Mary Beth Keane

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope are two NYPD rookies assigned to the same Bronx precinct in 1973. They arent close friends on the job, but end up living next door to each other in a small town outside of the city. What goes on behind closed doors in both housesthe loneliness of Franciss wife, Lena, and the instability of Brians wife, Anne, sets the stage for the stunning events to come.

Ask Again, Yes

The triumphant New York Times Bestseller * The Tonight Show Summer Reads Pick * Named one of the best books of the year by People, Vogue, Parade, NPR, and Elle “This is one beautiful book. I was wowed by Keane’s writing and narrative skill—and by what she knows about trouble.” —Stephen King How much can a family forgive? Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, rookie NYPD cops, are neighbors in the suburbs. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne, sets the stage for the explosive events to come. In Mary Beth Keane's extraordinary novel, a lifelong friendship and love blossoms between Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope, born six months apart. One shocking night their loyalties are divided, and their bond will be tested again and again over the next thirty years. Heartbreaking and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes is a gorgeous and generous portrait of the daily intimacies of marriage and the power of forgiveness.

A Novel

Caroline

This book has been on my tbr for pretty some time now and I finally decided to read it. 

Ask Again, yes! Is a slow paced family drama which revolves around two neighbours the Gleesons family and the Stanhope family, the strong bond of friend between their children and how the tragedy of one night changed their lives forever. The book touches upon many things like friends, love, mental health issue, the willingness to forgive and how family history can effect one’s currently life. 

Initially, I was only going to give this book a 3 star rating, but ended up giving it one extra only because I was able to finish it and did not bail out. Though well written, its slow pace made it very boring at times. The characters were likeable but I thought the author should have done more justice to the character of Brian Stanhope. 

The book is divided into 4 parts, the first part was quite interesting, while the remaining three just felt flat for me. However, the author was able the create some sort of mysterious build up in the 3rd and 4th part, which urges the reader to hang on in the hope that, there would be some sort of twist or big reveal, only to be disappointed at the end. There are so many questions that went unanswered, which according to me, should have been played around with, to add some sort of twist to the story like "where was Brian Stanhope that night it all happened and why did he not stop her?" 

Is it only me who want the know where Brian was? Or do others also feel the same?

Would I recommend this book? Yes only if you are looking for a slow burn, without any major twist or turns

Overall, nice story with a happy ending!

Lara Engle

This book was boring. Things that should be a really big deal, which in fact are a really big deal over the course of the book, provoke almost no reaction in the characters. The central relationship in the book involves two people who graduated from high school the same year I did. I feel like I should have related to them in some way. But I didn't. Not at all. I don't understand why people love this book so much.

Lamia Hajani

I feel pretty terrible that Ask Again, Yes took me over two months to read. Thanks to NetGalley and Helen, I owned the book and that made me keep putting on the back burner while I read the books I had to return soon first.

I think that Mary Beth Keane did an outstanding job painting a portrait of two families inextricably linked. The Romeo and Juliet vibes in this book are strong. That doesn't necessarily detract from the book, it's just always in your head. The book goes through the span of a few decades, and you see each character change. 

I think the best part about this novel is that it reflects life very well. Things are not black nor white, and nothing is left tied up with a nice pretty bow. The writing itself can be a bit convoluted and wordy, so I had to knock off one star solely for that.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner and Mary Beth Keane for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

momo-reads

The "love story" that is the entire premise of this book is a hard sell by the author that I couldn't buy.  A long, drawn out picture of a family whose only interesting/believable characters were those on the periphery.

Ali Angco

Lynn

4.25 ⭐️. This book was incredibly gentle and understanding at tackling the difficult things in life. I advise prospective readers to please heed the trigger warnings, specifically for alcoholism and mental health issues. Keane did a marvelous job at creating human, real and complex characters that carry a story that is harrowing yet beautiful at the same time. If it wasn’t for the fact that I recently read Betty by Tiffany McDaniel, this would have easily been a top contender for best read of the year for me. However, I don’t believe comparing this to another book is fair nor does it take away from the realistic yet sensitive storytelling this book provides. I admire that the book gave virtually equal weight to each of the characters perspectives, the only person I would have liked to hear more from was Brian. Although his lack of perspective might have been the point. I especially was drawn to George and Anne as characters because of their complexity. The only thing I have to remark that the pacing sometimes felt a little off. Listened to this as an audiobook, which felt appropriate for the narrative style, but would be just as amazing in print I believe.

This cant be the same book yall read because why the high ratings???? Are yall well

dija

Rachel Kanyid

I really enjoyed that this followed the loves of the families from before the main characters were even born. I love that kind of story telling.

Trish

She listened from across the tea lights at the center of their table, and then she threw her head back and laughed.

