Our Last Days in Barcelona - by Chanel Cleeton (Paperback)

About the Book

"Barcelona, 1964. Exiled from Cuba after the revolution, Isabel Perez has learned to guard her heart and protect her family at all costs. After Isabel's sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her. Joining forces with an unlikely ally thrusts Isabel into her sister's dangerous world of espionage, but it is an unearthed piece of family history that transforms Isabel's life. Barcelona, 1936. Alicia Perez arrives in Barcelona after a difficult voyage from Cuba, her marriage in jeopardy and her young daughter Isabel in tow. Violence brews in Spain, the country on the brink of civil war, the rise of fascism threatening the world. When Cubans journey to Spain to join the International Brigades, Alicia's past comes back to haunt her as she is unexpectedly reunited with the man who once held her heart. Alicia's and Isabel's lives intertwine, and the past and present collide, as a mother and daughter are forced to choose between their family's expectations and following their hearts"--

Book Synopsis

An NPR Best Book of 2022

"A master class in family and political drama, in star-crossed love stories and in capturing the enormity of what home is."--NPR

When Isabel Perez travels to Barcelona to save her sister Beatriz, she discovers a shocking family secret in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton's new novel.

Barcelona, 1964. Exiled from Cuba after the revolution, Isabel Perez has learned to guard her heart and protect her family at all costs. After Isabel's sister Beatriz disappears in Barcelona, Isabel goes to Spain in search of her. Joining forces with an unlikely ally thrusts Isabel into her sister's dangerous world of espionage, but it's an unearthed piece of family history that transforms Isabel's life.

Barcelona, 1936. Alicia Perez arrives in Barcelona after a difficult voyage from Cuba, her marriage in jeopardy and her young daughter Isabel in tow. Violence brews in Spain, the country on the brink of civil war, the rise of fascism threatening the world. When Cubans journey to Spain to join the International Brigades, Alicia's past comes back to haunt her as she is unexpectedly reunited with the man who once held her heart.

Alicia and Isabel's lives intertwine, and the past and present collide, as a mother and daughter are forced to choose between their family's expectations and following their hearts.

Review Quotes

"There's no one better than Cleeton at intertwining tales of mothers and daughters with war and revolution... a riveting tale."
--Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye

"Cleeton is a master at weaving together stories across dual timelines, and this is no exception. The novel pulses with her signature blend of intrigue, betrayal, and the redemptive power of unleashing family secrets."
--Entertainment Weekly

"Cleeton vividly describes Barcelona through the eyes of her protagonists; the city, and its mixture of art and tragedy, is the perfect backdrop for Alicia's struggle and Isabel's soul-searching.... The Perez women display their strength in very different ways, and Cleeton celebrates each for their fortitude...[and] sensitively explores the multiple factors that affect her characters' decisions. Their lives are shaped not only by political events at home and abroad, but by their family's expectations and their precarious social status as immigrants to the U.S. Full of rich historical detail and vibrant characters, Our Last Days in Barcelona stands on its own, but also gives readers another glimpse into the continuing story of the Perez family."
--Shelf Awareness

"Cleeton weaves the three women's stories together to create another charming historical novel about strong women facing adversity in life and love, who are passionately loyal to family and forever yearning for their lost homeland."
--Booklist

"Cleeton's devoted fans as well as readers new to her work will be captivated by this original and evocative story of love, loyalty, betrayal and redemption."
--Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman With the Blue Star

"A profoundly moving story about sacrifices made in the name of family and legacy, and the lasting repercussions of losing one's homeland. Utterly captivating."
--Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace

"Since her bestselling debut, Next Year In Havana, Chanel Cleeton has been a go-to for historical fiction that delivers complex female characters and gripping family drama. ... Cleeton is a master at weaving storylines brimming with intrigue and the prevailing power of love."
--Oprah Daily

"This novel of family, loss, and war is not only an extraordinary journey through some of the 20th century's most pivotal struggles, but also an epic tale of what can happen when we have the courage to face who we really are--perhaps the most revolutionary thought of all. I loved it."
--Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names

"Nobody writes about the special bond between sisters as well as Chanel Cleeton. This is the book you're going to want to read this summer!"
--Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan

"From Cuba to Barcelona to Palm Beach, Cleeton describes historical events so accurately and vividly that readers will feel transported to the 1930s and '60s. Historical fiction fans will love this novel by Cleeton and its perfectly detailed descriptions of a long-gone era."
--Library Journal

"Travel back in time to Spain in the 1930s and 1960s in this riveting read."
--BookBub

"This sun-splashed story is one of longing, loyalty, and the many complicated ways in which we can love within a family.... Told with heart and beauty [it] is irresistible."
--Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post

