If you are captivated by the lush, multi-generational family secrets of Beatriz Williams, the rich historical backdrops of Kristin Hannah, or the glamorous, high-stakes drama of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Chanel Cleeton deserves a permanent spot on your bookshelf. Cleeton has established herself as a powerhouse in historical fiction, particularly celebrated for breathing life into the complex, passionate history of Cuba and the exile experience.
Before she became a staple of historical fiction and a Reese’s Book Club pick, Cleeton wrote fast-paced contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Because her style shifted so significantly over her career, the absolute best way to experience her catalog is to divide her work by genre, focusing heavily on her sprawling historical universes.
The Ultimate Reading Vibe: What to Expect
Before you dive in, here are the core stylistic elements that define a Chanel Cleeton historical novel:
- Dual-Timeline Narratives: Cleeton frequently bridges the past and the present, contrasting the political upheavals of mid-20th-century Cuba with modern descendants uncovering buried family legacies.
- Fierce, Elegant Heroines: Her stories center on women navigating high-society expectations, political revolutions, and severe personal dangers while fighting fiercely for their independence and their loved ones.
1. The Cuba Saga / Perez Family Series (Chronological Order)
This is Cleeton’s crowning achievement. While these books are technically standalone historical novels that can be read independently, they are deeply interconnected through the lives, cousins, and descendants of the wealthy, exiled Perez family of Havana. Reading them in publication order lets you seamlessly trace the family tree and watch historical events unfold across different decades.
- Next Year in Havana (2018)
The breakout novel that started it all. In 2017, Marisol Ferrera travels to Havana to scatter her late grandmother Elisa’s ashes, uncovering a dual-timeline secret romance between Elisa and a passionate revolutionary in 1958. - When We Left Cuba (2019)
Focuses on Elisa’s fierce, headstrong sister, Beatriz Perez. Caught up in the dangerous espionage world of the 1960s exile community in Miami, Beatriz is recruited by the CIA to infiltrate Fidel Castro’s inner circle. - The Last Train to Key West (2020)
Set during the devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, this gripping installment follows three different women—including a young Cuban woman fleeing an arranged marriage—whose lives collide in the Florida Keys. - The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba (2021)
Set during the late 19th-century Cuban War of Independence, this story features legendary real-life revolutionary Evangelina Cisneros, tracing the high-stakes world of yellow journalism and the fight for freedom. - Our Last Days in Barcelona (2022)
In 1964, Isabel Perez travels to Spain to save her sister Beatriz, sparking a multi-generational dive into family secrets, a 1930s timeline, and the true cost of sacrifice. - A Night at the Tropicana (2023)
A glamorous companion novella that steps directly into Havana’s legendary nightlife just before the revolution. - The Cuban Heiress (2023)
A high-seas historical mystery set in 1934 aboard the luxury cruise ship SS Morro Castle, where a New York heiress and a desperate woman seeking revenge find their paths dangerously entwined.
2. Acclaimed Standalone Historical Novels (Publication Order)
Expanding beyond the core Perez family tree, Cleeton has written stunning, atmospheric standalone historical pieces exploring fresh eras, settings, and intense feminine resilience.
- The House on Biscayne Bay (2024)
A gothic-tinted, dual-timeline historical mystery set in Miami. It weaves the story of a wealthy woman in the glitzy 1920s with a 1940s storyline centered on an estate rumored to harbor a dark, dangerous curse. - The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes (2025)
A deeply moving, critically acclaimed novel that dives into the complex emotional landscape of displacement, survival, and long-buried family mysteries. - An Infinite Love Story (Scheduled Release: July 7, 2026)
Her highly anticipated 2026 release. Set against the high-stakes backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, the novel follows Vivian, an astronaut’s wife, who must look back on her epic romance to uncover the truth when her husband’s spacecraft goes missing in space.
3. Early Contemporary Romance & Suspense Series
Before pivoting entirely to historical fiction in 2018, Cleeton published several lighthearted, fast-paced, and high-chemistry contemporary romance series under the same name.
International School Series
- I See London (2013)
- London Falling (2014)
- French Kissed (2014)
Capital Confessions Series
- Flirting with Scandal (2015)
- Playing with Trouble (2015)
- Falling for Danger (2015)
Wild Aces Series (Military Romance)
- Fly with Me (2016)
- Into the Blue (2016)
- On Broken Wings (2017)
Assassins Series
- Between Shadows (2016)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can “The Cuba Saga” books be read out of order?
Yes, they can. Chanel Cleeton explicitly designs each installment to focus on a self-contained plot with a definitive resolution. However, because characters mention previous family scandals and reappear as elder statesmen or background figures, reading them in order offers a much more satisfying experience of the Perez family legacy.
Are her early romance novels connected to her historical fiction?
No. Her early books (like the Wild Aces or International School series) are strictly modern, contemporary romance novels featuring lighter themes and higher spice levels. They do not cross over into her later historical fiction universes.
Final Thoughts: A Masterful Witness to History
Chanel Cleeton stands out as an elite historical storyteller because she brilliantly balances meticulous research with deeply intimate, human emotions. By embedding high-stakes political realities directly into the personal heartbreaks of her characters, her books leave an indelible mark on the reader. Grab a copy of Next Year in Havana or book your stay at The House on Biscayne Bay to start your reading journey today!
Know Your Author
Hi, I’m Emon
I’m the voice and heart behind Whimsy Read. After nine years in the world of banking, I followed my passion for storytelling into the world of SEO and content strategy. Now, I blend that analytical eye with a deep love for literature to bring you book reviews that are thoughtful, honest, and always focused on the stories that stay with you.
When I’m not reading or writing, you’ll find me enjoying joyful chaos with my wife and three kids, getting lost in a new series, or revisiting my old loves: theater, music, and gaming. At the end of the day, I believe great books are meant to be shared, and I’m so glad you’re here to share them with me.
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