Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy of this wonderful novel! Somehow, Husbands & Lovers is my first novel by Beatriz Williams and I assure you, it won't be my last!

This is the captivating tale of two women that are somehow connected though they are decades and continents apart. Mallory's story is told along two plot lines, the summer of 2008 and more present. Hannah's story centers around her time in Cairo in 1951 while also flashing back at other points in her past.

I was totally invested in Mallory's story. I hung on every word of the love story between her and Monk, felt my heart shatter into a million pieces at the opening scene when her young son ate a poisonous mushroom, and saw myself sipping Spindrifts and vodka with her and Paige by the beach on Winthrop Island. I had so many questions, so many predictions, and so much emotional connection to Mallory's story and really enjoyed every word of it.

Hannah's story didn't grab me like Mallory's, and ultimately, I could've basically done without it. I listened to this novel on audio and often found Hannah's flashbacks random and confusing and I occasionally had a hard time following her plot line. Hers was a much slower start and while I did feel my interest grow as the story developed, it was mostly to answer questions for Mallory.

Besides the confusing parts of Hannah's narration, I found both narrators to be really excellent. The Hungarian pronunciation of Hannah ("Hunnah") took some getting used to and I nearly spit my drink out at "Barns-stable" for Barnstable (should be pronounced "Barnstubble" for you non-Non-Englanders) but neither detracted from the overall stellar performances by Helen Laser and Caroline Hewitt.

Thank you to PRH Audio, Ballantine, and NetGalley for the copy.

I initially wasn’t sure I was going to like this one. The casual narration and writing style surprised me, but I’m glad to have realized I severely underestimated this book. I truly felt enriched by this book - from three timelines, to traveling the world in this book to Mystic, CT to Long Island to Cairo, Egypt, to everyone and everything being connected by a mysterious yet captivating gold bracelet of an Egyptian cobra, Williams offered a little bit of everything. And it worked SO well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for this wonderful read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Beatriz Williams is one of my go-to authors, whether she’s writing alone or with her writing partners Karen White and Lauren Willig. But this book left me without the satisfied glow of finishing a well-written book. Nonetheless, I appreciate the amazing amount of research undertaken to produce this family saga/historical fiction/romance.

Before the negatives (plus content triggers listed below), let me share what I liked about this dual timeline novel taking place in 1952 Cairo (plus a bit of WWII Hungary) and 2022 Connecticut.

I liked the current-day characters: Mallory and Monk. I liked their relationship, and the location of fictional Winthrop Island, which is loosely inspired by the real-life Fishers Island off the southeastern Connecticut shore. I liked the author’s style of ending each chapter with a revealing fact or tantalizing cliffhanger, with the next chapter beginning with an alternate narrator and time period. That kept me turning the pages.

What didn’t I like? There were so many uses of the F-word, sometimes more than 10 on a page. It wasn’t necessary. In Hannah’s story, when she lived in a remote forest in Hungary during WWII before she visited Cairo, the violence was so graphic and vividly described I had to skip over parts. And there were several explicit sex scenes in various locations throughout the novel. I wasn’t expecting this. Honestly, it made me uncomfortable.

The theme that drives the story is adultery. Most of the characters appear to have little to no morals. Another theme is the power men hold over women. Not an uplifting, light beach read, despite the cover. I can't recommend this one.

CONTENT TRIGGERS: rape, explicit violence, children’s deaths

This was another beautifully written historical fiction by Beatriz Williams. I adore her books. This one was just what I was expecting!

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was written in dual timelines, which I usually enjoy a lot. In this case I enjoyed the current timeline way more than the one from Egypt int he 1950s.. Both stories are full of secrets, romance, drama, mystery and unexpected twists. But maybe because I don't know anything about the politics or history of Egypt I had a hard time following the second one. Also, the chapters were rather long, so I often forgot what was happening by the time I started a new chapter., and sometimes within the chapters the story would switch to the past. I think the book would have been better if it had been just the current time.. I didn't really see the need for the second timeline and didn't feel a real strong connection between the two.

That being said, I loved the women characters in both timelines - although I didn't understand some of the choices they made, but that's what made it compelling to me. I thought the book was well-written and it definitely kept my attention.

On a final, note I am very confused by the cover. It doesn't represent the story at all.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the early copy of this book!

The beginning of this book started off really slow for me. There was a lot going on and I was trying to place it all. Once the book started to plot build, it really picked up and I couldn’t stop reading. I loved the multiple time lines and POV. The development between the two stories helped the bring the story together and connect Mallory and her past. I was rooting for Monk and Mallory the entire time. I HATED the fiancé and glad she wasn’t part of Monks life anymore.

I liked the ending and how the bracelet was able to connect them together. I think it was a nice touch and helped to develop the story on a deeper levels.

I really enjoyed this new novel by Beatriz Williams! I enjoy dual time stories, and both story lines kept me captivated. I don't often give 5 stars, but this was a five star read for me!

This book was just okay for me. I was disappointed in the end and how the two stories came together. If each of the stories were separate books, they would’ve been great. I just didn’t love the “connection” between the two. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

What a great book! Impossible for me to put down. I highly recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more books by Beatriz Williams.

Historical fiction that went all the way back to WWII. This story happened in three locations - New England, Egypt and Hungary. Hannah was in Cairo, Egypt with her British second husband in 1952, this was not a great relationship. Hannah had flash backs from her life during WWII in Hungary with her first husband and three children. Malory's life was in New England in 2008 and we follow her for 14 years. Eventually these two lives are connected by a cobra bracelet and a DNA test.

This story has parts that are really sad and emotional. But the real story is about second chances and fixing a life after something tragic happens. About not giving up and making life the best you can no matter what happens. The story is about women that love deeply, both the men in their lives and their children.

Beatriz Williams always writes great female characters that hang out in places where I would want to go for vacation. This was a fun book that intertwined a lot of different characters but I never had a hard time keeping track of them.

I tried really hard to get into this one, but after multiple times, I decided to DNF. I normally love Williams books. This one was just too slow and I couldn't get into it. I have seen others really loving it, so most likely its just a it's me not you thing. I don't want to rate it on Amazon and Goodreads because I never finished.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you haven’t read a Beatriz Williams book before I really enjoy how she combines historical fiction with summer in New England vibes. Husbands & Lovers is her new release and I was so thankful to receive an advance reader copy through NetGalley. Husbands & Lovers follows two story lines- one of Mallory Dunne, a present day single mother whose son gets sick at sleepaway camp after eating a mushroom and Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee who married an English diplomat living in Cairo in the 1950s. After Mallory’s son gets sick, she is searching for options to help him which leads to her discovering her own mother’s secret adoption. This plus the secret of her son’s father as famous singer and songwriter cause Mallory to face a lot of family secrets.

I love Beatriz Williams writing - she totally immerses you into the story and it's like you're living it!

This is a dual time line story - set in 2022 New England with mom Mallory as the MC. Her son is in need of a new kidney and that leads her on a trip back through memory lane, to one amazing summer with her old boyfriend on the coast and learning more about her mother's history.

The second timeline is Mallory's mother's - set in 1950s Egypt, Hannah is a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat staying at the famous Shepheard's Hotel where she gets involved with spies.

Both storylines are intriguing and kept me involved in the stories and the book is awesome.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Husbands & Lovers often felt like reading three books at once, with the different time periods, but the stories were weaved together so intricately that you hardly noticed, and each chapter flowed seamlessly into a different POV. Each of the characters was well developed, along with continually feeling immersed in the setting.

I loved the brief mention of The Beach at Summerly and can't wait to read more of Williams' books.

Told in two timelines, one in the present with Mallory trying to help her son who needs a kidney even if means getting involved with her now famous childhood best friend Monk Adams, and another in the past with Mallory's grandmother after WWII. Mallory made a decision to not tell Monk about his son, partly due to another secret that pops up during the book, but now that they've met, they all try and figure out how to make it work. As emotions run high, Mallory also learns that her mom was adopted which leads her and her sister on a search for their family history, especially if it results in a familial match for a kidney. Overall, an interesting story of a family and the secrets they hold. The present timeline was slightly more engaging than the past timeline.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Husbands and Lovers by Beatriz Williams. This was the first novel I have read by this author and I will be reading more! I liked the dual time/character storyline and how she linked them together. From New England vibes mixed with Egyptian intrigue . I found the story to be sensitive, thought-provoking, romantic, and entertaining. Both female characters were strong. This was a captivating story. A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I have shared a review on Facebook and Goodreads and have recommended it to many of my reader friends. Thank you again!!!

Great read. Beatriz always draws the reader in and lets the story unfold in such a way that you get hooked from the start. Thank you net galley for the chance to read and review.

<b>Husbands and Lovers</b> is a deeply moving novel that earns 4.5 stars, rounded up. This historical fiction captivates with its honest exploration of love and identity, drawing readers into an enthralling story.

The book features two clever protagonists and spans three timelines: the 1950s in Cairo with Hannah, the 2008 college years of her granddaughter Mallory, and their lives in 2022. Hannah, a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat in colonial Egypt, meets Lucien Beck and becomes his lover. In 2008, Mallory falls in love with Monk Adams during a summer job on Winthrop Island. By 2022, Mallory and Monk are separated, but their son needs a kidney transplant. Mallory also discovers her mother was adopted and sets out to trace their family roots.

Williams masterfully crafts scenes that range from thrilling to shocking, with characters you can't help but both love and despise. Her vivid writing style makes every word and metaphor worth savoring. The book tackles difficult topics like colonialism and social class divisions while portraying the profound emotional impact of a physical connection between two people.

Despite minor narrative inconsistencies, <b>Husbands and Lovers</b> is transformative in its emotional resonance and compelling plot. It courageously delves into the value of human connection, leaving a lasting impression that warrants an enthusiastic recommendation.

I received this ARC from NetGalley, and all opinions are my own.

Single mother Mallory Donne’s life is turned upside-down when she receives a call from camp that her ten-year old son Sam has eaten a toxic mushroom, and is in the ICU. As she rushes to his bedside, she realizes that if he lives, his new normal will include dialysis. As family members are tested as a possible match to be a kidney donor, Mallory is forced to confront long-held secrets about her life as a young woman, and the summer romance she had with now-famous singer Monk Adams. Even though her sister encourages her to contact him, Mallory is hesitant to intrude on his life - knowing that if she does the secrets she’s buried could shatter both of them. The Mallory/Monk story was enjoyable and believable, and shifts between their summer romance days of 2008 and the present day of 2022. Mallory and her sister Paige also find out that their grandmother was adopted from Ireland, which confuses both of them. Paige is willing to skip over this odd bit of family history, but Mallory feels it’s important. She’s been given a gold serpent bracelet from their mother, now deceased, and was told it was given to her by her mother. But that mother - the grandmother they knew - may not have been the one to give them this heirloom, and if it were from their biological grandmother, then what is its significance?

The other part of the timeline is about Hannah Anderson, a refugee from Hungary, who is the wife of an older British diplomat. It’s 1951 in Cairo, and Hannah falls for the handsome hotel manager, Lucien Beck. As she becomes more involved in Beck’s life, she realizes that perhaps she doesn’t know him at all, as he’s rumored to be a spy. We follow Hannah’s story, and the imagery is so vivid I could feel the heat and the sand from the city of Cairo. As tensions mount between Egypt and the British Empire, Hannah knows she’s walking a fine line with her relationship with Beck, but she turns a blind eye to what could happen and focuses just on the present time. We all learn of her time in Hungary, which helps the reader understand her motives as an unfulfilled wife of a boring man.

The author expertly weaves the stories together to a satisfying conclusion. With stunning locals and well-defined characters, this is a book to be enjoyed.