I always really want to love Beatriz Williams' books but this one felt a little disjointed to me. The story has three main timelines and two female main characters. I loved each story on it's own but I felt there was a very tiny shred of plot to relate the two main characters and their stories.

DNF. Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read and review this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't grab me enough to finish more than 30%. I didn't find the story captivating enough to want to continue.

This was such an amazing book - part historical fiction/part romance. This is a dual timeline/semi tripe timeline taking place in the 1950s with Hannah and the 2000's with Mallory. The story begins with single mother Mallory finding out her son was injured at camp when he ingested a poisonous mushroom. Thankfully, he didn't die but he is in need of a kidney transplant. The father, a famous rock star, has been out of the picture and doesn't even know he was born.

I really enjoyed and connected with Mallory's plot-line. I just read the book Honey, which deals with famous singers/popstars in the late 1990's/early 2000's and it made me feel even more connected to this storyline. Maybe they are all friends, ha! I actually ended up skimming over Hannah's storyline because I was so invested in Mallory's but then I actually went and re-read Hannah's because I felt like I was missing something.

I'm so glad I went back and reread Hannah's because her storyline was also just as interesting! She was a Hungarian refugee that escaped the war and is married to a British diplomat. I wasn't sure at first what was happening with her storyline so I'm so glad I restarted and then I really connected with it.

Both storylines come together and I actually cried at parts. I devoured this in a day. It was so beautifully written and this felt like a sweeping saga of a romance unlike the romcoms I've been reading lately. This was just so beautiful and I definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams

This book was a combination of my two favorite genres, so I of course had very high expectations and somehow, this book exceeded them all! Williams is an incredibly realistic and detailed writer. I love the multiple story lines, perspectives and how they are entwined. I loved the historical aspect that was woven seamlessly throughout the book. The characters are flawlessly created - real issues, growth, highs and lows. I was lost in the stories and so disappointed when they ended. One story takes place in the late 1940's in Egypt - a story about love, loss and family. The second timeline takes place between Monk and Mallory - High School friends, turned lovers, turned strangers. Until they are brought together again by family, fate and family heirlooms. A must read for any historical fiction or romance fans. Just be prepared for the emotional rollercoaster that both timelines will take you on!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Loved this! So often when books have multiple time settings, I find myself preferring one. Not the case with this book! I was fully engaged in all the of time lines, great characters. Wonderful summer read!

Beatriz Williams has written her best book ever! The first chapter had me laughing and crying within minutes. Husbands and Lovers is a story of love, family, heartache and mystery. The characters are well developed and easy to like.
The ending made me happy. Husbands and Lovers is the perfect summer read, but make sure you have time to sit still, because you won't want to stop once you start reading.

I enjoyed the two time periods in this book and the differences in the women's lives. Especially when the writer showed how far women have come regarding unwed mothers. To the shame and abandonment of times past to a single mother raising a son on her own.
This is my first book by Beatriz Williams. Her writing flows so well from character to character and time periods. She weaves it all together so well I forgot I was reading and felt like I was observing the story happen.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
.I have posted my review on Goodreads.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6618664796

Husbands & Lovers is a perfect summer read. With multiple timelines told through two narrators, Hannah in the 1950s and Mallory in 2008 and 2022, this book takes us from Egypt to the east coast. A celebrity character adds to the enjoyment... I seem to never get tired of celebrity storylines! It's fast paced, full of drama, and set in summertime. What I'm saying is it's made for throwing in your beach bag this summer!

After an accident, Mallory is looking for a kidney for her son and she's forced to revisit her past, both her past relationship with her son's famous father who doesn’t even know his son exists and the past of her deceased mother, who Mallory recently found out was adopted.

I absolutely loved this book. While the first fifty or so pages were slow for me, once I got past that point, I couldn't put it down. I loved the mix of romance and historical fiction. I found Mallory to be complex and relatable and I didn't anticipate the reason for the end of her summer on Winthrop Island. I also found myself really enjoying Hannah's story and the Egyptian history, which I knew very little about. This was my first Beatriz Williams book, and it did not disappoint. I can't wait to read her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this blind. I thought it was going to be a really good summer beach read, and although it really was, I didn’t know this was also a historical fiction romance book. The romance part, yes, but not historical fiction. It was still really great though. I enjoyed the plot and the timeline how it went back and forth. The best part of this book was probably the 1950’s for me. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’d definitely read it again.

I loved this book. I loved the dual POVs and the multiple timelines for Mallory. It was easy to connect with Mallory’s character and Hannah’s character intrigued me.

The book starts with an unusual medical emergency for Mallory’s young son Sam. Because of this, Sam needs a kidney, but they can’t find a donor. Sam’s father has never been a part of his life. As Mallory’s story unfolds, we look back and see her summer romance with Sam’s father, famous musician Monk Adams. We also discover that Mallory’s mother was adopted, and Mallory and her sister are determined to find the whole story.

The second POV is of Hannah, a Hungarian refugee who is married to a British diplomat posted in Cairo in the early 1950’s. There’s murder, tragedy and romantic trysts, all entwined.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for my ARC of this book.

Told with two alternating timelines, the past and the present, Beatriz Williams tells a story of love and family. While reconnecting with her son’s father, a single mother learns of her own mother’s distressing adoption.

Single mom, Mallory Dunne is raising her son when a tragic accident occurs that puts him on the kidney donor list and completely alters their lives. There is little hope of a donor for Sam until Mallory reconnects with singer and former boyfriend, Monk Adams. After thirteen years of silence, Monk learns that he is the father of Sam bringing hope to the family of a possible donor.
In an alternate storyline in 1950s Cairo, Hannah Ainsworth, Mallory’s grandmother, begins a passionate affair with hotel manager, Lucien Beck. As the political climate intensifies Hannah learns of Lucien’s secrets that will have implications for generations.

