It’s the first Monday of a new month and we’re back with another Goodreads Monday, a weekly meme started by @Lauren’s Page Turners. This meme invites you to pick a book from your TBR and explain why you want to read it. Easy enough, right? Feel free to join in if you want to! I’ll be using a random number generator to pick my books from my insanely long GR Want-to-read list.
This week’s book is When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton. I do remember adding this earlier in the year because of how much love it was getting on bookstagram. I hadn’t heard of Cleeton before though! This book has a rating of 4.05 stars with 8k+ ratings and over 1k+ reviews, so it seems like a pretty well-loved book!
In 1960s Florida, a young Cuban exile will risk her life–and heart–to take back her country in this exhilarating historical novel from the author of Next Year in Havana, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.
Beautiful. Daring. Deadly.
The Cuban Revolution took everything from sugar heiress Beatriz Perez–her family, her people, her country. Recruited by the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro’s inner circle and pulled into the dangerous world of espionage, Beatriz is consumed by her quest for revenge and her desire to reclaim the life she lost.
As the Cold War swells like a hurricane over the shores of the Florida Strait, Beatriz is caught between the clash of Cuban American politics and the perils of a forbidden affair with a powerful man driven by ambitions of his own. When the ever-changing tides of history threaten everything she has fought for, she must make a choice between her past and future–but the wrong move could cost Beatriz everything–not just the island she loves, but also the man who has stolen her heart…
Why do I want to read it?
Ever since watching Dirty Dancing but especially after watching Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights, I grew a slightly smol obsession with Havana, Cuba. Yes, I was viewing this place through rose-tinted glasses, but I was still swept away. Saying that, this book sounds seriously up my alley! I’ve always loved historical fiction especially when it’s mixed with a little bit of romance, but especially when it involves strong and empowering women! Many of my booksta friends who’ve read this have really loved it and that makes me even more keen to pick it up! I don’t know if I’ll get to it this year, but it’ll definitely depend on my mood. I know that Cleeson had another Havana book that was published before this, but I don’t think they’re connected or a series? I could be wrong though, so if you’ve read either of these, please let me know!
Have you read When We Left Cuba? Is it on your Goodreads TBR too?
Leave me a comment and let’s chat!
dinipandareads 
oooh I think this is on my tbr shelf as well it sounds interesting and the cover is pretty
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How pretty is that cover right?! Honestly maybe I’m just reminded of Evelyn Hugo when I look at it. That green dress 😍 Haha
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I love how your obsession with Havana comes from Dirty Dancing. 🙂 I’ve heard great things about Chanel Cleeton but haven’t tried anything by her yet. Hope this one is a hit for you!
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Haha it’s absolutely random and I know such a romanticized view of the city/country but I became a little obsessed 😅It was definitely fuelled by DD2! I’ve heard great things about Cleeton’s books too, I hope I enjoy it as much as everyone else! Thanks, Tanya 🥰
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OMG
I have an idea
A DIRTY DANCING APPRECIATION POST!!!!!!
Am I right or am I right 😂😂😂
Did you see the TV remake???? Omg the ending…. WANTED TO SLAP WHOEVER THOUGHT THAT ENDING WAS A GOOD IDEA!!!!!!!!
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Sorry I barely looked at the book title. I just saw dirty dancing and fangirled hard 😂😂😂
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Book sounds good though… We are here for books Emer. Not Patrick Swayze….
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OMG TV REMAKE WHAT?!!??!?!
AND YAAAASSS DIRTY DANCING APPRECIATION POST!!! Yes, a thousand times, YAAAS! I’m hopping right on that wagon with you, Emer!!! Ugh, so good. Also, TV remake!! Other than that ending, did you like it?!?! Omg… I really need to check it out *fangirling!!!!!!* Aaaah.
We’re here for books, but also Patrick Swayze AND DIEGO LUNA *fanning self* 😍😍😍Hahaha oh I love the love in these comments of yours 🥰
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OMG YOU HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE DIRTY DANCING REMAKE?!?!?!? It’s an abomination Dini…. I just can’t with it. It totally takes all the charm and feels of the original and just tosses all of that out the window…. I hate it soooo much (so obviously I’ve watched it twice just so I could rant about it a second time lol!!!)
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LLOOOOOOOOOOLLLLL EMER!!! I’m going to really have to check this out. It’s a TV show right??? Not the second DD movie? Hahaha Oh wow you’ve got me cracking up with your reaction 🤣🤣🤣
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It’s a made for TV movie of the first. And I just can’t… The wooden acting. The utter lack of chemistry… Awful. God I need to rewatch it……. 😂😂😂 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TwQDvZB_fQM
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This sounds wonderful! I hope you enjoy it when you do pick it up!
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Thanks Joanna! I’m definitely looking forward to it and I don’t think I’ve actually read a book set in Cuba yet?! LOL
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