Thank you to Netgalley, & Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I COULD NOT wait to get my hands on this book! I’ve been chomping at the bit for quite some time to read it, so receiving the ARC was the highlight of my day when it came through.

That being said, this is my first Beatriz Williams book, so I kind of went into her writing blindly.

The story was very captivating, with its 3 storylines. Although I quite enjoyed Hannah’s timeline, I could have done without it. I don’t think the author did a well enough job of connecting it to the current timeline. It felt a little disjointed at times. However, I would love a standalone about Hannah.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Mallory and Monk, you could almost feel the yearning! The desire, and the feelings these two shared in both of their timelines.

All in all a fantastic read, I highly recommend it, and will be recommending to my friends!!

My review will be posted on my Instagram account: Instagram.com/kissandtalewithpattie I will be posting about this book and its review on Monday June 14th and it is already posted on my Goodreads account https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199223201

“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.”

This reader was happy to return to Summerly, on Winthrop Island, the setting of my favorite Beatriz Williams novel Summer Wives.

Seven decades and thousands of miles separate two women who are charmed by romance and fascinated with a singular bracelet.
Hannah 1951: She plays the part of adoring and submissive British Foreign Office wife in post war Cairo, a place filled with intrigue and danger.
Mallory 1922: A relationship from her past plays into her quest for the rehabilitation of her son and the reconciling of her own perceived mistakes.
What is left in the wake of desire and survival for both characters is the heart and soul of the story. How their two lives intersect is as complicated as it is compelling.

I flew through the pages of Ms. Williams’ new novel and once again applaud her publishing team for a perfectly timed release. Let the summer reading season shine on!

Many thanks to Ballentine/Penguin Random House and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for the free book for review.

Husbands and Lovers delve into the lives of two captivating women. Hannah Ainsworth, a married British diplomat's wife, exudes an aura of glamour, yet I quickly became engrossed in her harrowing past. The author poignantly tells her story of profound loss and grief, and how these experiences have shaped her into the complex person she is today. Everything this character does seems driven by a deeper purpose.

Mallory Dune, a single mother and artist, immediately drew me in when her son ingested a deadly mushroom. Her narrative propels forward, and I found myself increasingly invested in uncovering the secret she harbors, as well as the reasoning behind the decisions she makes. Her chance at a second romantic chapter was an engaging bonus.

I thoroughly enjoyed the intertwining timelines, watching as the two protagonists' lives became intricately connected. However, I did find the frequent transitions between past and present reminiscing occasionally disrupted the flow of my reading.

One of the highlights for me was revisiting the captivating Beach at Summerly, a setting I had grown fond of in a previous work.

Overall, Husbands and Lovers is a multilayered story that delves deeply into the connections we make and the relationships we build. It was a compelling read that kept me engaged from start to finish.

A single mother’s desperate search for a donor kidney for her son leads her to confront two long-buried secrets: a summer romance with a now-famous singer-songwriter, and her mother’s adoption from a notorious Irish orphanage.

This immersive, high-angst women’s fiction is beautifully written, but I couldn’t connect with the characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

There are two storylines in this book: one that follows present day Mallory, a single mother in Connecticut who was once connected to a famous musician before he was famous; the other set in the 1950's in Egypt. Although the stories are connected, they really didn't need to be - it felt like a stretch to connect them. This book is messy and although it had good parts, the author seemed confused about what this book should be. She would have been more successful writing a fun beach read (which would have meant getting rid of some of the current day plot points as well).

Beatriz Williams' "Husbands and Lovers" intricately merges past and present, unraveling a tale of love, ambition, and betrayal across generations. With her signature blend of historical detail and suspenseful storytelling, Williams crafts a captivating narrative that delves into the complexities of marriage and the enduring power of secrets. I love her novels, and only wish she could write even more!

I absolutely loved this one.... right up until the ending. I felt like it fell flat and wrapped up in a perfect package so quickly, and that the lead up far outshined this novel.

That is not to say this is a bad book. As I said, I absolutely loved it. I found myself constantly reaching for my Kindle because I wanted to continue the story, and I needed to know what was going to happen. It starts off with a bang and follows the stories of two women, unknowingly intertwined through history and family. I won't say more because I don't want to give anything away, but should you need a good summer read, this is the one!

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I actually burst into tears on the last page of this wonderful novel- and not for the reason you might expect so no spoilers. This multiple time line novel tells the stories of Mallory, her son Sam, and Monk in the more or less present and Hannah during and immediately after WWII. Sam ate a mushroom at summer camp, a mushroom that resulted in kidney failure so Mallory, a single mom is struggling even more but is helped by her sister Paige. And then Monk, Sam's dad, now a music star, is back in their lives but there aren't any easy answers. Hannah fled Hungary and met her British diplomat husband when she worked as a translator but now she's in Cairo and infatuated with Lucien. How do these women link up and what is the meaning of the bracelet Mallory's mom bequeathed to her? No spoilers from me but know that there are twists and surprises- not all happy-along the way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great characters, nice atmospherics, and Williams' storytelling make this an incredible read.

