I really enjoyed this book. I live in Westchester, but know the New London area well. The story is told in three timelines, but was easy to keep track of the characters and their stories. I especially enjoyed the historical story of the shipwreck that occurred in 1846 and the way the author tied it into the present time.. I have read another book by this author - Husbands & Lovers and have enjoyed this book as well.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Ballantine Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

When Audrey gets the news that she is going to have to babysit her mother, Meredith, for the summer she is less than thrilled. Since childhood Audrey has been cleaning up Meredith's messes and this feels no different. Meredith is drinking too much again, and is completely out of control. When her agent calls and tells Audrey that she is going to have to "dry" her mother out or she will lose her next job, Audrey knows she has to do it, and she has nothing to lose. Unfortunately Audrey is going through a time of her own as her husband has disappeared taking all their money with him and leaving her with thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt. Seeing as how she has lost her business because of all of it she has a couple weeks to spare to get her mom's life put back together. When they get to Winthrop Island they clean things up in their family home, and start in on getting comfortable there for the time being. Audrey makes her way over to see her dad, and after a while she begins to see what it feels like to have her father around, and she likes it. She likes being with him, and she meets some pretty interesting characters whose lives have intersected with her mom's and/or dad's lives on the island. All in all the whole thing doesn't turn out bad in the end, and Audrey starts to understand what it really feels like to really be loved, although it turns out she was loved all along.
Beatriz Williams does it again with our Winthrop Island families. As usual I thoroughly enjoyed the book and already can't wait until her next one!

Beatriz Williams's annual summer book is always a treat. She's one of my favorite writers of historical fiction, and her newest novel delivers everything you could expect: family secrets, New England scandals, and cameos from characters introduced in previous books. I love how she has built a community of characters that connect all her novels.

In UNDER THE STARS, we return to Winthrop Island, introduced in THE SUMMER WIVES. While you don't have to have to read Williams's previous books, you'll be doubly rewarded if you have previous knowledge of the characters. UNDER THE STARS has three main timelines, one of which includes the next generation of some core island families that we met in previous novels. Another thread is set in the 19th century and follows the journey of a woman on the doomed ship THE ATLANTIC, which crashes near the shore of Winthrop Island. But the main storyline is set in 2024, and it follows the trials and tribulations of Audrey Fisher the daughter of a famous actress. She follows her mother, Meredith, back to her mother's childhood home on Winthrop Island so she can help her dry out before filming her next movie. While there, she gets pulled into a mystery revolving around a famous portrait that is linked to the events on THE ATLANTIC from nearly two hundred years ago.

There's a lot going on in this book, and I won't belabor all the plot points. Just trust me: Read the book, It's addictive. You'll want to read all of Beatriz's books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my opinions.

I am a big fan of this author but this new novel by her did not appeal to me at all. Three strong women in different time periods on Winthop Island are the main characters in this story and how they all are related to each other. The novel did not draw me as the author's other stories did, I did not care for the charactes (nor some of the sexual content). Her descriptions of Winthrop Island are good, I just couldn't get interested in the storyline.
Maybe the next book will get me back into reading the author's books.

4 1/2 stars
Audrey needs to dry out her handful of a movie star mom so they head to the compound on remote Winthrop Island. Audrey also needs a getaway so she doesn't have to deal with her soon to be ex husband who took off leaving her with no money and all the business bills. Being on the island also means reconnecting with the dad she hasn't seen in years. The island's historic shipwreck plays a supporting role in telling the story of a young woman on the run, a stolen painting and the man on her trail tasked with bringing her in for murder.
This dual story has everything you want in a Beatriz Williams novel - fascinating characters, a multilayered plot and witty dialogue with a sizzle of romance and a hint of danger. Her fans will not be disappointed as well as readers of Kate Quinn and Deanna Raybourn. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Book Review

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I finished this one last week. This is my second Beatriz Williams book. I gave it four stars on GoodReads. Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced readers copy, due to be released on July 29, 2025.

Going between past and present, I did have to pay close attention to follow the storyline. The setting is Winthrop Island, past and present. A daughter who has yearned for acceptance from her famous actress mom her whole life, reconnects with a father from her past, and uncovers paintings that lead to another woman from centuries ago.

The storyline does go back and forth. The main character, Audrey, is endearing and likable. I found the relationship with her biological father odd, if I’m being honest. I would have liked to have seen that unfold in a way that was more realistic than, “hey, I’m your daughter and we haven’t seen each other in twenty years but let’s just be fine.”

I did love the setting of Winthrop Island. I enjoyed the banter between Audrey and her mom as she helps her mom get sober.

#beatriz #imalreadyhungry

This is the second book by Beatriz Williams I have read.
Under the Stars is a great historical fiction story told in three timelines. Three women Prudence Dare in the winter of 1846, Meredith in 1993 the summer Audrey is born and Audrey summer of 2024 tell the story each in their own perspective.
The story is slowly woven together as the women tell their stories.
One part has to do with a shipwreck of the steamship Atlantic in 1846.
The second is the story of a famous actress who grew up on Winthrop Island.
The story kept me captivated as I wanted to know what the connection was between the three women. Could not put it down!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to read this book.

I will start by saying that I absolutely loved the author’s last novel, ‘Husbands & Lovers’. I think she is a wonderful writer, and I was so excited to receive this ARC. Her newest novel, ‘Under the Stars’, unfortunately, did not resonate as much with me. I didn’t feel connected to the characters like I had hoped, and the multiple timelines lost me a little.

I will continue to read the author’s future novels; this one just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Under the Stars is a sweeping, atmospheric novel that beautifully blends historical intrigue with modern-day drama. As Audrey and Meredith return to their island roots, long-buried secrets resurface through a hidden trove of paintings and a haunting mystery from 1846. This multigenerational tale of art, legacy, and survival kept me turning pages late into the night.

Beatriz Williams' latest visit to Winthrop island has saved me from the underwhelming novels I read this past month. Her newest novel “Under the stars" is nothing short of a masterpiece. Williams expertly combines a historical retelling of the Atlantic shipwreck in 1847 (based on the real life Atlantic wreck), with a visit to Winthrop with a new cast of characters Audrey and her movie star Mother Meredith who are escaping some recent personal issues. It’s a mystery with a hidden trunk of paintings layered with the previous tragedies of the past. Williams is at her best with her fantastic characterization of Providence in 1847, the foul mouth, spunky Meredith and Audrey who is trying to recover from her recent separation. Her characters bream with personality and life. They are joined by Mike, Monk and Mallory from “Husband and Lovers” and the likable Sedge. The 1847 part of the novel is a riveting account of the steamship sinking with interweaving a story line in 1993 and present day to make this novel so engaging.The novel explores women who are escaping the demons that haunt them and how they confront those issues and rebuild their life. The mystery of the hidden trunk of paintings that Audrey finds while helping Mike restore his pub adds another layer of intrigue. My only suggestion is family tree of the Winthrop Island family and connections would really help in reading this as i wracked my brain trying to remember who was related to who! But.I cannot adequately say enough good things about this book, William’s writing is like sinking into a warm,delicious bath after a cold winter day. It’s been a week since I read this and I still am savoring every delicious word. I didn’t think she could top herself after “Husband and Lovers’ but this was an engrossing, fantastic 10 star read for me confirming that this is my favorite read of 2025 so far.

Under the Stars has a dash of Titanic, a sprinkle of Grey Gardens and swears like sailor. I was introduced to Beatriz Williams works recently with Husbands and Lovers and fell in love with the way she kept me rapt in each timeline/point of view she presented, which is a hard thing to do. She did the same in Under the Stars and I had a great time back on Winthrop Island. I also loved the Mallory and Monk cameo as well. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

Under the Stars is Beatriz Williams' newest book set on the fictional Winthrop Island. Audrey Fisher is tasked with spending the summer with her mother Meredith Fisher as her sober coach, while she dries out from an alcohol addiction and prepares for a new movie role that will simultaneously launch Meredith back to the A-list and save her own finances and hopefully Audrey's as well. Audrey's husband has left her on the hook for millions in loans, disappearing after clearing out their bank accounts. The book itself is told in three timelines, from Audrey's perspective in the summer of 2024, Meredith's perspective in the summer of 1993 when Audrey is conceived and born, and Prudence Dare in the winter of 1840 in the form of diary entries as she rides on the doomed steamship Atlantic as it slowly runs aground on the reef of Winthrop Island during a storm, as she attempts to evade arrest after the murder of her employer, a famous painter. It's not initially clear how Prudence's narrative relates to Audrey and Meredith's, but as the book moves forward all three timelines are clearly connected.
As with her previous books, Williams invests in the world building of her fictional island, with lots of cameos from books previously published, as well as Easter Eggs for her faithful readers. These were enjoyable and certainly a reward for her regular readers, but certainly not required for a new reader to understand to enjoy the book as a standalone entry. This is presented as a Historical Fiction novel, but for me the timeline with Audrey was clearly the focal point of the novel, so for me this read like a family drama, with strong character development and growth for both Audrey and Meredith as they come to understand each other and themselves. Another easy 4 star read for me, as I always love this author's books!
Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

I was beyond excited to receive an advance copy of Williams' latest novel Under The Stars, as I am a huge fan. I have to say, however, that I didn't feel that Under the Stars had the quickest start. I expected to be completely pulled in right from the beginning, but that was not the case. While I always love a multiple timeline novel, I had a difficult time in the beginning with Providence's timeline, which was a journal account of a sinking ship right off the coast of Winthrop Island. For some reason, I just didn't feel pulled in to her narrative, and I found reading it to be very slow. About two-thirds of the way through, the entire novel completely picked up in pace and I raced through to finish. Meredith and Audrey's narratives were much more enjoyable for me.

As a fan of Beatriz Williams, I could not wait to read this book -- and boy, did it not disappoint. Not only was I unable to put this down, but I also think it is Williams at her best. Under the Stars follows 3 timelines - one of a woman in pursuit for murder, who ends up in a ship wreck, as well as the stories of Audrey (in her 20s) and her mother, Meredith. All three timelines made me sympathize with the characters, and all three left cliffhangers to come back to. Bonus points to William for including some characters from a previous novel (no spoilers here!). This is a must read.

In Under the Stars, Beatriz Williams once again returns to Winthrop Island with three different story lines; Providence Dare in 1846, Meredith Fisher in 1993, and Meredith and her daughter Audrey Fisher in 2024. Providence Dare has been accused of murdering her employer/lover Henry Irving and is fleeing from Boston to Winthrop Island on the ship Atlantic with a detective close behind. In 2024, actress Meredith Fisher has been given more chance to sober up with the help of her daughter Audrey on the New England island of Winthrop. In the 1990’s, Meredith left the island and never looked back. Now she has returned and so have the secrets she left behind so many years ago. Audrey, a struggling but talented chef, reunites with her father Mike Kennedy and joins his staff at the Mohegan Inn. It is here that she finds a chest full of valuable artwork. As the three women’s stories are told, they slowly come together in another fantastically spun work by one of my very favorite authors. Five star read!

3/5 stars
Under the Stars is the second Beatriz Williams I've read, and will probably be my last.

Dual timelines, with three characters all connected on the Winthrop Island:
Providence Dare, who flees Boston on a boat, after being charged with murder of her boss, who is a world renowned artist.
Audrey Fisher, daughter of Meredith, a world famous actress, who must help her mother sober up, so they drive across the country to Winthrop Island to their summer home.
Meredith, the actress, who is becoming a forgotten star, has spent most of her money, and needs to revamp her life.

Along the way, they meet characters who are from another book of William's, though I don't think you really need to read it in order to follow along. Mysteries unfold on the island of Winthrop Island.
I wish this had leaned more on the historical fiction aspect, as I enjoyed Providence's story the most. I also wished there was more empathy toward Meredith's character, as her storyline of being an actress was also intriguing. Instead, we are given characters that I didn't like surrounding Audrey. It ended up becoming less of a historical fiction novel, and more of a badly written romance.
This was completely forgettable for me, just writing this review, I almost forgot what it was about.

DNF

I usually love Beatriz Williams' books and was so excited to read the 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 timelines (they seemed SO disjointed and I was extremely bored with the Atlantic storyline).

Unfortunately, this was a big swing and a miss for me.

Beatriz stories always draw me right in and this was no exception. Figuring out the mystery and the connection between all the timelines is always fun. However having the 3rd timeline in the 90s was hard for me and didn’t feel necessary for the story. I would have liked to stay in the primary 2 timelines to get more connected to those characters. The ending also felt sudden and I wanted a few more things fleshed out. I did enjoy getting to see Monk and Mallory from Husbands and Lovers.

Under the Sea by Beatriz Williams is crazy imaginative dual timeline story that connects through Winthrop Island, a fictional island loosely based on Fishers Island near Connecticut.

One part of the story is about a shipwreck of the steamship Atlantic in 1847 and a survivor Providence Dare who was pregnant with the child of the dead artist Henry Irving and has a valise of his valuable paintings. She marries another man who thinks her daughter is his. That daughter turns out to be the great great grandmother of one of the women in the other part of the story.

The second part of the story is about a an famous actress who grew up on Winthrop Island, Meredith, got pregnant, not sure whether by Mike or Cooper (who dies while sailing), then runs away with her daughter Audrey. Now grown, Audrey has come back to Winthrop Island for three months to help her mother hide to recover from alcohol and drug rehab so she can return to a wonderful part in a major new movie.

While here, Audrey, with the aid of a new friend, Sedge(who has the means) help her father, Mike, turn his dive bar into a fancier restaurant/bar.

Sedge and Audrey begin to develop feelings for each other. Audrey still plans to leave when Meredith does at the beginning of August but Sedge doesn’t know that.

Audrey’s husband left her six months ago with no forwarding address and cleaned out their bank accounts and she was devastated. She’s a chef, having graduated from the Culinary Institute of America.

What will happen with Mike’s bar if she leaves? While they are cleaning out the basement of the bar, they find the trunk
with the Irving paintings. A friend discovers that they are worth millions. What do they do?

What will happen between Audrey and Sedge?

Audrey’s husband comes back and she asks him to sign divorce papers. He says he wants to get back together. She says no way. He says he knows about the paintings that will make them rich. She says they are her father’s. What happens?

Who is the great great granddaughter of Providence Dare’s daughter?

This novel is an excellent read.

Having read and loved four of Beatriz Williams' books, I was thrilled when I was able to get an ARC from NetGalley for this book.

This is a dual timeline Historical Fiction book. It was interesting to read about the harrowing shipwreck that occurred in 1846. How it ties into present times was written well.

The character development was fabulous. The pace was excellent.

I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars