I DNFed Husbands & Lovers because I disliked the main heroine so much. She's an emotional hot mess, stubbornly allows her kid to suffer, and refuses to listen to anyone. I couldn't get past the first 20%.

**Thank you to Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Infinite stars! This is one that will stick with me for a while. I actually said to myself halfway through, “I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be reading this book.” Could there be a bigger compliment to an author? Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve enjoyed a book more. Publication date June 25, 2024.

I'm still reeling from this gorgeous, sumptuous saga, the latest from Beatriz Williams:

Mallory is a single mother living every parent's worst nightmare. Her ten year old son, Sam is poisoned at summer camp so severely that he is now in need of a new kidney. Mallory and her sister, Paige are not a donor match. There are no other eligible relatives except potentially Sam's father, a secret that Mallory has never divulged to anyone, including Sam.

Sam's father is not just any ordinary man. He's Monk Adams, a famous singer, splashed across the pages of every tabloid and People magazine for both his music and sexy good looks.

Mallory and Monk had a beautiful friendship and romance that ended abruptly when Mallory left right before the start of their summer road trip. If Mallory is going to tell Monk about his child-and just maybe save Sam's life-, she is going to have to confront the dark secret of why she has chosen to stay away from Monk for all of these years

Meanwhile, as a result of their genealogical research to find a relative that could potentially be a kidney donor for Sam, Mallory and Paige uncover the fact that the grandmother that they have always known is not their biological grandmother. Their biological grandmother Hannah was adopted from an Irish orphanage in 1952. In the midst of searching for a kidney, suddenly Mallory is faced with confronting a whole new section of her family tree and a new cultural identity for herself

As both Mallory and Hannah's stories unfold in dual timelines, a master class in compelling historical fiction is revealed. With perfect pacing, seamless transitions from the past and the present, multi-faceted characters, and an interesting twist or two, Beatriz Williams has produced a five star novel, perfect for summer escapism.

All the stars for this novel!

I"ll be honest, this one was a slow start for me! I actually put it down and started it again 3 different times! But once I got a few chapters in-HOLY COW!! I LOVED this book! It has 3 timelines going, and I feel like each one could be a 5 star read all on their own! I fell in love with the characters, I couldn't get enough of Mallory and Monk, and I want to read more of them! Monk is totally swoonworthy, and I love Mallory's strength, wit, and love. This is one I am buying for my bookshelf, and recommending to all of my friends! Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I was highly anticipating Beatriz William's newest novel, and it did not disappoint.

I found myself invested in all of the characters and her story telling captivated me. The past and present timelines were told beautifully and didn't once frustrate me. Some books are difficult to read with dual timelines, but as always this author does it well.

This is absolutely worth getting and makes for a perfect summer read.

Beatriz Williams is a favorite and this book did not disappoint! She does such an amazing job twisting together multiple POVs and timelines that all intersect so perfectly. Each chapter keeps you engaged and leaves you on the perfect cliffhangers. It’s easy to follow and takes wonderfully unexpected turned. I wish there was a few more chapters because it ends in such a great twist.

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC of Husbands & Lovers by @authorbeatriz in exchange for an honest review!

Husbands & Lovers
Publication Date: June 25, 2024
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Beatriz Williams draws the reader in with high emotional investment from the very first page of this book! Two women, Mallory and Hannah, live decades…and continents apart. In the 21st century, Mallory is a single mother caring for her sick son, in need of a kidney donation after ingesting a toxic mushroom. In 1951, Hannah and her husband sought a hot, dry climate in Cairo for his health ailments. However, her own health is jeopardized by a snake bite but she is saved by a hotel worker. The course of these women’s lives are changed forever by these near death encounters. Husbands & Lovers is an absolutely beautifully written novel that delves deep into the intricacy of relationships. Watching these two stories weave together is a true privilege, creating a masterfully written and flawless piece of historical fiction.

4.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review is on Goodreads and will be on instagram ahead of publication!

I had HIGH expectations for this one, and of course, Beatriz Williams delivered!!

Husbands and Lovers is a multi-narrative story featuring Hannah, the wife of a British diplomat in Cairo post-WWII; young Mallory, who is working as a nanny for the summer; and mother Mallory, whose son is facing renal failure.

Williams weaves their stories together expertly, of course, and I couldn’t get enough of every single story. However, the real mastery is in the characters themselves. Mallory was real enough that her occasionally questionable choices felt plausible. Monk felt like a saint…except when he didn’t. And I couldn’t quite put a finger on Hannah’s motives, until the end, which drove me mad.

