There are no bad Beatriz Williams books, but some are better than others. This is my favorite among her more recent offerings, and a huge improvement on the last story set in this location.

Beyond the location there is no relationship between this and the other Winthrop novel, which is probably a good thing. This story doesn’t really deal with anything terribly original in terms of plot, but the way Williams builds the story and develops her characters is truly singular.

In terms of setting and general plot structure, the Cairo timeline is more appealing. But the modern timeline is such a well-drawn character study that I was just as riveted by that, unusual for a reader who generally tends to prefer the historical content in a dual timeline book.

I appreciate Williams’ ability to write tough and complicated women, as well as her ability to write interesting male characters, be they hero or villain. I wish she’d left out the severe trauma reveal at the end of the modern timeline because it really changes the tone of the book and veers a bit close to tragedy porn for my taste, but it does do a very good job of explaining the protagonist’s previously frustratingly inexplicable decision making when it comes to her choice to walk away from what appears to be her future and the man she’ll spend it with.

Oh Wow! This book kept me up all night reading – I could not put it down!! That’s how beautiful this story is! This was my first Beatriz Williams book, and now I get why she is a beloved author!
In this dual timeline set years apart, the stories of Hannah and Mallory unfold until they intertwine in a remarkable way. A bit of a mystery but mostly a romance and the many aspects of love. But the most endearing part of this novel, was the love story of Mallory and Monk. The young crush, the first love, the heartbreak and the intricate relationship they now have. There’s no sweeter, vulnerable male character than Monk Adams, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him too. With settings during the summer in New England, this is the perfect beach read if you want something with depth.
This book was so much more than I expected and I highly recommend it!!

It took a bit to get into the book but once I saw how the characters connected I breezed through it! I love books that change time and perspective and this fit the bill!

This book had a lot of potential. We follow two timelines — Hannah, a young European wife living in Egypt in the 1950s, and Mallory, a mother living in New England in the present day reunited with a long lost love of the past. There was a lot I enjoyed — The characters (at least in the Hannah’s story) were well-developed, the writing was compelling, the set-up was intriguing… and yet… by about halfway through the novel, I was confused about why this book had the historical timeline at all. Hannah’s story felt like it needed to be more fully fleshed out. It actually had a really compelling story but it was a tiny part of the book compared to the Mallory’s story, and while they were related, they didn’t really feel intertwined and it felt like the book would have been stronger without the historical story at all. Or maybe that story should have been its own book. It just felt like the author was trying to force the two together in a dual-timeline story because it’s so popular in the genre. I don’t know… There was a lot I enjoyed but ultimately, the historical timeline felt like it needed to be either more fleshed out and more relevant to the main story in this book or cut all together.

Also, I love the cover but after reading the book, neither the cover nor the title match the book at all. I’m really not sure what they were going for with either.

Book hangover time

This story, told in 3 timelines, moved back and forth, constructing the lives of Mallory, Monk, Sam and their families back to the early 1950’s. There were a few quirks in the book, but they might have been removed before publication so I won’t include them in this review.

There’s history, intrigue, love, heartbreak and redemption woven throughout, and I just wanted to keep reading to see what happens, and now that it’s over, I do have the classic book hangover. Luckily I am headed out soon so I’ll have a break before starting the next book.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Husbands and Lovers is an excellent mesh of historical fiction, love story, suspense, and steller writing. Set in two periods of time, it is the story of Mallory, a young woman who is struggling with her son's need to have a kidney transplant. Hannah's story takes place in Egypt during the 1950's. Egypt, a time of great political unrest and Egypts attempt to overthrow British rule. Both women faced harrowing and heartbreaking times. I loved this book and found it to be both a suspenseful page turner and an unforgettableble read. I just can't say enough positives about this book that I will not forget. Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and especially Beatriz Williams for the opportunity to read Husbands and Lovers in exchange for my honest review.

