I found this book to be confusing and a little boring. The flip back and forth between the two characters and timelines was hard to follow.

Husbands & Lovers features two women, Mallory and Hannah from entirely different worlds and time periods. Mallory is a single mom in the 2020s living in the US, and Hannah is a married woman of a British diplomat living in Cairo in the 1950s.

Mallory is in a tough spot. Her son is in need of a kidney, and all of her family members are not a match. After over 10 years of her sons life she finally tries to contact his father to see if he is a match. Only problem is that his father is a famous musician and does not even know he has a son. Hannah is wealthy British wife who is living in Cairo and meets the hotel manager with whom she has an affair. There is a revolution brewing in Egypt, so can Hannah stay safe and keep her affair a secret?

I was much more invested in Mallory's story. She was a highly likable character with growth and drive. Hannah's story was a little more rushed and I wanted so much more about Egypt! Egypt in the 1950s is such a cool setting and I would have loved to feel more like I was seeing that world.

I enjoyed the story as I always do with Beatriz Williams. There is just enough historical information while also including great emotionally deep characters. I recommend this book!

Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for granting me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

'

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

This is my first Beatriz Williams book I have read and my first historical book that I have finished.

I am not a big fan of historical fiction, but I was able to finish this book. It was a good story with 2 different women who are going through their own hardships.

I would give. 3.5

In 2008, Mallory is dealing with a chronically ill child who needs a kidney transplant as the result of eating a poisonous mushroom at summer camp. In 1952, Hannah is the wife of a British diplomat in Cairo on the brink of the revolution. Husbands & Lovers intertwines both these stories in to a novel with elements of historical fiction, so many family secrets, first love, several summer beach towns, and the origin story of down-to-earth folk/rock star.

While I enjoyed the dual point of view, the chapters were short and much of the narration included multiple flashbacks which made it hard to stay connected to the timeline. I would have liked more about Hannah's life post-1953 as well. I also thought the subplot with Paige, Mallory's sister needed a little more focus because it really only sets up a forced proximity situation leading to the third act conflict/resolution. My other criticism is that the book cover, while gorgeous and eye catching, has nothing to do with the actual story. This seems to be the case with many of this summer's new releases.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

Husbands and Lovers
3.5 stars
This month the Literary Lovelies read Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams.
This is my first book by the author.
This one took me quite awhile to get into. In the beginning the writing felt really awkward. Two women united by a family heirloom decades and continents apart Present timeline is - Mallory Dunne raising a son with kidney failure who must come to terns with her son’s paternity if she is to save his life. The other is 1951 Cairo, Hannah Ainsworth a Hungarian Refuggee, is forced to start her life over and becomes respectable after marrying a British diplomat.

I didn’t not get invested in Hannah’s story and was a little confused as to what was going on. I only fully understood when Mallory gave a recap. Hannah’s past was filled with many affairs included sexual encounters that were described in great detail.
I was very invested in Mallory and Monk’s storyline and that helped make the book much more enjoyable! After discussing this book with the rest of the Literary Lovelies, many of us felt the book would have been better without Hannah’s story. Instead we would have liked to seen more from Mallory’s sister Paige.

This was a slow start for me but once I hit the 50% mark the book really flew. I found Hannah's storyline to be a little chaotic and distracting and honestly would have preferred if the entire novel was set in the modern day. Give me more Monk! While the book was still really enjoyable and made for some great book club conversation, a more contemporary focus would have made this a 5-star read for me.

I really loved this one. I finished it in one sitting. It was deep, set in two different time periods and I couldn’t get enough. There was heartbreak and turmoil but also love and life. So good!

I loved this book - the setting, the characters, the “hook” at the beginning! I got a little confused with the three timelines/two stories method of writing, and that seemed to “interrupt” my reading at times, but overall, great book!

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me!

Thank you Celadon for the opportunity to read an ARC. I have always enjoyed Williams' books, but this one might be my favorite. I love historical fiction, and it was exciting to read about a time that I've not yet read much of: post WWII and Egypt. This history was really interesting, and I enjoyed the storyline that linked that time to the modern day story. Enjoyable read!

This month the #literarylovelies read @anovel_idea_11 pick of Husbands and Lovers! This was one I was looking forward to and I was so excited to cross off a @bookofthemonth book too!

This is a dual timeline story- one is modern day, Mallory’s story. She and her young son are forced to deal with serious health issues after he eats a poisonous mushroom. He desperately needs a new kidney, but there are no family matches. But what if his out of the picture father is a match? Is it worth bringing him back into their lives?

The other story is a historical plot taking place in Cairo, Egypt. Hannah is traveling with her diplomat husband when she meets Lucien, a handsome hotel manager. They have instant chemistry that’s hard to resist. Lucien reminds Hannah of her first husband Janos, who died tragically young. Hannah had buried these feelings deep within her.

What do these two stories have in common? Who knows? It takes until the very end of the story for them to connect. I really wish we didn’t have the historical plot and we had more time with Mallory’s story. I would have also liked much more of Paige’s life if we needed a second plot.

As a new mom, I couldn’t begin to imagine what Mallory must have felt when she received that phone call from her son’s camp. She was a wonderful devoted mother. The cover of this book doesn’t depict that at all. The book had so many plot devices that were unnecessary to me.

That being said, I was riveted by Mallory and Monk’s story. It’s still worth the read in my opinion. Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for my gifted ebook.

