When I saw Meg Wolitzer had endorsed this book, I knew it’d be a winner. I love novels that centre around families and this is exactly what Ask Again, Yes does.

Set in New York, we follow the lives of the Stanhope and Gleeson families, in particular the relationship between Peter and Kate. Spanning a number of decades you really get to know each family and the way in which one particular incident is the catalyst to the rest of their lives.

I really enjoyed how Keane explored the complexities of families and intertwined themes of mental health, addiction, forgiveness and friendship (to name a few) throughout the plot. As the book progresses my heart was constantly pulled apart- I felt anger, empathy, hope and betrayal for both families.

I was completely engrossed whilst reading Ask Again, Yes and I don’t think I appreciated what an amazing job Keane had done until I let the story sit with me for a while.

Mary Beth Keane's Ask Again, Yes is a character driven drama that examines two families surviving through trauma and affirms that, despite all the set backs and hurt, life is still worth living. In these dark days of political turmoil and social media slanging matches, Ask Again, Yes focuses on the things that matter closer to home. The best times come with support and love from those close to you, and forgiveness and understanding to those who we could so easily harbour hate.
The author treats all the characters very sympathetically and you can understand their motives and emotions. I did start off worrying that Anne's state of mental health was just going to be used as a trigger for events and not explored but I was later reassured by the handling of this subject as well as other issues.

I found this a fascinating read full of emotion. Gripping and a real page turner. Extremely well written and manages to hold the reader's attention from beginning to end. Brilliant read.

An interesting, well written book although at times depressing.
Skilfully written with excellent descriptions and narrative.
The story focuses around two families in New York from the seventies through the noughties - with serious issues in one family which leads to attempted murder.
Deals with some very challenging issues including abuse, alcoholism and mental illness.
As an Irish woman I was disappointed in the usual Irish ‘drinking’ problem which featured throughout the book.
I am not sure that all the storylines were believable - someone forgiving a person for shooting them and almost destroying their family is a bit hard to accept - particularly for someone who grew up in NI Troubles and worked in the medical field in Belfast during that time.
It did have a good hook and I was intrigued to see how it ended.

This is the story of two families, the Gleesons and the Stanhopes, who live next door to each other. The book spans forty years and outlines how the two families lives are intertwined.

Really struggled with this book and had to put it to one side more than once. Some of the chapters were too long - could have been shortened especially when changing from one character’s story to another.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Michael Joseph and Mary Beth Keane for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

It took me a little while to get into this because it’s so unclear what and who it’s actually about in the beginning, but I’m really glad I got there in the end. It starts with two police officers in New York in the 1970s but that’s just the first layer of the unravelling onion that is this novel. Although there are clear protagonists eventually (Peter and Kate, the police officers’ children), the narration zooms in and out of them, and shifts to other characters and slightly different timelines, meaning that the reader gets a really broad view of the story. The slightly detached narration, as well as the focus on drama and trauma within families, actually reminded me a lot of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels, which I love. I would say that I would have liked a little bit more on Kate and her motivations though, as Peter’s story often dominated.

When I first started reading I wasn’t sure that I wanted to know about the lives of Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope a couple of 1970’s NYPD rookies , the writing kept me reading and I’m glad I did. The characters of the novel are all well fleshed out and they drive this story, spanning 40 or so years, forwards. The two men move into different areas of the police force, each marries and moves out to the city’s suburbs and they end up as neighbours .. The adults don’t really mix ; Anne,Brian’s wife is viewed as “off” by Lena ,Francis’s wife ( turns out Anne is mentally ill something not really understood in those times) however, the children do. Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope are pretty much inseparable until one day a horrible tragedy occurs and Kate is forbidden from seeing Peter again . The rest of the story looks at how we are affected by things that happen throughout our life and how the past looks different when viewed from the future. Loss, addiction, mental illness , perseverance are just a few of the themes in this brilliant novel .

