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Husbands & Lovers
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction (2024)Two women—separated by decades and continents, and united by a mysterious family heirloom—discover second chances at love in this sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Wives.
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.
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.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
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July 19, 2025
I was blown away as soon as I got my hands on this highly anticipated historical fiction romance meets women’s fiction by Beatriz Williams. Who am I kidding? Every time she releases a new book, I dance with joy and make sure to carve out enough time to immerse myself fully in the remarkable journeys with her memorable characters until my eyes can't stay open (I have a rule to finish her books in one sitting, but due to the length of the text, sometimes it becomes more challenging than I can endure).
Anyway, if you ask me if I enjoyed this ride, I can enthusiastically scream “yes”, especially because the parts featuring Mallory resonated with me so intensely. I loved her character development: her endurance, tough, witty demeanor, her connection and devotion to her son Sam, and when I read about her past, uncovering the big mystery that forces her to keep secrets, I loved her even more. Her unfinished love story with Monk broke my heart.
Now, let’s talk more about the plot: there are two (actually three) timelines, and even though they center on Mallory Dunne and Hannah Ainsworth’s narratives, we also get limited perspectives from their lovers’ voices, which piqued my interest because I enjoyed seeing how these incredible women changed the course of the men’s lives and made them simmer in love.
The story begins in New England in 2022, where Mallory Dunne, a single mom barely making ends meet to take care of her 10-year-old son Sam, receives terrible news that pushes her to drive three hours to the hospital where Sam has been airlifted after being poisoned by toxic mushrooms at his summer camp. His condition requires a kidney transplant, and unfortunately, both Mallory and her sister Paige are not suitable donors. Their estranged father is not an option she wants to consider. And of course, she has no intention of asking the father of her child, the famous songwriter Monk Adams, whom she hasn’t seen since 2008 due to tragic events that separated them. Unfortunately, Monk is about to marry a famous influencer, so there’s no way she can face him, even for the sake of their child he never met.
But there’s one more lead that Mallory can follow. She discovers her mother was adopted, which means there might be relatives she never met who could help her as potential donors, leading her story to intersect with another timeline: Cairo, 1951.
In Cairo, we're introduced to Hannah Ainsworth: a Hungarian refugee still suffering from the aftereffects of the tragedy she endured during the war, married to a respectable British diplomat. Her husband's health condition leads him to an office job in Cairo, where Hannah is bitten by a snake and saved by the charismatic hotel manager Lucien Beck. This encounter changes her life forever, as a passionate forbidden relationship puts Hannah between two men and forces her to make a decision between two different life paths. As soon as she discovers she’s expecting, the choice she has to make becomes even more imminent and crucial.
Overall, I love both timelines and the well-developed characterization, but you may guess I rooted for Mallory & Monk’s story that takes place between 2008 and 2022, as it engaged me a little more. Take your napkins with you when you start reading this book to savor the emotional ride fully. Definitely one of the best historical fiction and women’s fiction of the year that you shouldn’t miss; it highly deserved my shiny five stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this remarkable book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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Anyway, if you ask me if I enjoyed this ride, I can enthusiastically scream “yes”, especially because the parts featuring Mallory resonated with me so intensely. I loved her character development: her endurance, tough, witty demeanor, her connection and devotion to her son Sam, and when I read about her past, uncovering the big mystery that forces her to keep secrets, I loved her even more. Her unfinished love story with Monk broke my heart.
Now, let’s talk more about the plot: there are two (actually three) timelines, and even though they center on Mallory Dunne and Hannah Ainsworth’s narratives, we also get limited perspectives from their lovers’ voices, which piqued my interest because I enjoyed seeing how these incredible women changed the course of the men’s lives and made them simmer in love.
The story begins in New England in 2022, where Mallory Dunne, a single mom barely making ends meet to take care of her 10-year-old son Sam, receives terrible news that pushes her to drive three hours to the hospital where Sam has been airlifted after being poisoned by toxic mushrooms at his summer camp. His condition requires a kidney transplant, and unfortunately, both Mallory and her sister Paige are not suitable donors. Their estranged father is not an option she wants to consider. And of course, she has no intention of asking the father of her child, the famous songwriter Monk Adams, whom she hasn’t seen since 2008 due to tragic events that separated them. Unfortunately, Monk is about to marry a famous influencer, so there’s no way she can face him, even for the sake of their child he never met.
But there’s one more lead that Mallory can follow. She discovers her mother was adopted, which means there might be relatives she never met who could help her as potential donors, leading her story to intersect with another timeline: Cairo, 1951.
In Cairo, we're introduced to Hannah Ainsworth: a Hungarian refugee still suffering from the aftereffects of the tragedy she endured during the war, married to a respectable British diplomat. Her husband's health condition leads him to an office job in Cairo, where Hannah is bitten by a snake and saved by the charismatic hotel manager Lucien Beck. This encounter changes her life forever, as a passionate forbidden relationship puts Hannah between two men and forces her to make a decision between two different life paths. As soon as she discovers she’s expecting, the choice she has to make becomes even more imminent and crucial.
Overall, I love both timelines and the well-developed characterization, but you may guess I rooted for Mallory & Monk’s story that takes place between 2008 and 2022, as it engaged me a little more. Take your napkins with you when you start reading this book to savor the emotional ride fully. Definitely one of the best historical fiction and women’s fiction of the year that you shouldn’t miss; it highly deserved my shiny five stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for sharing this remarkable book’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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July 5, 2024
This book had a lot of potential. We follow two timelines — Hannah, a young European wife living in Egypt in the 1950s, and Mallory, a mother living in New England in the present day reunited with a long lost love of the past. There was a lot I enjoyed — The characters (at least in the Hannah’s story) were well-developed, the writing was compelling, the set-up was intriguing… and yet… by about halfway through the novel, I was confused about why this book had the historical timeline at all. Hannah’s story felt like it needed to be more fully fleshed out. It actually had a really compelling story but it was a tiny part of the book compared to the Mallory’s story, and while they were related, they didn’t really feel intertwined and it felt like the book would have been stronger without the historical story at all. Or maybe that story should have been its own book. It just felt like the author was trying to force the two together in a dual-timeline story because it’s so popular in the genre. I don’t know… There was a lot I enjoyed but ultimately, the historical timeline felt like it needed to be either more fleshed out and more relevant to the main story in this book or cut all together.
Also, I love the cover but after reading the book, neither the cover nor the title match the book at all. I’m really not sure what they were going for with either. 😂
Thanks to a NetGalley and Ballantine for the free egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Also, I love the cover but after reading the book, neither the cover nor the title match the book at all. I’m really not sure what they were going for with either. 😂
Thanks to a NetGalley and Ballantine for the free egalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2024
Beatriz Williams never disappoints! Two women in two different eras, struggling to rebuild their lives: a WWII-scarred Hungarian ex-countess now trying to adapt to life as wife to a British diplomat, a modern-day artist molding her every day around a son with damaged kidneys and little hope of a transplant. Both women are linked by mysterious lovers and an even more mysterious family heirloom that ties 21st century New England to postwar Cairo. Sensitive, thought-provoking, romantic, and entertaining.
July 15, 2024
3.5⭐️. i hope Spindrift paid for this ad space
August 9, 2024
Husbands and Lovers 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, Husbands and Lovers 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.
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, Husbands and Lovers 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.
June 19, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
2.5 stars.
I don't know what it is lately with the ARC's I've been getting but I was not a fan of this one.
We have two storylines here, one of them I enjoyed a lot better than the other. Hannah's storyline from the 1950's in Egypt was generally decent, and this probably would have been a solid three star read if it was more focused on this part. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of it, the setting and the characters had a post war essence to them that I have to appreciate.
The two worst part of this book are the two main characters in the other timeline - Mallory and Monk in "present" era (2008 & 2022). UGH. I just can't with these two. Monk is the biggest wet noodle with absolutely no sense of humor, no spark, no personality other than his love for Mallory. He is supposed to be a superstar as big as the Backstreet Boys in the 90's and yet he is literally the lamest MC ever. I don't want to give away a part of the plot, but I don't buy that he would be "cool" with the big secret that Mallory keeps from him. To just buy into it and accept it like he does is so unrealistic to me that my eyes were rolling. Everything he said made my eyes roll.
Mallory gets all this praise from Monk, his siblings and family, her sister, and every other character in this book about how great she is, and I'm sorry but I just don't see it. She has done a lot of selfish things that should not be so forgivable. She is not likeable, and yet everyone talks to her like she's the best thing on Earth.
None of the other characters particularly stand out and half the time I forgot who some people were. They are one dimensional and lack substance.
I also hate how the cover of this book has absolutely nothing to do with this story. It is half historical fiction and half sappy soap opera romance, not a fun and breezy beach read like it leads you to believe.
2.5 stars.
I don't know what it is lately with the ARC's I've been getting but I was not a fan of this one.
We have two storylines here, one of them I enjoyed a lot better than the other. Hannah's storyline from the 1950's in Egypt was generally decent, and this probably would have been a solid three star read if it was more focused on this part. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of it, the setting and the characters had a post war essence to them that I have to appreciate.
The two worst part of this book are the two main characters in the other timeline - Mallory and Monk in "present" era (2008 & 2022). UGH. I just can't with these two. Monk is the biggest wet noodle with absolutely no sense of humor, no spark, no personality other than his love for Mallory. He is supposed to be a superstar as big as the Backstreet Boys in the 90's and yet he is literally the lamest MC ever. I don't want to give away a part of the plot, but I don't buy that he would be "cool" with the big secret that Mallory keeps from him. To just buy into it and accept it like he does is so unrealistic to me that my eyes were rolling. Everything he said made my eyes roll.
Mallory gets all this praise from Monk, his siblings and family, her sister, and every other character in this book about how great she is, and I'm sorry but I just don't see it. She has done a lot of selfish things that should not be so forgivable. She is not likeable, and yet everyone talks to her like she's the best thing on Earth.
None of the other characters particularly stand out and half the time I forgot who some people were. They are one dimensional and lack substance.
I also hate how the cover of this book has absolutely nothing to do with this story. It is half historical fiction and half sappy soap opera romance, not a fun and breezy beach read like it leads you to believe.
March 9, 2025
2.5 stars
This was just not for me. I have so many issues with it:
- The really disliked the names/nicknames of several of the characters (Monk, Sedge, Pinks, Lennox/Lee).
- The book has two timelines, one for Mallory in 2022 and one for Hannah in 1951. I didn’t care for the latter at all and you would miss nothing if you just skipped those chapters entirely.
- There are weird parts where Mallory is suddenly talking directly to the reader as if they are already a big fan of Monk and his songs. It’s awkward and I don’t like it.
- Spindrift, a brand of canned sparkling water I have never heard of before, is mentioned seven times in the book. Either the author just really likes it or this is some kind of weird product placement advertising.
This was just not for me. I have so many issues with it:
- The really disliked the names/nicknames of several of the characters (Monk, Sedge, Pinks, Lennox/Lee).
- The book has two timelines, one for Mallory in 2022 and one for Hannah in 1951. I didn’t care for the latter at all and you would miss nothing if you just skipped those chapters entirely.
