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When You Loved Me
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Expected 23 Jun 26Win a free print copy of this book!
9 days and 03:45:43
50 copies available
U.S. only
A young widow returns to her late father’s New England estate, only to be drawn into the hunt for the rumored pirate treasure that consumed his life, in this thrilling and moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Husbands & Lovers.
Local history insists that a legendary pirate buried his treasure somewhere beneath Windward, the decayed Cooper estate on Winthrop Island, but Lucy Cooper never trusted the fable that broke her family apart. When a widowed Lucy returns with her young daughter to grieve her estranged father, she discovers the property’s buried under a mountain of debt, and Ben Ressler has just turned up on her doorstep.
Thirteen summers ago, a teenaged Lucy never meant to fall in love with Ben, a Dartmouth football star vacationing next door at the Peabody estate, and the object of an all-consuming crush by Laura Peabody, Lucy’s best friend. Those two weeks with Ben were the best and worst of Lucy’s life, dooming her friendship with Laura. Now Ben’s returned to live quietly in the Peabodys’ caretaker lodge, after a fatal accident ended his dazzling NFL career. He’s also the last person who saw Lucy’s father alive.
As Lucy reconstructs her father’s troubling final days, she uncovers his research on the frozen winter of 1717, when a desperately wounded pirate sought refuge on Winthrop Island with an enigmatic healer. To Lucy, this history points the way to a different kind of how to forgive yourself for the mistakes of the past and earn a second chance at love. But just as Lucy’s long-buried emotions sear to the surface, a shocking turn of events reveals that someone else on the island will do whatever it takes to claim the fabled plunder.
A timeless story of love and atonement, When You Loved Me maps both a centuries-old treasure hunt and the intimate territory of the human heart, weaving together past and present as only Beatriz Williams can.
Local history insists that a legendary pirate buried his treasure somewhere beneath Windward, the decayed Cooper estate on Winthrop Island, but Lucy Cooper never trusted the fable that broke her family apart. When a widowed Lucy returns with her young daughter to grieve her estranged father, she discovers the property’s buried under a mountain of debt, and Ben Ressler has just turned up on her doorstep.
Thirteen summers ago, a teenaged Lucy never meant to fall in love with Ben, a Dartmouth football star vacationing next door at the Peabody estate, and the object of an all-consuming crush by Laura Peabody, Lucy’s best friend. Those two weeks with Ben were the best and worst of Lucy’s life, dooming her friendship with Laura. Now Ben’s returned to live quietly in the Peabodys’ caretaker lodge, after a fatal accident ended his dazzling NFL career. He’s also the last person who saw Lucy’s father alive.
As Lucy reconstructs her father’s troubling final days, she uncovers his research on the frozen winter of 1717, when a desperately wounded pirate sought refuge on Winthrop Island with an enigmatic healer. To Lucy, this history points the way to a different kind of how to forgive yourself for the mistakes of the past and earn a second chance at love. But just as Lucy’s long-buried emotions sear to the surface, a shocking turn of events reveals that someone else on the island will do whatever it takes to claim the fabled plunder.
A timeless story of love and atonement, When You Loved Me maps both a centuries-old treasure hunt and the intimate territory of the human heart, weaving together past and present as only Beatriz Williams can.
464 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication June 23, 2026
19413 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
New England and pirates and second chance romance with a hot football player.
I really liked this one! The alternating timelines were all equally as interesting; reading about Lucy and Ben’s first and second chances at love balanced out the difficult and oftentimes gruesome lives of Winthrop Islands earlier inhabitants. Lucy and Hephzibah’s lives on the island were vastly different but there were echoes of their stories within each other’s.
Also, I have only read one other book by this author but I always love when previous characters make an appearance!
New England and pirates and second chance romance with a hot football player.
I really liked this one! The alternating timelines were all equally as interesting; reading about Lucy and Ben’s first and second chances at love balanced out the difficult and oftentimes gruesome lives of Winthrop Islands earlier inhabitants. Lucy and Hephzibah’s lives on the island were vastly different but there were echoes of their stories within each other’s.
Also, I have only read one other book by this author but I always love when previous characters make an appearance!
February 23, 2026
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. From the first paragraph I was instantly drawn in and know that this is a book I will absolutely return to. It is a beautiful story full of loss, love, forgiveness, and healing.
Lucy Cooper has not been back to Winthrop Island in thirteen years. Now a widowed, single mother, she must return to childhood home following the death of her father. He has left behind a mess of research, clues, and a crippling amount of debt in the pursuit of discovering the treasure rumored to be buried on his land.
But the biggest surprise of all is when Ben Ressler shows up on her doorstep. Lucy hasn’t seen or heard from Ben since her last summer on Winthrop Island, when life was simple and they were just teenagers in love. She knows that Ben has had a career in the NFL, but has no idea why he would be back living on this small island. As they reconnect, she discovers the devastating truth of his return and realizes that some loves are never lost.
The story spans three timelines—present day Lucy, teenage Lucy, and Hephzibah Winthrop, one of the first settlers on the island in the early 1700s. These three narratives draw you in as the mystery of the buried pirate’s treasure unfolds and we learn the truth of Lucy and Ben’s past. Some of the chapters were so suspenseful I couldn’t put the book down and others so emotional I couldn’t stop crying.
This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I just loved everything about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy Cooper has not been back to Winthrop Island in thirteen years. Now a widowed, single mother, she must return to childhood home following the death of her father. He has left behind a mess of research, clues, and a crippling amount of debt in the pursuit of discovering the treasure rumored to be buried on his land.
But the biggest surprise of all is when Ben Ressler shows up on her doorstep. Lucy hasn’t seen or heard from Ben since her last summer on Winthrop Island, when life was simple and they were just teenagers in love. She knows that Ben has had a career in the NFL, but has no idea why he would be back living on this small island. As they reconnect, she discovers the devastating truth of his return and realizes that some loves are never lost.
The story spans three timelines—present day Lucy, teenage Lucy, and Hephzibah Winthrop, one of the first settlers on the island in the early 1700s. These three narratives draw you in as the mystery of the buried pirate’s treasure unfolds and we learn the truth of Lucy and Ben’s past. Some of the chapters were so suspenseful I couldn’t put the book down and others so emotional I couldn’t stop crying.
This book is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, and I just loved everything about it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2026
When You Loved me
By: Beatriz Williams
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Williams always gives the reader a new, highly detailed, interesting novel which keeps my attention. Her new England novels always touch on a different era and story line.
Windward is a New England estate haunted with rumors about treasure. Lucy is a young widow who is trying to settle her father’s estate. She finds out quickly that the property is fraught with debt. Her crush in her early days, Ben has arrived at the estate.
Loyalty, friendship and love will be tested. I always look forward to her novels as I know I will devour them and set aside “real-life”.
By: Beatriz Williams
Pub Date: June 23, 2026
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Williams always gives the reader a new, highly detailed, interesting novel which keeps my attention. Her new England novels always touch on a different era and story line.
Windward is a New England estate haunted with rumors about treasure. Lucy is a young widow who is trying to settle her father’s estate. She finds out quickly that the property is fraught with debt. Her crush in her early days, Ben has arrived at the estate.
Loyalty, friendship and love will be tested. I always look forward to her novels as I know I will devour them and set aside “real-life”.
April 12, 2026
If a man’s proposal to me includes the following: “…laying my balls out on the table for you…” I AM SAYING NO
There was a lot going on in this book. Pirates, high school sweethearts, cancer, girls basketball, step sisters who are in rehab, step dads laundering money, amputees, buried treasure, attempted murder, a girl named “punkin,” the greatest song writer of this generation (a man named monk), and a football player who actually murders someone on the field. I do think we could have cut some of these unnecessary aspects and about 150 pages of this book (quite literally shy of 500 pages?!) and had ourselves a much more neatly packaged story.
