🌠🖼⚓️ Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams ⚓️🖼🌠
Genre: Women's Fiction / Family Saga Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Pub Date: July 29, 2025
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-ARC of this book. The opinions stated here are solely my own.

Summary (copied from Amazon):
Audrey Fisher has struggled all her life to emerge from the shadow of her famous mother by forging a career as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher’s glamorous screen persona disguises the trauma of the tragic accident that haunts her dreams. Neither woman wants to return to the New England island they left behind and its complicated emotional ties, but Meredith has one last chance to sober up and salvage her big comeback, and where else but discreet, moneyed Winthrop Island can a famous actress spend the summerwithout the intrusion of other people? Until Audrey discovers an old wooden chest among the belongings of her estranged bartender father, Mike Kennedy, and the astonishing contents draw the women deep into Winthrop’s past and its many secrets…attracting the interest of their handsome neighbor, Sedge Peabody. How did a trove of paintings from one of America’s greatest artists wind up in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn? And who is the mysterious woman portrayed on every canvas?

On a stormy November night in 1846, Providence Dare flees Boston and boards the luxury steamship Atlantic one step ahead of the law….or so she believes. But when a catastrophic accident leaves the ship at the mercy of a mighty gale, Providence finds herself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the one man who knows her real identity—the detective investigating the suspicious death of her employer, the painter Henry Irving. As the Atlantic fights for her life and the rocky shore of Winthrop Island edges closer, a desperate Providence searches for her chance to escape…before the sea swallows her without a trace...

Review:
I didn't realize that this book was set in the same world/place as her last novel, Husbands & Lovers! There were some crossover characters, but it isn't necessary to have read that novel to follow this one. I LOVE family saga stories, and this one crossed three generations and tied in to the present with something of a romance and even a hint of mystery. This book features strong women from all the way back to the mid-1800s and the meaning of sacrificing for one's children. I loved the character of Providence Dare from the earliest timeline and how she braved the shipwreck to find a new life. It very closely paralleled her great-great-great granddaughter (Audrey) as she was also starting anew on Winthrop Island, even if only for a summer (no spoilers!). I highly recommend this one if you love different timelines that are of the same family and also a romance embedded with a small mystery.

Review of Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 out of 5 stars)

Under the Stars is everything I’ve come to expect from Beatriz Williams- atmospheric, layered, and rich with emotion. She’s a master of weaving timelines, and this book delivers a dual narrative that spans centuries and keeps you turning pages to see how it all connects.

We jump between 2024 and 1846, following three strong yet complicated women. In the present, we meet Audrey Fisher, a chef reeling from a messy breakup and trying to help her movie star mother, Meredith, through a rocky detox. Their return to the family home on Winthrop Island digs up old wounds, long-held resentments, and, quite literally, buried secrets. Audrey stumbles across a mysterious trunk of paintings, and that’s when the historical thread kicks in.

Enter Prudence Dare, fleeing a murder accusation aboard the doomed steamship Atlantic in 1846. Her storyline brings the suspense, with high-stakes tension, a chase across the sea, and a shipwreck that changes everything. I could almost feel the salt spray and hear the creaking of the ship as it went down.

I loved the way the stories intertwined. The emotional push-and-pull between Meredith and Audrey felt real and raw, while the glimpses of Prudence’s past gave the whole novel a haunting, almost gothic quality. The connections across timelines are beautifully done, especially when the pieces start falling into place. There's romance, a touch of mystery, and plenty of heart.

My only tiny critique? I wish there had been a bit more time spent on The Atlantic and the historical side overall, it was so vivid, I wanted more. But even so, this was a compelling read that had me fully immersed in both timelines.

If you're a fan of Williams or love books with family secrets, historical intrigue, and coastal New England charm, this one is absolutely worth diving into.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very fun, entertaining read. A good blend of historical fiction and modern romance with a punch of mystery. It was very fun trying to figure out how the historical aspect of the wreck of the Atlantic would meet up with the modern timeline of Meredith and Audrey.

The relationship between Meredith and Audrey was a really interesting aspect. Certainly not an ideal mother/daughter relationship but definitely telling that love and family ties runs deep even when someone doesn’t out right show it.

The last 25% was like an action film that I didn’t see coming! Again super entertaining and I could not stop reading.

Completely absorbing!
Such a pleasure to return to the world of Winthrop Island and its many engaging inhabitants.
Each of the story's timelines is equally engaging.
And so enjoyed the wink-wink name-dropping of previous books & clever WWW law firm name.
Tho would have appreciated a character tree given the many intricate connections they share.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing—Ballantine for this e-ARC!

