Rating: 4 Stars

I devoured this book. Beatriz Williams is a comfort read for me - she writes beautiful characters, suspenseful plots, and (generally) happy endings. This book was no different.

I did have a few quibbles with the story structure. For once (you never hear me say this but) I wish the past timeline just... wasn't there. Flashing back between 2008 and 2022 for Mallory's story was enough to keep me engaged, and I didn't really need Egypt in 1952. The connection between the two timelines was not a big enough plot line in Mallory's story to make me want to keep reading the Egypt part.

That being said, Mallory's timeline was WONDERFUL. I loved everything about it. I didn't want it to end, and when I got to the last 10% of the book, I realized that Beatriz Williams had even more surprises in store. Such a fun book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this Advanced Reader's Copy. Thoughts and opinions were all my own. This book publishes on June 25th.

Thank you Net Galley for a fabulous read, Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams. This book was one of my favorite reads so far this year. The story spanned two different time periods, in Egypt and New England.

The characters in both stories were lovable, and their experiences mirrored each other. I love historical fiction, and enjoyed this story.

I can’t wait for this book to release. It was one of my favorite by Beatriz Williams!

"Husbands & Lovers" took me on an incredible journey! Imagine blending New England charm with Egyptian intrigue—how awesome is that?

First of all, Mallory and Hannah are such captivating heroines. Sure, they make some questionable decisions early on, but as their stories unfold, everything starts to click. The settings are amazing too! From New England's beaches to Cairo's streets, the vivid descriptions had me completely absorbed.

The romance between Mallory and Monk is both magical and heartbreaking, their connection so strong it spans years. Hannah's story is equally captivating, filled with both passion and sacrifice. The twists and turns in their narratives kept me on the edge of my seat, always guessing what would happen next.

The book is full of family secrets and surprising twists that kept me hooked until the final page. And it dives into deep themes like heartbreak, redemption, and betrayal—so well done.

Honestly, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read. It has everything—romance, mystery, drama—wrapped up in an addictive package. I can't wait to explore more of Beatriz Williams's work after this!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Beatriz Williams is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction. Her characters are always so well-developed and her settings are always vividly described. Husbands and Lovers was no different. Impeccably researched and well-written, I was immediately immersed in the story. I also liked the connection to some of her previous works. My only complaint is sometimes the time jumps were a little difficult to follow. Other than that, this was another win for Ms. Williams! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

I always enjoy Beatriz Williams books. Her characters are relatable and sympathetic. However, as much as her writing was up to her usual enjoyability, the plot had too many unrealistic twists and turn. I don’t see it as her best work.

I’ve been a Beatriz Williams’ fan for about ten years so when I saw she was releasing a book this summer, I knew I had to add it to my list. Then I read the synopsis and was completely sold. The story follows two women separated not only by decades, but also by continents, but their stories are pulled together by a family heirloom they have both worn. Hannah Ainsworth has come out of WW2 as a Hungarian refugee making a new life for herself as wife to a British diplomat in Cairo in 1951. Mallory Dunne is dealing with being a single mother in Connecticut in 2022. Both of them have complex relationships with the men in their lives, their husbands and lovers. When Mallory’s son is in desperate need of a kidney transplant, we learn about his father and her former love, as well as her family’s history as they look for a match.

Williams has absolutely nailed it with this one and I have no doubt this will be one of the best reads of the summer. I thoroughly enjoyed the alternating narration split between Hannah and Mallory’s stories. I also loved the other characters who fleshed out the story, specifically Mallory’s sister. Williams paints such descriptive worlds that you feel transported between post-war Egypt and the present day coast of New England. If you are a fan of Williams already, you’ll love this one. If you haven’t read anything by her yet, but enjoy dual timeline novels with strong female characters, I think you’ll highly enjoy it. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story is told in a then and now format with then taking place in Cairo, Egypt 1951 and now taking place in New England 2022 with swings back to 2008. I did enjoy both eras of this book but probably the now segments a little more. I did not care for this author's style of writing as it was confusing at times and I found myself backtracking to try to figure out who was speaking. I also felt there were some loose ends that were not tied up at the end. Despite those issues, I did enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballentine for the ARC of this book.

I really enjoyed the multiple timelines of Hannah and Mallory, two women doing what they could for the ones they loved. I loved Mallory’s character arc and only wished the end of the book had been longer to hear more about her and Monk’s rekindled love. I wish there had been more about what happened to Hannah after she gave birth as well. I truly enjoyed this book

Husbands and Lovers follows three storylines: Hannah and Lucien/ Ainsworth, a love triangle in Egypt in the 1950’s in war-torn Egypt, and Mallory and Monk in both 2008 and 2022. Hannah is a Hungarian refugee who is in a loveless marriage and has a tryst with an Egyptian spy. Mallory is a single mother with a 13-year old son in need of a kidney. She revisits her past when she comes in touch with her ex Monk.

The book alternates between all of these timelines. I didn’t feel like the plot flowed well in this format. I was much more interested in Mallory and Monk’s storyline and found myself disinterested and skimming through Hannah’s. I may have not connected as much to Hannah’s story because Mallory’s sections took up about 2/3 of the book, so I didn’t feel like Hannah’s character was as well developed as Mallory’s. These stories all connect, but the revelation left me underwhelmed. Williams could’ve completely cut out the Egypt plot and the rest would’ve been more compelling and satisfying.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

An exciting new chapter in the world of Winthrop Island that fans of Ms. Williams would know. Two women decades apart and the mystery of a snake bracelet. At times I did get a bit confused between the changes of decades but understood why we had those two time periods. Ms. Williams does it again with her historical fiction and this one does not disappoint!

I loved this dual timeline book that started out with a bang. Mallory's story in the present day and Hannah's story in 1952 Egypt were ones that I could not stop reading. This book is full of heartbreak and redemption and I loved it so much. You will want to read to see what happened that caused Mallory to be a single mom? Hannah's story had so many intricacies. Thank you to Ballatine Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction isn’t my typical genre, but I’ve heard so much about this author that I wanted to check out their work. Wow, I was blown away! This book begins in present day New England with Mallory Dunne, a single mom of her son, who is in need of a kidney transplant and then we travel to Cairo, in the 1950s, where we learn about Hannah’s story. A Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat. Theses women are tied together by a mysterious heirloom and lovers of their past.

I very much enjoyed both womens’ journeys, but especially loved the story of Mallory and Monk, her former lover. The multiple perspectives of this book enriched the overall story and brought forth a compelling and emotional read with well-developed characters. Highly recommend to those of historical and contemporary fiction!

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is the epitome of a captivating read that you simply cannot put down. This novel has quickly become a fast-paced page-turner, keeping me engrossed from start to finish with its compelling storyline and well-developed characters. Williams' writing style is both engaging and immersive, making it a must-read for any fan of the genre.

Besides Kristen Hannah, Beatrix Williams is the only other person who can write historical fiction that I will read. Her books immediately suck you in and the research she does on the topics is impeccable. I need a little romance in the historical fiction in order for it to suck me in and this one did not disappoint. Usually books with two different timelines are my favorite, but this one was great. Highly recommend

Single mother Mallory and son Sam have lived a quiet but happy life until Sam suffers a catastrophic illness and is put on a transplant list. With no suitable donors, a DNA ancestry search is started. With historical/contemporary timelines the author weaves a storyline of drama, fear, spies and an heirloom that further ties two women together. The ending was all you could ask for in this great book. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the arc. The comments and this review are my honest opinion. 4.5 Stars

Question: Do you enjoy dual-timeline stories? Sometimes, they can feel like two separate novellas rather than a cohesive novel. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this narrative style.

Now, for my review of Husbands & Lovers, a novel that intertwines two timelines. In the present day, we follow Mallory Dunne, an artist and single mother raising Sam, her 13-year-old son. Sam, who suffered an accident years ago, desperately needs a kidney transplant. When Mallory's sister, Paige, discovers that their late mother was adopted from an Irish orphanage, it opens up new possibilities for finding a donor match. Meanwhile, Mallory has refused to contact Sam's birth father, now a famous figure, who is unaware of Sam's existence. Adding to the mystery, Mallory inherits a cobra bracelet that her mother always wore. A design school friend can tell that the bracelet most likely came from Egypt.

The second timeline transports us to Egypt in the early 1950s. Here, we meet Hannah, a scarred Hungarian war refugee married to a dull British diplomat. Hannah's encounter with a cobra in a garden sets off a series of life-changing events. As expected in dual-timeline stories, these two narratives eventually intertwine.

Beatriz Williams is one of the most beautiful, talented writers of historical fiction. I love everything she writes.

This novel is so good! I was grabbed and sucked in from the first chapter. This historical fiction jumps back and forth from the past to the future and from two main POVs with a glimpse from other characters side. Mallory Dunne, New England 2008-2022, Hannah Ainsworth, Cairo 1951. Their lovers and family.

I really loved Mallory’s story of lost love at a young age, the love she has for her son and her hilarious banter with her sister. Mallory’s son is sick and needs a transplant but no one is a match. Her sister Paige wants her to find the boys father to see if he maybe a match and Mallory is 100% against it. We walk down memory lane to see all the events leading to Mallory tragic lost of her great love. In the middle of trying to figure out how to help him, Mallory and her sister find out their mother was adopted. Mallory wants to take the lead and see if maybe there are more family members who could be a match.

Hannah Ainsworth, is a refugee married to a British man. They end up living in Cairo for his job. Hannah is bitten by a very poisonous snake and saved by Lucien Beck the hotel manager. As her relationship flourish with Lucien she is caught between the two men in her life and must make decisions. Especially, now that she is pregnant.

This novel will make you laugh and cry and root for love and healing. I have to say it’s one of my favorite historical fictions of the year and will make my top 5 list.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, Ballantine Books and Beatriz Williams for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. Husband and Lovers comes out June 25,2024

This book is a tale of two women separated by time and continents are united by a unique heirloom. This is a sweeping saga that spans decades. I had a little trouble keeping all the characters and timelines straight at first but later, it all came together beautifully. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks @NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I highly recommend it.

Beatriz Williams always spins a good yarn, and HUSBANDS & LOVERS is no exception. At the core are two love stories—one between contemporary couple Mallory and her rock star former beau, Monk, and the other between a woman named Hannah and her two lovers. One is her husband Janos, killed in concentration camp during World War II, and the other a hotel employee in post-war Cairo. A family health crisis uncovers the unlikely connection between Hannah and Mallory.

Because Williams has used the locales of Summerly and Winthrop Island in previous books, I wondered if I was supposed to know any of these characters from previous books, but there is only one slight connection that is of no consequence. HUSBANDS & LOVERS stands on its own. I am a little tired of dual timelines, but I still enjoyed the book, and would recommend to others.

Dual timelines either work or they don't and this one works. I was invested in both story lines and loved how they came together. Williams is the queen of historical fiction and she does it yet again... solid!