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The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2025)A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.
London, 2024: When American expat Margo Reynolds is hired to source a book that’s more than one hundred and twenty years old, she thinks her greatest challenge is going to be that there’s only one copy in existence. However, it quickly becomes clear that her client isn’t the only person determined to procure the book at any cost. Thrust into a deadly quest, Margo teams up with an unlikely ally—the man she loved and lost—and is forced to confront the ghosts of her own past as the lingering feelings that simmer between them ignite.
Havana, 1966: Pilar Castillo’s days are spent working as a librarian in Havana, her nights spent hoping for her husband’s freedom after his unjust imprisonment. But Pilar has a secret that could jeopardize her life. She’s fighting Fidel’s regime in her own way, and when she comes into possession of a book that was published more than sixty years earlier, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to protect the literary works entrusted to her care.
Boston, 1900: For Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to participate in the largest cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States is not only a chance to represent her country at a critical time in its bid for independence, but also an opportunity to work on the book she’s writing. When a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger alters the course of Eva’s summer at Harvard, and as secrets, lies, and forbidden love rise to the surface, Eva’s life—and legacy—is irrevocably changed.
London, 2024: When American expat Margo Reynolds is hired to source a book that’s more than one hundred and twenty years old, she thinks her greatest challenge is going to be that there’s only one copy in existence. However, it quickly becomes clear that her client isn’t the only person determined to procure the book at any cost. Thrust into a deadly quest, Margo teams up with an unlikely ally—the man she loved and lost—and is forced to confront the ghosts of her own past as the lingering feelings that simmer between them ignite.
Havana, 1966: Pilar Castillo’s days are spent working as a librarian in Havana, her nights spent hoping for her husband’s freedom after his unjust imprisonment. But Pilar has a secret that could jeopardize her life. She’s fighting Fidel’s regime in her own way, and when she comes into possession of a book that was published more than sixty years earlier, she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to protect the literary works entrusted to her care.
Boston, 1900: For Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to participate in the largest cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States is not only a chance to represent her country at a critical time in its bid for independence, but also an opportunity to work on the book she’s writing. When a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger alters the course of Eva’s summer at Harvard, and as secrets, lies, and forbidden love rise to the surface, Eva’s life—and legacy—is irrevocably changed.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2025
684 people are currently reading
74165 people want to read
About the author
Chanel Cleeton
23 books7,256 followersChanel Cleeton is the Cuban-American New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many novels including Reese's Book Club pick Next Year in Havana. Originally from Florida, Chanel studied in London where she earned degrees in International Relations and Global Politics. In law school, Chanel discovered her passion writing novels and embarked on a new adventure following her lifelong love of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 540 reviews
September 27, 2025
Beautifully written, richly detailed, & steeped in history!
This was a fascinating story to sit with, and I found myself both learning and reflecting as I read. The idea of this novel is absolutely intriguing, with interconnected perspectives unfolding through history. Yet for some reason it just didn’t grab my attention the way I thought it would. It was a slow burn, and in all due respect to the author, I don’t usually do well with slower-moving stories that have little action. That’s just me and my current reading tastes.
The cover definitely enticed me to press the download button! One part of the novel that really struck me was how books were considered dangerous enough to be banned. I can hardly fathom the idea that stories and knowledge could be seen as something to fear. It really reminded me how powerful literature can be and how easily we can take the freedom to read for granted.
Key Thoughts
• 🌟 Slow-burning, atmospheric, and thoughtfully crafted
• 📚 Women’s voices interwoven across time
• 💭 Made me pause and reflect on how powerful stories can be
I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past, so I truly think this was more about my own reading mood than the book itself. My tastes and focus have been shifting lately, and I may not have been in the best headspace for this one.
Expected publication: September 30, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
This was a fascinating story to sit with, and I found myself both learning and reflecting as I read. The idea of this novel is absolutely intriguing, with interconnected perspectives unfolding through history. Yet for some reason it just didn’t grab my attention the way I thought it would. It was a slow burn, and in all due respect to the author, I don’t usually do well with slower-moving stories that have little action. That’s just me and my current reading tastes.
The cover definitely enticed me to press the download button! One part of the novel that really struck me was how books were considered dangerous enough to be banned. I can hardly fathom the idea that stories and knowledge could be seen as something to fear. It really reminded me how powerful literature can be and how easily we can take the freedom to read for granted.
Key Thoughts
• 🌟 Slow-burning, atmospheric, and thoughtfully crafted
• 📚 Women’s voices interwoven across time
• 💭 Made me pause and reflect on how powerful stories can be
I’ve enjoyed this author’s work in the past, so I truly think this was more about my own reading mood than the book itself. My tastes and focus have been shifting lately, and I may not have been in the best headspace for this one.
Expected publication: September 30, 2025
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
September 28, 2025
Mysterious, gripping, intriguing, and wonderfully written. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a book which tells the story of a mysterious book and its connection to three women in three timelines. Not only does this book take place in three timelines it also takes place in various locations.
The three women are Margo Reynolds(2024/London); Pilar Castillo(1966/Havana) and Eva Fuentes (1990/Havana and Harvard,United States). I enjoyed how the author wove the tale of how one woman's book became the source of mystery. But it is not just about the book. It's about the women, their experiences, their romances, their work, their challenges, and their lives during various time in history.
This was a wonderful work of historical fiction. I enjoyed how the author showcased the struggles and challenges each woman faced along with their courage, intellect and strength. This book had a little bit of everything all wrapped up behind a beautiful cover.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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 📖
The three women are Margo Reynolds(2024/London); Pilar Castillo(1966/Havana) and Eva Fuentes (1990/Havana and Harvard,United States). I enjoyed how the author wove the tale of how one woman's book became the source of mystery. But it is not just about the book. It's about the women, their experiences, their romances, their work, their challenges, and their lives during various time in history.
This was a wonderful work of historical fiction. I enjoyed how the author showcased the struggles and challenges each woman faced along with their courage, intellect and strength. This book had a little bit of everything all wrapped up behind a beautiful cover.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group 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 📖
February 15, 2025
Loved this story. This is a beautifully written heartfelt novel. It is written in three timelines.
1900 Cuba Eva is a teacher who is offered the opportunity to travel to Hartford University for the summer. It is part of a cultural exchange program. Eva has been trying to write a novel for years.
1966 Cuba Pilar is a librarian during the Castro era. Life is not safe there. Her husband is arrested and Pilar fears for her life. A neighbor fleeing Cuba gives her a book to return to its author.
2024. London Margo is hired to find a book written over 120 years ago, which is missing.
This is story is all about one book.
These three storylines are intriguing woven together. This is a book I could not put down. I learned so much about Cuba.
I have previously read some of this authors other books and have enjoyed them all.
Her writing is compelling. If you enjoy Historical Fiction you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.
1900 Cuba Eva is a teacher who is offered the opportunity to travel to Hartford University for the summer. It is part of a cultural exchange program. Eva has been trying to write a novel for years.
1966 Cuba Pilar is a librarian during the Castro era. Life is not safe there. Her husband is arrested and Pilar fears for her life. A neighbor fleeing Cuba gives her a book to return to its author.
2024. London Margo is hired to find a book written over 120 years ago, which is missing.
This is story is all about one book.
These three storylines are intriguing woven together. This is a book I could not put down. I learned so much about Cuba.
I have previously read some of this authors other books and have enjoyed them all.
Her writing is compelling. If you enjoy Historical Fiction you will enjoy this book.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.
February 23, 2025
As much as I wish for it to be otherwise, my reading life is off to a late start this year. I wasn’t able to read much in January or February due to some things I had to take care of in my personal life, so now, heading into March, I’m trying to play catch up with my TBR. Though I guess if I’m being honest, it’s not that I didn’t do any reading the past 2 months (because I’m always reading something), but rather I didn’t want to spend time writing about it. In any case, now that I have things a little bit more under control, I’m starting to slowly but surely clear out my ARC list.
It's actually a little bit ironic that the first ARC I’m starting with this year doesn’t publish until July, but that’s how things ended up turning out. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is Chanel Cleeton’s latest Cuban-themed historical fiction novel and it’s definitely a good one! I’ve read most (but not all) of Cleeton’s past novels and especially enjoyed her series about the Perez family, though her other novels (the ones not about the Perez family) have been a hit or miss for me overall. With this latest one, I’m guessing I enjoyed it so much because the storyline revolves around a lost book and its connection to three women from three different time periods.
In the present timeline (London in 2024), Margo Reynolds is hired to help her client find a rare book that was written 120 years ago, but there is a huge catch – only one copy of the book is currently in existence. Though Margo accepts the challenge, she quickly realizes that she may actually be in over her head as other parties interested in the book start to come out of the woodwork and her life is placed in danger. The timeline then moves to Havana in 1966, where librarian Pilar Castillo lives in grief and anger over the loss of her husband, who was arrested and imprisoned for going against Fidel Castro’s regime. Pilar comes into possession of the mysterious book when it is turned over to her for safekeeping by a neighbor and eventually becomes more than a source of comfort for her as she endures the difficulties of living under Castro’s repressive regime. Finally, the third timeline, in 1900, introduces us to the author of the book, Eva Fuentes, a Cuban teacher who is given the opportunity to travel to the United States as part of a summer cultural exchange program at Harvard University. During Eva’s stay there, she experiences both joy and heartbreak that not only end up altering the course of her life, but also provide the inspiration for her novel.
I have to admit that I was a bit dubious at first how the story would unfold given how far apart the three timelines were. It turns out I didn’t have to worry though, as Cleeton definitely knew what she was doing in making Eva’s book the central thread that connected the seemingly disparate timelines together, but in a way that was seamless and made sense for the story’s development. Given my affinity for historical fiction, no doubt that I enjoyed Eva’s and Pilar’s timelines more -- Margo’s timeline was well done overall, but since the three timelines alternated with each chapter, it did feel a little jarring to jump from an early 20th century historical setting to a modern day murder mystery setting in 2024. Things turned out fine in the end though.
As an avid reader and also a writer myself, I love learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of how a particular story came to be as well as the inspirations for certain characters and events, which is perhaps why Cleeton’s latest work resonated with me more than her previous novels did. Speaking of behind-the-scenes, Cleeton writes in her Author’s Note that The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a “love letter to the power of books and the impact they leave on our lives,” which is one of the main reasons why she had Eva’s fictional book be what links the three women in the three different timelines together. I couldn’t agree more! Cleeton fans will definitely want to pick this one up, but those who enjoy “books about books” will likely enjoy this one as well.
Received ARC from Berkley via Book Browse First Impressions program.
It's actually a little bit ironic that the first ARC I’m starting with this year doesn’t publish until July, but that’s how things ended up turning out. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is Chanel Cleeton’s latest Cuban-themed historical fiction novel and it’s definitely a good one! I’ve read most (but not all) of Cleeton’s past novels and especially enjoyed her series about the Perez family, though her other novels (the ones not about the Perez family) have been a hit or miss for me overall. With this latest one, I’m guessing I enjoyed it so much because the storyline revolves around a lost book and its connection to three women from three different time periods.
In the present timeline (London in 2024), Margo Reynolds is hired to help her client find a rare book that was written 120 years ago, but there is a huge catch – only one copy of the book is currently in existence. Though Margo accepts the challenge, she quickly realizes that she may actually be in over her head as other parties interested in the book start to come out of the woodwork and her life is placed in danger. The timeline then moves to Havana in 1966, where librarian Pilar Castillo lives in grief and anger over the loss of her husband, who was arrested and imprisoned for going against Fidel Castro’s regime. Pilar comes into possession of the mysterious book when it is turned over to her for safekeeping by a neighbor and eventually becomes more than a source of comfort for her as she endures the difficulties of living under Castro’s repressive regime. Finally, the third timeline, in 1900, introduces us to the author of the book, Eva Fuentes, a Cuban teacher who is given the opportunity to travel to the United States as part of a summer cultural exchange program at Harvard University. During Eva’s stay there, she experiences both joy and heartbreak that not only end up altering the course of her life, but also provide the inspiration for her novel.
I have to admit that I was a bit dubious at first how the story would unfold given how far apart the three timelines were. It turns out I didn’t have to worry though, as Cleeton definitely knew what she was doing in making Eva’s book the central thread that connected the seemingly disparate timelines together, but in a way that was seamless and made sense for the story’s development. Given my affinity for historical fiction, no doubt that I enjoyed Eva’s and Pilar’s timelines more -- Margo’s timeline was well done overall, but since the three timelines alternated with each chapter, it did feel a little jarring to jump from an early 20th century historical setting to a modern day murder mystery setting in 2024. Things turned out fine in the end though.
As an avid reader and also a writer myself, I love learning about the behind-the-scenes aspects of how a particular story came to be as well as the inspirations for certain characters and events, which is perhaps why Cleeton’s latest work resonated with me more than her previous novels did. Speaking of behind-the-scenes, Cleeton writes in her Author’s Note that The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a “love letter to the power of books and the impact they leave on our lives,” which is one of the main reasons why she had Eva’s fictional book be what links the three women in the three different timelines together. I couldn’t agree more! Cleeton fans will definitely want to pick this one up, but those who enjoy “books about books” will likely enjoy this one as well.
Received ARC from Berkley via Book Browse First Impressions program.
December 13, 2025
**Many thanks to Berkley and Chanel Cleeton for an ARC of this book provided via NetGalley!**
"Books have that strangest quality, that being of the frailest and tenderest matter, they outlast brass, iron, and marble." - William Drummond
Three women...three stories...and a book they'd do ANYTHING to protect...
In 2024, our present day timeline, Margot Reynolds has been given the arduous task of procuring a very special book, and one that is more than a CENTURY old. Not only is it the ONLY copy of the book and therefore an EXCEPTIONALLY rare tome, but this book might be worth killing - or dying - for...at least, to her competition, anyway. She learns that her client is not the only one willing to take this sort of life-altering risk...but does she have the resources, the fortitude, and the spirit to outmaneuver her new foe? When she is forced to work alongside a former flame in order to have a chance of success, can she keep her feelings and her fear in check long enough to complete her objective?
Back in 1966 Havana, Pilar the librarian is struggling to keep everything together in her own right. Amidst Castro's regime, nobody - and nothing they own - is safe. Pilar is praying for the release of her husband, who has been wrongfully imprisoned, and each day feels like a year without him by her side. But as they often do, books have provided her solace and given her purpose - and when a certain SPECIAL (and invaluable) book crosses her path, she has an even bigger decision to make...one that could mean life or death by Castro and his army's hands. But just HOW MUCH is she willing to sacrifice to get a chance of reconciliation with her love?
And in 1900, aspiring author Eva Fuentes jumps at the chance to visit the United States and leave her native Cuba as part of a cultural exchange program. What she doesn't expect when arriving at Harvard to teach is to meet a man that will change her perspectives - and possibly her work in progress - forever. But what will come of their lives, her love, and most importantly...will she reveal one of her BIGGEST secrets on the page...and present it as fiction?
A multi-timeline historical fiction story is always a bit of a gamble...and in my experience, it tends to be a miss more often than a hit. Not only does the reader need to keep a firm sense of what's happening when, but in historical fiction there's an added layer of the complexities of place and time, the possibility of discussing war or political unrest, religious persecution, or a plethora of OTHER complications that can take even a simple story and make it a bit of a headache to follow from beginning to end. Throw in the need to keep a bunch of CHARACTERS straight, and a through line becomes even more vital in making the whole enchilada not only palatable, but tasty.
