Husbands and Lovers is a stunning, carefully plotted, novel by one of my favorite authors, Beatriz Williams. In her hands the reader is treated to fascinating historical fiction seamlessly blended with intense romance. She is a masterful storyteller and a keen observer of human behavior and emotion.
The story is told from the POVs of two main characters. Mallory is a single mother who presently lives in New England, and whose only child, Sam, is on dialysis, needing a kidney transplant. Contrastingly, Hannah is a tragic figure who lost her husband and son in WWII Hungary, and now lives in post-war Cairo, Egypt, with her cold, much older British spouse, Alistair. The stories of these courageous women unfold in three timelines, deftly interwoven by the author.
While the title of the novel is “Husbands and Lovers,” the heroines are these two women who survive loss, heartbreak, betrayal, and personal tragedies. The boys, young men, and adult men intersect with their lives in often complicated ways, but always centered on the women’s stories.
The prose is skilled and a pleasure to read, voicing the bright contemporary voices of Mallory, sister Paige, and friend Lola, as well as the tragic, desperate tone of Hannah. There is a great sense of place and atmosphere conjured, from the dunes of Winthrop Island to the fierce scenes of the riots in 1951 Cairo. Avid readers of Ms. Williams’ novels will find fun intersections of locales and characters from her other books. For example, much of this story takes place on Winthrop Island, setting of several previous novels, and some will recognize the denizens of the island—the Peabodys, Fishers, Monks, and Adams.
That said, this is absolutely readable as a standalone novel. It is a brilliant story of complicated relationships, love, loss, and heroism told with great humanity.

My great thanks to Ballantine Books, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! This is my honest review.

A brilliant page turner, one you’ll not be able to stop reading! A dual timeline which starts in Cairo, Egypt in 1951 and jumps to New England in 2022, follows the lives of two women Hannah and Mallory. We see the struggles and strengths of these two women. Hannah Ainsworth is married to an English diplomat living a very comfortable life in Cairo. While on the outside it appears she has every comfort awarded to the wife of a diplomat, on the inside she is holding on to many secrets and is grieving the life she left behind. When Hannah finds herself in the middle of an affair and pregnant during a dangerous time in Cairo, what will she do?
Mallory Dunne is a single mother to Sam. While away at summer camp Sam ingests a deadly mushroom, becomes seriously ill, and is airlifted to the nearest hospital. After making it through the worst of the poisoning, Sam is left on the donor list in need of a new kidney. Mallory is in a race against time to find a kidney first Sam. In the search for a donor for her son, Mallory has to face her own secrets from her past.
This piece is beautifully written and takes its readers on the journey of Hannah and Mallory from the streets of post war Cairo, to the wealthy New England shores.

At the midpoint of this book, I was ready to believe that for the protagonists of this story, there is no such thing as a good husband. Mallory and (in a dual timeline) Hannah only have bad examples of the species, and their faith in men is unquestionably dim. But as their stories develop, we become aware of the much richer stories of the men in their lives. In Beatriz William's hands, this historical novel comes alive with a profound sense of place and the people who inhabited it.

I loved this story, and recommend it to fans of historical fiction and historical romance.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In this dual-timeline book, the chapters alternate between two women - Hannah & Mallory. Hannah's timeline begins in Cairo in 1951, where she is living with her husband. Hannah went from being a Hungarian refugee during WWII to marrying a wealthy British diplomat. Their marriage was always one of convenience rather than passion, and she is unhappy living in Cairo. She strikes up a friendship with a hotel manager that turns into a passionate affair.. As she finds herself pregnant with his child, Cairo goes up in flames with a revolution and she must make a decision no mother should ever have to make. The second timeline tells the story of Mallory. in 2022. Her ten-year-old son Sam is airlifted from summer camp due to acute poisoning from a death cap mushroom and is fighting for his life. Needing a kidney transplant, and no matches in their small family, Mallory must face the past in more ways than one. She never wanted anything to do with her son's birth father again, and has never even let him know he has a son, but now she is grappling with the fact she may not have a choice. Also, Mallory's sister Paige discovers a birth certificate of their mother's that shows she was adopted from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952 - a fact they never knew before now.

This book was so good. Both storylines were riveting. Hannah's was heartbreaking, and I was just cheering Mallory on from the sidelines. Two great female protaganists in one book - what more could you ask for? Although this is a work of fiction, and all of the characters are fictional. the uprising and fire in Cairo was real. I didn't have any knowledge about Cairo's history, so I found all of that fascinating. This book would appeal to both historical fiction buffs and fiction lovers alike, I believe. I highly recommend it!

I loved both Mallory and Hannah. Mallory is the heroine of the present and Hannah is the heroine of the past. You know they connect somehow but you don't know the whole story. Are they perfect, no, but it is fun to watch how they navigate the obstacles thrown their way. I also really enjoyed the settings of the present day story in New England and then the story of the past in Cairo. Now let's talk about the love stories, I loved Mallory and Monk. Not only when they were together but also as separate characters. They just worked but not in the conventional kind of way. Then there is Hannah and her love story that spans a few wars and you are happy for her and then the next page sad for the sacrifices she had to make. But how do they connect?? Then there is the supporting characters - you either love them or really do not like them at all. This book has love, family, sisterhood, secrets, and parenthood, and some unexpected twists and turns. Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! There is a lot going on in this book. I had a hard time getting into it at first. There were too many bits and pieces from different timelines, and it would jump back and forth and to the middle and then to other times. But then it blossomed into a wonderful story with so many feelings. Life can be messy and complicated and confusing - true life! And Husbands and Lovers brought it all together. There are several storylines going on, and eventually, we see how they all interconnect. I loved the relationships and the drama! If you don't understand everything that is happening, keep reading and it will eventually make sense. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for the digital ARC.

This was my first time trying out this author. I thought the premise of the story was interesting and would be a great summer read, so I wanted to give it a shot. This was told in two POVs, Mallory and Hannah with three different timelines. It jumps back and forth slowly unraveling the story of what happened and how it got to that point. In the beginning, I was interested. However, it then quickly went downhill from there. I didn't care for the characters. They were very unlikeable. I found myself not caring for anyone. I also felt the reasoning behind everyone's actions were stupid.

I reached a point where I got bored and started skimming the pages. I even myself skipping chapters to try to push through. Surprisingly, I found some parts of Mallory's timeline interesting. Usually in historical fiction, I tend to favor the past pov. That wasn't the case here. I reached 50%, but couldn't do it any longer. Sadly, I had to DNF. I no longer interested and don't care to find out what happens in the end.

Unfortunately, I would not recommend this to my audience.

Really enjoyed this book. The multiple storylines were very immersive and at times made it feel like I was reading different books, but each was well developed and interesting. The historical element worked well and the modern timeline was very compelling.

I just finished reading *Husbands and Lovers* by Beatriz Williams, and I know it's a book that will stay with me. I couldn't put it down and even found myself dreaming about the story. The book is told across three timelines: first, Hannah's story in Cairo, Egypt, 1950; second, Mallory and Monk on Winthrop Island in 2008; and third, Mallory and Monk again on Winthrop Island in 2022. Each timeline is its own captivating story that had me completely absorbed.

Hannah's story is heartbreaking. The unimaginable hardships she endured during the war, all while longing for a simple life with her husband and children, were deeply moving. Her resilience and determination to keep going and fighting were inspiring.

The 2008 story of Mallory and Monk is a perfect summer romance set against the backdrop of a beach, with Monk as an aspiring musician. It was everything a summer romance should be. Then in 2022, we see Mallory and Monk all grown up, dealing with the issues that separated them back in 2008.

I loved everything about this book!

I am not a huge historical fiction reader, so when I heard Beatriz Williams was releasing a novel with a contemporary timeline, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This story was so unique and the way it unfolded kept me captivated with each page - in both the past and present timelines.

What a ride! This dual timeline and multiple points of view were handled masterfully by Williams. It all flowed and intertwined well with characters past and present. From tumultuous Egypt in the 1950s to modern day New England, these strong females were not perfect, but fought for their children and for themselves. Mistakes are made, some lessons are learned and obstacles overcome. This was truly a page-turner for me. Her Last Flight has been on my TBR and I'll be getting to it quickly after this enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Wow. This books is absolutely captivating. Single mother, Mallory's son has a freak accident leading to him needing a kidney. This brings Mallory face to pace with her past and diving deep into her heritage. With three totally captivating interwoven timelines we see Egypt in the Cold War Era, snooty New England in 2008 and the same place in 2022.

While in Egypt we see a clandestine love story, spies and cold war in a whole new context, back in New England we see young love and where that can go after time has passed and question if class differences really even matter. I totally did not expect much from this book since I don't always love reading multiple timelines and honestly 3 times switching off was a little hard to get into at first. BUT I really loved it. My only qualm is that I wanted MORE. I could have read so much more of the spy storyline and Hannah's life--totally going to have to look up more about the spies in Egypt at that time! I already have several folks in mind to recommend this gem of a book to. I know what my mom is getting for Christmas.

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. This book is an interesting story intertwined with love and using DNA to find out information. The story has some interesting twists.

This book is SWOON central. It's told between two different storylines and generations: Mallory and her sister Paige in 2022, summering on a New England beach, and in Cairo 1950s. I'll be honest and say that the Cairo parts didn't hold me as much as the present-day part did, but I can see how learning about spies and subterfuge in Hungary and Egypt might be very interesting. It certainly moves the book's plot along. What I really loved about the book is the relationship between Mallory and Monk. They knew each other in high school, and fell in love in college, but then were torn apart. Mallory has Monk's child, and never tells him about it, but then their kid needs a kidney donor, and she ends up on the same beach as Monk after disappearing from his life fourteen years earlier. I love what a good guy Monk is--Beatriz Williams writes charismatic and charming men like no one else. I was completely invested in this couple from page 1 (which is why I found the twist that tore them apart incredibly hard to swallow...you'll see). If you want a summer read (lots of beach and rich people) and a great, over the decades, love story (there are at least three in this book), this is the book for you.

I've read 8 of Beatriz Williams' books, so I was excited to dig into this one. Of all of her books, this one was my favorite. It begins with a mother getting a call that her ten year old son ate a wild mushroom on a dare, and I was hooked. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading and hurrying to get back to them. The story goes between early 1950s Cairo and modern day New England, with flashbacks within each era to explain how the two women the book focuses on arrived at the places they're at and the struggles they're experiencing. As with all of Williams' books, I learned about a time and place I wasn't familiar with- in this case, post-WWII Egypt. Hannah is working to recover from the terrible traumas she endured during the war, and Mallory is raising her medically-challenged son and dealing with her feelings for his father, who doesn't know he exists. I was invested in both women's stories and couldn't wait to see how their stories would resolve. I highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced copy-

Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams illustrates how secrets influence actions. Single mom Mallory’s son suffers kidney damage from ingesting a poisonous mushroom at camp and she looks back at her relationship with her childhood best friend Monk, who’s now a famous singer.. The novel moves to 1951 Cairo and a tryst between Hannah, a Hungarian refugee, and an enigmatic hotel manager. Tied together by a distinctive bracelet, the two tales blend intrigue, romance, and maternal love. This page-turner is a captivating beach read.

I wish there was a rating bigger than 5 stars and this book would get like 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this book so much. Best book by Beatriz Williams in my opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley, & Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I COULD NOT wait to get my hands on this book! I’ve been chomping at the bit for quite some time to read it, so receiving the ARC was the highlight of my day when it came through.

That being said, this is my first Beatriz Williams book, so I kind of went into her writing blindly.

The story was very captivating, with its 3 storylines. Although I quite enjoyed Hannah’s timeline, I could have done without it. I don’t think the author did a well enough job of connecting it to the current timeline. It felt a little disjointed at times. However, I would love a standalone about Hannah.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Mallory and Monk, you could almost feel the yearning! The desire, and the feelings these two shared in both of their timelines.

All in all a fantastic read, I highly recommend it, and will be recommending to my friends!!

My review will be posted on my Instagram account: Instagram.com/kissandtalewithpattie I will be posting about this book and its review on Monday June 14th and it is already posted on my Goodreads account https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199223201

“Every exchange between human beings is a bargain of some kind. Actual treasure or moral treasure, it’s all the same. You agree on your price and make the transaction.”

This reader was happy to return to Summerly, on Winthrop Island, the setting of my favorite Beatriz Williams novel Summer Wives.

Seven decades and thousands of miles separate two women who are charmed by romance and fascinated with a singular bracelet.
Hannah 1951: She plays the part of adoring and submissive British Foreign Office wife in post war Cairo, a place filled with intrigue and danger.
Mallory 1922: A relationship from her past plays into her quest for the rehabilitation of her son and the reconciling of her own perceived mistakes.
What is left in the wake of desire and survival for both characters is the heart and soul of the story. How their two lives intersect is as complicated as it is compelling.

I flew through the pages of Ms. Williams’ new novel and once again applaud her publishing team for a perfectly timed release. Let the summer reading season shine on!

Many thanks to Ballentine/Penguin Random House and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books, for the free book for review.

Husbands and Lovers delve into the lives of two captivating women. Hannah Ainsworth, a married British diplomat's wife, exudes an aura of glamour, yet I quickly became engrossed in her harrowing past. The author poignantly tells her story of profound loss and grief, and how these experiences have shaped her into the complex person she is today. Everything this character does seems driven by a deeper purpose.

Mallory Dune, a single mother and artist, immediately drew me in when her son ingested a deadly mushroom. Her narrative propels forward, and I found myself increasingly invested in uncovering the secret she harbors, as well as the reasoning behind the decisions she makes. Her chance at a second romantic chapter was an engaging bonus.

I thoroughly enjoyed the intertwining timelines, watching as the two protagonists' lives became intricately connected. However, I did find the frequent transitions between past and present reminiscing occasionally disrupted the flow of my reading.

One of the highlights for me was revisiting the captivating Beach at Summerly, a setting I had grown fond of in a previous work.

Overall, Husbands and Lovers is a multilayered story that delves deeply into the connections we make and the relationships we build. It was a compelling read that kept me engaged from start to finish.