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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
It's not summer for me if I don't read a Beatriz Williams story. This one is again set on fictional Winthrop Island, and finds Audrey accompanying her mother, Meredith, back home to the island to dry out before she loses her upcoming role in a film. We find some of the same characters from other Winthrop books there, and there's some romance, a bit of mystery, and a lot of fun. I find Williams' books to be the perfect summer/beach reads.
I will say I knocked a star off for the excessive use of the F word. Normally, it doesn't bother me, but good heavens, three to five times per page just pulled me out of the story and got repetitive.
I will say I knocked a star off for the excessive use of the F word. Normally, it doesn't bother me, but good heavens, three to five times per page just pulled me out of the story and got repetitive.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you!
I enjoyed returning to Winthrop Island and some of the characters from Husbands and Lovers in this book (though this is a standalone novel). I thought Meredith and Audrey were both interesting characters, and I liked how Providence Dare's account of the sinking of the Atlantic was woven into the novel. Overall, it was a pretty unique read.
I enjoyed returning to Winthrop Island and some of the characters from Husbands and Lovers in this book (though this is a standalone novel). I thought Meredith and Audrey were both interesting characters, and I liked how Providence Dare's account of the sinking of the Atlantic was woven into the novel. Overall, it was a pretty unique read.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved Husbands and Lovers, so I was looking forward to this, and it didn't disappoint! The plot sounds convoluted, but I was quite impressed with how clear Williams made everything and how the different timelines made complete sense together. In the present day, Audrey Fisher has gone to Winthrop Island for the summer to make sure her famous actor Meredith stays sober after going to rehab. In another timeline twenty years ago, Meredith is a teenager on Winthrop Island, navigating a maybe-relationship with her best friend and coping after a tragic sailing accident. And in the 1800s, Providence Dare boards a steamship in the wake of her master's tragic death, but she's in for a horrible night as the steamship will run aground in less than 24 hours. It's not clear in the beginning how the timelines are connected, but you get there eventually and I loved it.
A lot of the characters in this book are not exactly upstanding people, but I enjoyed that. The relationships in this story are so complicated - you'd need 500 pages alone to explain and decipher Audrey and Meredith's dynamic - and it made for a really compelling narrative. I thought some of the loose ends were tied up a bit too neatly at the end, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. I also loved the 1800s steamship storyline a lot more than I expected. Overall, another tour de force from Beatriz Williams!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
A lot of the characters in this book are not exactly upstanding people, but I enjoyed that. The relationships in this story are so complicated - you'd need 500 pages alone to explain and decipher Audrey and Meredith's dynamic - and it made for a really compelling narrative. I thought some of the loose ends were tied up a bit too neatly at the end, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment. I also loved the 1800s steamship storyline a lot more than I expected. Overall, another tour de force from Beatriz Williams!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Okay this is just as much a ramble as review (I mean that’s my brand I guess lol) but I highly enjoyed this book!
Beatriz Williams is back and better than ever! This new novel from her has all the nods you want to her older books, and a triple timeline between these three connected women.
In the present-day, we’ve got a grittier heroine than usual (loved!) and a cinnamon roll of a guy on the side. Audrey is a chef who’s just been left by her husband - she’s charged with drying out her actress mother Meredith for the summer so she can go on set. They as life themselves away go Winthrop Island, where Audrey’s dad owns a bar and Meredith’s past is in the forefront.
The middle timeline is during Meredith’s late teen years, when she’s desperate to leave Winthrop, and learning she’s pregnant with Audrey. The far past is an account of the wreckage and sinking of a ship just off Winthrop Island, by a passenger who had escaped arrest for the murder of her employer.
It sounds complicated, but in Beatriz we trust, because she is a master storyteller. She keeps you interest in each storyline, weaving flawlessly each character to the others. Every time I sat down to read, I didn’t want to get up.
The ending in particular is an absolute perfection - unforeseen events are unfolding quickly, but we really get a beautiful resolution on all sides.
The little Easter eggs of many of BW’s other stories really made me want to finish her backlist!! Highly recommend reading anything by her - they do stand alone quite well! This one is a very cool take on historical fiction with a perfectly exciting present-day line!
Beatriz Williams is back and better than ever! This new novel from her has all the nods you want to her older books, and a triple timeline between these three connected women.
In the present-day, we’ve got a grittier heroine than usual (loved!) and a cinnamon roll of a guy on the side. Audrey is a chef who’s just been left by her husband - she’s charged with drying out her actress mother Meredith for the summer so she can go on set. They as life themselves away go Winthrop Island, where Audrey’s dad owns a bar and Meredith’s past is in the forefront.
The middle timeline is during Meredith’s late teen years, when she’s desperate to leave Winthrop, and learning she’s pregnant with Audrey. The far past is an account of the wreckage and sinking of a ship just off Winthrop Island, by a passenger who had escaped arrest for the murder of her employer.
It sounds complicated, but in Beatriz we trust, because she is a master storyteller. She keeps you interest in each storyline, weaving flawlessly each character to the others. Every time I sat down to read, I didn’t want to get up.
The ending in particular is an absolute perfection - unforeseen events are unfolding quickly, but we really get a beautiful resolution on all sides.
The little Easter eggs of many of BW’s other stories really made me want to finish her backlist!! Highly recommend reading anything by her - they do stand alone quite well! This one is a very cool take on historical fiction with a perfectly exciting present-day line!
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Under the Stars by Beatriz Williams was a complicated, but satisfying, romance taking place in three timelines: current day, thirty years earlier, and 1849 when a ship ran ashore in Norwich. There were implications for each of the earlier time periods on the current one; new generations. It is a compelling historical drama as well as a complicated modern romance. On the ship was a young woman running from an illicit love affair that ended in the death of her lover. She was to be charged. There was a policeman on board with a warrant. What happened next was not to be believed. In the current day, Audrey has brought her mother, Meredith “home” to continue her recovery. She had been sober for five weeks and it was imperative that she remain so until August, when she was scheduled to make a movie; a part that was perfect for her. Things got complicated as the past in revealed.
The are all good characters, in their own ways: each looking for love and life. There were many obstacles, which is what make the story. I wonder how a book like this is written: the way we see it or as three separate novels that are then knitted together. There are unforeseen twists and turns that end in near tragedy too often. The plot was complex and engaging. The characters, all of them were colorful in their own individual ways. Williams always writes a novel worth reading and this one is not exception. It is full of human foibles and lack of communication, not to mention flat-out lies. Meredith made it to August with surprising results beyond leaving to make the movie. Audrey found love, with a man who deserved love. What more is there
I was invited to read Under the Stars by Raandom House Publishing House-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingHouseBallantine #BeatrizWilliams #UderTheStars
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely loved this dual timeline novel about a 19th century shipwreck and an emotional “shipwreck” two centuries later. I genuinely loved the characters, and want to go read the other Winthrop Island novels to find out more about them and their stories! I especially enjoyed the modern story of actress Meredith and her daughter Audrey, who spend the summer together on Winthrop Island as they try to get their lives back on track after some personal challenges..
This novel has something for everyone—history buffs, art aficionados, and even foodies. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend moving it to the top of your summer reading list!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This novel has something for everyone—history buffs, art aficionados, and even foodies. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend moving it to the top of your summer reading list!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
UNDER THE STARS
BY BEATRIZ WILLIAMS
This was a rich blend of historical fiction and mystery with a tolerable amount of romance stirred in. I say that as romance is not a favorite genre of mine.
Something that surprised me was that the oldest timeline (there were three) was the story of a New England shipwreck in 1846 and I found it fascinating. Usually I do not enjoy reading about ships, trains or submarines. Sounds like I have a bit of claustrophobia even when I am reading!
A well developed storyline let alone 3 timelines are difficult to manage but to also write interesting characters who develop well along the storyline are a thing of creative artistry.
In this novel Williams has fiesty women, a knight in shining armor and morally grey characters which are always fun to read, at least for me they are. The characters were constantly surprising me with their decisions and behavior.
This intriguing novel wove family history, mystery and romance in a most satisfying way.
The end of this story took me by complete surprise. I definetely did not see the huge buildup coming at all.
For me this was a 4.25 on a 5 star scale.
Having never before read Beatriz Williams’ work before I will definitely be looking to read another.
I want to thank Beatriz Williams, her publisher Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of Under the Stars.