The story itself drags on and on yet seems to suddenly skip ahead to something that you’re wondering how you got from point A to point Y so quickly (the rekindling of Ben and Lucy, for example). The dual timelines were confusing and not well labeled (then/now, i’m not keeping the years straight so I can’t be bothered with that). It is also SO classic to have someone live their lives devoted to something (Lucy’s dad and the treasure on his land) and then Lucy shows up and finds the treasure within 13 minutes (okay, exaggerating but basically).
I didn’t connect with any of the characters but found the death of the football player resulting in Ben’s seclusion to be such a random and unnecessary plot. Here is the most famous ex football player ever becoming a girls basketball coach, no one will notice. It was just so unnecessary and truly added so many extra pages to the story.
This was my first Beatriz Williams book and while i’ve heard good things about her, unfortunately I don’t think her writing or stories are for me. Thank you to Netgally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There was a lot going on in this book. Pirates, high school sweethearts, cancer, girls basketball, step sisters who are in rehab, step dads laundering money, amputees, buried treasure, attempted murder, a girl named “punkin,” the greatest song writer of this generation (a man named monk), and a football player who actually murders someone on the field. I do think we could have cut some of these unnecessary aspects and about 150 pages of this book (quite literally shy of 500 pages?!) and had ourselves a much more neatly packaged story.
The story itself drags on and on yet seems to suddenly skip ahead to something that you’re wondering how you got from point A to point Y so quickly (the rekindling of Ben and Lucy, for example). The dual timelines were confusing and not well labeled (then/now, i’m not keeping the years straight so I can’t be bothered with that). It is also SO classic to have someone live their lives devoted to something (Lucy’s dad and the treasure on his land) and then Lucy shows up and finds the treasure within 13 minutes (okay, exaggerating but basically).
I didn’t connect with any of the characters but found the death of the football player resulting in Ben’s seclusion to be such a random and unnecessary plot. Here is the most famous ex football player ever becoming a girls basketball coach, no one will notice. It was just so unnecessary and truly added so many extra pages to the story.
This was my first Beatriz Williams book and while i’ve heard good things about her, unfortunately I don’t think her writing or stories are for me. Thank you to Netgally for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Regrettably, I’m giving this 2.5 stars.
This was my second Beatriz Williams book, and after loving Beneath the Stars, I was excited to read this one, especially because the premise had so much potential. Buried pirate treasure, messy past relationships… it felt like a story I would love.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t fully work for me. It started off strong, but the story felt underdeveloped and was hard to follow between the dual timelines, which I usually love. The overall pacing wasn’t consistent—it would drag at times, then suddenly something important would happen, and I was left like “wait how did we get here already?”
I really liked the idea of the pirate treasure storyline, but I wanted more of an actual treasure hunt aspect. That was the most interesting part to me and I kept wishing it went deeper there.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I wanted more depth from them, and the relationships—past and present—never fully drew me in. Punkin was definitely the standout for me though; she felt more grounded than the adults half the time.
And this might just be a me thing, but the repeated use of certain words, especially “honey,” really started to stand out and pulled me out of the story.
Even so, I love Beatriz Williams’ writing and I’m excited to read whatever she puts out next, as well as explore more of her other work.
This was my second Beatriz Williams book, and after loving Beneath the Stars, I was excited to read this one, especially because the premise had so much potential. Buried pirate treasure, messy past relationships… it felt like a story I would love.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t fully work for me. It started off strong, but the story felt underdeveloped and was hard to follow between the dual timelines, which I usually love. The overall pacing wasn’t consistent—it would drag at times, then suddenly something important would happen, and I was left like “wait how did we get here already?”
I really liked the idea of the pirate treasure storyline, but I wanted more of an actual treasure hunt aspect. That was the most interesting part to me and I kept wishing it went deeper there.
I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I wanted more depth from them, and the relationships—past and present—never fully drew me in. Punkin was definitely the standout for me though; she felt more grounded than the adults half the time.
And this might just be a me thing, but the repeated use of certain words, especially “honey,” really started to stand out and pulled me out of the story.
Even so, I love Beatriz Williams’ writing and I’m excited to read whatever she puts out next, as well as explore more of her other work.
March 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
At first, I struggled to connect to this book, probably because I was only reading a few pages at a time. Once I gave it the attention it deserved, I was completely hooked. A unique story full of multiple love stories, a mystery, and even pirate treasure Weaving history with the present, it’ll be perfect for long stretches by the beach or pool. Definitely add this one to your TBR! Publishing June 23, 2036.
At first, I struggled to connect to this book, probably because I was only reading a few pages at a time. Once I gave it the attention it deserved, I was completely hooked. A unique story full of multiple love stories, a mystery, and even pirate treasure Weaving history with the present, it’ll be perfect for long stretches by the beach or pool. Definitely add this one to your TBR! Publishing June 23, 2036.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beatriz Williams always makes me wish I was a north eastern girl and this was no different. The characters were well developed and the mystery well thought it. I love pirates so the pirate history was a fun addition. I took off a star because it was a little slow at times, but still such a great read!
May 2, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Beatriz Williams delivers once again with a beautifully written novel that weaves together three timelines seamlessly. She takes readers back to Winthrop Island, bringing it to life with richly developed characters you can’t help but love. The storytelling is wonderful from start to finish. I highly recommended!
Beatriz Williams delivers once again with a beautifully written novel that weaves together three timelines seamlessly. She takes readers back to Winthrop Island, bringing it to life with richly developed characters you can’t help but love. The storytelling is wonderful from start to finish. I highly recommended!
February 19, 2026
3.5 stars. I liked the plot, the premise, and I like Beatriz Williams writing style. This one felt to me a little less show me than tell me. I felt like there were a lot of little conclusions or moving forward of topics, but never knowing how we got there. Loved everything about Punkin. Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.
February 17, 2026
Sadly this wasn’t my favorite Williams book. I can’t put my finger on what it was missing.
The storyline was good and I enjoyed the story overall, though!
The storyline was good and I enjoyed the story overall, though!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I’m honestly still under the emotional spell of When You Loved Me. This was not just a story I read — this was a story I felt, deeply, painfully, and beautifully.
From the very first pages, I knew I was stepping into something layered with grief, secrets, lost love, and fragile hope. Lucy’s return to her childhood home is not just a physical return, it’s an emotional confrontation with everything she tried to outrun — her father’s obsessions, her shattered past, and the boy who once held her entire heart in his hands.
And Ben… oh, Ben. He is not the golden boy anymore. Life humbled him, marked him, and changed him. And seeing these two broken souls orbit each other again after so many years filled my heart with equal parts ache and desperate hope. Their connection never truly disappeared — it only went silent, buried under guilt, pain, and time.
What I loved most is how this story explores the way love doesn’t always arrive at the right time. Sometimes it comes too early, when we are too young to protect it. Sometimes life interrupts, steals years, and leaves behind only memories and unanswered questions. Watching Lucy slowly face those memories, while carrying her grief as a widow and a mother, was incredibly moving.
And then there is the island itself — holding its own secrets, its own ghosts. The historical thread added such a haunting, almost mystical atmosphere. It never felt distant. Instead, it mirrored Lucy’s own emotional journey. Both stories speak about survival. About loss. About endurance. And most importantly — about second chances.
This was not just about romance. This was about forgiveness. About understanding. About finding the courage to open your heart again when you know exactly how much it can hurt.
There were moments my heart raced. Moments I felt anxious. Moments I wanted to hug Lucy. And moments I simply paused, overwhelmed by how tender and human everything felt.
I can honestly say this is one of the most emotional, immersive, and beautifully written works I’ve read by Beatriz Williams. After loving Husbands & Lovers so much, I didn’t know if anything could affect me the same way — but this one did. In a different, quieter, deeper way.
This story reminds you that some loves never truly fade. They wait. They survive. And sometimes, if you are brave enough, they return.
And now I need to say this from the bottom of my heart:
My endless, heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing the digital reviewer copy of this unforgettable, emotional historical fiction and romance with me. It was truly an honor to experience one of the author’s most powerful and moving works. I’m beyond grateful to have had the chance to read it and share my honest thoughts. This story will stay with me for a very long time. ❤️
This book didn’t just tell a story. It healed something. And I will never forget it.
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From the very first pages, I knew I was stepping into something layered with grief, secrets, lost love, and fragile hope. Lucy’s return to her childhood home is not just a physical return, it’s an emotional confrontation with everything she tried to outrun — her father’s obsessions, her shattered past, and the boy who once held her entire heart in his hands.
And Ben… oh, Ben. He is not the golden boy anymore. Life humbled him, marked him, and changed him. And seeing these two broken souls orbit each other again after so many years filled my heart with equal parts ache and desperate hope. Their connection never truly disappeared — it only went silent, buried under guilt, pain, and time.
What I loved most is how this story explores the way love doesn’t always arrive at the right time. Sometimes it comes too early, when we are too young to protect it. Sometimes life interrupts, steals years, and leaves behind only memories and unanswered questions. Watching Lucy slowly face those memories, while carrying her grief as a widow and a mother, was incredibly moving.
And then there is the island itself — holding its own secrets, its own ghosts. The historical thread added such a haunting, almost mystical atmosphere. It never felt distant. Instead, it mirrored Lucy’s own emotional journey. Both stories speak about survival. About loss. About endurance. And most importantly — about second chances.
This was not just about romance. This was about forgiveness. About understanding. About finding the courage to open your heart again when you know exactly how much it can hurt.
There were moments my heart raced. Moments I felt anxious. Moments I wanted to hug Lucy. And moments I simply paused, overwhelmed by how tender and human everything felt.
I can honestly say this is one of the most emotional, immersive, and beautifully written works I’ve read by Beatriz Williams. After loving Husbands & Lovers so much, I didn’t know if anything could affect me the same way — but this one did. In a different, quieter, deeper way.
This story reminds you that some loves never truly fade. They wait. They survive. And sometimes, if you are brave enough, they return.
And now I need to say this from the bottom of my heart:
My endless, heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for sharing the digital reviewer copy of this unforgettable, emotional historical fiction and romance with me. It was truly an honor to experience one of the author’s most powerful and moving works. I’m beyond grateful to have had the chance to read it and share my honest thoughts. This story will stay with me for a very long time. ❤️
This book didn’t just tell a story. It healed something. And I will never forget it.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 1, 2026
In When You Loved Me, Beatriz Williams delivers a sweeping, emotionally layered novel told across three compelling timelines: the present day, the sun-soaked summer of 2012, and the frostbitten winter of 1717, revealed through the diary of a young woman living in the shadow of pirates and peril.
Lucy returns to Winthrop Island reeling from the apparent suicide of her father. Grief is not new to her—three years earlier she lost her partner in a tragic accident in Paris, where she and her seven-year-old daughter, Elise (“Punkin”), have been building a quiet life amid lingering sorrow. Coming home feels less like a choice and more like an inevitability—a reckoning with the past she thought she’d escaped.
What she doesn’t expect is Ben.
Her high school love. Her almost. Her what-if.
Ben, once an NFL golden boy, has retreated to the island after a devastating end to his career. Time and heartbreak have reshaped them both, yet the current between them is as magnetic and undeniable as ever. Williams captures their history with tenderness and ache—the shared glances, the unfinished sentences, the way first love never quite loosens its grip. Their reconnection is not simple nostalgia; it’s layered with regret, growth, and the fragile hope of second chances.
Threaded through Lucy’s personal unraveling is the long-whispered legend her father obsessed over her entire life: pirates from the 1700s and treasure buried somewhere near their home. No one ever believed his ramblings. They were chalked up to eccentricity—perhaps even instability. But what if he wasn’t chasing ghosts? What if he was closer to the truth than anyone realized?
The 1717 diary entries add a haunting richness to the narrative, immersing the reader in a world of danger, secrecy, and survival. As Lucy pieces together her father’s final days, the island’s buried history begins to surface, blurring the lines between myth and reality. The mystery tightens its grip, raising questions not only about hidden treasure, but about legacy, obsession, and the stories we inherit.
Williams masterfully braids romance, historical intrigue, and suspense into a novel that feels both intimate and expansive. The island setting pulses with atmosphere—salt air, shifting tides, and secrets layered as deeply as the sand. This is a story about love that endures, love that wounds, and love that dares to bloom again after unimaginable loss.
Easily one of the summer books of 2026, When You Loved Me is the kind of novel you devour in long, sun-drenched sittings—only to close it with a full heart and the ache of having to say goodbye. I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Lucy returns to Winthrop Island reeling from the apparent suicide of her father. Grief is not new to her—three years earlier she lost her partner in a tragic accident in Paris, where she and her seven-year-old daughter, Elise (“Punkin”), have been building a quiet life amid lingering sorrow. Coming home feels less like a choice and more like an inevitability—a reckoning with the past she thought she’d escaped.
What she doesn’t expect is Ben.
Her high school love. Her almost. Her what-if.
Ben, once an NFL golden boy, has retreated to the island after a devastating end to his career. Time and heartbreak have reshaped them both, yet the current between them is as magnetic and undeniable as ever. Williams captures their history with tenderness and ache—the shared glances, the unfinished sentences, the way first love never quite loosens its grip. Their reconnection is not simple nostalgia; it’s layered with regret, growth, and the fragile hope of second chances.
Threaded through Lucy’s personal unraveling is the long-whispered legend her father obsessed over her entire life: pirates from the 1700s and treasure buried somewhere near their home. No one ever believed his ramblings. They were chalked up to eccentricity—perhaps even instability. But what if he wasn’t chasing ghosts? What if he was closer to the truth than anyone realized?
The 1717 diary entries add a haunting richness to the narrative, immersing the reader in a world of danger, secrecy, and survival. As Lucy pieces together her father’s final days, the island’s buried history begins to surface, blurring the lines between myth and reality. The mystery tightens its grip, raising questions not only about hidden treasure, but about legacy, obsession, and the stories we inherit.
Williams masterfully braids romance, historical intrigue, and suspense into a novel that feels both intimate and expansive. The island setting pulses with atmosphere—salt air, shifting tides, and secrets layered as deeply as the sand. This is a story about love that endures, love that wounds, and love that dares to bloom again after unimaginable loss.
Easily one of the summer books of 2026, When You Loved Me is the kind of novel you devour in long, sun-drenched sittings—only to close it with a full heart and the ache of having to say goodbye. I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Again and again, Beatriz Williams delivers the loveliest job of blending history with present day stories, in untangling secrets and stories with the ever-present thread of love.
Lucy Cooper has lived between the States, France, and England, but now finds herself returning to Winthrop Island in the wake of her father’s death. With her young (adorable, hilarious, very precocious and very French) daughter, she sorts through her family home and becomes entangled in her father’s obsession with pirate treasure on their property.
Interspersed between these modern day chapters are excerpts from what seems like a book called The Great Snow Romance. In this tale set in the 1700s, Hephzibah encounters and cares for wounded pirates on Winthrop Island, taking pains to heal and hide them as fugitives, especially during the deadly cold weather.
Lucy is physically and emotionally overwhelmed in her grief, but is a character I adore in her level-headedness, love for her daughter, and constant gentleness and banter. We dive deeper into her life as she sees her first love after a decade: Ben Ressler, former pro football star, now battling his own demons. Lucy finds herself unexpectedly integrating herself into this town with a new job, new relationships, and rekindling of this old flame. The flashbacks to Lucy’s previous summers in Winthrop add so much depth to her character and personality, and add a lovely heightened tension that only teenage romances can have.
Overall, Beatriz Williams is balancing different eras and writing styles, and doing it all with grace. There are beautiful reflections on motherhood, unconventional families, unresolved guilt, and complicated grief. On childhood friendships, difficult love, and what we decide to owe one another. When You Loved Me was a gorgeous read, and I felt completely sucked into the lives of those in Winthrop Island; it was hard to walk away from this story. I cannot wait to hear more of these stories! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
Lucy Cooper has lived between the States, France, and England, but now finds herself returning to Winthrop Island in the wake of her father’s death. With her young (adorable, hilarious, very precocious and very French) daughter, she sorts through her family home and becomes entangled in her father’s obsession with pirate treasure on their property.
Interspersed between these modern day chapters are excerpts from what seems like a book called The Great Snow Romance. In this tale set in the 1700s, Hephzibah encounters and cares for wounded pirates on Winthrop Island, taking pains to heal and hide them as fugitives, especially during the deadly cold weather.
Lucy is physically and emotionally overwhelmed in her grief, but is a character I adore in her level-headedness, love for her daughter, and constant gentleness and banter. We dive deeper into her life as she sees her first love after a decade: Ben Ressler, former pro football star, now battling his own demons. Lucy finds herself unexpectedly integrating herself into this town with a new job, new relationships, and rekindling of this old flame. The flashbacks to Lucy’s previous summers in Winthrop add so much depth to her character and personality, and add a lovely heightened tension that only teenage romances can have.
Overall, Beatriz Williams is balancing different eras and writing styles, and doing it all with grace. There are beautiful reflections on motherhood, unconventional families, unresolved guilt, and complicated grief. On childhood friendships, difficult love, and what we decide to owe one another. When You Loved Me was a gorgeous read, and I felt completely sucked into the lives of those in Winthrop Island; it was hard to walk away from this story. I cannot wait to hear more of these stories! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
March 5, 2026
Beatriz Williams has an extraordinary gift for storytelling, and once again she proves why she’s one of my favorite authors. Her Winthrop Island novels are utterly immersive, and I found myself completely swept away by this story from the very first page.
I loved the stark, wintry, desolate atmosphere of Winthrop Island in 1717, where Hezebethia and her family struggle to survive the brutal winter with the unexpected help of their pirate guests. In the present-day storyline, which begins in the fall, Ben is coping with the loss of his career while Lucy returns to Winthrop Island with her sweet daughter, Punkin, following the mysterious disappearance of her father and the death of her husband.
Lucy and Ben circle one another, still harboring unresolved feelings after their relationship ended twelve years earlier. At the same time, Lucy tries not to get pulled into her father’s long-standing obsession with pirate treasure rumored to be hidden on the island.
Williams deftly explores themes of grief and recovery when the world as we know it is suddenly upended. The novel is also about rebuilding a life and navigating the complicated relationships we have with the people we love, even when those relationships have fractured over time. She beautifully captures the complexity of life and how it is always shifting and evolving.
I also can’t adequately express how much I loved revisiting the returning Winthrop Island characters—Monk, Sedge, Audrey, and Mrs. Peabody. Seeing these familiar personalities again added so much warmth and depth to the story and made returning to the island feel like coming home.
After finishing this novel, I haven’t been able to pick up another book. Instead, I’ve let the story sit and settle in my head and heart—because it feels too soon to leave Winthrop Island and its larger-than-life characters.
I would absolutely love to see her Winthrop Island novels adapted for television. The rich historical setting, the layered present-day storylines, and the unforgettable characters would make for a truly compelling series. Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for approving me for this ARC!
I loved the stark, wintry, desolate atmosphere of Winthrop Island in 1717, where Hezebethia and her family struggle to survive the brutal winter with the unexpected help of their pirate guests. In the present-day storyline, which begins in the fall, Ben is coping with the loss of his career while Lucy returns to Winthrop Island with her sweet daughter, Punkin, following the mysterious disappearance of her father and the death of her husband.
Lucy and Ben circle one another, still harboring unresolved feelings after their relationship ended twelve years earlier. At the same time, Lucy tries not to get pulled into her father’s long-standing obsession with pirate treasure rumored to be hidden on the island.
Williams deftly explores themes of grief and recovery when the world as we know it is suddenly upended. The novel is also about rebuilding a life and navigating the complicated relationships we have with the people we love, even when those relationships have fractured over time. She beautifully captures the complexity of life and how it is always shifting and evolving.
I also can’t adequately express how much I loved revisiting the returning Winthrop Island characters—Monk, Sedge, Audrey, and Mrs. Peabody. Seeing these familiar personalities again added so much warmth and depth to the story and made returning to the island feel like coming home.
After finishing this novel, I haven’t been able to pick up another book. Instead, I’ve let the story sit and settle in my head and heart—because it feels too soon to leave Winthrop Island and its larger-than-life characters.
I would absolutely love to see her Winthrop Island novels adapted for television. The rich historical setting, the layered present-day storylines, and the unforgettable characters would make for a truly compelling series. Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine for approving me for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a reader of other books by this author, she does not disappoint in this book. The book is written in three time periods, 1717, 2012 and current day. All of the events take place on Winthrop Island. In the 1700's the island was often visited by pirates, and as the story goes a well-known pirate named, Ramsey, spent some time on the island and before leaving buried a large amount of silver. The diary of Hephzibah Winthrop, one of the first settlers on the island in the early 1700s serves as the narration of this storyline.
Present day, the main character, Lucy, has returned after her father's death to settle his estate. She has lived in France for the last years and recently lost her partner when he was stabbed to death on a sidewalk several years earlier. Her young daughter, Elise (Punkin) is a one of the most loveable characters I have ever met and the start of the book in many ways. Her grandfather was a strong believer that he could discover the treasure and spend his entire life trying to find it. His research was extensive and left behind for Lucy.
Upon returning to Winthrop Island, she is reacquainted with her first love, Ben, a former pro football player who has left his profession after a tackle of an opponent resulted in the man's death. Ben has come to the island to get away from all the media and find himself.
Ben, Lucy, Laura and her brother had spent several summers in the island in their teen years, and you are introduced to them during that time period which has an effect on the circumstances of the present-day story.
There is an element of mystery involving the "presumed" buried treasure. This is a story of romance, love, suspense and reflect in how love can endure no matter what happens over the year and brings itself to a beautifully written conclusion. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a great story with deep, rich, slightly flawed, characters you will remember long after finishing the book.
Present day, the main character, Lucy, has returned after her father's death to settle his estate. She has lived in France for the last years and recently lost her partner when he was stabbed to death on a sidewalk several years earlier. Her young daughter, Elise (Punkin) is a one of the most loveable characters I have ever met and the start of the book in many ways. Her grandfather was a strong believer that he could discover the treasure and spend his entire life trying to find it. His research was extensive and left behind for Lucy.
Upon returning to Winthrop Island, she is reacquainted with her first love, Ben, a former pro football player who has left his profession after a tackle of an opponent resulted in the man's death. Ben has come to the island to get away from all the media and find himself.
Ben, Lucy, Laura and her brother had spent several summers in the island in their teen years, and you are introduced to them during that time period which has an effect on the circumstances of the present-day story.
There is an element of mystery involving the "presumed" buried treasure. This is a story of romance, love, suspense and reflect in how love can endure no matter what happens over the year and brings itself to a beautifully written conclusion. I would recommend this to anyone who loves a great story with deep, rich, slightly flawed, characters you will remember long after finishing the book.
May 3, 2026
I love Beatriz Williams, so I was very excited to receive an ARC of this book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Part historical fiction, part mystery, part romance. This book spans three distinct timelines: (1) the 1700s, where pirates pillage and plunder (2) the 2000s, where Ben and Luce fall in love as teenagers, (3) and then modern day, when they reconnect years later when she is a widow and he is in exile. After Lucy’s father passes away, she returns home to manage his estate and finds herself entangled in the very thing that estranged him from his family… a hunt for buried treasure. Through an old journal and a modern day recap, the story moves between timelines, offering a glimpse into both the brutal realities of the 1700s and the messy, grief-filled present.
For much of the book, I had no idea how the author was going to connect these very different timelines. The novel is really ambitious and it’s pretty fast-paced and punchy from the very first chapter. The historical storyline feels so different from the present-day narrative that it’s hard to imagine how they’ll come together, but in the end, the stories all come together.
I will say, while I enjoyed this book, a few elements wrapped up a bit too neatly for my personal taste and some other things I wish had been explained weren’t. That said, the ending is still emotionally satisfying and fits the tone of the story well.
A quick note for readers: this book does get gruesome at times (we ARE dealing with pirates in the 1700s). There is also a heavy thread of death and grief running throughout, starting in the very first chapter.
Overall, an enjoyable read from Beatriz Williams. Different than her other novels I’ve read, but true to her historical fiction roots. A lot of nods to Americana, old money, and the love of sports, too. This book really is many things that are difficult to explain, so you’ll just have to read it!
Part historical fiction, part mystery, part romance. This book spans three distinct timelines: (1) the 1700s, where pirates pillage and plunder (2) the 2000s, where Ben and Luce fall in love as teenagers, (3) and then modern day, when they reconnect years later when she is a widow and he is in exile. After Lucy’s father passes away, she returns home to manage his estate and finds herself entangled in the very thing that estranged him from his family… a hunt for buried treasure. Through an old journal and a modern day recap, the story moves between timelines, offering a glimpse into both the brutal realities of the 1700s and the messy, grief-filled present.
For much of the book, I had no idea how the author was going to connect these very different timelines. The novel is really ambitious and it’s pretty fast-paced and punchy from the very first chapter. The historical storyline feels so different from the present-day narrative that it’s hard to imagine how they’ll come together, but in the end, the stories all come together.
I will say, while I enjoyed this book, a few elements wrapped up a bit too neatly for my personal taste and some other things I wish had been explained weren’t. That said, the ending is still emotionally satisfying and fits the tone of the story well.
A quick note for readers: this book does get gruesome at times (we ARE dealing with pirates in the 1700s). There is also a heavy thread of death and grief running throughout, starting in the very first chapter.
Overall, an enjoyable read from Beatriz Williams. Different than her other novels I’ve read, but true to her historical fiction roots. A lot of nods to Americana, old money, and the love of sports, too. This book really is many things that are difficult to explain, so you’ll just have to read it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When You Loved Me is the newest book by Beatriz Williams set on her fictional Winthrop Island, which is loosely inspired by Fisher Island. Our main protagonist is Lucy Cooper who has returned to Winthrop Island with her seven-year-old daughter to clean up her father's house after he disappeared one morning while swimming. Also on the island is Ben Ressler, hiding away as the caretaker for Summerly next door to her father's house after a mistake on the football field left one of his opponents dead. Ben was the last person to see Lucy's father alive, a man who was obsessed with stories of buried pirate treasure on his land from 1717, who appeared to have been on the verge of a breakthrough right before disappearing. When they were teenagers, Ben and Lucy had a brief summer romance, hidden from her best friend Laura Peabody who also happened to love Ben. Alternating with Lucy's perspective are chapters from a romance novel inspired by the journal entries of Hephzibah Sykes from the Great Snowy winter of 1717, when Ned Ramsey was left to heal from terrible wounds on Winthrop Island, hidden from the British Naval Captain who is hunting for him.
As with any of her other books about Winthrop Island, When You Loved Me is ostensibly a standalone story, but it is best enjoyed when you've read the other books as there is a cast of characters from her previous books who all pop up at various points in the plot. This book was a great addition to the Winthrop Island stories, building on previous plot points hinted at in other books, and the romance between Lucy and Ben in particular was very well done. Honestly, I have yet to read a book by Beatriz Williams that I did not love, and this book was no exception.
Thank you to Ballantine Book and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.
As with any of her other books about Winthrop Island, When You Loved Me is ostensibly a standalone story, but it is best enjoyed when you've read the other books as there is a cast of characters from her previous books who all pop up at various points in the plot. This book was a great addition to the Winthrop Island stories, building on previous plot points hinted at in other books, and the romance between Lucy and Ben in particular was very well done. Honestly, I have yet to read a book by Beatriz Williams that I did not love, and this book was no exception.
Thank you to Ballantine Book and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There’s something about a dual timeline done well that just hits—and When You Loved Me by Beatriz Williams absolutely delivers on that front.
This story moves between a present-day unraveling and a pirate-era past, slowly revealing how love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets echo across generations. As both timelines unfold, the connections between them become impossible to ignore—and impossible not to feel.
What I loved most was the mirroring between past and present. The emotional parallels weren’t subtle throwaways; they were intentional and beautifully constructed. Every revelation in the historical storyline deepened what was happening in the modern one. It felt layered, thoughtful, and satisfying in a way that made both timelines equally compelling.
And the pirate-era elements? So good. Not campy or over-the-top, but textured and immersive. There’s grit there. Tension. Real stakes. It gave the novel this undercurrent of danger that made the softer, more intimate moments hit even harder.
The writing is gorgeous—lush without being overwrought. You can feel the confidence in the prose.
I will say, there were a few conversations that felt slightly awkward or a bit too deliberate. A line here and there pulled me out of the scene. But honestly? It was easy to overlook because I cared so much about these characters. Their emotional journeys carried the weight of the story, and I was fully invested.
Devour or Nibble?
Devour — especially if you love emotionally mirrored dual timelines, immersive historical settings, and character-driven storytelling with depth. Even with a few slightly awkward conversational beats, this one is absolutely worth sinking into.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley**
This story moves between a present-day unraveling and a pirate-era past, slowly revealing how love, betrayal, and long-buried secrets echo across generations. As both timelines unfold, the connections between them become impossible to ignore—and impossible not to feel.
What I loved most was the mirroring between past and present. The emotional parallels weren’t subtle throwaways; they were intentional and beautifully constructed. Every revelation in the historical storyline deepened what was happening in the modern one. It felt layered, thoughtful, and satisfying in a way that made both timelines equally compelling.
And the pirate-era elements? So good. Not campy or over-the-top, but textured and immersive. There’s grit there. Tension. Real stakes. It gave the novel this undercurrent of danger that made the softer, more intimate moments hit even harder.
The writing is gorgeous—lush without being overwrought. You can feel the confidence in the prose.
I will say, there were a few conversations that felt slightly awkward or a bit too deliberate. A line here and there pulled me out of the scene. But honestly? It was easy to overlook because I cared so much about these characters. Their emotional journeys carried the weight of the story, and I was fully invested.
Devour or Nibble?
Devour — especially if you love emotionally mirrored dual timelines, immersive historical settings, and character-driven storytelling with depth. Even with a few slightly awkward conversational beats, this one is absolutely worth sinking into.
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley**
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC!
Initially I had a hard time connecting to this book or the characters. It wasn’t until close to the halfway point that I was really interested, which may be hard for other readers who (like me) need a grab earlier on in the book.
With three storylines to follow, I found it hard to have them as well developed as I would have liked. The one that lacked the most for me was actually the present day storyline, which was a bummer. It felt like there wasn’t much build up of the tension & love between Lucy & Ben. The history between them did not feel palpable. Even when they first saw each other again, the way they reintroduced themselves was so stiff, as if they were old acquaintances instead of first loves and she may have forgotten who he was. It struck me as odd once I read the 2012 pages, where it made it so clear that they loved each other so much. The present day just did not show the growth of their relationship falling back in love the way I’d expected.
Laura was not a very likable character, and for the majority of the book I was waiting for her to become the one behind all the bad stuff that was happening- like she was a psycho who was jealous and sabotaging Lucy. So I was pleasantly surprised that she wasn’t lying about being sick and that she left Lucy’s dad’s house to Lucy in her will- it felt like penance for the years of bad blood between them, and a nice way to close out that part of the story.
I liked the Easter egg of Monk Adams and Mallory being dropped in this book - Husbands & Lovers was one of my favorite reads of 2025!
Overall, I would say I enjoyed the way it all came together but I wouldn’t say it was a great read for me.
Initially I had a hard time connecting to this book or the characters. It wasn’t until close to the halfway point that I was really interested, which may be hard for other readers who (like me) need a grab earlier on in the book.
With three storylines to follow, I found it hard to have them as well developed as I would have liked. The one that lacked the most for me was actually the present day storyline, which was a bummer. It felt like there wasn’t much build up of the tension & love between Lucy & Ben. The history between them did not feel palpable. Even when they first saw each other again, the way they reintroduced themselves was so stiff, as if they were old acquaintances instead of first loves and she may have forgotten who he was. It struck me as odd once I read the 2012 pages, where it made it so clear that they loved each other so much. The present day just did not show the growth of their relationship falling back in love the way I’d expected.
Laura was not a very likable character, and for the majority of the book I was waiting for her to become the one behind all the bad stuff that was happening- like she was a psycho who was jealous and sabotaging Lucy. So I was pleasantly surprised that she wasn’t lying about being sick and that she left Lucy’s dad’s house to Lucy in her will- it felt like penance for the years of bad blood between them, and a nice way to close out that part of the story.
I liked the Easter egg of Monk Adams and Mallory being dropped in this book - Husbands & Lovers was one of my favorite reads of 2025!
Overall, I would say I enjoyed the way it all came together but I wouldn’t say it was a great read for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
Thank you so much to Ballantine Books for sending me an early copy of this book to read and review! Beatriz Williams is an auto-buy author for me and I was thrilled to return to Winthrop Island in her newest novel.
This is the present day story of Lucy and Ben alongside the historical tale of Hephzibah, her family, and the pirates that find themselves on her Winthrop Island property during the great snow storm of 1717. In the present day, Lucy has returned to Winthrop Island after the sudden death of her father - a treasure hunter who dedicated his life to find buried treasure on his property. Ben has returned to the island following the sudden death of his football career - and finds himself face to face with the love he never got over - Lucy herself.
From the very first chapter (oh, that first chapter!!!), the reader is pulled into this book. The historical portions of this novel are so well woven in between Ben and Lucy’s love story, and the mysterious happenings at Lucy’s new home. I loved the simultaneous tales of the property and also appreciated that the timelines did not change often - I felt I was able to truly become immersed in each of the two stories. Lucy and Ben’s love story is a lovely and beautiful slow burn, and Lucy’s daughter Punkin will steal the hearts of all readers who love spunky, witty, and smart tweens.
Fans of Williams' books will be also thrilled to know that their favorite Winthrop Island characters also make appearances in this story.
My favorite Beatriz Williams book that I’ve read. A wonderful tale of love, mystery, and healing.
This is the present day story of Lucy and Ben alongside the historical tale of Hephzibah, her family, and the pirates that find themselves on her Winthrop Island property during the great snow storm of 1717. In the present day, Lucy has returned to Winthrop Island after the sudden death of her father - a treasure hunter who dedicated his life to find buried treasure on his property. Ben has returned to the island following the sudden death of his football career - and finds himself face to face with the love he never got over - Lucy herself.
From the very first chapter (oh, that first chapter!!!), the reader is pulled into this book. The historical portions of this novel are so well woven in between Ben and Lucy’s love story, and the mysterious happenings at Lucy’s new home. I loved the simultaneous tales of the property and also appreciated that the timelines did not change often - I felt I was able to truly become immersed in each of the two stories. Lucy and Ben’s love story is a lovely and beautiful slow burn, and Lucy’s daughter Punkin will steal the hearts of all readers who love spunky, witty, and smart tweens.
Fans of Williams' books will be also thrilled to know that their favorite Winthrop Island characters also make appearances in this story.
My favorite Beatriz Williams book that I’ve read. A wonderful tale of love, mystery, and healing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Beatriz Williams once again lured me in with a gorgeous coastal setting, complicated friendships, family secrets, and a pirate treasure mystery and honestly, that was the good stuff. The dual timelines and island intrigue kept me turning pages far more than the endless yearning and extremely detailed romantic encounters. At a certain point I was basically speed-skimming the sex scenes like, “Yes yes, everyone is emotionally damaged and attractive, can we get back to the suspicious deaths and hidden treasure now?”
The mystery elements were genuinely compelling, though. I was far more invested in Lucy’s fractured friendships, her messy family history, and the whole “what exactly happened here?” atmosphere than the central romance. The historical storyline especially had real momentum. Salty pirates, danger, secrets buried for centuries. Basically the book I wanted to be reading every time somebody started dramatically removing clothing.
Still, Williams is ridiculously good at weaving timelines together and creating characters who feel layered and painfully human, even when they’re making terrible decisions for 400+ pages. The emotional tension worked on me despite myself. I just personally would have traded about 30% of the romance for another pirate clue and a few more suspicious island residents glaring at each other over cocktails.
If you like historical mysteries with family drama, buried secrets, and rich summer-island vibes, this is a very entertaining read. If you’re here strictly for the romance, congratulations, you are stronger than I am because I was over there flipping pages like I was late for an appointment with the plot.
The mystery elements were genuinely compelling, though. I was far more invested in Lucy’s fractured friendships, her messy family history, and the whole “what exactly happened here?” atmosphere than the central romance. The historical storyline especially had real momentum. Salty pirates, danger, secrets buried for centuries. Basically the book I wanted to be reading every time somebody started dramatically removing clothing.
Still, Williams is ridiculously good at weaving timelines together and creating characters who feel layered and painfully human, even when they’re making terrible decisions for 400+ pages. The emotional tension worked on me despite myself. I just personally would have traded about 30% of the romance for another pirate clue and a few more suspicious island residents glaring at each other over cocktails.
If you like historical mysteries with family drama, buried secrets, and rich summer-island vibes, this is a very entertaining read. If you’re here strictly for the romance, congratulations, you are stronger than I am because I was over there flipping pages like I was late for an appointment with the plot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh gosh, I really enjoyed this one! I was utterly transfixed by Winthrop Island and its residents. When You Loved Me is kind of a genre bender - a little mystery, women's fiction, historical fiction and romance. Upon her father's death, newly widowed Lucy Cooper returns to her family home on Winthrop Island, Rhode Island with her young (and adorably precocious) daughter. The details of her father's disappearance are murky, and Lucy tries to unravel the secrets behind his disappearance while also navigating her past relationships with neighbors on the island. Interwoven with Lucy's past and present storyline is also the story of Hephzibah during the harsh winter of 1717 on Winthrop Island. There's also a bit of a treasure hunt which added some fun intrigue!
The character development was outstanding, I really felt like I knew (and loved) them all - Punkin was the standout! I also love a childhood friends to lovers to strangers trope.
My only critique is that I could have done without the story of Hephzibah. I appreciated the historical element it added, but I felt like it really slowed the pacing. Lucy's past and present storylines were so engaging, that every time it switched to Hephzibah the momentum really slowed down. While it did add context to the origin of the hidden treasure, I don't think it really added that much to the book.
Overall, When You Loved Me was a wonderful read and I think it would be the perfect beach read to get lost in this summer! Huge thank you to Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The character development was outstanding, I really felt like I knew (and loved) them all - Punkin was the standout! I also love a childhood friends to lovers to strangers trope.
My only critique is that I could have done without the story of Hephzibah. I appreciated the historical element it added, but I felt like it really slowed the pacing. Lucy's past and present storylines were so engaging, that every time it switched to Hephzibah the momentum really slowed down. While it did add context to the origin of the hidden treasure, I don't think it really added that much to the book.
Overall, When You Loved Me was a wonderful read and I think it would be the perfect beach read to get lost in this summer! Huge thank you to Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Every single time that this author comes out with a new book I immediately get excited. It brings me such joy when a new book comes out and we are transported back to Winthrop Island to learn more about the Peabody clan and the Winthrops, and this book was full of the usual delve into the history of the island and it's inhabitants.
This book follows Lucy Cooper when she returns to the island with her daughter Elise, to take care of her father's home and property when he disappears. Lucy hasn't returned to the island in several years due to a previous fight she had with Laura Peabody, her childhood best friend. When she returns she definitely doesn't anticipate running into her old high school love, Ben, but it turns out that he is back on the island and had been around her dad quite a bit before his disappearance, and they had started to become close. As Lucy investigates everything that her father was looking into on the island, her and Elise continue to grow closer to Ben. They determine that her father was getting involved with some shady characters before his disappearance through this pirate enthusiast group, as Lucy's dad was obsessed with the possibility of buried treasure being hidden on their property. It had become his goal to locate the treasure and he had nearly lost everything in the process.
As Ben helps Lucy and Elise uncover more clues and information, the danger they are in becomes more evident. The story goes back and forth between this current storyline and a couple centuries ago with the past descendants of Winthrop Island.
This book follows Lucy Cooper when she returns to the island with her daughter Elise, to take care of her father's home and property when he disappears. Lucy hasn't returned to the island in several years due to a previous fight she had with Laura Peabody, her childhood best friend. When she returns she definitely doesn't anticipate running into her old high school love, Ben, but it turns out that he is back on the island and had been around her dad quite a bit before his disappearance, and they had started to become close. As Lucy investigates everything that her father was looking into on the island, her and Elise continue to grow closer to Ben. They determine that her father was getting involved with some shady characters before his disappearance through this pirate enthusiast group, as Lucy's dad was obsessed with the possibility of buried treasure being hidden on their property. It had become his goal to locate the treasure and he had nearly lost everything in the process.
As Ben helps Lucy and Elise uncover more clues and information, the danger they are in becomes more evident. The story goes back and forth between this current storyline and a couple centuries ago with the past descendants of Winthrop Island.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Publishing, and Beatriz Williams for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book has a little something for everyone, because it is a romance, but it’s also a mystery, as well as a historical fiction tale which focuses on a pirate story. After the death of her father, Lucy Cooper returns to her childhood home to sort out his estate. As a widowed single mom, she already has a lot on her plate, but now she is left to make sense of everything that her father left behind, including his life’s obsession of searching for pirate treasure that he believed was buried on his land hundreds of years before. To complicate things even further, she also finds herself in close proximity to Ben Ressler, her first love from when she was a teenager that she hasn’t seen in over 13 years.
This is a story told in three timelines, including Lucy’s present and past, along with excerpts from a pirate tale from the 1700s. I feel that the author does a great job in giving each timeline its own space to grow. So often in books with a perpetually changing timeline, there is one that overshadows the rest. In this case, all three were woven together seamlessly, allowing the reader to truly be immersed in every one of them.
This is my second novel by Beatriz Williams, and one of the aspects of her books that I enjoy most is that her words are picturesque, effectively transporting the reader and making them feel like they are watching a movie. The plot is well paced, and the tension and feeling of curiosity surrounding the alleged hidden treasure keeps you eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen.
Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience. The characters are both intriguing and relatable, and the story is immersive. I believe that this book would appeal to readers who enjoy romance books, but also like a bit of tension and suspense. Add this to your TBR if you are entertained by authors such as Catherine Cowles or Devney Perry.
This book has a little something for everyone, because it is a romance, but it’s also a mystery, as well as a historical fiction tale which focuses on a pirate story. After the death of her father, Lucy Cooper returns to her childhood home to sort out his estate. As a widowed single mom, she already has a lot on her plate, but now she is left to make sense of everything that her father left behind, including his life’s obsession of searching for pirate treasure that he believed was buried on his land hundreds of years before. To complicate things even further, she also finds herself in close proximity to Ben Ressler, her first love from when she was a teenager that she hasn’t seen in over 13 years.
This is a story told in three timelines, including Lucy’s present and past, along with excerpts from a pirate tale from the 1700s. I feel that the author does a great job in giving each timeline its own space to grow. So often in books with a perpetually changing timeline, there is one that overshadows the rest. In this case, all three were woven together seamlessly, allowing the reader to truly be immersed in every one of them.
This is my second novel by Beatriz Williams, and one of the aspects of her books that I enjoy most is that her words are picturesque, effectively transporting the reader and making them feel like they are watching a movie. The plot is well paced, and the tension and feeling of curiosity surrounding the alleged hidden treasure keeps you eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen.
Overall, I enjoyed this reading experience. The characters are both intriguing and relatable, and the story is immersive. I believe that this book would appeal to readers who enjoy romance books, but also like a bit of tension and suspense. Add this to your TBR if you are entertained by authors such as Catherine Cowles or Devney Perry.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A character-driven romance/thriller (I guess? Thriller seems like the wrong word) that took a while to hook me. Once it did, I couldn't put it down.
We get three timelines in this book: Lucy and Ben today, Lucy and Ben 13 years ago, and Hephzibah and Ned Ramsay from 1717. I loved the historical timeline, even though parts of it were pretty bleak. And I loved the 2012 timeline, where it was clear Ben and Lucy were perfect together and very much in love. The modern-day timeline, where Lucy is widowed and dealing with a lot of family stuff, and Ben is looking for what comes next after a freak accident ended his NFL career, was less enjoyable to me. Ben and Lucy's present-day connection is pretty faint, which didn't make a lot of sense, given the way they split up -- shouldn't it all have been right there under the surface, waiting to be brought to life? But it was like they had to be convinced the old flame was still there. We get there eventually, but it takes a while.
Lucy is raising the world's most precocious kid, and for me, Elise was equal parts obnoxious and cute. I could have done without the cutesy Punkin nickname for sure.
Ned and Hephzibah's story was great, and the perfect counterpoint to the modern-day hunt for the pirate treasure that may or may not exist.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and it was a little hard to keep up with, especially early on when we're first meeting everyone. Make a list -- it helps.
If you've read Beatriz Williams's Husbands & Lovers, look for a cameo appearance by Monk Adams and Mallory! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.
We get three timelines in this book: Lucy and Ben today, Lucy and Ben 13 years ago, and Hephzibah and Ned Ramsay from 1717. I loved the historical timeline, even though parts of it were pretty bleak. And I loved the 2012 timeline, where it was clear Ben and Lucy were perfect together and very much in love. The modern-day timeline, where Lucy is widowed and dealing with a lot of family stuff, and Ben is looking for what comes next after a freak accident ended his NFL career, was less enjoyable to me. Ben and Lucy's present-day connection is pretty faint, which didn't make a lot of sense, given the way they split up -- shouldn't it all have been right there under the surface, waiting to be brought to life? But it was like they had to be convinced the old flame was still there. We get there eventually, but it takes a while.
Lucy is raising the world's most precocious kid, and for me, Elise was equal parts obnoxious and cute. I could have done without the cutesy Punkin nickname for sure.
Ned and Hephzibah's story was great, and the perfect counterpoint to the modern-day hunt for the pirate treasure that may or may not exist.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and it was a little hard to keep up with, especially early on when we're first meeting everyone. Make a list -- it helps.
If you've read Beatriz Williams's Husbands & Lovers, look for a cameo appearance by Monk Adams and Mallory! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early reading copy of this book.
I am not normally a huge fan of historical fiction, and that's not exactly the genre I would classify this book as. The novel starts with a devastating accident at a football game involving Ben Ressler, a man Lucy met as a teen on Winthrop Island. After the football tragedy, Ben returns to the island. Lucy returns, too, though for different reasons.
The plot follows three story lines: a historical line regarding a 1717 ship wreck that was told through a primary source journal, the modern-day story of Lucy returning to Winthrop Island to handle her father's affairs (and become entangled with her father's obsession with pirates and buried treasure), and flashback chapters to Lucy's teen years, visiting her father in the summers on Winthrop Island.
This book tells the story of young love, strong emotions, and the importance of relationships. Beatriz Williams is a beautiful writer who seamlessly weaves the three plot lines together. She also developed the characters and relationships beautifully. All of the main characters have depth and emotion that keep you engaged and invested in their outcomes, and they also have relevant personal connections, such as two teen best friends crushing on the same guy.
If you're looking for a somewhat complicated and beautifully told story with many layers, look no further. You'll likely love "When You Loved Me."
I am not normally a huge fan of historical fiction, and that's not exactly the genre I would classify this book as. The novel starts with a devastating accident at a football game involving Ben Ressler, a man Lucy met as a teen on Winthrop Island. After the football tragedy, Ben returns to the island. Lucy returns, too, though for different reasons.
The plot follows three story lines: a historical line regarding a 1717 ship wreck that was told through a primary source journal, the modern-day story of Lucy returning to Winthrop Island to handle her father's affairs (and become entangled with her father's obsession with pirates and buried treasure), and flashback chapters to Lucy's teen years, visiting her father in the summers on Winthrop Island.
This book tells the story of young love, strong emotions, and the importance of relationships. Beatriz Williams is a beautiful writer who seamlessly weaves the three plot lines together. She also developed the characters and relationships beautifully. All of the main characters have depth and emotion that keep you engaged and invested in their outcomes, and they also have relevant personal connections, such as two teen best friends crushing on the same guy.
If you're looking for a somewhat complicated and beautifully told story with many layers, look no further. You'll likely love "When You Loved Me."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow, this book kept me hooked. This was my first read from Beatriz Williams and definitely won’t be my last. The story follows Lucy Cooper, a young widow who returns to her childhood home on Winthrop Island with her daughter after her father’s death. She hasn’t been back for many years but finds herself pulled into a mystery around rumored pirate treasure hidden on the property that consumed her father, while also reconnecting with Ben, her first love.
This was such an interesting read given the genre meshing. This isn’t just a romance or a mystery, it’s a mix of both with some seriously intense chapters and strong thread of historical fiction running through it. I love and appreciate a solid multi-timeline read, and it really added a richness to the story here, especially as the past and present start to mirror each other in intentional ways. It’s a sweeping story following the present day, summer of 2012, and winter of 1717, that is also very layered and emotional. It’s full of grief, loss, buried secrets, forgiveness, and complicated second chances.
The setting was also very immersive and made you feel the weight of the story. We have the classic island setting that feels slightly haunted, and the historical/pirate storyline felt dramatic in a good way.
This was such an easy book to sink into and hard to shake afterward. Overall, definitely recommend this one – thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
This was such an interesting read given the genre meshing. This isn’t just a romance or a mystery, it’s a mix of both with some seriously intense chapters and strong thread of historical fiction running through it. I love and appreciate a solid multi-timeline read, and it really added a richness to the story here, especially as the past and present start to mirror each other in intentional ways. It’s a sweeping story following the present day, summer of 2012, and winter of 1717, that is also very layered and emotional. It’s full of grief, loss, buried secrets, forgiveness, and complicated second chances.
The setting was also very immersive and made you feel the weight of the story. We have the classic island setting that feels slightly haunted, and the historical/pirate storyline felt dramatic in a good way.
This was such an easy book to sink into and hard to shake afterward. Overall, definitely recommend this one – thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really wanted to love this one.
It starts off so strong—coastal New England, a crumbling estate, family secrets, a hint of pirate treasure… it had everything I’m usually drawn to. I was hooked right away and fully invested in where it was going.
The writing is beautiful, and the atmosphere is definitely the standout for me—especially in the historical timeline. That part felt rich, immersive, and honestly more compelling than the present-day storyline at times.
But as the story went on, it lost a bit of momentum for me. I found myself wanting more depth from the characters, especially Lucy. As a young widow, there was so much emotional potential there that just didn’t fully land. The same goes for the romance—I liked the idea of Lucy and Ben, but I didn’t feel as connected to them as I wanted to.
The treasure storyline also felt a little underwhelming compared to how it was set up, and the pacing was uneven—slower in the middle and then a bit rushed toward the end. The final reveal didn’t completely hit for me either. It felt a little too convenient instead of fully earned.
That said, I can absolutely see why this will work for so many readers. It’s layered, atmospheric, and leans more into emotion and reflection than plot.
For me, it just didn’t fully deliver on the emotional depth I was hoping for.
⭐️ 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
It starts off so strong—coastal New England, a crumbling estate, family secrets, a hint of pirate treasure… it had everything I’m usually drawn to. I was hooked right away and fully invested in where it was going.
The writing is beautiful, and the atmosphere is definitely the standout for me—especially in the historical timeline. That part felt rich, immersive, and honestly more compelling than the present-day storyline at times.
But as the story went on, it lost a bit of momentum for me. I found myself wanting more depth from the characters, especially Lucy. As a young widow, there was so much emotional potential there that just didn’t fully land. The same goes for the romance—I liked the idea of Lucy and Ben, but I didn’t feel as connected to them as I wanted to.
The treasure storyline also felt a little underwhelming compared to how it was set up, and the pacing was uneven—slower in the middle and then a bit rushed toward the end. The final reveal didn’t completely hit for me either. It felt a little too convenient instead of fully earned.
That said, I can absolutely see why this will work for so many readers. It’s layered, atmospheric, and leans more into emotion and reflection than plot.
For me, it just didn’t fully deliver on the emotional depth I was hoping for.
⭐️ 3.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Winthrop Island not only is a place for second chances but one that might even hold a pirate's treasure.
Lucy returns to her childhood summer home after her father's disappearance. She is a widow and has a seven year old daughter. The property needs to be sold to pay off her father's debt but Lucy finds herself falling for her neighbor, Ben, an old flame. The only problem is that mysterious and strange things begin to happen to Lucy and the house. Lucy has to figure out what she really wants or is she destined just to repeat the past.
The novel is told using three different timelines. There is the present with Lucy as a single mom, Lucy as a teenager, and a story set in Winthrop Island in 1717. I really enjoyed all three perspectives. I liked learning about teenage Lucy and what had happened with her friend Laura and Ben. My favorite story line was the present. Lucy had faced a lot in her personal life and trying to raise a child by herself. Her daughter ,Punkin, added levity and a bright spot to the story. I also enjoyed that there was a mystery to be solved. Unlike this author's other books, this was not really a historical fiction book. There was not as much to the 1717 story line. However I did find it interesting, especially with what happened during the storm. The romance, mystery, and history made for a great novel.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Lucy returns to her childhood summer home after her father's disappearance. She is a widow and has a seven year old daughter. The property needs to be sold to pay off her father's debt but Lucy finds herself falling for her neighbor, Ben, an old flame. The only problem is that mysterious and strange things begin to happen to Lucy and the house. Lucy has to figure out what she really wants or is she destined just to repeat the past.
The novel is told using three different timelines. There is the present with Lucy as a single mom, Lucy as a teenager, and a story set in Winthrop Island in 1717. I really enjoyed all three perspectives. I liked learning about teenage Lucy and what had happened with her friend Laura and Ben. My favorite story line was the present. Lucy had faced a lot in her personal life and trying to raise a child by herself. Her daughter ,Punkin, added levity and a bright spot to the story. I also enjoyed that there was a mystery to be solved. Unlike this author's other books, this was not really a historical fiction book. There was not as much to the 1717 story line. However I did find it interesting, especially with what happened during the storm. The romance, mystery, and history made for a great novel.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Time and again, I'm amazed by how Beatriz Wiliams has this uncanny ability to take a plotline I have no real business connecting to and somehow, without me ever noticing, completely immerse me in its world. When You Loved Me is no exception.
While I was eager to be back on Winthrop Island, I at first struggled to identify with Lucy and her daughter, Punkin. Their situation was sad and unfortunate, but it wasn't compelling in the sense that I felt like a detached observer watching this struggle happen to them. I have no way to pinpoint when the switch got flipped — maybe it was when we slipped back in time to Hephzibah's story — but suddenly I was invested, and any and all plans for a reasonable bedtime went straight out the window.
Williams's characters always seem to rise above the drama they're embroiled in to feel real and relatable. Then, she surrounds these carefully crafted people with stories that resonate across timelines and transcend boundaries between what's imagined and what's real. The weaving of people, places, and conflicts is seamless, and my only regret now that I've finished reading is that I've got such a long time to wait until the next installment.
Five enthusiastic stars!
Thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
While I was eager to be back on Winthrop Island, I at first struggled to identify with Lucy and her daughter, Punkin. Their situation was sad and unfortunate, but it wasn't compelling in the sense that I felt like a detached observer watching this struggle happen to them. I have no way to pinpoint when the switch got flipped — maybe it was when we slipped back in time to Hephzibah's story — but suddenly I was invested, and any and all plans for a reasonable bedtime went straight out the window.
Williams's characters always seem to rise above the drama they're embroiled in to feel real and relatable. Then, she surrounds these carefully crafted people with stories that resonate across timelines and transcend boundaries between what's imagined and what's real. The weaving of people, places, and conflicts is seamless, and my only regret now that I've finished reading is that I've got such a long time to wait until the next installment.
Five enthusiastic stars!
Thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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