What do you think?
Rate this book
Always and Forever
Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.
Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.
Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past.
Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.
Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past.
- GenresRomanceFamily Drama
311 pages, Hardcover
First published November 11, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3854 people want to read
About the author
Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
5 books485 followersLorraine Zago Rosenthal is the author of five novels, including OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, CHARMED, and ALWAYS AND FOREVER, which was released on November 11, 2025.
Lorraine was born and raised in New York City, and she is a graduate of the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in education and English. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband.
Connect with Lorraine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorrainezago/
Lorraine was born and raised in New York City, and she is a graduate of the University of South Florida. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s degrees in education and English. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband.
Connect with Lorraine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorrainezago/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 2, 2025
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.
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.
August 25, 2025
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.
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.
August 30, 2025
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.
I received an ARC from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
I received an ARC from the publisher (through NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
October 28, 2025
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.
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.
October 6, 2025
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.
Thank you, NetGalley and Tribeca Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 3, 2025
On the verge of their thirties, New York natives Suzanne Starek and Jay 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.”
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.”
November 8, 2025
Some stories linger long after you’ve turned the last page—and this is one of them.
Three decades ago, a single tragedy shattered two New York families. Its echoes reach all the way to Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, two souls bound by friendship, fate, and a love that seems both inevitable and forbidden.
Suzanne’s life is a mosaic of what-could-have-beens—childhood dreams lost, a family fractured, and a mother’s haunting warning that loving Jay could destroy her. Jay, too, is tethered to his own pain, caring for a mother whose beauty masks deep wounds. Together, they navigate the fragile line between the past and the possibility of something more.
This book broke my heart in quiet, beautiful ways. It’s about love that endures despite time, loss, and secrets that should have stayed buried. The writing is emotional and raw, painting the ache of growing up in the shadow of tragedy and learning that sometimes healing means uncovering what hurts most.
💔 If you’ve ever loved someone you weren’t sure you were allowed to love…
💔 If you’ve ever felt the weight of family secrets…
💔 If you believe that forgiveness is the bravest kind of love—
Then this story will speak to you.
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 — tender, haunting, and unforgettable.
📖 Themes: forbidden love, generational trauma, forgiveness, resilience
#EmotionalReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #FamilyDrama #LiteraryFiction #HeartbreakingAndBeautiful
Three decades ago, a single tragedy shattered two New York families. Its echoes reach all the way to Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, two souls bound by friendship, fate, and a love that seems both inevitable and forbidden.
Suzanne’s life is a mosaic of what-could-have-beens—childhood dreams lost, a family fractured, and a mother’s haunting warning that loving Jay could destroy her. Jay, too, is tethered to his own pain, caring for a mother whose beauty masks deep wounds. Together, they navigate the fragile line between the past and the possibility of something more.
This book broke my heart in quiet, beautiful ways. It’s about love that endures despite time, loss, and secrets that should have stayed buried. The writing is emotional and raw, painting the ache of growing up in the shadow of tragedy and learning that sometimes healing means uncovering what hurts most.
💔 If you’ve ever loved someone you weren’t sure you were allowed to love…
💔 If you’ve ever felt the weight of family secrets…
💔 If you believe that forgiveness is the bravest kind of love—
Then this story will speak to you.
⭐️ Rating: 4.5/5 — tender, haunting, and unforgettable.
📖 Themes: forbidden love, generational trauma, forgiveness, resilience
#EmotionalReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #FamilyDrama #LiteraryFiction #HeartbreakingAndBeautiful
November 19, 2025
This family drama was a page turner for me. Two families, connected for many years, have endured immense tragedy and loss, and their dynamics are understandably complex. I enjoyed learning more about their past chapters and was eager to see how the present chapter would unfold for the parents and their grown children. I loved the New York setting!
October 26, 2025
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.
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.
October 23, 2025
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.
***I am grateful to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC.
October 30, 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.
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.
November 30, 2025
ALWAYS AND FOREVER was a story that I really enjoyed in the women’s fiction genre. Written with family dynamics at the core, this was a very interesting story. It definitely gave all the “feels” and I would recommend it. When I found out the author has a background in psychology, I was not surprised!
Many thanks to Lorraine Zago Rosenthal for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Many thanks to Lorraine Zago Rosenthal for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
November 26, 2025
A love story that's complicated by their families pasts but shows that if you love enough.. you can get through tough situations/times by clinging to each other.
Suzanne was a child star and something happened with her father that made her disappear from the spotlight. Jay had always been her best friend but hasn't ever known of her deeper feelings. Jay has always been by his mother's side and it feels a bit much to Suzanne.
I liked that there are themes of forgiveness and making amends at the end of this story. I really thought the whole story ended well. It's a moving and touching family (s) drama.
Suzanne was a child star and something happened with her father that made her disappear from the spotlight. Jay had always been her best friend but hasn't ever known of her deeper feelings. Jay has always been by his mother's side and it feels a bit much to Suzanne.
I liked that there are themes of forgiveness and making amends at the end of this story. I really thought the whole story ended well. It's a moving and touching family (s) drama.
November 5, 2025
I usually avoid reading reviews or even book descriptions before starting a book, but with this one, I saw so many glowing comments that I couldn’t resist.
It’s a compelling story, beautifully written and emotionally rich. With such well-developed characters (I honestly can’t pick a favorite!), it explores love, loss, and complicated family ties in a way that made me feel everything.
It’s a compelling story, beautifully written and emotionally rich. With such well-developed characters (I honestly can’t pick a favorite!), it explores love, loss, and complicated family ties in a way that made me feel everything.
November 29, 2025
I always enjoy a good family drama and there's a lot in this story to unpack. Jay and Suzanne start trying to take their friendship to the next level and beyond, but family issues and past trauma keep popping up. I loved how supportive Jay was despite dealing with his mother's alcoholism. It's a book that's hard to put down and I was happy with the way it ended.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 2, 2025
This read has drama with two families living in New York that were once neighbors. It goes three generations deep even though only one person from that generation is still living.
We have secret life long love, a child actor with baggage, tons of parent and child drama, as well as some closely guarded secrets.
The character descriptions are excellent in this one. I love the way the drama is subtle at times and hard hitting at others. That combo had me doing some serious page turning!
We have secret life long love, a child actor with baggage, tons of parent and child drama, as well as some closely guarded secrets.
The character descriptions are excellent in this one. I love the way the drama is subtle at times and hard hitting at others. That combo had me doing some serious page turning!
December 6, 2025
Family dramas have been hitting the spot for me lately. I know it was not fun for the family but when they start to really say what was on their mind I was hooked. The way it hinted at the past gave me a great build up to the reveal. It was full of love, loss, and forgiveness. There were emotional moments and all the different personalities and connections made it hard to guess what Suzanne would do. There was such good growth and unexpected moments. I enjoyed it.
Thank you @lorrainezago @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Thank you @lorrainezago @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
December 4, 2025
Always and Forever is a beautiful, heartwrenching novel with an overarching theme of everlasting love in different forms. Love between friends that grows from years of shared history and friendship. Romantic love that evolves out of that devotion. The love that children have for their parents, no matter how flawed those parents are. The love between married couples and blood relations that even death cannot erase. Jay, Suzanne, Cheryl, Laurinda, and Bobby…time and tragedy might have torn their lives apart, yet they find a way to stick together. I loved the way this story ended, but I miss it already.
November 30, 2025
I loved Suzanne, I loved Jay, and I loved them together. This isn't a sugary, fairy tale romance. It's realistic and believable. It's about the relationship between Suzanne, Jay, and their interesting families that have been through a lot over the past three decades. These characters are complex and deep, and the story is written so intimately, I felt like I was right beside them through their struggles, like Suzanne was confiding in me in the most honest, relatable way. I really liked that despite all of the betrayals, resentments, and complicated feelings, Suzanne and the other characters ultimately make choices that are driven by their love for each other.
