An absolute masterclass; heart-rending, funny, unputdownable. Only wish the story had followed Marianne's life story further.

Another wonderful novel from Rose Tremain who speaks so convincingly as 15-year-old Marianne. This is a story of first love and obsession, family relationships, friendship and loss.

Marianne is an eccentric teenager, affected by her distant relationship with her parents, her boarding school education, her strange view of the world, all of which make her a bit of an outsider. She's insecure, troubled, funny and her observations on life are often very wry and incisive. We learn as much about her from her upspoken thoughts as we do from what she does and says.

Revelations come late in the book about the reason she is an only child, and the reason that Simon, her first and only love, will never be hers.

I was really intrigued by the story. Everything about the novel was excellent, descriptions, characters, dialogue, but the ending came too soon. I would have loved to know where life would lead Marianne in the future once she understood more about the factors that had so influenced her life.

I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

The only child of conservative, middle-class parents, Marianne grows up in the south east of England in the nineteen fifties. At fifteen, she falls in love with Simon and imagines a future as his wife. When things don’t work out, however, she falls into a depression that lasts for years.

Five years later, she marries kind, amiable Hugo but she is still inwardly pining for Simon and when she and Hugo meet with unforeseen tragedy, the marriage disintegrates under the strain. Marianne returns to living in her parents’ house, caring for her aging father, and aspiring to become a children’s author.

The publisher describes this as “a piercing love story” but I think it’s more accurate to describe it as a study of disillusionment. Marianne spends a big chunk of her early life as the victim of a romantic obsession until she eventually, almost accidentally, finds a different direction to pursue.

I had mixed feelings about this novel. The central character is infuriating at times. “Is there no end to the number of things that girl can get wrong?” her father asks and I found myself seconding the question. The narrow, claustrophobic world in which she grows up is partly to blame, of course, but she is so passive that I frequently wanted to shake her.

I always enjoy Rose Tremaine’s writing – the authenticity and the eye for detail – and that’s what kept me reading but I did find the ending disappointing., not because I felt it was incongruous or inappropriate but because it was so abrupt. I turned the page, expecting more but the narrative had simply stopped. Over all, it’s a good read, but a somewhat frustrating one.

Rose Tremain has written a poignant set piece about growing up in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. A tale of a young love affecting not just the main character’s life. Very evocative and beautifully written. It’s a short book which punches above its weight. Tremain rarely puts a word out of place. Five stars.

A 60’s story which brings to life a tale of love in that era. Love lost, misconstrued by Marianne and defined by her daydreams. London, King’s Road, Biba, Morris Minors, evoking a truly rich tapestry of the “Swinging 60’s”.

Absolutely and Forever
The central character is 15 years old Marianne who falls ‘absolutely and forever’ in love with 18 years old , Simon. From the start there is the inevitability of failure as her immature imaginings are unrealistic. But Simon appears to love her too….

As the years roll by this early relationship affects not only Marianne’s adult relationships but her everyday lived life. There is a small cast of characters, all easily imagined as Rose Tremain depicts this story in beautiful writing which is just right. There is humour and sadness, and some frustration with Marianne’s thoughts and insensitivities, until I think back to my own teenage years!

I am in my 70s and don’t usually like reading about teenagers (e.g. Sally Rooney) but I really enjoyed this. Maybe because Marianne is almost my contemporary and the references rang true: getting ‘preggers’, Everly Brothers song, clothing, secretarial school etc. I also noted that the author had put some scenes in based on her own life, working for an agony aunt for example.

This is a short read and my only criticism is that it ended very abruptly and I didn’t get why. I could have read another 200 or so pages.

I read a proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

You could see this as a short novel about teenage infatuation, and let it pass you by. That would be a big mistake, as this is so much more. Rose Tremain writes beautifully as always, absorbing the reader into the story from the very first word, but this book is also about how early relationships with lovers, family and friends can colour a whole life - even if they were built on a lie in the first place. This is a short but powerful book, with all the warmth, thoughtfulness and sublime story telling readers have come to expect from Tremain..

Whilst Absolutely and Forever encapsulates a small story of teenage obsessive love carried through life. this novella captures much more. It is a very period piece of growing up in the 1950s and 1960s with parents who embraced old fashioned values (ex-military) and expectations. They project nothing but disappointment in their only child, Marianne.

The ambition, drive and success that was expected of Marianne is turned inwards as Marianne assumes she is incapable of anything. She is shaken up a little by her feminist friend Pet who is busy playing her part in student politics. None of this is unfamiliar in novels of the period - those who were swept into the 1960s and those that stood well back. There is also an austere domesticity which both writers capture with period vocabulary eg being "preggers" defining a woman's future. I found this book had a similarity to Tessa Hadley's Free Love, demonstrating that during this period, authority was not the obstacle in the path of true love, contrived expectation was.

