Cuba who must say goodbye to her husband and he leaves to go to Spain to fight.
I was swept away by the stories of these women and the choices that they had to make. All three tried to balance the needs of their family against the things that they really want out of life. These women were loyal and passionate while trying to do the best they could in incredibly difficult situations. I was glued to the pages as they struggled to find the best future possible. I really liked the dynamics between the Perez sisters and liked that we got to see Alicia in both of the timelines.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It was hard not to fall in love with this group of characters and the story was filled with the perfect combination of passion and excitement. I cannot wait to read future works by this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
June 16, 2022
Another enjoyable historical fiction following the lives of the Perez women,mothers and sisters from Cuba to Florida to Europe. This one focuses on parallel stories of escaping to Barcelona due to unhappy marriages in the early sixties and also during the beginning of t?he Spanish civil war. Cleeton on is a masterful storyteller spinning intricate tales full of fascinating characters. Each book is a standalone but reading on order gives more depth to the stories in this book. Really 4 and a half stars.
October 3, 2022
Oh, Chanel Cleeton! You absolutely amaze me with another story of the Perez family line! Our Last Days in Barcelona left me feeling happy and a reminder to always keep a sense of hope alive.
My favorite part is the ending!
My favorite part is the ending!
May 30, 2022
This was exactly what I want from a Chanel Cleeton historical novel and I was so, so happy to read it. The last couple of books were fine, but suffered from a common problem in multiple storyline novels, i.e. that one of them is better/more appealing than the others, and you end up resenting the time you are not spending where you want. These blended together so beautifully that even when I did want to spend more time with other characters I was equally fine spending the time where we were. Really recommend this one as an extension of the first two Perez sister novels.
May 25, 2022
I have enjoyed each book in the Perez family saga, and Our Last Days in Barcelona is second only to Next Year in Havana which ranks as one of my favorite books ever, so that says a lot. The eldest Perez sibling, Isabel travels to Barcelona to find Beatriz who has gone missing.
Beatriz, as you know if you’ve read her story, When We Left Cuba, is a risk-taker who is very involved in Cuba’s fight for freedom from the Castro regime. Isabel, on the other hand, is the solid, reliable, responsible, duty-bound sister who married a man she didn’t love to insure her family’s position in Miami. Even making the trip alone to Barcelona is completely out of character for Isabel. I loved watching Isabel discover and explore her independence, finding not only her errant sister, Beatriz, but herself, along the way.
The book alternates between 1968 Barcelona and Cuba/Barcelona of 1936/1937, between Isabel’s story and those of her mother, Alicia, and cousin Rosa. Three different stories of three strong women facing life-changing events and making far-reaching decisions. I was intrigued by the mystery of Isabel’s search for the truth of her past, as well as how she would handle and face her future. I have never liked Alicia Perez, the matriarch of the family. She’s always struck me as cold and calculating, caring only for the family’s social position and not at all concerned with her children’s happiness, often coming across as harsh and mean, but in Our Last Days in Barcelona, we see a younger Alicia, as a new mother questioning her marriage and the choices she’s made in her life. I saw her in a new light which went a little towards helping me understand her better. The stories of all three of these strong women are interesting, intriguing, fascinating even.
Chanel Cleeton’s passion for Cuba, her love for its people and history is clearly obvious in her stories of the Perez family. I have been on an historical fiction kick the last couple of years, I have learned so much about the history of Cuba (and Spain) from her books, all while being thoroughly entertained by her fictional Perez family.
This, and other books in this series are women’s fiction as opposed to romance, but there is a strong romantic element to most of the books, this one is no exception. While I do believe this book can be read as a standalone, I think it would be beneficial to read the previous books for a richer experience.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
Beatriz, as you know if you’ve read her story, When We Left Cuba, is a risk-taker who is very involved in Cuba’s fight for freedom from the Castro regime. Isabel, on the other hand, is the solid, reliable, responsible, duty-bound sister who married a man she didn’t love to insure her family’s position in Miami. Even making the trip alone to Barcelona is completely out of character for Isabel. I loved watching Isabel discover and explore her independence, finding not only her errant sister, Beatriz, but herself, along the way.
