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Nothing Lasts Forever
Brodie Logan had thought her marriage to Colin was a match made in heaven. But now her once-loving husband is distant and unfriendly so she makes the life-changing decision to leave him. She moves into Chestnuts, a ramshackle old house in Liverpool inherited from her mother. Deciding to let out the rooms to lodgers, three very different women come to join Brodie. Life at Chestnuts seems idyllic. The four women while away the brilliant summer under the trees in the enchanting garden of the big house, forming friendships that will last a lifetime. But it isn't all a bed of roses - and nothing lasts forever.
Maureen Lee was born in Bootle. She has had numerous short stories published and a play professionally staged, though it was not until the youngest of her three sons left school that she was able to write full-time.
Nerys Hughes is one of Britain's most popular actresses. She is best known for the role of Sandra in The Liver Birds, and the title role in The District Nurse, which won her the Variety Club Television Actress of the Year Award. She has appeared in Under Milk Wood at the Royal National Theatre and in the BBC TV play Gallowglass.
376 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2009
32 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Maureen Lee
76 books276 followersMaureen Lee was born in Bootle, England, UK, near Liverpool during the World War II. She attended Commercial College and became a shorthand typist. She married Richard, and they had three sons, now adults. The last years the marriage lives in Colchester, Essex.
During years, she published over one hundred and fifty short-stories, before published her first novel Lila in 1983. She continued published dramatic historical sagas mainly setting in Liverpool since 1994. In 2000, her novel Dancing in the Dark won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
During years, she published over one hundred and fifty short-stories, before published her first novel Lila in 1983. She continued published dramatic historical sagas mainly setting in Liverpool since 1994. In 2000, her novel Dancing in the Dark won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 7, 2013
I had never read any books by Maureen Lee before reading 'Nothing Lasts Forever'. Living abroad, I get most of my English books at second-hand book fairs, and I picked up this book recently. The back cover blurb sounded interesting - four women, all having their own problems, find themselves sharing a house and building unlikely friendships.
For the first 350 pages, I enjoyed what I was reading. The different women, and a little of their back stories, were introduced via four prologues, and then the main body of the novel started. I wanted to find out about Brodie, Diana, Vanessa and Rachel, and was looking forward to watching their interactions.
Yes, there was a sense in which nothing much happened, and there were times when I struggled to work out if what I was reading was happening in the present, or in a character's recollections of the past. And it was a shame that we were not introduced to Rachel's inner thoughts at all - her character was only seen through other's eyes, and I would have liked to see events from her perspective.
On the other hand, there was a certain amount of drama, not too much, but enough to keep me interested and reading. I wanted to know what would happen to these people, how their lives would work out. here were other positives too. People formed relationships, but I was not subjected to detailed sex scenes. The only bad language was used by one character and was 'in keeping' with that character. So I was not torn between 'good story' and 'offensive content', always a bonus.
Then I hit the 'climactic event' and felt, quite bluntly, that it was a failure which ruined an until that point fairly good read. Apart from anything else, I feel it was unnecessary - it would have been more in keeping with the tone of the novel to have the characters move apart because life had moved on without the dramatic 'impetus', and in actual fact this is what happens in the rest of the book, and one has the impression the end position of all the characters would have been the same without the 'tragedy'. On top of that, the event itself, and the consequences, such as they were, were handled in such a mundane, flat manner that I was unable to feel any emotion other than irritation. I was not surprised, shocked, or even upset.
My final emotion, having finished reading the book, is to feel insulted by an author who seems to have such a low view of my emotional and reading capacity that she has made very little effort to stir up that emotion through moving prose. Instead she left me with an ending that, for all the surface drama, was blank and void and deeply unsatisfying. I am in two minds as to what to do with my copy now - to donate it to a book fair to be picked up by some unsuspecting book lover... or to keep it and study it in an endeavour to find out why a plot with such promise can end in such disappointment.
For the first 350 pages, I enjoyed what I was reading. The different women, and a little of their back stories, were introduced via four prologues, and then the main body of the novel started. I wanted to find out about Brodie, Diana, Vanessa and Rachel, and was looking forward to watching their interactions.
Yes, there was a sense in which nothing much happened, and there were times when I struggled to work out if what I was reading was happening in the present, or in a character's recollections of the past. And it was a shame that we were not introduced to Rachel's inner thoughts at all - her character was only seen through other's eyes, and I would have liked to see events from her perspective.
On the other hand, there was a certain amount of drama, not too much, but enough to keep me interested and reading. I wanted to know what would happen to these people, how their lives would work out. here were other positives too. People formed relationships, but I was not subjected to detailed sex scenes. The only bad language was used by one character and was 'in keeping' with that character. So I was not torn between 'good story' and 'offensive content', always a bonus.
