What a strong, emotional story. Would highly recommend. Definitely a more serious, somber story but I very much enjoyed it. A strong familial drama, depressing and REAL - I very much enjoyed the characters and this story. Thought it was a pretty realistic look at life and marriage - nothing was glamorized. A memorable read.

This was a great book. It was a slow burn but I was so invested in the characters and what happened throughout their lives. I have read several books in the past year like this one and I love them. There’s nothing like sitting down to read a book that takes you through decades. You learn so much and you get to see a more thorough and whole character development. I definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

This is your next Book Club book.

1970s NYC. Two Irish cops just starting out. Partners. . Following the American dream - they move to a small suburb north of the City. A house, a big yard. They end up living next door to each other and what follows is a story that spans 30+ years and includes friendship and tragedy but also hope and forgiveness.

It really digs into family dynamics and the part our past plays on our future and our children's futures.

If you're looking for a book that hits all of the emotional buttons - this is yet.

*I received an ARC of this book from Scribner via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Most people read to escape from reality, but the best thing about Ask Again, Yes is how "real" it is. While the majority of us don't grow up in homes plagued by mental illness and alcoholism, the day to day struggles of just getting by-holding down a job, raising a family-are universal. Ask Again, Yes starts out as a "Romeo and Juliet" type love story (although the Capulet's and Montague's feud seems almost charming compared to what the Gleeson's and Stanhope's do to each other), but morphs into a tale of duty, drive, fierce determination, revenge, and the hardest task of all-forgiveness-of ourselves and those who have hurt us. Although filled with stereotypes-both families are headed by Irish Catholic men who become New York City police officers-Mary Beth Keane deftly rises above any cliches with writing so pure, and characters so beautifully rendered, Ask Again, Yes will resonate with anyone who has been a child, parent, sibling or friend. Ask Again, Yes is one of the most highly anticipated books of the summer-and with good reason. It's packed with emotion-although not a "thriller" you'll turn the pages at a frantic pace to see how the story unfolds-and delivers an ending that proves that love and family are to be cherished, and always worth fighting for-even (especially) when the odds are stacked against you.

This is a hard book to review--not because I didn't like it but because it's hard to put into words all the emotions I felt while reading it! I adore family dramas and this one is multi-generational so it's complex, but you are so immersed in the two families that it's hard not to be depressed when they go through trauma and happy when they are not. Basically, you just need to be prepared to realize this isn't a nice fluffy read; it's an amazing story of mental illness, childhood secrets, alcoholism, familial obligations, regret, and ultimately, redemption. It's a little like Romeo and Juliet on steroids--and I mean that it the very best way as I adore Shakespeare and loved this novel; I will be pondering and reveling in these emotions for a long time!

Many thanks to #Net Galley and #Scribner to allow me to review this beautiful story. 5 STARS

The publisher’s plot summary for this book is “A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the friendship (and love) between their children (Peter and Kate), a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, and the power of forgiveness.” To be honest, it will be difficult for me to describe it better than that, other to add poignant as one of the descriptive terms.

The story deals with the issues of abandonment, mental illness, loyalty, alcoholism, forgiveness, strength from adversity, the poverty of happiness, and above all what it means to love your spouse and your family.

There were times when reading about the years and events that followed the tragedy, that I felt a tension… like something would set the main characters off in another bizarre turn of events. But as the characters matured over the years, they began looking at the events through different eyes. One of my favorite quotes is from Peter’s uncle George who wisely says: “The thing is, Peter, grown-ups don’t what they’re doing any better than kids do. That’s the truth.” And Kate’s thoughts after Peter’s return from the hospital “What used to be fluent between them felt incomprehensible now, far more difficult to translate. But things were meant to change, Peter said. Because life changes and people change. As long as we change together, we’re okay. “

Thanks to #NetGalley #Scribner for my free e copy of #AskAgainYes by @MaryBethKeane @Mary_Beth_Keane in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you appreciate complicated family stories with poignant, relevant themes, I think you must add Ask Again, Yes to your TBR!

Thought provoking themes include neighborly relationships, friendship, mental health, tragedy, addiction, forgiveness, and redemption. Among all these threads, there is a love story.

Beautifully written, Ask Again, Yes introduces us to two families who live next door to each other. Behind closed doors, the families deal with complicated issues. Meanwhile, two of the children, born six months apart, grow up as each other's best and constant playmate and develop a deep friendship as they hang out after school. Just as Kate and Peter grow old enough to discover they might be attracted to each other, a tragic event happens that changes everything for the two families. One family moves away and the children's friendship is torn apart.

The remainder of the story involves the children, who are now grown, coming to terms with what happened and figuring out what this means for their relationship, their families, and their future.

The story is told from multiple points of view, and the characters are complex and well drawn. I love how the author causes me to care deeply for each one and how I still think about them. It reminds me of A Place For Us in that way.

Even though the story is heavily character-driven, it is engaging and moves at a fast pace. I read it in two days. When I finished, I had that "wow" feeling that indicates how emotionally I had connected with the characters and their situations. I like that the story feels realistic, and I love the big themes of regret, forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, second chances, growth, and redemption.

I'm highly recommending this heartfelt story for readers who appreciate complicated family drama, for fans of well-written, character-driven fiction, and for book clubs because of its rich discussion possibilities. Ask Again, Yes is already on my best of 2019 list!

***trigger warnings: mental health, alcohol addiction

Full review will be posted on my blog on Friday, May 17, 2019.

I LOVED this book. The characters were very well developed and the story had me hooked in the first few pages. This is a great book!!

4.5 stars.

I loved every bit of this book.

"The thing is, Peter, grown-ups don't know what they're doing any better than kids. That's the truth."

I've noticed that sometimes the quietest stories are my favorites. Stories where I slowly get to know each character and before I know it they have grown on me so much that I can't imagine waking up another day and not finding out about how they're doing. The best novels are like that for me. Characters that I miss deeply. Characters who are flawed and so deeply lovable and so deeply real.

"She's learned that the beginning of one's life mattered the most, that life was top heavy in that way."

And this book is full of them. Almost every character is imperfect. They are messed up, broken, struggling, and just working hard to move forward in life. Terrible things happen in the book, and sad realities of life surface. There are heavy issues like parental abandonment, substance abuse, mental illness, and sexual abuse. The scars of life's experiences and the intermingling of all this deeply affects these characters, all of whom I had come to cherish in some way or another.

"It wasn't that she didn't love him, he knew. It was that she loved him so much that it frightened herm loved him so much hat she worried she might have ti protect herself from it. He tried to let her know that he'd figured that out, finally, that there was no need to explain, but then he realized that she might not know it herself."

It's hard to get the ending of such a book right. But this author does it just perfectly. It's true. It's real. It's not a pretty bow tied perfectly and yet it still manages to leave glimmers of hope. I have enjoyed all my moments with this book and I am glad I stuck with the slow simmer. These characters will stick with me for some time.

With gratitude to netgalley and scribner for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this family drama. Two families through two generations. It was a slower read for me. The first 10% had me wondering if I’d finish, and then suddenly I kept thinking about it and the story picked up. The pull of Kate and Peter’s life kept it going. There is much to discuss in here for book clubs. Many tough subject matters in this which I think the author gave thought provoking points of view from many angles - violence, mental illness, addiction, abandonment.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A refreshing multi-generational family saga that was captivating. It was a nice break from the thrillers I typically read. A full range of emotion felt by the reader. This would definitely make a great book club pick!

An enjoyable and engaging novel. Much deeper than the star-crossed lovers book blurb, this book takes a deep dive into complex and difficult issues including mental health and miscarriage. At times, I felt that some of the characters were a bit unreachable for me, and the dark issues create a very dark cloud over much of the book. But, overall, a pick.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Mary Beth Keane for the electronic ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book stuck several chords with me that no multi-generational novel has before. It follows NYPD officers Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope and their families over the course of 4 decades. It is really a character study of Francis and Lena Gleeson and their daughter Kate, and Anne Stanhope and her son Peter. The writing was excellent and you really get to know the backstory with all of the main characters. It shows how life changes your viewpoint on events as well as the enduring power of love. Keane makes the point that not all "bad guys" are lacking humanity. There is something in this book anyone can relate to and I could relate to most characters at some point in the journey of their lives.

Keane does not shy away from the hard subjects stillbirth, alcoholism and mental illness. Not many books address the subject of stillbirth like this one does. While it is definitely not a focal point, the after affects on multiple characters are shown very realistically throughout the book. Alcoholism is told from several angles. She also shows mental illness in a way that makes you really understand the character.

The way Keane writes leaves you feeling like you know the characters. Overall it is excellent, the only thing that kept it from being a 5 star read for me was I felt it lagged in a few places.