The book alternates between 1968 Barcelona and Cuba/Barcelona of 1936/1937, between Isabel’s story and those of her mother, Alicia, and cousin Rosa. Three different stories of three strong women facing life-changing events and making far-reaching decisions. I was intrigued by the mystery of Isabel’s search for the truth of her past, as well as how she would handle and face her future. I have never liked Alicia Perez, the matriarch of the family. She’s always struck me as cold and calculating, caring only for the family’s social position and not at all concerned with her children’s happiness, often coming across as harsh and mean, but in Our Last Days in Barcelona, we see a younger Alicia, as a new mother questioning her marriage and the choices she’s made in her life. I saw her in a new light which went a little towards helping me understand her better. The stories of all three of these strong women are interesting, intriguing, fascinating even.
Chanel Cleeton’s passion for Cuba, her love for its people and history is clearly obvious in her stories of the Perez family. I have been on an historical fiction kick the last couple of years, I have learned so much about the history of Cuba (and Spain) from her books, all while being thoroughly entertained by her fictional Perez family.
This, and other books in this series are women’s fiction as opposed to romance, but there is a strong romantic element to most of the books, this one is no exception. While I do believe this book can be read as a standalone, I think it would be beneficial to read the previous books for a richer experience.
Review copy provided for a voluntary review.
May 24, 2022
**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
Our Last Days in Barcelona was another phenomenal Historical/Women's Fiction novel. I don't even need to know the plot of the book, I just know that Chanel Cleeton will deliver a unique and intriguing story with amazing characters. There are always multiple POVs, which I love because it tells the story from different views and elevates it. Everything is connected and throughout the book, you come up with multiple theories and I love it when an author surprises me when the story unfolds differently from what I predicted. Chanel's storytelling is beautiful and so engaging. I always get so hooked on the multiple storylines and fully connect to the characters. The author just has a way of telling a story that has me intrigued and invested until the very last page.
I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what would happen next. The amount of romance that the author includes satisfied my romantic heart. All three women whose POVs we follow go through hardships and grow so much in this book. They have to make hard decisions and it was very interesting to see their individual character development. This book is about family and making difficult decisions, and that it is okay to want and go after something for yourself. You are an individual with dreams and you don't have to follow other people's expectations. Our Last Days in Barcelona is one of my favorite reads of the year and I already look forward to the next book Chanel Cleeton will release.
Our Last Days in Barcelona was another phenomenal Historical/Women's Fiction novel. I don't even need to know the plot of the book, I just know that Chanel Cleeton will deliver a unique and intriguing story with amazing characters. There are always multiple POVs, which I love because it tells the story from different views and elevates it. Everything is connected and throughout the book, you come up with multiple theories and I love it when an author surprises me when the story unfolds differently from what I predicted. Chanel's storytelling is beautiful and so engaging. I always get so hooked on the multiple storylines and fully connect to the characters. The author just has a way of telling a story that has me intrigued and invested until the very last page.
I couldn't put the book down because I needed to know what would happen next. The amount of romance that the author includes satisfied my romantic heart. All three women whose POVs we follow go through hardships and grow so much in this book. They have to make hard decisions and it was very interesting to see their individual character development. This book is about family and making difficult decisions, and that it is okay to want and go after something for yourself. You are an individual with dreams and you don't have to follow other people's expectations. Our Last Days in Barcelona is one of my favorite reads of the year and I already look forward to the next book Chanel Cleeton will release.
February 25, 2025
Audiobook narrated by Almarie Guerra, Elena Rey, Victoria Villarreal 9h 14minutes
I have now listened to all The Perez Family series on audiobook and what a delight it has been. The book is told through the eyes of Isabel(1964), her mother Alicia(1934), and their cousin, Rosa(1934) in two dual timelines. In this book, Chanel Cleeton weaves Cuban and Spanish history together and creates a read that I could not put down. The ending had me reaching for a few tissues.