This is the first book I have read by Beatriz Williams and will absolutely not be the last. This was a story that will stay with me for a long time. The ending was just so wonderful.

The book follows stories across three timelines, all interwoven. The first timeline is in 2022, where Mallory Dunne is desperately searching for a new kidney for her son, who ate a death cap mushroom three years earlier at camp.

The second timeline is in Cairo in the 1950s, where Hannah Ainsworth, a diplomat’s wife, finds herself in an affair with a local man, whilst political tensions are brewing,

The third timeline, set in 2008, follows a younger Mallory and her best friend, Monk Adams, as they fall in love over a Summer.

This book was rich, harrowing, and utterly unputdownable. Each of the three storylines were incredibly well written, and the author did a wonderful job of going between them.

I have been telling friends and family about this book since I began reading it, and have enthusiastically suggested it to people who run book clubs. Absolutely fantastic book.

This is my very first Beatriz Williams novel and after reading this book, I am excited to dive into her backlist! This book follows two woman connected to each other through a family heirloom. Set in two different time periods, it follow Mallory who is a single mother to a child who needs a kidney transplant. And Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee, who is married to a British diplomat living in Cairo in the 1950s. The two woman get a second chance at love and let me tell you, their love stories are both charming and heart wrenching. I was so invested in the characters and intrigued by the unique connection of their pasts. Williams does a great drop moving between both timelines to give the readers the perfect combination of mystery, love, and grit. This book had me turning pages. Husband and Lovers sucked me in with the beautifully written setting in Cairo and the New England coast both places I've never been but I stay for the love story of it all. Absolutely recommend for summer reading! I can't wait to hear people's thoughts on this one. Thanks to net galley for the advanced galley. This book as made Beatriz Williams an auto buy author for me.

Husbands & Lovers
Author Beatriz Williams

This book had multiple storylines/timelines which weave together. The present timeline was far more interesting than the 1950s timeline. I found that there was a lot of information in the 50s timeline that would make me feel lost. Each chapter would be from a character’s pov. Within that chapter, there could be multiple timelines. It was a lot. Also, the amount of smoking these characters do is insane.

I did like the general plot. Most of the characters were likable with the exception of Hannah’s husband and her lover.

Triggers:
Cheating
War
Murder
Drugs
Rape

Thank you Beatriz Williams, Random House Ballantine, and @Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my host review.

Mallory Dunne is a commercial artist and a single mom raising her son Sam in New England. When we meet them in 2019, Sam is off in summer camp and falls ill after consuming poisonous mushrooms. Although he survives, three years later, he needs a kidney transplant. The last person Mallory considers contacting is Sam's father. As she seeks a compatible donor, Mallory's sister Paige arranges a getaway to Winthrop Island at the grand home of a friend. It is there that she sees ex-boyfriend Monk Adams, a world-famous singer/songwriter who is now engaged. Despite their past heartbreak, will their former passion be reignited?

In a seemingly unrelated plotline, the story shifts to 1951 in Cairo, Egypt. Hannah Ainsworth is the wife of British diplomat Alistair Ainsworth, who she married to escape a tragedy from her past during World War II and the Soviet invasion of Hungary. She yearns for a child and enters into an extramarital affair, disregarding the potential consequences. However, with unrest brewing in Egypt, being British may become very dangerous for her and the child she hopes to have.

Husbands & Lovers is a moving and captivating novel. This marks the third book by the talented Beatriz Williams set on Winthrop Island, reminiscent of Fisher's Island on the Eastern end of the Long Island Sound. Williams skillfully weaves a modern narrative with a story set during an interesting historical period. Like her other historical works, there is mystery and intrigue. I have read all of Williams' books including her collaborations with authors Karen White and Lauren Willig. She's a great storyteller and I am delighted to have another book of hers to recommend.

Big thanks to Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC of the latest by Beatriz Williams - a very covetable book!

I was intrigued by the premise, and there was a lot about this that I enjoyed. Admittedly, I was much more taken by the present-day timeline than the the 1950s one - though once that picked up I got invested. It did feel like things went a bit off the rails with the some of the final reveals.