Well...I'm happy to say that Chanel Cleeton should probably consider hitting the tables in Vegas...because THIS gamble paid off! 🎰🎲
Linking the story of Eva Fuentes' book throughout over one HUNDRED YEARS sounds like it would be disastrous and arduous, but Cleeton made a lot of very smart decisions on the way she set up this one from the jump. We begin in the present day with a set-up akin to many mystery/thrillers I read...and this was a brilliant way to 'hook' the reader from the beginning. From here, we slowly become familiar with the iterations of the past, including the historical fiction aspects of the book that were slightly heavier. But here again I'm happy to say - they were only SLIGHTLY heavier. This book does not get bogged down by the sort of wordy exposition that makes me WISH I was reading a very dull History textbook. Instead, Cleeton hits enough of the high points and relies on the connections between her characters to hook you - and this tried and true formula absolutely WORKS!
The only solid downside I could point to when it came to this read was the introduction of certain love story elements later in the book that slowed down the pace quite a bit. To be honest, this was in stark contrast to the murder mystery elements that lead off the book, and it left me feeling a bit disoriented and got me far less interested in solving the mystery, to an extent. These slower moments DID subside in the third act, though, and the conclusion of the mystery plot did feel like a satisfying and 'earned' ending. It's clear that Cleeton plotted and planned this one very carefully, and although I think there were certainly segments that could have been eliminated, short chapters helped to keep the pacing on track even when it 'lost the plot' for a bit (so to speak!) 😉
If you love books about books, this is also the book for you - Cleeton's author's note details some of her inspiration for this story, and let's face it, when one of your main characters is a librarian and another one of them is an author? It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the text is going to read like a love letter to all things literary...and this bibliophile EAGERLY gobbled it up! (I mean, it is the holiday season after all! 🍴😋)
And above all, it's a gentle reminder to all of us who love the written word that as long as we keep telling and sharing our stories, no matter how others may try to stifle our voices, burn our books, or force us to rely on artificial intelligence rather than the power of our own thoughts, our stories can never TRULY be lost.
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
"Books have that strangest quality, that being of the frailest and tenderest matter, they outlast brass, iron, and marble." - William Drummond
Three women...three stories...and a book they'd do ANYTHING to protect...
In 2024, our present day timeline, Margot Reynolds has been given the arduous task of procuring a very special book, and one that is more than a CENTURY old. Not only is it the ONLY copy of the book and therefore an EXCEPTIONALLY rare tome, but this book might be worth killing - or dying - for...at least, to her competition, anyway. She learns that her client is not the only one willing to take this sort of life-altering risk...but does she have the resources, the fortitude, and the spirit to outmaneuver her new foe? When she is forced to work alongside a former flame in order to have a chance of success, can she keep her feelings and her fear in check long enough to complete her objective?
Back in 1966 Havana, Pilar the librarian is struggling to keep everything together in her own right. Amidst Castro's regime, nobody - and nothing they own - is safe. Pilar is praying for the release of her husband, who has been wrongfully imprisoned, and each day feels like a year without him by her side. But as they often do, books have provided her solace and given her purpose - and when a certain SPECIAL (and invaluable) book crosses her path, she has an even bigger decision to make...one that could mean life or death by Castro and his army's hands. But just HOW MUCH is she willing to sacrifice to get a chance of reconciliation with her love?
And in 1900, aspiring author Eva Fuentes jumps at the chance to visit the United States and leave her native Cuba as part of a cultural exchange program. What she doesn't expect when arriving at Harvard to teach is to meet a man that will change her perspectives - and possibly her work in progress - forever. But what will come of their lives, her love, and most importantly...will she reveal one of her BIGGEST secrets on the page...and present it as fiction?
A multi-timeline historical fiction story is always a bit of a gamble...and in my experience, it tends to be a miss more often than a hit. Not only does the reader need to keep a firm sense of what's happening when, but in historical fiction there's an added layer of the complexities of place and time, the possibility of discussing war or political unrest, religious persecution, or a plethora of OTHER complications that can take even a simple story and make it a bit of a headache to follow from beginning to end. Throw in the need to keep a bunch of CHARACTERS straight, and a through line becomes even more vital in making the whole enchilada not only palatable, but tasty.
Well...I'm happy to say that Chanel Cleeton should probably consider hitting the tables in Vegas...because THIS gamble paid off! 🎰🎲
Linking the story of Eva Fuentes' book throughout over one HUNDRED YEARS sounds like it would be disastrous and arduous, but Cleeton made a lot of very smart decisions on the way she set up this one from the jump. We begin in the present day with a set-up akin to many mystery/thrillers I read...and this was a brilliant way to 'hook' the reader from the beginning. From here, we slowly become familiar with the iterations of the past, including the historical fiction aspects of the book that were slightly heavier. But here again I'm happy to say - they were only SLIGHTLY heavier. This book does not get bogged down by the sort of wordy exposition that makes me WISH I was reading a very dull History textbook. Instead, Cleeton hits enough of the high points and relies on the connections between her characters to hook you - and this tried and true formula absolutely WORKS!
The only solid downside I could point to when it came to this read was the introduction of certain love story elements later in the book that slowed down the pace quite a bit. To be honest, this was in stark contrast to the murder mystery elements that lead off the book, and it left me feeling a bit disoriented and got me far less interested in solving the mystery, to an extent. These slower moments DID subside in the third act, though, and the conclusion of the mystery plot did feel like a satisfying and 'earned' ending. It's clear that Cleeton plotted and planned this one very carefully, and although I think there were certainly segments that could have been eliminated, short chapters helped to keep the pacing on track even when it 'lost the plot' for a bit (so to speak!) 😉
If you love books about books, this is also the book for you - Cleeton's author's note details some of her inspiration for this story, and let's face it, when one of your main characters is a librarian and another one of them is an author? It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the text is going to read like a love letter to all things literary...and this bibliophile EAGERLY gobbled it up! (I mean, it is the holiday season after all! 🍴😋)
And above all, it's a gentle reminder to all of us who love the written word that as long as we keep telling and sharing our stories, no matter how others may try to stifle our voices, burn our books, or force us to rely on artificial intelligence rather than the power of our own thoughts, our stories can never TRULY be lost.
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
November 2, 2025
4.25 stars I loved the latest book from Chanel Cleeton. This story is told in three timelines and I loved each of their stories and the connection they shared. This is a historical mystery with a romance woven into it and I loved it. It pulls you in from the first page and doesn't let go. Highly recommend.
August 18, 2025
“There is something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding. After all, books spoke to the deepest parts of the soul and so they linked readers in unforgettable ways. Sharing a favorite book was like creating a shared history between people who had navigated the life and world that existed within the novel’s pages.”
Don't miss this book when it comes out in September. There is something about historical fiction books that combine different timelines that all connect in the end like a perfect jigsaw puzzle that I just love. This story is about three women in varying timelines; Margo in 2024, Pilar in 1966 and Eva in 1900. All three timelines center around one book "A Time for Forgetting" and the struggles each woman faced in their lives.
“Your losses stay with you; your pain becomes part of the fabric of who you are. Some days they’re as fresh as the day they happened; other time they’re a dull ache inside you.”
Historical novels always teach you something, and you walk away feeling a little bit smarter. You will enjoy all three of these storylines and women - Pilar has the edge for my favorite.
Don't miss this book when it comes out in September. There is something about historical fiction books that combine different timelines that all connect in the end like a perfect jigsaw puzzle that I just love. This story is about three women in varying timelines; Margo in 2024, Pilar in 1966 and Eva in 1900. All three timelines center around one book "A Time for Forgetting" and the struggles each woman faced in their lives.
“Your losses stay with you; your pain becomes part of the fabric of who you are. Some days they’re as fresh as the day they happened; other time they’re a dull ache inside you.”
Historical novels always teach you something, and you walk away feeling a little bit smarter. You will enjoy all three of these storylines and women - Pilar has the edge for my favorite.
October 1, 2025
(4.25 stars)
One of the things I love about historical fiction is being able to learn something new while being absorbed by an excellent story. Chanel Cleeton‘s newest book, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, does this beautifully.
