"Two women - separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom - reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads - her ten-year-old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, searching for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory's forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother's adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams - one of the world's most beloved singer-songwriters - a fairy tale cut short by a devastating betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself - marriage to a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah's longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men...and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

Timeless and bittersweet, Husbands and Lovers takes readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England.

Acclaimed author Beatriz Williams has written a poignant and beautifully voiced novel of deeply human characters entangled by morally complex issues - of privilege, class, and the female experience - inside worlds brought shimmeringly to life."

There's nothing that says summer like a Beatriz Williams book. I mean it, just look at that cover!

5 out of 5 stars!

2 women, from separate times and continents, are somehow connected. Mallory Dune, from New England in 2022 just got the call every parent dreads. Her son, Sam, is fighting for his life in the hospital after eating a death cap mushroom that is highly toxic. Since the incident, Mallory has been searching for someone who will donate a kidney as Sam’s is shutting down. But, she would do anything for her son. Including talking to a famous singer-songwriter, Monk Adams. Who she had a romance with 14 years ago. Along the way, she uncovers a family secret that unravels more than finding a donor.

Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian in Cairo in 1951, had a huge change in her life. She has gone from a refugee to being a wife of a wealthy British diplomat. But since having a passionate affair, she is no longer afraid of her past life. In fact, she starts to embrace it. But as tensions rise in Egypt, so does her love life. And, a sacrifice will have to be made that will have lasting effects for generations.

“Husbands & Lovers” is my first book by Beatriz Williams, but it won’t be my last. I am telling you right now, this is the beach read of 2024. I was so captivated by this book, I couldn’t put it down. It has everything everyone could want. Not only 1, but 2 romances. It has 2 storylines; historical fiction, comedy, mystery, suspense, and twists I didn’t see coming. I was truly sad when I finished this book because I could have read more about each storyline for chapters to come!

The romances in this book were heartbreaking, passionate, and felt so realistic. Like I said, not only do you get one, but you get 2 romance storylines in this novel. Each chapter changes time and perspective. So it switches between Hannah’s in 1951, Mallory in 2008, and Mallory in 2022. These storylines work so well together and end with such a cliffhanger! You will keep telling yourself, “one more chapter…”

I loved both main characters, Hannah and Mallory. They were smart, charming, realistic women who had such feminine energy. I honestly liked all the characters in this novel, they all played such important parts and executed their characters perfectly. Mallory has a sister, Paige, and their relationship as sisters was incredible. I think Paige brought a lot to the story and was the perfect sidekick for Mallory.

I felt like I understood more of Mallory’s story, due to being unfamiliar with the history of Egypt in 1951. But, I think the author did a great job of giving the reader enough information to understand what was going on. In fact, if you don’t already know what happened in Egypt around that time, I recommend not researching for more of a twist. Either way, I loved the historical component and felt like it fit in perfectly with the other storylines.
I felt like I had no idea what was going to be happening in this novel. You think you have an idea with the synopsis hinting at multiple things, but the twists that came in this book shocked me. The mystery in the book took it to another level.

Pick up “Husbands & Lovers” by Beatriz Williams on June 25th, 2024!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Beatriz Williams, and Netgalley for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 Stars!

Review will be published on Goodreads on 6/10/24, my instagram account @mycuppacoffee_books on June 10th and also on Amazon on publication date June 25th.
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6553876704

Two women, in two different eras, and from three different timelines, fight for love and family in this beautiful book from Beatriz Williams.

Cairo Egypt 1951- Hannah, a Hungarian, is married to an elderly British diplomat, but falls in love with Lucien. Hannah really wants a baby but as she navigates her affair with Lucian, she must also try to keep herself safe in a politically charged and dangerous post war Egypt.

New York June 2008- Mallory and Monk are friends from school and she gets a job for the summer as a nanny to Monk's young siblings. This timeline follows Monk and Malloy’s love story in the summer of 2008 and shows not only how they fell in love but also explains what tore them apart.