Isabel makes the trip from Palm Beach to Barcelona to find her sister, Beatriz( protagonist of When We Left Cuba) and I was so glad to see again a character that I had loved so much. Even though the sisters have a habit of getting on each other's nerves, they have certainly made an impression on this reader's heart.
Learning more about their mother, Alicia was also a treat. I suppose as children we often forget that our mothers had lived with their struggles and heartaches. I like how the Perez sisters tackle that story and ultimately the conversation they have with their mother. The three storylines merge nicely and I enjoyed my listening experience.
If you're looking for some great historical fiction with family dynasties, romance, and Cuban history, then check out this series. You won't regret it.
Goodreads review published 25/02/25
I have now listened to all The Perez Family series on audiobook and what a delight it has been. The book is told through the eyes of Isabel(1964), her mother Alicia(1934), and their cousin, Rosa(1934) in two dual timelines. In this book, Chanel Cleeton weaves Cuban and Spanish history together and creates a read that I could not put down. The ending had me reaching for a few tissues.
Isabel makes the trip from Palm Beach to Barcelona to find her sister, Beatriz( protagonist of When We Left Cuba) and I was so glad to see again a character that I had loved so much. Even though the sisters have a habit of getting on each other's nerves, they have certainly made an impression on this reader's heart.
Learning more about their mother, Alicia was also a treat. I suppose as children we often forget that our mothers had lived with their struggles and heartaches. I like how the Perez sisters tackle that story and ultimately the conversation they have with their mother. The three storylines merge nicely and I enjoyed my listening experience.
If you're looking for some great historical fiction with family dynasties, romance, and Cuban history, then check out this series. You won't regret it.
Goodreads review published 25/02/25
June 3, 2022
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 finally stunning pages left me feeling bereft. The pace is gentle and the suspense is subtle, but I still found it a riveting story that I didn’t want to put down.
I love how the author writes of so many women in these, 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.
I rec’d this eARC from Berkley via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
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 finally stunning pages left me feeling bereft. The pace is gentle and the suspense is subtle, but I still found it a riveting story that I didn’t want to put down.
I love how the author writes of so many women in these, 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.
I rec’d this eARC from Berkley via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2022
The cover is beautiful, featuring a lovely woman in a 50s style swim suit lounging by herself on a beach. This has NOTHING to do with this story. NO ONE dressed in a swim suit. NO ONE went to the beach. I’m not sure that anyone was truly alone or simply relaxing in the entire book. There’s no mention of the beach – or of relaxing!
The story, itself, has two threads. In the thirties, on the cusp of the Spanish Civil War and into the war, our leading lady takes a ship from Havana to Spain. She has been caught up in a loveless [arranged?] marriage in Cuba because her great love left Cuba for NYC without even saying, “Hasta la vista” much less “Te amo”. No, neither party of this great love knows that the other is even mildly interested.
Thread number two is in the Sixties. The family has fled Cuba, leaving all that they have, for Palm Beach, Florida, where they are not really accepted into American society there. Remember Cuba, ruled by Castro has not only gone communist, but is harboring Russian missiles capable of doing great damage to Florida and the US. Oh yes, then there was the Bay of Pigs fiasco in ’62 between the US and Cuba (or USSR). The daughter in this Cuban family is forced into an arranged marriage with an older American, Thomas, for his position in society. One of 4 sisters (their brother had been killed fighting the Communists in Cuba) is now employed by the American CIA and is in Spain supposedly doing spy-work. Our leading lady in this generation leaves her husband in Palm Beach and flies off to Barcelona to find her sister.
Of course, these two story lines bounce back and forth, defying gravity and any train of thought.