Beatriz Williams is a genius. Pure and simple. Everything she writes is absolute magic. I am a sucker for books with any ties to Egypt, let's be honest Egypt is so interesting who wouldn't be. But she has such a way of weaving past and present together, the modern issues mixed in with historical events that has you yearning to read the next page. This book had a good chunk of exposition on the front end, but it was all very worth it. I loved this book, I hated this book, I had to put it down and walk away a few times. But it was perfect. Definitely top ten material.

So grateful to have gotten to read this early from NetGalley!

Just the most delightful book; I enjoyed every minute. Williams’ story is part historical fiction, part contemporary fiction with some romance sprinkled in. The story follows two women from the same family, modern day Mallory in New England and her post WWII grandmother Hannah in British occupied Cairo, with dual timelines. They are connected by a family heirloom bracelet while capturing each of their stories of love, loss and struggle. The story is captivating and I enjoyed every minute.

Thanks NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this lovely eARC experience. This book came out on 6/25/24 and I think it will be a great addition to anyone’s reading list!

Review published on Instagram on 7/3/24:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C8-_16SgM-J/?igsh=MTljeXh3NzV3YXl0bg==

A new favorite from Beatriz Williams! 🩵
Thank you, Random House & PRH Audio, for the gifted copy of Husbands & Lovers {partner}

Genre: Historical Fiction
Time: 1951 & 2022
Format: 🎧📖
Pub Date: 6.25.2024
Pages: 384
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

What a journey this was! Beatriz Williams' novels consistently take me on an adventure as they feature strong female protagonists full of tenacity and ambition, but Husband & Lovers just hit differently. It was full of so much more than I normally find in Williams stories - maybe it was the mood I was in, the audiobook narration, or it was just that good. Either way, it had me hooked from start to finish. 

The characters, setting, romance, and family mystery provided everything I look for when reading this genre. I simply couldn't get enough of Husbands & Lovers and was genuinely disappointed that the story was over. It may be the book that pulls me out of my historical fiction reading rut. I can't wait to see what Beatriz Williams comes up with next. 

Audiobook Review: ☆☆☆☆☆
I opted to listen with my ears, and let me tell you that Helen Laser ( narrated Yellowface, Don't Forget to Write, and The Wedding People) and Carolina Hewitt (narrated Meant to Be, House on Biscayne Bay, and the Leftover Woman) did an incredible job. They undoubtedly brought the story to life and flawlessly portrayed every ounce of emotion, allowing the characters to shine even brighter than they already did. 

Read if you enjoy:
🩵 Unfinished love stories
✌🏼 Dual timeline
💪🏼 Redemption
🔍 Mystery
🤔 Thought-provoking storys

I recommend reading Husbands & Lovers if you're looking for a binge-worthy historical fiction to read by the pool this summer.

This one was fun! I really liked both POVs and all three timelines, and I feel like the conflict of the middle timeline was really fair. While she made choices I would never, I understood her perspective and it made for an interesting storyline with a lot of character growth! I love Monk, he is so precious. The historical part was a little flat for me comparatively but still enjoyable!

Beatriz Williams does it again with a multi-faceted, well written novel that transports you to a different day and time. A great summer getaway!

Beatriz Williams just never disappoints. Telling the story of Hannah in 1950s Cairo and Mallory in 2008 (and present-day), deftly weaves a story of family, love, and the lengths one goes for their children. Set on Winthrop Island, I loved seeing characters from old books pop up and there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end that I'm hoping will set up nicely for a continuation of this loose universe. There was a bit of a shocking twist at the end that felt a little forced and I had a hard time getting into this one because of the three separate timelines but all in all another lovely edition from Beatriz Williams.

This book was fantastic. Suspenseful and artfully written between multiple timelines and points of view. It was a fantastic mix of historical fiction and contemporary romance. It felt fresh and interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the arc.

