Mallory Dunne is raising her thirteen year old son Sam on her own. She leans on her sister for support and is doing fine as a single mother until Sam needs a kidney transplant. Sam's father is the famous rock star and super nice guy, Monk Adams. Mallory and Monk were once in a relationship. Paige tries to convince Mallory that Monk must be told of his son's existence. Maybe he would be a match for a kidney transplant? Paige discovers some hidden away paperwork that proves their mother was adopted. This is a shock to both women. Williams brings her reader to Cairo in 1951 to meet Hannah Ainsworth, Mallory and Paige's grandmother. Hannah's life is one of great love and tragedy. Williams deftly alternates Hannah's story with her present day plot. Husbands & Lovers is a fantastic novel and a definite must read for the summer of 2924.

Alright, you’d think that after reading 17 Beatriz Williams books prior to this one, I’d be bored or maybe at least unsurprised by the twists she throws the reader’s way in every single one of her books- WRONG! The way William’s can build characters and wolds between modern-day and olden day stories will never ever get old. The drama, the deception, the adultery, the shocking secrets keep me on the edge of my seat in every book of hers, including Husbands & Lovers. Just when I thought I expected what was going to happen again, Williams throws out something even more shocking to the storyline. However, what I love about Beatriz’s books is that beyond the drama and romantic stories, there are true tails of the war and most of the time stories of how strong women had to endure the war. Learning those bits and pieces of history, especially one as little-known and nuanced as the Soviet-Hungarian conflict and Egypts rich post WW-history are what keep me coming back to Williams’ books.

To say I’m excited to read the remaining 2 William’s books - The Beach at Summerly and the Wicked Widow (the only 2 I haven’t read yet)- would be an understatement! I am also greatly looking forward to the new WWW murder book 😄

This book definitely deserves a 5-star rating! It has instantly become one of my favorite reads of 2024. The narrative unfolds in two distinct timelines and takes place in contrasting corners of the globe. This captivating story has left a lasting impression on me. It beautifully combines elements of romance, family dynamics, and historical fiction, creating a truly remarkable tale. The characters are exceptionally well-developed, adding depth and richness to the overall reading experience. Needless to say, I am eagerly looking forward to exploring more works by this talented author..

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine books for the advance copy,. I have given an honest review.

Two story lines decades apart, how will they come together in this brilliant new offering from Beatriz Williams... I was blown away by this one usually with time jumpers I like the past time lines better but with this one I enjoyed the present better. I got sucked into Mallory and Monks story line. The book flowed good, and kept my interest but I couldn't wait to get back to their parts in the story. And what about that cobra bracelet...umm I want one. Overall gave it 4 stars. Im gonna wait patiently (or try to) for her next one.

<b> *Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Random Publishing Group/Ballantine, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review *</b>

Outstanding.

Have you encountered an author whose writing makes you fall in love every time you read it? Beatriz Williams is one of those authors for me. Every time I read one of her novels, I'm hooked and can't seem to get enough of the plot, reading until I reach the final page. I first read a book she co-wrote with Karen White & Lauren Willig in 2018, and I have been reading her books since then. When I heard she was writing a new book, I immediately requested it at Netgalley. I’m so glad that I did. Husbands and Lovers is a book you will not want to put down once you start it. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to read Mallory and Hannah's stories.

I love dual stories, particularly those that take place years apart. Hannah and Mallory were set years apart, and I questioned if there was any connection between the two storylines from the start. I loved reading both Hannah and Mallory's stories. I liked that Hannah's story took place in Egypt, which I hadn't read much about, and I learned much more about it simply from reading this book. Mallory, I loved her character development and her devotion to her son, Sam. I knew from the start that she would do anything for Sam. Of course, I couldn't help but think about Sam's father, and I had a feeling that if she kept it a secret for this long, it would ultimately come out. I wondered about why she kept it a secret.

I liked both Hannan and Mallory's timelines, which had you on the edge of your seat. However, Mallory and Monk's story interested me a bit more; I couldn't get enough of their story. I wondered what had occurred between them and if they would get back together. I hoped that they would. I read late into the night because I was busy studying throughout the day. The beginning was slow, but I couldn't put the book down after a few pages. Husbands and Lovers is a story you won't forget. I'm excited to see what Beatriz Williams has in store for us next!

Beatriz Williams’ latest book “Husbands and Lovers” arrives in stores a week before the 4th of July holiday: a beach read, a bodice-ripper, a family saga, an historical novel. There is something for everyone within these pages.
Her story has a dual timeline, one in present day Connecticut, the other in Cairo in the 1950’s. Interwoven into this story is a critically ill child, a single mother, a rock star, a Hungarian refugee, British dignitaries living in Egypt, and a spy. Oh, my.
Mallory Dunne was the nanny for a resident on the wealthy enclave of Winthrop Island one summer during her college years. She had a summer romance with the son of her employer. Her story revolves around that summer and the ensuing years.
Hannah Ainsworth is married to an older British political liaison in Cairo during a time of unrest in the area: the Egyptians were dismayed over the new state of Israel while they were also unhappy with the British presence in their country. Hannah’s story involves events during that time, plus her tragic backstory.
Beatriz Williams interweaves these two stories together in alternating chapters. I found both stories sympathetic but felt that Hannah’s was the most heart-wrenching. I think that from the little we learn of Hannah’s later life, there is another novel lurking there.
This was a quick read for me. I felt deeply for some of the characters. I would recommend it for readers who enjoy historical fiction, plus romance readers.
My thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing and Beatriz Williams for an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

The perfect book with a mix of storylines- one historical fiction, the other a contemporary fiction love story. I loved every moment of reading this book. The characters development was strong. I will recommend to all my book loving friends.

To be completely honest, I had a difficult time engaging with this book. There were several points while reading that I found myself a bit lost due to the separate storylines. With that said, the two storylines made for a unique read and one that was definitely worth it in the end. Overall, I would recommend.

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

I was sucked into this book from the very beginning and couldn't put the book down until the end. I loved both storylines but loved Monk and Mallory the most. It was a great summer read with something for everyone. It has a little spice, a little history, a little family drama, and a little beach town. Top book of the year for me.

This is a great summer read set between New England and Cairo, Egypt. We alternate between Hannah's story in the 1950s and Mallory today being a single mom to a 13 year old who almost died after ingesting a poisonous mushroom. We are slowly finding why little Sam's dad is out of the picture and how it would be necessary to get ahold of him as he might be a match to donate a kidney to Sam who is going through dialysis everyday after this mushroom almost killed him.
Beatriz Williams takes us on this wild adventure in fancy Cairo in the50s. We get to know Hannah (Mallory's grandmother). Today's storyline is my favorite though. A great second chance romance trope, adorable secondary characters, strong and loveable main characters. A perfect beach read!

I love a good historical fiction book. This one has dual timelines which I normally really enjoy but it didn't work for me in this case. In one timeline we are following Hannah a Hungarian woman married to a British diplomat who she does not love. She is a spy in Cairo and while I enjoyed learning about the historical part of of her story, I did not like the way it was written and I was bored when reading her story line. I really enjoyed reading the second timeline of Mallary. She is a young woman who wants to be an artist. She falls in love with Monk Adams who is a talented musician but his father has other plans for him. They have a sweet romance.
The thing I really did not like about this book is the constant use of the F word. It was not necessary and a bit distracting as a reader. While it is a given there will be sex scenes in this book there were times when it was a bit much. Also, trigger warnings for rape.

omg how do I write a review of this, I don’t even know where to start ??

This was my first book by Beatriz Williams but I was hooked by the twists, the intrigue, the devastation, and secrets, and everything coming together in the end to make everything come into a sharp relief. While that the twist was dreadful and I was kind of worried it was coming, I found myself unable to put it down and was just captivated by the stories and multiple storylines converging, the buildup to the end, the parallel lives of all these affairs. ugh it was so good. And thank goodness there was a resolution and a HEA. One of the best books I’ve read in a while.

thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the eARC!

Beatriz Williams’s Husbands & Lovers was my first true 5-star read of the year. It tells the story of two women connected across decades and continents through a mysterious heirloom and contemporary DNA tests.

I thoroughly enjoyed the parallel storylines between Mallory (2022 New England) and Hannah (1951 Cairo), and found both of these lead characters to be compelling. The titular characters — the husbands and lovers in question — were likewise very interesting and well-constructed, and independently complex, with their own desires driving their decision-making; I too would have fallen in love with them over the course of a summer.

I especially enjoyed Hannah’s storyline. Very early on, it is revealed that she is a Hungarian refugee who fled Soviet occupation after World War II. It is evident that the author did extensive research into Hungarian Revolution and the Suez Crisis, and into the lifestyles of the diplomatic communities in Cairo during the Cold War. Hannah’s chapters delving into her past in the context of the geopolitical and revolutionary history were my personal highlights.

However, with few notable exceptions, the book’s supporting characters felt at times unnecessary to the plot (in Mallory’s storyline) and/or were difficult to keep track of (in Hannah’s storyline). Culling down the supporting character list would be most beneficial for the reading experience. And, as character motives are revealed throughout the course of the book, it embraces a Zionist message, which is a questionable decision given Israel’s War on Gaza. I’m curious to see of any changes in this regard in the official final copy.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Husbands & Lovers and primarily recommend it to my fellow female readers. I look forward to reading more of Beatriz Williams’s work in the future.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for sharing this book’s Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) with me in exchange for my honest opinion prior to its release.