Predictably, both leading ladies who have left their loveless marriages find true love in Barcelona – probably at the same café. The war rages around them – the Spanish Civil War in the 30s and the Cold War of the 60s. By this time in the book (about ¾), it’s really hard to keep everyone straight – who’s pining away in love, who’s actually in bed with a lover, who’s pregnant and doesn’t know what to do and what year or generation this is. And … when are we ever going to get to that beautiful beach scene on the cover of the book?
Oh, now I get it. The cover indicates that it’s a good beach read for today’s readers. It’s love lost, turmoil in home life with parents and/or in-laws, flee the present for the past and find your true love and, presumably, live happily ever after.
And now that I’ve read the Author’s Note and seen the family tree, I would suggest that any new reader start there. Keeping all these characters in the right time period or the right country or the current bed, was most confusing. And even though I had read all of Cleeton’s books up to the last three, I would suggest that a reader read When we Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana prior to tackling this one.
The story, itself, has two threads. In the thirties, on the cusp of the Spanish Civil War and into the war, our leading lady takes a ship from Havana to Spain. She has been caught up in a loveless [arranged?] marriage in Cuba because her great love left Cuba for NYC without even saying, “Hasta la vista” much less “Te amo”. No, neither party of this great love knows that the other is even mildly interested.
Thread number two is in the Sixties. The family has fled Cuba, leaving all that they have, for Palm Beach, Florida, where they are not really accepted into American society there. Remember Cuba, ruled by Castro has not only gone communist, but is harboring Russian missiles capable of doing great damage to Florida and the US. Oh yes, then there was the Bay of Pigs fiasco in ’62 between the US and Cuba (or USSR). The daughter in this Cuban family is forced into an arranged marriage with an older American, Thomas, for his position in society. One of 4 sisters (their brother had been killed fighting the Communists in Cuba) is now employed by the American CIA and is in Spain supposedly doing spy-work. Our leading lady in this generation leaves her husband in Palm Beach and flies off to Barcelona to find her sister.
Of course, these two story lines bounce back and forth, defying gravity and any train of thought.
Predictably, both leading ladies who have left their loveless marriages find true love in Barcelona – probably at the same café. The war rages around them – the Spanish Civil War in the 30s and the Cold War of the 60s. By this time in the book (about ¾), it’s really hard to keep everyone straight – who’s pining away in love, who’s actually in bed with a lover, who’s pregnant and doesn’t know what to do and what year or generation this is. And … when are we ever going to get to that beautiful beach scene on the cover of the book?
Oh, now I get it. The cover indicates that it’s a good beach read for today’s readers. It’s love lost, turmoil in home life with parents and/or in-laws, flee the present for the past and find your true love and, presumably, live happily ever after.
And now that I’ve read the Author’s Note and seen the family tree, I would suggest that any new reader start there. Keeping all these characters in the right time period or the right country or the current bed, was most confusing. And even though I had read all of Cleeton’s books up to the last three, I would suggest that a reader read When we Left Cuba and Next Year in Havana prior to tackling this one.
June 21, 2022
3.5 stars. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I expected to. It seemed as though Chanel Cleeton tried to cram too much into a short novel, and it read as though one character's story was written first and then Ms. Cleeton wrote the other character's story to perfectly mirror the first story. I wasn't invested in Rosa or Alicia as characters, and I wish more of the novel was set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Maybe I'll enjoy this book more when I (eventually) re-read it.
(And for Pete's sake and crying out loud, how has Isabel NEVER heard of Picasso?!)
(And for Pete's sake and crying out loud, how has Isabel NEVER heard of Picasso?!)
December 29, 2021
Three stories of three women - each trying to find their voice, gain independence and respect, and follow their heart. Absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. I cried, especially at the last paragraph.
Highly recommended!!
Highly recommended!!
November 5, 2022
Fun Read
A nice story surrounding sisters, war, relationship and family expectations.
It's full of emotional scenes and each sister finds their lives.
Very enjoyable and easy to read.
A nice story surrounding sisters, war, relationship and family expectations.
It's full of emotional scenes and each sister finds their lives.
Very enjoyable and easy to read.
