The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

The Perez Family #4

by Chanel Cleeton, Frankie Corzo (Narrator), Holly Linneman (Narrator)

*Running Time => 10hrs.*

At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in 'New York Times' best-selling author Chanel Cleeton’s captivating new novel inspired by real-life events and the true story of a legendary Cuban woman - Evangelina Cisneros - who changed the course of history.

A feud rages in Gilded Age New York City between newspaper tycoons William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. When Grace Harrington lands a job at Hearst’s newspaper in 1896, she’s caught in a cutthroat world where one scoop can make or break your career, but it’s a story emerging from Cuba that changes her life.

Unjustly imprisoned in a notorious Havana women’s jail, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros dreams of a Cuba free from Spanish oppression. When Hearst learns of her plight and splashes her image on the front page of his paper, proclaiming her, “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba,” she becomes a rallying cry for American intervention in the battle for Cuban independence.

With the help of Marina Perez, a courier secretly working for the Cuban revolutionaries in Havana, Grace and Hearst’s staff attempt to free Evangelina. But when Cuban civilians are forced into reconcentration camps and the explosion of the USS Maine propels the United States and Spain toward war, the three women must risk everything in their fight for freedom.


©2021 Chanel Cleeton (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Audiobook, Book Club, War

10 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 4, 2021

About the author

Chanel 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.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Chanel Cleeton has fulfilled my expectations for historical fiction - to teach me something new while telling a good story. Here, it concerns the Cuban War of independence from Spain, which took place from 1895-98. The story has three main characters, one of whom was real. Evangelina Cisneros, imprisoned by the Spanish on accusations of insurrection, was dubbed “the most beautiful woman in Cuba” to raise awareness about the war by reporters, especially those employed by William Randolph Hearst. The two fictional characters are a female reporter and another woman involved in the rebel cause.
Cheeton does a masterful job of interweaving facts into the story. It never felt forced or that it slowed the story down in any way. I had to smile at Hearst’s recognition that Americans would take more interest in one beautiful woman imprisoned than tales of the thousands of regular women and children suffering in reconcentration camps.
The book even spurred my interest in the events to the point that I sought out additional information. I’ve always heard the terms “remember the Maine” and yellow journalism without really understanding what they meant.
I could have done without the romance subplot of Grace and Rafael, but it seems to be a requirement for historical fiction.
My thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

[Olivia (Stories For Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel. My goodness.
I never learned about Cuban history during the 1800s (thanks, American Education System), so the amount of history that was woven into this narrative was absolutely fascinating and shocking. I learned more about my culture's history, was introduced to three strong protagonists who all show their own resilience in very different ways, and fell in love with another Chanel Cleeton story again.

I do wish we focused the story more around Evangelina and Marina rather than Grace, who seemed to get the most page time, but I still am so grateful to learn about Cuban history through such a well-written historical fiction


AT A GLANCE
- 1800s Cuban historical fiction focused around Spanish colonization
- Follows 3 resilient women's POV (a journalist and two revolutionaries)

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book features three revolutionary women, who at the end of the nineteenth century, fought for freedom. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is inspired by real life events and the true story of Evangelina Cisneros!

This book features three women:

Evangelina Cisneros - is thrown in jail in the beginning of the book as a rebel during the Cuban War on Independence. She is dubbed "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba" by the press to both sell papers and raise awareness of the plight in Cuba.

Grace Harrington - a young female reporter who lands a job at William Randolph Hearst's newspaper in 1896. She gets paid by the story and must prove herself and the story of Cuba and it is fight for independence from Spain just might be her ticket to success.

Maria Perez - a young woman who gave up her social standing when she married for love, has become a courier for the Cuban Revolutionaries in Havana. She will help Grace and Hearst's staff attempt to free Evangelina.

I love books that not only educate me but are entertaining and moving as well. This one foot the bill quite nicely. A lot of research went into the writing of this book. The facts fit seamlessly into the narrative. Not only is this book beautifully written but the story of the three women is engrossing and brilliantly told. I found this perfectly paced book hard to put down after the first couple of chapters. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba also proved to be a fast read as I was invested in each woman's tales.

Fans of historical fiction, strong women and true events will love this book.

This was my first book by Chanel Cleeton and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

Beautifully written, moving and thought provoking! A must Read!!!

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

[Desiree Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up on this story after about 78 of its 362 pages.

I was so disappointed because I read the first three books in the series (Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, and The Last Train to Key West) and really enjoyed them (especially When We Left Cuba) and they all proudly hold a spot in my guest room bookcase.

As with the others, this book focuses on a real-life Perez ancestor of the author, Chanel Cleeton; but with the added bonus of another factual, historical personage as well - "the Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba" herself, Evangelina Cisneros. Also, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst - such an interesting character!

Totally my nerdy, historical jam, right? Sadly, no. Firstly, the story did seem a bit light on material, with many scenes expanded just to fill a word count. Secondly, read on below only if you're not going to be "triggered" (ha ha) by a viewpoint that may be different than your own.

I realize that a modern-day book has to appeal to modern-day readers, even if based in the factual, historical past. That said, I tired quickly of the 21st Century tropes of thinking that marriage, running a household, and/or raising a family have no intrinsic value (think of all the things in life you pay for, such as meal prep, housekeeping, childcare - are those devoid of merit?); and characters raised in wealthy homes complaining and bemoaning their "privilege" (perhaps your ancestors worked really hard so you wouldn't have to). The book really "jumped the shark" for me, though, when one of said spoiled characters was about to attend a fancy party in the social circle in which she grew up and started banging on about "the 1%". *eye roll*

These thoughts are my own and I don't expect any and all to agree (that's what so great about communities - difference of thought!). I'm not looking for a debate on my comments, however, I put them here for those who it may help. If you disagree, please feel free to move on to the next review without comment.

P.S. No plot spoilers above, so you're safe, if you'd like to read it. :)

[Natasha Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Harrington is my new favourite heroine. I was absolutely fascinated by the world of stunt girl reporters and newspaper wars that she throws herself into, just as I was equal parts enthralled and heartbroken by the story of Evangelina Cisneros, the most beautiful – and courageous – girl in Cuba. And how wonderful to meet another member of the Perez family – the plucky Marina, whose story intertwines with the other women's. Nobody writes about Cuban women – their lives, their loves and their bravery – like Chanel Cleeton does. A truly beautiful book.

[DeB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Packed with obscure history, and dense with the facts surrounding the fall of Cuba under Spanish rule, I give this full stars. However, as a novel, I found the leading characters - three women- almost indistinguishable in voice and found myself checking back to the chapter headings at times to get my bearings. Author Cleeton was challenged to remain true to the facts, but unlike those best at delivering history to a general audience she was unable to build much excitement in her story. It’s a shame, since she had William Randolph Hearst, President Monroe, Teddy Roosevelt plus the tumult in Cuba as grist for a powerful tale.

I found myself skimming, eager to read the history but quite disinterested in her wooden characters. The dialogue, too, was oddly modern interspersed with the more formal style of the late 1890’s.

Three stars for the history of Cuba, casting light on the county before Castro.

[Pam Jenoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by actual events, this story is about 18 year old Evangelina, who is imprisoned in late 19th century Cuba, as well as Grace, the American reporter who is trying to free her with the help of Marina, a courier working for the revolutionaries. This book is both explosive and compelling. Out May 4th!

[Rindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't even know where to start with this book. I am very picky about historical fiction and train wrecks like this book are the reason why. The subject matter and time period should have made this book an interesting read, rather than a painful slog to the finish. Cleeton's writing style definitely leaves something to be desired. I wasn't expecting Dickens but this book is, sadly, very shallow. The language is overly dramatic, yet inadequate at the same time. I found much of it juvenile and many of the terms and concepts she imposes on the time are modern and inappropriate. The characters spoke/thought in an odd mix of period and modern language. Amplified by first-person narration, the heroines came across as vapid, as opposed to strong capable women. Marina seemed like an afterthought in the story. Of course, Cleeton reminded us incessantly that they were women. Most of the men were nothing more than clichés. The pacing was often slow or too rushed. I often found myself skimming passages. I could go on. I wanted to like this book, but in the end I thought "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba," had all the depth of a puddle.

[CM · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed learning about the subject matter in this book. I have never read a book previously on the Cuban Revolution and really didn't know much about it. The plot of the story was very interesting and I found it to be quite a page turner because I really wanted to know what was going to happen next.

That said, I found the character development in this book to be a bit lacking. It seemed to focus a lot on the characters so I should have felt more connected to them, but I didn't. The writing seemed quite shallow and full of cliches. The romances seemed kind of silly like they were added in there to just marry every woman off; there was not much build up to them.

Overall, it was a good book because I found the topic really interesting, I find historical fiction a very accessible way to start learning about a certain point in history, but the writing for me was just okay.

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 historical fiction stars

I really like Chanel Cleeton's writing, this is the fourth book of hers that I've read. These books make me want to visit Cuba!!

This one is set in the late 1800s and features history that I had mostly forgotten from history class. Cuba was long a colonial holding of Spain and the Cubans were treated horribly by them, eventually drawing the US into war. Remember the Maine! This was the USS Maine that blew up in the Havana Harbor and was the impetus for the war.

There are three interesting points of view in this one -- a female journalist, fighting her way to write stories; a Cuban resistance fighter from Cleeton's fictional Perez family; and Evangelina Cisneros -- the Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba. It was fascinating to read that Evangelina was a real person and Cleeton did extensive research to bring her story to life.

I really enjoyed all three perspectives and together it paints a rich story of this time in the world. It was fascinating to read about the newspaper wars in NYC and pondering how much journalism influences things still today. I also enjoyed reading more about Cuba's history. It was new to me that women were imprisoned there, sometimes just because of the work of their husbands in the resistance, etc. It also helped me understand more about how the Cubans long for independence and what a struggle that has been through the years.

Thank you to my local library for the copy of this one!