December 10, 2025
Every so often, I read a book on my Kindle and then buy a physical copy because the story touched me so much, I want to hold it in my hands, keep it on a shelf, and go back to it now and then to revisit the characters that made a long-lasting impression on me. Well, Always and Forever is one of those books.
I knew I was going to connect with the main character, Suzanne Starek, as soon as I met her on the first page. Her voice is vivid, modern, and authentic, and so are all of the other characters and their lives that have melded together for better or worse during the past several decades.
The eldest of those characters, Suzanne’s grandfather, Walter Carlisle, used to be a strong, young man with a wife and two children and a successful business that he owned in Queens, New York. Now, he’s a senior citizen who has a declining body but a sharp memory of everything he has lost due to both tragedy and his own decisions. His daughter, Cheryl, (Suzanne’s mother), has many reasons to resent him, but she is still a dutiful daughter. Suzanne’s best friend, Jay, also has valid reasons to separate himself from his mother, Laurinda, but he doesn’t. He goes above and beyond to be a good son.
Jay’s morality, kindness, supportiveness, and strength are part of what attracts Suzanne to him. Although she has enjoyed their friendship for years, she has also suffered, watching him date other women, thinking he would never want her. Due to the misfortunes of Suzanne’s own life, she feels like a damaged, fallen star. Those misfortunes were never her fault, although she sometimes feels pangs of guilt. Suzanne and Jay bear the weight of things that happened in their bonded families before they were born, things that bring them together and tear them apart.
The painful layers of the past are slowly peeled back throughout the story, defining all of the characters and revealing who they are. The author does an exceptional job of developing these characters, showing them from different perspectives. When Cheryl speaks harshly of Walter’s decision to marry his materialistic second wife, Trixie, she recalls her brother’s more forgiving tone. “Pop is lonely,” Cheryl remembers him saying.
Every one of the characters evokes emotion and compassion. The writing is excellent, the story is heartbreaking but hopeful, and the ending is exactly what I wanted. I will remember this novel always and forever.
I knew I was going to connect with the main character, Suzanne Starek, as soon as I met her on the first page. Her voice is vivid, modern, and authentic, and so are all of the other characters and their lives that have melded together for better or worse during the past several decades.
The eldest of those characters, Suzanne’s grandfather, Walter Carlisle, used to be a strong, young man with a wife and two children and a successful business that he owned in Queens, New York. Now, he’s a senior citizen who has a declining body but a sharp memory of everything he has lost due to both tragedy and his own decisions. His daughter, Cheryl, (Suzanne’s mother), has many reasons to resent him, but she is still a dutiful daughter. Suzanne’s best friend, Jay, also has valid reasons to separate himself from his mother, Laurinda, but he doesn’t. He goes above and beyond to be a good son.
Jay’s morality, kindness, supportiveness, and strength are part of what attracts Suzanne to him. Although she has enjoyed their friendship for years, she has also suffered, watching him date other women, thinking he would never want her. Due to the misfortunes of Suzanne’s own life, she feels like a damaged, fallen star. Those misfortunes were never her fault, although she sometimes feels pangs of guilt. Suzanne and Jay bear the weight of things that happened in their bonded families before they were born, things that bring them together and tear them apart.
The painful layers of the past are slowly peeled back throughout the story, defining all of the characters and revealing who they are. The author does an exceptional job of developing these characters, showing them from different perspectives. When Cheryl speaks harshly of Walter’s decision to marry his materialistic second wife, Trixie, she recalls her brother’s more forgiving tone. “Pop is lonely,” Cheryl remembers him saying.
Every one of the characters evokes emotion and compassion. The writing is excellent, the story is heartbreaking but hopeful, and the ending is exactly what I wanted. I will remember this novel always and forever.
December 8, 2025
Always and Forever feels so real, with deep emotions and layered characters that are very relatable.
Suzanne isn’t the only one who drew me in. Her parents, her grandfather, her Uncle Grant, her best friend, Jay, and Jay's mother, Laurinda—they all affected me differently. And Jay…that friends/romantic tension between him and Suzanne had me hooked. Their bond is beautiful.
