Always There, Always Gone is a heartfelt exploration of how a family tragedy can echo through generations. Through personal reflections, letters, and photographs, Ross-Dolen pieces together her family’s past and her own journey toward understanding. It’s a moving reminder of how uncovering family stories can lead to healing and connection.
A beautiful and touching memoir.

“Always There, Always Gone” is a captivating, thought-provoking and intriguing memoir by Marty Ross-Dolen. The Genres for this novel are Death and Grief, Grief and Bereavement, Memoir and Non-Fiction. There is some historical background that is included in this book. Marty Ross-Dolen is on a journey to learn more about her family. This reminds me of My Heritage, where people look up their family dynamics. The author’s grandparents, who were in charge of Highlights Magazine, were killed in an airplane collision. Although the author never met her grandparents, she notices how this has affected her mother, who was a young girl when they passed away.

The author uses pictures, postcards, letters , interviews, and her imagination to connect with her grandparents. The author discovers that several generations of her family went to a camp. There were musically invested, and shared that love. Marty- Ross Dolen also realizes that her mother needed closure and acceptance for what happened. I appreciate that the author uses dignity , empathy, and shows and grief, and love are intertwined with family. I recommend this thought-provoking memoir.

A fantastic, memorable story about mothers/daughters and the realationships they carry throughout life. I really dove headfirst into this one and didn't come up for air until I was done.

Superb recounting of the lives of three women: the author, her mother, and grandmother, in this interwoven narrative that follows the coming-of-age of three generations through letters, diaries and photographs.
Absolutely recommended. These women will stay with me for a long time, as I could see myself and my own family in the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I can wholeheartedly say that “Always There, Always Gone” is one of my favorite books of the year so far. It is such a heartfelt and emotional story. At its core, it is the tragic story of a woman, Marty-Ross Dolen, who lost both of her grandparents in an airplane crash before she was even born and her journey of loss and grief, along with coming to terms with the gaping hole this loss has left in Marty’s life. I love the way the author described her relationship with her grandparents and the conversations she had with them in the form of different imaginary scenarios. Her story was heartbreaking and quite emotional, and I loved every part of this story. The author was so relatable in yearning to have a relationship with her grandparents despite not being able to physically do so. The writing was so beautiful and I really appreciate the author for sharing such a personal story with us readers. It is a stunning novel. I wish the author peace and happiness in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This book was an interesting read in that you both witness and experience the journey of navigating grief and redefining relationships and identity through the process. At first, you would wonder how someone could go through all of that having not know the deceased. However, through her connection with her mother and her own journey of learning about her grandmother, you begin to understand. On a personal level, it helped me to look at processing a little differently as I am personally grieving. The way she connects and talks to her grandmother through pictures on a spiritual or clairvoyant level proves to be cathartic.

There were some parts of the book that were a little slow for me but it didn’t take away from the experience.
(Reviews on IG 2/28. Amazon upon release)