Breezy and fun, UNDER THE STARS is another winner from Beatriz Williams. The New England setting is gorgeously rendered, and the dual timeline is meticulously plotted. At times the line-level writing is a bit much and it could have been pared down, but many readers will enjoy it. Providence Dare, our historical character from the 19th century, is intriguing as well. The novel is chock full of drama, including romance and buried secrets. This will appeal to readers looking for a fun vacation read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams follows three heroines in a triple timeline.
Audrey, present day, Meredith, 1994, and Providence, 1846.
These strong females have a connection and the author weaves the family dynamics with brilliance. Secrets and mysteries are revealed. I truly enjoyed this story and with this author's research, she has brought alive her fictional characters and has woven them into a story of perseverance. Historical Fiction is an incredible way to tell a story. I loved this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing | Ballantine Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a beautifully written dual timeline story. I devoured this book over 3 days. This is a wonderful book for historical fiction lovers. Both the same day and historical timelines were wonderfully written. I loved how the stories weaved in together as the book continues.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love Beatriz Williams. Really enjoyed this book and the connection back to Husbands & Lovers and getting cameos from the characters. Kept me entertained and had dynamic characters. I enjoyed the different perspectives and kept me on the edge of my seat on how everything would turn out, especially in the ship wreck. Would recommend!

Bravo! Five stars! Excellent! I am a huge Beatriz Williams fan and her newest novel, Under the Stars, is her best so far and is a must read! As with all of her books, it is an immersive experience where you become a part of Winthrop Island and are transported from past to present while savoring every page. I loved every character, as true to Williams’ norm, are deep and well developed. And the romance!!! It was especially “spicy” in this one which I relished! Highly recommend, one of my favorites in 2025 so far. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book.

Under the Stars was a richly woven, multigenerational story full of atmosphere, emotion, and just the right touch of mystery. Set on the windswept shores of Winthrop Island, the novel beautifully connected the lives of three women—Audrey, Meredith, and Providence—across centuries, with a compelling narrative that blended past and present in the classic style of this author.
Audrey and her mother Meredith were wonderfully complex—each burdened by their own pasts, resentments, and regrets. Their reluctant return to Winthrop Island added a sharp emotional tension that made their evolving dynamic feel authentic and earned. I especially enjoyed Audrey’s perspective as a woman trying to build something of her own in the long shadow of fame and personal tragedy.
The historical thread, centering around Providence Dare and the ill-fated steamship Atlantic, was vivid and suspenseful, and it added a moody, gothic layer to the book. The author's description of the shipwreck and the cat-and-mouse tension between Providence and the detective made those chapters feel like a thriller in the best way.
If I had any minor critique, it’s that the pacing occasionally lagged in the modern storyline, particularly during moments of introspection or strained mother-daughter dialogue. But the stunning prose, evocative setting, and the mystery behind the paintings and Providence’s fate kept me hooked throughout.
Overall, Under the Stars was a sweeping and satisfying read, filled with hidden truths, artistic intrigue, and generations of women learning to face—and embrace—their pasts. This author once again delivered a story that felt both timeless and timely.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I am a big fan of this author and was thrilled to read another book from her. It was well written but it didn't grab me like her other ones did. Interesting storyline with 3 main characters but there were to many others to keep track of.
It took me much longer to read this but it dragged on. I do look forward to future books from Beatriz Williams and I am sure they will be enjoyable.

Beatriz Williams is always a must-read for me, and Under the Stars absolutely delivers.

She never fails to craft the kind of historical fiction I can’t put down, and this book is no exception. Under the Stars is a beautifully layered story set against the evocative backdrop of Winthrop Island—a fictional setting longtime fans will recognize and love.

The novel masterfully weaves together three timelines—2024, 1993, and the sinking of the RMS Atlantic in 1873. With her trademark elegance, Williams connects these eras through characters bound by legacy, secrets, and love. The pacing is perfect, the transitions seamless, and the unfolding of the story deeply satisfying.