What I love most is how the author shows every character’s flaws without making you dislike them. She helps you understand why the characters are the way they are. I found myself caring about all of them.
If you love books that make you feel everything—love, loss, hope—put Always and Forever on your list.
Suzanne isn’t the only one who drew me in. Her parents, her grandfather, her Uncle Grant, her best friend, Jay, and Jay's mother, Laurinda—they all affected me differently. And Jay…that friends/romantic tension between him and Suzanne had me hooked. Their bond is beautiful.
What I love most is how the author shows every character’s flaws without making you dislike them. She helps you understand why the characters are the way they are. I found myself caring about all of them.
If you love books that make you feel everything—love, loss, hope—put Always and Forever on your list.
December 12, 2025
Once upon a time, Suzanne Starek had a bright future ahead of her—or so she and her mother, Cheryl Carlisle, thought. Problems arose, plans went awry, and their lives turned out more ordinary than they expected. Average, as Suzanne says.
Something similar happened in Cheryl’s family when she was young. The big dreams her father had for the upcoming years were shattered on a summer night. Sorrow bled through more than one generation of the Carlisle and Starek families—and the Darnell family, of which Suzanne’s best friend, Jay, is the only son, has lived through its own share of devastating loss.
Suzanne and Jay have constantly had each other’s backs, forging a deep friendship that Jay assures her will last forever. But Suzanne doesn’t want to become just “an old friend on his guest list.” She wrestles with her love for Jay while struggling with feelings of inadequacy, the repercussions of her parents’ failed marriage, and hazy memories of past trauma that she isn’t sure she wants to remember, all while helping Jay care for his alcohol-abusing, widowed mother, Laurinda, whose wealth and beauty don’t necessarily console her. “Houses and cars and money don’t mean much when you’re alone…when you don’t have someone to enjoy everything with you,” she says. #TRUTH
Laurinda is a sympathetic character with compassion for Suzanne’s father, Bobby, who has been a dark cloud in Suzanne’s life but is seen much differently by Laurinda, his friend since childhood. “Parents make mistakes. We aren’t saints, Suzanne,” Laurinda says, which is a theme in the story.
People make bad choices. Nobody is flawless. The characters are drawn as perfectly imperfect, and they all have big decisions to make about how they will move on from the past.
This is a book that I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. As I turned the pages, I learned more about each character, shifting my opinions and preconceived notions about them. The backstory is implanted seamlessly into Suzanne’s present-day narration, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen…I didn’t. Always and Forever is more than a love story and more than a family drama. It’s a deeply emotional experience. I’ll keep this review spoiler-free, but I must reveal that I loved/applauded the ending and the last chapter’s appropriate title, “All of Us.”
Something similar happened in Cheryl’s family when she was young. The big dreams her father had for the upcoming years were shattered on a summer night. Sorrow bled through more than one generation of the Carlisle and Starek families—and the Darnell family, of which Suzanne’s best friend, Jay, is the only son, has lived through its own share of devastating loss.
Suzanne and Jay have constantly had each other’s backs, forging a deep friendship that Jay assures her will last forever. But Suzanne doesn’t want to become just “an old friend on his guest list.” She wrestles with her love for Jay while struggling with feelings of inadequacy, the repercussions of her parents’ failed marriage, and hazy memories of past trauma that she isn’t sure she wants to remember, all while helping Jay care for his alcohol-abusing, widowed mother, Laurinda, whose wealth and beauty don’t necessarily console her. “Houses and cars and money don’t mean much when you’re alone…when you don’t have someone to enjoy everything with you,” she says. #TRUTH
Laurinda is a sympathetic character with compassion for Suzanne’s father, Bobby, who has been a dark cloud in Suzanne’s life but is seen much differently by Laurinda, his friend since childhood. “Parents make mistakes. We aren’t saints, Suzanne,” Laurinda says, which is a theme in the story.
People make bad choices. Nobody is flawless. The characters are drawn as perfectly imperfect, and they all have big decisions to make about how they will move on from the past.