4.5 stars. This was a very interesting read, about two women dealing with challenges seventy years apart. Hannah Ainsworth is married to a British diplomat, who is posted in 1952 Cairo, Egypt, just before the revolution that overthrew the last king of Egypt. Hannah meets, and falls in love, with an Egyptian national, Lucien Beck, who brings out her spirit and passion, traits she's buried deep since her experience during WWII. Their affair exposes them to the undercurrents preceding the revolution.

The second woman is Mallory Dunne, a single mother of thirteen year old Sam in 2022 Connecticut. Sam survived a deadly mushroom poisoning three years prior, and is desperately awaiting a kidney donor. Mallory is also dealing with reuniting with her boyfriend from fourteen years ago, and trying to get information about her grandmother's adoption from an Irish convent approximately seventy years ago.

I loved reading about Egypt prior to its 1952 revolution. Williams creates the tension experienced by the protagonists through their dialogue and interactions. In between these scenes, Williams' approach to describing Hannah's backstory, in Hungary during WWII, is harrowing and touching. My initial opinion of Hannah as being a bored diplomat's wife was definitely incorrect as the book evolved.

I also loved reading about Mallory's possible re-kindling of her long ago romance, but it had me on edge, because there are several secrets that are waiting to be exposed, and when the final secret is exposed, wow. I really felt for Mallory's character. And, Monk Adams, Mallory's old boyfriend, is such a sweet character. Williams had me wishing hard for their second chance at love.

I really enjoyed this book, my first from Beatriz Williams. I can't wait to read another of her stories.

Normally I love books that have both past and present POV however the story line from the present was way better on this one than the past. I wished it was all present day.

I have enjoyed other books by Beatriz Williams and thought this one sounded good. I appreciate NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. I expected to be drawn to the historical part of the story more than the modern section. Husbands & Lovers is the story of two women. Mallory is a single mother raising her son. She takes a summer trip with her sister and two things happen - she finds out her mother was adopted and runs into her son's father, who happens to be a famous singer. From there the story breaks into three parts. We have Monk and Mallory's story in 2012, Mallory's story in the present, and the story of her grandmother Hannah. Hannah was living in Cairo with her diplomat husband in the 1950's. All three stories were interesting and the way Beatriz Williams wove through them was masterful.

This book was definitely out of my wheelhouse, but oh, how I enjoyed it! I loved the dual timelines and multi POV. There was just enough drama to keep me interested and the twists kept coming right up to the last chapter. Such a fun summer read!

BOOK REVIEW

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Omg this is one of the best books I have read in a while!! I have been really leaning into my historical fiction era and this was the perfect mix of romance and historical fiction. Told in alternating timelines, we follow Hannah and Mallory, two women who are separated by decades and continents who come together around a mysterious family heirloom. The characters were so wholesome and likable. Highly recommend this one!! Thank you @netgalley for this book, which is out now!

This book is told in several storylines from the years 1951-52, 2008 and 2022., and the story focuses on the characters of Hannah and Mallory.

Mallory is a single parent who has a ten year old son Sam who is critically ill and needs a kidney transplant. The book begins with Mallory driving to the hospital to see Sam but she really doesn’t know how bad Sam’s health is.

The other focus is on Hannah who is a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat. Hannah’s story focuses on the past. In 1951, Hannah and her husband are living in Cairo while he serves his diplomatic role. It is at this time, Hannah develops a romantic relationship with Lucien Beck who is a hotel manager at the hotel where she is staying.

There is a reason these two storylines merge. There is a family heirloom left to Mallory by her mother. Once they are tied together, the main highlight is the sacrifices both characters made for love.

This book captivated me and left me wanting more. It is a book that I highly recommend.

Beatriz Williams is an auto-buy author for me and this book does not disappoint. Her books are beautifully written and her stories are heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time.

Told in two different timelines both full of mystery and heartbreak and twists and turns. I could not stop reading this book!!!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the chance to read and review this amazing book!!!