“So you don’t regret marrying me, you just regret the way you asked? Oh, Peter, I can think of so many other things you should regret.”
“Yeah.” He looked down at his empty plate. “Probably.”
“Hey. Come back.” Kate covered his hands with hers. “If you regret it so much, ask me now. Ask again. Properly, this time.”

But what would she have said, truly, if there’d been a way for her to glimpse everything that was coming for them? For the second time that night, he felt something at his center go unsteady.
The waiter came, cleared their plates. Still, she didn’t look away.

“Things are better now, they feel like they’re getting better—don’t they? But there might be more coming. This might be the least of it. Have you thought about that? We knew nothing about what it meant to grow up, to be partners, parents, all of it. Nothing. And maybe we still don’t. Would you have said yes back then if you’d known?”
“But I know now. So ask me.”
But he couldn’t find the right words.

“I’ll give you a hint,” she said, squeezing his hands until he looked up to meet her eyes. “Then and now, I say yes.”


I reserve five stars for those books I read where I look back and think: "I wouldn't change anything", or "nothing about the writing, plot, characters, or setting was particularly problematic or irksome to me". 

Ask Again, Yes is one of those rare contemporary books that is both effortlessly easy to read yet elegant, articulate BUT not trying too hard to win awards with flowery/weird prose (looking at you Normal People). I've been eyeing this novel for a while because the title was awkward and intriguing, the cover so beautiful... I just had to know what was inside. And I was so pleasantly surprised. 

If, like me, you are a lover of tv shows like Law & Order: SVU, Blue Bloods, Criminal Minds, etc. this book is sure to entertain you for a weekend. This book has it all: amazing settings (NYC & suburbs), nostalgia, first generation immigrant problems, girl/boy next door young love, the kind of love that can only exist between survivors of the same trauma/tragedy, mental health issues, parent-child relationships, addiction, abandonment issues, forgiveness, gratefulness. It all comes full circle. 

There were multiple moments that made me tear up throughout the book. In a span of a few days I became so emotionally invested in each of the characters lives. And sometimes, a story told from so many different perspectives in multiple concurrent timelines can feel clunky and haphazard (and best left to the fantasy genre) -- but that wasn't the case here. Somehow the transitions were seamless and each perspective was captivating and helped propel the story and me forward. I swear, after reading about Francis or Anne for a couple chapters I couldn't stop reading until I knew what was going on with Peter or Kate too. 

But oh my goodness, reading about Peter and Kate made me wish SO BADLY that I had a childhood sweetheart. It's like they're tethered to each other; through space and time they'll always find their way back together. I'm still looking for that kind of love and all Kate had to do was be born and look across the street. Not fair. 

Anyhow, if you made it this far into my ramblings, the takeaway is that I loved this book and highly recommend it. Maybe not a lighthearted "beach read", but good for any other kind of long weekend. Make sure you don't have any major plans that can't be bailed on though, because you're not gonna wanna come up for air during this one.

For more bookish photos, reviews and updates follow me on instagram @concerningnovels.

Stefanie  Uwah

What an amazingly written story. So much depth. The story took its time but at the same time, it didn't drag. I really really liked it.

Natasha Musa

This is a good read. The characters felt real and as a reader you want to know what motivated or caused each of them to become the person they are. While I enjoyed this book tremendously, it didn’t wow me. I have to say that the last couple of chapters were pretty emotional to read. 

This book is not bad just not great. If you like character driven books then you should read Ask Again, Yes.

Celeste Richardson

Actual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.

Ask Again, Yes is one of those books that I’ve heard so much about that I had to finally cave and pick it up for myself. I wasn’t sure it was going to appeal to me, as contemporary fiction often feels just the slightest bit boring when I pick it up. That was not the case with this particular book. I was incredibly invested, from start to finish. I cared about and connected with the characters, I was drawn in by the setting, and I found the story captivating.

This was such a deep character study. These characters were examined and portrayed with great care and insight, as were their familial relationships and the dynamics between the families. I found every single character compelling and sympathetic, and I truly cared what happened to them. Keane does a great job portraying emotions. Instead of telling us what Peter or Frances or another character is feeling at a particular juncture, she shows us the tightness in his chest or the thirst that won’t abate. This writing decision helped me feel what he was feeling without having to put that feeling into words, and I thought it was brilliant. 

I highly recommend this book, and think it would prove surprisingly interesting to just about any reader. While I was reading this book I found myself thinking about it constantly, even when I was busy with other things. In my opinion, that’s a sign of a compelling story.

courtney garrison

I was lucky enough to join @booksandmargs on Instagram for a buddy read for this book or I probably would have never picked it up. I genuinely love this book like the great alone by Kristin Hannah and where the crawdads sing by Delia Owen. These three books I will throw at everyone

This book has so many important messages about forgiveness, family, love, mistakes, and moving forward in life. I didn’t expect it to pull at all my heartstrings like it did. I also didn’t expect to be rooting for Anne either so it’s a book that had me all tangled up.

