In contemporary Havana, "Do I stay or do I go?" is always the question, and love doesn't necessarily conquer all. A cautious, reserved professor of Spanish Literature, Marian has no idea that her quiet life is about to be turned upside down. When she's asked to review the work of a young, ambitious first-time novelist, she meets Daniel, and their love affair leads her to question both the choices she's made so far in her life and the opportunities she might yet still have. Theirs is the story of an intense and impossible love, set in today's Havana, a city where there can be no plans, where chance is the order of the day and a fierce sense of loyalty and pride coexists with the desire to live beyond the island's isolation.
"[Mylene Fernández-Pintado's] talent for characterization and deep knowledge of Cuban history shines through."
Publishers Weekly
"Fernández-Pintado's novel, capably translated challenges the tropes and stereotypes inherent in much of the literature about Cuba to add a new perspective. A sharp, funny blend of politics and romance that strikes out in a new direction."
Kirkus Reviews
"The blend of cosmopolitan energy and page-turning prose makes for unforgettable reading [and] helps to explain why [Mylene Fernández-Pintado's] work continues to be translated across the globe."
