The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba

By: Chanel Cleeton

Narrated by: Frankie Corzo, Holly Linneman, Rebecca Soler

Named one of 2021’s Most Anticipated Historical Novels and Best Beach Reads by Entertainment Weekly ∙ Oprah Magazine ∙ Travel + Leisure ∙ BuzzFeed ∙ Parade ∙ PopSugar ∙ Bustle ∙ SheReads ∙ Brit + Co and more!

“An exciting and inspiring read that shows us how womanhood, courage and revolution are three words that often mean the same thing.”―NPR

At the end of the nineteenth century, three revolutionary women fight for freedom in New York Times bestselling 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.

Loosely based on a true story

I was shocked to find out that some of the characters were real. I learned some history while reading for pleasure :)

Very interesting Historical Romance

Part of Cleeton's Cuba series, set in the last year's of the nineteenth century. The years of the third Cuban war for Independence from Spain; William Randolph Hearst's meddling to get the US involved in a shooting war with Spain; and his media invention of "The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba" as part of that effort. Well written, with fully-formed characters and a clear glimpse of the horror of the Spanish war to quell Cuban independence.

Excellent Vehicle for Historic Understanding!!!

Great Novel!!! It brought many of the historical elements into Human Focus. Also a bit of added drama helps also.

Wonderful

Heartwrenching novel of three woman , whose lives cross during a very difficult time in their lives , courageous and amazing read!

For lovers of Historical fiction

As a history buff I enjoy reading a lot of historical fiction. Many historical fiction books are written about medieval Europe or the World Wars. I appreciate that the author selected a period in history that is usually forgotten and that she took the time to research and include many details into her writing. Good read and well narrated. Highly recommend.