Another fantastic read by Beatriz Williams. Filled with numerous easter eggs from previous novels which makes it so much fun to read! All the movie titles that Meredith has starred in will sound familiar if you are a fan of Beatriz. Also, a famous singer will make an appearance.
This dual timeline story on Winthrop Island is a must read. Historical fiction mixed in with current day family drama and a possible love story, what more can you wish for?

Thank you NetGalley, Ballentine Books and Beatriz Williams. All comments and thoughts are my own.
Review posted to Goodreads/Bookbub/Instagram and will post to all available sites upon publication date.

Great writer but I really could not get into this story. Thanks for the opportunity to read but it was just not for me. Good Luck with the boo.

I’ve tried really hard to expand my reading genre and Beatriz Williams has become that auto buy for me when trying to branch out. The story was beautiful, poignant and heartbreaking all at once.

I think once again I'm an outlier with this one. UNDER THE STARS is the newest historical fiction from bestselling author Beatriz Williams. Like many of her novels, she again uses what I personally consider a much overused literary device (other authors use it too). If you're a reader of contemporary fiction, you'll likely recognize it - three women, three stories, three different time periods. All three eventually connect, but their connection is only revealed piece by piece. While I generally look forward to picking up a book by Beatriz Williams, this one disappointed me.

Different chapters are narrated by different characters, which means each time you get involved in one character’s storyline, you are forced to leave it at the chapter’s end to pick up a different story thread. I find this kind of construction winds up limiting my emotional involvement in and concerning for characters - because each of their stories is revealed in interrupted bits and pieces.

So now that you are aware of my overall reaction and prejudices, let me describe a bit about the three main characters:

• Providence Dare - a fictitious character the author has placed onboard the Atlantic, an actual steamship that sunk during a storm near Fishers Island in 1846. Providence was employed as a servant in the home of an American artist, Henry Lowell Irving, also fictitious. Her contribution to UNDER THE STARS comes in the form of a written account of the disaster, filled with details of what happened on the ship as it floundered.

• Meredith Fisher - an aging film star who needs to “dry out” before she begins shooting a new movie that offers the kind of juicy part that could resurrect her career. Her back story takes place in 1993.

• Audrey Fisher - Meredith’s adult daughter who has agreed to supervise her mother’s detox, even though the two of them don’t get along all that well. Audrey is a talented cook whose husband recently disappeared under suspicious circumstances, leaving Audrey with a pile of debts from their joint restaurant business. Her story takes place in 2024.

The stories of all three women take place around Winthrop Island, a creation of the author that's based on Fishers Island, close to where the author lives. All three stories get more and more complex as the book progresses. To the point where I felt the plot took a few turns that seemed far-fetched to me. And I was eager to finish.

I still recommend UNDER THE STARS, because I expect many readers of historical fiction don't share my prejudices about plot construction. And there's certainly enough drama to keep you turning pages. Including a murder charge, uncertain parentage, and numerous romantic obstacles. I think I was just hoping for something more substantial rather than just another formulaic bestseller. Which this will no doubt be.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 5/5!!!!!

Oh wow I loved this one! Husbands & Lovers was the first book I read by Beatriz Williams, and was my FAVORITE book of 2024, so I was extremely excited to return back to Winthrop Island!

MY SYNOPSIS: Under the Stars is a multi-generational story told from the POV of three women whose stories converge in the present. Audrey, a world-class chef, is tasked with keeping her mother, Meredith, sober while tabloid drama blows over until her next move role. Audrey escorts Meredith to Winthrop Island where nobody will bother them. Providence, a mysterious maid, is aboard the steamship Atlantic in 1846 headed towards New York City. After the world class paintings are discovered in the basement of the Mohegan Inn, the present day timeline really takes off.

MY REVIEW: I really did love every part of this book; the dynamic between Audrey and Meredith is so ‘tell-it-like-it-is’ and their banter had me LOLing; the east coast setting is so atmospheric I could taste the salt breeze; the rich history and backstories each of the three women brought to the table that made them realize they deserve happiness.

The story was perfectly paced, and I found myself enjoying each of the three storylines equally; I loved the addition of the men’s pov’s at the end… hearing both sides of a story brings everything full circle and really gave me a warm feeling. I loved the familiarity of Mallory & Monk Adams, and Sedge Peabody; the reintroduction of the characters really brings the story from the pages to real life with that familiarity.

Under the Stars really serves up a lot; family secrets, long lost artifacts, romance, lust, and love, the rich history of the Atlantic, the east coast setting, a murder mystery (or two)… family legacy and generational truths. Please read this book, it was everything and more!

When Audrey gets the call that she is needed to stay with her mother to ensure her sobriety, they head to Winthrop Island where this story begins to unfold. Under the Stars is a blend of Historical Fiction and Fiction. It follows three women connected to Winthrop Island in dual timelines. Beatriz Williams does a seamless job transporting you from past to present with no confusion.
Providence Dare is fleeing Massachusetts after being suspected of murdering her boss, a world renowned artist. She sets aboard 'The Atlantic' steamship bound for New York in Thanksgiving of 1846. The steamship is caught in a storm and all of the tragedy that unfolds is based upon accounts from survivors. Present day you have Meredith, famous actress who returns to Winthrop Island to gain sobriety with the help of her daughter, Audrey a chef trained at the CIA. I love the mother daughter relationship in this book. I hope there is a continuation of Winthrop Island and the relationships with Audrey and Sedge and Meredith and Mike. I found myself reading the last several pages slower because I just did not want this one to end! This book is a top five of the year for me because it had everything I love to read in a book. It has romance, mystery, historical fiction, and humor.

You must read Author's Note, especially if you love Historical Fiction.

- I loved the dual plot lines in 2024 and 1846, and the pot line about the sinking of The Atlantic was unique and intriguing!
-There were many subplots-- a famous actress sobering up, a famous painter having an affair, a chef revamping a kitchen, a con artist abandoning his wife, a teenage death, a famous singer and his art historian wife. . . Sometimes I wondered how it all fit together.
- Mother-daughter tension was woven all throughout the present-day storyline. As both a mom and a daughter, I understand this dynamic! But this duo is on another level, in the most entertaining way.
-Prudence Dare-- loved her! Her character was full of spunk and heart. Some of my favorite chapters were her retelling of the sinking of The Atlantic!
-This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you @netgalley and @Ballantinebooks, an imprint of Random House, for this advanced reader copy! Under The Stars will be available July 29!
Em

Under the Stars is an amazing mix of family drama, romance and historical fiction- tied together by mysterious ancestry and coastal island community. I was so excited when I realized the ties between this story and Husbands and Lovers, and now have no choice but to go back and read the first 2 Winthrop Island books. Highly recommend this for fans of almost any genre since it hits all the right notes and is so well written.

Another beautiful novel by Williams. This one involves a shipwreck, and a complex mother/daughter relationship. Audrey’s mother Meredith was a screen legend who is haunted by a tragic accident.
She could make a comeback but she must be at her best and dry out. They decide to return to Winthrop Island because she won’t be interrogated by fans.
Secrets, tragedies and a complicated relationship makes this another one for readers to get their hands on. Thank you Beatriz for always delivering books that engage us readers.

I’m a long time fan of Williams’ work, and this did not disappoint. I have found that as her career as progressed, the depth of history in the historical fiction has increased, and I’m not mad about it! I find her relationships authentically developed, and the setting is exceptional.

Well done!

Beatriz Williams does it again! This dual-timeline historical fiction was a joy to read. I didn’t know anything about the wreck of the Atlantic even though I’ve read a few other books featuring Winthrop Island, so that story reeled me in. The contemporary storyline had enough tendrils reaching back into the past to tie the two stories together well. Interesting and enjoyable characters and an engaging plotline. Also, no one ends a chapter better than Ms. Williams, she keeps you reading!

3.5⭐️s.

First— how fun to see that a few characters from husbands and lovers make a cameo in this book.

Like most of William’s books, I was pretty “eh” about it until about the 70% mark when I finally became invested in the storyline and characters.

This book follows three separate timelines, but all intertwined and related. What I didn’t love was that the majority of the book alternated between those three timelines, with the same POV each time- but near the end, there were suddenly more POVs introduced- wait, what?

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ahhh, the 19th Beatriz Williams read in my arsenal. I have conflicting thoughts about this book. True to Williams’ style, there is a love story that ends happily ever after and that is tied to a story of the past somehow. I love the stories of the past as usually I learn about some piece of history I’ve never heard of, in this case the shipwreck of the Atlantic. However, I’m conflicted because I grow a little tired of the dialogue used. I don’t mind the swear words, in fact I’d rather there be some, but the constant bickering back and forth between some of the characters gets old because I’ve seen it in many of her stories now. Another thing I couldn’t decide if I found grating or endearing is that Meredith was featured in movies that were all other Williams’ books. Which I guess if this were the first Beatriz Williams book you’d ever picked up it’d probably seem pretty creative and interesting. Since I have read 19 of her books now- and some multiple times- I found myself rolling my eyes a little bit.
While I did find it a little repetitive and cheesy in those aspects, I did love this book and I love how there are multiple ties to her characters in other books, specifically the Winthrop Island connections. It only took me a few days to read and I’d definitely recommend picking up Under the Stars (or any of the other Williams’ books) to readers!

I always enjoy Beatriz Williams books. She's great with the dual timeline and her historic research is top-notch.. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy how she weaves characters and location throughout her novels. It's always fun to see a familiar person pop-up. This is a fun and captivating summer read.

I found the premise intriguing, and I usually enjoy dual-timeline narratives, but something about this one didn’t fully click for me. I struggled to stay engaged with both storylines, and I felt like the pacing was uneven, making it hard to stay invested. I had a tough time connecting with the characters, especially Audrey. I wanted to feel more for her journey, but I found myself frustrated with her choices rather than rooting for her. The historical sections had moments that intrigued me, but they didn’t feel as compelling as I had hoped. That being said, I still appreciated the atmospheric writing and the intriguing mystery surrounding the paintings. Some sections kept me interested, and I could see flashes of what I love about this author’s work.

Even though this book didn’t fully work for me, I know others might enjoy its themes of family, legacy, and uncovering the past.

3.5 stars

I devoured Beatriz Williams’ latest - Under the Stars. With superb pacing and prose, Williams has expertly crafted a compelling, propulsive tale braiding a fascinating tale across three timelines. While I did not find the primary characters quite as relatable or lovable as Mallory and Monk in Husbands and Lovers, this book is not to be missed by Williams’ legion of fans or others who love fine historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

I know it is just me, because the author has written so many books and is so popular but I could not get into this story. I didn’t find the characters interesting or the storyline compelling. I tried to go back to it several times but could not finish. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, but because I did not finish I will not post a review on any social media.

beautifully written historical novel that blends glamour, secrets, and heartache beneath a glittering facade. With her signature lush prose and complex characters, Williams delivers a captivating tale of love and resilience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC! This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. She’s officially an auto-buy author for me now. It took a little time to get into the story, but once I connected with the characters and the plotlines started coming together, it picked up quickly. Definitely recommend!

Beatriz Williams is an auto read author for me. Her latest, Under The Stars was amazing! I loved it!