Book Review: ‘Find Me In Havana: A Novel’ By Serena Burdick

A fantastic historical novel looking at the life of one of Hollywood’s biggest Hispanic actresses and the daughter who never really knew her very well. Readers will be engaged throughout the story, with great looks at the situation in Cuba and how it affected one woman and her family. Author Serena Burdick has done her homework and even interviewed Nina for this book.

Estelita Rodriquez at the age of 15 travels to New York and sings at the legendary Copacabana with her mother. There she meets Chu Chu Martinez, who is a famous singer from Mexico. She ends up marrying him and at the age of 18 she has a baby named Nina and finds herself in Mexico. She’s told no more performing and this doesn’t sit well with her and she takes off with her mother and daughter for Hollywood and signs a picture deal, leaving little time for Nina. Then Chu Chu takes her and it leads to a chase to regain her. When she dies it leaves Nina wondering about her mother and through a series of letters she will have to come to grips with her relationship and who her mother was.

You can pick up Find Me In Havana in stores now.