I always enjoy Beatriz Williams' books and Husbands & Lovers was no exception. While I found Mallory's story interesting, I thought that Hannah's was more compelling and the location definitely exotic. Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy.

While I've read and enjoyed a couple of the books that Beatriz Williams has written in tandem with Karen White and Lauren Willig, and was aware of her books even before reading those, this is the first I've read by her. I really enjoyed this dual-timeline story about family, secrets, love and sacrifice. The secret histories here are revealed slowly, which makes things a bit confusing at first but kept me reading to find out who these people were and how it all would end up connecting. Interesting characters in both timelines, fascinating post-WWII historical background, and Williams provides an excellent sense of both time and place for both timelines. A very enjoyable and satisfying read overall, and I'm looking forward to diving into more of her books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

This was a great novel. I really enjoyed the storyline and how the author linked everything back together.
Mallory is a single mom, her family doesn’t know who the biological father of her son is, she doesn’t want to share with them. Until her son needs a kidney and she is figuring out how to tell them. Meanwhile her mom was adopted and they want to explore that route for a kidney too.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a captivating, dual-timeline story that masterfully blends romance, secrets, and unexpected twists. With rich historical details and complex characters, it’s an immersive and engaging read that keeps you hooked until the very end.

I absolutely adored this book! Half the story is very contemporary romance which is always fun and was totally adorable. The other half was a historical fiction romance, which was filled with a little more adventure and turbulence, but was equally fun and cute!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I was intrigued by this book in the title. I love the cover art and I think that’s one that will really grab readers to pick it up off the stand. The subject matter is just as good as you would think it would be I highly recommend

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Husbands and Lovers--anything that Beatriz Williams writes has been phenomenal and this one is no exception!
The author has the ability to transport you to different time & world and just immerse you in the experience. Not many authors are able to weave historical fiction past and present like Beatriz! I just love her books!

Husbands & Lovers is a great story about love, forgiveness, and second chances. I love the story within a story as Mallory tries to find out information about her ancestry....her mother was adopted from an orphanage in Ireland. So, there is a mystery to solve but her son needs a kidney.

I also love the relationship between Mallory and Monk, and their different perspectives on the present and their past.

Definitely a great read, layered with excellent writing. The plot, characters and overlapping stories kept my interest!

This book started out strong for me, but started to drag and really fell apart towards the end. The ending seemed a bit rushed and unexplained. Also, there was a plot point involving the dad that was very unexpected and some people could find triggering.

I've read many novels by Beatriz Williams, but this one tops them all. Her skill in layering duel timelines that are equally immersive is unmatched, and this novel will is part of our 2025 book club year.


This page-turner offers a sweeping narrative that transports readers from the revolutionary fervor of 1950s Cairo to the serene beaches of 2022 New England, where the fates of two women separated by decade come together through a mysterious family heirloom.


In the present, Mallory’s world revolves around her son Sam, whose life now depends on a kidney transplant after he ingested a poisonous mushroom while away at summer camp.


Now desperate to find a kidney donor match, Mallory begins to unearth painful family secrets like her mother's mysterious adoption and an unexpected chance encounter again with a childhood sweetheart who became a well-known pop star and has deeper ties to Mallory's family than we realize.

Throughout the story, Williams seamlessly shifts the narrative to midcentury Egypt, where Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth, reeling from unimaginable wartime loss, becomes embroiled in her own love affair that forces Hannah to navigate her loyalty and espionage in a volatile city on the brink of revolution.

This story is soapy and surprisingly steamy and offers an intriguing layer to the Jewish community that I knew very little about.

While a family heirloom mystery is a trope in historical fiction, this offers original and unique details that make this literary bend feel fresh. I loved every minute of it and can't wait to share it with you.

*Husbands & Lovers* by Beatriz Williams is a captivating, richly woven tale of love, secrets, and complex relationships. Williams expertly balances sharp wit with emotional depth, creating multi-dimensional characters whose lives and choices draw you in. With its clever narrative and elegant prose, the novel is an engaging, thought-provoking read that keeps you hooked until the very end.

I enjoyed the majority of this book. I enjoyed Mallory‘s story. I enjoyed both the past and the present. The story of Hannah was a little confusing. I do see how they came together, but it was hard to follow.

I went into this one blind and I loved it. It is a contemporary and historical fiction, with narration that swaps between present and past. We are introduced to Mallory in current times, who is a single mom dealing with an ailing son. We also meet Hannah, in Cairo in the 1950s, post WWII era. I love each of these stories and I loved how they intersected. We follow the journeys of each of these women and they are both incredible and strong. The character development unfolds in a beautiful way and we are caught up in the intrigue and stories of both timelines. We have adventure, we have romance, we have suspense and they culminate in a beautiful story that is not traditional but still an incredible account of WWII romance and how it impacts future lines.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine I Ballantine Books and Beatriz Williams for the eARC of Husbands & Lovers in exchange for an honest review. I am definitely behind with this one, the publication date for Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams was 25 June 2024.

I went into this one without reading the premise so wasn't sure what to expect. I found myself in for a delightful surprise. This historical fiction features single mother Mallory as she learns that her son has fallen ill at summer camp through a tragic accident. He now needs a kidney which leads to discoveries about her ancestry and her mother's past that she had no knowledge of before. The book jumps back and forth from Mallory's story in present day to Hannah, whose story takes place in Cairo in the 1950s. I loved that this was a different setting for historical fiction. While there is the two different timelines, I never was confused or lost as can. happen in the hands of a lesser writer. Williams manages to bring both Mallory and Hannah to life and makes you care about both women as you go on their journeys with them. I was equally intrigued by both and curious to see how the two might overlap in the end. There is adventure and romance in these pages and strong, interesting women. I enjoyed getting to know both characters. I don't always love historical fiction but I did love this one and would recommend it to anyone looking for something different from he traditional World War II setting.

DNF because I won't read books about sick or dying kids. Y'all need trigger warnings about some of this stuff.

Beatriz Williams's Husbands & Lovers is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that seamlessly weaves together two timelines: present-day New England and 1950s Cairo. It's a wonderfully compelling narrative that I completely enjoyed. It explores themes of family and forgiveness.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I love All Beatriz Williams books. She is such a good writer. This book was just a good as her other books. Great historical fiction book to read in the summer.

Wowww such a thriller! I flew through the pages. I bet this one ends up popular! Highly recommend for someone looking for a quick, intriguing read.

I really enjoyed this book and I rated it five stars. It follows two women, who are completely different. They live in different eras, have different lives and live in different places. Mallory is taking care of her son Sam and attempting to find him a new kidney. She recently reunites with her childhood best friend Monk. Then, we are also following the story of Hungarian refugee Hannah, who lives in Cairo and has married a British diplomat. Hannah engages in an affair with a spy, and becomes pregnant with his child. Then, there is a revolution that takes place towards the end of the book. It explores themes of sacrifice, redemption, privilege, and class. This book is romantic and entertaining. I would love to read more Historical Fiction by this author.