The story is about two neighbouring families - how a tragedy turns everyone's life uoside down,mental illness and alcoholism(both not recognised or acknowledged),and the road to forgiveness.The husband's had started out as rookie NYPD cops ,One,Francis Gleeson , did well ,progressed up the ranks and had a promising future ahead of him..The other ,Brian Stanhope , didn't do as well and was an alcoholic .
They ended up living next door to each other with two of the children - Francis' youngest daughter,Kate ,and Brian's son ,Peter,becoming inseparable .
Their childhood friendship was abruptly brought to an end by a violent incident in the Stanhope household one evening.This resulted in Francis being seriously injured ,Peter's mum,Anne,being detained in a psychiatric institution and Peter going to live with his uncle.
The intervening years sees ups and downs in both their lives - more so for Peter - but they still seem to retain some form of telepathy.
Eventually they find each other again and marry though the Gleesons are non too pleased as they are unable to forgive Peter's mother for her actions and the subsequent consequences to their lives.
It's Kate who reaches out to Anne ,albeit in desperation,when she realises that Peter is following in his father's footsteps and is an alcoholic.
Eventually there is forgiveness. all round.
The story unfolds through the eyes of the different characters,so you really get under their skin and feel as if you too are involved in the rollercoaster that is their lives..-though sometimes thee jumps in time got a bit confusing.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it

This book was simply incredible. It's already getting rave reviews and I can see why. Although on the surface, most of the story is about family life and how it ebbs and flows, the characters were beautifully portrayed. And the main event in the book - an accident which affects everyone in the story - was described really well, it wasn't the focus of the whole narrative, which I loved. I really connected with the characters and still think about them, a few weeks after finishing. A fabulous, fabulous book which I really didn't want to end.

This family saga is quite a heavy read, woven through with melancholy threads concerning loneliness, loss (of homeland, family, children and more), alcoholism, mental illness, and physical impairment.

However, threads of the best of humanity run alongside - fellowship, love, loyalty, strength of character, determination, optimism. recovery, and forgiveness.

It's a book that plays with your emotions - particularly if you've ever had experience of any of the sad times that some of the characters go through - but it's heartening too.

Not a book for holiday reading - or if you are feeling remotely melancholy already - but a worthwhile read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC.

I thought this book started off well enough, two young policemen on a job together, find they have something in common. Francis is Irish as is Brian's fiancee. Although not particularly close they end up living next door to one another and two of their children become firm friends. The only flaw in this set up is that Brian's wife, Anne, has mental health problems which ultimately lead to her committing a violent act which leads to Brian's family moving away. The two children, Kate and Peter are really the central characters in the story and it is their lives and their love for each other through good times and bad which is the central thread of the story. It took me much longer to read this book than it normally takes me to read one, and I was at times tempted to abandon it. I found it overly long and at times tedious and I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable or true to life.

This is a long and flowing drama across two generations of two families in the suburbs, the Gleesons and the Stanhope. The fathers are both police officers, and Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope are friends from an early age, always seeking each other out. Their families are torn apart by a shocking event one night, and the rest of the book follows them as each character tries to come to terms with what has happened and find a way to live with it. It feels very long (not in a bad way), and Keane writes with generous sympathy and care for every single character, even those who are more challenging. There’s a lot of love at the core of this book, and forgiveness too.

Ask Again, Yes is the story of two families, and in particular the story of the children of these two families and how their lives interconnect. It was a quick read for me, and one I enjoyed - although I feel I maybe didn't love it quite as much as everyone else. It is incredibly well written however, so I think this is more a case of personal preference than anything else. I would recommend it if you generally enjoy domestic dramas, as it covers a range of topics such as family relationships, alcohol abuse, and mental health problems with sensitivity.

I received an ARC of this book via net galley. Two police officers meet in training and end up as partners for a short period eventually becoming neighbours. This book chronicles their lives and the lives of their family, but particularly the relationship between the youngest Gleeson child and the only son of the Stanhopes.

