I was really looking forward to reading this as it had all the elements I usually enjoy, and I’d been excited to dive in. But I think I picked it up during a bit of a reading slump, and the slow start didn’t help pull me out of it. The beginning just didn’t fully captivate me, which made it hard to stay engaged as I went along.

I’ve also realized I tend to struggle with dual timeline books, especially when one of the timelines is set really far in the past. That was definitely the case here. I found myself more interested in the present-day storyline and losing focus whenever it shifted back. It might just be a “me” thing and not the book itself, but overall, it didn’t quite click the way I hoped it would.

Husbands & Lovers
By Beatriz Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
She’s does it again, I first fell in love with Beatriz stories when I read A Hundred Summers. Her artistic weaving of stories between past and present leaves the reader at the edge of their seat after every chapter. You can’t help but to love the characters, regardless of their indiscretions. There is a reasons for their actions and through the stories it all unfolds. Admittedly I am bias when it comes to Beatriz novels but this is no exception.

This is a dual timeline story set in New England and Cairo that centers on an unusual family heirloom. It blends historical fiction and romance. I had a hard time following all the characters and stories in this one, so it wasn't my favorite of hers.

4.5/5 - This was a fabulous read! To be candid, I started it during a vulnerable time and the first chapter is a bit brutal to read as a mother, so I had to put it on hold for a bit. That being said, when I approached it with a fresh perspective I was able to see how that uncomfortable and painful moment is such a critical that plot point to the entire story.

I love a complicated and messy FMC, and Mallory sure was that! A thoughtful, independent, strong-willed single mom with a secret, Mallory is relatable and often times frustrating. After a present-day run-in with her childhood best friend turned summer love, Mallory's carefully built walls start to fall all around her, and her past comes back in a big way. This present day tale uniquely connects with Hannah's story, in 1940s Cairo, a more somber and tragic tale.

Candidly, I love a dual timeline (I prefer it with a dual perspective but understand why that didn't make sense here) and while I liked Hannah, I wasn't as consumed by her story as I was with Mallory's. I was desperate for Mallory and Monk to figure their shit out and lay it all on the table - past and present - and basically couldn't put down this book until I knew how it ended.

Overall this was full of feeling, with complex and layered characters and thought-provoking themes like grief, parental expectations, independence, self worth and motherhood. It was one of those books that really stuck with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Probably one of my favorite books that I read this year! Two separate stories that are intertwined with very likeable strong female characters.

I do love a book by Beatriz Williams and this was no different. I loved the character of Mallory and seeing her arc from young college girl to adult mom was really well done. I liked the love story between her and Monk Adams. The view we had of Mallory and Paige‘s mother and grandmother, the woman that they never knew was so interesting very well done dual storylines. While I had an early digital galley I borrowed the audio from the library of this book and it was very well done

Reading a Beatriz Williams book (for me) is a bit of investment. They can suck you in or they can simmer a bit. For me, this one sat on my shelf for a bit, waiting for enough free time to really dig into it. (I think if there were any threads attached to some of her previous book worlds I would have been less reluctant to dive in, but alas, there is no Tiny, no Pepper, no Annabelle, no Gin Kelly, or Octavian, my list could go on and on.
Anyway, here we have Williams signature styling - two timelines seemingly unrelated that eventually thread together through family timelines, hidden secrets, and (almost always) questionable DNA donors.
I enjoy the immersive nature of Williams' writing, for it seems she is always sweeping us up in some exotic, historical place full of glamour and hardship. Post-WWII Egypt was an amazing historical setting and I ridiculously imagined those Indiana Jones scenes as contemporaries and slight predecessors of this visual timeline.
The contemporary heroine, Hannah, is that archetypical struggling mom whose sacrifices have dulled her shine a bit. Some may find her annoying or may relate to her and root for her/empathize with her.
Thanks so much for the ARC! A solid read that will be well received, I think.

Overall, I enjoyed this novel. Both storylines were compelling, but I kept feeling that I wished they were not intertwined, that I could just read one, then the other. For me, the connection between the two was a little too obscure for me to value what each brought to the narrative as a whole. Although the connection was made in the end, I found the back-and-forth distracting as I was reading, and really just wanted to stick with one story. I should note that this novel is highly rated, and I'm probably in the minority. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review.

Wow, this one was SO GOOD. I loved every bit of it, the drama, the twists, the incredible ending. It definitely gave me ALL the feels and I highly recommend! 5 stars.

Williams has been an author I automatically pick up each time she publishes a novel. I enjoy her handling of multiple timelines, well written settings, and even the sometimes over-wrought actions of the characters. Husbands & Lovers is no different and I really enjoyed the depiction of Cairo in the 50s and the wealthy beach enclave of the early and current 2000s. I also kind of need a drawing of the bracelet that is described in the book, or a reproduction of said bracelet. Overall a lovely read.

~~~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~~~

I love Beatriz Williams' books. And this book was no different. It follows the stories of a mother and daughter- both tragic in their own right- Hannah who miraculously survives WWII as Jew only to face more heartache, and her daughter she never knew, Mallory, who is facing a tragedy of her own some 70 years later. This is such a well written book and clever plot. I was hooked almost right away. I definitely recommend Husbands & Lovers! Great book to grab for a trip to the beach or vacation.

Thank you Random House Publishing group for a copy of this book. This was a wonderfully intertwined story about family - lost and found. It took me a couple chapters to fall into the story, but once I did I needed to know how it ended.

What a wonderful, well-told story. Ms. Williams skillfully weaves two timelines into one satisfying ending. The FL in each storyline is both real, flawed and with a growth arc, and likable. I could relate to both of them even though I've never seen Egypt or had children; the emotion behind each woman rings true. I'll be recommending this to all of my friends.

I would read a grocery list if it was signed by Beatriz Williams. Each story just gets better and better and definitely an auto read author. I absolutely loved the locale and each timeline which isn’t always the case. A little late to the party with this book but another hit for me!

I started this book but it wasn’t the vibe I was looking for at the time so I shelved it and now I’m so glad I took it back out. At first I had a lot of issues with this story and at one point I was even ready to give it one star, but then everything in the end wrapped up in exactly the way I wanted it to and I was just so happy that a book actually did what I was hoping.

So I hate when someone doesn’t reveal to the father that they had a child, especially when it was someone they loved and so I was thinking to myself that the only thing that would justify this for me and not make me hate Mallory is if X happened and X did happen in the end so I kind of guessed the big reveal but it was in a good way. It’s obviously horrific and hard to read about I usually would rather not but in this case it just made it all make sense so I was happy in a weird way.

Other random things I did not like but somehow still walked away loving this book- Monk’s nickname for Mallory is Pinks and I just hated it every single time; how mean Hannah is to Beck but also as her full story is revealed I guess it makes sense; how Monk was afraid he was in the friend zone with Mallory even though he is supposed to be the gorgeous popular golden boy; and Monk is incredibly cheesy all the time.

Things I loved: the sister relationship with Mallory and Paige was so hilarious and spot on; Monk obviously even though he is cheesy he’s also the sweetest; the very unique section of history involving Egypt post WWII.

I hate when people who are supposed to be together are not, especially for such a long period of time and especially when they have a child (!!!!!!) but in the end it made so much sense and it HAD to be that way, had to be that long for these characters to have any chance together so even though it’s a storyline I should hate in the end I loved it. I mean obviously there’s something not to love but if this is the cards that were dealt then I loved how it was played.

I definitely will be reading this author again.

I love historical fiction and really enjoyed a look at a different time in history. Williams wove the past and the present together so seamlessly. I couldn’t put this book down.

Beatriz Williams does it again with heartfelt duel timeline. Often times with a dual timeline, I feel pulled to one story over another, but not this one. Both stories were compelling and left me wanting more. I really enjoyed how both timelines finally came together, too.

Don’t miss this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest reviewing Beatriz Williams has another bestseller again

I normally don't like dual timelines but blending the past and present was a nice touch.

I truly enjoyed this one and recommend this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Beatriz Williams never disappoints. She manages to intrigue the reader by combining historical fiction with a present day love story beautifully! Single mother Mallory’s son Sam is airlifted to a hospital after eating poison mushrooms at summer camp. He will require a kidney transplant. This forces Mallory to come to terms with two secrets from her past as she tries to navigate a solution.
The second storyline takes place in 1951 and is the story of Hungarian refugee Hannah who finds herself entangled with spies and a passionate affair. How these women are connected becomes a page turner with characters that will haunt the reader. Enjoy!

Husbands and Lovers offers something for everyone - historical fiction, women’s fiction, romance, mystery, family drama, and buried secrets.

What I Loved:
✨Strong Female MCs: Mallory and Hannah are determined and resilient women, each navigating their unique challenges. Mallory's quick wit and unwavering dedication to her son, Sam, really stole my heart!
✨Dual Timeline (really 3?!): The story alternates between present-day Mallory, who seeks a kidney donor for her son Sam, and 1950s Cairo with Hannah. The third timeline retells Mallory and Monk’s love story. I found the storylines engaging and loved the rich history of Cairo, which could have been a book on its own. I really enjoyed how Williams connected the timelines.
✨Narration: Helen Laser and Caroline Hewitt did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. Their narration styles suited the book's tone perfectly, and their voices helped convey the story's emotional depth.

Other Highlights: Jewish Rep, Cobra Bracelet, DNA testing