Unfortunately this book was not for me and I ended up not finishing it at 25%. I had a very hard time getting in to the story and connecting to the two timelines.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is one of my first of her standalone novels (I have read ones written by her and two co-authors) and it did not disappoint! The entanglement of historical fiction, love stories, and a tinge of mystery is what I so adore about Williams' novels. The first chapter had me sucked in and sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen to Sam and how this story would play out. Beautifully written, engaging, and a perfect summer beach read.

I very much enjoy Beatriz Williams books, so I was very excited to open this new one. Unfortunately, it didn’t all work for me. Most often in a dual timeline story, I feel myself drawn to the older timeline - that was not the case at all here. I found it confusing and really didn’t draw too much connection to the present day timeline beyond the obvious familial one. I did like the present day timeline and thought Williams threw in a big twist at the end - I certainly did not see it coming but it explained an awful lot. I think the present day story could have been told without the other one very easily and it might have made it richer and even more engrossing.

Husbands & Lovers
Written by Beatriz Williams
Published by Random House Publishing/Ballantine
Release Date June 25, 2024

Mallory Dunne gets the call that is every parents worst nightmare. While at summer camp her son, Sam, consumed a poisonous mushroom that sends him via helicopter to the closest emergency room. While Sam is fighting for his life, they learn that he will need a kidney transplant. Mallory searches her ancestry for a possible donor. But who she finds will shock her to her core. Monk Adams, a now very famous singer songwriter, was in the past, a childhood lover and Sam’s biological father. Mallory wants nothing from Monk and certainly doesn’t want him to think she wants his money.
However, once Mallory and her sister start looking further into their ancestry and the secrets unfold. Then we are thrust into the past in the life of Hannah who in 1951 married someone who was much older than her and she married him for his money. The story was beautifully woven from present into past and past into present with a history that tells of more than just love but also of heartbreak. Mallory, through her search, found that her mother was given up for adoption by Hannah who was a world war II scarred survivor. The story continues on and brings together families, lovers, and an heirloom bracelet that has a story of its own.


A beautiful and poetic story you won’t regret for a moment.


5 stars


Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

As a fan of stories that span time and generations, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well-rounded and thoughtfully portrayed. The author did a fabulous job of picking up each strand where it had been left off, seamlessly braiding the plot strands together. Choices, apologies, forgiveness, and regret - all of them at every generation. Highly recommend this book for adult fiction collections.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LOVED this book. Chapters switch back and forth between two perspectives (& time periods). A family bracelet that has been given to Mallory has some family secrets tied it, and this is brought to light when Mallory and her sister start digging into their mother and grandmother’s past. Mallory is dealing with her own family situations as her son is dealing with kidney issues, and is desperate need of a transplant. She needs to revisit a part of her past also, in order to move forward.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for this ARC.
I think this might be one of my favorite books I’ve read so far this year. The writing was great and I read the last chapter so slowly because I didn’t want it to end. #booksbyashleynicole84

My first by this author - predictable, but well written and I enjoyed it. I much preferred the modern day Monk/Mallory storyline to Hannah in the 1950s. I loved Monk!
The one thing that had me rolling my eyes is how many times the word Spindrift (sparkling water brand) was used. They must have paid the author for product placement!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC..

Somehow in all of my reading, I had not had the pleasure of reading a Beatriz Williams book. This was the best kind of historical fiction to me. I loved the multiple timelines and how they all wove together. Really pulled at my mom heart strings.

I read a book by Beatriz Williams several years ago and I still remember how much I loved it (A Hundred Summers). I love her newest “Husbands and Lovers” as well and glad I picked it up to read this summer. Side note: her book covers are always beautiful too!

The story is part romance, part historical fiction. It jumped between two timelines, one in current day and one in the past. I found the historical fiction storyline interesting because it introduced me to something I didn’t know, and going to look up to learn more about it.
Her writing brings us to New England (and Cairo) which is always a draw for me. Her main characters in this book are strong women trying to navigate their circumstances.

I learned in the Author’s Note that one of the main characters, Monk Adams, is the grandson of another character in a series - going to grab those to read next!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an advanced copy of this novel for review.

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams pulled me in from the very beginning. I had so many weird personal connections to places and people in this book, so I was immediately enthralled.

Husbands and Lovers is a dual-time frame story. While the historical fiction story was interesting, it didn't fully hold my attention. It was a little too drawn out for me. However, Mallory and the current time frame was a great read.

I very much enjoyed Husbands and Lovers and would recommend it. Thanks to Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

YES, my kind of novel. More of these, please! I love Beatriz Williams, and if you haven't tried her novels yet, then this is one heck of an introduction into her novels.
Always historic on some level, this one goes back and forth between the living large 1950s to now. Egypt to New England. Both fantastic settings on their own. In one novel I it is magic.
Mallory and Hannah are amazing women who are connection beyond biology. Yet calling this family drama doesn't seem fitting.
Driven by character development. Husbands and Lovers opens one heck of a can of worms.

I really wanted to like this book, but am finding this author’s books are hit or miss for me. The POV’s felt more confusing and jarring in this one. I could not get into Hannah’s storyline as it was slow or confusing in places.

HUGE winner! Beatriz Williams has literally never missed -- just keeps getting better. I found myself wanting to keep reading, but I also didn't want the story to end. Love little Easter Eggs she includes too.

I enjoyed this interventional novel about Mallory and her grandmother Hannah. There was some slight confusion with Mallory having two different timelines and it definitely told less of Hannah’s story. But overall it was well-written.

I surprised myself with how much I adored this novel. I was a huge fan of Beatriz Williams for years, reading her books as soon as they came out through the Schuyler sisters trilogy, and for some reason, I stopped reading her novels years ago. I need to remedy that and get through the rest of her backlist because I could not put this book down. To my recollection, she usually doesn't focus on any stories from modern times, so having a main character in the year 2022 was a fun surprise, one I really enjoyed. Both Hannah and Mallory stole my heart as I got to know them through their dual timeline, slowly unfolding stories, and I rooted for them both the whole way through. One thing I remember from Williams' books is the two timelines always come together in some way, and I loved the reveal here as to how these two women were, in fact, tied together. The ONE thing I didn't love about the novel is that Mallory's behavior was incredibly frustrating throughout much of the book; however, towards the end of the book, her reasoning is revealed, and while I can't say I would have handled the situation like she did, I understood her choices much better. I really loved this and can't wait to revisit Beatriz Williams very soon.

Husbands & Lovers was the perfect addition to my early summer pool days. As a Massachusetts resident, I was initially sold on the New England setting of this story, and even more intrigued by the historical, Egyptian connection and dual storylines. It did take me until about the 6th chapter to really start getting into it, but it was well worth it, because soon I could not put it down. I became so invested in the complicated and intertwined stories of Mallory and Hannah, the main characters we follow in the novel. Husbands and Lovers was a gorgeous ode to the many loves we may find in our lifetime and the nuances of our storylines. I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends!

I would like to thank the publisher and author for providing an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley.

3.5 stars rounded up

"Husbands and Lovers" follows the stories of two interconnected women through a dual timeline format. Family, sacrifice, and love are major themes in this novel, and the story kept me engaged throughout. Historical fiction with romance – what more could you ask for?

This is not a lighthearted read, it is absolutely heart-wrenching at times.

In 2022, Mallory is a single mother caring for her son, Sam, who needs a kidney transplant due to an accident. Mallory’s journey brings her previous love, Monk Adams, a globally famous musician, back into her life. Monk and Mallory’s story explores the theme of second-chance romance and moves between different timelines. In 1950s Egypt, Hannah is in a loveless marriage and finds herself in an affair with a local man. There is a bit of mystery surrounding both characters and their connection to each other.

I really enjoyed this novel and if you enjoy connections between the past and present, I think you will too. However, the dual timelines at times disrupted the flow, and I often found myself having to reread passages to avoid confusion but overall a good read.

Beatriz Williams is a wonderful author when it comes to writing historical fiction, but honestly I don't know if I would put this with my other historical fiction novels. Husbands and Lovers has just as much romance in it as the next book. For those who love the concept of "second chance romances" this novel is for you.

There are two stories that run through the book, one in modern day and the second takes place in 1950s Egypt. While there are some plot points that draw them together, for most of the novel I would consider these stories to be separate and distinct, however both enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read this novel.

I stayed up way past my bedtime reading this. It was such a beautiful book. I loved the different POVs and I feel I learned a lot about post WW2 Cairo. The characters were so well-rounded and complex. I have read a lot of wonderful books this summer, but this one takes the cake.

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to like this more, but at times, I felt like it was dragging on and found myself skipping ahead. The story is good but could have cut some bits out. Also, I figured out the "mystery catalyst" way before I am sure I was meant to.