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There are currently 28 member reviews
for The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
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Wanda T. (The Villages, FL)
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
This historical fiction revolves around a missing novel that holds secrets about its author, Eva Fuentes. It is written in 3 time periods: about Margo in This historical fiction revolves around a missing novel that holds secrets about its author, Eva Fuentes. It is written in 3 time periods: about Margo in 2024, Pilar in 1966 and Eva in 1900.
Margo is hired to find a missing novel, Pilar is entrusted with the novel during the political upheaval in Cuba by Fidel Castro and Eva wrote the novel one summer while in America. The lives of these 3 women become intertwined as the story progresses but not without murder, trauma, intrigue and eventually gratification for mystery solved. Historical fiction novels always spur me on to read more about the history involved in the story.
You will find out why Eva was in America one particular summer. I have read all of Chanel Cleeton's novels and she never disappoints!!
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Beth M. (Westhampton Beach, NY)
Three interconnected timelines about saving a book.
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 each woman and need to keep reading to find out what happens. Plus if you love historical fiction this book is for you.
This quote summarizes the beauty of this book: "there is something about books that brought people together, a passion, a devotion that created an intimate bond and understanding… they linked readers in unforgettable ways. Sharing a favorite book was like creating a shared history between people who had navigated the life and the world that existed within.
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Borderlass, Belmont, MA
Cuba Libre Comes to Women's Fiction: History Made Accessible
Writer Chanel Cleeton does some of her best work here in this tale that incorporates the intertwined lives of three different women over three time periods. Cuba's political history serves as a backdrop to this contemporary murder mystery cum modern romance. The book has much to commend it for book clubs and individual book lovers. An accompanying reader's guide will enliven any group discussion.
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Sandi W. (East Moline, IL)
A bit of intrigue, a bit of romance and a murder
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.
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Lee L. (Los Angeles, CA)
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
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.
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Lynne B. (Somersworth, NH)
Cleeton's Newest Historical Mystery Is a Ten
Having read and reviewed several of Chanel Cleeton's novels, I find The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is the best yet. I was drawn in to the strong and defiant women characters immediately. With the history of Cuban life brought in with the setting it was also a chance to experience life in Cuba in 1900 and 1966.
The Cuban-American cultural exchange was also a very interesting historical element that I had never heard about. The mystery develops rather quickly as our present day heroine Margo is involved in trying to recover an important book which has only one existing copy in the world. It seems that it is worth more than anyone can imagine to certain people. The background of this book involves the woman who first wrote it, the woman who was given it to rescue and the generations after who desired it.
If you have ever found a book that personally resonated with you then you will surely empathize with this story. It is a story of women who have the courage to fight for what they want and about a book that changes all of their lives.
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Dawn Z. (Canton, MI)
Engaging Across Eras—With One Historical Hiccup
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. The story unfolds in three parts across three distinct time periods: Margo, an American living in London in 2024; Pilar, a woman navigating life in Havana under the Castro regime in 1966; and Eva, also a Havanan woman, working as a teacher in 1900.
Margo's and Pilar's stories felt realistic and engaging, but Eva's narrative didn't ring as true for me. In Chapter 3, she's described in a way that suggests she has considerable teaching experience, but the text later reveals that she was born at the end of the Ten Years' War, which would make her only twenty-two in 1900. I realize teacher training requirements were different in the late nineteenth century, but that discrepancy stood out. Additionally, part of Eva's story involves spending significant time alone with a man, including public displays of affection—behavior that seems unlikely for a young, unmarried woman of that time. Her lack of concern about her reputation or the social norms of the era made her character less convincing to me.
While I found Pilar's and Margo's stories compelling, the novel's central focus on a book Eva wrote—and my difficulty connecting with her character—made the overall reading experience less satisfying.
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