It is beautifully written with pivotal events throughout, yet at the same time the narrative is almost "soft".
I particularly liked the way the narrative moves backwards and forwards in time through the eyes of the different characters. The author manages to imbue each character with something to like although none of them are perfect. She crafts relationships that engender love and grief, tragedy and hope.

This is an author to watch

An intriguing family drama covering topics such as alcoholism , child abuse , mental illness , adultery. I wanted so much to love this book and it started so well , the first 60% was indeed gripping and the voices of Francis Gleason , Kate Gleason and the stanhopes were well written character driven with excellent plot lines. However as Peter and Kate grew to college age the book started to become slightly repetitive especially around Peters character , infact he became a annoying character & I preferred hearing the Gleesons trials and tribulations more. Brian and Ann Stanhopes characters were very believable and well written ; his pure selfish behaviour and total lack of parenting skills & Ann’s dissolving into mental melt down. Peters slide into alcoholism as an adult is unsurprising given his childhood experiences and awful parents , however a few things stick for me with this ; his slide from serious track runner to heavy drinker & the reigniting of his friendship leading to a relationship with Kate just lacked any real passion or depth for me . Off to a great start , intriguing middle but lost my interest in the last 20% of the book it just fizzled out for me

Ask again Yes is the love story of Kate and Peter and their Families starting from the 1970's to present time .Two NYC Police Officers move next door to each other in the sleepy suburbs when suddenly tragedy strikes one family that impacts on the other ..This is a very well written story about alcoholism,mental health and ultimately love and forgiveness .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book, but overall, I wasn’t disappointed.

It’s beautifully written, at times quite haunting and evocative. It’s a family saga which covers two families over some forty years. There’s drama, heartbreak, loss but there’s also live and I found it totally immersive. It made a change from my usual genre and I enjoyed it.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

It pains me to write this but I think I will probably be in the minority of not absolutely loving this book. We just didn't click.

The story of the two neighbouring families in New York disliking each other progressed at a very steady pace. A little fuss, a little drama but nothing in the grand scheme of things after the one major disruption in their lives. I found it pleasant but not earth-shattering. Although I didn't connect with the storyline the writing was brilliant and descriptive.

The love between the children of the pair of families was inevitable. You could see that coming from the beginning.

The characters were just there. The only one I found interesting was Anne, touching on mental health issues which I think were handled well. Not all mental health problems are recognised early on or dealt with immediately so to see a prolonged storyline involving this was good.

The alcoholism was also portrayed well, showing how these things can build up over time without being noticed, or perhaps that they run in families . The relapse into drinking again also felt like it could be relatable to many. Too many times you read of a miraculous recovery with no relapse, which rarely happens in real life.

All together I found this book just so-so, perhaps I wasn't the intended reader, but I'm still glad to have read it.

I adored this book about 'suburban' life in New York state. Thinking back I don't think that many of the characters were likeable, but that certainly doesn't stop your enjoyment.

The novel paints a rather harsh picture of how families and family history can impact on one's life but, apart from one major event, it's all about the minutiae of everyday life.

‘Ask Again, Yes’ is a totally absorbing read, beautifully crafted and written with empathy and care. This novel pretty much encapsulates everything about life; love, pain, faults, goodness, misunderstandings, judgements, prejudice and reconciliation. This is the bittersweet love story of Kate and Peter and that of their families, stretching from the 1970s to the present day. Two families, with some lives lived well and others living with awful repercussions and terrible remembrances.

Kate and Peter are childhood best friends and next door neighbours. They just know that they will be together forever: that is until there is a dreadful incident which drives their families apart for decades. When Kate and Peter find each other again they face the challenge of bringing their families to some kind of reunion, whilst individually suffering from their memories of the past. The narrative delves into the darker aspects of family life, mental illness, alcoholism, mental and infidelity.

This is not my normal genre but I was fully engrossed in the story and totally invested in the lives of Kate and Peter. The characters are beautifully drawn and the descriptions of addiction and mental illness are created with sensitivity and compassion. The relationships described are deeply moving and complex. This is the kind of book that I would read more than once. It is a wonderful read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.