I was wary of yet another New York City / Irish / immigrant-family-through-the-generations-story, but this book breaks the mold. It starts with a different generation of immigrants; ones that came to this country in the 1970s. The story-telling is detailed and imaginative, and the reader has an opportunity to "get inside" each character, even the ones that are dysfunctional. This empathy for the "bad parent" sets this book apart, and makes it much more intriguing and realistic.

This book starts with Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two NYPD rookies assigned to the same Bronx precinct in 1973. They both get married and have kids. Brian moves out to the suburbs, right next door to the house Francis and his family live. Francis & Lena's youngest daughter is the same age as Brian and Anne's only child. Naturally, Kate and Peter spend all their time together and become best friends, and later it becomes more than just a friendship. When something terrible happens that affects both families, Peter and Kate lose touch. When they reconnect during college, stars realign and everything is right again. But they face challenges that neither one expects or is prepared for.
This book addresses the topic of nature versus nurture, and whether some things are fated to be no matter what circumstances are thrown in the mix. The author wrote the book in such a way that I felt I were actually there watching the families grow and evolve over time. This is a very enjoyable read that is appropriate for anyone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s such a satisfying feeling to start with zero expectations about a book and realize within the first few chapters that I’m reading something quite special.

Ask Again, Yes really took me by surprise, and I think this book has the potential to be really huge, captivating readers in a similar way to Little Fires Everywhere or Miracle Creek (examples from recent memory).

The book begins introducing us to two rookie cops who meet in training and end up moving their young families to the same suburban block. The specifics to how the two families grow both apart and together over the next several decades is better left for readers to find out on their own. It’s a slow ride, so prepare to settle in and spend some time with these characters. The story is both sad and hopeful and I just loved it!

Such an all consuming story! This book starts out slow but then it takes hold and won't let go. It has several strong characters and they are all so realistic and they deal with alcoholism, infidelity, mental illness and death. The author's writing style is perfect for the type of story she tells. I am going to chase down some of her previous novels to read because I do thoroughly enjoy what she writes.
This is a sad story all about love and loss but very much like real life. Definitely 5 stars for me!!

For some reason, I'm having a really hard time reviewing this book. I absolutely loved it, but I'm having trouble putting it into words. It's not the kind of book that's going to have you saying "omg!" or sitting on the edge of your seat. It's more of a slow burn that will totally suck you in and have you thinking about the characters non-stop.

When I first started reading Ask Again, Yes, I wasn't so sure I was going to like it. It starts with two New York police officers, Francis and Brian, who are just getting their start in their career. But the book quickly jumps into the family lives of Francis and Brian, introducing us to their wives and eventual children. It didn't take long for me to get hooked.

I honestly don't want to give away too much of the plot because I feel like this is the kind of book that is best if you go in blindly. It's not even so much the plot that's important anyway (though it is good); it's the characters and the way you'll watch them change and grow throughout the novel. It's an emotional journey and one that I feel like anyone can relate to, even if you've never actually been in any of the specific situations in the book.

It's the kind of book that I know I will read again some day (which is pretty rare for me) and in the meantime, I'll be thinking about the characters and looking forward to meeting them again. I don't give five stars lately, but this is a definite 5 star read for me!

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy of this novel. The minute I read the synopsis of this book I had to get my hands on a copy. This is a very dark family drama - if you're not up for a long and painful journey, I would look elsewhere. But this is how life really IS, how it often unfolds, and as you read it you believe (you know) it could happen.
This is the story of two families interwoven by their children's relationship and a tragedy that affects all of their lives, forever. Keane's writing is sharp and clear, and lends itself perfectly to the journey she takes us on -- no flowery prose, but her characters are so well drawn. This is a character driven novel, but she moves the action along well. 4 instead of 5 stars because I did feel there were a few spots that dragged - I think I was just so hit by the sadness of this book that I was desperate for some ray of hope at the end. I won't spoil a thing - to find out if you get that you'll have to read it!

4.25⭐️

An intense drama, this centers around two families over decades of their lives...how they meet, mesh, clash and ultimately merge. There’s mental illness, alcoholism, and an especially violent episode as seen through multiple characters from each family.

I’ll be honest, while I felt this was an excellent read, I sometimes felt bogged down by the moments of darkness and despair the characters had to work through to come out whole. So while only 400 pgs., it really felt much longer to me and actually took me longer to read than I had anticipated (as I took breaks when the emotional density got to me).

Out 5/28

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Scribner for providing me with the ARC. All opinions are strictly my own.