There are three interrelated timelines in this book. In 2024 London, Margo is hired to find a book written by Eva Fuentes, a book that no one has ever heard of. The person hiring her wants to remain anonymous and so she has been contacted only by a representative. In 1966 Havana, Pilar is a librarian, whose husband has been jailed by Fidel Castro’s regime. And in 1900, Eva Fuentes is a teacher and aspiring novelist in Havana. She is chosen to spend the summer at Harvard University as part of a large delegation of Cuban teachers. This delegation of Cuban teachers to the US is something that really did happen and I for one, certainly knew nothing about it.
The search for items taken/stolen by the Castro regime reminded me a lot of the ongoing search for items stolen by the N*zis.
I won’t spoil the story for you by telling you how these three timelines come together, but I can’t say that the story kept me riveted. Cleeton has written
In the Author’s Note, Cleeton writes, “The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is at its core, my love letter to the power of books and the impact they leave on our lives.”
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
One of the things I love about historical fiction is being able to learn something new while being absorbed by an excellent story. Chanel Cleeton‘s newest book, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes, does this beautifully.
There are three interrelated timelines in this book. In 2024 London, Margo is hired to find a book written by Eva Fuentes, a book that no one has ever heard of. The person hiring her wants to remain anonymous and so she has been contacted only by a representative. In 1966 Havana, Pilar is a librarian, whose husband has been jailed by Fidel Castro’s regime. And in 1900, Eva Fuentes is a teacher and aspiring novelist in Havana. She is chosen to spend the summer at Harvard University as part of a large delegation of Cuban teachers. This delegation of Cuban teachers to the US is something that really did happen and I for one, certainly knew nothing about it.
The search for items taken/stolen by the Castro regime reminded me a lot of the ongoing search for items stolen by the N*zis.
I won’t spoil the story for you by telling you how these three timelines come together, but I can’t say that the story kept me riveted. Cleeton has written
In the Author’s Note, Cleeton writes, “The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is at its core, my love letter to the power of books and the impact they leave on our lives.”
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
5 stars. In celebration of HISPANIC & LATINO HERITAGE MONTH, this entertaining little gem is a must add to that list! Chanel Cleeton’s latest novel is quite the page-turner about a mysterious book that brings together three exceptional women; -Eva Fuentes, Pilar Castillo + Margo Reynolds.
Their life stories span from 1900 Boston (Eva, writer of the book that affects everyone who reads it), to Havana 1966 (Pilar, who risks everything to protect it), and then to London 2024 (with Margo in search of it). The storyline also takes place in other parts of the world.
I really loved what felt like a game of hide and seek surrounding the books mystery. It kept me reading to find out what made it so rare and unique, along with the interesting stories behind these young women’s lives. Written with so much historical goodness inside its pages, this intriguing tale features interesting tidbits of little-known history, family secrets, mystery, danger and espionage, including a sweeping story of second-chance love. An all-around excellent story. ❥ Do recommend. Pub. 9/30/25
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy! All opinions are my own.
Their life stories span from 1900 Boston (Eva, writer of the book that affects everyone who reads it), to Havana 1966 (Pilar, who risks everything to protect it), and then to London 2024 (with Margo in search of it). The storyline also takes place in other parts of the world.
I really loved what felt like a game of hide and seek surrounding the books mystery. It kept me reading to find out what made it so rare and unique, along with the interesting stories behind these young women’s lives. Written with so much historical goodness inside its pages, this intriguing tale features interesting tidbits of little-known history, family secrets, mystery, danger and espionage, including a sweeping story of second-chance love. An all-around excellent story. ❥ Do recommend. Pub. 9/30/25
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy! All opinions are my own.
March 22, 2025
3.75 stars Thank you to Berkley and BookBrowse for giving me a copy for a unbiased review. Expected publication September 30, 2025.
Life in post revolutionary Cuba, with all the challenges that so many faced, was the basis for this story. It stung together the thread connecting three timelines in this book. A fictional book drove all three timelines. There was Eva in 1900 - who wrote the book. Then Pilar in 1966 who saved the book. And Margo in 2024 who tracked down the book.
This novel was well put together. A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder and all was wrapped up expertly.
Life in post revolutionary Cuba, with all the challenges that so many faced, was the basis for this story. It stung together the thread connecting three timelines in this book. A fictional book drove all three timelines. There was Eva in 1900 - who wrote the book. Then Pilar in 1966 who saved the book. And Margo in 2024 who tracked down the book.
This novel was well put together. A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder and all was wrapped up expertly.
October 22, 2025
4.5 stars. I absolutely love this author and all the books I’ve read by her. This one is no different. Three women’s stories are told in differing chapters at different decades but they share a common thread: a book. One who wrote it, one who hid it from Fidel Castro’s oppression and one who is seeking it for a client. Loved this book
July 2, 2025
Set in London, Boston, and Cuba, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is engaging, page-turning, and well-written historical fiction.
One book connects three women. Living in London, Margo is hired to find a book that is more than one hundred twenty years old, and there’s only one copy in existence. In 1966, Pilar is working as a librarian in Havana when she is given a book written sixty years earlier. She must protect this book and others from Castro’s regime. The book that Margo is trying to find and Pilar is trying to protect was written in 1900 by Eva Fuentes, a cultural exchange student who traveled from Havana to Harvard.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is told in three timelines from three points of view and features three locations. The book connects them all. Often, readers will prefer one timeline over the others. In this case, I think you will find something to love in all three. I will admit that I was most engaged with Pilar’s story (1966) and the historical details of the resistance movement in Cuba. The 1900s timeline and Eva’s desire to write her story is also interesting and compelling. In the present day, we are treated to a side of second-chance romance along with a solid dose of mystery and intrigue.
You can trust Cleeton for clear transitions between timelines and points of view. The time and place of each timeline provide for an atmospheric read. The characters and plots of each timeline were fully developed, and they were connected at the story’s end in a satisfying conclusion.
I found The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes compelling and page-turning. From Eva’s writing of her story, to protecting the story from Castro, to the harrowing search for the story, I was invested and intrigued.
Content Consideration: war, resistance, toxic relationship
Fans of Chanel Cleeton will want The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes on their TBRs. (pub date: 9/30/25). Readers who are interested in well-written histfic and in Cuba’s history will find a great deal to appreciate.
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub for a complimentary eARC of #TheLostStoryOfEvaFuentes upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
One book connects three women. Living in London, Margo is hired to find a book that is more than one hundred twenty years old, and there’s only one copy in existence. In 1966, Pilar is working as a librarian in Havana when she is given a book written sixty years earlier. She must protect this book and others from Castro’s regime. The book that Margo is trying to find and Pilar is trying to protect was written in 1900 by Eva Fuentes, a cultural exchange student who traveled from Havana to Harvard.
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is told in three timelines from three points of view and features three locations. The book connects them all. Often, readers will prefer one timeline over the others. In this case, I think you will find something to love in all three. I will admit that I was most engaged with Pilar’s story (1966) and the historical details of the resistance movement in Cuba. The 1900s timeline and Eva’s desire to write her story is also interesting and compelling. In the present day, we are treated to a side of second-chance romance along with a solid dose of mystery and intrigue.
You can trust Cleeton for clear transitions between timelines and points of view. The time and place of each timeline provide for an atmospheric read. The characters and plots of each timeline were fully developed, and they were connected at the story’s end in a satisfying conclusion.
I found The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes compelling and page-turning. From Eva’s writing of her story, to protecting the story from Castro, to the harrowing search for the story, I was invested and intrigued.
Content Consideration: war, resistance, toxic relationship
Fans of Chanel Cleeton will want The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes on their TBRs. (pub date: 9/30/25). Readers who are interested in well-written histfic and in Cuba’s history will find a great deal to appreciate.
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub for a complimentary eARC of #TheLostStoryOfEvaFuentes upon my request. All opinions are my own.
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
March 1, 2025
Three women - three different time periods.
1900 - Eva Fuentes - is asked to go to Harvard in the summer. It is an invitation to immerse herself in American culture. She is from Havana and attempting to write a novel.
1966 - Pilar Castillo, a librarian in Havana, is given that book for safekeeping as its owner flees Havana. Please return it to Eva Fuentes says Zenaida, her neighbor, as she prepares to leave.
2024 - Margo Reynolds is tasked with finding the book, A Time for Forgetting. Danger lurks around every corner. Someone is willing to kill for this book.
I LOVE books about books and Cleeton has outdone herself on this one.
To be published July 1, 2025.
5 stars
1900 - Eva Fuentes - is asked to go to Harvard in the summer. It is an invitation to immerse herself in American culture. She is from Havana and attempting to write a novel.
1966 - Pilar Castillo, a librarian in Havana, is given that book for safekeeping as its owner flees Havana. Please return it to Eva Fuentes says Zenaida, her neighbor, as she prepares to leave.
2024 - Margo Reynolds is tasked with finding the book, A Time for Forgetting. Danger lurks around every corner. Someone is willing to kill for this book.
I LOVE books about books and Cleeton has outdone herself on this one.
To be published July 1, 2025.
5 stars
August 9, 2025
Loved!!!!!!!!!! My girl Chanel Cleeton never misses and this one had me on the edge of my seat. A story of one woman and a lost book over three perspectives and three timelines. Full review to come it’s out 9/30
December 27, 2025
Audiobook narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, Frankie Corzo and Kyla Garcia 10hrs 28 minutes
October 15, 2025
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a novel told through the points of view of three different women who are connected by a rare book written at the turn of the twentieth century.
In 2024, London rare objects dealer Margo is asked to find a book written by a Cuban woman in 1901 for a mysterious client. She soon finds herself wrapped up in a mystery that becomes increasingly dangerous. Her client isn’t the only one who wants the book, and there are people willing to kill to get it.
In 1966, Pilar, a Cuban librarian, is entrusted with caring for the same book when its owner flees Castro’s rule for Spain. Pilar immediately falls in love with the beautiful story about a Cuban teacher who attends a summer program at Harvard in 1900 and finds both adventure and romance.
In 1900, Cuban teacher Eva is invited to join a delegation of local educators for a summer at Harvard. It’s a thrilling opportunity far from Cuba, which is still recovering from its war for independence with Spain. There, she quickly falls for a local writer and begins writing a book about her experiences—a book that will become the center of a mystery more than a century later.
Although I enjoyed learning about life in Cuba and its history, there were some things missing for me. The characters felt a little flat and muted. I also didn’t think the mystery of who wanted the book, or why they were willing to go to such lengths, was that great of a reveal. I was a little let down by the ending and mostly just glad to see it all wrapped up.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An advanced copy of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes was provided by Berkley for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In 2024, London rare objects dealer Margo is asked to find a book written by a Cuban woman in 1901 for a mysterious client. She soon finds herself wrapped up in a mystery that becomes increasingly dangerous. Her client isn’t the only one who wants the book, and there are people willing to kill to get it.
In 1966, Pilar, a Cuban librarian, is entrusted with caring for the same book when its owner flees Castro’s rule for Spain. Pilar immediately falls in love with the beautiful story about a Cuban teacher who attends a summer program at Harvard in 1900 and finds both adventure and romance.
In 1900, Cuban teacher Eva is invited to join a delegation of local educators for a summer at Harvard. It’s a thrilling opportunity far from Cuba, which is still recovering from its war for independence with Spain. There, she quickly falls for a local writer and begins writing a book about her experiences—a book that will become the center of a mystery more than a century later.
Although I enjoyed learning about life in Cuba and its history, there were some things missing for me. The characters felt a little flat and muted. I also didn’t think the mystery of who wanted the book, or why they were willing to go to such lengths, was that great of a reveal. I was a little let down by the ending and mostly just glad to see it all wrapped up.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer: An advanced copy of The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes was provided by Berkley for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 16, 2025
4 stars for the mystery portion.
3 stars for the romance. I did not care at all about Margo’s undying love for her ex husband. 🙄
3 stars for the romance. I did not care at all about Margo’s undying love for her ex husband. 🙄
June 20, 2025
Ugh, this is exactly why I shouldn’t be an ARC reader—because now I need the physical copy! Chanel Cleeton’s writing is just so beautiful. The timelines were woven together so well, and some lines genuinely live in my head rent-free. Emotional, powerful, and totally unforgettable.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my digital ARC for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my digital ARC for an honest review.
October 28, 2025
Thank you PRH Audio for the free audiobook.
Audio was a great way to go for this story because I loved hearing all the words pronounced correctly. The narrator was very easy to listen to and captured the various characters well.
This book felt like a love letter to bookish people! It was full of bookish appreciation in various forms and is the kind of story that makes you just want to hug your favorite books. It was also a really beautiful exploration of Cuban history and its complexity.
The story is told through the POVs of three different women living at different times that are all connected through a rare book with a mysterious background. I loved hearing all of these women’s stories and feeling all their emotions, getting drawn in by the intrigue from the mystery aspect, and was invested in seeing how it would all come together.
This author has been on my TBR forever so it looks like I need to go explore her backlist now!
Trigger/content notes: tragedies related to Castro’s regime. Spice level is closed door.
Audio was a great way to go for this story because I loved hearing all the words pronounced correctly. The narrator was very easy to listen to and captured the various characters well.
This book felt like a love letter to bookish people! It was full of bookish appreciation in various forms and is the kind of story that makes you just want to hug your favorite books. It was also a really beautiful exploration of Cuban history and its complexity.
The story is told through the POVs of three different women living at different times that are all connected through a rare book with a mysterious background. I loved hearing all of these women’s stories and feeling all their emotions, getting drawn in by the intrigue from the mystery aspect, and was invested in seeing how it would all come together.
This author has been on my TBR forever so it looks like I need to go explore her backlist now!
Trigger/content notes: tragedies related to Castro’s regime. Spice level is closed door.
October 15, 2025
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is the newest historical fiction release from Chanel Cleeton, an auto read author for me and no surprise this book was amazing!
We get multiple POVs and characters to follow and I was so invested in all of their chapters. We follow Margo in London in 2024, she’s an American living and working in London who is hired to source a 120-year old book written by Eva where only 1 copy exists and a bookseller ends up dead after the search for the book takes off. In 1966 we follow Pilar in Havana, she is working as a librarian while her husband is unjustly imprisoned and she’s given a book written by Eva to safeguard. In 1900 we start off in Havana with Eva, a schoolteacher who travels to Harvard to participate in a cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States and starts to write a book. The story goes from there with each three women’s stories and I was so intrigued by the whole read.
Chanel always writes such strong women and I love jumping in, reading, and learning from her books. Fantastic, easy to read and you’ll just get immediately pulled in.
We get multiple POVs and characters to follow and I was so invested in all of their chapters. We follow Margo in London in 2024, she’s an American living and working in London who is hired to source a 120-year old book written by Eva where only 1 copy exists and a bookseller ends up dead after the search for the book takes off. In 1966 we follow Pilar in Havana, she is working as a librarian while her husband is unjustly imprisoned and she’s given a book written by Eva to safeguard. In 1900 we start off in Havana with Eva, a schoolteacher who travels to Harvard to participate in a cultural exchange between Cuba and the United States and starts to write a book. The story goes from there with each three women’s stories and I was so intrigued by the whole read.
Chanel always writes such strong women and I love jumping in, reading, and learning from her books. Fantastic, easy to read and you’ll just get immediately pulled in.
October 3, 2025
The Lost Story Of Eva Fuentes proves why I've been a Chanel Cleeton fan for awhile now!
Three different perspectives join together to make one beautiful story!
Margo - London, 2024
Pilar - Havana, 1966
Eva - Boston, 1900
I can't get over just how vulnerable, yet strong each of these three women were! Their stories were somber, with moments of grief, and unease, while still maintaining a thread of optimism for each interconnected story-line!
Cleeton once again created a story filled with history and passion for a country she loves, and she continues to do it so well!
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley for the complimentary copy to read and review.
Three different perspectives join together to make one beautiful story!
