The Lost Story of Eva Fuenteswill hit shelves next summer on July 1.
See the cover below, and read on for an exclusive excerpt.
Berkley
“Ill keep it safe for you, Pilar promised.
Chanel Cleeton and ‘The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes’.Chris Malpass; Berkley
The wordsuntil you might returnwere on her lips, but she didnt voice them.
Hope was nearly as hard to find as meat in Cuba these days.
Thank you, Zenaida replied.
Berkley
Shed never been asked to return a book to its author.
Surely, Eva Fuentes had copies of her own book?
What was so special about this edition?
My mother and Eva lost touch after I was born, Zenaida added.
I never met Eva.
They didnt know where she had gone, but they believed shes still in Cuba.
life got away from me.
The book disappeared from my thoughts.
It wasnt until we were going through our belongings that I remembered it.
She ducked her head.
yo, Zenaida finished, the look in her gaze
What could she say?
How could she not help?
Ill do everything I can to find Eva Fuentes.
Loss enveloped them, the kind that could not be made whole.
Its in English, Zenaida added.
But Enrique mentioned once that you spoke English.
you could read it if you want.
I know how you like books.
It must be difficult being alone here.
Tears pricked Pilars eyes.
For her to come to Pilar with this and ask her for help must have given Zenaida pause.
So here she was, offering something of valuea story for Pilar who loved books above nearly all else.
Thank you, Pilar echoed.
In a manner of speaking, they had both lost their homesphysical and emotionalto the revolution.
Initially, Zenaida seemed caught off guard by the hug.
Zenaida had places to go.
They offered each other hasty goodbyes, words that inevitably failed to meet the gravity of the situation.
And still, they were both Cuban.
When she settled into bed, Pilar turned her attention to the novel Zenaida had left in her care.
A Time for Forgettingby Eva Fuentes
There was a pact that existed between an author and a reader.
Read me and I will tell you all my secrets.
Pilar began to read.
Excerpted from The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton Copyright 2025 by Chanel Cleeton.
Excerpted by permission of Berkley.
No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
