This is one of my least favorite books by Beatriz Williams. While I ended up finding it entertaining, I was put off by all the cursing and sex, which were not present to this extent in her previous books. I had a hard time relating to the characters, which I thought were not as fully-developed as characters from previous books, and I also didn’t love how wow factor used to bring Audrey and Seth back together at the end.
I enjoyed the storyline from the mid 1800s, though I thought it could have used more details. I also enjoyed the painting-related mystery. I recognized the characters from some of her older books but was confused by their story.
It was a 3.5 stars read for me, and I am rounding this book to 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC.

I enjoyed the switching between the present day and the journal from the shipwreck. How everything pulled together was well written and kept me interested until the end.

This is my first Beatriz Williams book and boy oh boy I think I am in for a treat with this author. The way in which she writes is so special and visceral, it's not something I encounter all the time in my reading. This story spans over decades of time, bounces around between a myriad of perspecitves and narrators, and yet you come to care deeply about each character and plot point. This is my favorite type novel where the point of the story is not necessarily restrained to a specific plot point or arc, but is focused on the journey the characters take. So in love with this one.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC.

Read a few others but this author and some of the collabs they have done with other authors. I liked the historical elements and the characters I felt like it kept me interested till the end and I would def recommend.

There is something about William’s writing that just absorbs me. I love the combination of historical and contemporary. I really loved her book Husbands and Lovers and while this didn’t hit quite as hard for me, I am still glad to have read it.

Under the Stars is a dual-timeline story set on Winthrop Island that combines historical fiction, family drama, and mystery. In the present day, chef Audrey Fisher returns home with her famous and complicated mother, Meredith, and stumbles upon a chest of paintings connected to their family’s past. In the 1800s timeline, Providence Dare boards a doomed steamship, setting off a chain of events that echo through generations.

I loved the atmospheric island setting and the premise had so much potential. There were moments in each storyline that pulled me in, but overall the two narratives never fully came together for me. The pacing felt uneven, and I found myself more drawn to certain sections than others.

While this was not my favorite from Beatriz Williams, I can see her regular readers enjoying the family drama, the mystery, and the rich sense of place she is known for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced review copy.

I love this author & was so excited to receive this ARC. it was not my favorite of her books, but it was an enjoyable story. The things I liked the most were the setting and the dual timelines and the literary fiction/historical fiction mashup. I found the characters to be very unlikable and I felt it to be the slowest burn!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have read a number of books by Beatriz Williams and this one is definitely one of my top reads by this author. This story includes history, mystery, a treasure hunt, challenging family relationships and romance. It is told in dual timelines. In current day, Audrey’s husband has just walked out on her and their restaurant business, taken all their money and left her deeply in debt. Her movie star mother is an aging alcoholic who is in the process of detoxing as she desperately needs a new role to get her back on track and secure an income. Audrey, having had a tolerable relationship with her mother (at best), reluctantly agrees to stay with her mother at their Summer house on Winthrop Island to monitor her sobriety. While there she meets a handsome and witty island local…
In the historical timeline, Prudence Dare is a servant who has boarded a ship to escape a possible arrest for alleged murder of her employer, but an astute detective has followed her on board. As a terrible storm comes up, Prudence and the detective are forced to help each other as the ship crashes into the rocky coast of Winthrop Island, killing many of those on board.
I truly enjoyed this story, was intrigued throughout and ultimately satisfied by the ending. I will definitely recommend this book!

Under the Stars has all the usual sass and charm of a Beatriz Williams book. Strong characters who are afraid to let people in and interesting situations that connect the past to the present. Buried secrets that inevitably come out. I sped through it in a couple of days.

Reading Beatriz Williams novels feels like being part of a secret club. I've read twelve--not in any order--and I feel like I'm aware of the club and maybe happened upon the minutes from a past meeting, but I'm not a full member, not yet :) (I remember the first time I thought: how many of these Schuylers are there???)

I love Williams's voice and will continue to read her books. I'm tempted to go back and reread the one that first introduced me to her work The Secret Life of Violet Grant because it was that enjoyable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher; opinions are my own.

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams brings the reader three interesting story/timelines—a shipwreck in 1846, Audrey the main character's current life drama, and her alcoholic, actress mother Meredith’s complicated past. Audrey and her mother's relationship is very complicated and I found it compelling how the author tackles it's complexities.
I enjoyed the mystery in this novel along with the family drama/secrets aspects. This story is also very character driven, and the author does a really good job painting the characters without making them into stereotypes.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Audrey returns to her family’s island to help her mother recover from a drunk driving accident and to mend their strained relationship. While facing her own personal struggles, she unexpectedly reconnects with her father and meets a possible love interest. Jaded and guarded, Audrey must decide whether either man is worth trusting. This is a heartfelt story about family, love, dreams, and the bittersweet sting of heartache.

I read Husbands & Lovers last summer and it ended up being one of my favorites of the whole season, so I was so excited when I heard Beatriz Williams had another book coming out this summer. This one follows three women, Audrey (present day), Meredith (1990s), and Providence (1846), and their stories are woven together in such a beautiful way. It’s part historical fiction, part mystery, part romance.

Audrey moves to the island after a messy divorce, Meredith comes to sober up for her next role, and Providence is fleeing Boston on a ship that starts to sink. By the end, I was completely hooked and couldn’t put it down. Now I need to go back and read her other Winthrop Island books!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC.

A endearing story by the masterful writer Beatriz Williams. She brings us the story of a Mother and daughter both with life complications going to Winthrop Island to heal and regroup. The Mother Meredith caused a tragic car accident drunk and her Daughter Audrey is recovering from relationship drama. Once they arrive Audrey finds a chest that holds a mystery dating back to 1846 on the island. As she investigated the story she also reconnected with her absentee Father in the island.
I loved this well crafted story that kept me turning pages until conclusion. The mystery is multi layered and exciting. The atmospheric settings on the island of both timelines is sublime. The story has family secrets, lost love, romance and the mystery of centuries past . This is a book I highly recommend.

Another dynamic masterpiece from Beatriz Williams. She is a savant at weaving family and historical drama together to create a truly evocative story. Under the Stars follows Audrey, an LA chef charged with keeping her mother, Hollywood starlet Meredith, sober for the summer. She brings her to their family home on Winthrop Island, where their lives become intertwined with Audrey's father, Mike, and seasonal resident Shep Peabody. The discovery of an old steamer trunk sparks an investigation in their connections to the sinking of the steamship Atlantic in 1849. What unfolds is a dramatic and heart-stopping adventure, full of humour and wit that is quintessential to a Beatriz Williams novel.

I got this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my review.

I love that we got to go back to Winthrop Island. Husbands & Lovers is one of my favorite books that I read this year so I was really excited to read another book by Beatriz Williams, especially in that same world.

Yes, we get to see Mallory and Monk again! As well as a lot of other prominent Winthrop Island characters.

This time, the main "present" story involve famous movie star, Meredith Fisher, and her daughter, Audrey, who are spending the summer helping Meredith sober up after a drunk driving incident and after Audrey is scammed by her absentee husband.

The distant "past" story is an account of the sinking of the steamship The Atlantic by Providence Dare who is fleeing after the man she works for is found dead and she is the main culprit. I found this account to be kind of confusing at first. Williams makes you earn exposition which provides some suspense but it also means we have a few story lines going on where it's hard to know what's going on. This was the most evident in the beginning of The Atlantic story.

The more recent "past" is Meredith's background and how she came to be pregnant with Audrey and why that makes for a complicated present for both of them.

Overall, I loved this story once I got into it but the first 30% was really slow for me. Once the story picks up and some of the threads start connecting, it improves a lot. There are kind of a lot of smaller mysteries and stories going on in this one which cumulate into one big narrative. For the most part, this works to keep the story dynamic and interesting. However, there are some threads that could have used more information or closure. I love when a book doesn't waste any detail and that wasn't quite the case here.