Margo - London, 2024
Pilar - Havana, 1966
Eva - Boston, 1900
I can't get over just how vulnerable, yet strong each of these three women were! Their stories were somber, with moments of grief, and unease, while still maintaining a thread of optimism for each interconnected story-line!
Cleeton once again created a story filled with history and passion for a country she loves, and she continues to do it so well!
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and Berkley for the complimentary copy to read and review.
October 29, 2025
The real life history, like Cuban Summer School, grounded this story but it lacked Cleeton's usual sparkle. There are three timelines oriented around a rare novel. I was most interested in what happened to Margo and wonder whether this would have worked better as solely through her eyes, instead of also getting Pilar and Eva's POVs. Cleeton's novels usually work well for me but I found this to be predictable and the dialogue often came across as clunky. I appreciate that she wanted to write a love letter to books and wish it had worked better for me.
Characters: Margo is a divorced white American expat and antique acquisitioner living in 2024 London. Pilar is a married Cuban librarian in 1966 Havana, Cuba. Eva is a Cuban teacher and aspiring author in 1900 Havana, Cuba and Boston, MA.
Content notes: MC's husband is incarcerated (political prisoner) and , infidelity (MC didn't know boyfriend is married), murder, attempted murder, physical assault, soldier violence, head injury, vomit, fascism, military occupation, past war, past mugging, past divorce, past parental divorce, past death of family members, DNA testing/ancestry, student loan debt, unplanned pregnancy, adoption, family planning discussion (decide not to have children), off page sex, alcohol, cigarettes, ableist language
Characters: Margo is a divorced white American expat and antique acquisitioner living in 2024 London. Pilar is a married Cuban librarian in 1966 Havana, Cuba. Eva is a Cuban teacher and aspiring author in 1900 Havana, Cuba and Boston, MA.
Content notes: MC's husband is incarcerated (political prisoner) and , infidelity (MC didn't know boyfriend is married), murder, attempted murder, physical assault, soldier violence, head injury, vomit, fascism, military occupation, past war, past mugging, past divorce, past parental divorce, past death of family members, DNA testing/ancestry, student loan debt, unplanned pregnancy, adoption, family planning discussion (decide not to have children), off page sex, alcohol, cigarettes, ableist language
October 1, 2025
Nobody does historical fiction like Chanel Cleeton. I love her perpetual nod to her Cuban heritage, I've learned so much from her.
The Lost Book of Eva Fuentes is next level, even for her. Three seemingly disparate stories in 3 time periods spanning 125 years captured my attention and never let go. I absolutely loved all 3 MCs, they were so very well developed, which is truly impressive. Thus book perfectly blends mystery, historical fiction and a bonus splash of romance. A trifecta!
Chanel Cleeton can do no wrong in my book, her novels will always top my must read list.
The Lost Book of Eva Fuentes is next level, even for her. Three seemingly disparate stories in 3 time periods spanning 125 years captured my attention and never let go. I absolutely loved all 3 MCs, they were so very well developed, which is truly impressive. Thus book perfectly blends mystery, historical fiction and a bonus splash of romance. A trifecta!
Chanel Cleeton can do no wrong in my book, her novels will always top my must read list.
December 14, 2025
Beautiful storytelling. I loved the experience of reading for entertainment. The book is so well written I was easily able to discern who was speaking, there are three points of view. While I'm not a fan of this writing style, I can confidently state Cleeton seamlessly made them work. I loved the storylines and right before my eyes, they were woven together magnificently. My favorite books are those that dont have me nervousing over a potential bad ending. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes did not. I was at 93% dabbing my eyes and not wanting the story to end before I realized there would be a last page, soon.
I look forward to exploring other works by Cleeton.
Goodreads Giveaway Kindle Win September 2025.
I am grateful for the booktube #BackToKindle readathon.
I look forward to exploring other works by Cleeton.
Goodreads Giveaway Kindle Win September 2025.
I am grateful for the booktube #BackToKindle readathon.
December 22, 2025
I am a fan of Cleeton's historical fiction of Cuba. This included a storyline on the importance of books, and followed the history of one book through three generations.
4.5 rounded up for an enjoyable, easy historical fiction.
4.5 rounded up for an enjoyable, easy historical fiction.
October 2, 2025
Chanel Cleeton's The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes arrives not merely as historical fiction but as a meditation on literature's enduring power to connect souls across chasms of time, geography, and circumstance. Spanning from 1900 to 2024, this multi-timeline narrative weaves together three women whose lives intersect through a single, elusive book—a novel that becomes both treasure and testament to survival.
When a Book Becomes More Than Words on a Page
At the heart of Cleeton's intricate narrative lies A Time for Forgetting, a fictional novel penned by Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes following her transformative summer at Harvard's Cuban Summer School in 1900. This book-within-a-book device proves far more substantial than mere plot mechanism; it becomes a character unto itself, carrying the weight of secrets, heartbreak, and the complicated truths we bury in the stories we tell ourselves.
The Lost Story of Eva opens in contemporary London with Margo Reynolds, an antiquities specialist whose carefully ordered professional life shatters when she's hired to locate a rare book with only one surviving copy. What begins as a straightforward acquisition quickly escalates into something far more dangerous, particularly when the bookseller assisting her investigation turns up murdered. Cleeton demonstrates remarkable skill in transforming what could have been a straightforward treasure hunt into a meditation on provenance—not just of objects, but of lives and legacies. Margo's journey forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about who owns history, and whether the past ever truly releases its grip on the present.
The 1966 Havana timeline introduces Pilar Castillo, perhaps the novel's most emotionally resonant character. A librarian navigating the treacherous landscape of Castro's Cuba, Pilar embodies quiet resistance in an era demanding absolute conformity. Fresh from the devastating loss of her husband to the regime's brutal prison system, Pilar discovers A Time for Forgetting through a desperate neighbor. Cleeton's portrayal of grief rings authentic and raw; Pilar doesn't simply mourn—she disintegrates and reconstructs herself through the act of reading. The author captures something profound here: how literature can serve as both mirror and lifeline when reality becomes unbearable.
Eva's 1900 storyline transports readers to a pivotal moment in Cuban-American relations, when sixty Cuban teachers traveled to Harvard for an unprecedented cultural exchange. Here, Cleeton excels in depicting the tension between personal ambition and societal constraints faced by an educated woman at the turn of the century. Eva's struggle to complete her novel while navigating an unexpected romance provides the foundation for all that follows, though the romantic elements occasionally feel constrained by the weight of foreshadowing.
The Architecture of Secrets
Cleeton constructs her narrative in The Lost Story of Eva like a Russian nesting doll, each layer revealing another, more intimate truth. The central mystery—why this particular book warrants murder, theft, and decades-spanning obsession—propels the plot forward with genuine tension. However, the revelation, when it arrives, may leave some readers feeling the journey exceeded the destination. The explanation for the book's significance, while emotionally resonant, doesn't quite justify the level of violence and intrigue surrounding it.
The author's handling of multiple timelines demonstrates considerable technical prowess. Each era maintains its distinct voice and atmosphere without sacrificing narrative momentum. The 1900 chapters carry a formality befitting their period while remaining accessible to modern readers. The 1966 sections pulse with barely suppressed dread, every interaction shadowed by the surveillance state. The 2024 timeline crackles with contemporary thriller energy, complete with cyber threats and international intrigue.
Yet this structural ambition occasionally works against the novel's emotional core. Just as readers sink into one timeline, Cleeton pivots to another, sometimes fracturing the intimacy she's so carefully built. The most powerful moments—Pilar's devastating grief, Eva's heartbreak, Margo's confrontation with her failed marriage—deserve more sustained attention than the format allows.
The Love Stories Within
Romance threads through all three narratives of The Lost Story of Eva, though with varying degrees of success. Margo's reconnection with her ex-husband Luke provides the novel with its most fully realized relationship. Their history together—the unresolved hurt, the persistent attraction, the fundamental disagreements about life priorities—feels earned and authentic. Cleeton resists the temptation to smooth over their past conflicts with present passion, instead allowing them to grapple honestly with whether love alone suffices when life goals diverge.
