Husbands and Lovers is the next book written by Beatriz Williams and it is both engaging and page turning. I couldn't put it down!

If you are a fan of Ms. Williams novels, you will recognize the setting for this story, which is back on the imaginary Winthrop Island. Some of the inhabitants of the island will also be familiar. In this intriguing story, the search for a kidney donor leads sisters Paige and Mallory in a quest to investigate and identify the family of their mother who was adopted. The author blends present day with Egyptian history of the 1950's keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.
This novel was a delight to read. The characters are engaging and the dialog was stimulating. The relationships are so intriguing and at times, heartbreaking. I loved the book and highly recommend it.

I love Beatriz Williams so I was thrilled to receive an ARC for her latest novel, Husbands and Lovers! Thank you so much to Random House and NetGalley!

I tore through this in two days, couldn’t put it down. The story is mostly told through Mallory’s and Hannah’s perspectives during three timelines. I loved the Mallory/Monk storylines in both their young adult and adult timelines. I enjoyed Hannah’s story, but found myself skipping over paragraphs that went into too much detail about the politics of the time. I just couldn’t get into it and I love historical fiction. Regardless, I throughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it!

Absolutely amazing. Reading this book is like getting several books in one. The way the author wove the past and present seamlessly kept me turning page after page to see what happened next. One of the best parts was that it was not in chronological order; the past and the present unraveled simultaneously, invoking some deep emotions in the characters and me as the reader. There was one character that I could not stand throughout the book, but at the end, the author brought him full circle and I began to understand. My heart ached for this family time after time, but the ending took the pain out of the sting. Highly recommend if you are a fan of historical fiction romance.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House for an early copy of Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams

Author Beatriz Williams returns to East Coast's fictional Winthrop Island as the setting for the dual story of a young, male musician, Monk Adams, dedicated to the design-student love of his life, Mallory Dunne, and her discovery of a grandmother's life she knew nothing about. The compelling characters, dialog and situations conclude with secrets revealed and lives forever changed.

When Mallory Dunne becomes pregnant and walks out on her future with Monk Adams, she believes she has done what is best for all concerned. However, a tragedy affecting their son, Sam, will set the stage for revelation and a chance to make things right. Monk Adams's loving attitude toward the son he did not know existed is a positive and refreshing male response to a difficult situation.

The back story of a mysterious bracelet Mallory has inherited leads her and her sister Paige to the details of her Hungarian grandmother and the secret life she led during and following World War II. Action following the war takes her grandmother to the 1950s unrest in Cairo due to British rule and disagreements over the Suez Canal.

Williams has included additional reading of the Soviet/Hungarian situation to enhance the reading of Husbands and Lovers and offer more details of the world Mallory's grandmother hoped to improve.

As soon as Beatriz Williams announces her next book, I begin plotting how I can get my greedy little hands on it, and this one is no exception. I have been reading Williams now for years and I adore all her books. I love how they are all connected to each other, weaving a tapestry of drama and intrigue through her characters. The world she has created is fascinating and has me looking in, bowl of popcorn in hand as all her machinations unfold. To say she is a masterful storyteller is an understatement, at least in my opinion. Husbands & Lovers is no exception to this rule. It might be my favorite Beatriz Williams yet.
Set over three timelines and featuring two strong female leads, Husbands & Lovers has all the tangled storylines and dramatic revelations one has come to expect from a Beatriz Williams novel. In 1951, we meet Hannah, a Hungarian refugee living with her British diplomat husband in Cairo. While a fascinating peek into the devolution of Anglo-Egyptian relations during the Cold War period, this storyline seemed very much secondary to the 2008 and 2022 storylines. That doesn't mean that Hannah is any less of an interesting character. On the contrary, her journey only heightens the intrigue as the plot develops in the modern day timeline due to the connections between the characters. Nevertheless, it is Mallory and her relationship with the now-famous music star Monk Adams that truly steals the show. The reader not only gets to tag along as Mallory and Monk's story unfolds in 2008, but also gets to witness the repercussions of their relationship in the 2022 timeline.
Ultimately, this is a story about the power of a mother's love, and how this love can be manifested in very different ways. Both Hannah and Mallory experience tragedy and loss in their respective stories, but it is how they react to their circumstances that keeps the reader turning the page. While both stories have a resolution by the last page, I can't help but hope that we might see more of Mallory thanks to an ending that could possibly hint at an ellipses rather than a full stop.
Beatriz Williams has worked her magic again. Husbands & Lovers is a powerful, emotive novel that sweeps you off your feet and sets you back down a little richer than you were before. I can't wait to see where she takes us next.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

In one timeline, Mallory’s now-13-year-old son has been living on dialysis for three years and needs a new kidney. Her sister can’t persuade her to talk to the biological father, who is now a world-famous musician. She made her choice a long time ago and doesn’t want him to think she wants his money—or his body parts. But the need for a kidney does get Mallory and Paige looking into their ancestry, which is filled with secrets.

In 1951, Hannah married an older man for his money but is having an affair that has more secrets than your typical dalliance.

The stories merge into a satisfying story of enduring love through the various challenges life throws at you.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JUNE 25, 2024.

US pub date: 6/25/24
Genre: historical fiction, dual timeline
Quick summary: Two women fight against long odds: in 2022, Mallory seeks out her sick son's father for a kidney transplant, while in 1951 Cairo, Hannah finds herself in a dangerous affair.

I've read a lot of Beatriz Williams' books, so I had to grab this one for a pre-summer treat. There is plenty of drama in this book, and for me, it veered towards the soapier side of her catalog. I also wish the two timelines had connected earlier - I found myself really confused as to how Hannah's timeline would fit with Mallory's. They did connect in the end, but overall, I enjoyed Mallory's story more than Hannah's. If you're looking for a lighter read, you may enjoy this one more than I did!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams.

