I am a huge Beatriz Williams fan and this #bookcover sold me immediately. That being said, I will admit - I struggled to get into this one for the majority of the first half of the #book. It was just not grabbing me in the way that her stories usually do. Overall, I did enjoy this one, but it was just okay for me - not life changing, and not as incredible as some of her other works. Still a good #read, and I loved the Egyptian setting (I wish there was more of this backstory), but the rest of it just didn’t have me sold. I also had some MAJOR issues with one of the main characters (see rant below - warning: said rant does include spoiler alerts).

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Three separate summers, covering the lives of two women: Hannah, scarred from the brutalities of WWII, finding herself trapped in a battle of wills in post-war Egypt, as she grapples with her abysmal British diplomat husband, the crippling loss of her past, and her desires, and Mallory, a single mother back on the New England coast with her young son, who is desperately in need of a kidney transplant after a tragic accident several years prior, and forced to confront both her life’s greatest secret and love for the first time in years, as she navigates the choices she has made in life and what she truly wants in life. One piece of jewelry and an unexpected cobra appears to be the link that unites them both in the trajectory and history of their lives.

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****SPOILER ALERT**** Mallory absolutely INFURIATED me as a character. Infuriated. Your child needs a kidney to save his life and she could not put aside her past trauma and fears to contact his FATHER, who, despite his father’s transgressions, was nothing but kind and decent to her. I was mindblown by her pride dominating any other aspect of her personality, and I could not believe she deprived her son of the finances and love of a father that could have given him far better healthcare and endless opportunities in life. I could not stand her 🙈

I loved this book! Perfect beach read that has depth and action. Just like all of her books, I couldn’t put down Beatriz’s newest novel!

Possibly the best book I've read this year. A perfect blend of historical fiction + family drama + romance, told across two main timelines: Hannah in Hungary and Egypt in the 40s/50s, and Mallory in New England in the 2000s/2022 (technically you might call it three timelines). This was a really compelling story with interesting and flawed characters. Highly recommend.

Oh man, the amount of stress and anxiety this book gave me… but ultimately, it was so worth it.

I gotta say that I wasn’t expecting to love this as much as I did. The dual timelines made me so angry because once a conflict was about to be discovered/solved in one timeline, it would jump back or forward in time. But let me just say that that is what kept me so engaged with the book. I was literally at the edge of my seat.

BUT THAT ENDING?!

I was sobbing. I was screaming. I was venting to my friends in the group chat, literally YELLING in a voice memo and unable to form words. It’s not often that a book has such a grip on my heartstrings like that.

So, even though this book was such a rollercoaster of emotions, and I was so angry at times I was literally about to whip my phone across the room, it deserves every star. The story itself is beautiful and I will be thinking about this book for a very long time.

Like most historical fiction, this story alternates between two timelines. One part of the story was set in Cairo, which I found to be a unique setting, but I don’t feel like I learned anything about it like I normally would in historical fiction. It was also hard to keep track of the many characters and different timelines in Hannah’s story.

I liked the modern day timeline fine, probably because I always like a famous person/nonfamous person storyline. Duke was great, however Mallory was a dud of a main character IMO. I never really felt their connection, even from the beginning. Towards the end of the story so many things happen, many of which I don’t feel had a purpose. It also took me entirely too long to read/listen to this book.

Also this cover has got to be an accident- what does it have to do at all with this story? Never once was anyone even in a body of water, let alone swimming or hanging near a diving board.

I am such a fan of Beatriz Williams and this novel proved why. I enjoyed the New England 2022 and the Cairo, Egypt 1951 storylines. Unforgettable, heartbreaking and fabulous.

Absolutely LOVED this!!!!!! Went into this novel completely blind and I am so happy I did! I am not one who likes historical fiction - however I must say that this book really swayed me in its favor. I did fall in love with Mallory and Monk and their story. I loved going back and forth with Mallory and then finding out how it connected to Hannah and it all just came together full circle. While I did enjoy the Mallory chapters just a bit more than the Hannah ones, overall the switching was so well done that it left no room for confusion as one would think with so many changing locations and time frames. I would have loved to have more on Mallory's sister, Paige as well! This book really just had it all. It did it in such a well paced manner, but dealt with very heavy topics that are not often talked about.

*A solid 4.5 read for me!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this digital ARC for my review!!

The author's use of dual timelines and dual POVs in this novel were stellar. I loved hearing from both woman and comparing their stories. I think the author truly excelled in explaining the settings for these two characters, as well as showing their character development. There was some mystery, a lot of entertainment, and overall a really good story. I would definitely read more from this author and recommend her books to friends.

Husbands & Loverz is a brilliant blend of historical intrigue, complex relationships, and Beatriz Williams’ signature style of writing. From the very first page, Williams captivates the reader with her rich, evocative descriptions of 20th-century life, making you feel as though you’re stepping into another era. The novel’s main character is a woman torn between love and duty, which leads to riveting emotional conflicts and unexpected twists. Williams handles this delicate balance between passion and propriety with grace, crafting a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is romantic. It’s a perfect read for those who love historical fiction with a strong, empowered female protagonist.

I've had this ARC for quite awhile and I'm not sure what took me so long to read it. I finally did and it was SO good. I think it is my new favorite Beatriz Williams book. The two different storylines of Hannah and Mallory were both captivating, though I have to admit that I was drawn slightly more to Mallory's story. The writing was beautiful. I highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction, but also to everyone else!

"Husbands & Lovers" is a wonderful title and this "beach read" is much more than simple. This is a dramatic read with an unexpected ending and so much beautiful writing on the pages from beginning to end. Dual timeline novels can be tricky for the reader, but Williams is skilled in keeping the pace throughout.

Beatriz Williams is a must read author for me and this book was great. Multiple story lines weave together from different time periods to create a family story that is satisfying and intriguing. Some of the characters make decisions that are frustrating, but that adds to the story, flawed characters in deep emotion. I greatly enjoyed the variety of locations explored in the story, as not all of these historical aspects are typical of this genre. It was enjoyable all the way around.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, and this review is my own.

I love this book! I learned so much while also enjoying the story. The characters were interesting and dynamic. I wasn't too sure how it was going to go, but I was along for the ride the whole way. I've recommended this to friends and patrons alike, I think that people who want a little romance with their historical fiction will eat this up. Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was a slow burn for me but in the end I loved it! I Tammy a little disconnected from the book for the first 20% or so but one I was hooked I dropped everything to finish it widely! I love dual timelines and thought this one did a pretty good job of trying them together

I am thankful to have been approved to read and review a copy of this book. Beatriz Williams is one of my absolute favorite authors so this was a real treat! I love her kick butt female characters and the way she weaves together dual timelines. This one was fascinating. It has a different feel from her other books but I loved how it pulled together so many different experiences from so many different eras. Such a cool book!

I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams’ novels. I was excited to receive this ARC but this was not a favorite of mine. I didn’t enjoy the 1950s storyline and the cobra aspect. I also felt, in the current day storyline, like a mother wanting to save her son’s life would certainly contact a man that could help. It just wasn’t my favorite. I will absolutely continue to love this author though!

Truly one of my favorite books I read this summer, and I look forward to exploring more of Williams' backlist in the future. The two timelines feel perfectly balanced in this story, in that we're able to spend a bit more time in the present with actions driving the story forward while the past timeline is interesting and meandering until we get to its sucker-punch ending. I almost felt like I was reading two different books (in a good way!) and enjoyed how the two stories ultimately dovetailed.

I adored this book! It was so incredibly well written and a poignant story about love, forgiveness and second chances.

I don’t usually read historical fiction, but I’m so glad 🙂 read this book. The dual timelines added a lot to the story and I was so invested in the characters. Highly recommend!

Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams is a poignant and intricately woven tale that spans decades and continents, exploring themes of love, loss, and redemption. In New England, single mother Mallory Dunne grapples with her son Sam's life-threatening illness, which forces her to confront painful secrets from her past, including her tumultuous romance with the renowned singer-songwriter Monk Adams and her mother’s troubled history tied to an Irish orphanage. Meanwhile, in 1951 Cairo, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth navigates her own heartbreaking choices amidst political unrest and personal betrayal. Williams's richly drawn characters and evocative settings create a captivating narrative that resonates with readers. This novel will appeal to those who appreciate stories that delve into the complexities of human relationships and the sacrifices made for love, all while providing a sweeping historical backdrop and emotional depth that linger long after the final page.

This is absolutely five stars! Multiple timelines, fascinating history, young love, old love, parenting, sisters, beautiful and exotic locations - this one has it all. I don’t know how Beatriz Williams managed to weave together this gorgeous story but I am so grateful she did. I just loved it!