Summer 2022 Mallory’s son, Sam, is in kidney failure after ingesting a death cap mushroom at summer camp 3 years prior. While trying to find a suitable donor she must come face to face with her son's father, now famous musician, Monk Adams. Meanwhile, her sister Paige finds a shocking discovery that their mother was adopted. They start exploring their newfound family while also wanting to find a donor who may be a match to Sam.

Usually when a book goes between timelines I gravitate towards the one that I'm most interested in but I loved all three timelines and was eager to see what happened in each era. Hannah's story was sad but she was so strong and brave it was encouraging to watch her navigate her life and discover all she had been through in her past already. Malloy and Monk's love story was beautiful but also heartbreaking. The fact they had an opportunity at a second chance gave me all the feels and I loved that he was able to connect with his son and become a part of his life.

The book weaves together a story of family, love and loss and the lengths at which people go to save the ones they cherish.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Beatriz Williams- first time reader! Would recommend and read her again.
Genre: Romance, historical fiction

#bookstagram #BeatrizWilliams #HusbandsAndLovers #Fiction #HistoricalFiction #Romance #NetGalley

Beatriz Williams’ latest is a combination of historical fiction and romance and doesn’t disappoint. Multiple timelines and amazing characters make this a book that was hard to put down.
The main characters are Mallory, a single parent of ten year old Sam. Mallory has two timelines; the present and her teen/college years, where she and Monk , an aspiring musician, spend a wonderful summer on the beaches of New England. . We also meet Hannah, who lives in Cairo, Egypt with her diplomat husband Allistair , during the 1950’s. Hannah is in a loveless marriage and meets Lucien, who has some secrets of his own. We learn of their connection through a beautiful family heirloom that Mallory owns.
The book is so well written, I felt as if I traveled from New England to the dusty streets of Cairo as I read. Tragedy, triumph and secrets take the reader on a fabulous journey . I’m hoping that there might be a sequel to this, so we can continue to follow the characters on their journeys to love and happiness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for this advanced copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five Stars all the way!! Beatriz Williams has never let me down and Husbands & Lovers was no exception to this. No one does a dual timeline like her. I loved both of these plots individually but I was so invested in seeing how they intertwined throughout the book. I really enjoyed Mallory’s dynamic with Monk and found myself rooting for them the entire time, and really enjoyed how her storyline also flipped back and forth in time, almost giving The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes. Hannah’s storyline kept me guessing the entire time and when I tell you my jaw dropped at the cobra bracelet ending. I can’t say enough good things about this book- definitely one of the best reads of the year for me and can’t wait to see this book get all of the praise that it deserves!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to read a copy of Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. I have never read a book by this author even though I have one on my shelf. This book started out with a child who was hospitalized I thought that would of been the main focus but, it was filled with multiple timeline. I liked how the book was broken down into different chapters by decades.

I received an ARC of this novel thanks to Random House, Netgalley and the author.

The novel encompasses both a modern story and sweeps us all the way back to Cairo 1951 where Hannah, a Hungarian refugee is still struggling from the effects of WWII. Hannah’s husband is assigned to a job in Cairo, and Hannah is bitten by a snake while there. She is saved by a male that she has an attraction to. They have a bit of a romance/fling. Hannah soon realizes she is pregnant and has to make a life altering decision.

This novel is a beautiful story, and the character development is AMAZING! The author crafted two women’s stories that many readers will be able to relate to in various ways. I am so thankful to have been able to read an ARC of this.

I stayed up late just to finish this book because the stories were so wonderfully colorful. This book was full of beautiful stories of how people come together to create families and lives of meaning. There was just enough movement between time periods to drive the stories forward and show how the past and present often echo at a visceral level. I even enjoyed the author's notes at the end of the book.

I love her work. I had an ARC from NetGalley and it was everything and then some. I’ve been reading her books for years and the characters pull you in. This book was set in New England again and is connected to two other books.
She throws in some random things I never thought about but ties them in and does her research so it makes sense. Part of this novel is set in Egypt- a place I’ve never encountered in other books. You like Ms. Williams characters- they become your friends, they make you think of things you’ve experienced, you are cheering them on. Her books are very detailed so not super quick reads. I’m on summer break so I stayed up until the dawn hours to finish this book and that was exciting- it reminded me of being young and relishing late summer nights to read. This is a great summer read.

"Husbands & Lovers" totally took me on a wild ride! I mean, we're talking about New England vibes mixed with Egyptian intrigue — how cool is that?

First off, Mallory and Hannah are like the coolest heroines ever. Yeah, sure, they make some questionable choices at first, but as you dig deeper into their stories, everything starts to make sense. And let's not forget about the settings! From the beaches of New England to the streets of Cairo, I was totally hooked on the vivid imagery.

The romance between Mallory and Monk is both enchanting and heartrending, their connection palpable even across the years. Meanwhile, Hannah's story is equally mesmerizing, filled with passion and sacrifice in equal measure. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in both narratives, kept guessing until the very end.

The whole book is packed with family secrets and unexpected twists that had me guessing until the very end. And can we talk about how it tackles deep stuff like heartbreak, redemption, and betrayal? So. Good.

"Husbands & Lovers" is must-read. It's got everything — romance, mystery, drama — all wrapped up in a super addictive package@

Another great read from Beatriz Williams with two timelines, though more emphasis is put on the contemporary storyline (which, for once, I actually preferred!). Mallory is a single mom with a complicated past and a son on dialysis who is desperately in need of a new kidney. I loved Mallory and I thought her relationship with her sister Paige felt very real. At times I was frustrated with Mallory's actions and choices, but as her backstory unfolded, it was easy to have compassion and empathy for her. Mallory has a beautiful cobra bracelet that she inherited from her mother, and this heirloom connects back to the historical storyline featuring Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian war refugee and British diplomat's wife living in Cairo in 1951. Hannah has a brutal backstory, which the reader slowly learns. That made her parts of the novel rough to read at times, but I really appreciated her character and the historical Egyptian setting. Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, and Ballantine Books for a digital review copy.

I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy thanks to Random House, Netgalley and the author. This was one of the highly anticipated reads of the summer for me, and Beatriz did not disappoint!

This novel surrounds Mallory, a single mother struggling to make ends meet. Immediately into the novel she is living presently in 2022 and receives news that her son has been involved in an incident at summer camp and was rushed to the hospital. There she finds out that he needs a kidney transplant due to having ingested a poisonous mushroom. She immediately begins seeking donors for her son when she and her sister are not deemed to be appropriate. Not wanting the estranged father to be involved as he is a famous singer, she begins seeking out her mother’s history as she knows that her mother was adopted in 1951.

The novel takes the reader to Cairo 1951 where Hannah, a Hungarian refugee is still struggling from the effects of WWII. Hannah’s husband is assigned to a job in Cairo, and Hannah is bitten by a snake while there. She is saved by a male that she has an attraction to. They have a bit of a romance/fling. Hannah soon realizes she is pregnant and has to make a life altering decision.

This novel is a beautiful story, and the character development is AMAZING! Beatriz created two women’s stories that many readers will be able to relate to in various ways. I am so thankful to have been able to read an ARC copy of this. I highly recommend anyone that is a fan of Beatriz’s prior books, or of Women Lit to pick this up!

This was such a good book! I loved the three different timelines and how the book went between the two important characters. The Egypt storyline was super interesting/unique. I felt that the characters were very well developed and that the reader was able to connect to them because of that. Beatriz Williams continues to be a favorite author of mine! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I loved this book! I will say that I did find the chapters about Hannah's story set in Egypt were a tad confusing for me in respect to the timeline of events. I probably should have paid more attention to the chapter headings that listed the month and year. At one point they mentioned their affair but I did not recall the book addressing them actually starting the affair. Also the political aspect of Hannah's chapters confused be and were a tab boring but I that sort of stuff goes over my head so that is 100% a personal thing. But Mallory's chapters were perfection. I LOVED hers and would gladly have traded Hannah's story for more of Mallory and Monk. Looking back I don't thing Hannah's chapters really brought anything to the story overall, they were interesting (minus the political stuff) but beyond Hannah being their grandmother it just didn't connect. The book did remind me and 28 Summers but Elin Hilderbrand and also The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo. I was so so worried Monk was not going to wake up after donating his kidney, I was scared to keep reading. I will say the time jump to him being recovered and ok at the end took away from the story just a bit.

I definitely did not see Monk's dad sexually assaulting Mallory as the reason she left Monk surprised me. I did feel like his Dad had something to do with it but more along the lines of paying her off or giving her an offer for some art school or internship she could not pass up in exchange for leaving Monk. I felt so awful for Mallory and her having to live with the fear that Monk was not the father.

Overall I am so grateful for this ARC and recommended it to both my online bookclub and in person book club!

4.5 Stars.

This book was a wonderful adventure, a dual timeline historical fiction novel with lovely romantic throughlines. From current day New England to 1950s Cairo (with some side trips to Ireland, Hungary and England), I was thoroughly engaged with the characters as well as the historical narrative. I have read and enjoyed Beatriz Williams novels before and I love how she set the scenes, brought depth to both stories, and connected both timelines in this novel.

The current day timeline follows a second chance romance between Mallory and Monk, former high school lovers who meet again after 14 years. Mallory is a single mom of a boy with significant medical needs and Monk has become a famous musician who is unaware he has a son. I loved their storyline in particular! In 1950s Cairo during the Egyptian revolution, Hannah is a Hungarian refugee now married to an English diplomat, but in love and having an affair with Lucien, a spy for the Musad. Williams does a very nice job of connecting these stories, starting with a distinctive family heirloom.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have recommended it to family and friends!

Thank you Ballantine Books for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I don't love every historical fiction book i read but I love when two stories in two alternative timelines are told and the reader is constantly drawn in trying to figure out how they are connected throughout the course of the novel. Williams does a fantastic job of weaving these two worlds together throughout the course of this book. The way it unfolded kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Every book I read by Beatriz Williams just gets better than the last! This is the latest installment set mostly on Winthrop Island and there are a few recognizable characters. I loved the dual timeline and the setting in Egypt was super interesting, I haven’t read anything else set there. Some of the story was a bit predictable but there were some huge surprises, too, and they were so well done. I loved these love stories so much. They were so engrossing and complex. I couldn’t read this any faster but I wanted it to last as long as possible. Five easy stars!

I absolutely loved this book. When a book has multiple storylines, I often find myself playing favorites and counting the chapters until I am reunited with my favorite character. I loved both storylines equally and had a major book hangover when I finished. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, this is one for you!

I love how Beatriz Williams weaves a dual timeline together with multiple storylines. Her trademark story weaving is in “Husbands and Lovers,” too. There are story threads until the last sentence. The last sentence… left me wanting to jump into the book and follow these characters in their imaginary lives after the book ended. Beatriz, I love every book and always crave more.

The story follows two women, both mothers, who have made difficult choices about how to live life and raise their children. Surprises are around every corner for both of them. They are connected by a single heirloom, a gold bracelet. But how did it end up in New England from Egypt?

Thank you for a copy, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books.

Husbands and Lovers is a wild ride!!

In this story, we follow two women: Hannah, a wife living in Cairo, Egypt with her husband post WWII and Mallory, living in New England in modern day. Their two stories are connected by a family heirloom given to Mallory by her mother. As the story goes on, we learn about their lives and unravel the mystery of how these two women are connected, along with their Husbands…and lovers.

I thought both of these stories were compelling, but I thought the connecting of the two together wasn’t well executed. I definitely enjoyed Mallory’s story more, heartbreaking as aspects of it is. I also was a bit frustrated that we didn’t get one last chapter of Hannah’s story.

Overall, the storytelling was good, but felt like the execution was bit lacking.