Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams Review: Love, Loss, and Redemption in Two Eras @authorbeatriz @PRHAudio

Husbands & Lovers is a dual timeline novel that follows a single mother in contemporary New England and a Hungarian refugee in 1950s Cairo as they navigate love, betrayal, and family secrets connected by a mysterious heirloom.

Summary:

Two women—separated by decades and continents yet connected by an exotic family heirloom—uncover secrets and lost loves in a tale of heartbreak and redemption. In New England, 2022, Mallory Dunne, a single mother desperate to save her son Sam, confronts painful truths about her past, including her mother’s adoption from a notorious Irish orphanage and her own doomed romance with a famous childhood friend. Meanwhile, in Cairo, 1951, Hungarian refugee Hannah Ainsworth, trapped in a respectable yet stifling life with her diplomat husband, embarks on a passionate affair amidst political upheaval, leading to sacrifices that reverberate through generations. Sweeping from revolutionary Egypt to the privileged shores of New England, this poignant novel explores privilege, class, and the female experience through morally complex and deeply human characters.

My Thoughts:

I’ve always enjoyed books with dual overlapping storylines, and Husbands & Lovers is a fine example of how this narrative style can be used to explore family secrets, romance, and personal sacrifice across generations. The novel weaves together two richly developed stories—one set in contemporary New England and the other in 1950s Cairo—both connected by a mysterious family heirloom that binds two women’s lives together.

Of the two storylines, I found the contemporary thread centred on Mallory Dunne the most compelling. Mallory, a single mother, has dedicated her life to her son, Sam, particularly since his near-fatal poisoning by a death cap mushroom at summer camp three years earlier. Now awaiting a kidney transplant, Sam endures gruelling dialysis sessions while Mallory struggles to find a donor match. This quest forces her to confront her past, including her mother’s adoption from an infamous Irish orphanage and her teenage romance with her childhood best friend, Monk Adams, who is now a globally adored singer-songwriter. Mallory’s story is deeply emotional, and her relationship with Monk adds layers of nostalgia, heartbreak, and hope.

The historical storyline focuses on Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refugee living in Cairo in 1951. While I appreciated the atmospheric setting and the tensions of a city on the brink of revolution, I struggled to stay connected to Hannah’s journey at times. Married to a British diplomat, Hannah embarks on a passionate affair with a mysterious hotel manager, partly in hopes of finally conceiving a child. As the political unrest in Egypt escalates, Hannah faces life-changing decisions that ultimately reverberate through the generations. While her story didn’t resonate with me as much as Mallory’s, it added depth to the novel’s exploration of love, loss, and sacrifice.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Halen Laser and Caroline Hewitt, and found their performances excellent. Laser’s voice perfectly captured Mallory’s resilience and vulnerability, while Hewitt brought Hannah’s glamour and turmoil to life. The narrators’ distinct styles made it easy to follow the shifts between timelines, and I’d highly recommend the audiobook to fellow listeners.

Final Thoughts:

Husbands & Lovers is a bittersweet and evocative story about privilege, class, and the enduring ties between generations. While I was more drawn to the contemporary storyline, I appreciated how the two narratives came together, linked by a mysterious bracelet and the secrets it held. Beatriz Williams brings her characters and their worlds vividly to life, making this a memorable read.

You Might Also Enjoy:

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand