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.

Under the Stars takes place in three timelines. One in present day where Meredith is a famous movie star who grew up on Winthrop Island and left as soon as she could with her baby, Audrey. Audrey is all grown up now and Meredith has completed a stay in rehab. The movie studio will not allow Meredith to film her next project unless she stays clean. Audrey has signed on to be here babysitter for the summer at their family home on Winthrop Island because her husband stole all her money, left her with a mountain of debt. The second timeline is in the 90’s when Meredith is a teenager and wants nothing more than to leave Winthrop Island. The third timeline is set in 1847 when the ship Atlantic runs aground at Winthrop Island with a young housemaid on board.

Part love story, part mystery, and part historical fiction, I could not get enough of this story. If you are missing Elin Hillenbrand’s summer books and are looking for something comparable, this novel just might be it. With a failing bar, two love stories, and some historical fiction thrown in, the story grips you and doesn’t let go. I loved Beatriz Williams before; however, I’m really enjoying the Winthrop Island books and hope she writes many more.

Beatriz Williams has gone back to Winthrop Island with a triple timeline story. Audrey is tasked with keeping her mother, Meredith, clean and sober before Meredith is due to film her next movie. Audrey is also dealing with a husband who has disappeared and a contentious relationship with her mother. I loved the return to Winthrop Island as well as how the third storyline (the sinking of The Atlantic) fit in with all of this. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

My first Beatriz Williams book, and I think I might be hooked.
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Audrey Fisher, daughter of famous actress Meredith Fisher, has hit rock bottom. Reeling from her husband’s betrayal, the loss of her former life, and now the death of her dog, she and her mom head to Meredith’s hometown on Winthrop Island, NY, the site of the infamous Atlantic shipwreck of 1845.

After arriving, Audrey reunites with her absent father and stumbles upon a love interest she never expected. When she discovers a trunk hidden away in her father’s basement, her family’s secrets and ties to the Atlantic’s demise come to light, changing everything.
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I really liked this book!

The pacing for the first third or so of this book is a little slow, but it’s definitely a dynamic story. Told from multiple perspectives and three timelines, we toggle between the present day, Audrey’s conception and birth between 1993-1994, and the shipwreck in 1845. The shifting back and forth keeps things interesting.

I loved the coastal island setting and the FMC’s love interest. But I feel like there needed to be more investment in their romantic relationship. The meat of the book skipped over the relationship development.

A huge critique of mine is the profanity. I’m by no means a prude when it comes to cursing, but I am when it distracts from the plot of a book. And while it did get better as the book progressed, there were way too many F-words used in the first half of the book. It was so distracting and ruined the flow of the writing.

Overall, I liked Under the Stars a lot for the storytelling. It kept me hooked and is a good historical fiction book for the summer months.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Under the Stars hits shelves on July 29!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars) - rounded up to 5 🥰

Beatriz Williams has become a favorite — her writing just works for me. Under the Stars is part contemporary fiction, part historical fiction, told in dual timelines, and packed with layered emotion, messy family dynamics, and a romance that really hit.

I adored Audrey and Meredith, and the side characters were just as strong — Mike ❤️, Sedge ❤️, Mallory & Monk ❤️, and especially Harlan Walker, his storyline was especially touching and quietly heartbreaking..❤️❤️

The only thing that kept this from being a full 5 stars was that I found myself less drawn to Providence’s chapters in the first half. Her arc is so important and ties everything together perfectly, but at first, I was so wrapped up in Audrey and Meredith that I didn’t want to step away from their story. Reading Providence's chapters interrupted the flow a little bit for me.

Still, this was beautifully written and emotionally satisfying.

A few quotes that stuck with me:

"You either love or you get left, it's your choice."

"I am a fucking idiot. I take it all back. I was hurt, that's all. I was scared. But you're not him, you're nothing like him. I see that now. Now that I finally see him, I SEE YOU."