No notes. I loved this one. I highly recommend for my fellow fans of Beatriz Williams and historical fiction lovers. This is a great example of multiple timelines that works.

Thanks for the e-ARC, NetGalley and Ballantine Books at Random House!

Beatriz Williams has become a must read author for me and Husbands & Lovers did not disappoint. I love a good split timeline in a book and this one was perfection. The transitions between Hannah in 1951-52, Mallory in the early-mid 2000s, and Mallory in the present day were seamless and so thoroughly woven together as to make the story really cohesive. The heartbreaks, joys, tragedies, and triumphs of these interconnected stories made for a devastating and bittersweet read.

Hannah's portion is set in Cairo, Egypt in a tense post-WWII world. There was so much I had no idea about and you can tell the author really digs into her research to make her stories as authentic as possible.

I found the three timelines interesting but would have enjoyed more about Hannah. I loved how the story tied together with Mallory and Hannah.

Husbands & Lovers follows Mallory in 2022, navigating life with a son on dialysis after a freak mushroom incident at summer camp. We also follow Mallory in 2008 as she falls in love with Sam's father, Monk Adams, who later becomes a music icon. In Egypt in the 1950s we follow Hannah Ainsworth, the wife of an English diplomat stationed in Cairo, and her love affair while there. I love the blend of historical fiction, intrigue, and New England seaside nostalgia. In comparison to some of Williams' prior works, I noticed the threads weaving together earlier in the novel rather than later, which I appreciated. As some of the "twists" were approaching, even though I already had an inkling, I found myself barreling through, breathless with anticipation towards the end. I'll continue to read anything Beatriz Williams puts out.

the above was shared on Goodreads, but I figured this part didn't necessarily need to go in there since it's a bit of a spoiler.
I'm a kidney transplant nurse, and I particularly appreciated the look into what it's like to love someone living with kidney disease, and also the living miracle that is kidney donation. The only inaccuracy I could spot was that Monk's scar from donation would be on his abdomen, not his back. Typically the surgery is done laparoscopically, so he would have a few small scars, with one larger incision, the "hand port." It's also usually a little more scheduled, even in the case of an anonymous donor, but I'm here for the drama of the scene, no notes.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the eARC. This was a perfect beach read for my spring break. Interesting characters, romance, a bit of mystery. I have read more of the author's historical fiction so this was an interesting change of pace. The characters were written with a lot of humor and the storyline was engaging.

After reading the lost summers of Newport, I knew I wanted to read more by this author! I loved the different timelines and how well that they meshed together so wonderfully while I read the book. I couldn’t put this book down, I loved watching the banter/drama unfold! Can’t recommend this book enough! I can’t wait to pick up another book by Beatriz very soon!

In this new, standalone tale from Beatriz Williams, readers are transported from the fictional Winthrop Island (the setting for two previous Williams novels) to 1950’s Cairo and back again. The story begins with the Mallory, a single mom to a teenage son living with the consequences of a near fatal accident when he was a child. As Mallory works to find a new kidney for her son, she is forced to revisit a life she left behind years previously after a devastating betrayal destroyed her fairytale romance with her best friend, Monk. Now a famous singer-songwriter, Monk is both the most likely solution to her son’s problems and the last person Mallory feels she can face. In the midst of this personal turmoil, Mallory and her sister are also caught up in a family mystery, unravelling the details behind an unusual bracelet left to Mallory following her mother’s death.

The novel is written in alternating timelines, also following Hannah, a Hungarian refugee and wife of a British diplomat, in 1951 Cairo. Hannah nearly dies one evening of a snake bite, but is saved by the mysterious hotel manager, with whom she subsequently embarks on a dangerous and passionate secret love affair. Navigating pre-revolution Cairo in the time of British occupation, Hannah ultimately makes choices that will echo for generations.

Husbands and Lovers is classic Beatriz Williams in the absolute best way. Ms. Williams is a masterful storyteller, combining characters that are richly developed and nuanced with propulsive plot details that kept me turning page after page late into the night. While the romantic tensions in the book drive the majority of the plot, I also really enjoyed the mystery involving Mallory’s mother and the historical details of a time and place I hadn’t previously read much about. Like many prior Williams novels, there are clever ties to prior books that dedicated Williams fans will adore, but the story stands entirely on it’s own. I loved this book and devoured it in two short days! I plan to revisit the novel again this summer, hopefully while lounging on a beach in Rhode Island, pretending I’m sitting in the sands at Winthrop. The ending of the novel does seem to set readers up for a future return to the lives of those connected to Hannah and Mallory and I can only hope that is true and coming very soon! Highly recommend Husbands and Lovers for the perfect summer read.