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s 1896 and New York City’s Park Row is a battlefield between two rival publishers: William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World). It is a time of “yellow journalism” when the press often greatly exaggerates and even creates the news. Socialite Grace Harrington wants to be the next Nellie Bly and finds herself as a “stunt girl” reporter for Hearst. When word of beautiful, eighteen-year-old Evangelina Cisneros’s imprisonment in Cuba for her role in an attack of a Spanish colonel reaches the desk of Hearst, he finds his latest top story. In a series of articles, Evangelina’s plight is splashed on the front pages generating widespread support for the Cuban revolutionaries. In addition to selling more papers, it serves Hearst’s agenda for getting the United States involved in Cuba’s fight for independence.

While conditions worsen in Cuba, Marina, the third lead character, is struggling to keep her daughter safe. She is the estranged daughter of the Perez family, sugar barons who have sided with Spain. Her husband Mateo is fighting for Cuban freedom. Marina is risking her life as a courier for the rebels. As efforts are made by Hearst to free Evangelina, the lives of the three brave women come together. Soon Grace finds herself in Cuba, far from the ballrooms of the Astors and the Vanderbilts.

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is the fourth historical novel by Chanel Cleeton which delves into Cuba’s turbulent past. Each includes a character from the fictional Perez family yet you don’t have to read the other three books before reading this latest one. The story of real-life Evangelina Cisneros is intertwined with the two excellent fictional characters of Grace and Marina which makes for a wonderful story of heroism and love of country.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overdue review now coming to Goodreads.

This is an inspirational tale of courage, love, and losses for 3 women.

The real-life Cuban revolutionary Evangelia Cisneros is the book’s title character, joined by 2 fictional women, Grace Harrington, a newspaper reporter who is inspired by real-life Nelly Bly, and Marina, the wife of a farmer’s son who has been thrown out by her wealthy family.

Readers are placed in New York City in 1896. We find Grace Harrington wanting to become a respected female reporter for one of the city’s major newspapers. This ambition puts her in the middle of the circulation wars between William Randolph Hearst (New York Journal) and Joseph Pulitzer (New York World). The term “yellow journalism” – describing sensationalized and sometimes false coverage – which aptly describes Hearst, was encouraged in the midst of solid news reporting. Grace wants to be a solid reporter, although she eventually finds herself working for Hearst.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Cuban Evangelina, who had joined her exiled rebel father in the Isle of Pines, is attacked by a Spanish colonel. Unfortunately, she is arrested and sent to one of Havana’s worst jails. Here, her survival is tenuous. Still, she refuses to retract her accusation.

Marina, married to Mateo, a farmer’s son, is in the midst of the conflict in Spain. As the conflict escalates, she finds herself separated from her husband and forced to leave the farm. Transported to Havana with her daughter and mother-in-law with little money to survive, she has no way of knowing if her husband is still alive.

History, war, politics, pain, suffering, imprisonment – all of this is complicated and well-documented within the pages of this book. And the fact that a publishing tycoon would exploit all these factors to sell papers – not surprising. Cleeton shows the complexities of this era in a very cohesive, compelling way by also weaving in historical facts.

(BTW, although this has nothing to do with the story, Hearst Castle is not too far from where I live. The pure ostentatiousness of it, is reflective of the way this man lived.)

Let’s consider the title of the book. Cleeton weaves together Grace’s stark reporter’s tale against the backdrop of Gilded Age NYC with Evangelina’s transformation from the beautiful girl in the headlines to a woman dedicated to her country’s freedom, and Marina’s resourcefulness and sacrifices.

When their stories eventually intertwine – it is surprising and memorable.

There is also some romance – but I won’t say whom and what may or may not happen between them.

But…

Love is a critical theme here, and not only for a husband, child, parent, or possible future partner.

In addition to the history, this story includes finding love, losing love, and keeping love in one’s heart despite the uncertainty of life and death that surrounds those characters.

History in this book includes Cuba, Spain, and NYC – as well as the Spanish American War. But mainly, Evangelina Cisneros.

But what we will also find throughout this story…

Heroes. Villains. Greed. Danger. Excitement. Inspiration. Courage. Empowering Women.

[Bkwmlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, I have read all 4 of Chanel Cleeton’s historical fiction novels and have enjoyed all of them. Starting with Next Year in Havana , which first introduced us to the Perez family and their subsequent exodus from Cuba, then later her follow-up novel When We Left Cuba , where she continued the family’s story after their arrival in the United States, to last year’s standalone novel The Last Train to Key West , and now her most recent release The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba , Cleeton not only pays tribute to her own Cuban heritage, she also sheds light on a few little-known historical events that have been fascinating to learn about.