You have multiple povs throughout the story. Your main characters start out Lena, Francis, Brian, and Anne, along with the kids. As time goes on though it eventually shifts to reading from Kate and Anne with some chapters in between from other characters. I hate multiple povs, but this one just worked for me. I didn’t find it confusing and it all seemed to blend together well while also knowing who’s POV you were reading from instead of being all jumbled. I also loved how you were able to shift into Kate and Peters adult lives and see how their childhood and that night affected them. 

Also, am I the only one who just thought the cover was like watercolors 😳. I really never paid attention to the fact that they are houses. I will say this one is slow to start but quickly picks up and you left wanting more each chapter. Ask again, yes shows how flawed and complicated are relationships with each other are. 

There are also quite a few triggers in this book that have heavy topics, so if there is something on this list that triggers you I would definitely skip. Shooting, Slurs like faggot and cunt, Mental illness, Abuse, Child abuse, Molestation, Alcoholism and Still Birth

Overall this is an amazing book that I didn’t go into expecting to love as much as I did. Ask again, yes is so heartfelt and emotional and just gah. I want more books like this.

lavneet

This book definitely was not a page turner for me, but I still really liked it. It deals with a lot of heavier topics and describes them in a way that feels gut-wrenchingly accurate, whether or not you've actually experienced them yourself. The overall themes/messages of the book felt really powerful. Definitely an enjoyable read for me.

Jenna

Thanks to @shelfbyshelf for sending me his copy of Ask Again, Yes. He thought I would like it, and I did! It really helped break my reading slump. It’s a compelling family drama that kept me interested.

Ask Again, Yes starts with the stories of two families in a suburban town outside of NYC, and the friendship and romance that blossoms between Kate, the youngest daughter of the Gleeson family, and Peter, the only son of Brian and Anne Stanhope. Anne’s struggles with mental illness lead to a night that will change the trajectory of all of their lives.

I really liked the characters in this book, but I’m not sure how accurately mental illness and addiction are portrayed. I felt a little bit like mental illness was sensationalized and used as a plot device. However, that didn’t keep me from enjoying the story and the book.

This book was entirely readable, and I did find myself drawn in by the characters and their experiences. I especially liked Kate. There were some moving moments as well that almost made me shed a tear. If you like family dramas, this is a pretty good one.

Casey W. 

Loved the unfolding family drama and the different viewpoints.

Britt Kiser

Brian Walborn

Had I read Ask Again, Yes in 2019 when it was initially published, it would have landed in my top five for the year. This novel completely shattered my expectations. I appreciated its raw yet authentic characterizations. This novel, brutal in its moral neutrality, depicts characters so real it made me wonder if I was reading a fictional account or something else entirely. Nuanced and brilliantly written. I love a book containing lines that personally resonate and this contained many. If you asked me twice if I recommend this book, I'd say 'Yes' both times. Highly recommended.

Caitlin Snyder

After thinking about it for a couple days - I didn't like/connect to all the characters in this book but I liked it. I'll definitely be looking for more of Keane's books.

Georgia Carr

This was incredible. A book so good that anything I've tried to read since finishing this has been lacklustre in comparison. I am, 4 days later, still thinking deeply about the characters and their lives and what they might be up to now. It is a long time since a book has made me do that. Immediately downloading all of Mary Beth Keane's other books to devour in anticipation they will be even half as good as this wonderful piece of literature.

Jen Estrella

“...and sometimes when he watched her - searching for something in her bag, or peeling an apple with her knuckle guiding the blade - he felt a shiver of panic that he'd almost not met her.”
^Not really what the whole book is about, but I really like that quote. Slooow start but it was worth it in the end.

Charlotte Rayfield

This book is heavy, and light at the same time. A little like family ❤️

Jennifer Rittall

This is the story of two families dealing with mental illness and addiction but it is also a love story. Very heavy subject matter that might be a trigger for some and it was for me in certain parts but it is written so beautifully and the author makes you care about the characters and their struggles.

Elizabeth Raines

The characters in this were so in depth and so well thought out. There were consequences for their actions and everything meant something. They were so emotionally built and easy to pull for even when they weren't necessarily "good". I liked how this book started with the parents and was multigenerational, I think New York is a good city/state to have that trope as that city has changed so much in the past sixty years. The writing of this story was amazing. The plot really delved into mental health and really showed how the human brain works and everything that trauma can do to it. This book just did not push it to the five star level but it was a good read! I recommend picking up but do be sure to look up the trigger warnings as this book is dark but it is also poetic.

Ask Again, Yes

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