- There are weird parts where Mallory is suddenly talking directly to the reader as if they are already a big fan of Monk and his songs. It’s awkward and I don’t like it.
- Spindrift, a brand of canned sparkling water I have never heard of before, is mentioned seven times in the book. Either the author just really likes it or this is some kind of weird product placement advertising.
Want to read
April 2, 2024I DNFed Husbands & Lovers because I disliked the main heroine so much. She's an emotional hot mess, stubbornly allows her kid to suffer, and refuses to listen to anyone. I couldn't get past the first 20%.
**Thank you to Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
**Thank you to Ballantine Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
March 2, 2025
Beatriz Williams never ceases to amaze me…the writing is vivid and beautiful - even the difficult parts.
HUSBANDS AND LOVERS is told through the alternating voices of Hannah and Mallory. Hannah is a survivor of WWII and life’s hardships thrown her way afterwards. Mallory is a young woman in love with her best friend and every experience that normally comes with that wonderful feeling - except an unexpected discovery and an unwanted event that changes the trajectory of her dreams.
A touching story told across time and worldwide locations.
HUSBANDS AND LOVERS is told through the alternating voices of Hannah and Mallory. Hannah is a survivor of WWII and life’s hardships thrown her way afterwards. Mallory is a young woman in love with her best friend and every experience that normally comes with that wonderful feeling - except an unexpected discovery and an unwanted event that changes the trajectory of her dreams.
A touching story told across time and worldwide locations.
July 7, 2024
I don’t get what everyone sees in this book. Unless you’re just living through a fantasy because Mallory gets to be with a super super rich, hot guy. And she broke up with an even richer, even hotter guy to be with him. And of course she’s beautiful and the guy is obsessed with her. So if that’s all you need in a story, then I guess this is for you.
I almost stopped reading when Mallory wouldn’t even reach out to her son‘s father to see if he was a match for a kidney. She just would rather let her son die of kidney failure.
And this is kind of a spoiler…..but the reason why she wouldn’t reach out to the son’s father is not even the son’s father‘s fault at all. This book was so weird. The story of Mallory and her son was a completely separate story from Hannah. Hannah was their grandmother the other than that the stories don’t overlap whatsoever.
I almost stopped reading when Mallory wouldn’t even reach out to her son‘s father to see if he was a match for a kidney. She just would rather let her son die of kidney failure.
And this is kind of a spoiler…..but the reason why she wouldn’t reach out to the son’s father is not even the son’s father‘s fault at all. This book was so weird. The story of Mallory and her son was a completely separate story from Hannah. Hannah was their grandmother the other than that the stories don’t overlap whatsoever.
August 29, 2025
There are some quotes that just work, and actually can melt one’s heart. When I read this one below, I actually swooned. I wonder how you will feel, too.
“Whenever he’s in the room, you light up. You get all glowy. …Put out that candle so you can stand in the same room with him without burning up.”
I can actually feel and see that between two people. Especially the two characters it referred to in this story. But in reference to this quote, it felt like that masterful feeling of all-time love. Of course, when we are in a long-time relationship, we know it is already between us, so, we don’t need to take ourselves to places like that all the time. But when we read lines like that, don’t you just feel like “wow!” We just know what needs to happen in the rest of the story, and we hope it does, right? At least that is what happened for me.
With this story, the title is very fitting. It really is about the impact that husbands & lovers have on the main women’s character’s lives. And, as readers we are thrust into the lives of Mallory and Hannah, the woman in the present (Mallory) and the woman in the past (Hannah).
In these dual timelines, we are attempting to figure out, how are their lives going to intersect, and why. What mystery lies here, and how will it matter to the story overall? And, who are the husbands, and who are the lovers that impact them, and why?
And, then there is the cobra bracelet mystery that Mallory received from her mother after she passed. That Mallory’s mother received from her mother and wore every day of her life. And now, Mallory wears it every day of her life. What is the mystery behind it? And, is there a secret this bracelet can reveal?
This is a journey read, for both the characters and the readers, as they attempt to discover who is who and what really happened. And, in the meantime, love is found, too. In all its purest forms.
And, when people truly love each other, it isn’t just about what they want, it is about what you want too, as readers, so it becomes only fitting, when one character asks a very simple question like…
“What do you want? What can I carry to your table?”
So, will love happen with the right person? Just keep turning pages, readers. You may find yourself falling in love, too. With this book.
“Whenever he’s in the room, you light up. You get all glowy. …Put out that candle so you can stand in the same room with him without burning up.”
I can actually feel and see that between two people. Especially the two characters it referred to in this story. But in reference to this quote, it felt like that masterful feeling of all-time love. Of course, when we are in a long-time relationship, we know it is already between us, so, we don’t need to take ourselves to places like that all the time. But when we read lines like that, don’t you just feel like “wow!” We just know what needs to happen in the rest of the story, and we hope it does, right? At least that is what happened for me.
With this story, the title is very fitting. It really is about the impact that husbands & lovers have on the main women’s character’s lives. And, as readers we are thrust into the lives of Mallory and Hannah, the woman in the present (Mallory) and the woman in the past (Hannah).
In these dual timelines, we are attempting to figure out, how are their lives going to intersect, and why. What mystery lies here, and how will it matter to the story overall? And, who are the husbands, and who are the lovers that impact them, and why?
And, then there is the cobra bracelet mystery that Mallory received from her mother after she passed. That Mallory’s mother received from her mother and wore every day of her life. And now, Mallory wears it every day of her life. What is the mystery behind it? And, is there a secret this bracelet can reveal?
This is a journey read, for both the characters and the readers, as they attempt to discover who is who and what really happened. And, in the meantime, love is found, too. In all its purest forms.
And, when people truly love each other, it isn’t just about what they want, it is about what you want too, as readers, so it becomes only fitting, when one character asks a very simple question like…
“What do you want? What can I carry to your table?”
So, will love happen with the right person? Just keep turning pages, readers. You may find yourself falling in love, too. With this book.
June 27, 2024
"Husbands & Lovers" totally took me on a wild ride! I mean, we're talking about New England vibes mixed with Egyptian intrigue — how cool is that?
First off, Mallory and Hannah are like the coolest heroines ever. Yeah, sure, they make some questionable choices at first, but as you dig deeper into their stories, everything starts to make sense. And let's not forget about the settings! From the beaches of New England to the streets of Cairo, I was totally hooked on the vivid imagery.
The romance between Mallory and Monk is both enchanting and heartrending, their connection palpable even across the years. Meanwhile, Hannah's story is equally mesmerizing, filled with passion and sacrifice in equal measure. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in both narratives, kept guessing until the very end.
The whole book is packed with family secrets and unexpected twists that had me guessing until the very end. And can we talk about how it tackles deep stuff like heartbreak, redemption, and betrayal? So. Good.
Honestly, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read. It's got everything — romance, mystery, drama — all wrapped up in a super addictive package. I'm definitely gonna be checking out more of Beatriz Williams's stuff after this!
First off, Mallory and Hannah are like the coolest heroines ever. Yeah, sure, they make some questionable choices at first, but as you dig deeper into their stories, everything starts to make sense. And let's not forget about the settings! From the beaches of New England to the streets of Cairo, I was totally hooked on the vivid imagery.
The romance between Mallory and Monk is both enchanting and heartrending, their connection palpable even across the years. Meanwhile, Hannah's story is equally mesmerizing, filled with passion and sacrifice in equal measure. I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns in both narratives, kept guessing until the very end.
The whole book is packed with family secrets and unexpected twists that had me guessing until the very end. And can we talk about how it tackles deep stuff like heartbreak, redemption, and betrayal? So. Good.
Honestly, "Husbands & Lovers" is a must-read. It's got everything — romance, mystery, drama — all wrapped up in a super addictive package. I'm definitely gonna be checking out more of Beatriz Williams's stuff after this!
July 20, 2024
I love when you finish a book feeling smarter, heartened, and enriched. For a second, the author had me believing the ending was going to be different from what I originally expected. I’m so glad it wasn’t. There are three timelines presented in the novel: 1951, 2008, and 2022. The two main characters are connected by a mysterious bracelet: a cuff of the Egyptian cobra with glittering eyes and tongue. What makes this bracelet so special? Williams weaves in a little bit of every genre—historical fiction, second chance romance, mystery, and family drama, to name a few. If you’re already a Williams fan, you might recognize some of the characters, too. An absolutely perfect summer read that will transport you to the Cape, Mystic, CT, and even beyond to Cairo, Egypt.
April 15, 2024
TW/// Sexual assault, Rape
This was a real roller coaster of changed ratings for me.
This book starts off with such a zany, kooky situation happening that it literally made me say, "Huh??" out loud.
The whole impetus for the plot of the novel is the fact that the main character's son eats a bad mushroom at summer camp and almost dies.
Now, obviously that can happen, but it just immediately set me off on what ended up being a scavenger hunt to find the tone of this novel.
Was it serious literary fiction, or a humorous romp? Was this supposed to be more soap-operaey? I never quite figured that out.
A lot of the more serious details that would have given this novel more of a backbone and made me identify with, and root for, the characters, just weren't present.
I didn't like Mallory. I didn't particularly understand why anyone did, even without the fact that she didn't tell the father of her child that he had a son for 13 years and then only told him because he accidentally found out.
Without a strong reason (like if he was abusive or a criminal) that's objectively shitty behavior.
And hey, I can get behind a protag who is paying for something shitty that she did in the past.
Only Mallory never really...paid? Monk forgave her pretty quickly even before finding out the dark secret that led to her leaving without a goodbye.
He kept jokingly calling her "Miss Integrity" and I was like...why? She stole your son for 13 years. She cheated on her boyfriend to get with you and then cheated on ANOTHER guy to get back with you later on. Where is the integrity in that? I'm confused.
But, truthfully, Mallory comes by that deceitful streak honestly, because the story alternates between her and her grandmother who also cheated on her husband.
It turns out that Mallory's mother was adopted, and that her grandparents were not her mother's biological parents.
Mallory's actual grandmother, Hannah got pregnant with a baby via an affair that she had while she was living with her English diplomat husband in Cario and he took her to Ireland to have the baby and give it up for adoption.
The part where Mallory and her sister visit Ireland to find the convent where their mother was born is the worst part of the book.
I have no idea why the author decided to drag the proud nation of Ireland into this story since it doesn't seem like she did much research before including a section about the Magdalene Laundries that was just really out of place and borderline offensive.
I am not from Ireland, and it's entirely possible that someone who is from Ireland would have a different take on this but I got to the part where the author referred to driving by a sign with an "unpronounceable Gaelic name" and just thought that left a really bad taste in my mouth.
Referring to a native language that was stolen from its speakers as "unpronounceable" just rubbed me the wrong way.
Also, it's not Gaelic, it's Gaeilge, which is the name that the Irish use to refer to their language. That may be a small detail but it just feels like a basic respect thing to me.
I was really looking forward to this book and was really excited to get an arc of it, but it ended up letting me down. I'm not usually a huge lover of Literary Fiction so maybe it's my own fault for letting my expectations get too high!
Either way, one star.
This was a real roller coaster of changed ratings for me.
This book starts off with such a zany, kooky situation happening that it literally made me say, "Huh??" out loud.
The whole impetus for the plot of the novel is the fact that the main character's son eats a bad mushroom at summer camp and almost dies.
Now, obviously that can happen, but it just immediately set me off on what ended up being a scavenger hunt to find the tone of this novel.
Was it serious literary fiction, or a humorous romp? Was this supposed to be more soap-operaey? I never quite figured that out.
A lot of the more serious details that would have given this novel more of a backbone and made me identify with, and root for, the characters, just weren't present.
I didn't like Mallory. I didn't particularly understand why anyone did, even without the fact that she didn't tell the father of her child that he had a son for 13 years and then only told him because he accidentally found out.
Without a strong reason (like if he was abusive or a criminal) that's objectively shitty behavior.
And hey, I can get behind a protag who is paying for something shitty that she did in the past.
Only Mallory never really...paid? Monk forgave her pretty quickly even before finding out the dark secret that led to her leaving without a goodbye.
He kept jokingly calling her "Miss Integrity" and I was like...why? She stole your son for 13 years. She cheated on her boyfriend to get with you and then cheated on ANOTHER guy to get back with you later on. Where is the integrity in that? I'm confused.
But, truthfully, Mallory comes by that deceitful streak honestly, because the story alternates between her and her grandmother who also cheated on her husband.
It turns out that Mallory's mother was adopted, and that her grandparents were not her mother's biological parents.
Mallory's actual grandmother, Hannah got pregnant with a baby via an affair that she had while she was living with her English diplomat husband in Cario and he took her to Ireland to have the baby and give it up for adoption.
The part where Mallory and her sister visit Ireland to find the convent where their mother was born is the worst part of the book.
I have no idea why the author decided to drag the proud nation of Ireland into this story since it doesn't seem like she did much research before including a section about the Magdalene Laundries that was just really out of place and borderline offensive.
I am not from Ireland, and it's entirely possible that someone who is from Ireland would have a different take on this but I got to the part where the author referred to driving by a sign with an "unpronounceable Gaelic name" and just thought that left a really bad taste in my mouth.
Referring to a native language that was stolen from its speakers as "unpronounceable" just rubbed me the wrong way.
Also, it's not Gaelic, it's Gaeilge, which is the name that the Irish use to refer to their language. That may be a small detail but it just feels like a basic respect thing to me.
I was really looking forward to this book and was really excited to get an arc of it, but it ended up letting me down. I'm not usually a huge lover of Literary Fiction so maybe it's my own fault for letting my expectations get too high!
Either way, one star.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
Minority opinion yet again. That was... Not good. A basic story told in two timelines (each with a sub-timeline!) about two remarkably unlikeable women who are cruel even to the people who they should love and nevertheless get lots of men to fall in love with them. With lots of unsexy sex and Mallory's sister being told to f-off every third page or so for no reason, and a boy fighting for his life with an easy solution that his mother won't check out but we're supposed to believe she's a good mother? If it weren't for book group, I'd have ditched this early on.
August 16, 2024
RTC. Loved this one; much of the book added much needed levity to my life. Can’t wait to read another book from this author!
June 25, 2024
Now Available
Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite authors. I have read many of her books. I just knew I was going to love this book.
This book is an amazing story of two women 70 years apart, who paths are woven together united by an heirloom.
Mallory is a single Mom who spent her youth one summer on Winthrop Island. Mallory and Monk were teenage lovers. They hadn’t seen each other for 14 years.
A tragic event tore them apart. Mallory and Monk meet again.
Egypt 1952 Hannah is a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat. Hannah’s story is not a happy one as we learn of her life during World War II and then in Cairo living a loveless marriage.
The two stories are beautifully woven together by remarkable bracelet. Mallory discovers that she was adopted, and that the bracelet that her mother left her has ties to Egypt.
This was a captivating story. A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down
I was very fortunate to receive this advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House -Ballantine Books.
Highly recommended.
Beatriz Williams is one of my favorite authors. I have read many of her books. I just knew I was going to love this book.
This book is an amazing story of two women 70 years apart, who paths are woven together united by an heirloom.
Mallory is a single Mom who spent her youth one summer on Winthrop Island. Mallory and Monk were teenage lovers. They hadn’t seen each other for 14 years.
A tragic event tore them apart. Mallory and Monk meet again.
Egypt 1952 Hannah is a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat. Hannah’s story is not a happy one as we learn of her life during World War II and then in Cairo living a loveless marriage.
The two stories are beautifully woven together by remarkable bracelet. Mallory discovers that she was adopted, and that the bracelet that her mother left her has ties to Egypt.
This was a captivating story. A real page turner. I couldn’t put it down
I was very fortunate to receive this advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Random House -Ballantine Books.
Highly recommended.
December 3, 2023
This was one of my top reads this year! An amazing novel set in two different time periods. The first story follows Mallory, who is a single mom, whose son is ill and in need of a kidney transplant. The other story follows Hannah who is in Egypt during the 1950s while stuck in a loveless marriage during a tumultuous time in Egypt's history. Both women are strong but have huge obstacles to overcome including whether to follow their heart or not.
I cannot recommend this book enough. I find myself still thinking about it. I really hope that there might be a follow up book as I don't want to stop reading about these characters. There was so much to love in this book. The settings, one in New England and the other in Egypt were fascinating to read about and transported me from one continent to the next. As well as what they both went through and how they were able to over come so much. I also loved the way the book was written. As soon as I finished a chapter I wanted to read more. This is a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more by Beatriz Williams.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC. I am so grateful as this was a fantastic read!
I cannot recommend this book enough. I find myself still thinking about it. I really hope that there might be a follow up book as I don't want to stop reading about these characters. There was so much to love in this book. The settings, one in New England and the other in Egypt were fascinating to read about and transported me from one continent to the next. As well as what they both went through and how they were able to over come so much. I also loved the way the book was written. As soon as I finished a chapter I wanted to read more. This is a fantastic book and I look forward to reading more by Beatriz Williams.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC. I am so grateful as this was a fantastic read!
January 2, 2024
Mallory is a mother who needs a kidney for her son and must face Monk, the man she used to love, to get it. Hannah is a recovering Hungarian refugee from WWII, married to a man she does not love, who falls for a spy in a revolutionary Egypt. The two women are connected, not just by blood, but by their complicated hearts.
This intergenerational novel is told with multiple timelines, not just between Mallory and Hannah's stories but also Mallory's life in the present and her life in the past, when she and Monk fell in love when they were college students. Mallory, Hannah, Monk, and Lucien are each interesting characters with unique motivations and desires, and it was fascinating to watch them unfold. Mallory is the most developed of all the characters, and was equal parts lovable, funny, and relatable. Her love story with Monk was SO sweet and doesn't fall into the cliche traps of many romances. I also enjoyed Williams' writing style--it's poignant and sharp without being too wordy; emotional without being sappy.
However, the real downside of this book was the multiple timelines. I think they can be really tricky, and because Williams chose to include two timelines for Mallory and only one for Hannah, we really didn't get to know as much about Hannah. I loved Hannah's story so much--both her time in Egypt and the bits and pieces we learned about her background in Hungary during the war. However, I felt like her story was cut short in many places to make more room for Mallory. I would have preferred more room for her in this novel. The connection between the two women also felt a little forced. While it was a good novel, it almost felt like two novels combined into one. Both stories were so interesting they could have been two separate novels!
3/5
This intergenerational novel is told with multiple timelines, not just between Mallory and Hannah's stories but also Mallory's life in the present and her life in the past, when she and Monk fell in love when they were college students. Mallory, Hannah, Monk, and Lucien are each interesting characters with unique motivations and desires, and it was fascinating to watch them unfold. Mallory is the most developed of all the characters, and was equal parts lovable, funny, and relatable. Her love story with Monk was SO sweet and doesn't fall into the cliche traps of many romances. I also enjoyed Williams' writing style--it's poignant and sharp without being too wordy; emotional without being sappy.
However, the real downside of this book was the multiple timelines. I think they can be really tricky, and because Williams chose to include two timelines for Mallory and only one for Hannah, we really didn't get to know as much about Hannah. I loved Hannah's story so much--both her time in Egypt and the bits and pieces we learned about her background in Hungary during the war. However, I felt like her story was cut short in many places to make more room for Mallory. I would have preferred more room for her in this novel. The connection between the two women also felt a little forced. While it was a good novel, it almost felt like two novels combined into one. Both stories were so interesting they could have been two separate novels!
3/5
June 25, 2024
2.5 stars
First of all, this book is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover because the content of this book definitely did not match the vibes of the cover. So make sure you read the synopsis before picking it up thinking it's probably a light and fun Summer read. Second of all, I'm an outsider here because I've seen so many great reviews but I personally just couldn't get into it. I don't mind books with two different timelines but since the two in this book didn't come together until the very end, it felt like I was reading two separate books. The past timeline in Egypt was interesting and I would have liked to have more of that story. The present timeline was really hard for me to relate with. Mallory was a really unlikeable character from the beginning. The fact that her sister was trying to do more to save her son was really irritating. While the reason why she didn't want to contact her son's father is *kind of* justified toward the end of the book, it wasn't enough to recover my feelings for her. When I don't care for a character it's hard for me to care about their story which is why I probably couldn't fully get into the book. With all that said, reviews are mostly favorable so definitely give it a try yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
First of all, this book is proof that you should never judge a book by its cover because the content of this book definitely did not match the vibes of the cover. So make sure you read the synopsis before picking it up thinking it's probably a light and fun Summer read. Second of all, I'm an outsider here because I've seen so many great reviews but I personally just couldn't get into it. I don't mind books with two different timelines but since the two in this book didn't come together until the very end, it felt like I was reading two separate books. The past timeline in Egypt was interesting and I would have liked to have more of that story. The present timeline was really hard for me to relate with. Mallory was a really unlikeable character from the beginning. The fact that her sister was trying to do more to save her son was really irritating. While the reason why she didn't want to contact her son's father is *kind of* justified toward the end of the book, it wasn't enough to recover my feelings for her. When I don't care for a character it's hard for me to care about their story which is why I probably couldn't fully get into the book. With all that said, reviews are mostly favorable so definitely give it a try yourself.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
August 13, 2024
I have recently discovered that a huge pet peeve of mine is when a man and a woman meet and very soon after the man has come up with a nickname for the woman and uses it nonstop. I have found this in so many books recently. It's annoying and unrealistic. I'm talking using it five times in one conversation. People don't go around constantly addressing people by their name when having a normal conversation much less a stupid nickname.
But I digress. This book was so unrealistic and the characters were not likeable at all.
But I digress. This book was so unrealistic and the characters were not likeable at all.
April 21, 2025
Beatriz Williams had me captivated from the first page of this historical mystery. Told in dual timeline from Hannah Ainsworth in 1951 Cairo and Mallory Dunne in 2022 New England. Hannah is a Hungarian refugee married to a British diplomat, while Mallory is a single mother struggling to keep her son Sam alive with little hope of a kidney donor. Both women are linked by secret lovers and an Egyptian artifact.
I loved the drama, historical backdrop, and the romance in this so much! Themes of love and loss, family secrets, consequences, and redemption are sensitively explored. Highly recommend, and the paperback was just released today!
I loved the drama, historical backdrop, and the romance in this so much! Themes of love and loss, family secrets, consequences, and redemption are sensitively explored. Highly recommend, and the paperback was just released today!
June 25, 2024
Beatriz Williams is an author I really love. This book was Excellent. Had all the Elements of a Fantastic Book. It starts in Cairo, Egypt where Hannah Ainsworth is a bit of a mystery. She has just remarried to British Diplomat. Yet, that is not really a love affair. Hannah has lived through many things before this marriage and finds passion with another man while married. The book has Heat, but in the best way, there is passion, love, betrayal, and survival. Hannah has a rare bracelet that she hands down and it is a mystery to Mallory Dunne in 2022, what that bracelet means to her.
So, this is Beatriz Williams at her best. Mallory had fallen in love as a teenager with Monk Adams a decade ago on a beautiful island just off the coast of Providence, R I. There she finds wealth, deception, first love, and keeping secrets. Yet, 10 years later her son, Sam who needs a Kidney Transplant. She is back staying with her sister on the Island, but Monk is there. She can’t help but remember how passionately they felt for each other and how it all came crashing down. She is afraid to ever think about that time again.
Mallory is trying to figure out her life, which has her at the beautiful beach, but the story sweeps her back to Ireland and Egypt. She needs answers to understand herself and finally make decisions for her future.
You will love this one if you enjoy Historical Fiction, Elements of Spying, Intrigue, Wealthy Settings, and Ties that can Bind for a Lifetime. It’s one Great Book!
Thank you NetGalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballentine Books. I always leave reviews of books I read.
So, this is Beatriz Williams at her best. Mallory had fallen in love as a teenager with Monk Adams a decade ago on a beautiful island just off the coast of Providence, R I. There she finds wealth, deception, first love, and keeping secrets. Yet, 10 years later her son, Sam who needs a Kidney Transplant. She is back staying with her sister on the Island, but Monk is there. She can’t help but remember how passionately they felt for each other and how it all came crashing down. She is afraid to ever think about that time again.
Mallory is trying to figure out her life, which has her at the beautiful beach, but the story sweeps her back to Ireland and Egypt. She needs answers to understand herself and finally make decisions for her future.
You will love this one if you enjoy Historical Fiction, Elements of Spying, Intrigue, Wealthy Settings, and Ties that can Bind for a Lifetime. It’s one Great Book!
Thank you NetGalley, Beatriz Williams, and Ballentine Books. I always leave reviews of books I read.
March 4, 2024
I have been a fan of Williams work for a long time. I anticipate every book she writes.
I loved how the chapters are broken down by decades timelines and continents and how the story all comes together.
We follow Mallory Dunne in New England in 2022 and Hannah Ainsworth In Cairo in 1951.
Mallory is a single mother with a 10-year-old son Sam who is fighting for his life. He ate a toxic mushroom and the father is not in the picture. This was Mallory’s choice, but life intervenes and the father Monk is able to meet Sam. I adored this story. Sometimes we meet people who make a difference in our lives and we learn something. Other times, timing is off. Can they find their way back to each other? Mallory’s sister Paige has been there for her and Sam and wants to best for them.
Hannah Ainsorth’s life has been complicated. She meets a powerful diplomat and gets married but she the marriage is strained. She meets Lucien Beck a hotel manager after she is bitten by a snake. Their relationship changes and Hannah must decide about her life. Unexpected challenges face them all.
I was completely invested in all of the characters. Williams always draws me in with her books. She has a unique way of telling a story and invites you in.
I loved how the chapters are broken down by decades timelines and continents and how the story all comes together.
We follow Mallory Dunne in New England in 2022 and Hannah Ainsworth In Cairo in 1951.
Mallory is a single mother with a 10-year-old son Sam who is fighting for his life. He ate a toxic mushroom and the father is not in the picture. This was Mallory’s choice, but life intervenes and the father Monk is able to meet Sam. I adored this story. Sometimes we meet people who make a difference in our lives and we learn something. Other times, timing is off. Can they find their way back to each other? Mallory’s sister Paige has been there for her and Sam and wants to best for them.
Hannah Ainsorth’s life has been complicated. She meets a powerful diplomat and gets married but she the marriage is strained. She meets Lucien Beck a hotel manager after she is bitten by a snake. Their relationship changes and Hannah must decide about her life. Unexpected challenges face them all.
I was completely invested in all of the characters. Williams always draws me in with her books. She has a unique way of telling a story and invites you in.
July 23, 2024
I only finished this book because I hate not finishing books but it was such a drag to read. The book kept hinting at Egypt being a civilization because of colonialism, disregarding the rich history the country has without European forces. The supposedly Egyptian character had nothing good to say about Egyptians wanting to kick out the British and remained neutral most of the time. I didn’t see any point of this book being set in Egypt other than a bracelet (which could have easily been replaced by anything else) and that the author wanted to bring up Israel every chance she got.
There was not one mention of Palestine until page ~250 where it was dropped in a conversation between two characters (where one is described as a Zionist and not explained further). By the 1950s, the Nakba (the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, where more than 15,000 were killed and 750,000 were forcibly removed from their homes) was committed by Zionists to create Israel but you wouldn’t know it by the way the characters were talking about Israel. Paige and Mallory don’t even discuss their Hungarian side at all but rather continue talking about Israel and how they’re going to visit and learn Hebrew (but not Hungarian?).
The plot point about Monk giving Sam the kidney was straight out of a Tumblr joke online and the love story between any of these characters was lacking. This book was extremely disappointing and a waste of my time.
There was not one mention of Palestine until page ~250 where it was dropped in a conversation between two characters (where one is described as a Zionist and not explained further). By the 1950s, the Nakba (the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, where more than 15,000 were killed and 750,000 were forcibly removed from their homes) was committed by Zionists to create Israel but you wouldn’t know it by the way the characters were talking about Israel. Paige and Mallory don’t even discuss their Hungarian side at all but rather continue talking about Israel and how they’re going to visit and learn Hebrew (but not Hungarian?).
The plot point about Monk giving Sam the kidney was straight out of a Tumblr joke online and the love story between any of these characters was lacking. This book was extremely disappointing and a waste of my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
I am not a huge historical fiction reader, so when I heard Beatriz Williams was releasing a novel with a contemporary timeline, I knew I had to get my hands on it. This story was so unique and the way it unfolded kept me captivated with each page - in both the past and present timelines.
And on a side note, I'll never eat a wild mushroom again!
Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
And on a side note, I'll never eat a wild mushroom again!
Thank you to Random House for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
July 25, 2024
I received this from a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Told in duel time-lines, an intriguing story of two strong women striving to make the best of their situations.
Cape Cod, 2022.
Mallory Dunne is hoping to find a doner kidney for her 14 year old son, who was poisoned by a death cap mushroom at summer camp. She's unwilling to ask the biological father, Monk Adam's, now a famous musician who is unaware of his son's existence. But desperation and circumstances may change her mind.
Cairo, 1951.
Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refuge, now married to a British diplomat, is numb from the tragedies of her past. When the opportunity for passion enters her life, she grabs the chance to reawaken a desire for love and romance. But her passion comes with a price.
A fabulous novel of the consequences of the choices we make, the value of love and family, all encompassed amid historical events of WWII.
4.5 stars.
Told in duel time-lines, an intriguing story of two strong women striving to make the best of their situations.
Cape Cod, 2022.
Mallory Dunne is hoping to find a doner kidney for her 14 year old son, who was poisoned by a death cap mushroom at summer camp. She's unwilling to ask the biological father, Monk Adam's, now a famous musician who is unaware of his son's existence. But desperation and circumstances may change her mind.
Cairo, 1951.
Hannah Ainsworth, a Hungarian refuge, now married to a British diplomat, is numb from the tragedies of her past. When the opportunity for passion enters her life, she grabs the chance to reawaken a desire for love and romance. But her passion comes with a price.
A fabulous novel of the consequences of the choices we make, the value of love and family, all encompassed amid historical events of WWII.
4.5 stars.
July 18, 2024
This book felt like it was two separate story ideas that are forced to play together under one roof. I liked both stories individually, just kept thinking that one story really didn’t need the other.
April 27, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, dual timeline, historical fiction novel. It has likable and engaging female protagonists, tragedy, heartbreak, family and relationship drama, romance, resilience, strength, hope, and a gratifying conclusion. I listened to the audio book, and the narrators, Ms. Helen Laser and Ms. Caroline Hewitt, do an outstanding job voicing the characters.
March 11, 2025
I listened to this one on audio, and at the end of it, I was reading another Beatriz Williams at the same time. I always enjoy Beatriz Williams, I think she is an author that creates gut wrenching heart stopping scenarios, and often there are political intrigue and machinations, social class conflict, danger, loss, and war.
In this one, there are two timelines. Mallory is the single mother of a 13 year old, who had a dangerous health scare, and who is in desperate need of a kidney. A year earlier, her mother passed away, and left her the bracelet she always wore - an egyptian snake coil. In search of a kidney, she and her sister Paige are in two differing directions. One, she is placed in the bath of her son's father, a man she never stopped loving, who has become a superstar in the music world. Two, it is discovered that her mother was adopted, and her biological grandmother left her with the bracelet. In efforts to find the kidney, Paige and Mallory seek to learn more of their mother's roots.
Hannah in 1952, is married to an absolutely horrific and distasteful British Attache, and they are serving in Cairo, Egypt. Over the course of the book we hear about Hannah's first marriage (Yanoush) and earlier story that led her to her current circumstances, and then there is her current marriage, and a new shadowy figure (Lucien). It is a journey to be uncovered, to discover for Paige and Mallory who her mother was, and what happened in 2008, that caused Mallory to leave Monk. The story is what happens when life comes full circle. I greatly enjoyed it.
In this one, there are two timelines. Mallory is the single mother of a 13 year old, who had a dangerous health scare, and who is in desperate need of a kidney. A year earlier, her mother passed away, and left her the bracelet she always wore - an egyptian snake coil. In search of a kidney, she and her sister Paige are in two differing directions. One, she is placed in the bath of her son's father, a man she never stopped loving, who has become a superstar in the music world. Two, it is discovered that her mother was adopted, and her biological grandmother left her with the bracelet. In efforts to find the kidney, Paige and Mallory seek to learn more of their mother's roots.
Hannah in 1952, is married to an absolutely horrific and distasteful British Attache, and they are serving in Cairo, Egypt. Over the course of the book we hear about Hannah's first marriage (Yanoush) and earlier story that led her to her current circumstances, and then there is her current marriage, and a new shadowy figure (Lucien). It is a journey to be uncovered, to discover for Paige and Mallory who her mother was, and what happened in 2008, that caused Mallory to leave Monk. The story is what happens when life comes full circle. I greatly enjoyed it.
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