Loved this one! I really enjoyed the dual timelines and the multiple POV it was told in. I wasn’t expecting a “lost love” storyline so I was very happy to discover that. The story moves at a good pace and reads easily. Very enjoyable book and I recommend adding it to your TBR for a June 2024 release!

Having read all of Beatriz Williams’s books, I can say that this one was written with a different voice, but it was one that I enjoyed! I loved the present day storyline and really connected with the characters - so much so that I wish I’d been able to read more about them! It was harder to connect with the characters in the historical storyline, however, because they seemed a bit cold, unemotional, and distant. But I thought the author wove the two together in a very interesting way. I loved how the story wrapped up, and the surprise at the end was absolutely perfect! The author tends to link her stories together in some way, so I’m hoping to see these characters again in future novels, especially because I’d love to see what’s next for Monk and Mallory. Paige also needs to get a shoutout because she was written as being the most supportive sister, and I loved how she consistently showed up for Mallory and Sam throughout the book.

Another Beatriz Williams winner! This one weaves two stories, modern day with 1950's Egypt and brings them together at the end. The modern day is a romance of lost love and rekindled love and the 1950's storyline shows the family history and what events led to the storyline that melts together with the current timeline. A great story.

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.5 stars for a this perfect summer novel. This is intricately plotted and beautifully written, taking readers from 1940s Hungary to 1950s Egypt and 2022 New England. The two parallel love stories are touching and Hannah's story is more heartbreaking than most. Great read for romance and historical fiction readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Another lovely winner from Beatriz Williams. She has such a way with words! So many beautiful turns of phrases. Two arresting stories - one from 1950s Egypt amid unrest and revolution, one from modern-day Cape Cod - that somehow become intertwined. Who doesn't love a second-chance romance?

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a big Beatriz Williams fan, and this is BY FAR, her best work yet. I absolutely loved BOTH storylines in this book and was intrigued on how they both would end.

Mallory and Monks love story was one for the books. Although I am disappointed that the ending didn’t include their wedding with Sam in it.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for my advance copy ♥️

A literary masterpiece that seized my imagination, transporting me to two disparate worlds, linked by the unyielding spirit of two remarkable women - Mallory and Hannah. Their tales entwine like the threads of a rich tapestry, each strand strengthening the other.

Mallory's unwavering devotion to her ailing son shines like a beacon of hope, while Hannah's bravery in the face of a loveless marriage and Egypt's turbulent 1950s landscape left me awestruck. The contrast between their journeys is nothing short of narrative alchemy!

The settings come alive, evoking the crisp New England air and the scorching desert heat of Egypt. Each chapter unfolds like a precious gem, leaving me breathless and craving more. I was utterly ensnared by the characters' triumphs and struggles, my heart pounding in tandem with theirs.

This book etched an indelible mark on my soul, leaving me bereft when the journey ended. I join the chorus of readers clamoring for more, unwilling to bid farewell to these extraordinary women. If you crave a story that will captivate, inspire, and haunt you long after the final page, look no further! This book is a treasure to be savored and shared.

This was my first Beatriz Williams book and I am hooked! I absolutely loved this book.

This book takes place in the 50’s, some in 2008 and then present day/2022. Very easy to follow along and not get confused with what was going on between the different time periods. The character development was great and this book always kept my attention. There was a little plot twist that I honestly didn’t see coming.

This was by far my favorite book I read all year.

I really enjoyed this novel. I loved the dual pov and the two intersecting storylines. I preferred the more modern 2022 storyline, but I enjoyed both more than I was anticipating. I really loved the character development and how fleshed out everyone was. This isn't a book I would normally reach for but I really liked it.

From the perspective of a reader who does not enjoy historical fiction, I LOVE Beatriz Williams books! This book drew me in and took be along on an amazing journey with two women separated by decades, but connected by a family heirloom. Even if not a historical fiction reader, this book is a must!

Wonderful book!

It has a dual story line, 1950’s Egypt and 2022 Cape Cod and Winthrop Island. We meet up with descendants from previous books to bring the story full circle.

The two very strong women characters are Hannah Ainsworth in Cairo, 1951 and Mallory Dunne, New England 2022. Their stories are connected through decades of family secrets and heartache. I throughly enjoyed both story lines and how they are brought together throughout the book and into the ending.

Extremely good character development. You will love them all and hope to revisit them in another book.

I don’t want to give too much of the plot away as I think it best to explore and uncover the story yourself. I whole heartedly recommend you read this!

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Ballantine and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Husbands and Lovers is the first book I have read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Two storylines intersect throughout; the first in 2022 with single mother Mallory desperately seeking a kidney donor for her teenage son, and the second in 1951 Cairo with a Hungarian woman Hannah refugee carving out a life for herself in her marriage to a wealthy business man.
Over the course of the book we learn how these two women’s’ lives intersect, the secrets they have kept, and the men they have loved and lost.
I enjoyed the twists and turns the novel took in telling the story of these two women and what they have both endured.
The novel alternates between the two timelines well, though I felt it was sometimes difficult to follow, as it would often switch from past to present in the same chapter.
The story of Mallory, her son, and Monk, her childhood love, was well crafted and held my interest perhaps more than the past story of Hannah. I found myself rushing through some of the chapters set in 1951 so I could get back to Mallory and Monk’s story.
That said, as the novel progresses and we see the connection between the two women and storylines, and as secrets are revealed, it is captivating as all the loose ends are tied up.
I highly recommend Husbands and Lovers to all who enjoy reading stories that cross timelines, and have rich descriptions of locations, characters, romance and family relationships.

Sometimes characters with ‘old money’ can be hard to connect with but I had no issues here. Not only that but how did I sleep so long on this author?

I fell in love with this story and the universe it’s set in. Mallory, I feel, was written to be disliked as compared to Paige. I loved that this was woven and told over three different time periods and as a result — stays incredibly interesting.

The flashbacks had me having to recall what had happened previously a few times. There are many, not that I am complaining, but in a way I had a hard time keeping up.

However, I loved all the secrets unearthed and the twists and turns involved as this plot unravels, leaving no plot hole to be seen. This book definitely had me reflecting myself, but definitely has you questioning family loyalty. Which at the same time — it isn’t that hard to question that anymore.

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Netgalley and Beatriz Williams for the eARC.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I throughout enjoyed this one so much I can’t believe I missed Beatriz Williams’ other books. I was completely captivated by the Winthrop Island universe. I find that it’s sometimes challenging to connect with wealthy characters, especially those with “old money” because it feels so far removed. I don’t understand their motives or decision-making but the wealthy characters fall into such familiar tropes it was easy to buy into. I personally didn’t find the Mallory likable but Paige made up for it. I would recommend this novel to anywho interested in generational storytelling (and trauma).

Husbands & Lovers has been a true delight to read. It was nothing like I was expecting, and the story, woven between three different time periods, was beautifully told. This was my first novel by Beatriz Williams and I will definitely be reading more!

In this story, Mallory is waiting for her son to receive a new kidney. Her sister encourages her to reach out to the boy's father, Monk Adams, a famous singer, to help. In a coincidental meeting, they reconnect, and Monk forms a new relationship with his son, while both Mallory and Monk learn to heal from their past.

Mallory also is on the search for more of her family and finds out her mother was adopted out of a convent in Ireland. Family secrets emerge, more questions are asked, and Mallory, with the help and support, again, of her sister, learn the truth about their mother and grandmother.

This book makes you question family loyalty, honesty, and opens doors to heal from your past.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Husbands & Lovers.

4.5

I loved this book! The different timelines and perspectives instantly drew me in. I wish there was more about Hannah’s story at the end!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I always look forward to Beatriz Williams’s books and was very excited to review an ARC. I truly enjoyed this novel but I did have a hard time connecting with the historical portion of the storyline. For some reason, the characters in the historical portion of the book were not as captivating as those in the present storyline. Another winner by Beatriz Williams.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199223201

Two sisters (Mallory and Paige) discover their deceased mother had been adopted. They begin the journey of learning who their grandmother was and how the adoption happened. At the same time, Mallory has reconnected with her best friend and ex boyfriend. Their tales interweave and the story of her grandmother comes out.

Husbands & Lovers alternates between the two story lines and details some fascinating historical events as well. As the sisters dig deeper, they discover so much. And Mallory and Monk (the ex boyfriend) remember their shared history as they try to move forward with their lives.

I enjoyed this book immensely - more than any of Williams' other books (and I really liked those). Husbands & Lovers pulled me in with such believable characters and made me thirsty for more - all through the book. Every good book as a twist or two in it, and this book was no exception. I raced to the end as I was insatiable to find out everything they found out. It felt like I was living these lives with them.

If there was a downside to this book, it was that I was so engrossed in each time period that I wanted it to continue on to the finish without moving to another time. But it was easy enough to follow each of the story lines and I eagerly read it all.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for something to lose yourself in.

I was given this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this wonderful book!

Husbands and Lovers is a dual timeline story of Mallory and Hannah. Mallory lives in present day and is a single mother supporting her son, Sam, through intense medical treatments after he ate a poisonous mushroom at camp. Random I know but he now suffers from issues with his kidneys and is in pretty desperate need for a transplant. In addition to Mallory navigating life with her son, we also have flashback chapters of Mallory falling in love with Sam's father, Monk Adams, the betrayal that broke them apart, as well as present day reconnection chapters with him, now a famous rockstar!

In addition to Mallory's story, we have the story of Hannah set in 1951 who is married to an older English diplomat but living in Egypt. Hannah's story is full of political tension as well as passion as she begins an affair with the manager of the hotel where she's staying. The story also includes more of Hannah's story as we learn about her life growing up in Hungary and how she met her husband.

The stories intertwine in an slightly expected, yet creative way that kept me engrossed in the story from the first page. While I enjoyed Mallory's storyline more, learning more about the landscape and history of Egypt in the 1950s helped me enjoy Hannah's chapters as well.

Overall, I give this book 4.5 stars with my only qualm being that it was hard to keep up with parts of Hannah's story as she has many flashbacks to her life before she married her husband and how she ended up in Egypt. This is a great book for any time of year, but I know I would have really enjoyed it at the beach as both storylines take place in the summer or warmer climates. I'm excited to check out more of Beatriz Williams' work in the future!

I really enjoyed this book! 4.5 stars!! Told in multiple timelines and from multiple points of view, the author weaves a tale of two women, Mallory and Hannah. They are tied together by a family heirloom linking 1950s Cairo with present day New England. Love, loss, and love for a child are beautifully detailed. Part historical fiction, part love story, this book is fantastic.