The Optimistic Cuban

In a city torn by revolution, his heart is caught between love, loyalty, and the price of freedom.

In 1959 Havana, middle-class student activist Fernando fights against the corrupt, U.S.-backed Batista regime. Initially elated by the success of Castro’s Communist Revolution, Fernando’s excitement soon fades as he grapples with the harsh realities of the new government’s oppression.

Meanwhile, his beloved Julia and best friend Gustavo, who come from impoverished Black families, are hopeful that the Revolution will bring long-awaited social change. This difference in political beliefs creates friction, but Fernando’s feelings for Julia remain strong. When faced with challenges to his personal life and values, Fernando must navigate a world of divided loyalties, harsh political realities, and deep social divides.

As tensions mount, Fernando finds himself at a crossroads, torn between his homeland and a future elsewhere. Ultimately, he faces a choice that will test his beliefs, his loyalties, and the depth of his love.

José Sotolongo was born in Cuba. His work has been featured in various literary journals, including Atticus Review, Border Crossings, The Southampton Review, Third Coast, and Miracle Monocle. His fiction has been nominated twice for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. A second novel, Knowing Grace, is set for release in 2025 by Evolved Press. He lives with his husband in the Catskills of New York.