Husbands and Lovers ticks all the boxes for a light summer read. Two different storylines from two eras - but each deals with questions of parentage and disappointing love affairs.

That said, I didn't find the characters or storyline particularly deep or compelling, but the story will keep you entertained for a few hours.

Husbands & Lovers is one of my favorite Beatriz Williams’ books! I so enjoy the way she brings the reader along with her through her stories - the descriptive writing, the depth of characters, the evocative locations. Such a pleasure to spend time immersed in her sagas!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Solid 3.5 stars! I really loved all of the tangling of relationships in this book (the title couldn’t be more perfect). The ending was also very satisfying. Hannah’s 1950s parts dragged a bit for me, and the book was also a little slow moving in the beginning. But other parts were page turners, and Monk and Mallory were easy to root for! Thank you for the ARC.

Among Beatriz’s best! Beatriz Williams’ Husbands & Lovers is a superbly crafted tale weaving together an ambitious three timelines. Williams’ research is impeccable as always, and, as with the best of historical fiction, I learned much about which I was previously unaware in the fascinating strand set in 1950s Cairo among the British expat community.

The beating heart of this story, however, is Mallory, who is the protagonist of the more contemporary storylines. Williams’ writing is always exquisite, and she has long been among my favorite authors. But she has somehow imbued Mallory, Monk, Sam and the whole cast of secondary characters appearing in later years with a stunning degree of life and relatability. Her writing in these passages is more lively, more playful, more joyful. And that effervescence has made for an immensely interesting, enjoyable and memorable story.

I would ever so eagerly welcome a sequel featuring Williams’ contemporary characters - perhaps focusing on the next chapter for Sam or. Mallory’s sister?

Highly recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Ballantine (Random House) for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Oh my, my heart ached as I read Beatriz Willams latest novel Husbands & Lovers. The dual time lines (with each time line going from past to present) were easy to understand and were a bit like little cliffhangers to excited you about the novel. I read it in one sitting as the story grips you and carries you forward.
I highly recommend Husbands & Lovers.

Beautiful story of Mallory and Monk intertwined with historical fiction. I love the way Beatriz Williams ties in old with new and used such a simple item to thread this beautiful story about love, family and morals.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballentine, for the opportunity to read Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. This was a interesting story crossing timelines and linking them via a family heirloom. This was my frist time reading this author. This was a great read. This gives me the vibes that it would make a great tv adaptation for a show.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I normally do not read Beatriz Williams, but one of the reviews I read said that it is not one of her "usual" stories, so I decided to give it a try. I am very glad that I did. There were so many stories and timeframes going on at the same time, but not too many that you don't know what's going on. Each story contributes to the main story and comes together in the end. I loved Monk and Pinks and their story together that spans several decades. Mallory's sister, Paige, was also a likable character, but unfortunately little focus was on her. I feel her story was the only one not concluded at the end of the book. I loved the surprise at the end but I will not spoil it for anyone. I recommend reading this story!

I enjoyed Mallory's story much more than Hannah's as her character and story were far more developed - I give the more recent parts of the novel 5 stars and the 1950s story 3 stars. Also, the ending was too abrupt - I wanted to read about Mallory's reaction to meeting her uncle and I wanted to read about Hannah being reunited with her long-lost son, so I felt cheated by the ending.

As an aside, Paige's husband having an affair with a young associate is pretty par for the course in the legal world so it's unrealistic to have it make the news or it to be anything more than a your standard affair. And Paige was a fairly important part of the book up until that happened and then we don't see her until the last couple of pages of the unsatisfactory ending.

Two women, separated by time and locations. 2022-New England and 1951 Cairo. Mallory and Hannah are connected. Beautifully written novel. Williams has an amazing way of pulling you into the story from the beginning. I love how this book had some adventure, romance and mystery all tied up together. It will stick with me for a while.

Read if you enjoy historical fiction, dual timelines, memorable characters, and beautifully described settings.

I highly recommend this book.

If you’re a big fan of Beatriz Williams, you’ll love her latest romance novel, Husbands & Lovers. The novel explores two stories in multiple timeframes, and the lives of Mallory and Hannah are tied together by history and a cobra bracelet. It’s a story of lost love, family and class.

Mallory Dunne needs a kidney donor for her teenage son, Sam, and researches her ancestry to find one. But she discovers the perfect match from a childhood lover, Monk Adams, now a famous singer/songwriter. The novel switches from past to present, revealing secrets, family relationships, and class/societal issues.

In addition, Mallory deals with a troubled past and reconciles with Monk to ensure her son has a normal life. But as she delves into the past, Mallory discovers her mother was adopted and given up by Hannah, a World War II survivor who endures numerous tragedies.

Husband Lovers compares the parallel lives of Mallory and her grandmother, Hannah, as they navigate the issues and hardships of their times. The history, romance, and struggles of these women in Husband Lovers make this novel a fascinating read. I thank Net Galley for letting me read and review Husbands & Lovers. #NetGalley #Husband&Lovers #romancenovels

Beatriz Williams knows how to write a story that sucks you in! I couldn’t put this one down. There are three timelines with two separate heroines. I preferred Mallory’s story and was all in on her romance with Monk. I loved the mystery element woven into the story which kept me engaged. I would have liked a bit more of Hannah’s story because there was so much left unsaid. This book was excellent and I had a great time reading it!

So pleased to have been given an ARC for this book. Ive left this book feeling very refreshed and elated. It was an engrossing and beautiful tale!