Eva's romance, conversely, suffers from the constraints of historical propriety and narrative necessity. While Cleeton hints at deeper complexities—and delivers a gut-punch revelation about the nature of Eva's relationship—the actual development feels rushed, dependent more on passionate declarations than demonstrated compatibility. The author tells us about Eva's transformation through love without always showing the moments that catalyze such change.
Pilar's love story exists in memory and absence, and paradoxically, this makes it the most achingly beautiful. The novel she's already lived with Enrique haunts every page of her timeline, rendered in Cleeton's careful attention to the mundane details of shared life—his book of poetry waiting on the couch, his favorite foods, the rhythm of their evenings together. This portrayal of love's residue proves more affecting than many conventional romance arcs.
The Weight of History
As a Cuban-American author, Cleeton brings particular authority to her exploration of Cuba's tumultuous twentieth century. Her depiction of post-revolutionary Havana in 1966 achieves a claustrophobic verisimilitude—the constant surveillance, the casual betrayals born of fear, the way hope itself becomes a dangerous luxury. The library where Pilar works transforms into a battleground where she wages her own small rebellion by safeguarding books meant for confiscation.
Cleeton's research into the 1900 Cuban Summer School at Harvard clearly runs deep, and she succeeds in capturing this remarkable cultural moment without drowning readers in exposition. However, some historical context arrives through dialogue that occasionally strains credibility, with characters explaining things they would both already know.
The contemporary timeline in The Lost Story of Eva tackles the thorny issue of art and antiquities displaced by political upheaval. Through Margo's work sourcing items with complicated provenances, Cleeton raises questions without offering easy answers: Who rightfully owns objects seized by authoritarian regimes? What obligations do we have to return cultural artifacts to families in exile? When does acquisition become theft, and when does preservation justify questionable means?
Literary Ambitions and Limitations
Cleeton herself positions The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes as a love letter to literature's transformative power, and this meta-textual awareness enriches the reading experience. When Pilar describes finding solace in Eva's words, when Eva struggles to capture truth in fiction, when Margo recognizes the hunger for a book that changes lives, the novel achieves moments of genuine insight into why we read and write.
Yet this same self-awareness occasionally tips into overstatement. Multiple characters deliver speeches about books saving lives, literature as resistance, and the sacred duty of librarians that, while undoubtedly heartfelt, lack subtlety. The novel works best when demonstrating these truths through action rather than declaration.
The pacing suffers from uneven distribution of tension across timelines. The 2024 sections maintain thriller-like momentum, complete with chases, break-ins, and escalating danger. The 1966 chapters simmer with dread that periodically boils over. But Eva's 1900 storyline meanders, particularly in its middle section, as the author balances her protagonist's writing struggles with romantic development and historical context.
Cleeton's prose generally serves the story well—clear, evocative, accessible. She excels at sensory details that ground readers in place and period. However, some scenes lean on familiar phrasing and well-worn metaphors rather than reaching for more distinctive language. Dialogue mostly rings true to character and era, though occasional modernisms slip into the historical sections.
The Verdict
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes succeeds more in its parts than as a unified whole. Individual chapters achieve genuine emotional power—Pilar learning of her husband's death, Eva's devastating confrontation with betrayal, Margo's reckoning with her failed marriage. The novel offers thoughtful examination of literature's role as witness, comfort, and resistance. Cleeton's research enriches rather than overwhelms, and her passion for her subject matter shines through on every page.
Yet the ambitious structure occasionally diffuses rather than concentrates the narrative's impact. The central mystery, while emotionally satisfying, doesn't quite justify the elaborate scaffolding surrounding it. Some readers may find the resolution of Eva's storyline, in particular, both predictable and insufficiently explored given its weight.
This is a novel that respects its readers' intelligence and emotional capacity. Cleeton refuses easy comfort or pat resolutions. Her characters grapple with genuinely difficult questions about duty, love, survival, and justice. She acknowledges that sometimes the endings we get aren't the ones we deserve or desire, that history's weight can crush as easily as inspire.
For readers seeking literary historical fiction that prizes emotion and theme over pure plot, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes delivers a resonant, if occasionally uneven, reading experience. It will particularly appeal to those who share Pilar's conviction that somewhere exists the perfect book waiting for each reader—the one that will speak directly to your soul when you need it most. Cleeton's novel may not be that book for every reader, but it makes a compelling case for why we should never stop searching.
When a Book Becomes More Than Words on a Page
At the heart of Cleeton's intricate narrative lies A Time for Forgetting, a fictional novel penned by Cuban teacher Eva Fuentes following her transformative summer at Harvard's Cuban Summer School in 1900. This book-within-a-book device proves far more substantial than mere plot mechanism; it becomes a character unto itself, carrying the weight of secrets, heartbreak, and the complicated truths we bury in the stories we tell ourselves.
The Lost Story of Eva opens in contemporary London with Margo Reynolds, an antiquities specialist whose carefully ordered professional life shatters when she's hired to locate a rare book with only one surviving copy. What begins as a straightforward acquisition quickly escalates into something far more dangerous, particularly when the bookseller assisting her investigation turns up murdered. Cleeton demonstrates remarkable skill in transforming what could have been a straightforward treasure hunt into a meditation on provenance—not just of objects, but of lives and legacies. Margo's journey forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions about who owns history, and whether the past ever truly releases its grip on the present.
The 1966 Havana timeline introduces Pilar Castillo, perhaps the novel's most emotionally resonant character. A librarian navigating the treacherous landscape of Castro's Cuba, Pilar embodies quiet resistance in an era demanding absolute conformity. Fresh from the devastating loss of her husband to the regime's brutal prison system, Pilar discovers A Time for Forgetting through a desperate neighbor. Cleeton's portrayal of grief rings authentic and raw; Pilar doesn't simply mourn—she disintegrates and reconstructs herself through the act of reading. The author captures something profound here: how literature can serve as both mirror and lifeline when reality becomes unbearable.
Eva's 1900 storyline transports readers to a pivotal moment in Cuban-American relations, when sixty Cuban teachers traveled to Harvard for an unprecedented cultural exchange. Here, Cleeton excels in depicting the tension between personal ambition and societal constraints faced by an educated woman at the turn of the century. Eva's struggle to complete her novel while navigating an unexpected romance provides the foundation for all that follows, though the romantic elements occasionally feel constrained by the weight of foreshadowing.
The Architecture of Secrets
Cleeton constructs her narrative in The Lost Story of Eva like a Russian nesting doll, each layer revealing another, more intimate truth. The central mystery—why this particular book warrants murder, theft, and decades-spanning obsession—propels the plot forward with genuine tension. However, the revelation, when it arrives, may leave some readers feeling the journey exceeded the destination. The explanation for the book's significance, while emotionally resonant, doesn't quite justify the level of violence and intrigue surrounding it.
The author's handling of multiple timelines demonstrates considerable technical prowess. Each era maintains its distinct voice and atmosphere without sacrificing narrative momentum. The 1900 chapters carry a formality befitting their period while remaining accessible to modern readers. The 1966 sections pulse with barely suppressed dread, every interaction shadowed by the surveillance state. The 2024 timeline crackles with contemporary thriller energy, complete with cyber threats and international intrigue.
Yet this structural ambition occasionally works against the novel's emotional core. Just as readers sink into one timeline, Cleeton pivots to another, sometimes fracturing the intimacy she's so carefully built. The most powerful moments—Pilar's devastating grief, Eva's heartbreak, Margo's confrontation with her failed marriage—deserve more sustained attention than the format allows.
The Love Stories Within
Romance threads through all three narratives of The Lost Story of Eva, though with varying degrees of success. Margo's reconnection with her ex-husband Luke provides the novel with its most fully realized relationship. Their history together—the unresolved hurt, the persistent attraction, the fundamental disagreements about life priorities—feels earned and authentic. Cleeton resists the temptation to smooth over their past conflicts with present passion, instead allowing them to grapple honestly with whether love alone suffices when life goals diverge.
