This book was such an enjoyable read! I loved the back of forth of the time frames. The ending was a bit predictable but I will enjoyed it from beginning to end!

thank you netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review. i did not care for the main character, she was an immature, emotional mess. i liked the dual timelines and the scenery/setting.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams hooked me from the very first page. I could not put this book down. I have read over 140 books so far this year and this one is easily in my top 10. This is the first book I've read by Williams and I plan to go back and read all of her others now. The writing was spectacular: perfect pacing; clear shifts in a complicated web of timelines and POVs; compelling historical references; complex, flawed, characters that will break your heart; and a beautiful ending to tie it all together and temper the heartbreak of the earlier storylines. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! History, suspense, love, heartbreak, and realism: there's something here for everyone!

I reallyyyy wish the whole book have been about 1950s Cairo. I found the historical parts so much more engaging and relatable than the 2022 parts. I really didn’t care about the lady and her son and Munk Adams. Not my favorite historical fiction novel because I was expecting too much historical; I think I would’ve liked it more if I knew going into it that it’d be mostly modern day drama.

Husbands & Lovers
By Beatriz Williams

This is a typical Williams novel, mixing history and romance. Mallory and Monk have loved each other from afar since they were teenagers. But, as often happens, that love was unrequited because each failed to speak or make a move toward the other.

As they moved on to college, they reconnected. Monk got Mallory a job as a nanny for the summer with his father's second family. From there, things picked up and they fell head over heels during one romantic summer.

But something happens that drives them apart just as they were taking their relationship to the next level. Without Monk's knowledge, Mallory bears him a son, Sam, who is, at the beginning of this book, 13 years old. Sam has been at camp, where, on a dare, he has eaten a poisonous mushroom which nearly kills him. He doesn't die but is left with severe kidney damage which leaves him on dialysis waiting for a donor match. Thus the stage is set.

The story flips back and forth between Mallory's discoveries about her family's background – and secrets – and Mallory's reaching out to Monk in desperation.

This is a very interesting story. Mallory and Monk, Hannah and Lucien, love and intrigue in post-World War II Egypt. And how well the ending wraps it all up. What's not to like?

I enjoyed both the timelines: Mallory was cool and Hannah was intriguing. I feel like Hannah's story was a little cut off and wrapped up too quickly but it was still interesting. My real complaint is the cover: the image has absolutely nothing to do with the story. based on the swimsuit, it implies that she is Hannah in the 1950s. Except Hannah's story takes place in Cairo and in Europe during WWII - nowhere near a pool. A lot of Mallory's story does take place on/near a beach, so it is not even fitting for her (and she was always in a bikini). I mean, who chose this cover?? Small potatoes . . . but why wasn't the bracelet on the cover????

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my gifted eARC.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this book, but I absolutely loved it. This is my first book by this author and will not be my last. I definitely recommend.

I am a huge Beatriz Williams fan and this #bookcover sold me immediately. That being said, I will admit - I struggled to get into this one for the majority of the first half of the #book. It was just not grabbing me in the way that her stories usually do. Overall, I did enjoy this one, but it was just okay for me - not life changing, and not as incredible as some of her other works. Still a good #read, and I loved the Egyptian setting (I wish there was more of this backstory), but the rest of it just didn’t have me sold. I also had some MAJOR issues with one of the main characters (see rant below - warning: said rant does include spoiler alerts).

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Three separate summers, covering the lives of two women: Hannah, scarred from the brutalities of WWII, finding herself trapped in a battle of wills in post-war Egypt, as she grapples with her abysmal British diplomat husband, the crippling loss of her past, and her desires, and Mallory, a single mother back on the New England coast with her young son, who is desperately in need of a kidney transplant after a tragic accident several years prior, and forced to confront both her life’s greatest secret and love for the first time in years, as she navigates the choices she has made in life and what she truly wants in life. One piece of jewelry and an unexpected cobra appears to be the link that unites them both in the trajectory and history of their lives.

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****SPOILER ALERT**** Mallory absolutely INFURIATED me as a character. Infuriated. Your child needs a kidney to save his life and she could not put aside her past trauma and fears to contact his FATHER, who, despite his father’s transgressions, was nothing but kind and decent to her. I was mindblown by her pride dominating any other aspect of her personality, and I could not believe she deprived her son of the finances and love of a father that could have given him far better healthcare and endless opportunities in life. I could not stand her 🙈

I loved this book! Perfect beach read that has depth and action. Just like all of her books, I couldn’t put down Beatriz’s newest novel!

Possibly the best book I've read this year. A perfect blend of historical fiction + family drama + romance, told across two main timelines: Hannah in Hungary and Egypt in the 40s/50s, and Mallory in New England in the 2000s/2022 (technically you might call it three timelines). This was a really compelling story with interesting and flawed characters. Highly recommend.

Oh man, the amount of stress and anxiety this book gave me… but ultimately, it was so worth it.

I gotta say that I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did. The dual timelines made me so angry because once a conflict was about to be discovered/solved in one timeline, it would jump back or forward in time. But let me just say that that is what kept me so engaged with the book. I was literally at the edge of my seat.

BUT THAT ENDING?!

I was sobbing. I was screaming. I was venting to my friends in the group chat, literally YELLING in a voice memo and unable to form words. It’s not often that a book has such a grip on my heartstrings like that.

So, even though this book was such a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was so angry at times I was literally about to whip my phone across the room, it deserves every star. The story itself is beautiful and I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.

Like most historical fiction, this story alternates between two timelines. One part of the story was set in Cairo, which I found to be a unique setting, but I don’t feel like I learned anything about it like I normally would in historical fiction. It was also hard to keep track of the many characters and different timelines in Hannah’s story.

I liked the modern day timeline fine, probably because I always like a famous person/nonfamous person storyline. Duke was great, however Mallory was a dud of a main character IMO. I never really felt their connection, even from the beginning. Towards the end of the story so many things happen, many of which I don’t feel had a purpose. It also took me entirely too long to read/listen to this book.

Also this cover has got to be an accident- what does it have to do at all with this story? Never once was anyone even in a body of water, let alone swimming or hanging near a diving board.

I am such a fan of Beatriz Williams and this novel proved why. I enjoyed the New England 2022 and the Cairo, Egypt 1951 storylines. Unforgettable, heartbreaking and fabulous.

Absolutely LOVED this!!!!!! Went into this novel completely blind and I am so happy I did! I am not one who likes historical fiction - however I must say that this book really swayed me in its favor. I did fall in love with Mallory and Monk and their story. I loved going back and forth with Mallory and then finding out how it connected to Hannah and it all just came together full circle. While I did enjoy the Mallory chapters just a bit more than the Hannah ones, overall the switching was so well done that it left no room for confusion as one would think with so many changing locations and time frames. I would have loved to have more on Mallory's sister, Paige as well! This book really just had it all. It did it in such a well paced manner, but dealt with very heavy topics that are not often talked about.

*A solid 4.5 read for me!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this digital ARC for my review!!

The author's use of dual timelines and dual POVs in this novel were stellar. I loved hearing from both woman and comparing their stories. I think the author truly excelled in explaining the settings for these two characters, as well as showing their character development. There was some mystery, a lot of entertainment, and overall a really good story. I would definitely read more from this author and recommend her books to friends.

Husbands & Loverz is a brilliant blend of historical intrigue, complex relationships, and Beatriz Williams’ signature style of writing. From the very first page, Williams captivates the reader with her rich, evocative descriptions of 20th-century life, making you feel as though you’re stepping into another era. The novel’s main character is a woman torn between love and duty, which leads to riveting emotional conflicts and unexpected twists. Williams handles this delicate balance between passion and propriety with grace, crafting a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is romantic. It’s a perfect read for those who love historical fiction with a strong, empowered female protagonist.

I've had this ARC for quite awhile and I'm not sure what took me so long to read it. I finally did and it was SO good. I think it is my new favorite Beatriz Williams book. The two different storylines of Hannah and Mallory were both captivating, though I have to admit that I was drawn slightly more to Mallory's story. The writing was beautiful. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, but also to everyone else!

"Husbands & Lovers" is a wonderful title and this "beach read" is much more than simple. This is a dramatic read with an unexpected ending and so much beautiful writing on the pages from beginning to end. Dual timeline novels can be tricky for the reader, but Williams is skilled in keeping the pace throughout.

Beatriz Williams is a must read author for me and this book was great. Multiple story lines weave together from different time periods to create a family story that is satisfying and intriguing. Some of the characters make decisions that are frustrating, but that adds to the story, flawed characters in deep emotion. I greatly enjoyed the variety of locations explored in the story, as not all of these historical aspects are typical of this genre. It was enjoyable all the way around.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, and this review is my own.

I love this book! I learned so much while also enjoying the story. The characters were interesting and dynamic. I wasn't too sure how it was going to go, but I was along for the ride the whole way. I've recommended this to friends and patrons alike, I think that people who want a little romance with their historical fiction will eat this up. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC!