I started this one night thinking I’d just read one chapter but that one chapter suddenly became half the book. Each timeline was so good that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I had to know what would happen.

I adored the present day timeline most but also was completely invested in the 1950s as well. There is a small amount of spice that drops in after about 50% that I was a tad surprised by. I don’t think it was needed for the story, a bit incongruous, but it didn’t detract too much and since it does have romance as a subgenre I probably should’ve seen it coming.

I love how Williams set the scenes, brought depth to both stories, and connected everything in an impressive way. I’ve enjoyed many of her books and will continue reading whatever she writes!

Thank you Ballantine Books for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Husbands & Lovers” by Beatriz Williams is a story about two remarkable women. One who is a single mom currently living in New England with a son who desperately needs a kidney transplant, and another who is in a loveless marriage in turbulent Egypt in the 1950s. Ultimately there is a family connection but the historical journey we are taken on to get to the connection between them is romantic, exciting, heartbreaking and mysterious. This rollercoaster ride takes us on a journey to explore their long held secrets as we alternate between time lines. These two women made choices that lead to great sacrifice, family loyalty and forgiveness. I don’t want to give away to many details, but I promise you will be thinking about this book long after you finish it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'm so grateful to NetGalley for the ARC of Husbands & Lovers, the beautifully written and intricately woven new masterpiece by Beatriz Williams.

In the 1950s, Hannah finds herself married to a wealthy but overbearing man. Rather than accepting her fate, Hannah finds happiness -and more- in the arms of the mysterious Lucien Beck. As violence erupts in Cairo, Hannah is thrust into one tragic situation after another.

In 2008, Mallory agrees to nanny for her best friend Monk's family over the summer. Monk is a talented singer and songwriter, and Mallory is an aspiring artist. The two fall in love and are planning for their future until something happens that pushes Mallory as far away from Monk as possible... despite the fact that she's pregnant. Thirteen years later, Mallory's son Sam is recovering from an incident that left him in need of constant dialysis and Mallory is faced with the option of bringing Sam and Monk together after having kept them a secret from one another for all of Sam's life.

No other author can weave a story as gorgeous and utterly compelling as Beatriz Williams can. This will grab you from the very first page (when your heart will immediately break for Sam and Mallory) and will grip you until the very last sentence.

Timeless and bittersweet, Husbands And Lovers draws readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England. The author has done a brilliant job with her compelling storytelling and beautifully meshed up timelines for the primary characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

4.5 rounded up! Thank you @netgalley for the ARC! Once I got into this story, I really couldn’t put it down! Great way to end my 52 in 52 challenge.

Loved the different POV’s & timelines that meshed together so well by the end. Also loved that I should’ve seen a major plot line coming but didn’t! Too into each of the character’s stories to realize. Super well written & will recommend to many once it is published!

Really enjoyed this book that follows two stories over three time periods. I appreciate that each chapter is headed by the date, location, and person whose perspective we are seeing - not all time-jumping books do that. I liked being taken to 1950s Egypt and learning a bit of history there and then to 2020s Ct/NY for a contemporary storyline that also has some of what I’d consider a literary trend - at least in books I’ve read over the last year or so - of regular person/celebrity romance. I read most of this book in a day by the pool on vacation and it was an easy read with a bit more depth than “just” a beach read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had trouble keeping track of the modern timelines. But the story was perfection. Beautifully researched. Character development was decent.

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.