"I will give him up. Let him live. Let him be okay, and I swear I'll give him up. I will sacrifice what I love most. I will walk away and never come back... Just let him live. Let him be okay."

Highly recommend this one if you’re in the mood for something emotional, beautifully written, and character-driven.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing this beautiful E-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughtsg this beautiful E-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

well done, interesting story with some great plotting and settings. the time jumps worked fairly well, a lot better than I expected. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I loved "Husbands & Lovers" and was so excited to be brought back to the magical island with Mallory & Monk but with a story completely separate from them. This is a multiple perspective historical fiction that weaves together a story of family, death, and connection. I didn't like this one as much as "Husbands & Lovers", I got a bit lost with all the characters at the beginning and it didn't really pick up for my until about the 70% mark. The writing is beautiful but it felt a bit on the longer side. I am excited to see what Williams writes next.

3.5 stars but rounding up.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy.

Beatriz Williams takes us back to Winthrop Island and the Fisher family (Husbands and Lovers, The Beach at Summerly, Summer Wives) in this latest novel that covers three distinct time-lines.

In the modern era, we follow Audrey Fisher as she gatekeeps her famous mother’s fledgling sobriety in their deteriorating family home on Winthrop Island. While there, Audrey attempts to recover from personal tragedy, reconnects with her estranged father, encounters the charming Sedge Peabody, and unearths a trove of 19th century paintings in a basement trunk.

The late 1990’s storyline covers the events surrounding Audrey’s birth and the story of her mother’s encounter with a young island vacationer who drowns just off the Winthrop Island shore.

Lastly, the 1846 storyline, tells of Providence Dare, a foundling taken in by the family of a renowned Victorian painter, when she was a passenger on a luxury steamship when it hit rocks and sank off the coast of Winthrop Island.

And, yes, once again, Williams ties up each storyline neatly AND links them all together in a truly satisfying ending.

Every time I read one of Beatriz Williams’ novels, I learn about events I had heretofore been oblivious to - and this novel is no less as informative as her others. If you’ll read her author notes at the end of each story, she will not only give more information about the true events which inspire her stories, but she will also give you a recommended reading list if you’d like to learn more! I am always in awe of just how much research she must do for every single title she writes. I will always be “Team Beatriz!”

Being a huge fan of Husbands & Lovers, I was so excited to read Beatriz Williams upcoming book! I don’t have much experience with her writing, but I enjoyed it so much in her last novel,

Unfortunately, I did not enjoy Under the Stars. I really thought I would love the Historical Fiction aspect, as I’ve really grown to love this genre, and while I like it more than the present day timeline, I just felt it was so boring.

I also found Audrey and Meredith both so unlikeable. I know the point of the story is that they have a difficult relationship, but it made this a very difficult read for me. Sadly, I struggled to get through it.

I still love Beatriz Williams and even though this book wasn’t my cup of tea, I see it’s getting stellar reviews, so I know that most will like it!

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book - the characters, the historical fiction aspect, the mystery, and the dual timelines. The twist at the end regarding David wasn’t really necessary and I felt it took away from the rest of the story, but I loved the other aspects so much that I could overlook it! The complexities of Audrey’s relationship with her parents were so relatable, but I loved how the conflict wrapped up. 4/5 stars!

Under the Stars switches between time periods and points of view. One time period is 1846 and the sinking of the steamship Atlantic as told through the diary or Providence Dare. The other time period is present day where many characters are explored but mainly the mother daughter duo of Meredith and Audrey who are coming back to Winthrop Island.

My favorite part of a Williams’ book is discovering how the two timelines are related and this one had more connections than I was expecting! There’s lot of mystery and drama to be had in Under the Stars.

In her latest novel, Under the Stars, Beatriz Williams delivers a richly layered narrative that deftly intertwines contemporary and historical threads. With thematic undercurrents of identity, legacy, and resilience, the novel achieves an elegant synthesis of family drama, romantic tension, and suspenseful mystery.

The contemporary narrative centers on Audrey Fisher, a gifted chef whose personal and professional aspirations are complicated by the looming presence of her mother, Meredith Fisher—a celebrated artist marked by instability and addiction. Following a series of personal setbacks, including the dissolution of her marriage, Audrey accompanies Meredith back to Winthrop Island, a fictional locale steeped in both nostalgia and trauma. It is here that Audrey uncovers a collection of mysterious paintings, triggering a cascade of revelations that gradually connect past to present. The character of Sedge Peabody introduces an additional dimension of romantic and emotional complexity, as the present-day narrative begins to mirror and converge with a much older mystery.

Running parallel to this is the 19th-century storyline of Providence Dare, a woman escaping a troubled past aboard the steamship Atlantic in 1846. Williams renders Providence’s journey with cinematic intensity, crafting a high-stakes cat-and-mouse pursuit that culminates in a vividly dramatized maritime disaster. The historical sections are distinguished by a keen attention to period detail and psychological nuance, offering a compelling juxtaposition to the modern-day narrative and reinforcing themes of female agency and endurance across time.

Williams’ structural choice to alternate between the perspectives of Audrey, Meredith, and Providence proves particularly effective. This multiplicity of viewpoints not only deepens character development but also facilitates a gradual unfolding of the novel’s central mystery. The emotional arcs—particularly those of the women—are finely wrought, and Williams demonstrates a remarkable ability to balance introspective moments with plot-driven momentum.

While Under the Stars engages in familiar genre conventions—romance, historical suspense, and multigenerational drama—it distinguishes itself through its lyrical prose and narrative cohesion. The interplay between the timelines is seamless, culminating in a satisfying convergence that underscores the enduring impact of secrets, art, and personal transformation.

This novel is a standout of the 2025 publishing year, and a testament to Beatriz Williams’ narrative craftsmanship. Readers of historical fiction, literary drama, and dual-timeline storytelling will find much to admire. One leaves the novel not only entertained, but contemplative—eager for Williams’ next offering.

I love a Beatrix Williams book like no other. I know when I pick up one of her books, I’m going to get a historical fiction that keeps me turning the page.

I love a dual timeline, and we get three timelines in this book. I think that the contemporary timeline was my least favorite, but I still really enjoyed it.

The payoffs of the secrets were well earned. I just know that anything I pick up from Williams is sure to be a hit.

This book has an interesting dual time. In the present we meet Meredith Fisher a renowned actress who is recovering from alcoholism. Her daughter Audrey is in charge of her detox. They have come back to Grey Friars the family home. Neither of them have been there for several years. Meredith and Audrey have always had a difficult relationship.
Audrey also has problems as her husband has left her and took everything of value with him. I loved how Meredith’s films were discussed, the titles were from previous books by Beatriz Williams.
The present story goes back and forth between 1993 and 2024.
Meanwhile back in 1846, Prudence Dare boards The steamship Atlantic. She is trying to escape a murder charge for the murder of her employer, Henry Irving, the famous painter. The Atlantic was a steamship built by Cornelius Vanderbilt for transportation of the rich. There was an explosion on the ship leaving it without power. The ship was wrecked near what is known as Fishers Island.
Back in the present time, Audrey finds an old wooden trunk filled with old paintings. Who was the beautiful woman in the painting’s and why were they on Winthrop Island?
This story was beautifully woven together. I enjoyed it very much. I would have liked to have read more about the Atlantic in the story.

Beatriz Williams is one of my most favorite authors. That being said, I did not love Under The Stars - it was just okay for me. It starts out with several different storylines and timelines which seemed confusing for at least 30% of the book. I kept having to go back to figure out which characters we were talking about during each chapter. It does eventually come together, but I never loved the flow and had a hard time making myself keep reading. Overall, it was okay. I will always love Beatriz Williams, just don't love this book.

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.