Chanel Cleeton Books in Order

Where to Start with Chanel Cleeton's Novels

If you are new to Chanel Cleeton, the absolute best place to start is her breakout historical fiction novel, Next Year in Havana. Published in 2018, this Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick serves as the foundation for her celebrated Perez Family series (frequently called "The Cuba Saga"). It introduces the family's exile from Cuba and sets the emotional and thematic backdrop for the subsequent books.

While the novels are written so they can be read as standalones, Cleeton herself recommends reading the Perez Family saga in publication order to fully appreciate the recurring characters, overlapping timelines, and the evolving genealogy of the family. If you prefer to skip the multi-generational family trees and dive straight into standalone historical mysteries or gothic suspense, you can easily start with The House on Biscayne Bay or The Cuban Heiress.

The Perez Family Series (Cuba Saga) Order

This series follows the lives, romances, and political trials of the Perez family across different generations. While each book focuses on a different character or branch of the family, they share a rich narrative thread about the Cuban diaspora, exile, and survival.

Publication Order

1. Next Year in Havana (2018) – Follows Elisa Perez in 1958 Havana during the revolution, and her granddaughter Marisol in 2017 Miami/Havana.
2. When We Left Cuba (2019) – Follows Elisa's fierce sister, Beatriz Perez, during the 1960s in Florida, navigating espionage and exile during the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
3. The Last Train to Key West (2020) – Follows three women, including Mirta Perez, whose lives intersect in the Florida Keys during the devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.
4. The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba (2021) – Draws on the true historical story of revolutionary Evangelina Cisneros in the 1890s, alongside the fictional Marina Perez.
5. Our Last Days in Barcelona (2022) – Focuses on Isabel Perez (the eldest sister) in 1964 Spain as she searches for Beatriz, alternating with her mother Alicia's story in 1936 Barcelona.

Chronological Order & Historical Settings

Because Chanel Cleeton frequently writes using dual-timeline narratives, reading the books in chronological order offers a fascinating journey through Cuban and American history. Here is how the books line up chronologically by their historical settings:

• The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba (Set in the late 1890s, during the Cuban War of Independence and the Spanish-American War)
• The Cuban Heiress (Set in 1934, centered around the mysterious fire aboard the luxury cruise ship SS Morro Castle)
• The Last Train to Key West (Set in 1935, during the historic Labor Day Hurricane in the Florida Keys)
• Our Last Days in Barcelona (Dual timelines: historical portion in 1936 Spain during the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War; later portion in 1964)
• Next Year in Havana (Dual timelines: 1958–1959 Havana on the eve of the Cuban Revolution; and 2017 modern-day Havana)
• When We Left Cuba (Set in the 1960s, following the immediate aftermath of the Cuban Revolution and exile politics)

Standalone Historical Novels & Novellas

Cleeton has expanded her historical fiction library beyond the Perez family tree, writing several standalone books that highlight different eras of history, mystery, and romance. These require no background knowledge of the Perez family and can be read in any order:

• A Night at the Tropicana (2023) – A standalone novella set in 1939 Havana during the opening night of the Tropicana nightclub, with framing scenes in 1969 Miami.
• The Cuban Heiress (2023) – A standalone historical thriller set in 1934 aboard the ill-fated passenger ship SS Morro Castle.
• The House on Biscayne Bay (2024) – A gothic historical mystery set in Miami, alternating between a newly built estate in 1918 and a mysterious death in 1941.
• The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes (2025) – A multi-timeline historical novel tracking three women in 1900 Boston, 1966 Havana, and 2024 London.
• An Infinite Love Story (2026) – A historical romance set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, following an astronaut's wife determined to find the truth about her husband's disappearance.

Chanel Cleeton's Contemporary Romance Series

Before transitioning to historical fiction, Cleeton wrote popular contemporary romance and new adult series. If you enjoy quick-witted dialogue, heavy romance, and contemporary settings, these should be read in their individual series orders.

International School Series

This young adult/new adult contemporary series follows students navigating relationships, drama, and growing up in study-abroad environments.

1. I See London (2013)
2. London Falling (2014)
3. French Kissed (2014)

Capital Confessions Series

A contemporary romance series centered around the political scandals, secrets, and high-society matches of Washington, D.C.

1. Flirting with Scandal (2015)
2. Playing with Trouble (2015)
3. Falling for Danger (2015)

Wild Aces Series

A contemporary military romance series focusing on U.S. Air Force fighter pilots and their intense love lives.

1. Fly with Me (2016)
2. Into the Blue (2016)
3. On Broken Wings (2017)

Assassins Series

A contemporary romantic suspense novel focusing on danger, espionage, and secrets.

• Between Shadows (2016)

What to Know Before You Start

Cleeton’s writing style relies heavily on lush, atmospheric settings and dual-timeline structures that contrast historical struggles with modern-day legacy. Her historical fiction is deeply researched, reflecting her family's lived experiences of fleeing Cuba after the 1959 revolution. You will find recurring themes of political exile, family duty, sacrifice, and resilient female leads. Her early contemporary works, by contrast, focus more on modern romantic tropes and fast-paced relationship dynamics, making her bibliography a diverse mix for readers of various tastes.