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams: In my opinion this may be one of Williamses best to date. This features 3 women: Meredith in 1993 when she had her daughter Audrey, current day Meredith and her daughter as they’re hiding away to get Meredith sobered up before her next film and Providence Dare from the mid 1800s, who snuck on a maiden voyage of the ship Atlantic that was overturned by horrific winds. How Williams was able to weave and connect these three women’s stories into a compelling and exciting mystery was amazing. I especially loved the mother and daughter…their brutally honest behavior and blatant cursing made them so real.

4.5 stars!

This book was everything! Beatriz' story telling is my favorite because she organizes her stories in a way that always wraps up into an ending wrapped with a bow, it's truly captivating. I loved the complexity of the mother/daughter duo. I think really proved that while not every relationship is perfect, there is always an overarching theme that love trumps everything which you clearly see from Audrey from the start.

I also loved that the historical fiction aspect wasn't overwhelming. The story was interesting but also wasn't overloaded with context/explanations, it was the perfect amount of background.

Overall, this story was captivating. It had a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, suspense, history. I really enjoyed it!

Beatriz Williams is a go-to author for me and once again she did not disappoint. Fans of Beatriz are familiar with Winthrop Island and the residents. It was nice to revisit some old favorites in “Under the Stars” while we got to know some new characters too.

The story is told by different narrators during different time periods and the author weaves them all together beautifully. The main present day characters are Meredith and her daughter, Audrey. Meredith is coming to Winthrop Island to hang out in her family home to detox for awhile before heading back to LA and her Hollywood film career. Audrey is with her to be her “babysitter” and make sure Meredith doesn’t relapse. The relationship between this mother and daughter has never been easy and this time together is no exception. Audrey also has some things she’s recovering from. She’s recently lost her beloved dog and her husband emptied their bank accounts and has disappeared.

The story is also told from an account of a young woman who was aboard the ship, The Atlantic, the night it crashed into the island. Prudence Dare writes an account of what happened when she was fleeing capture for the death of a well known painter.

There is so much I loved about this book. The characters leap off the page and come to life. The mystery surrounding Prudence and how a trunk of paintings ended up in a present day bar on the island was captivating. This was a fabulous historical fiction summer read. And although it seemed to end abruptly, I found the ending completely satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

What a wonderful novel that goes between three women and tells a story of strength, perseverance, and letting love in. Prudence is a maid whom is accused of killing her boss and flees on the Atlantic on its last sailing before it sinks. Audrey is a young woman who is trying to recover after her husband left without a trace and taking their life savings. When she’s called to try to help her mother detox from alcohol she learns a lot of who her mother is and reconnects to some people from her past. And Meredith, Audrey’s wild mom, whose past comes back to effect her future.

This was a slow burn book that I ended up really loving. The characters were incredibly well developed and I loved the way the stories all intertwined by the end. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange of my honest opinion.

This book was just ok for me. I liked the dual timelines with three characters, but I would have liked more historical fiction and more time with Meredith. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advanced copy.

Through many points of views and may decades spanning the novel, although it was detail. It was also complicated to following each of the characters perspective. So much going on and trying hard to follow and especially how they all lined up. A lot of it was drawn out when it could have sped up with the length of the novel. It was okay.

Another solid read from Williams!

Husbands and Lovers by Williams was one of my top books last year so I was beyond ecstatic to be approved to read an ARC of her latest. In fact, some characters from that book make cameos in this one.

I would characterize this one as historical fiction with a mix of mystery and romance. If you enjoy amazing storytelling coupled with an east coast setting, I really think you will enjoy this read. The story is told in 3 different timelines and from 3 different POVs. I found all three engaging but preferred Meredith’s over the other 2.

It did take me awhile to get in to this book — the first half moves at a slower pace but by the second half, I was furiously turning the pages to see what happens next. I’m so glad I stuck with it … the payoff was worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge Beatriz Williams fan. With that said, this wasn't my favorite of her books. I would say about 3.5 starts rounded up to 4. I enjoyed Audrey's story, but found it to be a bit predictable and lack-luster. That said, the story held my attention, and I wouldn't tell anyone not to read it.

The past can reach forward through time and change everything.
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The layout of this novel jumps around making it one that was a little slow in the beginning because as soon as I was invested in a thread it changed. My interest did eventually expand to all the characters across the timelines. The momentum snuck up on me. For a few days I was reading in tiny bites then suddenly I was hooked. The chapter headings were helpful by including the character's name, date, and location.

1846 This section is told through Providence Dare's POV she is aboard the sinking Steamship Atlantic. The character is fictional, but the sinking ship is not. The terror those on board must have endured was chilling.
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1993 Here we learn about a young Meredith and her unplanned pregnancy. The timeline also dips further back into her childhood and a complicated relationship with her father.
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2024 Audrey's sections deal with her husband that disappeared without a word. Meredith, her mother, the stunning actress and alcoholic. A potential new love interest. And reconnecting with her estranged father.
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2024 Meredith is up for the role of a lifetime under the condition that she quietly gets her drinking under control. Audrey agrees to accompany her mother back to the island her Meredith grew up on. Meredith will do anything to get this role, so she goes willing to face the memories that await her.
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There is a trunk that is found in Audrey's father's restaurant containing paintings that are valued in the millions. The paintings were a great tool to demonstrate how the past can form connections to the present. As intriguing as this was the family drama was the main event as it creeped into decisions, impulses, and palpable weariness.

Be sure to read the author's note as it contains some interesting tidbits.

The gentle weaving of facts into the narrative displayed the staggering amount of research that no doubt went into this project. Character development was also focused upon, each character had damage to work through in order to gain realizations about what was holding them back.

An intriguing mix of historical fiction and contemporary drama with a dash of romance and mystery ⭐ <i>Under the Stars</i> ⭐ was a compelling read that surprised me.

Thank you to Ballantine for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Ballantine Books for the ARC. Another great historical fiction novel by Beatriz Williams. I especially got a kick out of the “Easter eggs” she put in using the titles of her other books. This book was told in three different timelines, the current day story being my favorite but it wrapped up quite nicely all together.

There is so much to love in this book. Lost people finding themselves and each other. Actions of the past influencing the present in big ways. All kinds of love -- men and women, parents and children, artist and subject, dogs and owners. I also enjoyed the sharp, snappy, snarky dialogue of some characters. So original. As a fan of historical fiction, I appreciated the story from the nineteenth century.

Something that played through the book was the idea of honor. Regardless of circumstances or station or class, people found ways to honor each other. In some cases, that seems stronger than love.

I feel like Beatriz is only getting better. I really loved this romance/historical fiction/mystery. I love the east coast setting. I like the timelines. I enjoyed the thread of Hollywood laced through. I really liked watching the relationships and characters change and grow through the course of the story. She wove three very different stories together in a way that I didn't always see coming and I am enjoying this version of her books so much.

I read with both my eyes and my ears and recommend either format.

This is hard to write as I have always loved all of this authors books, but this one just didn’t do it for me. I really could not connect or care about any of the characters or their story. And a LOT of cussing in this one. No I’m not a prude just seemed excessive. I look forward to her next book.

This is the first time I didn't care for a novel written by Ms. Williams. I would have much preferred more of the HF part of the story rather than the contemporary one. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

I am a very big fan of Beatriz Williams and couldn’t wait to start reading her newest release! I am so happy to say this one definitely didn’t disappoint.

In Under the Stars, Beatriz Williams delivers a story packed with secrets, Hollywood glamour, and plenty of action. The novel follows Meredith Fisher, a legendary actress in need of a break from the spotlight, and her daughter Audrey, who’s dealing with her own personal fallout. The two retreat to Winthrop Island hoping for a quiet summer. But when Audrey stumbles upon an old trunk full of artwork the story kicks into high gear, with revelations that spiral toward a dramatic, satisfying conclusion.

I especially loved the clever Easter eggs for longtime Beatriz Williams readers—Meredith starred in film adaptations of her past novels, and there’s even a cameo from Mallory and Monk from Husbands & Lovers that made me smile. While the first part of the book moves at a more leisurely pace, the second half escalates quickly into lots of action-packed scenes with a few twists for good measure. The various plotlines felt like they were heading in wildly different directions at first, but they wove together beautifully by the end, making for a perfectly tied-up conclusion.

The standout for me was Audrey—sharp, sarcastic, and endearingly cynical. She added a spark to every scene and kept the tone balanced, even as the plot dove into deeper territory. Under the Stars is a fun mix of mystery, drama, and wit, all with that signature Beatriz Williams polish. If you’re in the mood for a layered read with a little bit of everything, this one delivers.

Under the Stars is another triumph for Beatriz Williams. It is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant, and historically rich novel that will sweep you away. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and evocative setting, it's a perfect choice for anyone looking for an engrossing and memorable historical fiction experience.