I really enjoyed the multiple timelines of Hannah and Mallory, two women doing what they could for the ones they loved. I loved Mallory’s character arc and only wished the end of the book had been longer to hear more about her and Monk’s rekindled love. I wish there had been more about what happened to Hannah after she gave birth as well. I truly enjoyed this book

Husbands and Lovers follows three storylines: Hannah and Lucien/ Ainsworth, a love triangle in Egypt in the 1950’s in war-torn Egypt, and Mallory and Monk in both 2008 and 2022. Hannah is a Hungarian refugee who is in a loveless marriage and has a tryst with an Egyptian spy. Mallory is a single mother with a 13-year old son in need of a kidney. She revisits her past when she comes in touch with her ex Monk.

The book alternates between all of these timelines. I didn’t feel like the plot flowed well in this format. I was much more interested in Mallory and Monk’s storyline and found myself disinterested and skimming through Hannah’s. I may have not connected as much to Hannah’s story because Mallory’s sections took up about 2/3 of the book, so I didn’t feel like Hannah’s character was as well developed as Mallory’s. These stories all connect, but the revelation left me underwhelmed. Williams could’ve completely cut out the Egypt plot and the rest would’ve been more compelling and satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

An exciting new chapter in the world of Winthrop Island that fans of Ms. Williams would know. Two women decades apart and the mystery of a snake bracelet. At times I did get a bit confused between the changes of decades but understood why we had those two time periods. Ms. Williams does it again with her historical fiction and this one does not disappoint!

I loved this dual timeline book that started out with a bang. Mallory's story in the present day and Hannah's story in 1952 Egypt were ones that I could not stop reading. This book is full of heartbreak and redemption and I loved it so much. You will want to read to see what happened that caused Mallory to be a single mom? Hannah's story had so many intricacies. Thank you to Ballatine Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction isn’t my typical genre, but I’ve heard so much about this author that I wanted to check out their work. Wow, I was blown away! This book begins in present day New England with Mallory Dunne, a single mom of her son, who is in need of a kidney transplant and then we travel to Cairo, in the 1950s, where we learn about Hannah’s story. A Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat. Theses women are tied together by a mysterious heirloom and lovers of their past.

I very much enjoyed both womens’ journeys, but especially loved the story of Mallory and Monk, her former lover. The multiple perspectives of this book enriched the overall story and brought forth a compelling and emotional read with well-developed characters. Highly recommend to those of historical and contemporary fiction!

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is the epitome of a captivating read that you simply cannot put down. This novel has quickly become a fast-paced page-turner, keeping me engrossed from start to finish with its compelling storyline and well-developed characters. Williams' writing style is both engaging and immersive, making it a must-read for any fan of the genre.

Besides Kristen Hannah, Beatrix Williams is the only other person who can write historical fiction that I will read. Her books immediately suck you in and the research she does on the topics is impeccable. I need a little romance in the historical fiction in order for it to suck me in and this one did not disappoint. Usually books with two different timelines are my favorite, but this one was great. Highly recommend

Single mother Mallory and son Sam have lived a quiet but happy life until Sam suffers a catastrophic illness and is put on a transplant list. With no suitable donors, a DNA ancestry search is started. With historical/contemporary timelines the author weaves a storyline of drama, fear, spies and an heirloom that further ties two women together. The ending was all you could ask for in this great book. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the arc. The comments and this review are my honest opinion. 4.5 Stars

Question: Do you enjoy dual-timeline stories? Sometimes, they can feel like two separate novellas rather than a cohesive novel. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this narrative style.

Now, for my review of Husbands & Lovers, a novel that intertwines two timelines. In the present day, we follow Mallory Dunne, an artist and single mother raising Sam, her 13-year-old son. Sam, who suffered an accident years ago, desperately needs a kidney transplant. When Mallory's sister, Paige, discovers that their late mother was adopted from an Irish orphanage, it opens up new possibilities for finding a donor match. Meanwhile, Mallory has refused to contact Sam's birth father, now a famous figure, who is unaware of Sam's existence. Adding to the mystery, Mallory inherits a cobra bracelet that her mother always wore. A design school friend can tell that the bracelet most likely came from Egypt.

The second timeline transports us to Egypt in the early 1950s. Here, we meet Hannah, a scarred Hungarian war refugee married to a dull British diplomat. Hannah's encounter with a cobra in a garden sets off a series of life-changing events. As expected in dual-timeline stories, these two narratives eventually intertwine.

Beatriz Williams is one of the most beautiful, talented writers of historical fiction. I love everything she writes.

This novel is so good! I was grabbed and sucked in from the first chapter. This historical fiction jumps back and forth from the past to the future and from two main POVs with a glimpse from other characters side. Mallory Dunne, New England 2008-2022, Hannah Ainsworth, Cairo 1951. Their lovers and family.

I really loved Mallory’s story of lost love at a young age, the love she has for her son and her hilarious banter with her sister. Mallory’s son is sick and needs a transplant but no one is a match. Her sister Paige wants her to find the boys father to see if he maybe a match and Mallory is 100% against it. We walk down memory lane to see all the events leading to Mallory tragic lost of her great love. In the middle of trying to figure out how to help him, Mallory and her sister find out their mother was adopted. Mallory wants to take the lead and see if maybe there are more family members who could be a match.

