Beatriz Williams is one of those authors I’ll follow anywhere — The Husbands & Lovers was an easy 5 stars for me. So when I got my hands on an ARC of Under the Stars, I was ready. Historical fiction blended with modern storylines? Generational secrets? Stolen art? Sign me up.

Except… this time, the ship took a while to launch.

While I usually love a dual-timeline structure (with eventually branches off into more POVs and timelines), I found myself utterly lost at sea (pun completely intended) during Providence Dare’s storyline aboard the Atlantic. There were too many characters, too many threads, and not enough emotional hooks to make me care who was doing what or why.

Honestly, had this not been a Beatriz Williams novel — and an ARC — I probably would have DNFed. But I pushed through.

The final third of the book? That’s where it started to hum. Audrey’s emotional world finally connected — her relationships with Meredith, Mike, and Sedge built the bridge I’d been waiting for. Suddenly I cared, even if I was side-eying the plausibility of the (view spoiler) sequence.

By the end, I was rooting for everyone I was supposed to root for. It just took too long to get there. Where Husbands & Lovers swept me off my feet from page one, Under the Stars left me pacing the deck waiting for the fireworks. It feels less polished than its predecessor, churned out. Even the cover looks rushed, like it's just a temp place holder rather than a finished piece.

That said: Beatriz, I’ll still be here for your next one. Just maybe with Dramamine.

I will never be disappointed by a Beatriz Williams novel. She weaved three different storylines in the way she does SO well with this one.

I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 though because 1) I felt like there were some loose ends still (although nothing major) and 2) I have wanted Sedge’s book since he appeared in Husbands & Lovers and there was still not enough of him. 😂

I also love the easter eggs of the law firm with her and her bestie writer’s last names. And also the fact that Meredith starred in movies that have the same titles as her own books.

Thanks to Random House through NetGalley for the ARC!

Not for me I’m afraid. Usually I enjoy a story with multiple characters and their individual points of view but this never connected. The plot was all over the place and even after the stories all merged, it still didn’t really connect. The characters didn’t feel entirely fleshed out, and for whatever reason were unnecessarily crass. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. It seems like folks are enjoying it, but this one didn’t land for me.

While I really enjoyed this book and the history (and mystery) mixed into it, there was just too much going on. It was hard to tell what was in the current timeline vs what was a flashback. I really enjoy the multiple timelines of 3 different women and finding out how they’re entwined in the story. It just felt like some of the drama and side character stories were foo much. It was already a lot with 3 different stories and then to have side stories and characters mixed in - it sometimes was dramatic for the sake of being dramatic. While not my favorite of Beatriz Williams, still enjoyable and fast-paced once you get into it!

A bit of historical intrigue, multiple timelines, and some mystery make a for an interesting read. The story offers moments of intrigue and emotional weight, but the shifting timelines and multiple perspectives often feel disjointed, making it difficult to stay fully immersed. Just as one thread begins to gain momentum, the narrative jumps to another, disrupting the flow and diluting the impact of key plot points.

The story overall was good and kept my attention.

Characters 3 stars
Plot 3 stars
Setting 4 stars
Personal Enjoyment 3.5. stars
Themes 3.5 stars
Emotional 4 stars

I was SO excited to get this ARC, since Beatriz William’s book Husbands & Lovers was a top read for me last year. Unfortunately, this story wasn’t for me and I ended up DNFing. I didn’t like Audrey at all, and struggled to stay invested in the story. I will definitely read her future books though!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

Told in multiple timelines, we have three stories somehow connected together that we discover by the end. A bit confusing at times and bogged down, I encourage you to hang in there until the ending which makes it all worth it for a very sweet wrap up. I did love the bits of suspense and historical parts woven together as well as the family drama and romance. I would warn others however that there is quite a bit of overuse of profanity (albeit to make a point about the characters) and some salacious scenes. But overall, the story grabbed me and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened and unravel the mystery presented in the book. Many thanks to #netgalley #beatrizwiliams #underthestars for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Beatriz Williams once again combined suspense, romance, family drama, and history into one engaging novel. I loved catching up with characters from her previous books and meeting new ones. This novel combines multiple perspectives and storylines from multiple time periods seamlessly.

Audrey leaves a bad marriage, picks up her recovering alcoholic actress mom, and drives across the country from LA to her mom's old house in Winthrop Island for the summer. Under the Stars tells three stories. We learn about Audrey's mom, Meredith, and her youthful escapades. We are presented with some historical information regarding the final days of a famous artist. And, the book brings us into the present where discoveries and decisions are made. The chapters flip back and forth between past and present.

I was fascinated with Meredith and Audrey, but found the historical component of the book a little "ho-hum". I enjoy Williams' writing style, but did get a little bogged down throughout the book. I was glad I made it to the end, because I found the ending to be lovely and satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Under the Stars.

⭐️3.5/5 I had high expectations after Husbands and Lovers and this was just too slow to start. However, the last third of the book picked up and redeemed my rating a bit. I would still recommend it if you like the author’s other books, and it is fun to see some familiar characters and places.

I was absolutely thrilled to receive an advanced read of Beatriz Williams’ new novel, Under the Stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for this opportunity!

Fans of Beatriz Williams will be excited to learn that this book returns to Winthrop Island, home to a few of Williams’ books. I love when authors bring in characters from previous books, and it was so fun to already “know” some that popped up in this story.

Under the Stars is written in a dual timeline focusing on two stories that eventually intertwine, despite almost two centuries between them. In 1846, Providence Dare is a servant who finds herself on the run after an affair with her boss, who happens to be a famous artist, and who also happens to fall to his death. When the authorities suspect Providence, she decides to flee and finds herself on the historically-real steamship Atlantic which finds itself stranded in rough waters off of Winthrop Island. Following the sinking of the ship, she writes a memoir outlining her story with and the fate of her lover, and her terrifying time upon the sinking ship.

In 2024, Audrey finds herself recently and surprisingly divorced, and sent to Winthrop Island alongside her famous actress mother, who has been sent into hiding to sober up and reclaim her reputation. As Audrey processes her grief over her marriage, she finds herself elbows deep in updating her father’s bar, which leads to a bit more than Audrey, her father, and her mother could have ever imagined.

I loved this book. It did take me a little time to get into it. I really enjoyed each story, but for a while they were so separate, and written differently enough that it was a bit jarring to jump between the two. Williams does a wonderful job of writing in the voice of Providence in the 1800’s and because the difference was so stark, I think it took me a little longer to settle in. But once it became more clear how the two storylines would collide, I couldn’t put it down. I so enjoyed reading the sad tale of the steamship Atlantic and the lighthearted yet complicated tale of Audrey, her parents, and her handsome love interest. I certainly hope to see some of these characters in another Williams tale in the future. 😊

Beatriz Williams is an auto-read for me. I didn't think much could live up to Husbands and Lovers, but this did and more. The characters felt real, the setting was great, and while slightly predictable, I really enjoyed the story (and seeing some familiar faces come around again!)

Thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. I appreciate how Beatriz Williams has created a world that overlaps, but does not require reading titles in order or even reading all her works. Under the Stars is set on fictional Winthrop Island. Audrey Fisher has brought her mother, Meredith. to the family home to dry out. Alternating chapters focus on a shipwreck that occurred on the island in the 1800s, and a passenger on that ship who is fleeing the law. Audrey reconnects with her dad who own's the island's taproom. A third timeline is introduced that focuses on Meredith's teen pregnancy with Audrey. Williams weaves all three of these storylines together seamlessly. An enjoyable read!

The Winthrop Island once again serves as a wonderful backdrop for the book written by the incredible Beatriz Williams. This is a multi-timeline narrative that constructs that elusive combination of mystery and romance in the best of ways possible.

This was an ARC from NetGalley. I love Beatriz Williams. I love her characters, her connections, her historical facts and details. I have read 6 of her books- that I can think of and each was unique. You get into the characters. This book was the second on Winthrop Island. I knew that but was t thinking on it, when I realized I knew some of the characters. That’s fun, like running into an old friend. The cutback to the historical incident was a little slow and hard to follow but once it clicked it was amazing. Her books sometimes have two women in time, dealing with complete opposite issues. But the modern one couldn’t be doing it without the one from the past. That’s part of the reason I love her writing.

Under the Stars is a quick read and one you won’t want to put down! A story told through the eyes of three different women centuries and decades apart, but all entwined in a small New England town. Lost art, the accounting of a ship wreck in the 1800’s, family secrets, a famous actress, and a spot in the water just off an island, that seems to be the place for danger. These are all the gripping details the reader will dig into in this novel. A great summer read!

#NetGalley #UndertheStars

Always love her stories and feel like they're the perfect summer read, this one was no exception! I loved the way it bounced back and forth between perspectives and characters.

I’ve read several other works by Beatriz Williams, including her others set on Block Island. Unfortunately this one missed the mark for me. I struggled to get into the story and just didn’t enjoy it. Thank you though for the chance to read this ARC.

This novel is told in three different timelines. One is in 1993 when Mallory gets pregnant with Audrey. Another is in 2024, when Audrey returns to Winthrop Island to make sure her mother stays sober. And another in 1946, when Prudence Dare is describing being on a boat that’s about to sink.

Audrey is a successful chef, who opened a restaurant with her husband that took their money and ran off. Mallory is a successful actress, but to get another job, she needs to prove she can stay away from the bottle. When they get to their old home, Audrey reconnects with her estranged father and discover the fascinating contents of a long-locked chest.
Toward the end, the various storylines come together, and even flawed people who aren’t perfect at expressing love, can do their best to love and care for one another.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JULY 29.

I hope I'm an outlier because I really do normally love Beatriz Williams' books - having read at least 5 of them previously, including Husbands & Lovers which I gave 4.5 stars and which Mallory and Monk Adams are also in this book as well which was a pleasant surprise. I think that was my favorite part.

This one took me so long to get into and then so long to read that sadly by the end I just wanted it to be done. Three different timelines got me confused for some reason and I really liked the oldest time line story and wished I could have had story be the only story. I didn't relate at all to the other two and honestly they drove me crazy.

Thank you to NetGalley, Beatriz Williams and Ballantine Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.