When single mother Mallory’s son needs a kidney, her best friend helps her realize she needs the help of her high school romance, who doesn’t know he has a son, and happens to be a famous musician. She also gets surprises of her own, about her adopted mother, and an Egyptian bracelet that has been passed down through generations.

Throughout the story, there is a second plot line in Cairo Egypt from 1951. Both stories feature families with fathers who are secrets. I feel like it was more about lovers than husbands, but I did love the cover of the hardback.

I liked the modern timeline better than the historical. For some reason I had a harder time keeping up with it and the characters. I read this about the same time as The Summer We Ran and it seemed kind of similar to me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! I loved the dual timeline, multi-generational story, and all the characters. The characters felt so real and flushed out, I found myself cheering them on like they were my close friends.

I'll for sure read more by Beatriz Williams, she never disappoints! Her historical fiction is always some of my favorite. If you're a historical fiction fan, do yourself a favor and read this (or anything else by her)!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure how I skipped my feedback on this one for NetGalley, but I thought it was good! Here is my Goodreads review:

I appreciated the trio timeline of this one. It was hard to put down. The characters were compelling, I was mostly drawn to Hannah's story and could have read an entire novel on that story alone. I didn't know much about 1950's Egypt, but now I want to read more from this time period and location. This is one of those stories that you'll be thinking about far down the road. It was incredible!

I absolutely loved this book. Beatriz has a way of telling a story for sure. I loved the dual timelines and how it felt almost like you were filling tow different stories that all came together at the end. And there was a twist in the end that I really did guess.

Husbands & Lovers is an absolute must-read. Whether you love historical fiction or not, this story is incredibly moving, brilliantly written and will keep you turning the pages. I truly did not want this book to end. Williams is a master of storytelling.

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Husbands & Lovers—the dual timelines and rich settings pulled me in, especially the scenes in 1950s Cairo. Some parts felt a little drawn out, but overall it was an emotional, layered read that kept me hooked. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Beatriz Williams delivers another fantastic read with Husbands & Lovers. This book is the perfect blend of romance and suspense. The story follows Miranda Schuyler, a 1950s socialite whose seemingly perfect marriage hides dark secrets. As Miranda uncovers the truth, she emerges as a quietly powerful figure navigating love, control, and self-discovery.

Williams’ signature dual timeline and elegant writing are on full display.. Familiar characters from her previous books make appearances, but the story stands strong on its own. The novel thoughtfully explores gaslighting, societal expectations, and female resilience, all while keeping the reader hooked. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!

**Husbands & Lovers** by Beatriz Williams is such a sweeping, emotional, and completely absorbing read. I loved how it moved between modern-day New England and 1950s Cairo, weaving together family secrets, romance, and all the complicated choices we make for love. The characters feel so real and layered — you’ll root for them and ache for them at the same time. It’s got that perfect mix of heart, history, and a little bit of intrigue that keeps you turning pages late into the night. If you love rich, multi-generational stories with strong women at the center, this one is such a treat!

Beatriz Williams' Husbands & Lovers is an absolute must-read that truly delivers everything she does so well. This author has become one of my favorites, and this book certainly solidifies that!
You'll find all the elements that make her historical fiction dramas so compelling here, including those fun reoccurring characters that tie her universe together. What makes this one particularly great is how she expertly weaves intertwined storylines from different eras. This layered approach keeps you totally hooked, as you jump between captivating periods, seeing how past events ripple through time and impact characters in surprising ways. It's a rich, engaging read that gives you that perfect blend of historical intrigue and satisfying emotional drama. Definitely pick it up!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

“Every exchange between human beings is a bargain of some kind. Actual treasure or moral treasure, it’s all the same. You agree on your price and make the transaction.”


I'm not sure why I waited so long to dive into Husbands & Lovers. I've had this ARC for a very long time and only decided to jump into it because the audiobook was available. Life has been a little hectic lately and audiobooks are always a win in my eyes. They are just so easy to listen to while doing chores, working, or who knows what else.

And that's exactly how I devoured this in one day. I'd say one sitting... but how often was I actually sitting today? Not that much (just in case you were wondering). Anyways, this was so freaking good that I couldn't even pause the dang book! I absolutely needed to know what was going to happen next and how this was all going to end.

In this, you will meet a lot of people but the book mostly focuses on Mallory and Hannah. Within two to three timelines, you see them grow and fall in love. Sure, mistakes were made here and there. Fights happened along the way too. And yet, they lived.

On top of that, they are figuring out their family and where they came from. It's fascinating when people find out someone was adopted at one point in their family tree. So, to try and figure out where a parent came from and if they have other family out there was just interesting. I'm not sure how I would handle the news if it were me. Probably freak out.

In the end, this was so good and I'm annoyed that I waited so long to read this. I mean, listen to it. Ugh, I won't make that mistake ever again. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book from Beatriz.

♾️ multiple timelines
🐍 family heirloom
🌏 historical fiction
🧍‍♀️ single mom FMC
🍄 child on dialysis
🎸 music star MMC

Here’s to another novel I requested based on all the hype I saw on Bookstagram. Requested on a whim, meaning I literally didn’t even look at the blurb.

It was a slow start for me but about halfway through I started becoming invested in Mallory’s family background and where she came from and what she would eventually find out.

This was my first Beatriz Williams novel but it won’t be my last. She is a pro at multiple timelines and historical fiction, two of my favorite things.

Despite being separated by time and distance, artist Mallory and Hungarian refugee Hannah both discover second chances at love. How are their two stories related, and where did Mallory's beloved family heirloom—a jewel-studded cobra bracelet—originate?

Alternating between 1951 and 2022, I was entranced by this story from start to finish. As always, this author's writing style was conversational and absorbing. For some reason, the present day storyline felt different to me than her past books (maybe because I'm used to her sticking with historical fiction), but ironically, I especially enjoyed the present day storyline. The love, chemistry, and friendship between Mallory and rock-star Monk was palpable and beautiful.

"It's important to know where you came from... It's a part of you. But it doesn't have to define you. They give you the paper and ink, but you write the story yourself." - Mallory to Monk

Location: Mystic, Connecticut; 1951 Cairo, Egypt; Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Winthrop Island, New York

The story alternates between Mallory Dunne in 2022 New England—navigating single motherhood, a son in need of a kidney transplant, and a long-lost love—and Hannah Ainsworth in 1951 Cairo, a Hungarian refugee caught in a web of espionage, passion, and sacrifice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this lovely ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams in exchange for my honest review and feedback. Beatriz Williams is always at the top of my TBR pile the minute she releases a new book and this time I was lucky to get it ahead of all my friends and family! This book is amazing and draws you in right from the very first page and holds you tight until the very last sentence. I loved everything about this and can't wait for all of my friends to read this! SOOOOOOOOOOOO good!

Elegant and layered with tension, this one balances historical intrigue with emotional complexity. The dual timelines interwove beautifully. Williams delivers her signature glamour and depth. Compulsively readable.

Wow, this book had me crying in the end. I loved the jumps from different times between Hannah and Mallory. As I was finishing I was thinking “darn, I really felt like she missed something with not circling back to something with the grandmother Hannah” then BAM. So phenomenal. I can’t wait to recommend to others and read more from this author.

This book was great. Main character is likeable and you want to root for her. This book keeps you wanting more.

This is an interesting saga that takes the reader from revolutionary Egypt to the present day. I actually learned quite a bit about Egypt during the 1950s during their revolution. I love historical fiction that actually teaches as well as entertains!

This is worth reading, 4 stars.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Did not get to read - have way too many books on the shelf. Need to clear some out. Hope to get to this one in the future though.

This historical (and contemporary) fiction about two women across time united by a family heirloom was a very engaging read! In 2022, Mallory Dunne is searching for a kidney donor who could offer her son a chance at a normal life. In 1951, Hannah Ainsworth is a post war refugee trying to create a new life for herself. I have really enjoyed Beatriz William's writing in the past, and this one also really hold up. The story is engaging and her prose made me want to keep reading throughout. I read this book in one day, which is not unheard of for me, but is rare for a historical fiction! Usually I feel like I like the historical timeline more, and even though I did like this one, I was more drawn to the present timeline. I really liked both Mallory and Hannah and felt the characters in both timelines were really well developed. This book is definitely emotional at time. I loved a the romantic subplot (as I do in most books!) and I felt like along with the family story, the romance added depth to the overall arc of the characters. I enjoyed this historical fiction and will definitely picking up more books from Williams.