First published 2010
Cesar and Nestor Castillo arrive in New York from Havana with their instruments and dreams of success. The brothers perform in Manhattan dance halls, their Cuban rhythms drawing crowds who move to the mambo beats that give their band its identity. Cesar embraces his role as the confident frontman while Nestor pours his romantic disappointments into songwriting. They navigate the music scene of the Upper West Side, performing night after night as they build their reputation. Nestor struggles with memories of a woman he left behind in Cuba, channeling his heartbreak into melodies. Cesar pursues women and acclaim with equal intensity. The brothers find themselves caught between their Cuban heritage and American ambitions, between the success they taste and the greater fame that remains just out of reach. Their music becomes the bridge between two worlds, carrying the sounds of their homeland into New York's vibrant nightlife. At its heart, this is a story about brotherhood, music, and the price of pursuing dreams in a new country.
Genres: fiction, american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, music
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, pursuit-of-dreams
Setting: Havana, New York
Period: 20th Century
448 pages · Paperback · Hachette Books