The Last Train to Key West

The Last Train to Key West follows three women whose lives intersect in the Florida Keys during Labor Day weekend of 1935. Their stories converge against the backdrop of an impending hurricane that would become one of the most destructive storms in U.S. history. Helen is a waitress in Key West trying to build a new life, while Mirta is a Cuban American newlywed on her honeymoon with a mysterious husband. Elizabeth, who comes from New York's high society, travels to the Keys searching for someone from her past. Each woman faces life-altering decisions as the hurricane approaches the islands. The narrative alternates between their perspectives as they navigate romance, danger, and survival in the days leading up to the devastating storm. The novel explores themes of resilience and reinvention, examining how catastrophic events can force people to reveal their true character. Through its historical backdrop, it considers questions of class, privilege, and the price of starting over.

Readers appreciate the detailed historical backdrop of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and the railroad construction in the Florida Keys. Many note the well-researched portrayal of Cuban immigration and the WWI veteran work camps. The three female protagonists resonate with readers who highlight their strength and determination. Reviews frequently mention the engaging romance subplots and how they complement rather than overshadow the historical events. Some readers found the multiple storylines hard to follow, particularly in the first few chapters. A portion of reviews mention that the ending felt rushed compared to the careful pacing of earlier chapters. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (24,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (2,800+ ratings) BookBub: 4.4/5 (1,900+ ratings) "The historical details transport you right into 1935 Key West" - Goodreads reviewer "Character transitions were sometimes jarring" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect balance of history and human stories" - BookBub reviewer

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🌴 The devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which serves as the backdrop for this novel, remains the strongest hurricane to ever make landfall in Florida, with wind speeds reaching 185 mph. 🚂 The Florida East Coast Railway's Key West Extension, featured prominently in the book, was known as "Flagler's Folly" and cost $50 million to build (equivalent to about $1.3 billion today). 💫 Author Chanel Cleeton draws inspiration from her own Cuban-American heritage when writing her historical novels set in Florida and Cuba, including this one. 🌊 Many of the World War I veterans who died in the 1935 hurricane were part of a federal works project in the Florida Keys, living in flimsy work camps that offered little protection from the storm. 🗝️ The railway to Key West, which gave the book its name, was completely destroyed by the hurricane and never rebuilt - the overseas highway (US 1) was built using many of the railway's original bridges.