"Told with great care and sensitivity, this story will have you cheering for love's ability to prevail."
--Susan Meissner, USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things

"Cleeton's tender narration makes clear the warring factions of our (women's) emotions as we make decisions that will affect social standing, not letting our family down, feelings of helplessness, and our own best interests. ... she also expresses complex thoughts extremely effectively. ... Book clubs that discuss Our Last Days in Barcelona will have a plethora of themes and topics to explore. Feminism, women in history, war, the fight for independence and our role in society are all ideas that will engender some serious conversations. It's a lovely and entertaining read, but it's also so much more."
--BookReporter

"Place, family, and sacrifice complete the beautiful landscape painted in Chanel Cleeton's riveting masterpiece."
--Vanessa Riley, Bestselling Author of Island Queen

"Cleeton's complex female characters and evocative settings, spiced with a dollop of political drama, make this a pleasing outing."
--Publishers Weekly

"Superbly paced, suspenseful, and sumptuous!"
--Weina Dai Randel, award-winning author of The Last Rose of Shanghai

"The Perez sisters are back in this moving follow-up to Next Year in Havana and When We Left Cuba."
--Lorena Hughes, author of The Spanish Daughter

"Fans who've come to expect Cleeton's brilliant storytelling, vivid descriptions, historically accurate events, and beloved characters will rejoice in this extraordinary novel of heartbreak and resilience."
--Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany

"Thrills, excites and surprises you from the very first page."
--Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Summer Island

"A powerhouse of a novel. Amidst the glamour and violence of Barcelona, Cleeton wraps the reader in a story that deals with the power of love, the bonds of family, and the heartbreaking choices to protect the ones we love."
--Jennifer Probst, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti

"Impeccably researched, Cleeton once again strikes that perfect balance between historical fiction and the kind of love story that appeals to the romantic in all of us."
--Renée Rosen, USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces

"At once thrilling, nostalgic, and utterly romantic...Readers will fall in love with the brave and charming Perez women."
--Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina

"A moving, beautifully written portrayal of the loss and limbo of displacement, and how women find the courage to begin again, to love again, and to ultimately become themselves against all odds."
--Evie Dunmore, USA Today bestselling author of Portrait of a Scotsman

"Cleeton masterfully weaves a tale about mothers, daughters, and sisters, the sacrifices they make, the daring they brave, but most of all the eye opening journey of self discovery. Not to be missed!"
--Eliza Knight, USA Today bestselling author of The Mayfair Bookshop

"This beautiful reflection on family, politics, and love will keep you reading late into the night."
--Bryn Turnbull, Author of The Woman Before Wallis

"Another satisfying story filled with all of the daring and glamour we have come to expect from the Perez sisters."
--Kaia Alderson, Author of Sisters in Arms

"A mesmerizing novel filled with anticipation, romance and surprises that will captivate readers until the end."
--Georgie Blalock, Author of The Other Windsor Girl

"A breathtakingly beautiful tale of love and loss. Readers will gasp, cry, and swoon and relate to the women in this incredible novel."
--Alana Quintana Albertson, Author of Ramón and Julieta

"A heartbreaking yet empowering story that beautifully depicts the strength of women as they bear the weight of familial obligation while trying to find their voice and follow their hearts."
--Jane Igharo, Author of The Sweetest Remedy

Praise for the novels of Chanel Cleeton

"A beautiful novel that's full of forbidden passions, family secrets and a lot of courage and sacrifice."
--Reese Witherspoon

"A sweeping love story and tale of courage and familial and patriotic legacy that spans generations."
--Entertainment Weekly

"Next Year in Havana reminds us that while love is complicated and occasionally heartbreaking, it's always worth the risk."
--NPR

"A thrilling story about love, loss, and what we will do to go home again. Utterly unputdownable."
--PopSugar

"A remarkable writer"
--The Washington Post

"You won't be able to put this one down."
--Cosmopolitan

"With rich historical detail, incisive dialogue and a firebrand heroine, Cleeton paints a vivid portrait of a woman caught in the currents of a turbulent time yet determined to make her own way."
--Shelf Awareness

"An exhilarating read with a fearless heroine."
--Woman's World

"Has sex, drama, suspense...and pairs perfectly with a mojito."
--People

"This Cuban-set historical novel is just what you need to get that extra-summery feeling"
--Bustle

"The Ultimate Beach Read"
--Real Simple

"Historical fiction fans will love this novel and its perfectly detailed descriptions of a long-gone era. This is another slam-dunk from Cleeton."
--Library Journal (starred review)

About the Author

Originally from Florida, Chanel Cleeton grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England, where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London, and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.