April 23, 2025
Well my love affair with the Perez Sisters and Perez Family continues. But its been a long break, so its good to be getting back to Chanel Cleeton. This one however, I am just giving a three. What I loved most about it was the bond between the sisters.
Crazily enough, this is also a book for me that accomplishes a couple of personal challenge prompts. Spain is on the Mediterranean Coastline. Which for some reason matters. Its also a book that's been high on my TBR for far longer than I care to admit. I like it when I get to something thats been lying in wait for a while. And now I can move on to the Cuban Heiress, the last of the Perez Sisters.
Crazily enough, this is also a book for me that accomplishes a couple of personal challenge prompts. Spain is on the Mediterranean Coastline. Which for some reason matters. Its also a book that's been high on my TBR for far longer than I care to admit. I like it when I get to something thats been lying in wait for a while. And now I can move on to the Cuban Heiress, the last of the Perez Sisters.
May 19, 2022
This was my first time reading one of Chanel Cleeton's books and it did not disappoint. The book is a cross between women's fiction and historical fiction. The book takes place in 1964 after the Perez family has exiled to Florida from Cuba after Castro's revolution. The eldest daughter Isabel Perez decides to travel to Barcelona to save her sister Beatrice and while in Barcelona discovers a family secret. The book shifts back and forth between present and the past in 1936 Barcelona when Alicia Perez arrives in Barcelona with her daughter Isabel after her husband had an affair.
Overall this book did a great job of weaving together historical facts about Spain in the 1930s and 1960s, mother/daughter relationships, each Perez sisters personal story, and of course some romance. While this is my first book from Chanel Cleeton, it certainly won't be my last. I look forward reading from her backlist and getting to know more about the other Perez sisters when they each tell their own story.
A part of me kind of wishes I started reading the books in publication order so I got to know each sister from the beginning but the book is stand alone and not part of a series so you can read this without having read any of her other books like I did.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this advanced reader copy.
Overall this book did a great job of weaving together historical facts about Spain in the 1930s and 1960s, mother/daughter relationships, each Perez sisters personal story, and of course some romance. While this is my first book from Chanel Cleeton, it certainly won't be my last. I look forward reading from her backlist and getting to know more about the other Perez sisters when they each tell their own story.
A part of me kind of wishes I started reading the books in publication order so I got to know each sister from the beginning but the book is stand alone and not part of a series so you can read this without having read any of her other books like I did.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Berkeley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this advanced reader copy.
June 3, 2022
I really enjoyed reading/listening to another chapter in the life of the fabulous Perez sisters . . . Storytelling that absorbs, irresistible main characters, and, if you listen, perfect narrators for each voice. Great summer read!
June 6, 2022
Thank to the Publisher and Author for allowing me to right a review based on my own opinion
This is Chanel Cleeton’s fifth book on the Perez family. The books in the series cover off the Perez’s family’s experiences from living in Cuba while it was still a Colony of Spain to Cuba’s revolution and the family being forced to flee Cuba for safety. Each book can be read as a standalone or can be read together.
I have read all five books: When We Left Havana, Next Year in Havana, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Last Train to Key West and now Our Last Days in Barcelona. I expected at this point that there probably would not be much that could be written that would continue to capture my attention and time. However I was wrong, as with the other books she has written this one has captured me. I voraciously read this staying up late to get through this story that involved some of the characters from the previous books. These books are well written so it doesn't matter what order you read them in as they cover off the stories of different family members.
I highly recommend this book, it's a wonderful historical fiction where the reader learns some history surrounding the connections between the people of Cuba and Spain. From all her books I've learnt some really interesting information. I rate this book 9.5/10 and wait patiently to see what she writes next.
This is Chanel Cleeton’s fifth book on the Perez family. The books in the series cover off the Perez’s family’s experiences from living in Cuba while it was still a Colony of Spain to Cuba’s revolution and the family being forced to flee Cuba for safety. Each book can be read as a standalone or can be read together.
