Thank you to Ballantine Books and Random House, Net Galley and the author Beatriz Williams for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and everything about it. I had a hard time putting it down.

This historical fiction and romance novel is told from multiple POVs. The two main POVs are Mallory and Hannah. In 2022, Mallory is a single mom raising her son, Sam. When he travels to NH for summer camp, he eats a poisonous mushroom and becomes very ill. He needs a transplant and Mallory and her sister are not a match. She has no intentions of asking his father, the famous musician, Monk Adams. When discovers a secret about her mother, this becomes the lead she needs.

Hannah is living in Cairo in 1950. She is a Hungarian refugee with flashbacks of her traumatic past during the war. She is now in a loveless marriage with a British diplomat. When she is bitten by a snake, a charming young man comes to her rescue. Will he be the distraction she needs?

We also get the POV of Mallory back in 2008 when she was dating Monk Adams before he was famous. We get to see what played out that summer before they stopped speaking.

There are limited POVs from Mallory and Hannah’s lovers as well.

I would highly recommend this book. 5 stars.

Thank you @netgalley @authorbeatriz @randomhouse for the ARC of Husbands & Lovers!

My first thought after reading this was: this is not what I expected at all. Husbands and Lovers goes between the past and present with a connection to a family heirloom. I love when books go between past and present, and Beatriz Williams did it beautifully. I was angry with Mallory for a majority of the book, but my heart ached for her at the end. If you’re looking for a historical fictional/romance, you won’t be disappointed.

I can’t wait to get my hands on another Beatriz Williams book!

New England 2022-- Mallory Dunne is a single mom scrapping by. She has a 10 year old son Sam. One day Mallory receives news that Sam is in a hospital three hours away. He has been poisoned by a toxic mushroom at his summer camp. Mallory is devastated as Sam is going to need a kidney transplant, Neither Mallory or her sister Paige are a donor match. There are a few other people she might consider contacting but before she does that she has discovered her mother was adopted. She also wonders if she can find out about her mother';s family she might find someone to help Sam.

Cairo 1951-- Hannah Anderson is a Hungarian refuge married to a British Diplomat, Hannah is bitten by a snake and saved by Lucien Beck a hotel manager. This changes Hannah's life forever. There are two men in her life. One is a steady person she adores and the other is a forbidden passionate love, As she embarks on the affair with Lucian she will in the end have to make a decision that will change her life forever and that of her unborn child.

Sam's father is Monk Adams a famous rockstar who Hannah had met and had a relationship with 15 years ago. This medical incident happens just as Monk is going to get married to a famous influencer. Mallory and Monk had a great love story but will Sam's medical condition bring them back together or will Monk stay engaged.

The end of this book is great. I enjoyed the two timelines or technically three with the flash backs to Monk and Mallory's story. The stories are so interconnected and in the end they all come together.

For me, Beatriz Williams does no wrong. This was an excellent book and will be a surefire hit this summer season!

What most excited me about the novel was the numerous strong female protagonists. Not many authors can craft stories that truly grab me and make me want to keep reading. Beatriz kept me hooked on these women's lives. Romance, hints of danger, and real-life elements make all the characters relatable and likable.

I really enjoyed reading chapters from different character's points of view, and the ending was the perfect way to close the book. You have to get your hands on a copy of this one!

Wow! I just finished and I am still flush with good feelings. This book had so many layers. It had multiple stories that intertwined. But it was about families- where we came from, who raised us-it’s all connected. A wonderful read!

Thank you NetGallery for sharing this early edition of this book with me.
We follow Mallory in 2022 in New England While also following Hannah in Cairo in 1951.
Mallory is a single mother to Sam who is away at sleepaway camp. While he is there he becomes ill after eating a toxic mushroom. Sam now is in desperate need of a new kidney. Mallory must allow Sam’s out of the picture famous father into their lives. Mallory has only allowed certain people into Sam’s very sheltered world and this is a huge adjustment for everyone with extreme circumstances for all.

Hannah’s life is very complicated she marries, but she finds second chances as well.
This story is excited with many twists and turns, and was hard to put down. I really enjoyed reading this book. #netgallery

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.