This time around, in her latest work, Cleeton tells the story of Evangelina Cisneros, a real-life Cuban woman who was part of the fight for Cuba’s independence from Spanish occupation at the end of the nineteenth century. At the age of only eighteen, Evangelina was separated from her family and unjustly thrown into a Havana jail notorious for its squalid conditions. When Evangelina’s situation is brought to the attention of an American audience via New York newspaper reporters stationed in Cuba, she suddenly finds herself thrust into the international spotlight – in addition to being dubbed “the most beautiful girl in Cuba” by the media, she also becomes a rallying cry on the political front for those pushing American intervention in Cuba. At the same time, Marina Perez is separated from her beloved husband Mateo when he goes off to join the Cuban revolutionaries – shortly afterward, she and her 7-year-old daughter Isabella and mother-in-law Luz lose everything they own when Spanish soldiers burn down their farm and force them into reconcentration camps where, in order to survive, Marina secretly works as a courier passing messages to the revolutionaries. Meanwhile, in New York, Grace Harrington lands a dream job as a female journalist at the Journal, run by famous newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, where she hopes to catch that one big scoop that will allow her to be taken seriously as an independent woman trying to prove herself in the ruthless world of news media. The lives of these 3 women converge and are changed forever when the situation in Cuba becomes most dire and the United States is spurred into war with Spain for control over the territory.

Once again, Cleeton tells a compelling story from the alternating perspectives of 3 women whose backgrounds and circumstances couldn’t be more different, yet they are brought together with the common goal of fighting for freedom – whether for themselves as individuals or for their country. As was the case with Cleeton’s previous books, the story features strong female protagonists who defy convention as well as the restrictions placed upon them by society, ultimately rising above their circumstances with courage and grace. Having said that though, there was one slight difference I noticed this time around: with Cleeton’s previous book, which was also narrated from the different perspectives of the 3 main female characters, I had actually liked all 3 story arcs equally – with this one though, I actually preferred Marina’s and Grace’s story arcs to Evangelina’s, which is a bit ironic given Evangelina’s story is technically the main arc that everything else revolves around. It didn’t occur to me at first, but after I read the Author’s Note -- where Cleeton explains how, with Evangelina’s story, most of the sources available, including the autobiography of her life, were written by people associated with Hearst’s New York Journal newspaper, which was locked in a fierce circulation battle with the rival paper run by Joseph Pulitzer at the time, so unfortunately, much of the information was sensationalized and likely overdramatized in order to attract buyers, making it hard to separate the true facts of Evangelina’s life from the embellished ones – it made sense why Evangelina’s story arc felt a bit “off” to me (I realize now that what was “off” with the story was that it felt too incredulous and farcical – by comparisons, both Marina’s and Grace’s stories felt much more realistic). For me, I would’ve preferred Marina’s story to be the main one — I think the book overall would’ve been more powerful and emotional if that had been the case.

With all that said, I still enjoyed this quite a bit. Chanel Cleeton is a great storyteller and writer — when reading her books, it’s easy to become absorbed and lose yourself in the stories she crafts based off her thorough and extensive research. I also love the way she weaves a connection to the Perez name through all of her books (some more subtly than others) — every time I read one of her books, I feel compelled to go back and re-read Next Year in Havana again to find the connection. Cleeton’s books have definitely become “must-reads” for me and of course, I look forward to seeing what she has in store for us next, both from a story and character perspective (and yes, I will continue to look for the Perez connection as well)!

Received ARC from Berkley via Edelweiss.

[Nora Currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved everything about this book! I was very interested in finding out more about the Spanish American War and the history of Cuba’s independence. I had no idea about the tragic history of the reconcentration camps and the infamous women’s prison from which Evangelina Cisneros escaped from and how she was compared in this book to Helen of Troy. I enjoyed reading about the war between Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst since I have a journalism minor and I have fond memories about learning about them in my journalism classes. This is the reason why I relate to Grace Harrington so much and like her I similarly had an article of mine rewritten until I didn’t recognize my writing in it. I love her relationship with Rafael! I also love the Perez family that Cleeton has created and I love finding out more about this fascinating family.

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

It feels as though we are waiting to die here, growing mad minute by minute, our bones aging, the life leeching from us.

My debut was far from a splash, more like a slow drizzle, and now at twenty-five, unmarried and living with my mother’s eccentric sister, I am hardly marriage material.

In my current attire, everyone makes a concerted effort not to make eye contact with me as I pass by them. My appearance provides the perfect opportunity to work as a courier because no one, least of all the wealthy and privileged citizens of Havana, wants to confront the human face of this war.

It’s impossible to feel victorious when the “victory” leaves your country in ruins.

My Review:

I must confess other than knowing where it is on the map and the lore of their famous cigars, I am woefully ignorant about Cuba, Cuban history, and Cuban culture. I wore Mr. Google out while I read this tome and was astounded at how much of this story was actually true or based on true events. The author must have researched thousands of hours and brought history to life. She often walked a fine line to avoid being overwrought, as there was agony in every character’s storyline, so - much - agony. This was an informative as well as a challenging read for me and she implanted me so deeply within the narrative, I was struggling along with the characters. There was no shortage of despair, fear, misery, abuse, deprivation, and horrific conditions. The writing was highly descriptive as well as emotive and heart-squeezing and was intermittently paced yet quite eventful and busy. I need a spa day and a vat of wine to recover.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chanel Cleeton is a beautiful writer. There is something gorgeous about the way she writes. I think Last Train to Key West also featured three women who are eventually interconnected. There is an aspect of this one that discusses the journalistic rivalry between Pulitzer and Hearst, and female writers looking for a break into an industry that wasn't welcoming.

There is also a focus on Cuba and the fight for independence, and the spirit of revolution. Many of the characters had to consider country versus family, self versus other, journalistic integrity and America versus Spain versus Cuba.

There is women's independence and character development as well as men who love them, but also deeply respect them.

Beautifully and sensually written - I loved it! As I have all of this author's books. Every single one!

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why have I taken so long to read Chanel Cleeton? I am not a huge historical fiction reader but I enjoy it from time to time, especially if it features strong female characters like in The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba. This was told via multiple perspectives, all adding to the overall story. And what a story it was!

Evangelina Cisneros is thrown in jail as a rebel during the Cuban War on Independence. She is dubbed "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba" by the press. Telling the tale of her imprisonment helps raise awareness of the truth of what is happening in Cuba.

Grace Harrington is a young female reporter who lands a job at William Randolph Hearst's newspaper in 1896. She becomes more and more aware of the realities of the war in Cuba and wants to write about the women who often go unseen and unheard.

Maria Perez is a young Cuban woman who gave up her life of privilege and was renounced by her family when she married a poor man for love. Trying to make ends meet while she cares for her daughter and mother-in-law, she becomes a secret courier for the Cuban Revolutionaries in Havana.

We follow these three women's stories, each showing bravery, strength, love and compassion in her own way. I love that this was based on the real Cuban heroine. What an extraordinary woman and life! I thoroughly appreciate reading a work of historical fiction like this that can not only entertain but educate. Cleeton has a gift for story-telling that simply sweeps you away. I listened to this one audio and easily lost myself in the tumultuous time period for hours on end. I must read her previous works soon.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba was a well-researched tale about the lives of three legendary historical women set against the fiery background of the Spanish-American War and Cuba’s fight for freedom from Spain. The lives of these three women were irrevocably changed and shaped by the Cuban War of Independence. This time was one of the darkest and most heartbreaking time in Cuban history.

There was the story of Evangelina Cisneros, a Cuban revolutionary. And as such, at age eighteen Evangelina was exiled with her father to the Isle of Pines, a reconcentration camp, dressed up by the Spanish under the lead of General Weyler ostensibly to be for protection as the Spanish brought them into the fortified cities under their command. However, it was Weyler’s aim to cut off the support for the Cuban revolutionary armies by moving the Cuban people from the country to cities controlled by the Spanish to prevent the Cubans from supporting the revolutionaries with food and shelter, and enlisting in their ranks. Evangelina Cisneros was later imprisoned in the horrific Recogida prison for rejecting the advances of a Spanish colonel. Her life story looms large in the book.

At the height of the gilded age, there was also the legendary battle for circulation between Joseph Pulitzer and his publication World, and William Randolph Hearst and his newspaper, New York Journal. It is here that the fictional character Grace Harrington, is modeled after the legendary investigative reporter, Nellie Bly. It is into this yellow journalism maelstrom that Grace Harrington navigates her career between Pulitzer and Hearst as a stunt girl reporter. It is in this larger-than-life world where newspaper magnates chartered yachts and sailed into battle in Cuba. And as the war raged on, there were spies immersed in newsrooms, extravagant celebrations and eccentric personalities all from the historical record as researched and vividly told by Chanel Cleeton.

The third character of the book was the plight of Marina Perez. The author states that she wanted to pay homage to the immense courage and strength of spirit of the women who fought for Cuban independence, the reconcentrados. Marina’s story is interwoven with the lives of the other two women. This wonderful book is a tribute to the admirable women characters and the volatile history of the time. Having read much of the book while flying cross-country, I couldn’t put it down. While I have read all of Chanel Cleeton’s books in the Perez family series, this is a favorite.

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

"There will come a better time than this moment we are living. A time when we are all together, when there is food to be had, when we are happy and healthy, and when we are free."

This story takes place in both Cuba and New York City during the 1890s. It starts with Cubans fighting for their independence from Spain and leads up to the Spanish-American war. Sadly, it is a time period referred to as the Cuban Holocaust, because all revolutionists fighting for freedom were ultimately imprisoned and starved. I appreciated how the author explored these hardships and brought to life the history of the time.  I loved the 1890s atmosphere of New York City and the newsroom. But mostly, I loved that the main characters in this story are strong women.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Audiobook narrated by Frankie Corzo, Holly Linneman, and Rebecca Soler. 10 hrs 50 minutes

Led by three main protagonists, The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba circles around the years of 1896-1898 and discusses Cuba's fight to be independent from Spain. The significance of the title is that one of the protagonists is actually a real life person, Evangelina Cisneros, a title that she earned from the American press. At the beginning of the book, she’s a mere 18 years old, a Cuban revolutionary exiled to the Isle of Pines with her imprisoned father. Her story gained fame and notoriety in the American press and with the help of American journalists from the New York Journal, she escaped from prison and fled to freedom in this country. The other two main leads are American journalist, Grace, who gets a job working for William Hearst(New York Journal) and Cuban revolutionary, Marina. The novel's chapters alternate between these three women and we see this part of history through their eyes.

I don't know much about Cuban history and I believe this might be my very first read of a historical fiction novel set in this particular time period, I REALLY enjoyed this audiobook with its rich detail and the author's note that provides even more background for the reader. I really enjoy Chanel Cleeton's writing and since I was a bit disappointed with the previous novel in the series( The Last Train to Key West), this certainly was a great treat. The only reason I leave it at a 4.5 instead of a 5 is that I wish Cleeton didn't feel the need to give each protagonist an HEA(happily ever after). Evangelina's is historical record but I would have liked her to do something a little different with Grace and Marina, since they are fictional characters.


Goodreads review published 20/06/22

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous writing, impeccable research and three courageous female characters make this a must-read for any historical fiction lover!

The title protagonist, Evangelina Cisneros, is unfairly incarcerated in the late 1890s, stuck in an infamous Havana jail. She’s among many oppressed Cubans who yearn for freedom from Spain, and is based on one of Cuba’s real heroines.

Randolph Hearst and his influential press take up her cause, naming her “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” in a ploy to sell papers and urge America to back Cuba. Gutsy Grace Harrington, a Hearst reporter, and Marina Perez, a secret courier supporting Cuba, add compellingly to the narrative as they toil to free Evangelina.

Will they succeed? Will Hearst push the U.S. into war by skewing truth to best his rival, Joseph Pulitzer? Chanel Cleeton’s latest reveals the always intriguing, often heartbreaking answers in this page-turning triumph — my first Cleeton but definitely not the last!

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 04 May 2021

Thanks to the author, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheMostBeautifulGirlinCuba #NetGalley

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I am completely blown away at how beautifully this author can create a story and transport me back in time and right into the heart of this country and all it's glory and sadness. I absolutely loved the storyline of these amazing women and their journey at finding not only themselves along the way but a life and love of country as well.
This was absolutely amazing and such a wonderful addition to this series/time line. I was swept away with these amazing characters, their history and their story. An absolutely heart breaking and heart warming story about what it means to be truly brave and courageous and standing up for what is right and true and fair.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am always excited to delve into Cuban history with Chanel Cleeton’s novels. Her release this year explored Cuba’s struggle for independence against Spain, the war between Hearst’s New York Journal and Pulitzer’s New York World in the era of yellow journalism, and women’s evolving place in society. Cleeton excels at seamlessly blending fact and fiction and portraying women who are fighting for survival or for their place in the world. This is an engaging read about three revolutionary, intrepid, courageous women, one of whom the author took straight from the pages of history.

[Joan Happel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This newest addition to Cleeton’s sublime Cuba series, does not disappoint! Set in 1896 to 1898, the years leading up to the Spanish American War, the story alternates between three fascinating and courageous women. The first is the real Evangelina Cisneros, who American newspapers have named dubbed “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba”. Evangelina is imprisoned in Havana and William Randolph Hearst sets out to orchestrate her escape and use her as the impetus for American to declare war on Spain. Secondly, Marina, a member of the Perez family, has been disowned by her family because she chose to marry a revolutionary. With her husband missing, she and her daughter are detained in a refugee camp. She finds work as a laundress and is recruited by the Hearst’s people to be the go between with Evangelina. Finally, there is Grace Herrington, a spunky young woman with ambitions to be the next Nelly Bly, she is hired by Hearst to help tell the story of Evangelina. The three women’s stories come together to in this well-researched and gripping novel of courage, love, and perseverance.

A wonderful blend of history and fiction, with strong characters and fast-paced prose. This is a masterfully crafted story, blending real life characters such as Hearst and Cisneros with strong-willed females breaking down the barriers of their time and class. I have loved all Cleeton’s novels, but this may well be my favorite. Once you pick it up, you won’t be able to put it down; following the many twists and turns until it leads to the satisfying conclusion!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ stars. This is her best book yet!! Oh how I want more! Well researched! Well written! Loved learning about events in history I know little about!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book that I learned so much from. It was very entertaining, but also learned so much about the Spanish American War from 1895-1898. It was generated over conflict with Cuba. I never knew any of this.

So, Grace Harrington, leaves her well off family to become an Investigative Reporter. She work for William Hearst. She is ambitious and wants to do real reporting. Cuba gives her this opportunity, but also opens her eyes to how the journalism business really works. It’s not all about helping Cubans. Money and Circulation matter.

Then we meet a real life person, Evangelina Cisneros, who is unjustly imprisoned. The Hearst Newspaper decides to call her ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Cuba’. Figure this story will get a lot of attention and does. The plan is to have her escape from the Prison she is staying. So, she becomes the face for intervening in Cuba, but is she really the woman they portray. Most likely not at all, just make this up to make it more entertaining for Readers. She is conflicted though because she wants to save Cuba and others imprisoned. She also wants to go back to a Free Cuba.

Last is Marina Perez. She comes from a very wealthy Cuban family, but they will not accept her true love, Mateo. Marina is a true believer and willing to do much to save Cuba and fight for a Free Cuba. She puts herself in much danger being a courier, passing notes one to help with this cause. She ends up in horrible conditions, staying at the real Casa de Recogidos jail/camp. The conditions are so awful, she can not keep her daughter, Isabel with her.