Hannah Ainsworth, is a refugee married to a British man. They end up living in Cairo for his job. Hannah is bitten by a very poisonous snake and saved by Lucien Beck the hotel manager. As her relationship flourish with Lucien she is caught between the two men in her life and must make decisions. Especially, now that she is pregnant.

This novel will make you laugh and cry and root for love and healing. I have to say it’s one of my favorite historical fictions of the year and will make my top 5 list.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books and Beatriz Williams for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Husband and Lovers comes out June 25,2024

This book is a tale of two women separated by time and continents are united by a unique heirloom. This is a sweeping saga that spans decades. I had a little trouble keeping all the characters and timelines straight at first but later, it all came together beautifully. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I highly recommend it.

Beatriz Williams always spins a good yarn, and HUSBANDS & LOVERS is no exception. At the core are two love stories—one between contemporary couple Mallory and her rock star former beau, Monk, and the other between a woman named Hannah and her two lovers. One is her husband Janos, killed in concentration camp during World War II, and the other a hotel employee in post-war Cairo. A family health crisis uncovers the unlikely connection between Hannah and Mallory.

Because Williams has used the locales of Summerly and Winthrop Island in previous books, I wondered if I was supposed to know any of these characters from previous books, but there is only one slight connection that is of no consequence. HUSBANDS & LOVERS stands on its own. I am a little tired of dual timelines, but I still enjoyed the book, and would recommend to others.

Dual timelines either work or they don't and this one works. I was invested in both story lines and loved how they came together. Williams is the queen of historical fiction and she does it yet again... solid!

Thank you @randomhouse, @authorbeatriz and @netgalley for the advanced copy of Husbands and Lovers. This book was incredibly special.
Husbands and lovers had everything- infidelity, rockstars, spies, assassins, wealthy vacationers, and the possibility of second chances. Set in dual timelines, two women live very different lives.

Hannah has suffered the wrath of WWII and is now living a lavish lifestyle in 1951 Cairo, Egypt with her older husband, though there is now some political unrest in Egypt. Hannah has endured far more than the average housewife, which comes with her many secret she keeps insides.

In 2022 USA, single mom Mallory is forced to revisit her past and research her ancestry after a tragic event derails her life. Mallory and her sister Paige discover their late mother was adopted leaving them to discover big surprises in their lineage.

The character development was incredible. I loved Mallory’s character the most, but Paige, Sam, Monk, Hannah, Lucien, Grace, and Aunt Barbara were also people I’d love to have in my life. A lot happened in this book. Sometimes I felt like I was reading several books at once, actually. Husbands and Lovers gives a nod to wealthy summer New England living, while spreading light on grief and horrific challenges.

✨ Genre: Historical Fiction & Contemporary Fiction both
♥️ Steamy rating: Pretty Spicy
⚠️ Profanity: High

Triggers: Death of parent, kidney transplant, renal failure, rape, alcoholism, drug use, infidelity, war, riots,fire, murder, abuse of power, death of a child, death of a spouse/lover, Cancer, heart attack, and bullying

I am still feeling the "feels" after reading Husbands & Lovers. No one does multiple timelines and interweaving stories better than Beatriz Williams. Summer love, life during WW2, and Egypt in the early 50s are all recreated beautifully and painfully. The stories can tear your heart out and then make you blissful as the characters act and react.

This was my first Beatriz Williams book. It won’t be my last! What a great book!
This was a dual time zone book with 2008 in the US and 1952 in Egypt.
The story is about two sisters, their family secrets, love, and romance in 2008 in the US.
The Egypt part was about a woman who was married to a British Diplomat during the Revolution.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was not familiar with Beatriz Williams as an author but her talent is clear. A multi-generational story about women and the men and sons they love. Two tales in one—a mother searching for a kidney for her son and a passionate love story set in 1951. What women do for the people they love! I enjoyed this book especially finding the love story of Mallory and Monk. The secrets we keep as women!

Thanks to Ballentine Books and NetGalley for the advanced review copy!

I was pleasantly surprised to see Beatriz Williams put out something like contemporary women's fiction. I have always been a big fan of her historical novels, and typically race to get my hands on them as soon as they are released. This one is no different! It is a dual timeline story, with the first set in present day New England and the second in 1950's Egypt. It always fascinates me how authors can do a book like this, and still manage to create depth in both timelines and connect them so seamlessly. In this story, a mother is desperate to find her teenage son a kidney so she sends in her DNA to Ancestry.com to try to locate some relatives that might be a match. That's where the other characters' story come into play. It has a little romance, some surprises, and lots of drama. It was a fast-paced story that I couldn't put down. It would be a good option for summer reading!

Just what the doctor ordered for summer reading to escape and relax. Williams scores another home run. What more can be said.

Absolutely amazing!!! Beatriz is one of my favorite authors! This book did not disappoint! I loved the dual timelines and how she brought everything together! Absolutely a masterpiece!