A solid summer read! Intertwining narratives introduce us to Mallory’s story takes us from 2008 to 2022, when she is a single mother whose son Sam is the result of a college relationship with the love of her life who is now a famous musician; Hannah’s story takes place in 1950’s Cairo, after she has survived WWII and is trying to move on. The two women’s lives are enmeshed in a ways which is revealed throughout. Replete with love stories, tragedy, fascinating history and surprises, this one didn’t disappoint.

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I discovered Beatriz Williams many years ago with her novel ONE HUNDRED SUMMERS. Ever since, her books are on my must-read list because they are always well-written, engrossing, and with wonderfully unexpected aspects. HUSBANDS & LOVERS is another novel that had me hooked from the first page and kept me glued to the pages until the end.
From Hannah in 1950s Egypt to Mallory in the present day, Williams weaves a tale that has you wondering how these two women are connected: what happened to Hannah, why is Mallory’s bracelet important, and what happened between Mallory and Monk that kept them apart? Williams creates a story that will have you excited about peeling back the layers and piecing together the clues. This is a perfect beach/vacation/staycation read.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

Beatriz Williams is always one of my favorite authors. I love dual time lines. I thought this book was so well done especially weaving the two generations together. I loved the timeline from the past and was really interested in what happened.

Mallory Dunne is doing her best as a single mother to a teenage son awaiting a kidney transplant. His father isn't in the picture and she has few living relatives. With her sister she works to uncover her family history in the hope of finding a match. The secrets from the past all come out when her son's father comes back into her life and she discovers that her mom was adopted from an Irish convent orphanage. Uncovering the truth will be difficult and painful but she will do anything if it means she can save her son's life.

Beatriz Williams has done it again. This might be one of my favorites by Williams. She is the master of the back and forth between time periods to create a full story. I love trying to figure out how the story will all tie together in the end. Her character development is also spectacular. I felt myself fully absorbed into their world. I also loved the return to Winthrop Island!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the ARC of Husbands & Lovers.

This was a beautiful woven tapestry of a tale about a woman who needs to find a medical donor for her son, and finds out some family secrets that just might help her get it. I appreciated the way the stories from both time periods were told in alternating chapters so there was no confusion. The humor, while at some points maybe a little cheesy for my taste, was cleverly dispersed throughout to keep it somewhat light, but you may want tissues ready just in case you're a big baby like me!

I had such high hopes for this when I picked it up and read that prologue!!!! My gosh what a way to start! But by the time I got a few chapters in, this main character had me feeling all kinds of ick. This one wasn’t for me unfortunately.

This one jumped around between too many timelines for me. Never really got into the characters or their stories because of that.

Beatriz Williams covers new ground with her first novel featuring a modern-day story that alternates with the 1950s in Cairo. Two seemingly unrelated women are facing struggles of their own. A single-mother, Mallory receives a call from her son's summer camp that will cause her to face the ghosts of her past. In Cairo, Hannah is recovering from the horrors she faced in war-torn Europe and enjoying a diplomatic post her husband received when she encounters a charming hotel manager. While the layers are slowly pulled back, readers are drawn into the story of these unique women who sacrifice nearly everything for their families. The stories collide when the past is revealed and Williams has another hit on her hands.
I loved her foray into present-day storytelling and fans will love her latest release. It's a slow burn that once ignited won't be put out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

"Husbands & Lovers" by Beatriz Williams is a fast-paced story that weaves together the lives of two amazing women.

In New England, Mallory Dunne struggles as a single mother searching for a kidney donor for her son Sam, while confronting her past love with childhood friend Monk Adams.

In 1950s Cairo, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth navigates a loveless marriage and a passionate affair amidst political intrigue.

The story is told in alternating timelines and takes you from the calm beaches of New England to the lively streets of Cairo. The connection between Mallory and Hannah is revealed through a mysterious heirloom bracelet. This book kept me so engaged—I finished it in one day! I will definitely read more from Beatriz Williams. Highly recommended!

My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this eARC.

I loved this novel, thick with secrets and drama, told in dual timelines, current time, and Cairo in the late 1940's. "Husbands & Lovers" by Beatriz Williams is very well layered, revealed and resolved story with excellent characters and great twists. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher. All opinions are my own.

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams tells two stories of women making their way in the world, one in the current day and one following WWII. I enjoyed both stories which were often told in alternating chapters and the author has a skill for ending a chapter in a place where you want to come back to it. The real talent of the book is making us care about the characters and she does a nice job of mixing some history in with some romance and some topical stories about adoptions.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and think others will too. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Husbands and Lovers in exchange for an honest opinion. This book is available now.

"Husbands & Lovers" by Beatriz Williams is a captivating and complex novel that delves into the lives of two women, their relationships, and the secrets they keep. Set in the glamorous world of 1960s New York City, the story follows the intertwined lives of two women, Kate and Amanda, as they navigate love, betrayal, and the complexities of marriage. Williams expertly weaves together multiple timelines and perspectives, creating a rich and engaging narrative that keeps readers hooked until the very end. With its lush prose, compelling characters, and intricate plot twists, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and complex relationship dramas.

This was one of my top reads this year! An incredible novel set in two different time periods, it tells the stories of two remarkable women. The first follows Mallory, a single mom whose son desperately needs a kidney transplant. The second follows Hannah, living in 1950s Egypt, stuck in a loveless marriage during a tumultuous period in the country’s history. Both women are strong but face enormous challenges, including whether or not to follow their hearts.

I can't recommend this book enough. I still find myself thinking about it and hope there might be a follow-up because I don’t want to stop reading about these characters. There was so much to love in this book. The settings, one in New England and the other in Egypt, were captivating and transported me from one continent to the next. The struggles both women faced and how they overcame so much were inspiring. The writing kept me hooked, and each chapter left me eager for more. This is a fantastic book, and I look forward to reading more by Beatriz Williams.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC. I am so grateful for the opportunity, as this was a fantastic read!

Thank you Net Galley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for early access to this book. I am a huge fan of this author and was grateful to obtain an ARC! It was very interesting to learn about the conflict in Egypt as well as Hannah’s background. I usually love the past storylines more from this authors stories but really loved the present story of Mallory & Monk how everything connected. It was also fun with the familiar places mentioned as well as the local mentions as I’m from Massachusetts. I felt the story really came together well and I love the unexpected surprise at the end.

I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone who loves family drama set in two timelines. In the present day, we meet Mallory, whose son faces a health crisis and needs a new kidney, but his father doesn't know he exists. Mallory never told Monk that he had a child, and there's a reason why. Trying to find a donor for her son means she needs to dig into her mother's adoption to find her birth family and, hopefully, a match. This leads to 1951 when we Meet Hannah. She takes us on a ride of intrigue as she navigates a revolution with two different men.

How do these timelines tie together? Will Mallory finally tell Monk about his son? Will she share why she never told him in the first place? I could not put this down! Such a great read!

Wow! Blown away! I’m not typically interested in historical fiction, but the timelines of past and present engrossed me from the very first page! I found the characters to be likable and was rooting for them throughout the book. And I learned a lot of about Cairo back in the 50s! The ending was my favorite! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Ohhh this book had all the twists and turns. I loved it and was so excited for how it ended but whoa the journey along the way. It was everything I know to expect from Beatriz Williams and more.
Mallory gets the kind of call no mother wants to get and years later, they're still dealing with the ramifications of that call. However, it isn't until that summer when she's confronted with reconnecting with her son's father does she have to deal with some big truths from her past, including what made them go their separate ways.

In a different timeline, an ambassador's wife is experiencing the unrest in Cairo during the building of the Suez Canal and how the Egyptians feel about the colonization going on in their country. The way the timelines come together is intriguing and has the Williams magic with the ability to use history in a blended mirror with current affairs or timelines.

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This was a great book. I loved the 2 time lines and intertwined stories. It was hard to put down as I was cheering for the lovets.

First off I love Beatriz Williams she is a wonderful story writer and makes me wanna always one more chapter one, more chapter! She draws you in and captures your soul!

This story brings us to the time in Egypt right as Israel became a country. When the British were still a big in the city of Cairo. We meet Hannah who is a Hungary refugee who is married to a British diplomat, who gets in to bed with a man who is a dangerous man in deed.

We meet Mallory who is an artist in present day with her sister Paige, and Sam who is in desperate need of a kidney transplant and monk, Sam’s father, huge rockstar and the man Mallory is in love with. When searching for a donor they come to find their mother was adopted and the secrets of what happen in Cairo
Years ago come out.

4.5 stars rounded up

I’ll be honest- I don’t normally love historical fiction romance but I LOVED Husbands and Lovers. I felt so connected to all the characters and deeply invested. What a beautiful book.