Really enjoyed this book- so much that I couldn't put it down and finished it in just a few days. I loved how the author flipped between past and present tense but it all blended together well.

Going into this book it starts off a bit slow, there is a lot of character building and different settings.

I personally feel that Hannah could have had her own book and then Mallory could have been a sequel, but I still really enjoyed this novel.

I like how there is the ties to the DNA testing (like Ancestory), and then the current and past story of Mallory and Monk.

I do wish that Lee wasn't such a well you know, because I think Monk would have realized that so much sooner, based on the way he is created and people know him/his character.

Some parts were a little effed up, but that is what makes this a page turner.

Thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I just started watching Palm Royale, which made me want to read a “rich people behaving badly” novel. This isn’t *quite* that, although it does take place on the Cape, and while there are some poorly behaved rich folks, they’re mostly in the background.

Williams mentions in her author’s note that this is her first book that’s set at least partially in the present day - I hadn’t clocked that, and it’s interesting. We’re dealing with multiple timelines and narrators - Mallory in both the present day (2022) and 2008, and Hannah in 1950s Cairo. I suppose it’s not a spoiler to say that these two women are related, although Mallory doesn’t know it yet.

When the novel opens, Mallory’s son is in peril, having just eaten a death cap mushroom at summer camp on a dare. He survives, but loses kidney function, so he’s looking at a lifetime of dialysis if they can’t find a donor. Her sister Paige keeps trying to convince Mallory to contact Sam’s father, but it’s complicated. Not only does he not know he has a kid, but he’s a famous musician. Mallory has always resigned herself to raising Sam alone (she got pregnant in the 2008 timeline, during the summer she nannied for Monk’s family), and the last thing she wants is to seem like she’s trying to take advantage of Monk now that he’s famous. They haven’t even spoken since that summer, when Mallory left abruptly without saying goodbye.

Then we have Hannah, living in Cairo as a diplomat’s wife. She has her own tragic past - she met her husband when she was at a displaced persons camp in Austria. She acted as his translator during the Nuremberg trials, and then they were married once the trials were over. She has her own tragic past, with her first husband Janos and their children. Honestly, I found Hannah’s story far more compelling for the majority of the novel. Her marriage isn’t great, but given the tragedy in her past, it’s not surprising that she’s basically just in it for the safety it provides her. As the novel goes on, she has flashbacks to her previous life before her marriage to Alistair, and those were the parts I was most interested in.

The biggest thing that bugged me about this book is that these two women might as well have existed in two entirely separate novels. I was invested in Mallory’s story as well, but most of her problems pale in comparison to Hannah’s (until we learn the real reason she left that summer). The thread connecting these two generations is a beautiful snake bracelet that Mallory’s mother left her - it was given to her by her own mother, and she never took it off. Mallory and Paige start trying to figure out where the bracelet could have come from, and in the process learn that their mother was actually adopted from an Irish orphanage. So we’re going back and forth as Mallory and Paige investigate, and Hannah’s timeline moves closer and closer to the birth of their mother. But none of these things converge until the VERY end, and in the meantime, Mallory is having her own separate series of dramas that have nothing at all to do with this Irish orphanage business (minus a very brief trip to Ireland).

So Mallory’s drama involves Monk coming back into her life (she and her sister are staying on the island where his family has a summer house, and he just happens to be there preparing for his wedding). This is generally the kind of romance I can handle, because it’s in service of the greater plot, and for the most part doesn’t grind the story to a halt. Did I do a lot of skimming when they’re making various declarations of love? Of course. Barf.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this, but I wished the plots had come together sooner…or that the novel had just been about Hannah on her own.

This book is a stunner! I’m a sucker for multiple timelines and points of view, and I loved how the timelines wove together. This book was also about a part of history that I didn’t know much about, and now I’m sure to know more. Highly recommend this one, thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

Ok…this book has A LOT going on…A LOT!

There are three time lines going that weave together a messy story of scandal, love, family, betrayals, and lies. Drama! If family drama is your jam this is your book!

I always enjoy this author and how she makes various characters come together!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this fun read. I can’t wait for it to hit the shelves. I recommend!

Interesting dual time lines coupled with all the flash backs from the present to ages ago. The story kept my interest and was intricately woven, albeit could have been shorter. It started to get a bit tedious. I enjoyed the journey. #HusbandsandLovers, #goodreads.