I have read all five books: When We Left Havana, Next Year in Havana, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, The Last Train to Key West and now Our Last Days in Barcelona. I expected at this point that there probably would not be much that could be written that would continue to capture my attention and time. However I was wrong, as with the other books she has written this one has captured me. I voraciously read this staying up late to get through this story that involved some of the characters from the previous books. These books are well written so it doesn't matter what order you read them in as they cover off the stories of different family members.
I highly recommend this book, it's a wonderful historical fiction where the reader learns some history surrounding the connections between the people of Cuba and Spain. From all her books I've learnt some really interesting information. I rate this book 9.5/10 and wait patiently to see what she writes next.
May 24, 2022
This story focuses on the eldest daughter, Isabel Perez. The family has been exiled from Cuba and, as the oldest daughter; she felt the pressure and need of her family as they try to carve out a home in South Florida. She was a dutiful daughter and did what was expected, including marrying an older gentleman she did not love.
When Beatriz is unreachable in Spain, it is Isabel who books a flight to Barcelona to search for her. This trip will forever change her.
I have loved everything Cleeton has published, but it is her historical fictions that truly shine. Her stories of Cuba and the Perez family are rich, detailed, captivating and perfectly paced. From the landscaping to the bond between the siblings, these are stories that feel rich and real.
I love fictional stories set during historical periods and Cleeton touches on a few in Our Last Days in Barcelona. Things are unsettled in Spain and the author shares the climate of two periods.
Barcelona, 1964 Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her and joins forces with Diego who is also looking for Beatriz. She is soon making discoveries about her own past as she traipses across Spain. Along the way Isabel will find her passion, herself and maybe the chance at real love.
Barcelona, 1936 A young Alicia Perez journey’s to Spain from Cuba with her young daughter Isabel in tow. The country is on the brink of Civil War. Young men are traveling to Spain to fight the cause and among them is Roe’s husband.
The two timelines weave back and forth, giving us several stories. Cleeton kept me engaged with each thread she wove. I loved trying to figure out how these Perez women would tackle each problem with dignity and courage. I loved how the author wove them together, giving Isabel strength.
This historical fiction has it all from family honor to matters of the heart. It’s all set against the backdrop of Spain, from the civil war to the horrors of Guernica.
I am hoping Cleeton delivers more historical fiction romance and while each of the following books will work as standalone; they are intertwined by the Perez siblings. When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba and Our Last Days in Barcelona. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
When Beatriz is unreachable in Spain, it is Isabel who books a flight to Barcelona to search for her. This trip will forever change her.
I have loved everything Cleeton has published, but it is her historical fictions that truly shine. Her stories of Cuba and the Perez family are rich, detailed, captivating and perfectly paced. From the landscaping to the bond between the siblings, these are stories that feel rich and real.
I love fictional stories set during historical periods and Cleeton touches on a few in Our Last Days in Barcelona. Things are unsettled in Spain and the author shares the climate of two periods.
Barcelona, 1964 Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her and joins forces with Diego who is also looking for Beatriz. She is soon making discoveries about her own past as she traipses across Spain. Along the way Isabel will find her passion, herself and maybe the chance at real love.
Barcelona, 1936 A young Alicia Perez journey’s to Spain from Cuba with her young daughter Isabel in tow. The country is on the brink of Civil War. Young men are traveling to Spain to fight the cause and among them is Roe’s husband.
The two timelines weave back and forth, giving us several stories. Cleeton kept me engaged with each thread she wove. I loved trying to figure out how these Perez women would tackle each problem with dignity and courage. I loved how the author wove them together, giving Isabel strength.
This historical fiction has it all from family honor to matters of the heart. It’s all set against the backdrop of Spain, from the civil war to the horrors of Guernica.
I am hoping Cleeton delivers more historical fiction romance and while each of the following books will work as standalone; they are intertwined by the Perez siblings. When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba and Our Last Days in Barcelona. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
April 27, 2023
Loved this - everything merged and worked so well together and it all slotted in with the other books in this series. Delightful historical fiction.
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