Things I particularly wanted more information on:
-Audrey makes a comment about how Isobel didn't want to be involved in her life at all. However, in Meredith's flashback, Isobel seems really involved at the birth and with baby Audrey. Why did Audrey think Isobel didn't want to be her grandmother? Did something else happen?
-It's clear Meredith and Monk are closely related. I think I remember something in H&L about Monk's grandfather being a cheater so he knows this is in his history as well. I would love to see the fallout of these two huge characters becoming family to each other.

And to conclude, I want to congratulate Beatriz Williams on making the most amazing male protagonist in Monk Adams, only to top herself with Sedge Peabody (I know we meet Sedge in H&L and he more than deserved his own HEA story).

Beatriz williams has done it again! after Husbands and Lovers last year, I wasnt sure what to expect this summer, but I enjoyed this novel immensely! Loved the two different timelines, and I always love how mentions of her characters overlap in her different books. The return of Sedge Peabody was great. I loved the present day storyline more than the one on the ship, but loved how the two stories wove together at the end. The characters were well written and I loved the drama at the end.

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams delivers everything I’ve come to expect from her novels- lush settings, layered timelines, and women whose stories intertwine across centuries. Set against the backdrop of Winthrop Island (Williams’ fictional stand-in for Fishers Island), the novel unfolds through three distinct eras:

1846: Prudence Dare flees Boston aboard the steamship Atlantic, accused of murdering her famous artist employer. When disaster strikes at sea, she washes ashore near Winthrop Island, carrying secrets that will echo for generations.

1993: Meredith Fisher, a celebrated actress whose career and personal life are unraveling, retreats to Grey Friars, the family estate, in an attempt to sober up-accompanied, reluctantly, by her daughter Audrey.

Present day: Audrey, reeling from her own betrayals, returns to the island with Meredith and stumbles upon an old trunk filled with paintings… and questions. Who is the mysterious woman in the portraits? And why were they hidden away?

Williams masterfully braids these timelines into a narrative of love, betrayal, ambition, and redemption. The atmospheric pull of Winthrop Island is irresistible—its windswept beaches, storied mansions, and whispered scandals vividly rendered. While I found Prudence’s storyline the most compelling, each era offers intrigue and emotional depth, and seeing characters from Husbands and Lovers woven into the plot was a treat for longtime fans.

This is historical fiction with a thread of mystery and just enough romance, perfect for sinking into on a summer afternoon. For readers who love Elin Hilderbrand’s island settings but crave the richness of multi-era historical fiction, Under the Stars is a must-add to your TBR.

Thank you Ballantine for my copy. Another compelling historical fiction novel from Beatriz Williams! I really enjoyed all the different characters and storylines as well as the themes of legacy, love and family secrets.

Beatriz Williams is an amazing author, and yet somehow, she continues to surprise me with every book!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how, but every book is better than the last. There is so much I could say about her writing and her awesome characters, but you just nrdx to experience the joy of her books for yourself

"Under the Stars" by Beatriz Williams is a beautifully woven tapestry of mystery, romance, and tragedy that grips you from the very first page. Williams, known for her skillful storytelling, once again delivers a captivating narrative that seamlessly blends fiction with historical elements.

Set on a quaint island steeped in history, the novel explores the intricacies of its past while introducing us to relatable characters who draw you into their lives. The protagonist, Audrey, is a wonderfully crafted character whose resilience and likability make her an easy one to root for. I found myself genuinely invested in her journey, feeling her joys and sorrows as if they were my own.

Williams's writing style is both poetic and engaging, with vivid descriptions that create a strong sense of place and atmosphere. The small-town island setting becomes a character in its own right, filled with secrets and the weight of history that adds layers to the story.

What I particularly appreciated about this novel is how it tackles complex themes, blending them seamlessly into an engaging narrative. The mix of romance and mystery keeps the plot moving at a satisfying pace, making it difficult to put down.

Overall, "Under the Stars" is a remarkable read that showcases Williams's talent for crafting rich, emotional stories. Whether you’re a longtime fan of her work or new to her novels, this book is a must-read that will leave you enchanted and eager for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this literary journey and highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, Random House-Ballentine and the author, Beatriz Williams for this ARC. The novel has been out in the world for a few weeks now, so run don't walk to your local bookstore for a copy.

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