There was some side romances I could live without, but overall woven in quite well. I was really interested in these incredibly strong and courageous women.Their lives become intertwined. Many good issues come up about writing about the Forgotten Women of this war. How much should one do and risk their lives and their families lives? Also, brings home message of how different it was for the women who actually lived in Cuba as their home.

So, if you enjoy Historical Fiction and learning new history in the process, I would highly recommend this book. This is the first book by Chanel Cleeeton I have read, and it exceeded my expectations.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I really enjoyed this book! I have read and enjoyed two other historical fiction novels set in Cuba from this author so I went into this book knowing what to expect. I had hoped that this would be another book with fantastic characters, a vivid setting, and a story that would make me think, and that is exactly what I got. The story grabbed me early on and I found it to be a story that was easy to lose myself in for hours at a time. I really had an incredible time with this book.

This book tells the tale of three women. Grace lives in New York and wants to succeed as a reporter. She gets a job at Hearst’s Journal where she eventually covers some important stories. Evangelina ends up in a Cuban jail after fighting off the advances of a Spanish leader. She eventually becomes well known in the United States as a result of newspaper coverage and sparks interest in the situation in Cuba. Marina and her daughter are forced from their farm in Cuba and sent to a re-concentration camp where the situation is dire. Marina is able to earn some money by working for wealthy families and does her part for the cause by delivering messages with the laundry.

Each of these three women had a remarkable story to tell and I loved the way that their paths interconnected. All three women had to deal with difficult, although different, situations and they each had some very had decisions to make. I loved the way that the story brought these women and the people surrounding them to life so that I really felt connected to each of their stories. I think that the historical details that were woven throughout the book were quite eye-opening and helped to tell this powerful story.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be a very well-written and entertaining story featuring wonderful characters. This was a book that I enjoyed from beginning to end and wanted to see things work out for each of the characters. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN CUBA is a novel in which the lives of three women become entwined through a variety of circumstances across 2 nations between 1896 and 1898.

Grace Harrington is a young woman from Gilded Age New York society who has ambitions of becoming a journalist with one of the 2 major newspapers in the city. The year is 1896 and in New York, there is Joseph Pulitzer's The New York World vying with the upstart William Randolph Hearst's The New York Journal for readers and market dominance. The competition is cut-throat, so much so that it wasn't unusual for a journalist to leave one paper to work for another, with the promise of higher pay and a bigger profile as a journalist. Grace goes first to the World, where she interviews with Pulitzer himself for a job. Pulitzer views her skeptically, but is open to making a place for her on the paper, provided that she's willing to go over to his competitor Hearst for a job there and act as a spy for Pulitzer, as a way of garnering any possible scoops as far as news stories are concerned. Grace is unsure of this. But she goes across town to apply for a job with Hearst. Unlike Pulitzer, Hearst is willing to give Grace a chance to prove herself as a journalist. Grace is grateful for the opportunity and admits to Hearst that Pulitzer his rival had earlier offered her a job, but only if she would spy on Hearst. This she had qualms about doing. Hearst expressed to her his appreciation for her candor, which makes him more willing to give Grace a chance.

Grace's place in the Journal is hardly ideal, being often tasked with what could best be described as writing "puff pieces" for the paper as well as stories crafted along with other journalists on the Journal, without attribution. But she is determined to be a serious journalist, which Hearst gradually comes to recognize and appreciate over the next 2 years, during which time Grace is put on a story that puts her in touch with one of the Cuban exile groups in New York engaged in fighting the Spanish forces in Cuba, who are set on suppressing the Cuban revolutionaries in their efforts to win independence for Cuba.

The second woman is Evangelina Cisneros, daughter of a Cuban revolutionary whom the Spanish had imprisoned on the Isle of Pines, a small island off the coast. There she ekes out a threadbare existence with her younger sister. The two sisters voluntarily chose to live there, so as to be close to their father. Unfortunately for Evangelina, she runs afoul of the Spanish military commander through no fault of her own. Consequently, she is imprisoned at the woman's prison, the Casa de Recogidas, on the Cuban mainland in Havana.

The news of Evangelina's plight becomes known in the U.S., where Hearst begins to highlight Evangelina's story as characteristic of the brutality of Spanish rule in Cuba. A photo of Evangelina has been smuggled out of Cuba and comes into Hearst's possession. Evangelina is a strikingly beautiful woman and Hearst plasters her image in his paper and throughout New York. All this is part of his ongoing efforts to elicit U.S. support for the revolutionaries by going to war against Spain. This marks the beginning of what later came to be known as "yellow journalism." Evangelina comes to occupy center stage in Hearst's efforts to win sympathy from the American public for Cuba.