Husbands and Lovers is full of well-written characters, building drama and locations from previous Williams’ novels. Fans of Lauren Willig, Kristin Harmel and Kate Morton will be riveted to this newest historical fiction title.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced reader’s copy.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for my eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I forgot how much I enjoyed Beatriz Williams historical fiction books. This one grabbed me from page 1 and I could not read it fast enough.

Usually when there are mulitple POV’s I enjoy one story more than the other. Not true in this case.

Mallory’s current time line story was a bit predictable, but I enjoyed seeing it all play out (even with the miscommunication)

Hannah’s story was full of so many twists and turns (which did confuse me a bit) But with a bit of thinking on my part I got everything straight in my head.

Husbands & Lovers beautifully links two women who have more in common than they could ever know. This novel spans across present day New England, all the way to 1950s in Cairo, Egypt. Despite the distance, Beatriz Williams gives us mysterious lovers, heartbreak, and forgiveness that will leave you covered in goosebumps. Such a great read!

Mallory Dunne is a single mother who would do anything to keep her son safe. When he has a medical emergency, she is forced to reveal who is father is leading her to reconnect with her long lost love. Mallory is also grieving the loss of her mother and comes to learn that there was much more to her mother's life than she had ever known. Set between the past and the present. Williams tells the story of several generations of strong women and the sacrifices they made to protect the ones they love. This story is beautifully written.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams was a very engaging story!
I love Beatriz Williams, and this latest novel did not disappoint.
They are always verry well written, she has a way of pulling you into the story.
The setting provides a vivid backdrop that enhances the storytelling.
A true page-turner.
This was another excellent book!

Thank You NetGalley and Ballantine Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Pros
- I’m dying for this to be made into a movie
- liked the beginning a lot
- like the writing style
- I found myself highlighting passages I liked which I don’t normally do
- I really liked the plot and characters. I was very intrigued the whole time
- brought out all of the emotions

Cons
- felt like it dragged a bit
- I agree with some other reviewers that sometimes I would be confused about a plot point like I missed something
- found myself skimming Hannah’s chapters
- I would’ve liked a nice epilogue or another chapter to close it up a bit more

Single mother Mallory Dunne never thought mushrooms would be her worst nightmare. When her ten-year-old son, Sam ingests a poisonous death cap at summer camp, his life hangs in the balance. Sam survives, but his kidneys are permanently damaged and dialysis and the transplant list are his only options. Mallory doesn't have a lot of living family, besides her sister, and has never told Sam's dad about him. That's because Sam's dad is world-famous musician Monk Adams and their brief summer fling ended mysteriously. Mallory's sister Paige is determined to find more relatives to test for possible kidney donation and discovers that their mother was adopted.
This leads to a mystery set in Cairo, Egypt during the 1950's. Hannah Ainsworth is married to a much older British diplomat. Her one desire is to have a child, so she begins an affair with the hotel concierge. Danger surrounds Hannah as the Egyptians revolt in Cairo and she discovers her lover is a spy.
How does this story impact Mallory in the present? Will Mallory confess to Monk that he has a son who needs a kidney donor? Will feelings reemerge even though Monk has a gorgeous fiance? And why did Mallory walk away and never tell Monk she was pregnant when they were obviously in love? These questions will keep you turning the pages and the answers come together in a satisfying way. I enjoyed every minute of this ride.

I've always considered Beatriz Williams to be one of the best historical fiction authors on the market today. She has the uncanny ability to finetune her voice to fit the character and the time period. This book is no different.

Set in 1950s Egypt and contemporary Long Island, Husbands and Lovers revisits one of Williams' favorite themes of late: second chance at love. The story follows two women, Hannah and Mallory whose lives are connected, although how isn't revealed until near the end of the book.

Both gave up on love. In Hannah's case, she's chosen a loveless marriage of convenience to escape post-war poverty. Mallory has walked away from the love of her life for "reasons". Both women are forced to face the ramifications of their decisions. Hannah must decide what to do when she falls in love with another man. Meanwhile, Mallory finds herself reconnecting with her old love, and forced to share her secrets.

Like Williams' last book, The Beach at Summersly, the writing in this story is imbued with regret and melancholy. I only wish she'd spent more time on Hannah's story, as I found it far more compelling. Mallory's storyline is interesting, but as a mother, I had a much harder time understanding some of the choices she made. For that reason, I need to dock one star.

That said, Husbands and Lovers remains a fantastic read.

Today is publication day for Husbands & Lovers, and I am so thankful to the publisher, Random House Ballantine Books, for sharing a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. While Beatriz Williams usually writes historical/women's fiction, this book mixes those genres with contemporary fiction with a dash of romance, too. There are two main timelines, Egypt in the 1950s and a contemporary timeline with chapters that switch between 2008 with 2022. While settings vary from Provincetown to Cairo, one of the settings, the fictional Winthrop Island, overlaps with The Beach at Summerly and The Summer Wives which are the two other books I’ve read from the author, but you wouldn't be missing any plot points by not having read those.
I took a little while to connect with the storyline in Egypt, but by the time I was about a quarter of the way into the book, I was fully invested. I loved how the different timelines all came together, and I definitely recommend this book. I was lucky enough to meet the author last summer in Boston on her book tour, and I was impressed with her quick wit and great storytelling. If she is coming to a signing near you, I highly recommend attending!