Then I hit the 'climactic event' and felt, quite bluntly, that it was a failure which ruined an until that point fairly good read. Apart from anything else, I feel it was unnecessary - it would have been more in keeping with the tone of the novel to have the characters move apart because life had moved on without the dramatic 'impetus', and in actual fact this is what happens in the rest of the book, and one has the impression the end position of all the characters would have been the same without the 'tragedy'. On top of that, the event itself, and the consequences, such as they were, were handled in such a mundane, flat manner that I was unable to feel any emotion other than irritation. I was not surprised, shocked, or even upset.
My final emotion, having finished reading the book, is to feel insulted by an author who seems to have such a low view of my emotional and reading capacity that she has made very little effort to stir up that emotion through moving prose. Instead she left me with an ending that, for all the surface drama, was blank and void and deeply unsatisfying. I am in two minds as to what to do with my copy now - to donate it to a book fair to be picked up by some unsuspecting book lover... or to keep it and study it in an endeavour to find out why a plot with such promise can end in such disappointment.
January 5, 2014
Where do I start? It was sometimes delightful, sometimes not. I loved Diana though she seemed too good to be true. Vanessa may have lost weight and gained a boyfriend but her personality remained razor-like. Rachel and Poppy were too peripheral to count. Brodie was endearing until her selfish daughter arrived and she too became self centred. I actually swore out loud reading page 345! Never saw that coming and it shattered the ending of the book. No happy endings even though the author tried to wrap it up into one. Left me feeling flat and the last line was in direct contrast to the final chapter. I wanted to rate it two star but gave it a star for Diana and her brothers.
March 4, 2013
Very disappointed in the ending
December 15, 2020
This has been an unexpected read with some great characters. The demise of one totally surprised me , it was slipped into the plot so gently .
To think that one lady with an inherited house bought several different people together and influenced lives in a way that brought them altogether.
A Truly gentle intriguing read .
To think that one lady with an inherited house bought several different people together and influenced lives in a way that brought them altogether.
A Truly gentle intriguing read .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book . Story of 4 women sharing a house together and their problems come to light. They for a good friendship and help each other out .
March 7, 2024
Easy listening; dramatic twist, but the author seemed to out that to be quickly; from about 3/4 through, the reader knows how it’s going to end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2025
I used to read a lot of Maureen Lee’s novels. I have not read one in a long while and having read this one, I can see why I used to enjoy her books. The story focuses on a group of women who come together and settle in an old house in Liverpool, England. They start out as house mates and end up as close as family. I really enjoyed this book.
April 26, 2009
Four women in different circumstances share a house for six months. One has separated from her husband after family disagreements. One is an overweight businesswoman determined to turn her life around. One is a generous young woman who feels unwanted in her family home, and the last is a teenage mother.
Lots of potential which, alas, wasn't fully realised. The characters seem flat, the conversations, while realistic, don't add much, and the climax is over-dramatic and unecessary. Morever, although set mainly in 2006, the overall feel was of a 1960s Liverpool saga.
On the other hand, the story flows well with a lot of subplots that weave together nicely, and there are some interesting minor characters. No doubt Maureen Lee's many fans will enjoy this book but it wasn't really to my taste. Would make good holiday reading since it's easy enough to put down and resume at any time.
Lots of potential which, alas, wasn't fully realised. The characters seem flat, the conversations, while realistic, don't add much, and the climax is over-dramatic and unecessary. Morever, although set mainly in 2006, the overall feel was of a 1960s Liverpool saga.
On the other hand, the story flows well with a lot of subplots that weave together nicely, and there are some interesting minor characters. No doubt Maureen Lee's many fans will enjoy this book but it wasn't really to my taste. Would make good holiday reading since it's easy enough to put down and resume at any time.
February 26, 2013
I really, really liked this book in the beginning. You know how I'm such a sucker for interlocking stories and all that. It's a story of four women: Brodie, who's dealing with family issues, Diana--who feels overshadowed by her brother's pregnant girlfriend, Vanessa--who was left at the altar, and Rachel--a fifteen year old mother. It's good how the women met and have come in each others' lives. The narration is also great, plus the imagery. It's just that, scenes near the end were just blatantly short, and would make you want for more.
Still, great book. Might read more from this author.
Still, great book. Might read more from this author.
July 10, 2013
Ending for the character Brodie made no sense & changed within a couple of minutes - puts me off bothering with other books by this author.
October 29, 2023
Відкрила для себе чудову авторку щирої душевної прози - Маурін Лі. Давно хотіла познайомитись з її творчістю, та все відкладала - і дарма)
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Цей роман про дружбу, підтримку, пошук себе і подолання складних життєвих обставин.