This is a book that I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. As I turned the pages, I learned more about each character, shifting my opinions and preconceived notions about them. The backstory is implanted seamlessly into Suzanne’s present-day narration, and just when I thought I knew what was going to happen…I didn’t. Always and Forever is more than a love story and more than a family drama. It’s a deeply emotional experience. I’ll keep this review spoiler-free, but I must reveal that I loved/applauded the ending and the last chapter’s appropriate title, “All of Us.”
October 2, 2025
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
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
November 3, 2025
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
❤️ are secretly in love with your best friend
📚 enjoy books that move you
 love characters with plenty of backstory
😍 want to fall for the MMC
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.
Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.
Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This book really had it all - deep, meaningful characters with diverse and compelling backstories, a love story, and unresolved family dynamics. I couldn’t get enough of this story. The author did an incredible job of taking 2D characters and giving us 3D personas in every possible way! I loved learning about Suzanne and Jay over the years, watching their friendship grow and blossom, and being equally as heart wrenched over the fact that Suzanne’s love is unrequited. This is a strong story, and I cannot recommend it more!
❤️ are secretly in love with your best friend
📚 enjoy books that move you
 love characters with plenty of backstory
😍 want to fall for the MMC
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.
Suzanne is at the end of her twenties and has been plagued by misfortune, including her parents’ ill-fated union and the abrupt demise of her promising childhood career. Although she treasures her lifelong bond with Jay, being his best friend isn’t enough. She has spent years hiding her feelings for him and trying to understand her mother’s cryptic warning to keep him at a distance.
Suzanne wavers between staying safe and reaching for love while she helps Jay cope with his own mother, a glamorous and troubled widow. But when a clash between the families reveals shocking truths, Suzanne must decide how she will move forward from the heartbreaking past.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This book really had it all - deep, meaningful characters with diverse and compelling backstories, a love story, and unresolved family dynamics. I couldn’t get enough of this story. The author did an incredible job of taking 2D characters and giving us 3D personas in every possible way! I loved learning about Suzanne and Jay over the years, watching their friendship grow and blossom, and being equally as heart wrenched over the fact that Suzanne’s love is unrequited. This is a strong story, and I cannot recommend it more!
October 20, 2025
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.
Final Note: I don't post a lot of reviews on Goodreads, but I want to spread the word and give this book my highest recommendation. I loved it, and I think you will, too.
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.
Final Note: I don't post a lot of reviews on Goodreads, but I want to spread the word and give this book my highest recommendation. I loved it, and I think you will, too.
October 28, 2025
Always and Forever is a sweet, sad story that goes in depth about family drama and the consequences of our actions. I’ll try to keep everything as spoiler-free as possible but will have a few!
Suzanna comes from a single parent household due to an event that happened with someone in her life as a child. Due to an injury she has a perceived view of what happened and comes to understand it may not have been correct.
Jay is a wonderful (and very flawed) character. I loved his redemption in the end — I felt he made it up to her by coming and explaining where he knew he went wrong.
My real issue with the story is Suzanna felt very “woe is me” and the pining was so heavy for Jay in the beginning. It felt almost too harped on. Their relationship also moves incredibly fast and I understand they’ve known each other a long time but wish it was drawn out more.
I also struggled with Cheryl — she was so negative 95% of the story and very rarely had anything positive to say. She spends so much of the story harping on never marrying again to getting engaged herself near the end. It irked me a bit!
I did love Jay and Suzanna reconnecting— a HEA is my favorite!
Suzanna comes from a single parent household due to an event that happened with someone in her life as a child. Due to an injury she has a perceived view of what happened and comes to understand it may not have been correct.
Jay is a wonderful (and very flawed) character. I loved his redemption in the end — I felt he made it up to her by coming and explaining where he knew he went wrong.
My real issue with the story is Suzanna felt very “woe is me” and the pining was so heavy for Jay in the beginning. It felt almost too harped on. Their relationship also moves incredibly fast and I understand they’ve known each other a long time but wish it was drawn out more.
I also struggled with Cheryl — she was so negative 95% of the story and very rarely had anything positive to say. She spends so much of the story harping on never marrying again to getting engaged herself near the end. It irked me a bit!
I did love Jay and Suzanna reconnecting— a HEA is my favorite!
November 5, 2025
🎵Queue music🎵 from 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love”
A tapestry of emotions …excuse me while I still savor the thoughts and feelings from this novel…
What a story! Rosenthal has gifted us an unputdownable LOVE story (truly, once I started the novel, I really could not put it down until I read the last word)! This is a love story in all its forms – romantic, familial, friendly, and even self-love. Yes, Always and Forever is a romantic read, but it is also a story of the love of a parent, a child, a sibling, a friend, and of what we do when that love is tested.
Not only did I love the setting (a beautiful tribute to NYC, especially Brooklyn), I loved how Rosenthal took flawed characters (but extremely relatable), put them in tragic situations, and gave each character the ability to learn and grow. I found myself championing each of the characters and trying to figure out who should play them when the book gets optioned for the big screen!
Many thanks to @lorrainezago and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical ARC copy and having me on this book tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A tapestry of emotions …excuse me while I still savor the thoughts and feelings from this novel…
What a story! Rosenthal has gifted us an unputdownable LOVE story (truly, once I started the novel, I really could not put it down until I read the last word)! This is a love story in all its forms – romantic, familial, friendly, and even self-love. Yes, Always and Forever is a romantic read, but it is also a story of the love of a parent, a child, a sibling, a friend, and of what we do when that love is tested.
Not only did I love the setting (a beautiful tribute to NYC, especially Brooklyn), I loved how Rosenthal took flawed characters (but extremely relatable), put them in tragic situations, and gave each character the ability to learn and grow. I found myself championing each of the characters and trying to figure out who should play them when the book gets optioned for the big screen!
Many thanks to @lorrainezago and @suzyapprovedbooktours for my gifted physical ARC copy and having me on this book tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 24, 2025
This was a subtle, yet provocative family drama. Two families' lives have been intertwined for generations - with loves, losses, heartbreaks, and secrets.
Jay and Suzanne, childhood friends who are now adults, have become managers of their families’ wreckage. Suzanne must also navigate her own personal baggage and trauma, yet Jay has been the friend who supports her through it, which adds depth and layers to their relationship.
The narrative has a somewhat somber undertone, yet it teases by revealing events and secrets slowly. And it starts with a hint of heartbreaking, unrequited love and unresolved trauma. I was eager to learn the backstory of these characters, and the more I learned, the more I hoped for their happy-ever-after.
Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @lorrainezago for the gifted book.
December 6, 2025
Three decades ago, a tragedy ignited a chain of events that devastated two New York City families and still haunts them today. Even their youngest members, Suzanne Starek and Jay Darnell, haven’t been left unscathed.
Suzanne and Jay have been best friends throughout their whole lives. They have been through so much. Between Jay’s mother and Suzanne’s failed dreams, their bond remains strong.
I love when an author gets the characters right. And this book is full of great characters, romantic tension, family drama and so much more. And each character grows and shows such depth! I was captivated from start to finish!
Need an engaging novel with hidden love…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
Suzanne and Jay have been best friends throughout their whole lives. They have been through so much. Between Jay’s mother and Suzanne’s failed dreams, their bond remains strong.
I love when an author gets the characters right. And this book is full of great characters, romantic tension, family drama and so much more. And each character grows and shows such depth! I was captivated from start to finish!
Need an engaging novel with hidden love…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
October 16, 2025
I enjoyed reading this novel about how two families wreck havoc on the next generation. Suzanne and Jay are lovers who grew up together with parents and grandparents who were lifelong friends. They were as close as related families could be. Life gave everyone trauma and the story is a creative rendition of how crises are dealt with differently by everyone. I admire Lorraine Zago Rosenthal's writing. The book was lovely to read and gives insights about how people can and cannot extract themselves from the people who gave them life.
Thank you to the author and Tribeca Press, via NetGalley, for this eARC. The book will be published on November 11, 2025.
Thank you to the author and Tribeca Press, via NetGalley, for this eARC. The book will be published on November 11, 2025.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews