Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams was a complicated, but satisfying, romance taking place in three timelines: current day, thirty years earlier, and 1849 when a ship ran ashore in Norwich. There were implications for each of the earlier time periods on the current one; new generations. It is a compelling historical drama as well as a complicated modern romance. On the ship was a young woman running from an illicit love affair that ended in the death of her lover. She was to be charged. There was a policeman on board with a warrant. What happened next was not to be believed. In the current day, Audrey has brought her mother, Meredith “home” to continue her recovery. She had been sober for five weeks and it was imperative that she remain so until August, when she was scheduled to make a movie; a part that was perfect for her. Things got complicated as the past in revealed.

The are all good characters, in their own ways: each looking for love and life. There were many obstacles, which is what make the story. I wonder how a book like this is written: the way we see it or as three separate novels that are then knitted together. There are unforeseen twists and turns that end in near tragedy too often. The plot was complex and engaging. The characters, all of them were colorful in their own individual ways. Williams always writes a novel worth reading and this one is not exception. It is full of human foibles and lack of communication, not to mention flat-out lies. Meredith made it to August with surprising results beyond leaving to make the movie. Audrey found love, with a man who deserved love. What more is there

I was invited to read Under the Stars by Raandom House Publishing House-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingHouseBallantine #BeatrizWilliams #UderTheStars

Much thanks to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book so that I can provide a review.

I’ve always enjoyed Beatriz Williams’ books, so was especially excited to get an ARC copy of Beatriz Williams’ latest book!

Ms. Williams takes us back to the fictional Winthrop Island for this book, and we delve into it for 3 very different women’s lives, in 3 timelines.
I did find the historic storyline with Providence Dare, with the shipwreck and all of her resilience the most interesting of the 3.

There was a lot going on in this novel, however, and I had a hard time connecting with Meredith and her story, as well as the multiple stories and flashbacks. Audrey’s story/contemporary timeline was more easy to follow and understand.

Rating: rounding up to 3 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House | Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Beatriz Williams. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Three women and three timelines - Audrey, struggling in the shadow of her famous mother, Meredith. Meredith is plagued with trauma of a tragic accident in her youth. Neither want to return to Winthrop Island where they lived, but Meredith needs someone to watch over her while she dries out before a film that will hopefully save her career. Audrey starts working as a chef in her father's restaurant and they find priceless paintings in a trunk. We hear from Providence through her diary in 1846 as she fled Boston after being accused of murder and is on a ship about to crash.

This is an epic novel about mothers and daughters, lost loves, and secrets passed down through generations. I liked the change of POV from all three women, with their backstories, mysteries, and romances. While this is certainly a stand-alone novel, there are familiar names and even titles from the author's previous novels, which is fun. A good mix of historical fiction and family drama and I loved how all the storylines came together.

Historical Fiction/Fiction - 3.5*

There is only a very small aspect of this novel that is historical fiction - there was a wreck off Long Island Sound of a ship called the Atlantic. Williams places one of the characters on that ship and the rest of the contemporary story flows from there. The novel does hop back and forth between narrators and timelines.

Normally, I really like novels by this author, but I didn't love this one. One of the major characters - Meredith, is an actress who is near the end of her career. She is an alcoholic and her prospects for roles have dried up. She is selfish, promiscuous and didn't necessarily feel like a complete character - to me.

Her daughter, Audrey, is another of the major players. Her marriage has fallen apart. Her husband disappeared with their money and has left nothing but wreckage in his wake. Their restaurant has over a million dollars of debt, and she is forced to close it and return to the east coast to make sure that her mother stays sober.

Mixed in amongst these 2 stories is the timeline from the wreck. Providence Dare is on the run for being suspected of killing her employer. The detective has followed her onto the ship. The ship runs into trouble and their story revolves around trying to survive an impending shipwreck.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Take my review lightly, it was a case of it's just not for me. I loved her previous release, and I still love her writing style. This particular story just don't grip me or keep my attention the way I'd hoped. It might just be that I picked it up at the wrong time. I really don't have anything negative to say necessarily, I just wasn't captivated or motivated enough to continue with this one. I DNF'd and won't be leaving a rating anywhere.

“I think she didn’t want to be reminded of the past, that’s all. To attach yourself to old things was to indulge in sentimentality, and sentimentality was a sign of weakness. She was someone who moved on.”

I will always jump at the chance to slip back into Beatriz Williams’s fictional world of Winthrop Island. In this, her fourth novel set in a fictionalized iteration of Fishers Island, Ms. Williams does not disappoint.

Three timelines (with some flashbacks) set the framework for 3 women who share a quest for vindication, for belonging, for home. While the set up is complicated, their stories eventually converge, producing a well researched tale with nostalgia and heart as the centerpiece. The cast runs the gamut from 19C. indentured servant to current day Hollywood starlet with many well drawn personalities included in the vast group. The easter eggs of characters (more Monk…yes please) from her previous works was delightful. Ms. Williams even sneaks in a cheeky nod to her writing partners Lauren Willig and Karen White, for those fans who are looking closely!

Especially for readers who enjoyed Martha Kelly’s The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club, I highly recommend this newly released novel to all readers who appreciate novels crafted around strong women, art and history.

This book took a little bit of time to get into, but once the pieces started coming together it was very hard to put down. The three centuries depicted in the story all tied together by the end in a very unexpected and satisfying way. This was a very memorable and unique story and I loved all of the characters.

I read this back in April as soon as I got an advance copy thanks to Ballantine Books. She's my favorite historical fiction author and I was so excited to return to Winthrop Island!

I love how Beatriz Williams winds the past and present in her books with such strong characters. Plus I love the nods to other books and seeing some favorites from other books set on Winthrop Island.

This book is about mother/daughter relationships and then add in mystery paintings and a 1846 steamship that crashes into the island. The three timelines were a lot, but I loved seeing it all come together!

I keep hearing rave reviews of the audiobook with an ensemble cast and I can't wait to listen to this book too!

I really loved this book and this is the perfect summer historical fiction - I just wish I was reading this along the Connecticut coast!

Thank you. To NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I’m going to be an outlier on this one. I didn’t like it. I thought it was a mess and all over the place. I almost gave it up 1/2 way through and I wish I did. I hated the story that took place on the ship and ended up skipping parts of it. I think other people will love it,

I loved this book. I am beginning to think that I may like all of Beatriz Williams's books. This book has 3 time lines and follows 3 different people. the timeline in 1846 is in regard to Providence Dare who grew up in the Irving residence. She learned with their children but was a servant also in many ways. She ends up on board the Atlantic that sinks in 1846. Another timeline is about Meredith, who in 1993 is a teenager. She has grown up on Winthrop Island and has known Mike since she was three. They do everything together; even losing their virginity together. Meredith has a baby and leaves the island to pursue an acting career. In 2025 Audrey, the daughter of Meredith brings her mom back to Winthrop Island to dry her out. She needs to be sober for her next movie. There she develops a relationship with her dad, Mike. He owns the only bar in town. Audrey is a chef and she helps him out since she needs something to keep her mind off the husband who up and left her. He took all their money an left her holding the loans they had taken out for their joint restaurant. I don't know how Williams keeps everything straight but she does and weaves this into such a great story. It has everything you want in a historical fiction/contemporary novel. I ate it up!
Thanks to #netgalley, #ballentinebooks and @authorbeatriz for an ARC of this delightful read. All opinions are my own.

I read my first Beatriz Williams novel over ten years ago and while I have remained a fan, I hadn't kept up with her more recent fiction until Husbands and Lovers last summer. And that book took my breath away - what a story. So I was eager to revisit Winthrop Island in Under the Stars. Williams navigates among three timelines - a historically accurate shipwreck in the mid nineteenth century and its survivors; the childhood and young adult years on Winthrop Island of rebellious soon to be famous Meredith Fisher in the mid nineties; and in the modern day, Meredith's daughter Audrey, running from a bad starter marriage, a peripatetic upbringing and now having to manage her famous mother who must curb her drinking or risk professional ruin. As one might expect from a Williams novel, all three story lines are well told and converge cleverly in an exciting denouement, all of which is accompanied by William's trademark witty dialogue, sexy hook-ups, and well-drawn relationships. Highly recommend for fans of Williams, and smart literary fiction with strong female characters, both contemporary and historical. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and NetGalley for the DRC.

This is the second book I’ve read by Williams and I had the exact same issue with both. Her style attempts to blend historical and contemporary fiction by having dual timelines telling two separate stories - and that’s the problem. The stories are too disparate. Sure, they have interconnected elements, but they do not feel like cohesive books at all.

That being said, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this. I really liked the story told in the present timeline. Williams writes romance well and realistically. Here, some of the plot points seemed a bit over-the-top, but it was still a fun book to get lost in. Particularly because she is great at dialogue - it makes me love her characters. But honestly, the past storyline once again did nothing for me.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC. Under the Stars is out today!

Under the Stars tells the stories of three women with ties to Winthrop Island, which lies off the coast of Long Island, NY, in three timelines from 1846 to present day. In the earliest time line, Providence Dare boards the luxury steamship Atlantic, trying to stay one step ahead of the Boston detective carrying a warrant to arrest her in the suspicious death of her employer, a famous painter named Henry Irving. Providence discovers that the detective has followed her aboard, but when an accident leaves the ship stranded and at the mercy of a major storm, heading for the rocky shore of Winthrop Island, Providence may face death instead of prison. The more recent timelines focus on a mother-daughter pair, Meredith and Audrey Fisher. Meredith grew up on Winthrop Island but left, with a very young Audrey in tow, and become a famous actress. Thirty years later, Meredith has returned to the island to stay out of the spotlight before starting her comeback role later that summer. Tasked with keeping her mother sober, Audrey was reluctant to come along but eager to escape problems in her own life. The story weaves the lives of the three women together, exploring complex relationships and learning how to trust. Williams is a pro at developing multidimensional characters that the reader cares about, and an interesting plot that interweaves multiple characters and events into a cohesive, riveting tapestry.

Quick and Dirty
-multi POV & timeline
-East Coast setting
-little known maritime history
-return characters

Y’all, Beatriz Williams is back with another Winthrop Island novel—and this one has layers. We’ve got multiple timelines that slowly weave together: a historic shipwreck, a crumbling marriage, father-daughter reconnection, new love, and a mother-daughter reckoning. There’s mystery, legacy, some slow-burn romance, and that signature Beatriz wit and drama. I chuckled aloud A LOT in this one!

It starts a little slow, but once the threads start connecting, it clicks. I loved the messy relationships and emotional depth, especially between Audrey and her mother, Meredith—a Hollywood starlet with baggage. Throw in some hidden paintings, a ship detective, and some juicy secrets, and you’ve got yourself a classic Beatriz Williams summer read.

Perfect for fans of family drama, historical secrets, and beach reads with heart. This is one of her best IMO!

Under the Stars presents a compelling narrative that integrates elements of mystery, romance, and historical drama. The novel is characterized by its richly atmospheric setting, which is skillfully rendered through Williams’s adept use of language and mood. While the storyline includes familiar tropes and some characters lack depth, the emotional trajectory—particularly that of Meredith—provides meaningful substance and emotional engagement.

This book is well-suited for readers who appreciate dual-timeline structures, are interested in maritime history, and enjoy exploring intergenerational relationships, especially those between mothers and daughters navigating themes of legacy and identity.

Overall, Under the Stars delivers a thoughtful and resonant reading experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

An enjoyable read, but ultimately a forgettable book. It deals with duel timelines with 3 main characters intersecting. A bit historical fiction, mystery and romance. I liked the character of Providence Dare and wanted more focus on her character.

3.75 stars rounded up! I didn't love this as much as 2024's Husbands & Lovers, but I did still really enjoy this book and Beatriz Williams' mix of historical fiction, mystery and romance with multiple timelines and POVs. I loved how complicated and strong-willed the main female characters were in this book. I also really loved Sedge and Mike and admired the way they loved and were obsessed with Audrey and Meredith. I most of all loved getting to see Monk and Mallory's well deserved HEA. While I didn't find all of the storylines as engaging as I did in Husbands and Lovers (mainly the Providence Dare storyline), I did find this to be a good and quick summer read! I flew through this book and liked how everything came together at the end and am hoping there's another upcoming book about Winthrop Island.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed reading Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

I absolutely loved this book. Beatriz has a way of telling a story for sure.
This story is incredibly moving, brilliantly written and will keep you turning the pages. I truly did not want this book to end. Williams is a master of storytelling.

This is my 2nd Beatriz Williams novel, and I think I am hooked! Winthrop Island is such a great place for these types of stories to be set in and the characters are complex, with connections that span generations. The author marries the different POV's well and really helps to bring everything together. I loved hearing about the present and also the past for some of the characters, and then the far past for others. The mix of family history and historical fiction that wasn't overdone is one of my favorite ways that authors write. Highly recommend and has a slight connection to Husbands and Lovers, which was so so fun!

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!