By Coral Gables Gazette staff
When acclaimed novelist Cleyvis Natera steps into the intimate space of Books & Books in Coral Gables on Friday, August 15, she will bring with her the shimmering beauty and simmering tensions of her latest work, The Grand Paloma Resort. Set in a lavish Dominican Republic paradise, the novel offers readers a captivating journey into a world where sunlit luxury masks deep social divides, and where the cost of perfection is measured in human terms.
Hosted by Books & Books and the Books & Books Literary Foundation, the free event invites readers to hear Natera discuss her second novel, published by Ballantine Books. The conversation promises to be as layered and gripping as the story itself — a tale that unspools over seven tense days, revealing the pressures, choices, and moral compromises faced by those working behind the resort’s flawless façade.
The story behind the story
At the center of The Grand Paloma Resort is Laura, a Dominican woman whose rise to the coveted position of resort manager represents both personal triumph and the possibility of a new life beyond the island’s tourist economy. Her innovation — pairing wealthy “platinum” guests with dedicated staff to cater to their every whim — has proved wildly successful. With a promotion just weeks away, Laura’s future appears set. But success is fragile, and the behavior of others — especially her younger sister Elena — could shatter it.
Elena works as a babysitter for resort guests, a job that puts her in close proximity to tourists who, behind closed doors, indulge their worst impulses. Struggling with substance dependence and yearning to escape the grind, Elena makes a decision that spirals into catastrophe: a child in her care is believed dead, and a later encounter with the child’s father draws her into a dangerous transaction. When two young girls go missing, the resort’s carefully cultivated glamour collides with a darker, more desperate reality.
Natera’s tightly wound narrative reveals the resort’s beauty — the turquoise water, the gleaming suites, the gentle hum of service — even as it exposes the social inequities and moral dilemmas lurking just beyond the postcard view.
A voice of acclaim and authenticity
Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York after immigrating at the age of ten, Natera draws on her bicultural experience to craft fiction that resonates with authenticity and empathy. Her debut novel, Neruda on the Park, garnered critical praise for its exploration of gentrification, identity, and family bonds. With The Grand Paloma Resort, she turns her lens toward the tourist economy’s human cost, crafting a story that, as novelist Xochitl Gonzalez notes, “will upend readers’ assumptions about power, pleasure and moral salvation.”
Natera’s literary achievements are matched by her professional accolades: fellowships and awards from PEN America, the International Latino Book Awards, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and more. She is also a Fulbright Specialist and has served residencies at prestigious artist retreats across the country.
The event experience
The August 15 program will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables. Attendance is free, but RSVPs are encouraged to ensure space. Copies of The Grand Paloma Resort will be available for purchase, and Natera will be on hand to sign books. For those who attended her past appearances or have followed her rise since Neruda on the Park, the evening offers a chance to hear directly from one of contemporary literature’s compelling voices.
For Coral Gables readers, the event offers more than just an author talk — it is an opportunity to engage with a work that speaks to the complexities of the Caribbean experience, the interplay between service and selfhood, and the universal quest for redemption. Whether drawn by the suspense of the plot, the allure of the Dominican setting, or the chance to meet an acclaimed author in person, attendees can expect an evening of literary insight and conversation.
Event Details
- What: An Evening with Cleyvis Natera — The Grand Paloma Resort
- When: Friday, August 15, 7:00–8:00 p.m.
- Where: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables, FL
- Cost: Free; books available for purchase
- RSVP: Books & Books event page
- Contact: 305.442.4408
