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.

Husbands and Lovers is a beautifully written novel. I loved it from the very first page.

The story unfolds through two timelines. One narrative is set in 1950s Egypt, where Hannah, trapped in a loveless marriage to a British aristocrat, finds herself amidst the political upheaval of Egypt’s revolt against British rule. The other storyline follows Hannah’s granddaughter, Mallory. Mallory has no knowledge of her grandmother’s past, adding a layer of mystery and discovery.

This emotional historical fiction novel is truly captivating. I highly recommend this book!

Beatriz Williams writes a solid historical fiction story. This is perfect, accessible writing for the summer. I really enjoyed it.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams
4/5 🌟

This was such a journey and at times a bit slow but the overall arc was worth the pacing. I really enjoy the bits of history seeped into the past and how it was a journey of heritage and generations.

Mallory is a single mom of a son Sam who eats a nearly deadly mushroom at a sleep away camp. Her sister Page is helping her with the aftermath while Sam needs a kidney they both test and are not a match so they begin the journey to discover more about their bloodline. Their mother was adopted so it’s always been a mystery and now that she’s gone they use DNA test to trace her story. We flipped back in time to Hanna’s storyline, which is their grandmother. She was married and having an affair with a mysterious man in Cairo after WWII.

Present day, Mallory is telling her story about Monk and her relationship, which ultimately resulted in Sam. This was such a lovely young love story with so much promise, then dashed by Monk’s dad. There was a lot going on in every aspect of the story, but it does all connect and we have a satisfying/happy ending.

This story was heartbreaking & hopeful. I am not usually a historical fiction person but this one kept me hooked the whole time thanks to the dual timelines. I also really enjoy Beatriz Williams’ writing. Highly recommend!

A great book with historical settings. The characters were memorable with a lot of different trauma. It helps you reflect on happy book and grow from this.

Why did I wait so long to read Husbands & Lovers? Beatriz Williams' books have been on so many must-read lists, yet I hadn't picked one up yet. This book made me want to read her entire backlist.

Told in a dual timeline, we follow Mallory and Hannah as they navigate love, loss and tragedy. Mallory fell in love with her high school crush during a college-era summer on the coast, and it felt like the perfect relationship. However, the timeline skips forward 14 years and we discover that she has a 13-year-old son who has never known his father. Something happened that summer that Mallory has kept secret, and her heart has been closed ever since.

Hannah is a diplomat living in Cairo, married to a wealthy Englishman. She becomes wrapped up in an affair with the hotel manager, and eventually becomes pregnant. Her life is one loss after another, and she loses the love of her life more than once.

The writing in this novel was spectacular! It took me some time to get ensconced in Hannah's storyline, yet once I did I couldn't stop reading. Mallory was intriguing from the get-go, and I adored her love story with Monk Adams. My one quip is that Spindrift was referenced numerous time and it felt like a beverage ad at times. There was so much to this book: romance, secrets, genealogy, family relationships, self-discovery, and more. I couldn't get enough of the story and savored every page. I can't wait to read more from Beatriz Williams!

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a beautifully crafted novel that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras and continents. The story follows Mallory Dunne in 2022 New England, grappling with her son's health crisis and uncovering family secrets, and Hannah Ainsworth in 1951 Cairo, navigating love and intrigue amidst political turmoil. Williams' rich character development and dual timelines create a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged. The novel's exploration of love, sacrifice, and resilience is both poignant and thought-provoking. While some plot twists may feel predictable, the emotional depth and historical detail make this book a rewarding read. Overall, it's a heartfelt story that fans of historical fiction and romance will thoroughly enjoy.

I was once again blown away by Beatriz Williams’ historical novel, this time alternating from present day New England and 1951 Cairo Egypt. As someone who dreams of visiting Egypt one day, this book captivated me from the start. 5/5 stars!

Definitely another winner by a favorite author. A beautifully told dual time line story. The adventures, the romance, so interesting. Historical fiction and romance at it's finest!

"Husbands & Lovers" by Beatriz Williams crafts a beautiful story that spans dual timelines and multiple continents. It's emotional, thought-provoking, romantic, and endearing. Everything you want in a book.

I was really looking forward to reading this as it had all the elements I usually enjoy, and I’d been excited to dive in. But I think I picked it up during a bit of a reading slump, and the slow start didn’t help pull me out of it. The beginning just didn’t fully captivate me, which made it hard to stay engaged as I went along.

I’ve also realized I tend to struggle with dual timeline books, especially when one of the timelines is set really far in the past. That was definitely the case here. I found myself more interested in the present-day storyline and losing focus whenever it shifted back. It might just be a “me” thing and not the book itself, but overall, it didn’t quite click the way I hoped it would.

Husbands & Lovers
By Beatriz Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She’s does it again, I first fell in love with Beatriz stories when I read A Hundred Summers. Her artistic weaving of stories between past and present leaves the reader at the edge of their seat after every chapter. You can’t help but to love the characters, regardless of their indiscretions. There is a reasons for their actions and through the stories it all unfolds. Admittedly I am bias when it comes to Beatriz novels but this is no exception.

This is a dual timeline story set in New England and Cairo that centers on an unusual family heirloom. It blends historical fiction and romance. I had a hard time following all the characters and stories in this one, so it wasn't my favorite of hers.

4.5/5 - This was a fabulous read! To be candid, I started it during a vulnerable time and the first chapter is a bit brutal to read as a mother, so I had to put it on hold for a bit. That being said, when I approached it with a fresh perspective I was able to see how that uncomfortable and painful moment is such a critical that plot point to the entire story.

I love a complicated and messy FMC, and Mallory sure was that! A thoughtful, independent, strong-willed single mom with a secret, Mallory is relatable and often times frustrating. After a present-day run-in with her childhood best friend turned summer love, Mallory's carefully built walls start to fall all around her, and her past comes back in a big way. This present day tale uniquely connects with Hannah's story, in 1940s Cairo, a more somber and tragic tale.

Candidly, I love a dual timeline (I prefer it with a dual perspective but understand why that didn't make sense here) and while I liked Hannah, I wasn't as consumed by her story as I was with Mallory's. I was desperate for Mallory and Monk to figure their shit out and lay it all on the table - past and present - and basically couldn't put down this book until I knew how it ended.

Overall this was full of feeling, with complex and layered characters and thought-provoking themes like grief, parental expectations, independence, self worth and motherhood. It was one of those books that really stuck with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Probably one of my favorite books that I read this year! Two separate stories that are intertwined with very likeable strong female characters.