Synopsis: Mallory and Hannah are separated by decades and continents, but united by an exotic family heirloom.
In 2022, Mallory is a single mom searching for a kidney donor for her young son while also confronting secrets from her past - her mother’s adoption in 1952, and her own summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams.
In 1951, having endured unthinkable tragedy during the war, Hannah is a Hungarian refugee married to a wealthy British diplomat stationed in Cairo. As revolution simmers, pregnant Hannah finds herself caught between two men and longing for everything she once lost.

My take: Mallory’s present-day storyline is more women’s fiction while Hannah’s 1950s storyline is more historical fiction, but tragedies abound for both women. To me, Hannah’s story was interesting but it wasn’t as well developed as Mallory’s. Additionally, the connection between the two women felt like an afterthought with everything else going on plot-wise. While I enjoyed both storylines, I feel they would have been better as two separate novels. The story did end pretty abruptly, feeling like it could possibly be a lead-in to the next book.

Side note: The cover and the title do not fit this story at all.
TW: explicit rape scene, life-threatening illness of child
Final verdict: 3 stars

I am always one to rush out and pick up a Beatriz Williams book as soon as it is released. I enjoy her style of wriitng, especially in the summer for some reason. This book had so many different layers. A family heirloom, a sick child in need of a kidney transplant after acute mushroom poisoning, summer romance, a famous songwriter, an adoption, scandaleous and forbidden romances, a war and spytale.

Positives:
3 different storylines and perspectives (1950s, 2008, 2022 Egypt and New England)
Each storyline was equally intriguing though I was more enthralled with the Monk and Mallory romance than Hannah and Lucien
Masterful character development
Historical fiction combined with romance

Negatives:
It did take me a bit to get into this novel, but around the 25% mark, I then devoured it.
This seems to be her writing style, but there are occasionally skips in plot that have me thinking I missed reading something. I think actually she is just that skillful of a writer.
I wish the plotline of the orphanage in Ireland was expanded upon. That had a very brief explanation with lots of inferences drawn and questions left unanswered.

A sweeping novel spanning generations and continents. She never disappoints!

I've been a fan of Williams for some time, but her new novel is just WOW!

This amazing story takes us back and forth from the romantic 1950s Egypt to modern day America.

Hannah and Mallory are AMAZING characters. Each struggles with battles of her own, and the way their destinies are intertwined makes this novel a masterpiece. ❤️‍🔥

From great storytelling to historical fiction to romance, Husbands & Lovers has it all.

Thank you @authorbeatriz @randomhouse and @netgalley for this amazing ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

In 2019, single mom Mallory Dunne got a phone call no parent wants to receive. Her son, 10-year old Sam, off to camp for the first time, has eaten a poisonous mushroom and it is not certain he will survive. He does survive, but his kidneys were destroyed, so now he has dialysis three times a week.

Then the scene shifts to Cairo, 1951, where Hannah Ainsworth is about to be attacked by a cobra. What do these stories have in common? A lot, actually.

Turns out, Hannah will soon be pregnant with Mallory's grandmother, although neither of them has any idea the other even exists. Hannah has a child out of wedlock, although she IS married, the child is not her husband's. And Mallory has not had any contact with her son's father since before she knew she was even pregnant.

The story meanders between Cairo and Connecticut and the years 1951, 2008 and 2022. And as it goes, we get a better picture of each of these women, and how they try to shape their world to their needs.

A good read. One that makes you think.

This book blew me away. I had chills at the ending. It is a story about two women. Hannah is an Hungarian married to a British diplomat but falls for Lucien Beck who saved her life after she was bit by a poisonous snake. The other is Mallory, who is a single mother to a 10 year old son who goes to summer camp and gets poisoned by a eating a deadly mushroom. He survives but needs a kidney transplant. No one in Mallory's family is a match and she refuses to ask Sam's father who is a well known musician. Hannah's story takes place in 1952 and Mallory's spans from 2008-2015. The characters are wonderful and I found myself rooting for Mallory and her musician. There is a beautiful antique snake bracelet that belonged to Mallory's mother and was willed to Mallory that she wears all the time. Both stories are beautifully written and you know at some point they will come together. This is one of the best books I have read this year. Who doesn't love beautiful love stories with historical fiction added in also. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to #netgalley, #ballentinebooks and @authorbeatriz for an ARC of the great read.

It’s been quite a while since I read a Beatriz Williams novel, and I’d forgotten how much I love her writing. She does such a phenomenal job of connecting stories in multiple timelines, never sacrificing characterization or plot to make the puzzle pieces fit.

In Husbands and Lovers, there is the story of Mallory Dunne, a single mother to young son, Sam (who eats a poisonous mushroom at summer camp, leaving him in need of a kidney transplant) and her sister Paige, both of whom are still grieving the accidental death of their mother less than two years prior. When Paige finds their mother’s adoption papers, it opens a new door in their search for a kidney donor. There’s also Mallory’s first love Monk Adams, a famous musician who has been kept in the dark about Sam but, through Paige’s machinations, re-enters their lives during a visit to the coastal community of Summerly, MA where these former best friends fell in love.

A gold and jewel-encrusted Egyptian cobra bracelet that Mallory’s mother willed her is the artifact that ties this modern plotline to the story of Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth, wife of a British diplomat more than twice her age, from World War II in Europe to post-war Egypt and the civil unrest caused by British colonization and the establishment of the Israeli state. She suffered unspeakable tragedy during the war, and when she began an affair with the mysterious hotel manager, Lucien Beck, who other wives suspected was a spy, it was her opportunity to regain some of what she’d lost.

This beautiful novel is full of heartbreak, love, and redemption. Williams’ female characters are flawed and make morally dubious decisions with the best of intentions, but you can’t help hoping that they get the second chance they both seek and fear.

Now I need to go back and read the two previous titles that are connected to this one. Highly recommended!

First of all, this book is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover because the content of this book definitely did not match the vibes of the cover. So make sure you read the synopsis before picking it up thinking it's probably a light and fun Summer read. Second of all, I'm an outsider here because I've seen so many great reviews but I personally just couldn't get into it. I don't mind books with two different timelines but since the two in this book didn't come together until the very end, it felt like I was reading two separate books. The past timeline in Egypt was interesting and I would have liked to have more of that story. The present timeline was really hard for me to relate with. Mallory was a really unlikeable character from the beginning. The fact that her sister was trying to do more to save her son was really irritating. While the reason why she didn't want to contact her son's father is *kind of* justified toward the end of the book, it wasn't enough to recover my feelings for her. When I don't care for a character it's hard for me to care about their story which is why I probably couldn't fully get into the book. With all that said, reviews are mostly favorable for this book so definitely give it a try yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. This is first and foremost an extremely readable book. It basically centers around locating a compatible kidney donor for a thirteen year old boy who lost kidney function several years earlier when he ate a bad mushroom while at at sleep-away camp. It nearly killed him. His name is Sam Dunne and his mother is Mallory Dunne and his aunt is Paige, who is much more focused and proactive than his mother. He survived his trip to the hospital after the incident, left only with a kidney that needed dialysis every three days. They had all tested and only Mallory and Paige’s father even came close, but he was only a partial match and was not interesting in helping anyway. Paige wanted Mallory to contact the birth father. She refused. Then they discovered their mother had been adopted which opened a whole new group of possible donors. This took us to the second timeline of three, 1951 in Cairo, Egypt where we followed the life and affair of a woman called Hannah and her lover, Lucien Beck. The whole thing slowly came together.

Three timelines, 1951, 2008, and 2022. Two sets of people. Hannah and Lucien and Mallory and Monk. It gets complicated but Williams held me in thrall through every step of this enticing story. People are so interesting and she does a fabulous job of imbuing each of her characters with personalities and backgrounds. Shocking things happened in each timeline and these things surprised the people involved each time. Yes, Sam got his donor, but that is the least of the heart-wrenching story. I don’t have words to describe how moving it is. Thanks, Beatriz Williams, for bringing this touching story to life.

I was invited to read Husbands & Lovers by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingBallantine #BeatrizWilliams #HusbandsAndLovers

HUSBANDS & LOVERS is Beatriz Williams in her fullest, most enthralling storyteller mode. Dual timelines share the stories of current day Mallory living every parent's nightmare in well-to-do New England coastline and 1950s Hannah living her dream life in Egypt, striving to leave behind her past as refugee. Love unravels and connects each woman's life, with the past living in the present and the present requiring resolution of the past before dilemmas of love and responsibility can be faced and the future lived. Within a few pages, I was deeply immersed and happily living the rich settings, pitch perfect dialogue, and harrowing choices crafted by a consummate writer. This story completely satisfies. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Husbands & Lovers is the story of two women and the men they love. Hannah’s story is set in 1950s Cairo, where she’s resigned to a loveless marriage to an older man but undeniably attracted to a handsome hotel manager. Mallory’s story is set in the present day, where she’s a mom to a son with severe kidney disease in desperate need of a transplant. Both women’s stories are compelling and the author uses flashbacks to give us even more backstory and depth: Hannah a refugee from war-torn Hungary, and Mallory in a young romance where she winds up pregnant but doesn’t tell the father.

The author doesn’t often write from a contemporary perspective, but I would love to see her do it more, because Mallory’s story is so emotionally moving and I was fully invested in her and Monk’s love story. I found myself even more drawn to Hannah’s story, which was so atmospheric set against the backdrop of political unrest of mid-century colonial Egypt and proof positive that the author is the best of the best in the historical fiction genre. Both storylines are complex and multilayered, and kept my mind and my heart engaged the entire time. I loved how the intricate plots unfolded and how the two perspectives eventually came together!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Oh my goodness. This book. I could not stop reading.

Mallory has been a single mom to her son, Sam, by choice, with occasional financial assistance from her sister. But after a freak incident leaves Sam on dialysis and needing a kidney transplant, her sister is determined that Mallory should tell Sam's father of his existence--if only to widen the pool of potential kidney donors.

At the same time, both women are trying to find the birth mother of their own birth mother, who has also recently died.

Sam's father is Monk Adams, a successful singer-songwriter who Mallory had known since high school. Once her best friend, during a fateful summer before their senior years in college, they fell in love. But Mallory fled without telling Monk she was pregnant and has refused to divulge to Monk that he has a son. Until he Monk sees Sam and immediately knows the truth. As Mallory and Monk navigate this revelation--on the eve of Monk's wedding to manipulative Lennox--her sister faces her own crisis, and Sam receives a perfect-match kidney.

Seriously, this book was impossible to put down, though I confess I had to skip ahead to find out what happens with Mallory and Monk in the almost-present. The multiple timeline narrative keeps the suspense high, but I didn't find the story of Mallory's grandmother, Hannah, nearly as interesting as Mallory and Monk's. The cover of this novel, although beautiful, is weirdly unrelated to the multiple time periods the story takes place in. #Husbands&Lovers #NetGalley

I will be adding Beatriz Williams to my favorite author list! Dual timelines, two women in two different eras, struggling to rebuild their lives. One a WWII-scarred Hungarian now trying to adapt to life as wife to a Brit, and the second is a current day mother trying to save her son with damaged kidneys and little hope of a transplant. Both women are tied together by the past, lovers and a family heirloom. Brilliant!

Beatriz Williams is a must-read author. Her historical fiction books transport me back in time while her characters become real people. Husbands & Lovers is a dual timeline book. Mallory is a single mom with a son that needs a kidney transplant. Hannah is in Egypt in the 1950’s. Both characters have a past that they are not talking about and future that will not be easy.

Husbands & Lovers is a book that pulled me right in and I did not want to leave. Mallory is a strong character that made choices for the good of her son, making her a wonderful mother. Hannah’s story taught me about Egypt during the revolution while also showing how strong love can be. Both characters made choices that did not make their lives easy but they both showed their strength to have a future.

The storylines intertwine and come together perfectly. I wish I could read this book again for the first time.

Mallory’s 10 year old son, Sam, has had a terrible accident at camp. He has eaten a poisonous mushroom. This damages his kidneys and he is on the wait list for a new one. Mallory and her sister have exhausted all options of their family and Mallory is fighting getting in touch with Sam’s dad, the famous Monk Adams. Mallory knows this will open old wounds and cause more heart break.

This book captivated me from start to finish. There are 3 different time periods. Not many authors can pull this off but Beatriz is a master. She kept them all intertwining around themselves and, as a reader, you just had to know what was going to happen next! Plus, I learned something. I had no idea about Egypt in the 50s.

Oh! And the characters! I am still thinking about them! I would love to see this as a movie!

I did figure out the ending pretty early on. But physically reading it still about made me cry! Beatriz has outdone herself with this one!

Need a good family drama full of secrets and mysteries…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Beatriz Williams is an author I really love. This book was Excellent. Had all the Elements of a Fantastic Book. It starts in Cairo, Egypt where Hannah Ainsworth is a bit of a mystery. She has just remarried to British Diplomat. Yet, that is not really a love affair. Hannah has lived through many things before this marriage and finds passion with another man while married. The book has Heat, but in the best way, there is passion, love, betrayal, and survival. Hannah has a rare bracelet that she hands down and it is a mystery to Mallory Dunne in 2022, what that bracelet means to her.

So, this is Beatriz Williams at her best. Mallory had fallen in love as a teenager with Monk Adams a decade ago on a beautiful island just off the coast of Providence, R I. There she finds wealth, deception, first love, and keeping secrets. Yet, 10 years later her son, Sam who needs a Kidney Transplant. She is back staying with her sister on the Island, but Monk is there. She can’t help but remember how passionately they felt for each other and how it all came crashing down. She is afraid to ever think about that time again.

Mallory is trying to figure out her life, which has her at the beautiful beach, but the story sweeps her back to Ireland and Egypt. She needs answers to understand herself and finally make decisions for her future.

You will love this one if you enjoy Historical Fiction, Elements of Spying, Intrigue, Wealthy Settings, and Ties that can Bind for a Lifetime. It’s one Great Book!

Thank you NetGalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballentine Books. I always leave reviews of books I read.

One author that is an automatic pre purchase when a book is published, will always be Beatriz Williams. The godmother of family drama, dual timeline historical fiction.
I was lucky to receive an ARC of Husbands and Lovers and I can confidently say that it exceeded all my expectations.
In the world of historical fiction, few authors capture the essence of an era as vividly as Beatriz Williams. Her exceptional storytelling ability transports readers to an era filled with intrigue, passion, and complex relationships. Set against the backdrop of post–World War II Egypt and spanning decades and continents, this sweeping novel weaves together the lives of two women connected by a mysterious family heirloom. Let’s not forget the Easter eggs that Beatriz has left for us…ummm Monk Adams!
More than a dual timeline as we have two 21st century storylines.
Overall, this is another masterpiece from the wonderful Beatriz.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When Mallory’s ten-year-old son needs a kidney transplant, she is forced to confront her mother’s adoptive and her son’s father, who she no longer sees. And, in tru Williams’ style, we have multiple timelines, complex characters, romance, and some espionage. This was fantastic.

Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—discover second chances at love.

This story starts in present day, when single mom, Mallory Dunne, receives a phone call that her son, who is away at summer camp has been poisoned by a mushroom. He is airlifted from camp in a rush to save his life. Mallory soon has to make choices about her past in order to help her son now.

Our next storyline takes place in 1951 in Cairo, Egypt and centers around Hannah Ainesworth. She is a Hungarian refugee, now married to an older, wealthy, British diplomat. Her marriage is not a happy one and once she encounters the hotel manager of their hotel, she begins a steamy affair. We also get to learn a lot about Hannah's past and the tragic events that have shaped her life.

Our final timeline tells the story of Hannah and Monk and how they met and fell in love the Summer that she is a nanny for his Dad and new wife's children.

It seems like a lot of plot lines and you wonder just how they are all going to come together. But the author really weaves a beautiful story with a perfect ending. This is a bit of a genre mash up, being part historical fiction and part modern day love story and it really worked well for me. I couldn't stop reading to find out how it would all end. This is my first book by this author, but now I want to go back and read the other novels set on Winthrop Island. Be sure to throw this one in your Summer beach bag! Out on 06/25/2024.

Thank you to @netgalley, @randomhousepublishing, @ballantinebooks and @authorbeatriz for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review below.
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. This is a fantastic combination of historical fiction and contemporary romance and I think you'll love it as much as I did!

HUSBANDS & LOVERS by Beatriz Williams is a compelling tale of two women, separated by seven decades, who are bound together by a unique and mysterious family heirloom. Told in dual timelines, it is a story of family secrets and lost loves that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. In New England in 2022, single mom, Mallory Dunne, is desperately trying to find a kidney donor for her thirteen-year-old son, Sam, who nearly died three years earlier from ingesting a toxic death cap mushroom. Neither Mallory or her sister Paige is a suitable donor and she refuses to contact Sam’s biological father, Monk Adams, who is now a famous singer/songwriter and has no idea that Sam is his child. In Cairo in 1951, Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee, is married to a wealth British diplomat that has been posted to Cairo. A chance encounter with handsome hotel manager, Lucien Beck, leads to a passionate affair that will change her life forever. The women in both timelines face unthinkable choices about whether to do what’s expected of them or follow their hearts. The story is full of mystery, adventure and romance and twists I never saw coming. I enjoyed this emotional and intriguing story and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.