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Під дахом одного будинку зійшлися чотири різні жінки. Броуді, чиє життя пішло шкереберть, коли донька стала наркозалежною. Діана, яка відчула себе непотрібною, коли її молодші брати подорослішали. Ванесса, що набрала зайву вагу, коли її покинув наречений у день весілля. Рейчел, яка народила у 15 і намагається довести всьому світу, що вона хороша мама. Кожну з них переслідують свої демони, але дівчата з гідністю долають їх, доводячи, що життя - прекрасне і кожен прожитий день не є даремним.
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До речі, Діана мені нагадала Луїзу Кларк з трилогії Джоджо Мойєс: і неординарною поведінкою, і любов'ю до вінтажних речей. Шкода, що її історія виявилася трагічною.
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Роман Маурін Лі, попри свою меланхолійність, дуже легкий, надихаючий і життєствердний. Авторка показує, що немає таких труднощів, з якими б людина не могла упоратися, що за чорною смугою обов'язково з'явиться біла, що життя - це нескінченні можливості.
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Добре, що на поличці у мене ще є декілька книжечок письменниці))
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Цей роман про дружбу, підтримку, пошук себе і подолання складних життєвих обставин.
⠀
Під дахом одного будинку зійшлися чотири різні жінки. Броуді, чиє життя пішло шкереберть, коли донька стала наркозалежною. Діана, яка відчула себе непотрібною, коли її молодші брати подорослішали. Ванесса, що набрала зайву вагу, коли її покинув наречений у день весілля. Рейчел, яка народила у 15 і намагається довести всьому світу, що вона хороша мама. Кожну з них переслідують свої демони, але дівчата з гідністю долають їх, доводячи, що життя - прекрасне і кожен прожитий день не є даремним.
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До речі, Діана мені нагадала Луїзу Кларк з трилогії Джоджо Мойєс: і неординарною поведінкою, і любов'ю до вінтажних речей. Шкода, що її історія виявилася трагічною.
⠀
Роман Маурін Лі, попри свою меланхолійність, дуже легкий, надихаючий і життєствердний. Авторка показує, що немає таких труднощів, з якими б людина не могла упоратися, що за чорною смугою обов'язково з'явиться біла, що життя - це нескінченні можливості.
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Добре, що на поличці у мене ще є декілька книжечок письменниці))
May 20, 2025
A nice read. Three women plus a girl with a baby sharing a house for various reasons. We’re going along pleasantly with each of them changing and growing. The future is looking rosy for most. Then, about an hour from the end of the audiobook, a jarring and I think unnecessary incident happens. There would have been better ways to bring a new character in. I managed to finish the book but really the pleasure had gone out of it. Did the author feel the book needed to be spiced up? Too boring as it was? It was a pleasant cosy read up to that point. Real life is hard enough. Books are for escaping real life. I would have preferred a happy ending. I can’t tell you if it’s worth reading 🤷♀️
May 27, 2020
4 out of 5 stars
This is a book based around friendships in unlikely places. It’s centred around Brodie who has moved back to her childhood home and decided to rent out the spare rooms. We also then go into those ladies, Diana who has been pushed out of the home where she raised her three brothers, Vanessa who is trying to get over being jilted at the alter and fifteen year old Rachel who is escaping the people who want to take away her baby daughter. I loved reading the friendships develop and the women’s lives intertwining. Great book by a great author..
This is a book based around friendships in unlikely places. It’s centred around Brodie who has moved back to her childhood home and decided to rent out the spare rooms. We also then go into those ladies, Diana who has been pushed out of the home where she raised her three brothers, Vanessa who is trying to get over being jilted at the alter and fifteen year old Rachel who is escaping the people who want to take away her baby daughter. I loved reading the friendships develop and the women’s lives intertwining. Great book by a great author..
January 23, 2021
Another brilliant story
I really enjoyed this book this author has everything sadness ,happiness,romance,funny also sorrow the characters were all different in their lives but thankfully all managed after a while to live in not as lodgers but great friends so much they called the house more of a sisterhood.I would recommend this author to all readers that enjoy a mixture of everything.
I really enjoyed this book this author has everything sadness ,happiness,romance,funny also sorrow the characters were all different in their lives but thankfully all managed after a while to live in not as lodgers but great friends so much they called the house more of a sisterhood.I would recommend this author to all readers that enjoy a mixture of everything.
January 31, 2018
Oh my !! I loved this book it was fantastic and had a great story line. It was sad in a way at the end but beautiful as well.
August 13, 2018
Good story, some decent characters (Vanessa, Charlie, Brodie). Others uninteresting. Could have done more with Rachel’s story. Last three chapters were rushed, unenthusiastically written and flat.
April 29, 2019
LOVED this book
September 29, 2019
Her writing reminds me of Maeve Binchy, whom I love. I really enjoyed this book.
December 30, 2019
The ending was very disappointing.
April 22, 2020
Очекував повеќе од книгата. Немаше некое којзнае какво дејство низ целата книга. А крајот ми беше тотално разочарувачки.
June 1, 2021
Another engrossing book by Maureen Lee. Just finished it today. Following the lives of a group of women randomly thrown together over a year. Bring on the next book!
April 3, 2022
I wasn't sure if I'd like this author.wow what a brilliant book fantastic characters and what a range of emotions I had. Absolutely superb
June 27, 2022
A snapshot of time in the lives of strangers who become family. Happy, sad - wonderful!!
September 24, 2022
Loved it.
September 30, 2012
I found this book easy to read and it did keep me entertained during a night when I couldn't sleep.
However for me the book didn't rate more than 2 stars. I didn't find the book to be believable, it felt like an unrealistic perfect world where even though things went wrong, underneath it all the characters always got on and no-one ever had any emotional reactions. The weather was always perfect and the garden always 'enchanting'.
The book was very light. The plot had potential for a lot of depth but the writing didn't draw this out - the issues raised were skimmed over quickly and superficially. Characters didn't deal with the issues or events, the book simply moved on to something else. The characters were very 'light', they were very one-dimensional, and weren't developed at all.
It's an easy reading book that tells of a series of events. It would be great to live in such a world!
In very stark contrast to this book, the next book I read provided superb character development, and these characters became really vivid people in my mind, something the Maureen Lee book struggled with. For a direct contrast read 'On Chesil Beach' by Ian McEwan.
However for me the book didn't rate more than 2 stars. I didn't find the book to be believable, it felt like an unrealistic perfect world where even though things went wrong, underneath it all the characters always got on and no-one ever had any emotional reactions. The weather was always perfect and the garden always 'enchanting'.
The book was very light. The plot had potential for a lot of depth but the writing didn't draw this out - the issues raised were skimmed over quickly and superficially. Characters didn't deal with the issues or events, the book simply moved on to something else. The characters were very 'light', they were very one-dimensional, and weren't developed at all.
It's an easy reading book that tells of a series of events. It would be great to live in such a world!
In very stark contrast to this book, the next book I read provided superb character development, and these characters became really vivid people in my mind, something the Maureen Lee book struggled with. For a direct contrast read 'On Chesil Beach' by Ian McEwan.
June 18, 2011
I didn't think that I would like this book because it is so far removed from anything that Maureen has written before as the novel is set in the present day. However I did enjoy it despite some obvious flaws.
I felt the ending was rushed and as Diana was such a central character more emphasis could have been placed on what happened to her. Megan was extremely fond of Diana her grief was told in one line.
I would have liked to have known what happened with Vanessa and Reggie, perhaps another book could have been made. I found the whole Charlie plotline a little unbelievable.
I didn't really see the point of Maisie's character, she seemed to waltz in, have her baby and then leave. She seemed to be there just to act as a way of Brodie and Colin to seperate.
I would have liked to have read more about Megan's trip to Ireland and perhaps Brodie could have gone with her.
I felt the ending was rushed and as Diana was such a central character more emphasis could have been placed on what happened to her. Megan was extremely fond of Diana her grief was told in one line.
I would have liked to have known what happened with Vanessa and Reggie, perhaps another book could have been made. I found the whole Charlie plotline a little unbelievable.
I didn't really see the point of Maisie's character, she seemed to waltz in, have her baby and then leave. She seemed to be there just to act as a way of Brodie and Colin to seperate.
I would have liked to have read more about Megan's trip to Ireland and perhaps Brodie could have gone with her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2011
It took me just over two weeks to finish this book, which is like forever for me. However, it was by no means because the book wasn't good. Quite the opposite. It is a beautiful story. Maureen Lee created a world that I loved to think about being a part of. Unlike Twilight or House of Night or any of the other books that are like a drug to me, Nothing Lasts Forever was a like a warm blanket to snuggle up in. It warms the heart and just makes you comfortable. There's no rush to finish or find out whats next. It's just a book about a gorgeous place with great characters.
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October 11, 2025I gave in and couldn't get into this book. Though from what I've read it should have been good.
August 30, 2013
My first experience of a Maureen Lee novel. It was a great holiday read. Her characters are brilliantly layered and it's easy to want to know more. Although I didn't enjoy the last section as much as he rest of the book and it felt as though the author was searching for pages and pages for the right ending it was still enjoyable. I am leaving the book in my holiday cabin in the hope someone else will enjoy.
December 30, 2011
I surprisingly quite enjoyed it this book even though I was not expecting much. I liked how Lee was able to intertwine the lives of the women in such a way that make you feel that your living in the house, experiencing their journeys with them. None the less the ending left me feeling a little dissatisfied and sad.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews