I really liked this book. I've read a few others of hers and really enjoyed them as well. BW does great with the setting/description as well as character development. I liked hearing from the 2 different time periods and finding out how they connected to each other. Even though it was kind of assumed, it was still a beautiful connection.

Beatriz Williams really can do no wrong in my eyes. I love that she's also started a little Cape Code literary universe with this, the beach at summerly, and the sister wives. The setting is just so perfect.

I adored this book. It was not perfect, but the parts of it that were close to perfect really make this an outstanding read. Unusual for Williams, or many historical fiction I have read lately, this book took place in 3 timelines (four, actually when you think about it). Two of the time lines are more present and one is set in 1950s Egypt. The present timelines are what make this book sing, while the storyline set in Egypt, while good, didn't really feel like it was actually necessary to tell this story. This history of the place is interesting, but Williams didn't really spend all that much time there, or even on the events of the time, save for one critical moment. While I understand the perceived need to include it, to give context to the "paternity issue" that helped spur this story on, we find out so much more from the present.

Still, the strength of those present storylines outweighs anything negative about the past. I would truly love another book with these characters, even if it wasn't historical fiction.

I loved this book so much. The history aspect was something I surprisingly enjoyed. The plot captured my attention and once I started reading I wasn’t able to put it down. I’m also a sucker for a second chance romance.

Thank you so much to Beatriz Williams, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Husbands & Lovers! I enjoyed it!

The novel was both historical fiction and a contemporary romance, with a triple timeline between the main characters, Monk and Mallory, and who is later revealed as Mallory’s grandmother, Hannah. While I was engrossed in Monk and Mallory’s story, I did feel like Hannah’s chapters dragged a bit. I found myself reading them just to get through to the next Monk/Mal scene.

I loved the premise of Hannah’s chapters, though. And reading how Mallory and Paige investigated their mother’s parentage was so interesting. BUT THAT TWIST WITH MONK AT THE END!!! I seriously did not see that coming.

This was my first Beatriz Williams novel, but I am already looking into her backlog of books and adding them to my TBR. Thank you again for this advanced copy, with the novel out June 25th!

I was mesmerized by this story. It captivated me right from the beginning with the story of how single mom Mallory, whose son Sam received a life threatening injury at camp, exemplified a deeply caring parent. As the background story unfolded about Mallory"s past summer youth romance, her complex upbringing, and Sam's parentage, I found myself immersed in her life. How she navigates her new future after Sam's diagnosis and also running into her teenage crush is intriguing. Additionally, there was another story within this story of Mallory's mother, whom Mallory and her sister discover was adopted. Baffled, Mallory has an Egyptian bracelet of a serpent which could be the link to that mystery. Williams did a fine job of bringing the characters to life and creating empathy for their plight as they struggled with complex issues of family, class diversity, and trauma. This is a love story of redemption and second chances. I loved it. Many thanks to #netgalley, #beatrizwilliams, #husbands&lovers, #ballantinebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have enjoyed a number of books by Beatriz Williams. This one did not disappoint. It is well constructed in a dual timeline format with the connection being a gold cobra bracelet that Mallory, in the current day time line, has inherited from her mother. Her mother received it from her mother in a set of circumstances that are told in the second timeline. The characters were all engaging, whether likable or not. The author brought them to life on the page. I could picture every place described in the book. It was a well paced, enjoyable read.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a complimentary copy of this novel!!!

This novel is about two heroines, separated by decades…Hannah, 1950’s Cairo, Egypt and Mallory, whose timeline alternates between 2008 New York and present day 2022 New York and Boston. Both women are linked by a mysterious Egyptian family heirloom. Mallory and her sister, Paige, after their mother passed away, discover that she was adopted as they are going through her papers. So this puts them in a quest to find the truth and they travel to Ireland to try to unravel the mystery. While this is going on, Mallory is also dealing with her son, Sam, a 12-year-old boy whose kidneys are failing, and in need of a transplant. No one is a match for him and Mallory refuses to reach out to the last possible familial match, Monk, Sam’s father. Monk is a famous singer and has no knowledge he has a son. But the past secrets and lies will catch up to Monk and Mallory and all the truths will finally come out once and for all!

I really enjoyed this novel!!! It is full of intrigue, family secrets and lies, betrayals, mystery, Egyptian heirlooms, and love lost and found again. I can’t recommend this novel enough! 5 stars for me!!!!

AVAILABLE June 25, 2024!

Another beautiful book by Williams. Epic love stories and loved learning about the Egyptian revolution. The New England setting is always a favorite. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read an advance copy!

This was difficult to read. I feel the cover is misleading. This is "not" a fun summer read as the cover implies. The book needs to come with a warning in front "explilct rape scene" for people that cannot be subject to such descriptions . its very disturbing and the publisher should know better. I have read the author before and was very disappointed in this book. The subject is very sad as the main character has a sick son in need of a transplant. The book thankfully dual timelines. The dual timelines mesh together eventually according to her story but this woman's story is depressing and sad throughout. If your looking for a uplifting read this is not it. If your disturbed by explilct unnecessary violence against women then don't read this. I rate it two stars for unnecessary violence against women.
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Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Beautiful but painful story. I struggled a bit with Hannah’s POV in the beginning. Fast paced once you get close 50%.
2.5 POVs, first and third person POVs, and multiple timelines!

Historical and Contemporary romance in one!

The best and my favorite love story was a father’s love. ❤️

Señor Gato song = Soft Kitty

Check trigger warnings

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantineand NetGalley for the ARC!

This was my first Beatriz Williams book and I am so excited to read more of her work now. This was so interesting with a mix of timeline POVs from strong female characters and historical fiction thrown in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC.

Did I like this book ?? Yes ... and no ...

Good storyline, but too many little incidental dramas occurring simultaneously. Characters were sometimes right-on ... and other times, meh! Some parts were believable, others were "give me a break" types.

A couple of interesting issues were addressed -- ancestry, DNA tests, organ transplant availability ... all very timely and important issues. The author handled the historical situation at the time of the Suez Canal crisis very well.

It would be a good beach read ... not too heavy, but still gives thoughts to some issues of importance. I would recommend it for a summer book club.

Honestly, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read. It's got everything — romance, mystery, drama — all wrapped up in a super addictive package. I'm definitely gonna be checking out more of Beatriz Williams's stuff after this!

This is a book that I will recommend no doubt.

This book had 2 stories going on a the same time, and the historical story took a few chapters for me to get into. This is a story ultimately about love and not just love between partners, all types of love.

The main character Mallory. She is a human trying her best. She's a single mom raising her son who is in need of a kidney transplant. Reading this story, I just wanted to hug Mallory and tell her it's going to be okay. As a reader, I thought some of her decisions were questionable but as you get to know her and understand her better, you see her blaming herself and thinking how life may have been.

I couldn't wait to finish this one! Kinda sad that it's over.


The only "negative" about this book was that the start wasn't as attention getting as the book deserved. The "historical chapters" took a while to really understand why they were necessary.

Once again, excellent work from Beatriz Williams. Read it start to finish in one sitting. I will never not pick up a new Beatriz Williams book just to devour it!

This by far is my favorite book by Beatriz Williams. I fell in love with all the characters. Each character was developed and defined by their history. This story is told in two different times, past and present. The story of Lucien and Hannah the past, and Mallory and Monk the present. I felt so pulled into each of their stories. Hannah and Mallory were written as strong women who suffered and survived terrible tragedies but showed their strength in how they persevered and pursued life after their tragic experiences. Lucien and Monk as the men who loved these women. I would recommend this book to all readers. Thanks once again for delivering another wonderfully written story.

This is the first book by Beatriz Williams I have read. This book is a story of two women 70 years apart. Their paths are united by an heirloom.
Mallory a single mother with a 10 year old son, Sam. She met Monk in her youth and he is Sam's father.
Hannah a Hungarian refugee is married to a British diplomat. She is living in Cairo in a loveless marriage.
A captivating story that was woven together by a bracelet.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this book.

This book really interested me based off of the cover and the description! As I started reading, I really enjoyed the dual point story, one side told in a 1950s and the other side is told in current day. I will say that I like the current day story a little bit better, and didn’t fully understand how they were tied together.

I went in spurts of reading this book from not wanting to put it down, to taking a little bit of time to read it. But overall, I think this was a great storyline and something that could be turned into a movie.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC. This is my eighth Beatriz Williams book and probably my favorite thus far. Told in 3 different timelines it kept you very engaged. Historical fiction/contemporary romance melded all into one. I highly recommend this book and look forward to many more from her in this same style.

Ah, Beatriz Williams! She's good at researching and telling a story. Husbands & Lovers is set in two time periods and locations: post WWII Cairo and post COVID New England. Single mother Mallory has never been married, but she still thinks about a college age, summer love, Monk. Mallory's son, Sam, becomes very ill at summer camp and Mallory is faced with finding his famous father...who does not know he's a dad. Hungarian refugee, Hannah, settled into life after WWII, married to an older, wealthy British diplomat. They live in Cairo, a city full of spies and talk of revolution. Hannah's involvement with a handsome hotel manager leads to tragedy that effects multiple generations. Stories that are heartbreaking and brilliant are spun together to make an epic story of love, sacrifice and the steps women will take to protect those they love. Every Beatriz Williams book is a beautiful story and this one is no exception. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC I received in exchange for my honest opinion.