From the Regency to Recently

Chanel Cleeton's latest, Emmelie Prophète, Jane Austen's legacy, and more ...

October 09, 2025

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BookBrowse Highlights

Hello Readers!

This week, our First Impressions readers review the latest from author Chanel Cleeton. The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes is a riveting novel featuring three women living across different time periods, Cuban history, and one mysterious book.

Our Editor’s Choice review covers Cécé by Emmelie Prophète, the story of a young woman who builds a social media following amid poverty and gang violence in modern-day Haiti.

Jane Austen lovers can enjoy our “beyond the book” article on recreational curiosities of the Regency era accompanying coverage of Madeline Bell’s The Austen Affair, along with a curated reading list of reinterpretations of Pride and Prejudice.

Plus, check out upcoming discussions and Ask the Author interviews in our community forum!

Thanks for reading,

The BookBrowse Team

First Impressions

Each month, we share books with BookBrowse members to read and review. Here are their opinions on one recently released title.

The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes by Chanel Cleeton

“This book is a fascinating look at Cuban history…a mystery that intertwines different time periods via the lives of Eva (early 1900s), Pilar (1960s), and Margo (present day). It is a story of love lost and found, betrayals and loyalties, set amid the search for a rare book written by Eva…The history of Cuba is illuminated in the hopes for positive change after freedom is gained from Spain and then repression in the era of Fidel Castro. Character development of the three primary characters was very good. It is also a story about books having the power to change lives…This would be an interesting read for book clubs.” —Ruth O. (Downingtown, PA)

“There is much to learn about personal emotions through the author's characters, but also significant points of little-known past details that have shaped national diplomacy between the United States and Cuba. Readers will be transported back in time to these real experiences.” —Juli B. (Prosper, TX)

“I stayed up late reading The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes and look forward to reading more books by this author.” —Linda M. (Ocala, FL)

For Members

This issue of The BookBrowse Review contains reviews and "beyond the book" articles for 14 titles, including Replaceable You by Mary Roach, I Am You by Victoria Redel, and Cécé by Emmelie Prophète.

We also bring you our list of The Best Books for Book Clubs in 2026, author interviews, and more.

Not Yet a Member? Do you love to spend your reading hours immersed in captivating storytelling and intriguing ideas?

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Editor’s Choice

Cécé by Emmelie Prophète

The titular heroine of Emmelie Prophète's Cécé is bold and defiant in the face of relentless hardship. Born to a troubled teen mother who died of AIDS shortly after childbirth, Cécé was raised by her beloved Grand Ma in the Cité of Divine Power, in the outer reaches of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. When she reaches her early 20s, the savviness and resilience that have been instilled within Cécé are put to the test like never before. Using what little she earns, she buys a cell phone, which she uses to document on social media the horrors that have become so commonplace in her neighborhood.

With every bullet-riddled body and poverty-stricken neighbor she posts, Cécé's online following grows—bringing her to the attention of gang leaders and marketing executives alike, who each want to exploit her platform for their own gain. … continued

Review by Callum McLaughlin

Beyond the Book

Recreational Curiosities of Jane Austen’s Era

In The Austen Affair, Madeline Bell imagines what would happen if two 21st-century actors—Tess Bright and Hugh Balfour—were hurled back in time to the early 1800s. In the middle of a heated disagreement on set, an electrical accident sends them into the Regency countryside. There, amid picnics, balls, and the difficult act of sorting out their feelings for one another, they must also figure out how to return home.

The closest thing they find to a solution is another electrical oddity: an electrifying machine. During a dinner party being held at the home of Hugh's ancestors, one of the houseguests mentions this curious invention—a real Regency pastime and pseudo-medical machine that delivered mild shocks to create amusement. In fact, the electrifying machine was only one of many unusual, if not eccentric, entertainments that Regency society embraced. … continued

Article by Alicia Calvo Hernández

Curated Reading Lists

BookBrowse offers hundreds of curated reading lists as a category of our “beyond the book” articles, which expand on an aspect of a featured book. Members have access to all articles, while non-members can read a limited number.

In connection with our coverage of Madeline Bell’s The Austen Affair (above), we’re rerunning this list of contemporary Pride and Prejudice reinterpretations, created to accompany our review of Soniah Kamal’s Unmarriagable. Enjoy!

Unmarriageable might be the first version of Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan, but it's hardly the only creative retelling of this classic novel. Fortunately for fans of Jane Austen, several other imaginative reworkings of her beloved novel have been published recently—perhaps a Jane Austen book club could tackle any or all of these and compare different versions of Austen's timeless classic! … continued

Reading list by Norah Piehl

Discussions & Ask the Author Interviews

Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions.

Currently, we’re discussing Vladimir Nabokov’s classic Lolita, among other books. Starting November 13, we feature Haven't Killed in Years by Amy K. Green.

BookBrowse is now hosting Ask the Author sessions in our community forum. We invite you to follow along and post your own questions in any interviews that interest you.

Check out our recent conversation with Graham Watson, author of The Invention of Charlotte Brontë.

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