Estelita Rodriguez began singing at the age of nine years old. This led to her singing in a nightclub in 1936. She went from Havana, Cuba to New York to Hollywood. While she achieved the spotlight, things did not shine bright for her - by any stretch of the imagination.

For one thing, Estelita and her daughter Gina were among the many victims of the 1933 Cuban Revolution. The tragedies that happened to Estelita and her family were beyond horrid. Additionally, Estelita never gave up in her search for love, marrying several men over the course of her life.

Although this book is marketed as historical fiction, it is based on Estelita's true-life story and how her death affected her daughter Nina. As this tragic story is relayed, it is done in the form of memories taken from both Estelita's and Gina's points of view, almost in journal fashion. The author, Serena Burdick, combined research that were based on both true events as well as various interviews.

One of the events relayed in this book is during the filming of the movie Rio Bravo as well as the mention of famous personalities that were in Estelita's life while she was a Hollywood icon. Whether singing or acting, Estelita definitely achieved fame. However, her life was never easy, especially during some extremely difficult years in Cuba, her marriages and while parenting daughter Gina. It was her death years later that was explored in this book, which was no easy read and one that will be with me for quite some time. Find Me in Havana dealt with many issues. especially when Cuban history was part of the story. Also, there were other serious, often disturbing events related in this book, which might just warrant trigger warnings for rape, suicide, molestation, brutality and murder.

Many thanks to Park Row Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.