It was quite enjoyable and readable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Husbands and Lovers
By: Beatriz Williams
Publisher: Random House Publishing-Ballantine
Pub Date: 6/25/24
This was the perfect combination of historical romance and romance! This story flips between the 1950’s and 2022. As you learn about both women and their histories that span several decades you come to see how parallel their stories are. Both fighting against forces that seem to be out of their control. I tried putting it down but ended up pulling an all nighter just to work out the story!
Hannah is struggling to rebuild her life after WWII took her husband and children. She married again in the 1950s. Mallory is trying to find normalcy in 2022. Mallory walked away from the love of her young life only to find herself pregnant and a single mom.
Their connection is deeper than Mallory knows and finding what that link is keeps the story moving. I can’t suggest this book anymore! Thanks to Random House Ballantine, Beatriz Williams and NetGalley for this ARC!

I always enjoy books by Beatriz Williams and this was no exception. It’s told in several different timelines, following two women at different times in their lives. Hannah’s story started out slower and less interesting than Mallory’s for me, but I was quickly drawn into the lives of both women and couldn’t wait to see how their stories ended.

I enjoyed this book from the start. Told in two timelines, the book almost seems like two different books in one. I loved reading each timeline, but found myself annoyed when there was a timeline switch, leaving me with a bit of a cliffhanger. Great motivator to keep reading!

In the present day, readers meet Monk and Mallory, two friends that evolve into romantic partners. Monk is a dropout college student who pursues his love of music, eventually becoming a star. Mallory is a talented artist that endures a traumatic event that causes her to leave Monk suddenly, breaking his heart and hers. Their story was so sad, but so sweet and eventually one of happiness.

In the timeline from the past, readers meet Hannah, a Hungarian woman who has been through traumatic times during the war and lost her entire family. When she meets an older man who is a British diplomat, she jumps at the chance to marry him and for safety and security and to forget her terrible past.

A family heirloom, left to Mallory by her mother, is the reason these two stories merge. Family history and DNA are front and center for the connection that brings the story to a wonderful ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to write an honest review and recommend this to others readers who love historical fiction, romance and a bit of mystery.

Thisbook caught my attention right from the grt go. The book follow Mallory Dunne, who just found out her son had an accident at summer camp and rushes to his side.

The book goes back and forth between 3 timelines. In the 1950s, following Mallorys grandmother, in 2008, the summer her son was conceived while dating before he was famous pop star, Monk Adams, and in 2022. Lately, I've been tiring of the different timelines in every fiction book lately, but for this one it made sense.

I related to Mallory right away, how first loves make you feel like nothing else matters. And I enjoyed the present timeline and past timeline.

This author likes to write in multiple timelines. This book is no exception. It is first a love story but also a bit of a mystery. The book will appeal to those who are interested in genealogy and DNA, and brings to light the term paternity incident. Paternity incidents are becoming more common as people get their DNA tested and find out their father was actually not their biological father. Timeline 1: 2008, Mallory and Monk fall in love after high school. Then, as their relationship grows Mallory cuts all ties to Monk. The reason why does not become apparent until the end of the book. Timeline 2: 2022, Mallory has a 14 year old son, Sam, who is on dialysis after eating a death cap. Sam does not know who his father is but if Mallory can find a relative, Sam may be able to get a kidney donor. Mallory does not want to contact Monk about his son and a DNA/genealogy search is conducted. Timeline 3: 1951, Hannah and Alistair, who is in the British government are living in Cairo. Hannah has had a sad life, living in Hungary during WWII.
It may sound confusing but it really is not. Quite a good book and one I recommend to Beatriz Williams readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House for the ebook ARC. This review is entirely mine. 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was SO amazing. I had a hard time liking the oldest story line (Hannah). But after half the book I was thoroughly invested in all 3 main plots. I couldn’t read this book fast enough there hasn’t been a book in a while that I wasn’t able to put down but this was definitely one! Highly recommend. P.S hoping for a book 2 even though it likely won’t happen.

I had a difficult time with this book in the beginning. There are at least 4 timelines, and they must be followed as the ending, which is wonderful ties everything together.
There are at least 3 heartbreaking love stories, and I did wonder how they would finally come together.
We first meet Mallory in 2022, but we see her as a teenager in 2008, so we slowly, very slowly, learn her background.
We then go to 1951 in Egypt, which was the most interesting timeline for me, as what happens in Egypt at that time still has repercussions in Israel and the rest of the Middle East today.
We now meet Hannah Ainsworth,who is a Hungarian, married to a British diplomat working in the foreign office in Cairo. We learn part of her backstory when she meets her husband and works as a translator at the Nuremberg trials.
We eventually go even further back in time to learn about her life, which brings us full circle to the ending.
There is so much more, including the story of Mallory's son, Sam, her mother, and her strong bond with her sister,not to mention Sam's father. We also get a side trip to a convent in Ireland where we learn the history of the terrible lives of unwed mothers who toiled their through their pregnancies and then had their babies torn from their arms and adopted, and sometimes told their babies had died.
Three generations of women, each with strengths and many secrets. Well worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the EARC. This is my honest review.