The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes (by Chanel Cleeton)
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by Chanel Cleeton. I thoroughly enjoyed Next Year in Havana a few years ago, but despite my best intentions, I still haven’t returned to the rest of the Perez Family series. So when her latest release, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, became available at my local library, I immediately placed a hold.
Cleeton weaves together the lives of three women across three timelines, all connected by a single rare book. In Boston in 1900, Cuban schoolteacher Eva Fuentes travels to Harvard as part of a real historical cultural exchange program between Cuba and the U.S.—where a moonlit encounter dramatically changes the course of her life and the secret book she’s writing. In Havana in 1966, librarian Pilar Castillo risks everything under Castro’s regime to protect that same book after her husband’s unjust imprisonment. And in London in 2024, American expat Margo Reynolds is hired to track down the century-old, sole surviving copy—only to discover she isn’t the only one willing to do anything to possess it.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. The story started slowly for me and dragged a bit in the early sections, but I was eventually drawn in by the characters. I was especially intrigued by Pilar and Eva, whose roles felt the most mysterious. Margo’s storyline, by contrast, unfolds more like a detective’s quest as she pieces together the book’s history. I appreciated the author’s heartfelt exploration of the power of books and how they can forge unexpected connections across time and place.
I listened to the audiobook, which was a treat with three excellent narrators—Jennifer Jill Araya, Frankie Corzo, and Kyla Garcia—each bringing their respective characters vividly to life.
While I didn’t love this one quite as much as I’d hoped, I still enjoyed the journey. It has inspired me to finally move the Perez Family series higher on my ever-growing TBR.
You’re welcome to read my earlier review of Next Year in Havana, linked below.
Thanks to my husband's hard work, we've had great success growing several varieties of poppies from seed. The Danish Flag is pictured with the book cover, and Pandora and Hungarian Blue are two other stunning varieties shown below.
Photo credit: lostthepath.com
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