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.

Beatriz Williams is an auto-buy author for me, and has been ever since I read Tiny Little Thing. Under the Stars is yet another of Williams' novels that doesn't disappoint (and look for the cameo appearance of Tiny Little Thing in the story). While Audrey and her mom return to Winthrop Island for personal needs, it sets into motion an enveloping series of events that bring history and their future all together. Written in three timelines, Williams does a beautiful job of seamlessly dovetailing all the stories and events into one cohesive and enjoyable story. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to pre-read and review this novel.

I read another of Beatriz books and loved it. This one didn’t disappoint. She has a way of wrapping you up in the story and transporting you into their lives. So great!

Book review 📖

📜Under The Stars
✍️Beatriz Williams
📠Random House/Ballantine
📚Historical Fiction
🗓️Pub date: July 29, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

✨Thank you @NetGalley and @randomhouse @ballantinebooks for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨Audrey Fisher has always tried to escape the shadow of her mother’s celebrity status and pave her own stardom as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher is trying to escape the tragic accident that will mark the end of her career. Together they land on Winthrop Island to try and recoup Meredith’s comeback.

✨Finding items and paintings in a wooden chest in their rented cottage, Meredith and Audrey seek to uncover secrets tied to the island, including an 1890 shipwreck of a luxury steamship, The Atlantic, and the mysterious disappearance of a woman on board.

✨Spanning centuries and the destinies of three women, Under The Stars is an epic tale of mothers and daughters, family secrets, and love lost and found.

✨I love Beatriz William’s voice and will never hesitate to pick up any of her memorable books. This was slower moving than some of her others, which took me a bit to get into, but like any of her stories, so well told.

#netgalley #underthestars #randomhouse #beatrizwilliams #ballantine#advancedreadercopy #arc #bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #summerreleases #historicalfiction

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine books for an ARC of this book!

I love anything Beatriz William's and her trio of authors publishes so I am probably a bit biased. This book is a standalone historical fiction, however it is more enjoyable if you have read more of her novels. Under The Stars is best read after William's three other novels set on the fictional Winthrop Island (The Summer Wives, The Beach at Summerly, and Husbands and Lovers). There are also so many easter eggs references other works. Overall, the story has elements of romance but I think the predominant theme is dysfunctional families and the drama that can impact generations.

I usually love Beatriz Williams' books and was so excited to read the NetGalley ARC for Under the Stars. However, I had to officially DNF at around 30% due to the vulgarity and constant sex talk. I really don't remember her other novels being THIS brash with the F word and so many sex scenes. Maybe I'm too big of a prude now haha, but I just couldn't get into it with the vulgarity. Was not interested at all. I didn't even have a chance to figure out the connection between the two main timelines (they seemed SO disjointed and I was extremely bored with the Atlantic storyline).

First let me say, I am a Beatriz Williams fan. I read all her books, and this was the first one that I DNF'd. There were too many storylines in three different timelines to keep up with, and then Audrey does some things that it doesn't seem would fit her character to do, and I just couldn't care any more what happened to her, let alone her annoying mother. Not worth my time.