Husband’s and Lovers was my first introduction to Beatriz Williams, and I will certainly be back for more! 4.5 ⭐️

This dual timeline is set on the fictional Winthrop Island in 2022 and in Cairo, Egypt in the 1950s. While both Mallory and Hannah’s stories were absolutely lovely and heartbreaking, I found myself more invested in Mallory’s chronicle. Hannah’s life absolutely devastated me and I noticed I sometimes rushed through her chapters to get back to Mallory and Monk. The overall flow of the book made it hard to put down, as nearly every chapter ended in a big reveal or cliff hanger. Sometimes the timeline took extra brain power to follow, especially within chapters, but I felt exceptionally connected to and invested in Mallory and Hannah thanks to their many flashbacks.

In other news, Monk Adams is my new book boyfriend and I doubt few will ever compare! A favorite quote:

“It hurts, Pink. Like a pain in my chest, like it's too much to hold. Like I'm going to lose you.” 🥹

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy of this book! I will be highly recommending this book come June 2024!

The voice is strong, the premise is interesting, and it reads well. I stopped after chapter 2 (5%) but probably a solid three to four stars for the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Gosh, I loved Husbands & Lovers! It was hard to put this book down. I have read a handful of Beatriz Williams novels and enjoyed them all - although I think this might be my favorite. It's a love story at heart, but also a fascinating look at a slice of history (Egypt immediately following WWII) and paternity incidents.

2022: Mallory is a single mom. Her son, Sam, eats a death cap mushroom while at sleep-away camp and ends up with kidney disease. Sam's dad is 'out of the picture' and it takes us a while to learn exactly why.

2008: Mallory falls in love with Sam's father in a whirlwind summer romance. I'll leave it there because it takes almost the entire book to find out why that romance ended.

1951-1952: Hannah Ainsworth is a Hungarian refugee. She married a wealthy British diplomat after World War II ended and has found herself stationed in Egypt, living a bourgeois expat lifestyle.

We follow the love affairs of both Mallory and Hannah, traveling back and forth between 2022, 2008 and 1951. The story is a slow burn, each chapter is long, going deep into the plot at hand. I was deeply invested in the individual stories, feeling like the end of each chapter was a cliffhanger that left me eager to know what happened next. It takes time to know how they're all connected. My only complaint about this novel was, in fact, how long it took to get to the next section. Books like this sometimes make me want to read each story in its entirety, rather than swapping from story to story. I imagine, since this was an ARC, that some of this might improve with the final edits, helping to move things along a little more quickly.

I love a smart romance, with history and strong, likable characters. I felt this one in my heart and spirit. I also love a special piece of statement jewelry; this book features one I wish I could see in person! Highly recommended, I will definitely be telling friends about this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite description:
"A woman sat pin-straight on the fraying bench seat, wearing a pink linen blouse and pearls, rusty blond hair, inquisitive blue eyes, cheekbones on loan from a carpenter."

Husbands and Lovers is a novel about second chances. There are two story lines -Hannah, who lives in Cairo in the early 50s, and Mallory, a single-mom in New England, whose story goes back and forth between 2008 and current day. Both women are connected by a bracelet, and their stories come together towards the end of the book.

I loved Mallory and Monk’s story and found both characters very likable. I was captivated by their relationship, their devotion for each other, their chemistry, and was curious till the end about what had drawn them apart. That said, I also found Hannah’s story mesmerizing, and I was glad her backstory was different from what I was expecting.

As with all of Beatriz William’s books, the descriptions are rich and the characters are strong. I got transported to Winthrop Island and Cairo, and I really enjoyed the plot, which kept me engaged from beginning to end, and up until late at night. This may be my new favorite book by Beatriz Williams.

Thank you to Random House Publishing -Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you for this ARC! What a treat to read. Definitely one of my favorite reads in November. The end of each chapter and the movement among story lines of Mallory as a young adult, Mallory as an adult and Sam’s mom, Hannah before/during the war and Egypt Hannah kept me enthralled in this story and it was very difficult to put down.

I adored Mallory and Monk’s love story and the search to find out about Mallory and Paige’s family history. The devastating heartbreak that Hannah experienced. Sam’s journey to health.

It’s difficult to put into words. So glad I got the chance to read this one. Can’t wait to check out more from Beatriz Williams.

