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.

I requested this ARC just based on the cover & title (I had just gotten married lol) and I'm SO pleasantly surprised at what this book actually was!!!

I've never read a Beatriz Williams novel before, and this definitely won't be my last. I loved the dual POV of Mallory & Hannah and the complexities of each of their stories. Williams did a fantastic job with BOTH timelines which can be hard to do! I found the setting for both characters to be so interesting and Hannah especially had a ton of depth which I enjoyed.

Really glad I was able to read this and would recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

I loved this book ! I loved the past and present timeline. What a beautifully written historical fiction. I loved the romance between Mallory and Monk. I loved how Hannah's character was Hungarian since I am Hungarian as well and could relate to her. The history of the snake bracelet was really cool. It was interesting learning about the politics of Cairo in the early 1950s. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Beatriz Williams or historical fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballentine Books for my digital arc in exchange for my my honest review.

I loved how different the two stories where from one another and how wonderfully they tied together at the end. I would now like to go back and read more of her books.

What a gripping opening! I was invested after the first chapter with Mallory’s story. The way Mallory and Hannah’s stories were intertwined was pretty loose, but entertaining. When I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about reading this book! I’ve also had a few days to digest and it still pops in my head frequently. Probably one of my favorites by Beatriz!

I just love the way Beatriz switches between characters and timelines. She always does it so well to captivate the reader. This was especially present in Mallory’s timeline and had me wondering what event could have possibly happened for her to be where she is in “present day”.

I truly didn’t think I would fall for Monk Adams the way I did, my goodness. Beatriz can really write a man 🤭 the only thing I’d change about him is the overuse of Mallory’s nickname.

I would have loved more closure from Hannah’s story. It seemed like Mallory and her sister just kind of came to their own conclusion on what happened and I would have liked one more chapter from Hannah explaining what happened. I also think a little map would be great to really help the reader envision where these houses, the club, and the bar are located.

I was hooked right away when I started reading this book. I enjoyed reading about these two women’s experiences.

Thanks so much Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley.

Three years ago, Mallory received a call that her son had eaten poisonous mushrooms. Now she's searching for a donor kidney and must face two secrets - her mom's adoption from an Irish orphanage and a summer romance from 14 years ago with a now famous pop star.

I love Beatriz Williams. I really liked this book and my favorite bits were the storylines in the present. Williams does such a fantastic job of creating characters that are meaningful and memorable. What a great read!

Love loved this story and it had me grabbing for it every chance I got. Beatriz Williams has a way of telling a story that makes you want to read everything she writes. I loved the character development and enjoyed the dialing storylines.

Like all Beatriz Williams books - Husbands and Lovers was a lovely blend of present and past, relatable characters and sweet romance. Both stories were not only intriguing and well written but easy to jump into and I rushed back to the book every time I put it down. Mallory was lovable but real and Hannah had depth that slowly revealed itself as the book went on. I enjoyed jumping across years to learn about their stories and can’t wait to see how their plot lines transport into future books!

HUSBANDS & LOVERS
BY: BEATRIZ WILLIAMS

About 4.5 Stars Happily Rounded Up!

I first discovered what a gifted and talented writer and storyteller Beatriz Williams is when I read and reviewed an early ARC of her Historical fiction novel called, "Her Last Flight." I absolutely fell in love with her writing during that time and it remains to this day my favorite historical fiction novels of her work. With her latest novel, called "Husbands & Lovers," I grew to see what a master accomplished author she truly is when I got towards the ending of this one and understood her approach. Prior to getting towards the ending, I couldn't see the relevance of the middle timeline of her and Monk's back story while I knew it all was connected. I saw this one a lot differently and I still consider this to have three distinct time lines, as opposed to only two, despite the other reviewers calling it a duel timeline novel and I will explain why in my next paragraphs.

The novel begins with Mallory driving frantically to reach her only child Sam at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital in New Hampshire. Mallory is a single parent who knows viscerally that her ten year old son is critically ill. She is freaking out because she isn't sure how bad off her son is. I think that every parent can relate to how desperate Mallory is feeling since her mind has run through the worst case scenario. She becomes beyond frustrated when she just wants to get to see Sam and she is met with the bureaucratic process of producing her identification and proof of health insurance at a time when she doesn't know if she will reach Sam on time. When she finally is brought to see her son she learns that he has ingested the death cap mushroom, which turns out to be quite serious. When the medical staff inquires about Sam's father both sisters say something like, "He's not in the picture."

Her sister Paige meets her at the hospital and it fast forwards three years to where they are staying together on Cape Cod, Massachusetts where Sam is getting dialysis three times per week because the mushroom has damaged his kidneys. Paige has turned their childhood family vacation home into an opulent, high end renovated paradise with state of the art sub zero refrigerator and the place screams of luxury. Paige unlike Mallory has married a hugely successful husband that has allowed her to upgrade the cottage to accommodate both sisters children and Paige's husband Jake who travels from work to spend weekends there. Paige who is Sam's Aunt has been doing research on the family members who could be a tissue match to donate Sam a kidney mentions that their deceased mother was adopted which is news to both Paige and Mallory. Paige mentions telling Monk who was romantically involved with Mallory one Summer while they were in college and who Mallory never told him that he is Sam's father. Paige urges Mallory to tell Monk now since he could possibly be a tissue match and he could donate Sam a new kidney. Mallory is resistant to the idea of approaching the famous and successful rock star, that he is Sam's father after all of this time. She feels it would be wrong to spring the news to Monk that he is a father and say something like "BTW Sam needs one of your kidneys if you're a match."

The alternate timeline that everyone is referring to is both 1951 and 1952 in Egypt, where Hannah Ainsworth and her British diplomat husband are staying when Hannah gets bitten by a Cobra. Lucien who is also staying at the same hotel acts fast to come to Hannah's aid. Lucien who works at the same hotel in Egypt, happened to be in the same area as Hannah, and he prevented the Cobra's two fangs from penetrating too deeply into Hannah's hand which saves her life. She is hospitalized but recovers from what could've been a deadly bite. Since Mallory's deceased mother left her a golden cuff bracelet of a Cobra with two emerald eyes and a ruby tongue as her inheritance, along with Hannah getting bit by a Cobra was strong imagery that held clues to a connection to Mallory. Since it has already been established that Mallory and Paige's mother was adopted I knew that Hannah was somehow the nexus, but for a great part of the novel this timeline's rich historical details remain vague. Any regular reader is going to conclude that the further one progresses into the novel the gaps will be provided. Beatriz Williams does a fantastic job at keeping the reader in suspense by only providing these links to a bare minimum for a great deal of the novel. Common sense informs that eventually when this author decides to connect all of the dots she will do so. In the meantime, the allure lies in the reader not knowing all of the particulars placing Beatriz Williams fully driving the narrative forward at the tempo of her choosing.

The third timeline circles back to also bit by bit inform the reader of college aged Monk and Mallory's arc of how and when they went from friends, to their month-long romance. Mallory was hired as the nanny to Monk's father and his step-mother's twins. It actually takes place during the Summer and this was my least favorite part, which I grew to fully appreciate its significance only towards the conclusion of the novel, with one grand whopper of a revelation. It explores the progression of Monk playing at a bar named Mo's with the gradual expansion of his audience and filling this bar with fans coming to the Island in New York with greater numbers from the mainland. Upon reflection, Beatriz Williams brilliance in her accomplishment with this novel was actually in her command of slowly developing all three timelines of a pace of her choosing. She is never predictable in her disseminating slowly increments of her plot, which builds throughout with just enough added information unveiling outward to adding to the newest layer.

At first I yearned for the storytelling to stay in the present which was my favorite. When the other two timelines presented themselves I was certain the present tense, first person would be the driving force to propel the action forward. I know now that the fulfilling ending which turned this into a five star reading experience needed the background in the other two timelines to reach such a highly satisfying crescendo and excellent conclusion. It did take patience because each time it circled back to the past, it felt as if the momentum and pacing onward ceased. Not so much the 1951 and 1952 Egyptian sections felt like going backwards, but the college era Monk and Mallory backstory did slow the pacing for me for most of the novel. It shouldn't have felt that way as the conception of Sam and the romance were integral to the present every bit as much. This had fooled me so much which is highly satisfying to be shocked and in the very best of ways when the final pages coalesced and rewarded me with its stunning conclusion. "Husbands & Lovers," has only affirmed to me why Beatriz Williams hit this one out of the ballpark and has proved to me, yet again, that she is a top five favorite author. I LOVED IT! I Highly, Highly recommend this! Husbands & Lovers most definitely is a top contender for tied position, if not surpassed it-my favorite of Beatriz Williams, "Her Last Flight."

Here is the link to my favorite Historical fiction novel by Beatriz Williams, called, "Her Last Flight."
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3350766052

Publication Date: June 25, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Beatriz Williams and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine Ballantine Books for generously providing me with my fantastic eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#Husbands&Lovers #BeatrizWilliams #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, publisher, and netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is my first book I've read by Beatriz Williams and holy cow it did not disappoint! I was hooked from start to finish, and have since done a deep dive into her oeuvre. I like that this book has jumps between two women’s stories / timelines, so we get some both historical and contemporary fiction. I was obsessed with Mallory and Monk’s love story!!