The third woman in this drama is Marina Perez. Though hailing from a very privileged background, she leaves it all behind to marry a poor revolutionary she had loved from the time they were children. At the time, the reader is introduced to Marina, she has an 8-year old daughter (Isabella) for whom she has assumed sole responsibility after her husband Mateo had gone off into the countryside to serve with a small force of revolutionaries fighting the Spanish. The Spanish supreme military commander in Cuba, General Weyler, has set up a system of 'reconcentrados' or concentration camps (the first in recorded history) in which many Cubans are forced to live, so as to deprive the revolutionaries of material support. (This attempt by the Spanish to confine the Cubans to certain designated areas serves only to impoverish Cuba.) Marina, Isabella, and Marina's mother-in-law are compelled in live in one of these camps, where disease and starvation are rife. To survive, Marina takes on a job as a laundress throughout Havana. And at the same time, Marina, like her husband fully committed to the establishment of a free and independent Cuba, serves as a courier, conveying secret messages to revolutionaries as part of a clandestine network.

By 1898, the paths trod by the 3 women will bring them together both indirectly and directly when the United States declares war on Spain following the destruction of a U.S. battleship in Havana harbor earlier in the year.

I very much enjoyed this story and the way it played itself out. What is even more amazing is that this novel is loosely based on a true story, thus giving credence to the saying "Truth is stranger than fiction."

[Eva K (journeyofthepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton is an outstanding historical fictional novel capturing the events of 1890s Cuba under Spanish oppression.

I have now read or listened to all four of Cleeton’s historical fiction books based on Cuban history and oh my goodness I think this is my favorite! They’re all phenomenal but this one has something special I can’t quite put my finger on.

This story features three strong female protagonists which follows suit with previous books. The women are fierce, unstoppable, caring and kind, but full of grit.

This story had me hooked with all the excitement of a revolution! Undercover journalists, espionage, spies, jail breaks, prison camps, family, love and romance, press and politics, war, all during a freaking revolution.

It’s an exciting read with so much heart.

Thank you, Netgalley, Berkley Pub, and Chanel Cleeton, for a #gifted copy of this for review!

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one does historical fiction with romance like Chanel Cleeton. I find myself easily immersing in her well-researched stories featuring strong women in often distressing historical backdrops. I typically read her books via physical or e-copies but I decided to go down the audiobook route for The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba and what an even more riveting experience that was.

THE TALE OF 3 WOMEN TOLD THROUGH 3 NARRATORS
I’m almost always wary of multiple POV stories – the most I can do is two – so going into The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba, I was feeling a bit nervous. However, the use of multiple narrators made the transitions very easy to follow. Cleeton wrote three women from very different backgrounds but who had equally storylines throughout the book.

A CHARACTER BASED ON REALITY
Perhaps the most central character here was Evangelina Cisneros, a character who is based on a real-life historical figure who became the face of Cuba during the Cuban War of Independence of the late 1800s. Evangelina is falsely imprisoned after rejecting the advances of a Spanish Colonel. She is made to endure hell and more in a women’s prison where she is often ill-treated. Evangelina inadvertently becomes the face of Cuba as “The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba” when a newspaper tycoon decides to do so. While he has his own motivations, the move is what triggers her Evangelina’s escape from prison and the United States’ involvement in the war.

The fact that much of Evangelina’s arc was grounded in reality made her the most fascinating character in this book. After I finished the book, I did some quick Google “researching” into the real-life figure and found that the stories about her involvement in Cuba’s independence are definitely a little muddled particularly when it comes to the hows and whys, but for the most part, what Cleeton wrote here seems legitimate. The author highlights her strengths, vulnerabilities, and her growing weariness at becoming a public figure so beautifully here.

AN ASPIRING JOURNALIST
The second character we meet is Grace, a NYC woman wants a career in journalism. She shows up at newspaper tycoon Joseph Pulitzer’s doorstep requesting a job. As he has no idea who she is and does not know if she can be trusted, he wants her to infiltrate his rival’s, William Hearst, newspaper for a year. Here, Grace begins to navigate the treacherous business of the journalism while also beginning to realize what’s important for her. The scenes of Grace experiencing the war in Cuba right in front of her eyes were poignant – the emotions she goes through there were visceral! I really enjoyed Grace’s character as well. All three of the women in this book are fiercely independent but they are all in 3 different environments. I would say that relatively speaking, Grace is the one that had the easiest of time, but that doesn’t make her development any less impactful. As a romance fan, I also particularly enjoyed her budding side romance.

A CUBAN REVOLUTIONARY COURIER
Finally, we have Marina, who becomes a courier working for the Cuban revolutionaries, while her husband is off fighting the war. I have to admit that her storyline stressed me out the most given the line of her work. She straddled danger every time she had to work and I was certain she would not make it to the end of this book. Marina was a resilient character, deeply motivated by the love she had for her daughter, her husband, and her country. That drive of hers truly resonated with me, and I found myself on the edge of my seat rooting for her success.

The other really stunning aspect of The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba was how initially these three women’s stories seem separate, but they actually slowly become intertwined throughout the book. Frankie Corzo, Holly Linneman, and Rebecca Soler were three incredible narrators who brought Grace, Evangelina, and Marina to life. They brought every emotion that these characters go through to the surface and made listening to this audiobook a sheer joy.

The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba is a rich and vibrant historical fiction. For selfish reasons, I hope Chanel Cleeton never stops writing these tales. Not only am I left with an entertaining story, but I always leave her books feeling like I learned a small piece of history.

Content notes: war, violence, sexual assault

Relationship disclosure: None