I love a good romance novel and in honor of Valentines Day I wanted to share one of my favorites. I enjoyed everything about this book: the history aspect, the love stories and the desire to know about your family’s past. Marisol Ferrera born and raised in Miami travels to Havana, Cuba to honor her deceased grandmothers wishes and spread her ashes in the country that she so loved. During her visit Marisol finds out many secrets about her grandmother which strengthens her understanding and love for her.

The novel jumps back and forth between 2017 and 1958. Marisol finds out that her grandmother fell in love with a revolutionary and had to flee the country with her family after the rebels overthrow President Batista. Cuba was in a state of unrest during the revolution which occurred from 1953 through 1958. Like Marisol’s grandmother many Cubans fled under the assumption that the new government would only be temporary and they would be able to return fairly quickly which was not the case. Marisol’s grandmother lived the rest of her life in the United States and never stepped foot on Cuban soil again.

While in Cuba Marisol meets the grandson of her grandmothers childhood friend and they fall in love. She also is able to track down the man her grandmother fell in love with before she left Cuba and learns that sometimes the people you love the most keep secrets from you in order to protect you. This book was a beautiful adventure about a woman trying to find out more about herself through the life of her grandmother. I would recommend this book if you love romance and history.

If you are interested in purchasing Next Year In Havana: