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Husbands & Lovers: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 6,651 ratings

Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by an exotic family heirloom—reclaim secrets and lost loves in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.

“My favorite kind of page-turner—unputdownable!”—Martha Hall Kelly, author of The Golden Doves

New England, 2022. Three years ago, single mother Mallory Dunne received the telephone call every parent dreads—her ten-year-old son, Sam, had been airlifted from summer camp with acute poisoning from a toxic death cap mushroom, leaving him fighting for his life. Now, searching for the donor kidney that will give her son a chance for a normal life, Mallory’s forced to confront two harrowing secrets from her past: her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage in 1952, and her own all-consuming summer romance fourteen years earlier with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams— one of the world’s most beloved singer-songwriters—a fairy tale cut short by a devastating betrayal.

Cairo, 1951. After suffering tragedy beyond comprehension in the war, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth has forged a respectable new life for herself—marriage to a wealthy British diplomat with a coveted posting in glamorous Cairo. But a fateful encounter with the enigmatic manager of a hotel bristling with spies leads to a passionate affair that will reawaken Hannah’s longing for everything she once lost. As revolution simmers in the Egyptian streets, a pregnant Hannah finds herself snared in a game of intrigue between two men . . . and an act of sacrifice that will echo down the generations.

Timeless and bittersweet,
Husbands & Lovers takes readers on an unforgettable journey of heartbreak and redemption, from the revolutionary fires of midcentury Egypt to the moneyed beaches of contemporary New England. Acclaimed author Beatriz Williams has written a poignant and beautifully voiced novel of deeply human characters entangled by morally complex issues—of privilege, class, and the female experience—inside worlds brought shimmeringly to life.
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

Two women
One family secret
Two timeless love stories

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Williams’s work of historical fiction wrapped in a beach read . . . [follows an] engaging, artfully drawn pair of lovers . . . and descriptions of tense postwar Cairo are both commanding and detailed. The conclusion is a soap-worthy cliffhanger, and one that took me by surprise.”—The New York Times

“I loved
Husbands & Lovers and devoured it in one delicious gulp. I was so invested in Mallory and Monk. It’s my favorite kind of page-turner—unputdownable!”—Martha Hall Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of The Golden Doves

“In the latest work by historical fiction master storyteller Beatriz Williams, two timelines breathlessly intertwine to form a tale full of passion, hope, and heartbreaking family secrets. As much a poignant and intimate examination of the human heart as a globe-trotting sweep of decades and wide-reaching locales, this one packs the sultry and stunning punch that readers of Williams have come to relish. You will feel the salty ocean air of Winthrop summer nights as you read, as well as the furious white heat of the roiling Cairo streets—and you’ll savor every page of it.”
—Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post
 
“The masterful Williams spins a story that spans continents and eras, and it takes readers on a page-turning ride encompassing intoxicating youthful romance, forbidden wartime love, betrayal, espionage, life-eroding secrets, and a mother’s boundless love for her child. Reminding us of the interconnectivity of the past and present and the enduring power of love,
Husbands & Lovers is stunning.”—Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling co-author of The Personal Librarian

“From sunny Cape Cod beaches to 1950s Cairo, I loved being immersed in the lives and loves of Beatriz Williams’s complex characters. This novel has it all: a single mother with a secret, a passionate affair against the backdrop of World War Two, and a child so wonderful (and in so much danger) that I stayed up until three in the morning to make sure he would survive. This is sweeping, sumptuous, and utterly enthralling.”
—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

“[A] captivating novel of love and love lost . . . With well-drawn characters and sweeping drama, Williams’ latest is a gripping journey as secrets and hidden desires are exposed.”
Booklist

About the Author

Beatriz Williams is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of nineteen novels, including four novels in collaboration with bestselling authors Karen White and Lauren Willig. She is a graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in finance from Columbia University. Williams has won numerous awards for her novels, which have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CJTLBKV2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books (June 25, 2024)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6909 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 356 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 6,651 ratings

About the author

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Beatriz Williams
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Beatriz Williams is a New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction. A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in Finance from Columbia University, Beatriz worked as a communications and corporate strategy consultant in New York and London before she turned her attention to writing novels that combine her passion for history with an obsessive devotion to voice and characterization. Beatriz’s books have won numerous awards, have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and appear regularly in bestseller lists around the world.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Beatriz now lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children, where she divides her time between writing and laundry.

Visit her online at www.beatrizwilliams.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/authorbeatriz, and on Twitter and Instagram at @authorbeatriz.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
6,651 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the engaging storyline with its two timelines and parallel storyline of the 1950s. They found the characters well-developed and extraordinary. The setting was described as beautiful and fascinating. However, opinions differed on the language - some found it beautifully written and easy to read, while others felt it included unnecessary foul language and was too wordy and detailed.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

51 customers mention "Story quality"47 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline and characters. They appreciate the author's storytelling style and how she connects the past and present in a fascinating way. Readers find the book a true love story with a happy ending.

"This book has so many amazing stories wrapped up with a beautiful bow! You know a book is amazing when you are sad that you’ve gotten to the end." Read more

"...It would be a good beach read." Read more

"I think I have read all of these books and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. So glad I found this one...." Read more

"...I did enjoy the contemporary setting and the use of the male protagonist’s POV, which also felt new...." Read more

12 customers mention "Character development"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development and storyline. They find the characters ordinary people living extraordinary lives. The contemporary setting and use of the male protagonist's POV also feel new to them.

"...I did enjoy the contemporary setting and the use of the male protagonist’s POV, which also felt new...." Read more

"...: romance, affairs, murder, mystery, thrill, adventure, great character development, and it's a story that cleverly spans through generations...." Read more

"...Truly loved the characters and the dual storylines of Mallory and Monk and the life of Hannah pre and post WWII and Hannah’s impact to Mallory...." Read more

"...The writing felt more mature and the characters more nuanced and layered compared to her typical heroines. All good things!..." Read more

4 customers mention "Beauty"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's beauty. They say the story is fascinating and the girl meets a handsome boy and falls in love.

"This book has so many amazing stories wrapped up with a beautiful bow! You know a book is amazing when you are sad that you’ve gotten to the end." Read more

"...Wishing there was more of this beautiful and fascinating story." Read more

"Husbands & Lovers is a class beach read. Girl meets a wealthy, handsome boy and falls in love. Girl and boy are separated...." Read more

"...Also lovely and touching love stories." Read more

13 customers mention "Language"8 positive5 negative

Customers have different views on the writing style. Some find it beautiful and easy to read, while others mention it contains unnecessary foul language, excessive detail, and cheesy moments.

"...The writing felt more mature and the characters more nuanced and layered compared to her typical heroines. All good things!..." Read more

"...It was very unique reading experience. I flew through the book fast and furious and enjoyed every letter of it." Read more

"I enjoyed this book. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but it was an easy read. It would be a good beach read." Read more

"...Not only did she come up with an incredible story, but she also writes beautifully! I would recommend you buy every one of her books...." Read more

Return to Winthrop Island!
4 out of 5 stars
Return to Winthrop Island!
“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 thrilled 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 2022: A relationship from her past plays into her quest for the rehabilitation of her son and the reconciliation 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.Once the stage was set, I flew through the pages of Ms. Williams’ new novel and again applaud her publishing team for a perfectly timed release. Let the summer reading season shine on!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
    This book has so many amazing stories wrapped up with a beautiful bow! You know a book is amazing when you are sad that you’ve gotten to the end.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
    4.5/5 for the last 100 pages of this book! The middle was a little back and forth and confusing for me at times and felt like the historical fiction aspect here could have used a bit more context. The way the story all came together though was consuming and I could not put this down for last third of the book. Loved the ending ❤️
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2025
    I enjoyed this book. It can be a bit cheesy at times, but it was an easy read. It would be a good beach read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2025
    I think I have read all of these books and I’ve enjoyed every single one of them. So glad I found this one. Very surprised ending wasn’t expecting it, but it was lovely.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    I have read all of Beatriz Williams books and this one seemed different to me. It felt like some of the narrative was cut as a stylistic choice. There was also a smaller plot point that was not resolved. I did enjoy the contemporary setting and the use of the male protagonist’s POV, which also felt new. Perhaps Ms. Williams is experimenting with her writing or maybe this is the result of working with a new editor. She is an artist and I respect that.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2024
    Spoilers ahead…. I don’t know what to say about this book. I am so annoyed, so this will be more venting than a proper review. I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams and have read all of her books. But lately I can’t say I’ve been enjoying them. I was so excited to read this new one and I just didn’t enjoy it. I will agree with other reviewers the cover has nothing to do with what’s going on in the book (but yes, never judge a book by its cover).

    Furthermore, it was just a mess of back and forth timelines and viewpoints. Too many random things happened to the characters that I thought were unnecessary, and honestly, quite unrealistic. Like seriously, I know it’s fiction, but the bad luck these characters had was kinda unbelievable and didn’t add to the story. It just made me frustrated. The whole poison mushroom thing didn’t serve a purpose.

    Monk and Mallory were downright cringey. I much preferred Lucien and Hannah, and think their story should have been the book ( but maybe with a happy ending). Not that I know how to write a book (who am I to really criticize), but it seemed that the author had all these thoughts and crammed them ALL into one book. It seemed that the book could have been two, and maybe more enjoyable, so many things are thrown at the reader and nothing fully resolves. Closure is offered to the reader in a few sentences for whatever conflict. I don’t want to ruin the story for others too much so I won’t fully elaborate. But I had so many unanswered questions at the end, which is so frustrating.

    The ending was rushed and unrealistic. How can Monk just be okay with what happened between Mallory and his dad (this issue between the dad and Mallory was also just unnecessary. Why, why, why? Was it to check the box for the me too movement?). Why just throw a rape scene at the reader so random and unexpected? Readers need a trigger warning. I don’t think it added to the story, just made things more confusing and weird.

    I gave it three stars because I genuinely wanted to know how it ended and I really enjoyed Hannah and Lucien’s love story. Otherwise, 1 star for Monk and Mallory.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2025
    As usual, this one will also germinate inside my skull for a time.
    Wishing there was more of this beautiful and fascinating story.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024
    Sydney M. Williams
    s
    Husbands & Lovers, Beatriz Williams
    July 19, 2024

    “It’s important to know where you come from.
    It’s a part of you. But it doesn’t have to define you.”
    Husbands & Lovers, 2024
    Beatriz Williams

    Full disclosure: Beatriz is my daughter-in-law, which, in part, explains my interest in this, her latest novel. Nevertheless, in my opinion (biased though it may be), this is her best. There were times when I laughed and, at other times, teared-up. While there are a few scenes that would have made Grace Metalious blush, her descriptions of War-torn Hungary, of Cairo in late 1951 and early ‘52, and of current-day Winthrop Island (aka Fishers Island) would have impressed James Michener. And her surprise ending would have surprised O. Henry.

    The book is a page-turner, but I would rather not relate the story – one of tragedy and redemption – other than to say it, principally, involves the lives of two women and the men they loved: The first, Hannah, Hungarian-born in the mid 1920s, experienced unspeakable tragedy during World War 2. When we meet her, she lives in Cairo with her much older British husband, Alistair, who is with the British Foreign Office. There are flashbacks to war-time Hungary. The second, the real heroine of the story, is an early 30s-something single woman, Mallory Dunne, who lives with her thirteen-year-old son Sam in Mystic, Connecticut. A medical emergency necessitates that she trace her son’s DNA.

    As in all Beatriz’s books, this novel transports the reader back and forth, in time and in place. In Husbands & Lovers, the reader starts and ends in Mystic. But most of the time is spent on Winthrop Island, the location of two of her earlier books. It is where Mallory had spent a summer fourteen years earlier as a nanny, and a place she still loves: “To go running on Winthrop Island at dawn is about as close to heaven as I can imagine…” But time is also spent in early 1950s Egypt, when Hannah, Mallory’s grandmother, is in her mid-30s, and where the revolution against British imperialism was heating up.

    This novel, as is true for all her books, incorporates Beatriz’s knowledge of anthropology and her interest in history. It speaks to many aspects of our lives: the timelessness of love and passion, that we are victims of chance, and that we must live with the consequences of choices we make. Historians provide facts and statistics of people, places and events, but it is the novelist who provides the texture that allows readers to get a better sense of the people who lived in the past. This story takes the reader through a forgotten part of World War II, revolutionary Egypt and current-day Winthrop Island.

    I have read all her previous books. There is a lot in this one. It is special.
    28 people found this helpful
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