I loved the dual timelines and multiple storylines! The characters all came to life and I could not stop reading.

If you like historical fiction or family drama, chances are you'll love this! Captivating throughout. I will definitely keep an eye on this author from now on.

Thank you so much for this arc but unfortunately I wasn’t interesting in finished it, for some reason I DNF’d this book at about 10 % in. I might give it another go in the summer.

WOW. I have to admit, I was putting reading this title off in exchange for contemporary romances, which are typically my bread and butter, but once I started Husbands and Lovers, I couldn’t put it down and it blew me away. I felt fully invested in the characters; I gasped during certain scenes, cried during others - I was on a JOURNEY.

10/10 wish I could read for the first time again.

Thank you to Beatriz Williams and Random House Bellatine for an eARC copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love anything Beatriz does. What a treat this one was as well. Historical fiction but with the modern back and forth made it digestible and fun. this really exceeded expectations for me

Genre: Historical/Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Random House
Pub. Date: June 25, 2024

With such a title as “Husbands & Lovers” and the book’s cover, I was expecting the usual suspense thriller. I was wrong. We follow two timelines—Hannah, a young European wife living in Egypt in the 1950s, and Mallory, a single mother living in New England in 2022. Although they have never met, they are related and share a mysterious heirloom bracelet. The heirloom is a metaphor for the many secrets in the protagonists' lives.

Mallory’s story revolves around her high school boyfriend, who becomes a famous rock and roll legend after they break up. And her 13-year-old son, who needs a kidney transplant. The story of Mallory and her famous boyfriend could be straight out of a corny romance movie that I didn’t care for. Her son’s medical condition and a traumatic experience from her past save her plot from being silly.
Hannah’s story, although far-fetched, was much more interesting, at least for me. She is a recovering Hungarian refugee from WWII, married to a man she does not love, nor does he love her. Her husband is a British diplomat who is a bigot. He does not care about her affair other than that it is with an Egyptian man. It is not a spoiler to say that Hanna falls in love with a revolutionary spy in Cairo, Egypt. The author does a good job with the historical part with Hannah and shows us the horrors of war up close. Think “Sophie’s Choice.”

The author’s decision to hide Mallory’s traumatic event until the novel’s end confused me. I think it would have been better in the beginning to use it to show character development. Hanna’s story goes in so many directions it takes away from her brutal background. Because the author packed in so many subplots, both women’s stories read unbelievable. “Husbands & Lovers” was a mediocre novel for me. You may enjoy the story more than I did.

Ahhh I loved this. This is a true 4.5 but a few issues I had with it prevented me from rounding my rating up to 5.

The writing was beautiful. The dialogue is believable, the characters are flawed but you definitely want to root for them. I loved the dual timelines, had a slight preference for Mallory’s just because I have zero background in the Suez Crisis and had some trouble getting my bearings in that timeline. I was never quite sure what was going on, politically. Feeling a bit lost in the historical/political storyline was disorienting so I would’ve liked it better if there was perhaps a bit more context given.

I wanted to see more of an emotional connection between Lucien and Hannah. I understand she had barriers up given her incredibly traumatic experiences (HOW did she go on? I mean, my god. And then what happened in Egypt and Ireland? I just cannot wrap my mind around the tragedy and despair she must’ve felt! I was sick to my stomach just thinking about it) but it felt hard to really care for her and Lucien’s love story when I could barely tell if they really loved each other??

I loved the Mallory/Monk couple both in the past and present. The “new fiancée is secretly a bitch but he has no idea!!!” thing is tired and cheap, but whatever. Paige’s husband cheating on her felt unnecessary? There was enough going on, lol. I also hated that Mallory cheated on boyfriends TWICE with Monk. Girl. Have you not learned respect? Why is it so hard to call someone up and dump them BEFORE you jump into bed? Come on. Makes it hard to like her when she’s out here treating people like shit (and Sedge seemed like a really good guy?? And Dillon was repeatedly referred to as someone she was serious about??). Anyway. Besides that, I pretty much loved them.

There is some pretty heavy subject matter here, but overall it’s not a depressing book. This was a moving and beautiful historical romance! I could not put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5

This newest dual timeline historical fiction novel from Beatriz Williams kept me reading from the beginning. In 2022, single mother Mallory Dunne gets the phone call that every parent dreads. Her ten-year-old son, Sam, ate a poisonous mushroom while he was at camp and he is in the hospital fighting for his life. She is barely making ends meet and Sam requires a kidney transplant. Neither Mallory or her sister are suitable candidates and Sam’s father isn’t in the picture. As her sister and friends rally around her, she and her sister discover an unexpected secret about their deceased mother.

In 2008, Mallory is working as a nanny for her boyfriend’s wealthy family on Winthrop Island. Monk is a talented musician but his father expects him to go into the family business. Monk just wants to be a songwriter and musician. After spending an idyllic summer on the island, Mallory and Monk are torn apart by a brutal betrayal.

In 1951 Cairo, Hannah Ainsworht, an ex-Hungarian countess, is living with her much older British diplomat husband and trying to rebuild her life after the horrors of the war. Her marriage is troubled and soon Hannah becomes involved with another man. This leads to a devastating secret. As the sister’s search to understand their mother’s secret, they are lead to an orphanage in Ireland where they discover the significance of the exotic family heirloom bracelet that Mallory wears.

As the past collides with the present, secrets will be revealed. The author returns to Winthrop Island in this book where some of her other novels are set. I really enjoyed the two settings and the story in Husbands and Lovers. If you enjoy dual timelines stories, young love, family secrets, WWII espionage, betrayal and exotic settings, you will like this book.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

4.5 stars- Goodreads please let us put .25/.50/75 with our reviews! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.
I read this book a while back, but as I reread the blurb on the cover it all came back to me. The setting spoke to me since it is an island off the coast of Connecticut which is where I live. The romance between Mallory and Monk came back to me and my hopes for them did as well. Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a beautifully layered novel that seamlessly intertwines present-day New England with 1950s Cairo, offering a compelling blend of historical intrigue and emotional drama. The story follows Mallory Dunne, a single mother grappling with her son’s life-threatening illness, as she uncovers two painful secrets from her past—her mother's adoption from a notorious Irish orphanage and her own doomed romance with childhood friend Monk Adams, a famous singer-songwriter. Meanwhile, in 1951 Cairo, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth’s life is upended by a passionate affair and a web of espionage, set against the backdrop of political unrest. Williams excels at weaving together these two narratives, creating a gripping exploration of love, betrayal, and sacrifice that spans generations. Her writing is rich and evocative, capturing the complexities of her characters’ lives and the tumultuous times they live through. Husbands and Lovers is a poignant, multi-layered tale of heartbreak and redemption, brimming with emotional depth and rich historical detail, making it an unforgettable read.

Mallory Dunne is a good mom. She does everything for her son but when he eats a poisoned mushroom at camp, she can't save him. He ends up having kidney failure and is forced to get dialysis for the rest of his life unless he can get a kidney. The situation seems dire because he has a rare kidney. Her sister wants Mallory to contact the father but she can't do that. Monk Adams the rockstar doesn't even know his son exists.
In 1951 Cairo, Egypt Hannah Ainsworth lives a good life with her husband, a British diplomat. She doesn't need love, she knew it once but the war took everything from het now she learns to close herself off to love. Then she meets Luca the hotel manager at the hotel she frequents. They have an instant attraction. Will she be able to stay closed off with the revolution around the corner.
This book was incredible I liked both story lines and I love a book that has multiple narrators I thought Mallory and Hannah were great female characters they both had strong connections to people And we're strong human beings in general I loved reading about how their lives were different but similar in lots of ways neither woman realized.

I have an on again, off again with Beatriz Williams’ books. Like one, not so much another, really like the next and the one after doesn’t have much impact. Happily “Husbands & Lovers” was a spot-on winner for me. In the present there was everything to like and very little to detract. Great characters, deep development and insight, incredible interactions and believable dialog. If there is a detractor it would have to be the self -deprecating tone of Mallory, the protagonist, heroine and mother extraordinaire. She deserves to be applauded, cherished and believed.

I was deeply invested, if sometimes confused, by the dual timeline and slightly fractured backstory - there was a story and a half in Cairo in 1951 and before that in Hungary. There was a certain chunky, didn’t quite come together feeling circa WWII that was included and then left behind. I would have loved this more if parts were less enigmatic and convoluted. The details are eventually revealed but the message might have been more powerful if related in the appropriate time and context.

I am rounding up for all that I liked about this book and leaving the rest behind where it probably belongs. Many thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a copy.

I’ve had Beatriz Williams on my Tbr for years and never picked one up until now. I really enjoyed the story. I didn’t really know any back story about Egypt before this book but it really helped to paint the the events there. And I really really loved Mallory’s story. I enjoyed her story the most out of the two. Overall it was a great book.

Dnf’ed at 15%, this just was a no for me early on and I’m not sure why. Maybe will pick back up in the future?

I usually enjoy Beatriz Williams books and Husbands & Lovers was no exception. Dual stories and dual timelines of two heroines Mallory and Hannah. Stories that are weaved together while still being separate. Full of love, heartache, and everything in between.

Thank you for the opportunity to rate and review this this novel.

3.5*
Mallory Dunne’s 10-year-old son Sam almost died from eating a poisonous mushroom while at summer camp. The boy’s kidneys were damaged and now he needs a transplant. Mallory’s sister doesn’t understand her sibling’s reluctance to reach out to the biological father to see if he’s a donor match. The girls have recently found a document that showed their mother was adopted and that the adoption took place in Ireland. There’s also an exotic family heirloom – an Egyptian bracelet that was considered precious. These lead to questions about their heritage and perhaps about their extended family.

In a separate timeline in 1951, Hannah Ainsworth is a refugee from Hungary living in Egypt. She’s there with her British husband who is a diplomat overseeing the building of the Suez Canal. Hannah begins an affair with the hotel manager and finds herself caught up in the political tensions between the locals and the British aristocrats who think they know best what the Egyptian people need. Hannah is the unknown ancestor that the girls are seeking answers about.

Monk Adams is a huge celebrity. He was once Mallory’s best friend and never knew about her having a baby. Mallory has kept secrets from both Monk and her son. At this crucial time in Sam’s life, Monk learns about the boy and wants to become part of his life. Mallory is still tentative about allowing her son to connect with Monk and this raises even more questions. Her reticence to involve the star in Sam’s life is confusing because of the boy’s desperate need for a donor. Monk is tremendously likeable and Mallory still feels the pull of attraction. He’s down-to-earth and very appealing, although his current engagement to an influencer makes things more complicated. Mallory’s secretiveness adds confusion, although the ending does validate her story.

Hannah’s involvement in the unrest in Egypt and her choices seem far removed from the beach in Mallory’s New England. The earlier story could have been a separate novel. I’m not sure it was a necessary subplot for the contemporary tale, although reading about the building of the Suez Canal and the troubles in Egypt was new and interesting. I also found the cover to be misleading. It’s quite attractive, but doesn’t match the feel of the narrative.

Overall, the novel follows two women separated by almost 60 years who found themselves pregnant and facing serious decisions. Their choices resulted in mysteries that unfold over the course of the novel. Each of the timelines are complicated by secrets, romance, abuse and sacrifice. These are serious issues that give the novel depth and raise the concerns far beyond a simple romance.

This was pretty good but fell a little short compared to some of William’s other novels. I felt like she tried to do a little too much and I got bogged down because of it, so it crawled a bit for me.

This is a captivating historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of two women across different eras and continents. The story is set in contemporary New England and post-war Cairo, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption.
We follow Mallory Dunne, a single mother in New England, who is grappling with her son’s critical health condition and her own past secrets. Her journey is paralleled with that of Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee in 1950s Cairo, who finds herself entangled in a passionate affair amidst political turmoil.
This book is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, it explores the complex issues of privilege, class, and being a female.
Overall Husbands & Lovers is a beautifully written novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance.

This book fell a bit short for me. I enjoyed the parts set in the past but struggled a bit with the present-day timeline as it felt a bit disjointed. I enjoy Beatriz Williams as a writer and will continue to read her books but this one wasn't my favorite.

I liked this book. The different timelines were done nicely, and I enjoyed both storylines. 4 stars

A dramatic and engaging historical fiction. Well written and captivating. The story is thought provoking, entertaining, and memorable. A great read especially for lovers of this type of domestic drama