E. J. Noyes

With Don't Ask, Don't Tell nothing more than an unpleasant memory, US Army surgeon Sabine Fleischer is ready to move on with her life--if she can just figure out how to move past her PTSD. Fresh from her first deployment since surviving a vehicle attack in Afghanistan, Sabine is finding the things she's tried so hard to push aside aren't as easy to ignore as she'd hoped. Sabine's girlfriend and ex-commanding officer Rebecca Keane is happily settled into her new job running a trauma department in a civilian hospital.

Ask Me Again

Izza

Renee

Where does one begin with this review? Well, for starters, I can’t help but to compare this story with Ask, Tell. By a difference that is baaaarely recognizable, Ask, Tell is a better story of the two because of its unique storyline. I empathized with Sabine in Ask, Tell. Her girlfriend abruptly ended their nine-year relationship in the worst possible way, which caused Sabine to breakdown emotionally. With the exception of Jana and Mitch, Sabine could not unload her “toxic thoughts” or explain the reason for her breakdown to anyone. Seeking professional help was a no-go because the DADT policy forced her to keep her sexuality hidden. In Sabine’s own words, she had to “…swallow it down like poison.” She just could not tell. Then in steps Sabine’s crush and boss, LTC Rebecca Keane. Sabine and Rebecca “stumble[d] into something wonderful.” Hidden from view, they established a beautiful, sensual relationship; however, regulations and the DADT policy prevented them from openly expressing their love for each other. They just could not tell.

 Fast-forward a few years to the repeal of the DADT policy in effect. The unique storyline of Ask, Tell transforms into Ask Me Again, a heartwarming, romantic story between Sabine and Rebecca who have become “inextricably intertwined.” Sabine does not like who she has become because she is struggling with PTSD. The Incident has left Sabine wallowing in self-pity and entrapped in a cycle of what-ifs. However, unlike Ask, Tell, Sabine can tell. Along with the continued support of her family and close friends, Sabine has friend-therapy sessions with Gavin, her companion during The Incident, and professional-therapy sessions with LTC Andrew Pace, her shrink. Then there is the unrelenting, caring support of Rebecca. In her own words, “I stay, I fight, I try because I love you.” You talk about the perfect companion! Rebecca is patient, compassionate, intellectual, faithful (“Kick rocks, Vanessa!”), and downright sexy as hell. Including her POV adds to the complexity and emotional appeal of the story. Likewise, Rebecca’s overall POV symbolizes hope, which counteracts Sabine’s self-destructive thoughts and actions. As stated before, Sabine and Rebecca are “inextricably intertwined” and what better way to show the dynamics of their intimate connection than to include both of their POVs. I empathized with Sabine in the first book, but now that I have had the chance to “head hop” into Rebecca’s thoughts, their love feels much more authentic, much more sensual, and much more...everything.

All right, I am done rambling. Ask Me Again is an awesome continuation of Ask, Tell. Sabine and Rebecca's continued journey will stay with you long after you have read the last page of their tale.

Lucia Correa

5+Stars for the Audiobook, Ask Me Again by E.J. Noyes, narrated by Abby Craden. This is the sequel for Ask, Tell which you need to read first. 

This is a “re-read” but this time I listened to the audiobook. This book works well as an audiobook. One – it’s narrated by Abby Craden and two – its written in First Person with Sabine and Rebecca switching chapters. So with Craden’s stellar narration, it lends itself well as an audiobook with their two viewpoints and emotions as the couple tries to deal with Sabine’s PTSD. 

FYI: I wrote a more detailed review for the ebook of Ask Me Again.

What do you do when the source of all your problems is the one thing you don’t know how to fix? With Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell nothing more than an unpleasant memory, US Army surgeon Sabine Fleischer is ready to move on with her life—if she can just figure out how to move past her PTSD. Fresh from her first deployment since surviving a vehicle attack in Afghanistan, Sabine is finding the things she’s tried so hard to push aside aren’t as easy to ignore as she’d hoped. Sabine’s girlfriend and ex-commanding officer Rebecca Keane is happily settled into her new job running a trauma department in a civilian hospital. Life with Sabine is everything Rebecca ever wanted. But when Sabine’s PTSD reappears worse than before, she’s left struggling with her own guilt. There’s no doubt that both Sabine and Rebecca want the same thing. But how do you help the most important person in your life when they don’t want to need your help? Ask Me Again is the must-read sequel to the best-selling Ask, Tell.

Jude Silberfeld

I have never been in the military, let alone in a war zone, and I won’t pretend I understand what Sabine is going through with PTSD following “the incident” from Ask, Tell. I have however been trying to convince myself for years that I do not suffer from my own PTSD (my wife will be very proud of me for acknowledging this) since a car bomb exploded outside my high school when I was eleven (or was I twelve?). Add burnout and anxiety with sometimes similar symptoms… So while the experience is different, I can relate to parts of it. I knew listening to this book would be hard but hey, I survived reading and  listening to Lise Gold’s Living. Right.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has just been repealed, Sabine and Rebecca can live their relationship openly. They’re still very much in love and everything should be peachy, except Sabine is struggling with PTSD and trying to fight it on her own. Both because she’s having trouble seeing it as anything other than weakness and because she’s forever trying to protect Bec. Who, in turn, is so focused on taking care of Sabine that she’s oblivious to her own pain. She too is, to some extent, suffering from PTSD, while at the same time dealing with the toll mental illness also takes on loved ones.

E. J. Noyes is one of the most talented authors right now. While it is definitely a love story, Ask Me Again is certainly not a romance. It is not light and witty and heartwarming. It is intelligent and intense and heartbreaking. It is so good and true and terrifying and beautiful at the same time. It is also wonderfully written, as are all E. J. Noyes’ books, and so well narrated by Abby Craden that I am in total denial that Sabine and Rebecca are not real people. If you’re like me, this book will break you. Right now, I’m choosing to believe it is for the better. Ask me again in a couple of months.

Ask Me Again

Reviews