What I love most about Beatriz Williams’ writing is her ability to create characters who are flawed, complex, and deeply human. Whether it’s the modern-day protagonist unraveling her family’s past, the emotionally charged 1993 storyline, or the heart-wrenching historical narrative of the shipwreck, I found myself completely invested in each one.

I loved this story—its mystery, its emotional depth, and the way it ties generations together through love, loss, and resilience.

This was a five-star read for me, and I’m so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy. If you’re a fan of immersive historical fiction with unforgettable characters, Under the Stars is not to be missed.

I will need Beatriz Williams to write at least one book a month for the rest of my life because I cannot get enough of her work! It was wonderful to return to the ever-mysterious Winthrop Island and see some familiar faces. The balance between careful historical research and page-turning stories is what I love about a Williams novel. The intricacy of the fictional family trees and the societies they inhabit is so intricate and so wonderfully well done.

The Fisher family once again provides the heroines for our tale; this time, it's Meredith and Audrey who return to Greyfriars for a summer of mystery. Dreamboat Sedge Peabody is back, and his friends Monk and Mallory make appearances as well. The historical perspective is told as a written account of the sinking of The Atlantic -- a very real event that has been moved to the shores of the fictional Winthrop Island for this story. I loved the art history mystery and the time spent at the Mohegan Inn for our characters.

This book was so close to being 5-stars for me but it's a 4.5 for two reasons.

First, I'm struggling to keep up with how all the characters of Beatriz Williams novels are connected. I often referred to the Schulyer family tree she has on her website. I think we need one for the Winthrop Islanders. I'm sure we'll be learning more about Monk Adams and Meredith Fisher's connection in an upcoming novel and I need a way to keep track of it all.

Secondly, as a massive fan of William's novels, it was a little jarring to me that Meredith's movies were all titles of other William's novels. She even plays Pepper in Along the Infinite Sea? Isn't Pepper her second cousin -- by marriage? Anytime I read one of those titles it sort of took me out of the story.

Make no mistake -- I LOVED Under the Stars. And I will certainly be recommending it all summer long.

This is a dual-timelines novel, set on a remote-ish island in the North Atlantic in 2025, and on the same island in the early 20th century. It centers on a shipwreck and the family secrets that went down with the ship, so to speak. An engaging read with interesting period details and an art history mystery at the center.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

Under the Stars is a captivating blend of historical fiction and family drama encompassing the lives of three women across centuries. Audrey Fisher, a renowned chef, and her mother, Meredith, a glamorous actress, return to Winthrop Island to confront their complicated past. Their discovery of a hidden trove of paintings leads them to uncover the story of Providence Dare, a woman who vanished from a luxury steamship in 1846. Williams intertwines these narratives, creating a rich tapestry of secrets, love, and resilience that spans generations.

Thank you @netgalley & @randomhouse for the ARC of Beatriz Williams upcoming book Under the Stars (release date 7/29). I was so excited when I was approved for this ARC, I fell in love with Beatriz’s writing while reading Husbands and Lovers. Under the Stars is the perfect book for historical fiction lovers and for newbies who want to read a new genre. I gave it 4 stars ⭐️

Another beautiful and absolutely captivating novel from Beatriz Williams. She continues to build the world of Winthrop Island, looping in characters from Husbands & Lovers, continuing their story, and introducing us to new ones.

This book tells the story of 3 women: Providence Dare, Meredith Fisher, and Audrey Fisher. All of whom find their way to Winthrop Island at different points in time. It is the story of love, loss, and learning.

The entire book is a lovely read, but Part 3 is absolutely gripping and had me reading at any chance I could. I hope Williams continues to build on her world of Winthrop Island in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance reader digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

There was so much to love about this book. New England backdrop, summer on an island, mystery, romance and history. I really enjoyed the story about the Atlantic shipwreck and wanted to learn more. The author wove that into the storyline beautifully and set up the novel in three timelines, told by different characters. That was a bit confusing at first. But it kept me very engaged and wanting to read more. I have read other novels by this author and enjoyed them as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

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

📖📖📖📖

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