I'm a big fan of Beatriz Williams and was thrilled to be sent this E-ARC of her latest novel. It is so ambitious, and as I've come to expect, well researched and written, and it worked! Two love stories set 70 years apart united by a mysterious family heirloom. It is part present day second chance romance, famous person/normal person romance (with its own dual timelines), and part historical fiction set in Cairo during the start of the Egyptian revolution, with elements of unwed mothers and family secrets. I preferred the contemporary romance between Monk and Mallory, but loved how the stories became interwoven and the loose ends were tied up in the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Consider pre-ordering! Publish date: 6/25/24

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beatriz Williams cemented herself as an auto-buy for me a while ago. And once again, this one is perfect! Told in alternating timelines of Mallory in present day Winthrop Island and Hannah jn 1950s Egypt, she weaves am extraordinary tale of true love, loss, and unimaginable heartbreak. The timelines are incredibly easy to keep up with and weave together beautifully. Perfect for fans of historical and contemporary. romance, this book is absolute perfection! One of the best if not the best love story I've read all year! It grabs you at page 1 and doesn't let go! I can't recommend this highly enough.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to NetGalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballantine Press. 🩷

I love Beatriz Williams and her latest, Husbands and Lovers did not disappoint! This story is told in 2 different timelines that intersect throughout the book and then come together at the end. I loved the present day story and I loved the past story and the way they flowed throughout the book. I couldn't put this down from the first page to the last. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to net galley for the arch in exchange for an honest review.

Beatriz Williams, as I have come to expect, has written another amazing novel. Her latest, Husbands & Lovers is a convergence of two timelines, modern-day New York and 1950s Egypt. As usual, she includes many historical situations to provide an informative and entertaining read.
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC ebook I read to complete this review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I finished this book three minutes ago- that is how excited I am to write this review. Wow. What a great story. There are two timelines that are followed- Egypt in the 1950s and a modern day island off of New York. There is so much happening here in both timelines and they culminate together at the end. I don’t want to give anything away but encourage all to read this. This will be one of my top books read this year, possibly next to the Lioness. I am going to rush out now and look up more books from this author because i am blown away.
Thank you NetGalley for a ARC.

This is the first book written by Beatriz Williams that I have read, but it will not be my last.

This story begins with Mallory's young son ingesting a toxic mushroom and requiring a kidney transplant. She never told his father of his existence and now contemplates reaching out to see if he would be a donor for her son. The second timeline describes Hannah who is living in Cairo with her British diplomat husband. The two timelines describe the women's lives, loves, tragedies and sacrifices. The writing was wonderful and pulled me into both of their stories. The intersecting of the timelines was great and very interesting.

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Beatriz Williams’ writing for a while because of the way she makes history come alive in her novels and because of her well developed characters. I received an ARC of her new book, Husbands & Lovers, yesterday, and the only reason I didn’t finish it on the same day was I downloaded it to my Kindle in the evening. I couldn’t wait to get up and finish it this morning. This may be my favorite Williams’ book yet.

There are two parallel stories, one contemporary and one taking place in 1950’s Egypt. The contemporary story mostly takes place on fictional Winthrop Island, off the Connecticut shore. We meet single mother Mallory and the challenges she faces with her 13 year old son’s failing kidneys. If that sounds depressing, it really isn’t as we see the support she gets from her sister and both of their can-do attitudes. Other than Mallory, most of the characters come from great wealth, and Williams lets us peer into the everyday lives of that class. We also see how and why the two main characters fall in love with each other as teens and appreciate their special bond. They are good people and we root for their happiness as other characters and life events separate them.

The story of Hannah, married to a British Foreign Officer, in Egypt is equally engrossing. The sights and sounds of Cairo and environs come alive on the page.

The two stories are connected and all come together in a most satisfying ending. Along the way, we meet a rock star, spies, and a narcissistic social media influencer. This novel is a rollicking good read with humor, heart, and romance.

I'm a big fan of Beatriz Williams, so was thrilled to be able to read Husbands and Lovers early. Thank you Random House! Beatriz's strong female leads are always interesting, complicated, and exciting characters. Her grasp of history and research details are amazing and I always learn something from her books. Husbands and Lovers is her third book set on Winthrop Island, but you don't have to have read the others to enjoy this book. The dual timeline was great and I was engaged in both stories. I didn't want the book to end. Read this with your book group...there'll be endless discussions.

I randomly saw a Facebook post from Beatriz Williams where she was writing about her latest novel and knew I *had* to request it on NetGalley. Luckily my request was approved that same day and I jumped right in!

I loved the dual timeline of the book! You get to learn about modern-day Mallory, a single mom dealing with the aftermath of her son's accident, and also her grandmother, Hannah, living in Egypt in the 1950's.

I enjoyed every bit of this book and was so sad when it was over!

The way the two timelines come together is nothing short of magic! I wish that I could've read 300 more pages about these two amazing women and the loves of their lives.

Thank you to Beatriz Williams for writing this book and thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #husbandsandlovers

Mallory Adams is living in 2022 as an artist in RI with her thirteen year old son Sam. When Sam becomes quite ill, Mallory must search for a new kidney for him. Sam’s dad, Monk Adams, was Mallory’s childhood friend turned lover but he knows nothing of Sam’s existence. He is now a major star in the music industry. In 1951 Cairo, Hannah Ainsworth is living with her British diplomat husband. She met him in a displaced persons’ camp in Austria and now suffers through a loveless marriage. Williams fills in the backstory of both women and how their lives connect. In the beginning I found Mallory’s story far more interesting and Mallory more likable and sympathetic. Over time, however, as Hannah past was unveiled I grew to appreciate her. There were several unexpected twists and the ending was quite satisfactory. This was a captivating read and I highly recommend it. I thank Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Beatriz Williams is one of those authors where, when you pick up her latest book, you know you’re about to be knocked sideways. Her books are always full of intrigue, mystery, passion, and topped-off with fascinating morally gray characters you can’t help but root for. HUSBANDS & LOVERS did not disappoint. I read the entire book in two days and struggled to put it down. There are two emotional love stories woven in, each heartbreakingly impossible in their own way, and both made me swoon.

The book begins with single mom Mallory enjoying a beautiful summer day in her garden and then her world crumbles when she learns her son, away at summer camp, has ingested a poisonous mushroom. His life hangs in the balance. While Mallory desperately searches for a kidney for her son, you’re frequently whisked away into an old summer romance in her past. Mallory is forced to face said past when the man who had once been the love of her life unexpectedly returns to it. And she is not happy about it, either.

Leaving contemporary New England, you travel to Cairo in 1951, seen from Hannah’s point of view. Hannah is a hardened war refugee married to an older British diplomat. As she mourns her past, she also begins to see her husband’s true self, and it isn't admirable. But she crosses paths with someone who, remarkably, manages to help find the softness in her once again. You know Mallory and Hannah are somehow connected, but the big question is, how?

Mallory and Hannah’s stories bounce around a bit in their respective timelines, but they come together in a beautiful way that left me shattered and glowing all at once. I recommend this book with five out of five stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[This review will be posted to Instagram and Goodreads on June 11, 2024]

I thoroughly enjoyed HUSBANDS & LOVERS and was invested in both of the love stories presented in 1951, Cairo, Egypt and on a beach in New England in 2022 with a family connection between the two. I thought the author did an impeccable job of weaving so much history into the story that it made it all the more emotional and intense.

For more than a decade Mallory has raised her son Sam on her own and done a wonderful job. Sam is in need of a new kidney - who better to donate than Sam's biological father, the famous singer songwriter, Monk Adams, Mallory's first love? Mallory is simultaneously forced to bring up the past she tried to ignore and put aside her reasons for not involving Monk in Sam's life in order to do what's best for Sam. With Monk back in her life, Mallory also learns shocking events about her family history and who her grandparents really are.

Lot of family secrets and discoveries that are revealed all throughout the story that kept me engaged the whole time. First time reading work by this author and really loved it. Complex and emotional love stories dealing with heartbreak, redemption, betrayal, sacrifice and full circles.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve enjoyed Beatriz Williams’ writing since Overseas so I was excited to get the chance to read Husbands and Lovers! As a mother of 3 boys myself, that panic of the story right off the bat was a gut punch. Then connecting to Mallory in being a grown daughter who has lost their mother to illness. I enjoyed getting to know Mallory in modern times and her navigating her wild going on while also learning about Hannah in a whole other life and how it connects to Mallory. Ms. Williams does a good job of being in your head and how you are trying to process things and painting a picture of what Hannah is dealing with in another lifetime too. This is one that I would definitely suggest in my book club because there are many my points to be able to talk about with others. Mallory’s love story with Monk, Hannah’s with her husband and Mr. Beck, what Sam is going through and what led to his medical struggles etc.

This novel takes place in two different timelines that intersect. One in New England in 2022, when Mallory Dunne gets a call that would leave every parent with a heart stopping fear. Her son had ingested a toxic mushroom, and his life was in danger.
As the family tries to look for relatives who might be able to donate a kidney, they learn their mother had held some secrets, or rather her grandmother held secrets, which could alter the course of their lives.

In the alternate timeline, the reader is in Cairo, 1951 when Hungarian refugee Hannah, married to a British diplomat, has an encounter that will change not only her life, but generations to come.

In the midst of all of that, Mallory and the father of Sam reconnect. He is a famous singer, but their love story was cut short years ago, when she became pregnant.

I love this book, and I've read the others by the author. I believe this is her best! I highly recommend Husbands & Lovers, and I feel honored to have received this book as a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#HusbandsLovers #RandomHouse #NetGalley #BeatrizWilliams

I haven't read anything from Beatriz Williams before, so when I saw this available, I grabbed. It did not disappoint at all!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc