Always and Forever is an engaging, beautifully written, and artfully crafted contemporary novel filled with intense emotion and relatable characters.

These characters have so much depth, and I connected not only with the protagonist, Suzanne, but with everyone else in her story, including her pragmatic mother, Cheryl, her grandfather who feels cheated by unfortunate circumstances, and her best friend, Jay Darnell. He and Suzanne have a bond that has proven unbreakable throughout their lifelong friendship, but Suzanne craves more from Jay than only being his best friend.

I loved how the author created a deep, meaningful relationship between them, a history that ties them together, past and current events in which they help each other through trauma, such as Jay’s burden of dealing with the issues of his widowed mother, Laurinda. I also loved that Laurinda (and other characters) are human, complex, flawed, but highly sympathetic. The author portrays these characters and their backstories in a subtly effective way, and I found myself caring about each one of them, so much so that I couldn’t stop reading, fully invested in what would ultimately happen to everyone.

I highly recommend Always and Forever. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read it! It’s the kind of novel that I know I will read more than once.

A superb read. So many surprises and heart-wrenching moments with nuanced characters navigating hidden love, agonizing loss, and family dysfunction. This is a wonderful, captivating story.

When I saw the description, I knew I had to read Always and Forever. I was sure it was going to be exactly the type of novel that instantly speaks to me, one with a love story surrounded by family drama, and I was right. The cover also captured my attention, the lilacs that I learned are symbolic of two of the main character’s relationships.

That main character, Suzanne Starek, is in her late twenties, and she works as an adjunct instructor at a college in New York City. Throughout her life, she has been best friends with Jay Darnell, who is the son of two of her parents’ close friends. Suzanne started off strong in childhood, with a talent that could have led her to an exceptional future, but events beyond her control threw her off course.

Heartbreaking as that has been, Suzanne strives to achieve, earning a graduate degree and teaching American History at the college in Manhattan. But she yearns for greater professional success, as well as a romantic relationship with Jay. She has suffered for years, politely enduring his girlfriends, believing Jay would never see her as anything but a close friend.

Jay is a kind, handsome, considerate young man and a dutiful son to his widowed mother, Laurinda. She is erratically emotional and too dependent on Jay. But due to her circumstances, that is understandable, and even though she has many weaknesses, Laurinda is a sympathetic character who deals with a lot, including scandalous rumors that have always swirled around her beloved father. All of the characters in this story are sympathetic, even those who have made reckless, damaging decisions. Each is well-developed and realistic.

Suzanne’s mother, Cheryl Carlisle, is a tough lady, an ER nurse who has been able to withstand adversity, disappointment, and sorrow. The more I learned about her past, the more compassion I had for her, especially because of what happened during her teenage years with her mother, her father, and her brilliant brother. I admired Cheryl for being a strong woman and for raising Suzanne to be the same way. But they, and every character in the novel, are also human and vulnerable. There are no bad guys, just regular people who don’t always do the right thing.

Family dynamics encompass and impact the relationship between Suzanne and Jay, which is a compelling connection steeped in years of shared experience that had me on pins and needles, unsure of where the two of them might go, caring so much about where they and everyone else in the story would land.

I want to give more than 5 stars to this amazing book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read Always and Forever.

Renowned bestselling author Lorraine Zago Rosenthal, a beloved favorite among readers, returns with her fifth and latest compelling novel, ALWAYS AND FOREVER, following the success of Charmed (2024). This evocative narrative has captured the attention of critics, with Kirkus Reviews heralding it as "an elegant, slow-burning portrait of quiet heartbreak and enduring love."

In this emotionally resonant and poignant tale, Rosenthal masterfully transports us back three decades to a tragic event that set off a powerful chain of circumstances, forever altering the lives of two intertwined New York City families. The echoes of the past linger, haunting the present day as we delve into the complex relationship between Suzanne and Jay, whose lives are intricately shaped by the shadows of history and the enduring bonds of love and loss.

About...

At the cusp of her thirties, Suzanne finds herself wrestling with the weight of countless misfortunes that have shadowed her life. The echoes of her parents’ tumultuous union haunt her, a reminder of love gone awry, and the sudden collapse of her once-promising childhood career lingers like a specter, casting a pall over her aspirations.

Despite this, she holds dear the unbreakable bond she shares with Jay, yet a sense of yearning stirs within her – being his best friend feels insufficient. For years, she has carefully masked her deeper feelings, navigating the choppy waters of her emotions while grappling with her mother, Cheryl's enigmatic admonition to maintain distance from him.

This advice becomes all the more challenging to heed as she watches him engage in fleeting romances with a series of girlfriends, each encounter slicing through her heart like a blade, leaving her to linger in silent longing and confusion.

Bobby, her father, looms large in Suzanne's memories—a figure from her past whose shadow still lingers, stirring the echoes of unhealed wounds within her. The question torments her: can she ever find the strength to forgive him?

Then there's Jay Darnell, her steadfast confidant and lifelong friend. Their companionship, forged over countless shared moments, is both a comfort and a challenge. Yet, Jay remains inexplicably tethered to his complex mother, Laurinda, whose controlling and troubled nature casts a weighty shadow over his life.

The history between their two families is a tangled web of unresolved issues, continually sowing discord between Suzanne and Jay. As they navigate the deep-seated pains and heartbreaks of their pasts, hope flickers at the edges of their friendship.

Can they transcend the heartbreak of their families and discover a deeper connection as lovers, or will the scars of bygone days prove too formidable to overcome? Only time will tell if their bond can evolve into something lasting, uniting them in a love strong enough to withstand the trials awaiting them.

My reflections...

ALWAYS AND FOREVER is a profoundly moving narrative that delves into the intricacies of love and loss. The story artfully navigates the complexities of familial ties and personal relationships, examining the delicate threads that bind us. The author skillfully illuminates how past traumas can cast long shadows over our lives, influencing our present and shaping our future connections.

Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is a masterful storyteller, crafting richly developed characters who leap off the pages. The suspense and intrigue woven throughout the plot are so captivating that you'll find yourself unable to put the book down, reading late into the night, eager to uncover the fate of this gripping saga.

Laden with emotional depth, the author masterfully encapsulates the profound inner turmoil of her protagonist, Suzanne. As she navigates the haunting heartbreaks of her past, juxtaposed with Jay's complicated relationship with his mother and the ongoing strife between their families, the narrative unfolds with striking intensity and mystery. The emotional scars they bear resonate deeply, shaping not only their present lives but also the intricate web of their relationships with those around them.

A devoted fan of the author since her captivating debut in 2014, I find that "ALWAYS AND FOREVER" continues her tradition of breathtaking prose. It weaves an alluring tapestry of family drama, romance, women’s fiction, and generational conflict, all delivered with a blend of compassion, hope, and the possibility of healing.

This enchanting tale immerses readers in a poignant world brimming with raw emotions and timeless struggles, making it an essential read for anyone who cherishes the complexities of human connection.

Recs...

ALWAYS AND FOREVER is a must-read for devoted fans of the author as well as those who savor the intricacies of contemporary family dramas intertwined with heartfelt romance. This book is particularly suited for book clubs, inviting lively discussions and deep reflections. Readers who appreciate the poignant storytelling styles of authors like Rebecca Serle, Jojo Moyes, Rea Frey, Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, Jessica Strawser, and Katherine Center will find themselves completely captivated.

I wholeheartedly recommend the author and her entire body of work—each one a gem waiting to be discovered!

Interview...

I am genuinely thrilled and honored to shine a spotlight on the talented Lorraine in my November edition of #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats, a part of the captivating #AuthorElevatorSeries collection. Join us as we delve into the intricate journey of this remarkable author and her stunning novel, November 11.

A heartfelt thank you to Tribeca and Netgalley for graciously providing an advance review copy, allowing me to share my honest insights and reflections.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Nov 2025 Must-Read Books
Nov Featured #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats

This was SO good! From the romantic tension and devoted bond between Suzanne and Jay, to the crushing events of years gone by that touch their lives and their families now, I was entranced by Always and Forever. The author creates multi-layered characters and situations that are smoothly woven into an intricate tapestry. Suzanne is an appealing narrator, a college instructor living in Manhattan who seemed destined for a future that was “shiny and bright,” but big dreams got derailed, and now she copes with a life that is more ordinary than she expected. Jay knows she is anything but ordinary, and he is a kind, sweet, good-hearted guy who is protective of both Suzanne and his mother. I felt close to the main and supporting characters as they grappled with the lingering effects of tragedy, broken relationships, unrealized goals, and the psychological damage that demanding parents can cause. The novel flows with intimate first-person narration and strong writing.

Thank you, NetGalley and Tribeca Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, so Always and Forever absolutely wrecked me—in the best way. It’s one of those stories that just feels real. The emotions? Heavy. The characters? So layered and relatable it’s like you actually know them.

Suzanne, our main girl, isn’t the only one who pulled me in. Her mom, her grandpa, even her best friend Jay—they all hit different. And Jay… ugh. That kind of lifelong “are we just friends or something more?” tension had me hooked. Their bond is deep, messy, and beautiful.

What I love most is how the author shows every character’s flaws without making you dislike them. You get why they are the way they are. It’s emotional, it’s raw, and I found myself genuinely caring about all of them.

If you love books that make you feel everything—love, loss, hope—put Always and Forever on your list. Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, because I’m already planning to reread this one.

Always and Forever is on the list of my favorite books of 2025. Though the novel has a great romantic story-line, the book is about so much more than one kind of love. It’s about the bond between Suzanne and Jay, the way they lean on each other through thick and thin, that each of them can pick up the phone at any time and count on the other for emotional or any other kind of support. (Don’t we all wish we had someone like that? Everyone needs a Jay or a Suzanne in their life.)

It’s also about their families, their mothers, their fathers, even their grandparents, the pain and loss that has passed through more than one generation. Mainly, it’s about PEOPLE. People who admittedly aren’t without flaws, who make terrible mistakes, who ruin their lives and the lives of others, even those they love the most. The author is talented at painting the story-lines not as black or white but in many shades of gray, creating a novel that is raw and real and amazing. I went through a whirlwind of feelings while reading, there is more I could say, but I don’t want to give anything away, so much happened that I didn’t expect, and it was all written perfectly.

Rarely does a story touch my heart, cut so deep, and linger in my mind after I've closed the book, but this one did. Thanks to NetGalley and Tribeca Press for giving me an early copy of Always and Forever.

A realistic, relatable modern tale that pulled me in and kept me engaged until the end. Suzanne’s story is heartbreakingly honest, emotional, and moving. I admire strong women characters, and both Suzanne and her mother Cheryl are exactly that. They’ve had it tough, but they plow through and quietly, bravely mourn what was taken away from them. They are deeply wounded, but they do not dwell. Suzanne is an American History instructor at a college, and Cheryl is an Emergency Room nurse in Manhattan. I liked how competent and independent they are. I liked how Cheryl is never afraid to speak her mind in bold terms, and I liked that just because she and Suzanne want romance in their lives doesn’t mean they can’t live without it. I am also a fan of male leads who are good men, and Jay more than hit the mark. He is Suzanne’s reliable go-to when times are tough, and she is the same for him. Their relationship is not merely physical attraction but mutual affection, loyalty, and respect that has been built over years. That’s the kind of love I want to read about. It is true love. Pure love. I also enjoyed reading about the troubles in both Suzanne and Jay’s families, the way they cope with all of it together, and the way they and other characters are faced with hard decisions, most importantly whether to forgive. All the characters change, grow, and learn about each other while I learned about them. ALWAYS AND FOREVER will take you on an emotional roller coaster set against the glittering yet gritty backdrop of New York City. It’s more than worth the ride. If you crave a story that will leave you thinking about it for days, read this one.

***I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

Always and Forever is an emotionally charged love story/family drama that tore me apart and put me back together in the best way.

Suzanne’s love for Jay is simmering and suppressed. She’s been stuck inside his friend zone for so long, but getting him to see her differently seems impossible. She has always kept a smile on her face while he romanced his girlfriends, but she’s dying inside, afraid to overstep the bounds of their rock-solid friendship. She doesn’t believe he’ll reciprocate, she’s afraid the truth might make things weird between them, and she can’t take the chance of losing him.

I couldn’t blame her, since Jay Darnell is an absolute dream. He’s literally the kind of guy who would take care of you when you’re sick, even if you’ve done something that gives him every right to be ticked off. But Cheryl, Suzanne’s mother, warns that Jay is just like his father, so it’s the smartest move to keep him only as a friend, but she keeps Suzanne in the dark about what that means.

As the pages turned, I was glued to the progression of Suzanne and Jay’s relationship, following them on a rocky, winding road. I was also gripped by the other characters. . .Cheryl, Bobby, Laurinda, Chris, and Cheryl’s father. . .and the subplot about Grant, OMG, that aspect of the story really got to me. It's a ripple effect that swept up everyone else in the story. It happened thirty years ago, but it still lingers and haunts everyone.

This book is a unique and realistic depiction of relationships between flawed people with a theme of love and redemption. It will remind you of what is important and what you should and shouldn't let go.

Favorite line: “He’d left while they were on the cusp of adulthood, during a fleeting moment of lustful crushes and breathtaking firsts and starry-eyed hopes of what might come.”

A huge thank-you to NetGalley and Tribeca Press for giving me early access to Always and Forever, and an even bigger thanks to Lorraine Zago Rosenthal for writing it.

I loved this book. There was so many beautiful details through, from the family drama to where people's names came from to the vivid settings described throughout. I'm a big fan of Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's work as she manages to pull me in to the characters' lives. I loved reading about Suzanne and her love for Jay. The internal dialogue enhanced the story and it was done so well. I highly recommend this book if you want a gentle, romantic family drama to take you away.

At the beginning of her life, Suzanne Starek was lucky enough and talented enough to be thrust into an extraordinary situation that could have led to an equally lucky, extraordinary future. But then something unexpected happened, a painful twist of fate that changed everything and destroyed the dreams that Suzanne and her mother, Cheryl, both shared.

Cheryl’s father, Walter Carlisle, also had dreams for his children. He, too, was stricken with bad luck (and made poor choices) that swept those dreams away. They all have learned to live with disappointment, and although Suzanne has been deeply affected by misfortune, she looks to her closest friend, Jason Darnell, as an example of stoic silence. He also suffered a brutal loss during his childhood, and he grew up too fast and became a parent to his mother, Laurinda Serafini Darnell. She is beautiful, glamorous, and broken.

Suzanne has spent years supporting Jay and helping him cope with Laurinda’s erratic behavior. Laurinda sees Suzanne as a daughter, and Suzanne’s father, Bobby Starek, is one of Laurinda’s best friends. Laurinda often inserts herself into the complicated situation between Suzanne and Bobby, which doesn’t sit well with Suzanne, but Laurinda has good intentions. She sees Suzanne as a daughter, Bobby as a brother, and she wants the best for both of them.

She also wants the best for Suzanne and Jay. Suzanne longs to become much more than his friend, he is the only man she truly loves, but her once positive self-image has been eroded, and she can’t imagine him feeling the same way. Becoming romantically involved with Jay seems impossible…or is it?

Suzanne is a well-developed, relatable, sympathetic character who tells her truth so openly. I loved the details the author sprinkles into the story, such as the revelation about what became of one of Suzanne’s colleagues from her childhood career, the (true or false?) rumor about Laurinda’s father that frequently dismays her and Jay, and the act of kindness for which Cheryl paid a steep, scarring price.

I also loved that every character is depicted from multiple angles, showing each conflict from various sides. As the story progresses, much is learned about their past, leading to a thorough understanding of all of them.

Cheryl, for example, is now a practical, strong, independent forty-nine-year-old woman, but she wasn’t always that way. She is eventually revealed as once being a grieving, lovesick adolescent who was sorely let down by everyone surrounding her. Her marriage to Bobby was a disastrous collision course for both of them. I was also deeply touched by the story of Cheryl’s brother, Grant Carlisle, the “golden boy,” whose fate set off a chain reaction, a butterfly effect that transformed the lives of everyone in the story.

Throughout the novel, everyone, including Suzanne and Jay, grow, change, and come to new realizations about themselves and those closest to them. Finally, the cover art accurately depicts the tone of the story, and the symbolism of the lilacs comes forth as the novel unfolds.

Always and Forever is a stunning story that is beautifully told. Thanks to NetGalley and Tribeca Press for the chance to read an advance copy of this novel. It will be published on November 11, 2025.

I enjoyed, admired, LOVED this novel and its depiction of the thorny relationships between two New York families that have been entangled for decades.

Their fateful connection began when Cheryl Carlisle’s older brother, Grant, became friends with his classmates Bobby Starek, Chris Darnell, and Laurinda Serafini, who later became Chris’s girlfriend and then his wife. The handsome, intelligent, athletic Grant is a “treasure,” idolized by his peers and especially by his blue-collar father, Walter. The future looks bright for everyone until tragedy strikes, leaving so many hopes and dreams in tatters. Today, thirty years later, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell—the offspring of that older generation—wrestle with the ramifications of the tragedy and the sins/mistakes of their parents’ past while forging their own way together.

The author is a talented storyteller, creating a likable protagonist (Suzanne) who sees through empathetic eyes, and supporting characters who are realistically imperfect and not irredeemable. I enjoyed the progression of Suzanne’s relationship with Jay, and I especially enjoyed the parent-child relationships between Suzanne and Cheryl, Cheryl and Walter, Jay and Laurinda, and Suzanne and Bobby. I also appreciated the subtle techniques the author uses to develop all of the characters, infusing them with realism and evoking a wellspring of emotions.

I give my most enthusiastic recommendation for “Always and Forever,” which I received from NetGalley and Tribeca Press to read and review.

On the verge of their thirties, New York natives Suzanne Starek and Jason Darnell have spent their lives as a close-knit, supportive team, steering through the wreckage of their parents’ past while Suzanne stifles her desire to be more than Jay’s best friend. Her love for him is understandable: he’s appealingly strong, protective, and tough. He’s also sweet, generous, gentlemanly, and sensitive to the feelings of Suzanne and of his mother, Laurinda, who is still grieving the loss of her husband and first love, NYPD officer Christian Darnell. Jay also mourns the loss of Chris, his father, but he has a stiff-upper-lip attitude that Suzanne has emulated to cope with the many losses in her own life.

These losses are heartbreaking, caused by reckless, selfish, and/or split-second choices made by more than one character. These incidents from long ago spilled into the following years and the present, now coloring the evolving relationship between Jay and Suzanne. But regardless of the negative outcomes of some characters’ actions, they are all presented in a compassionate, well-rounded way. I might not have agreed with what they did, but I understood why. (My compliments to the author for achieving that difficult goal.)

Suzanne’s father, Bobby, is one of the characters who gained my sympathy, despite his numerous failures. I felt the same about Laurinda, and about Walter Carlisle, Suzanne’s grandfather. I had tremendous sympathy for her mother, Cheryl, especially as the story progressed and the layers of her life were incrementally divulged.

Always and Forever is an enthralling novel with gripping storylines, rich characters, and beautiful prose that touches the soul. “Eventually,” Suzanne thinks, “he would find a wife, and she would give him children, and his family would mean more to him than I ever did. Someday, I might remember this moment and wish I hadn’t let it go. I might regret hiding that I wanted to be the one who meant the most.”

You are going to love Jay and Suzanne. Perfectly imperfect. This isn't a fairy tale romance, it's flawed, real and relatable. We get to know two intertwined New York families over the span of a few decades. Nothing is easy, but life isn't easy. These characters are rich and deep and you feel like you are right there in the middle with them as they deal with what life has to offer. I loved that through all of the ups, downs and really complicated feelings they continue to choose each other. They grow also grow and evolve. This isn't a high octane romance but a rich character driven slow burn done in the best way possible.