As promised, and without further ado, please welcome today’s #read99women guest: Chanel Cleeton!

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA and WHEN WE LEFT CUBA. Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Her next book THE LAST TRAIN TO KEY WEST is forthcoming in June 2020.

Chanel’s #read99women pick is THE MAP OF LOVE by Ahdaf Soueif. You can read her rave review in full on BookBub, but here are some of the most intriguing tidbits: “This is one of those books I want to buy and hand out to people because it's so amazing and deserves for its praises to be shouted from the rooftop. The writing is lyrical and stunning. The plot is intricately woven and exquisitely crafted. The characters leap off the page and the novel fairly crackles with their chemistry…. For a book that often tackles complex identity and political issues, it is an effortless read and one that immediately captivates the reader. It is the sort of book that leaves a lasting mark and the sheer beauty of Soueif's writing should not be missed.”