Always and Forever
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 16
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 19
ISBN: 979-8990833159
Publisher: Tribeca Press
Publication Date: 11/11/2025
Format: Hardcover
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
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.
About the Author
In addition to her latest novels, Always and Forever and Charmed, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal is the author of Other Words for Love, published by Random House (Delacorte Press), New Money, and Independently Wealthy, both published by Macmillan (St. Martin’s Press).
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. Visit Lorraine online at lorrainezagorosenthal.com
Connect with Lorraine:
Praise
“Always and Forever…explores love, loss, and the people we can’t let go. [Lorraine Zago Rosenthal’s] prose is quietly luminous and deeply empathetic…the book is populated with rich supporting characters…the narrative is layered with personal and familial drama…bitter generational conflict, and unresolved grief." Our Verdict: GET IT —Kirkus Reviews
Exceptional Authors.
Standout Books. Elevator Talk.
Behind the Book & the Author
INTRIGUING QUESTIONS. INQUIRING READERS WANT TO KNOW.
Welcome to the second November 2025 #AuthorElevatorSeries and #LitLiftMiniAuthorChats with special guest author and favorite, Lorraine Zago Rosenthal and her dazzling upcoming novel, ALWAYS AND FOREVER, out, Nov 11, 2025.
From 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. 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.
Join us as Lorraine shares some fascinating behind-the-scenes exclusives from the book and up-close and personal fun moments from this talented author.
Welcome back, Lorraine!
Behind the Book
Q. Give us your best ELEVATOR PITCH for ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
LZR: 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.
Q. DESCRIBE your novel in three words or less.
LZR: Emotional, realistic, hopeful
Q. TOPICS: Name 1-3 topics or themes addressed in the novel?
LZR:
1. Dreams that are unfulfilled due to unexpected events;
2. People who unwittingly cause pain and loss in the lives of others; and
3. Love that transcends heartache.
Q. SETTING: Place, area, season where the book is set.
LZR: ALWAYS AND FOREVER is set in contemporary NYC. The main character, Suzanne, resides on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and she spends a lot of time in Queens, where several of the other characters live. The story unfolds over one year/all four seasons.
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 3-5 things that readers may (or may not) know about your book or that are not included in the book.
LZR:
1. Suzanne has a talent that led to success in her early years, but her childhood career was unexpectedly ruined. The novel opens with: “Someone can win an Oscar, or earn a gold medal at the Olympics, or be on the cover of Vogue, and end up with nothing but a souvenir that has to be sold at a pawn shop in exchange for cash to fix a broken-down car. A person can start out feeling special and important but become no better than ordinary. Average. Even less.” I have observed that some people achieve lofty goals at a certain point during their lives, but, for various reasons, that success doesn’t continue. This real-life observation partially led to my creation of Suzanne, and it was intriguing for me to explore the psychological aftermath of broken dreams.
2. When I write a novel, (including ALWAYS AND FOREVER), I visualize it as a film with real actors in each role; however, I never reveal the names of these actors to readers. I want readers to “see” the characters on their own, because their vision might be different from mine.
3. Many authors have a playlist that inspires them while writing. Several of the songs on my ALWAYS AND FOREVER playlist are mentioned in the novel, and they are an eclectic soundtrack for the story.
Q. UPCOMING: Can you share what you are currently working on or what is next in ten words or less (or more)?
LR: My sixth novel is in the works. Stay tuned!
Behind the Author
Q. DID YOU KNOW? Name 3-5 things that readers may (or may not) know about YOU, the author.
LZR:
1. Four of my five novels are women’s fiction set in the present day, but my debut novel, OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, is in the young adult genre, and it takes place during the 1980s.
2. When I wrote OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, I was new to the publishing industry, and I didn’t know a great deal about book marketing. Although the novel’s protagonist is a teenager, the story deals with mature themes, so I assumed it would be considered women’s fiction. My literary agent also wasn’t sure how to categorize the manuscript, so she submitted it to editors of both adult fiction and young adult fiction, and the novel was ultimately acquired by a YA editor at Random House. Later, I learned that other authors have had a similar experience…and fortunately, readers of all ages enjoy YA!
3. I am an avid film/TV fan, and in the past, I contributed reviews and celebrity interviews to a popular-culture website. Coincidentally, in 2017, I interviewed the legendary singer/actress Betty Buckley, who I met at the stage door of a Broadway show when I was in high school. She graciously gave me her autograph then, and she was just as lovely when I spoke with her for the interview.
Q. BOOK RECS: A book you would recommend.
LZR: AMERICAN EVE by Paula Uruburu is a compelling non-fiction book about Evelyn Nesbit, a model involved in a scandal that took place in Manhattan during the early 1900s. Because I’m originally from NYC and set all of my novels there, I am quite interested in the history of the city. Truth is often stranger than fiction.
Thank you, Lorraine, for spending time with us today!
LZR: Thank you for having me. Always a pleasure.
My Review
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. 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.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Nov 11, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