I enjoyed reading this novel as I love Tremain's skill at capturing the spirit of the times, however I think that whilst we meandered through schooling, obsession, secretarial training, obsession, working, obsession, marriage, obsession....... it all felt puerile not sympathetic. There was, for me, absolutely no point in the twist at the conclusion. I would have preferred Marianne to develop some gumption rather than half write a story about Diego, the horse and "enjoy" cleaning!

That said I may have yearned for some feet of clay but I always welcome more from Tremain's pen and, despite the shortcomings, I still wallowed in her words!

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review

This novel is wonderfully transporting, sweeping us into the life of Marianne Clifford, teenager in the late 50s/early 60s and deeply infatuated with Simon Hurst. It's a love that never really goes away, and the novel asks what do we do with losses we can't get over? How do they shape us and our sense of self, an our choices? Rose Tremain is a fantastic writer, and her descriptions of life in Sixties England (as she writes, before it was "the You Kay") are so lush and vivid. Marianne is also very funny. Her dryness and wit reminded me of the central character from Sorrow and Bliss, and there's a similar sense here of watching life happen to and around a protagonist who doesn't know how to move forward and embrace what she has. Without spoiling anything, I thought the ending was a little anti-climactic, but overall, I loved it.

This is a very moving and a powerful read. A short read, but I still spent time on it as the prose was just so beautiful.

Marianne did sound a tad younger to me that she actually is which threw me initially but then I got used to her and her naivety.

Some emotional scenes and interesting relationships. A totally compelling and absorbing read.

When teenage Marianne meets Simon, she knows her dream is to be Mrs Simon Hurst. Unfortunately, Simon is hiding something - something mysterious that can even be sensed through at a photograph of him, as Marianne's strident Scottish friend Petronella points out.

Disappointed in love, Marianne navigates her life from the world of taffeta ballgowns, 'hops' and 'cold collations,' to the seedy underbelly of King's Road in swinging London, and into the arms of a man who really loves her - but her story isn't quite over, and neither is Simon's.

What a national treasure Rose Tremain is. I love her novels and short stories, and this is somewhere in between. As she gets older, she paints on a smaller canvas to her Restoration or Sacred Country-style books, but this is to be expected. I love how Marianne's innate naivete, goodness and animal-like instincts somehow steer her in what may be the right direction, even through the chaos and tragedy of post-war English life. (I do really hope she becomes a famous children's writer...is that too much to ask)?

At the age of fifteen, Marianne Clifford tells her mother Lal that she is in love with Simon Hurst. As is her wont Lal chucks cold water on the notion, her colonel father would bark loudly and deride the idea and yet Marianne knows it’s absolutely and forever. Simon is very good looking and has his future all mapped out, he’s destined for Oxford and success until his gilded future is blown well and truly off course. Both Marianne and Simon are forced to bury their dreams but can Marianne ever move on from her obsessive infatuation?

This is a beautifully written, outstanding character study which I don’t want to end I’m so absorbed in Marianne’s life. With a few deft strokes characters spring to life and you can visualise them with ease. You view everything through Marianne’s eyes and her imagination is vivid, fertile and what comes out of her mouth is not necessarily what is in her head! She’s very intriguing though you veer from wanting to shake her and tell her to embrace the life she has to the fullest, to feeling sorry for her as she’s frequently “put down” and has much to bear including tragedy. At other times you hoot with laughter at her wit and good humour - the dialogue is sublime. Rose Tremain takes us on an emotional journey with a woman who is little understood by those around her with the exception of her friend Petronella from her school days.

The late 50’s and the 60’s are so well captured in the attitudes especially of class, in the language as well as events of the day. This is a savour every word read, another triumph in my opinion for this hugely talented author whose books I have eagerly devoured over the years. It’s not long at around 200 pages but it is a masterclass in how to construct a character driven novel whether you end up liking Marianne or not. I even come round to liking gruff old Colonel Clifford who is most certainly a product of his time! This is a book to treasure.

I have no hesitation in highly recommending this novel and it’s one I’ll reread to see what clever nuances I miss first time around.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK, Vintage for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Marianne Clifford is 15 years old, and in love with an older boy, 18 year old Simon Hurst. From a simple teenage infatuation, Rose Tremain spins a deeply tragic, yet beautiful novel. At less than 200 pages, this is still a novel entirely full of life, it is a very fine character study, and to me felt like the kind of novel nobody was writing any more. I'm glad to see they still are.

Admittedly ones mileage with this work will depend upon how they feel about Marianne; there are times you just want to shake her - and how her parents sometimes try - and times you just want to hold her. She ingratiates herself with the reader and she infuriates at times too - this sounds like a criticism, but it is not. It simply a testament to the skill of Tremain that she draws such a rounded, human figure on the page.

I read this one slowly, taking in the details - and there are great period details here - and because I didn't want it to end. I'd have happily spent another 200 pages with Marianne. A fine novel.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.