I am not a huge historical fiction reader, so when I heard Beatriz Williams was releasing a novel with a contemporary timeline, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This story was so unique and the way it unfolded kept me captivated with each page - in both the past and present timelines.

And on a side note, I'll never eat a wild mushroom again!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. Husbands and Lovers alternates between two time periods: present day Massachusetts, and Egypt during the second world war. Williams weaves in some of the families we have met in her previous novels, and this adds context and texture to the story. This is a substantial read that is also fairly fast-paced.

Husbands and Lovers is a really compelling and interesting read that I know will be a best seller. It’s one part historical fiction and another part family drama with a dash of romance and intrigue.

The story is told mostly from two perspectives: Mallory Dunne, a single mom on an island in Connecticut in modern day and Hannah Ainsworth, wife of an English diplomat, in post war Egypt in the 1950s. Their stories are woven together and the intersection of their lives is just so intricate and vivid and complex and the end had me searching for the next chapters.

I do echo other reviewers in my wish that Hannah’s story were more fleshed out in the pages. I’d have happily read a hundred or two more pages to have some level of resolution for her from her POV rather than what we find out from present day. I did very much appreciate the ending in that respect.

Personally, the storyline was well done and I enjoyed it, but the spicy bits were unexpected, often bordering on vulgar, and (in my opinion) unnecessary to the telling of a great story.

I’d like to thank Random House and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I could not set this book down! Both timelines were equally enchanting and engaging. The characters and relationships were so well written it was hard not to be invested in the story. Mallory and her sister Paige’s relationship was so relatable, it was gave the story additional depth. Monks adoration for Mallory gave you the warm fuzzies. Hannah and Lucien’s interactions were hypnotizing. The 1950s Cairo timeline and the 2022 fictional Winthrop Island were beautifully intertwined and I really enjoyed the ending. Overall would recommend this highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this one! I am a HUGE Beatriz Williams fan. This seems like a departure from her typical style (more below) and yet I really loved it. 4.5/5 stars for me.
This is told in two POV's: Mallory (a single mother of an immunocompromised son in the coastal northeast) and Hannah (a Hungarian wealthy WW2 survivor in Egypt). It is also told in three timelines: 1950's Egypt through Hannah's eyes, and 2008 and current day through Mallory's eyes. This is a lot less historical and a lot more of a modern romance than Williams' typically writes, but it really works. Mallory and her love interest, Monk, are really well developed. The chemistry jumps off the page, the steamy scenes are plot driven and effective, and their current day tension is really palpable. I also thought Hannah's storyline was really intriguing: I had JUST finished another book about Egypt during this timeframe, so it was really interesting to hear about the same places again. Hannah was so lost and so strong simultaneously: she comes off as just another wealthy diplomats wife, but she is SO much more.

I do wish the connection between the two stories was a bit stronger, but by the end I found I really didn't care: I loved them both enough to see past the small string. I also felt just slightly bad for Lennox, she was definitely built to solely be unlikeable, and normally I like to see a bit more development there. But honestly this book was just addicting!

I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction but every now and then a book comes along that grabs me and doesn’t let go. Husbands and Lovers doesn’t let go. This book is enchanting and mesmerizing. 5 stars.

This was my first Beatriz Williams novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Husbands & Lovers is part historical fiction, part love story with a family mystery thrown in. Told in dual timelines by Mallory, a single mom in 2022 and Hannah, a married woman in Egypt in the early 1950’s; two strong women who were able to live their lives and follow their hearts. The scenes are set so vividly it had me feeling as if I was actually there and I was able to identify with the characters and their dilemmas. I would definitely recommend this book to any historical fiction and/or romance fan! Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballantine for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Husbands and Lovers is an enjoyably complex multiple-timeline historical novel set in present-day New England and mid-century Egypt, with an unexpected detour to Ireland. Beatriz Williams always delivers an engaging narrative with at least one unexpected twist, and Husbands & Lovers delivers on that promise. Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books and Net Galley for the advance reader copy.

Loved this story. It kept getting better and more intriguing as it continued. I do think some of the stories could have been simplified, but they seemed to come together at the end. Thank you for the advance copy!

I always love Beatriz Williams, and as expected, enjoyed this book. I liked the stories of both women; although did find it a bit frustrating that it would jump to the other woman just as I was getting more engaged! I appreciate how she links her books together and liked the ties to her last book about Summerly. It makes me wonder if the next book would be more about the Countess. Her story left me a bit unsatisfied (although I'm not sure that a book would be any different, given her ending). All that said, I loved both characters (Malloy and Hannah) and you can't go wrong with this author.

Beatriz Williams does it again (I just love her!)! This was such a fun one - but a smidge different from her others.

I loved the two timelines, going back and forth between 50s Egypt & current day beach town. I think BW does the historical flip-flop exceptionally well. In this book it actually felt a bit like 4 timelines since each character also went back in time too. It was a really cool way to really get to know each character on a deeper level by looking back at their pasts.

I might be wrong, but this book was one of the first ones of BW that I remember having a little spice! It was definitely okay IMO, and I think the title really sums it up well - husbands and lovers 🔥💗

BW’s character nods (or Easter eggs?) to characters in previous books is one of my most favorite things. Totally lets you momentarily relive a previous BW book! I thought Paige was a really sweet character & am intrigued by Sedge - maybe another book on either of these two?! Who knows!

All in all, totally loved it. Totally would recommend.
A massive thank you to NetGally & Ballantine Books for this ARC ✨

Man, I could almost feel the characters coming off the page and see the settings. I couldn't put this one down. Can't wait to read more from this author.

4 stars. *

Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite authors. I have read almost everything she has written and while some outshine others, they are all right up my alley.

Williams typically writes historical fiction stories told by multiple narrators across time. Husbands & Lovers is no different, though it is the most current of her novels, with one of the storylines taking place now.

The novel opens with Mallory, a single mom, receiving a call from her son's summer camp alerting her to a medical emergency. Her son Sam ate a mushroom on a dare. He survives but is left with renal complications that mean a lifetime of dialysis until he can find a donor. Mallory's sister, Paige, buts in to encourage Mallory to reach out to Sam's father (who incidentally does not know Sam exists) in order to potentially save Sam's life.

Simultaneously, Paige & Mallory learn that their grandmother was adopted, and their desire to seek blood family ties to help Sam lead them down a wild path.

The other storyline is that of Paige & Mallory's biological grandmother, a Hungarian interpreter married to an English diplomat living in Cairo in the early 1950s.

Both storylines are compelling, and I was invested and interested all the way through. As is normal for Williams, part of the story takes place at Summerly, a beach home in fictional Winthrop Island, which has featured in two previous novels.

Add this to your summer TBR if you like modern Historical Fiction & beach reads!

Publication Date: June 25, 2024.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Ms. Williams for the advanced reader's copy of this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It takes you down town roads of present day and a love story of years past. Characters you can really feel and learn to love each of their heartbreaks and love stories.

Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite historical fiction authors... scratch that, one of my favorite authors. When I got approved for this ARC on NetGalley I dropped everything I was doing to read this book and it did NOT disappoint. Husbands & Lovers is set in two different time periods and is told from the perspective of two different women, Mallory and Hannah. Mallory, who is a single mom, whose son is in need of a kidney transplant. Hannah who is stuck in a loveless marriage living in Egypt during the 1950s. I was equally invested in each story line and loved how they intertwined with each other. I loved this book so much and still find myself thinking about it even after I've finished. This is a must read for 2024!

Beatriz Williams always knocks it out of the park with her unique plots.
However, this novel didn't blow me away. The structure has been played out many times. The level of suspense didn't pick up until the last quarter of the book (for me, anyway). And the dialogue between characters of the past seemed ill researched and stiff.
I'm disappointed this wasn't a 5 star read for me, and to be honest I skimmed a lot of it. I think her novels are becoming more and more predictable.

I really hope that they turn this book into a movie! This is a wonderful story about two women who are strong and aspirational. Mallory, a single mom who is raising a beautiful but medically fragile young boy, and Hannah, her grandmother who is living in Egypt during the time of the 1950s revolution. Both carry a secret, which will distance them from the loves of their lives.

Main character, Mallory, is trying to figure out her own roots at the same time as figuring out the roots she wants for her son, Sam. However, when Sam needs an organ transplant, she realizes her only option is to go back to a story she closed fourteen years ago. Told in dueling timelines, this saga takes the reader from New England to Egypt…secrets are revealed and questions are answered.

While slow to start, the second half soared and I really loved this one!

I've read quite a few of Beatriz Williams' books and this one missed the mark for me. I wasn't able to get to the point of caring about any of the characters. I suspected something going on with Monk's father and knew for certain of Monk's role in his son's health care. I felt the cobra bracelet side story was unfulfilling and somewhat detracting - except in the last few pages, a magical connection to the Egyptian/Hungarian storyline.

Once again, Beatriz Williams delivers! Husbands and Wives is a lush tale woven throughout the lives of Hannah and Mallory. Their stories intersect yet jar apart. Hannah’s backdrop is exotic Cairo, on the edge of a .revolution. She is torn between two men while harboring her own secrets. Mallory ‘s story is set on Winthrop Island, home to the Old Money Adams family, where her former love Monk Adams (the son of the house) now resides, when he’s at home, that is. She has her own secrets and is having to deal with a precarious medical emergency.. Fans of the Team W (thanks to Friends and Fiction) novels that Ms. Williams writes with fellow authors Lauren Willing and Karen White, will be thrilled to find Easter eggs of their latest novel The Beach at Summerly inserted into the storyline. Another great novel from a grand storyteller!