Eva's romance, conversely, suffers from the constraints of historical propriety and narrative necessity. While Cleeton hints at deeper complexities—and delivers a gut-punch revelation about the nature of Eva's relationship—the actual development feels rushed, dependent more on passionate declarations than demonstrated compatibility. The author tells us about Eva's transformation through love without always showing the moments that catalyze such change.
Pilar's love story exists in memory and absence, and paradoxically, this makes it the most achingly beautiful. The novel she's already lived with Enrique haunts every page of her timeline, rendered in Cleeton's careful attention to the mundane details of shared life—his book of poetry waiting on the couch, his favorite foods, the rhythm of their evenings together. This portrayal of love's residue proves more affecting than many conventional romance arcs.
The Weight of History
As a Cuban-American author, Cleeton brings particular authority to her exploration of Cuba's tumultuous twentieth century. Her depiction of post-revolutionary Havana in 1966 achieves a claustrophobic verisimilitude—the constant surveillance, the casual betrayals born of fear, the way hope itself becomes a dangerous luxury. The library where Pilar works transforms into a battleground where she wages her own small rebellion by safeguarding books meant for confiscation.
Cleeton's research into the 1900 Cuban Summer School at Harvard clearly runs deep, and she succeeds in capturing this remarkable cultural moment without drowning readers in exposition. However, some historical context arrives through dialogue that occasionally strains credibility, with characters explaining things they would both already know.
The contemporary timeline in The Lost Story of Eva tackles the thorny issue of art and antiquities displaced by political upheaval. Through Margo's work sourcing items with complicated provenances, Cleeton raises questions without offering easy answers: Who rightfully owns objects seized by authoritarian regimes? What obligations do we have to return cultural artifacts to families in exile? When does acquisition become theft, and when does preservation justify questionable means?
Literary Ambitions and Limitations
Cleeton herself positions The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes as a love letter to literature's transformative power, and this meta-textual awareness enriches the reading experience. When Pilar describes finding solace in Eva's words, when Eva struggles to capture truth in fiction, when Margo recognizes the hunger for a book that changes lives, the novel achieves moments of genuine insight into why we read and write.
Yet this same self-awareness occasionally tips into overstatement. Multiple characters deliver speeches about books saving lives, literature as resistance, and the sacred duty of librarians that, while undoubtedly heartfelt, lack subtlety. The novel works best when demonstrating these truths through action rather than declaration.
The pacing suffers from uneven distribution of tension across timelines. The 2024 sections maintain thriller-like momentum, complete with chases, break-ins, and escalating danger. The 1966 chapters simmer with dread that periodically boils over. But Eva's 1900 storyline meanders, particularly in its middle section, as the author balances her protagonist's writing struggles with romantic development and historical context.
Cleeton's prose generally serves the story well—clear, evocative, accessible. She excels at sensory details that ground readers in place and period. However, some scenes lean on familiar phrasing and well-worn metaphors rather than reaching for more distinctive language. Dialogue mostly rings true to character and era, though occasional modernisms slip into the historical sections.
The Verdict
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes succeeds more in its parts than as a unified whole. Individual chapters achieve genuine emotional power—Pilar learning of her husband's death, Eva's devastating confrontation with betrayal, Margo's reckoning with her failed marriage. The novel offers thoughtful examination of literature's role as witness, comfort, and resistance. Cleeton's research enriches rather than overwhelms, and her passion for her subject matter shines through on every page.
Yet the ambitious structure occasionally diffuses rather than concentrates the narrative's impact. The central mystery, while emotionally satisfying, doesn't quite justify the elaborate scaffolding surrounding it. Some readers may find the resolution of Eva's storyline, in particular, both predictable and insufficiently explored given its weight.
This is a novel that respects its readers' intelligence and emotional capacity. Cleeton refuses easy comfort or pat resolutions. Her characters grapple with genuinely difficult questions about duty, love, survival, and justice. She acknowledges that sometimes the endings we get aren't the ones we deserve or desire, that history's weight can crush as easily as inspire.
For readers seeking literary historical fiction that prizes emotion and theme over pure plot, The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes delivers a resonant, if occasionally uneven, reading experience. It will particularly appeal to those who share Pilar's conviction that somewhere exists the perfect book waiting for each reader—the one that will speak directly to your soul when you need it most. Cleeton's novel may not be that book for every reader, but it makes a compelling case for why we should never stop searching.
May 12, 2025
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton is a great multiple timeline historical fiction that I enjoyed.
I am vsry selective with my HF at this point it seems, and even more so with the novels that present with multiple stories, but I was pleased to have given this a chance. I have enjoyed Ms Cleeton’s books before, so I was hoping that I could add this one to the list.
The author brings several strong female characters from different situations and timeframes into one cohesive narrative. I usually enjoy the historical characters more than the contemporary, and that still holds true here (but that could be merely a personal preference). I was still drawn in with the plot that held mystery and suspense and enjoyed the author’s talent at creating an effortlessness flow that kept me engaged throughout.
I recommend this book if you enjoy HF, multiple timelines, and strong female characters.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Berkley Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/30/25.
I am vsry selective with my HF at this point it seems, and even more so with the novels that present with multiple stories, but I was pleased to have given this a chance. I have enjoyed Ms Cleeton’s books before, so I was hoping that I could add this one to the list.
The author brings several strong female characters from different situations and timeframes into one cohesive narrative. I usually enjoy the historical characters more than the contemporary, and that still holds true here (but that could be merely a personal preference). I was still drawn in with the plot that held mystery and suspense and enjoyed the author’s talent at creating an effortlessness flow that kept me engaged throughout.
I recommend this book if you enjoy HF, multiple timelines, and strong female characters.
4.5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Berkley Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/30/25.
September 29, 2025
I loved this book. The characters are so well written and the story is compelling. I couldn’t put it down. You really care about the characters and need to keep reading to find out what happens. Plus if you love historical fiction this book is for you. And this quote from the book speaks to why I’m on Goodreads; “ There was something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding. After all books spoke to the deepest parts of the soul and so they linked readers and unforgettable ways.”
September 10, 2025
I really enjoy Chanel Cleeton's historical fiction. I did not want to put this one down. We have three timelines, 1900, 1966, and 2024, and three women. Eva is in 1900 and she is sent from Cuba to Boston in a program called the Cuban Summer School. Cuban teachers were sent to Harvard to learn the American ways and for Americans to learn from the Cubans. Of course I had to google and learn about it some more. That is why I enjoy Historical Fiction. Eva ends up writing a book after her experience. In 1966, Pilar lives in Fidel's Cuba and obviously it is horrible. Her husband is in jail and she is a librarian and is given Eva's book to hold on to. In 2024, Margo has been hired to locate this book. Why is this book important and why are more people now trying to find it? I enjoyed every storyline and wanted to know how it would all end.
-The beautiful thing about libraries was that they offered a home to the casual reader, the devoted reader, and the nonreader alike.
-And yet, in that make-believe world the reader looked for truth-for the words on the page to resonate, for the characters in the scene to make them feel seen, for a thread that they could hold on to, for the book to sink its hooks into them and carry them on an unforgettable adventure.
-Knowing the things that triggered her didn't make facing them easy. Her old ghosts still crept up even now.
-Some memories you carry with you and others that are best left in the past.
-There was something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding. After all, book spoke to the deepest parts of the soul and so they linked readers in unforgettable ways.
-The beautiful thing about libraries was that they offered a home to the casual reader, the devoted reader, and the nonreader alike.
-And yet, in that make-believe world the reader looked for truth-for the words on the page to resonate, for the characters in the scene to make them feel seen, for a thread that they could hold on to, for the book to sink its hooks into them and carry them on an unforgettable adventure.
-Knowing the things that triggered her didn't make facing them easy. Her old ghosts still crept up even now.
-Some memories you carry with you and others that are best left in the past.
-There was something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding. After all, book spoke to the deepest parts of the soul and so they linked readers in unforgettable ways.
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