I read this book as long as I give an honest review.
Mallory has a secret from when she was a nanny for her boyfriend’s Monk father & step mother. She has a son Sam who has gotten sick and needs kidney.
Her & her sister find out secrets about the bracelet that her mother gave Mallory. They go to Cairo to find answers. Will she be able to tell her secret and get back the love of her best friend?

This is like two books in one, each on a separate trajectory coming together at the end. The women at the heart of each story are brave, strong, independent and committed to their children. Hannah lost two in the war, taken from her, while Mallory does all she can to protect her son. I enjoyed this book, especially the way it was written, and the locations. The characters are believable, some likable. Highly recommended for historical and women’s fiction fans.

Historical Fiction, Contemporary Romance, European History, Lost Family Search, Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous, Family Saga- This book has it all!

Husbands & Lovers centers around the character of Mallory, a single mother of pre-teen son who at the start of the novel is facing a medical crisis.
Mallory has endured the loss of her beloved mother, and leans heavily on the support of her sister to keep her afloat during tough times.

The book flashes back in alternating chapters to the story of Mallory's biological grandmother Hannah, the wife of an English Diplomat living in 1950s Cairo, at the time of political uprising. Hannah is a survivor or WWII tragedy, and is desperate to have a baby- even if that means straying outside of her marriage.

How will a Cobra shaped bangle bracelet lead Mallory to Hannah, and what will we learn of Hannah's story in the process?
How will a summer baby-sitting job during college forever tie Mallory to one of the world's biggest music stars?
Can Mallory face the past, even if it means admitting a trauma that she's kept secret for years?
Will Hannah survive yet another heartache?

This story was an absolute page turner. I love historical fiction that takes me to a time and place I've never visited or known about before.This novel ticks off all the boxes for me: intriguing story, family mystery, great characters, overcoming hardships, and beautiful romance. The scenery is laid out so well you feel like you've been to the places Beatriz Williams is describing, and I finished this book wanting to immediately dive into another of her novels.

I was very intrigued by this book (the cover too!). I felt like this could have been two separate books, the two timelines seemed forced. I wasn't a fan. Thank you, NetGalley.

A poignant look at the sometimes tangled relationships that we lead within and out of marriage. Told in two time periods with intriguing characters both in the past and present, the story telling will take you on a journey that will cause you to look within yourself as well.

I didn't need this to be a dual narrative, but was pulled in by the modern storyline (and the recent-past of the main modern characters, so really three storylines) so I was happy to keep reading. Family secrets and twists kept me turning the pages, and for the most part I liked where those twists took us. I'd argue the main modern character was a little too stubborn in a lot of her choices, but ... pot, kettle, and all.

Book Review: HUSBANDS AND LOVERS by Beatriz Williams

Return to Winthrop Island as Beatriz Williams, known for her captivating historical fiction, delivers another engaging tale with Husbands and Lovers. This novel masterfully blends the allure of a summer beach read with the depth of a serious story exploring identity, relationships, and long-held secrets.

Set in the richly detailed alternating backdrops of New England in 2022 and Cairo in 1951, the story navigates the complexities of love and loyalty as the characters grapple with the choices that define their lives. Williams' prose is as lush and evocative, drawing readers into a world where every decision carries weight, and every relationship hides a secret.

The novel's strength lies in its well-drawn characters and the intricate web of their connections. Williams excels at making the reader care about her characters, even as they make questionable choices. The alternating timelines and perspectives keep the narrative fresh and engaging, and the tension between past and present adds a layer of suspense that keeps the pages turning.

However, while the journey through Husbands and Lovers is undeniably compelling, the ending may leave some readers wanting more. Though fitting for the story, the resolution feels abrupt and may not satisfy those who prefer a more conclusive wrap-up. This slight disappointment at the end and one chapter presenting the perspective of a character who had never been a point-of-view character before are the only things that hold the book back from being a five-star read. However, it remains a highly enjoyable experience overall.

In summary, Husbands and Lovers is a well-crafted novel that successfully combines the appeal of a summer read with a serious exploration of personal and relational dynamics. Despite the somewhat unsatisfying ending, it is a book worth reading, offering a rich, immersive story that lingers long after the last page. Four stars.

#HusbandsLovers #NetGalley #HistoricalFiction #Romance #WomensFiction
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine @randomhouse for sending this book for review consideration. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

So, I quite frankly inhaled this book. What a shockingly delightful journey through the lives of two women, in two different time periods, with so much heartbreak and turmoil - but more in common than either could have ever imagined. This will stand as a top read for me throughout the whole year. Brava!

It took me a bit to get through this one. I loved Mallory’s story when she was younger; however, her drastic change in personality when she’s older makes it harder to empathize.

I’m usually all for a changing timeline boom, but we got up to 4 stories interchanging back and forth and it became a little hard to follow.

I wanted a whole book on Mallory and Monk’s story when they were younger! 3.75 stars for me!

A novel that spans decades and multiple stories, this was an engrossing work, if a little too broad. I was completely immersed in present day Monk and Mallory while not as enthralled by the story of Hannah in 1951 - it seemed tacked on. However, I understand the threads that connected the stories. And I must say that I was dying to know what ultimately separated Monk and Mallory - and most definitely did not see the answer to that coming. Overall, interesting but not my favorite from Williams.