Thank you #netgalley for this ARC. My only complaint is my own disappointment that I waited so long to read this. I loved all the story lines and connections, the sweet, artistic writing and the little pieces of history woven throughout. 5/5, would definitely recommend. And have been.

Review: I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that jumped between a cutesy romcom and a heavy historical fiction before! My only complaint is the Egypt flashbacks felt a little boring sometimes because it got a little too in depth with the politics going on at the time. It was mostly in the beginning though and once you got past that it was great! I loved her other book, The Summer Wives, too! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for my copy!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This story follows two very strong women that spans decades. But the two stories are told 70 years apart.

Mallory's son was off at camp when she got the horrible message that he was at the hospital. He had been poisoned by mushrooms. She speeds there to find he is alive, but will require a transplant. She can't donate, and neither can her sister. She won't ask her son's father- he doesn't even know about them. She will have to look back in her family tree. But that may take some time, as she finds out her mother was adopted.
Meanwhile, we also hear the story of Hannah, a refugee in a loveless marriage in Egypt 60+ years ago. and we also get the background story of Mallory when she met her son's father, Monk.
Maybe it was just my mindset at the time i was reading it, but i had trouble following the multiple storylines in this one. Something about the jumping back and forth kept me from connection with them like i normally would. i have enjoyed historical fiction by this author before, but i picked up and put down this book multiple times before finally finishing it. even so, it was still interesting. i especially appreciate the way Ms williams can use a setting like a character and make you feel like you are there.
thank you to netgalley and random house for this earc book

Another win from Beatriz Williams. This book has a little bit for everyone including history, love, personal growth, and an heir of mystery.

Husbands & Lovers takes you through the lives of Mallory and Hannah - decades apart, yet their stories coincide via a unique heirloom. We read about their lives and love along the way., and I found myself so intrigued to see how things could all come together. I found myself more connected to Mallory's story than Hannah's - I just felt like more was happening there and there were more characters that were emotionally relatable. While Hannah's story was good, it wasn't quite as emotionally charged and engaging.

With that said, Mallory can be frustrating. She made some questionable decisions that, although explained in the end, still seemed a bit out of touch with reality. Displacing myself from that, I was able to enjoy the story for what it was and allow myself to lean in. Overall a very good read and one I would definitely recommend!

I’ve liked some of Bearriz Williams other books but this one was a miss for me. I did not finish this one. I just couldn’t get into it all

The book is filled with family secrets and unexpected turns that maintain a high level of intrigue throughout. It also delves into profound themes such as heartbreak, redemption, and betrayal.

Overall, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read. It seamlessly combines romance, mystery, and drama into a gripping and addictive package.

I really liked this one. I loved the different timelines that we followed and all of the main female characters. I liked how the events of the book seemed realistic and the characters acted in realistic ways. I loved how all of the story lines intertwined and the conclusion we got for each of the characters. The one thing that took me out of the story a bit was some of the dialogue in Hannah's chapters just didn't make sense to me so I felt kind of lost in those chapters occasionally. Overall though, really enjoyed!

Life, and third trimester of pregnancy, got a little ahead of me this summer so I wasn’t able to finish and review this one before it’s pub day. But, there’s still plenty of time left in the summer to dive into Beatriz Williams’ latest novel — a story of family secrets, lost love and sacrifice, traveling between modern coastal New England and post-war Cairo.

Williams is an auto-read author for me, and in my opinion one of the best currently writing historical fiction. Whether it’s a new release or one of her backlist, I always love her immersive stories. This one, like two of her previous novels, is set on the fictional Winthrop Island.

Something about this novel felt different and refreshing to me compared to her prior works — even those with a modern timeline! Usually her books start out a little slow; this one jumped right into the action and hooked me immediately.

I really enjoyed how immersive a reading experience this was — perhaps it was because I was familiar with the modern setting from reading “The Beach at Summerly” earlier this year — but I instantly felt transported to Winthrop and could picture everything so clearly. I love when HF teaches me something new. I knew very little about post-war Egypt and the revolution prior to reading this, and was fascinated by the politics and social issues of the era.

Characterization is always a strength of Williams’ work, and as always, the main characters here were relatable, flawed and easy to root for. The modern timeline featured a second chance romance with a delicious slow burn. Sometimes I feel like romance as a secondary plot feels shoehorned in or cheap, but that wasn’t the case here! It felt authentic and flowed effortlessly with the story.

💬 “I think every day about how we’re all here because of a series of little miracles we know nothing about. The miracles that brought me right here, sitting in this chair beside you. What they sacrificed so I could live.”

I'll read anything Beatriz Williams writes, and this book shows why - she masterfully brings two very different timelines together in a romantic spin on historical fiction.

From 1950s Cairo to present day Winthrop Island in New England (Williams' regular readers will enjoy the cameos and Easter eggs from Beach at Summerly and Summer Wives), it's impossible not to get swept up in the poignant and fascinating stories of two dissimilar women whose lives intersect in an unforeseen way. And I hope the somewhat abrupt ending means we might get a sequel...

Thanks to Random House and Ballantine for the copy to review.

I really wanted to like this book more, but it was a struggle for me. At first I was confused as to how the two timelines were related. The earlier timeline was boring and I wanted to get back to the current timeline. Really there were 3 times going on with 2 different characters. I think that was the biggest problem for me, none of the characters really got their time to develop and the merging of the two stories felt really forced for me. I think the story of Hannah could have been told differently in the current timeline and made the whole book about Mallory. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy of this wonderful story.

"Husband and Lovers" by Beatriz Williams is a captivating tale that beautifully intertwines the past and the present. The novel unfolds with Hannah, a woman torn between her love for her husband and her passionate affair with a British lover. Her choices have far-reaching consequences that shape not just her life, but the future of those around her.

Fast forward to the present day, we meet Mallory Dunn, who is grappling with the aftermath of a freak camp accident that leaves her fighting for her son's survival. As she desperately searches for help, Mallory unexpectedly encounters someone from her past, a reunion that brings new revelations and challenges, altering the course of her life forever.

Williams' storytelling is both compelling and emotional, seamlessly transitioning between the two timelines. The characters are richly drawn, and their journeys are filled with emotional depth and complexity. I was completely captivated by the parallel narratives and found myself deeply invested in the choices both Hannah and Mallory make.

Cheers to Beatriz Williams for delivering such a riveting read! "Husband and Lovers" is a remarkable exploration of love, choices, and the enduring impact of our pasts on our futures. Highly recommended!

Husbands & Lovers was a lovely story about second chance romance and the desire to figure out your family history, in order to understand yourself a little more. Told in dual timelines, the story follows Mallory in the present time and then her grandmothers history in Egypt in the 1950’s. When Mallory was younger she fell in love with Monk, but after a horrible event, she left him only for him to find out 14 years later that she has a child, and it’s his. Despite all the time that goes by, and their life circumstances not being aligned, sometimes love surpasses all of that. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it!

Husbands & Lovers was so good. Written in 2 timelines, post WWII Hannah is living in Cairo, Egypt, and jumps between there and Hungary. And in modern times (2019-22), Mallory is a single mom, knows that her son's father was the great love of her life, who is now a famous rock star. As a pregnant teenager, Mallory left Monk for reasons that do not become clear until the end of the book. I loved Mallory, Monk and Sam's story, it felt real and not the usual fall in love with a rock star story. Hannah's story was less clear at the beginning of the book, and then became more interesting through the years. The cobra bracelet was fascinating, I wish there was a picture!

Two amazing stories interwoven in this book told in alternating narratives. Typically I don't love this style of writing, but I found each story fascinating and heartbreaking, and quickly my mind raced to find connections and predict how Williams would weave them into one.

Previously I had not read anything from this author but I would in the future again. That being said, I think I would perferred to have listened to this audiobook instead of reading it.

This is a captivating story of two women from two different eras that are tied together via an interesting piece of heirloom jewelry. They are both on journeys of self discovery.

I like the way the story weaves back and forth in time. One story after WW2 and one in modern time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I found this book to be confusing and a little boring. The flip back and forth between the two characters and timelines was hard to follow.

Husbands & Lovers features two women, Mallory and Hannah from entirely different worlds and time periods. Mallory is a single mom in the 2020s living in the US, and Hannah is a married woman of a British diplomat living in Cairo in the 1950s.

Mallory is in a tough spot. Her son is in need of a kidney, and all of her family members are not a match. After over 10 years of her sons life she finally tries to contact his father to see if he is a match. Only problem is that his father is a famous musician and does not even know he has a son. Hannah is wealthy British wife who is living in Cairo and meets the hotel manager with whom she has an affair. There is a revolution brewing in Egypt, so can Hannah stay safe and keep her affair a secret?

I was much more invested in Mallory's story. She was a highly likable character with growth and drive. Hannah's story was a little more rushed and I wanted so much more about Egypt! Egypt in the 1950s is such a cool setting and I would have loved to feel more like I was seeing that world.

I enjoyed the story as I always do with Beatriz Williams. There is just enough historical information while also including great emotionally deep characters. I recommend this book!

Thank you to Random House Publishing-Ballantine Books and NetGalley for granting me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

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Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!

This is my first Beatriz Williams book I have read and my first historical book that I have finished.

I am not a big fan of historical fiction, but I was able to finish this book. It was a good story with 2 different women who are going through their own hardships.

I would give. 3.5

In 2008, Mallory is dealing with a chronically ill child who needs a kidney transplant as the result of eating a poisonous mushroom at summer camp. In 1952, Hannah is the wife of a British diplomat in Cairo on the brink of the revolution. Husbands & Lovers intertwines both these stories in to a novel with elements of historical fiction, so many family secrets, first love, several summer beach towns, and the origin story of down-to-earth folk/rock star.

While I enjoyed the dual point of view, the chapters were short and much of the narration included multiple flashbacks which made it hard to stay connected to the timeline. I would have liked more about Hannah's life post-1953 as well. I also thought the subplot with Paige, Mallory's sister needed a little more focus because it really only sets up a forced proximity situation leading to the third act conflict/resolution. My other criticism is that the book cover, while gorgeous and eye catching, has nothing to do with the actual story. This seems to be the case with many of this summer's new releases.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.