A boy who needs a kidney,his mother hiding the identity of his father, and the story of an unknown grandmother and her life of love brings a fantastic love story on many levels. The plot swivels from Mallory and her son at present and of Mallory’s and his father’s deep love in the past. Parallel is the story of Mallory’s unknown grandmother’s life. It is a deep feeling novel that compels you to keep reading until late.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Husbands & Lovers” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

While I'm not usually into historical fiction, this book totally hooked me with its blend of past and present. It follows two women—one from back then and one from now—who seem worlds apart but end up linked in a fascinating way.

Each woman's tale is compelling on its own, but together they make you ponder how the past shapes our lives today, even indirectly.

Mallory's got some secrets she's keeping close to the chest. At first, we couldn't quite grasp why she was so afraid to spill the beans on something big. But when we finally understood her reasons, it tugged at our heartstrings.

Set against a breezy East Coast beach backdrop, this book is a perfect light and fast read.

Story Tries Hard But *Just* Misses + Story/ Cover Mismatch. This is one of those reviews where the review and rating may not seem to align, because for the vast majority of this book, I thought it was pretty damn good. It does a LOT - even more than similar Soraya M. Lane books usually do - and *for the most part*, it does those things quite well. We've got a romance tale in the 2000s era New England that alternates between 2022 (current) and 2008 (the halcyon summer where the couple first fell in love). We've got a historical fiction tale that alternates between the 1952 Great Cairo Fire/ Black Saturday period and early WWII period. Either one of those tales could be an entire book in and of itself, and yet we've also got a 23 And Me type DNA mystery that links the two (and which admittedly is a spoiler mentioning, sorry). I've read many entire books that would use any one of those three elements to tell an entire tale, and yet we get all three tales in one book here. And *for the most part*, it all works.

Where it fails, and the cause of the first star deduction, is that the climax of the Cairo tale is rushed and its fallout effectively buried in service of the New England romance and 23 And Me mystery. This book could have been *so much more* with maybe as little as 10 extra pages flushing out the Cairo tale in 1952 rather than the 2022 manner in which we get that information, and I think this is a close enough to objective opinion to merit a star deduction here.

The other star deduction is one I don't encounter often, but *have* done a time or two before, and is warranted here for the same reasons I've used it before - the stories told here and the cover as it exists at publication (June 25, 2024) do not match. At all. The 1952 tale in Cairo -the era this cover screams to me - doesn't really have even a pool scene at all, much less one involving a diving board. Even the 2000s era tales don't actually involve any real pool activity, again particularly with a diving board. There are some ocean/ beach scenes that play key roles, but that isn't what this cover evokes. Even in tone, this cover leads the reader to believe that this will be some 1950s era glam tale of some form... and it isn't, not really. Yes, the Cairo tale is played as "exotic"... but that isn't the tone I get from this cover.

So a lot of words, maybe too many words, to say that you really do need - as one 2* reviewer also noted - to read the description of the book to really know what you're getting into here, and judging this book by its (admittedly great looking, in and of itself) cover may get you into a bit of a letdown situation with this particular book.

Overall, I actually really, really enjoyed this book. I thought it did a lot, and for the most part did well on damn near all of it. It simply lacked execution in a final detail and needed a cover that ties to the story more than the current one does.

Very much recommended.

I enjoyed Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

What an awesome read, my first by this Author. Written in 2 different decades and by 2 different points of view that intersect. A bit Historical Romance a bit Family drama and romance that all blends in the end. Likable characters and locales.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, Ballantine Books and the Author Beatriz Williams for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a dual timeline novel that takes place in 1950s Cairo and present day East Coast. Mallory is the main character of the present day portion who is a single mom with a son currently going through dialysis and waiting for a kidney match. Hannah is the main character of the Cairo timeline who is struggling with her past and the rocky situation of her marriage.

This is the first Beatriz Williams book I have read and I really enjoyed the historical fiction and romance combination. I also enjoyed the heirloom link and crossover that comes to light eventually. After learning that her earlier books take place in the same location as the present day timeline with ancestors of some if the current characters, I will definitely be picking them up!

I could not stop thinking about these characters after I finished this novel. I loved the multiple POV and time lines; the past and present begin woven together so seamlessly. The hunt for the truth about the birth mother, the snake, the sisters...so many wonderful thing to love about this novel. I think if I read it over I would probably find something else to love as well.