Oh, I love a good family drama.

Ask Again, Yes is a book about the members of two families-- the Gleesons and the Stanhopes. They are first brought together through the New York City police academy when young rookies Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope work together. Later, they become neighbours and start families next to one another. Except any chance of cordiality between them is destroyed on one fateful night.

This is one of those intimate character portraits that explores the interactions between the characters in depth and with an unusual level of insight into human nature. There are some perfectly-crafted scenes where as the reader I felt like, yes, that is exactly how someone would behave in that situation. While the book is busy focusing on the characters, many issues emerge over the course of the novel, integrated so seamlessly that it wasn't until I looked back at the end that I fully appreciated what Keane had done.

I don't want to make the book seem sentimental, because it is not at all. But it is very empathetic, and the author writes each character with love and sensitivity. Anne's mental illness causes ruptures in her marriage with Brian, amongst other things, while the Gleesons seem determined to honor commitment no matter what troubles befall them.

I love the understanding that consequences can be far-reaching, both over time and to other people. The book follows the Gleeson daughter, Kate, and the Stanhope son, Peter, over many years, and yet they can never fully escape their beginnings.

You probably know by now if this is a YOU book. It's one of those for readers who like to explore the nuances of human behaviour and relationships. An obvious choice if you loved Ng's Little Fires Everywhere.

A superb read, predominantly about two Irish-American families in New York, beginning with the two men (Brian and Francis) meeting on the job as NYPD officers. What follows is an epic journey through the lives of the Stanhopes and the Gleesons, with Peter and Kate destined to be together despite their families’ differences.

‘Ask Again, Yes’ is accomplished and complex. Initially, Peter and Kate have a perfect relationship, until Peter’s mother, Anne, commits a crime, perhaps through no fault of her own, which has life-changing consequences for both families. Anne gets locked away in institutions for years; her husband Brian leaves for North Carolina, and Peter ends up staying with his uncle George - a fairly stable, caring influence in his life. Peter and Kate go their own separate ways, finally finding each other despite their lives being very different.

This is a sad novel but Keane manages to marry pathos will a sense of spending a significant amount of time with a family who deserve empathy and respect. I hope others enjoy this as much as I did.

This was a story which was gripping from beginning to end. Two families whose children are friends but one of the mothers causes problems. A tragedy shatters the families and the children move off to college. Can their friendship be reignited in the future or is the damage too great?

I enjoyed the depth in which the writer explored each character and the character's relationships with other characters. The interactions and responses were life like and real meaning it was easy to imagine yourself in the shoes of the characters. Looking at other reviews this seems to be a love it or hate it book, I loved it and would recommend that everyone reads it to find out which they are.

An epic read of family saga. Lots of sensitive issues covered as we follow the two families over 4 decades as their lives intertwine. A long read and quite a slow burner, this is a good holiday read.

Ask Again, Yes is a character driven family saga and it is filled with plenty of drama and character depth. If you appreciate a good literary fiction novel, look no further. The story covers three family generations as you see the way these families are affected by a tragedy. There is some light mystery in the way that Big Little Lies is considered a mystery. Readers who enjoyed Little Fires Everywhere will want to check out Ask Again, Yes. Highly recommended!

I've not read any books by this author but was nicely surprised. I must admit it took me a few chapters to get into it but once I did I loved it and just wanted to keep reading. Whilst I have no knowledge of the American Police or alcoholism I could easily follow the story line and engage with the characters. The different characters and their relationships was interesting and the author kept us guessing the outcomes several times which I enjoyed. Each chapter also had a different character taking the lead and although I can't pretend to like each character I did enjoy the book and her writing style. Thank you Mary Beth Keane and NetGallery

Oh what a book ! I absolutely loved this . It is a poignant story about 2 families- their relationships and the tragedy that changes their lives forever .. Your heart goes out to each character as we learn of the struggles they try and overcome. It's fabulous -I urge you to read it -5 stars from me !

Thankyou Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review

Ask Again, Yes is one of my favourite books of 2019. It begins with an introduction to Francis and Lena Gleeson and a glimpse into their family history. The pace is languid, reflective of the hot weather described in the first few chapters. I loved the slow build up to the heart of the story which really begins when we are introduced to the Stanhopes. Anne and Brian, haunted by tragedy have one son, Peter who becomes best friends with the Gleeson's daughter Kate. This friendship is to shape the lives of all around them. Keane writes perceptively and sensitively about mental ill health and the effect it has not just on the person with the condition, but also how it affects loved ones. Historically, there was a stigma and a lack of knowledge about how to treat mental health conditions and while Anne is destructive and at times cruel and vindictive, it is a testament to Keane's writing that we are also able to feel a level of empathy for her as we see her as a victim of her own ill health.

As the story builds and Peter and Kate are reunited many years later following a tragic event, we are privy to the reality of marriage and the damage childhoods can wreak. Keane tackles alcoholism and the insidious nature of addiction. Ultimately Ask Again, Yes is a testament to the strength of the human spirit, it's capacity for forgiveness and the power of love. I enjoyed every word of this beautiful and moving story. It did everything a good book should. It made me forget the world around me existed. It made me cry, it made me smile. And feeling slightly bereft when I turned the last page. Authentic and poignant. I can't recommend this book enough.

I loved this book, it reminded me a little of Little Fires Everywhere which is not a bad thing! Spanning four decades, it tells the story of two families who live next door to each other, their highs and lows, friendships and tragedies. It was easy to get swept up in the narrative, particularly Kate and Peter's stories-their friendship despite the circumstances. There's a lot in the book but it's the characters that make it. They're so well drawn and I cared about each and every one.

Ask Again, Yes is an epic family saga that follows the lives of two families from the early 1970s to the present day. It is hard to review without giving too much away, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was extremely compelling - one of those books you look forward to reading, and take time out of your day for. The characters are well-developed and multi-faceted, and it deals with some difficult, very important topics. Keane does a great job at exploring and explaining each character’s perspective, and I was pleased to find myself constantly questioning my own reactions to them. If I have one criticism, it’s that it was slightly too long for me personally, and became a little repetitive just before the end. At a few points I wondered “what is the point of all this?” But overall, believe the hype and definitely read it to form your own opinion.

I have to be honest, Psychological thrillers aren't usually my thing, and I did take a little time to get in to the story, but once I was in there, I was IN there!

A tale of two dysfunctional families with ties to each other that become tighter, as they try to loosen them.

Can I liken this a little to Romeo and Juliet?

Possibly.

Two children who have grown up together.
Two teenagers who feel the beginnings of affection for each others.
Two families with issues.
One gun.
One shot.
Many lives changed as a result.

What does this book cover? Alcoholism. Depression. Mental health. Attempted murder. Forbidden love. Fractures relationships between parents and their child.

It was pretty intense.

Two rookie cops end up partnered together, and though it's not so much a friendship, their connection runs deeper, as they become neighbours. This story follows the twists and turns of their families relationships with one another, especially after a huge tragedy.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin and Michael Joseph for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This ARC was courtesy of netgalley - all thoughts and opinions are mine and unbiased

This is a family drama - I quite enjoyed it - I wouldn't say I was wowed by it but maybe I need to reread to get all the subtleties

The story jumps about a little too much for me - I think too many characters, the mix was a little confusing at times - For me, this lost a little bit of focus - there were no clear protagonists for me

I think I need to reread with no distractions - maybe on a beach !!

Thanks to Penguin Books for inviting me to read this book.

After getting the email about this book, I had a look at other reviews and saw that people were loving it.
However, I just don't think this is the type of book for me. The novel is too subtle for me - I like things to hit me in the face when they happen. I also didn't like how the timeline seems to jump about in chapters depending on who's perspective you have. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with multiple perspectives for chapters.. but it could be handy to know who's perspective is about to come up in a chapter and not have to read half a page before you figure it out. It also took me quite a while to get in to the book.

I understand how/why some people love this novel, but on this occasion, the writing style really isnt for me.

Dramatic family saga about love, forgiveness and the importance of parenting. Well written but over long in places. None of the characters are totally likeable, which sometimes makes it a hard read. Not really my cup of tea.

Have you ever read a book which you couldn’t put down? Well this was the book for me. Even though I knew I had an very early airport drop off for my son I was still page turning into the small hours.

Set over four decades from Ireland to New York we read of two families whose husbands are both in the NYPD . They find themselves neighbours in Gilliam, a suburb of New York . Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope are work buddies , but their friendship doesn’t extend to their personal lives. Lena Gleeson is finding life lonely in the suburbs and hopes the arrival of Ann Stanhope will bring her companionship but with all her best efforts, Ann seems not to share Lena’s hopes.

The two woman have babies six months apart, Kate and Brian. The closeness and friendship which evade their mothers , happen naturally between the children. Childhood happy experiences bond them together. Kate lives a blessed life in the Gleeson home but Brain struggles to find happiness in his more troubled family. As teenagers their lives are changes forever by a tragic event which tears both the families apart leaving the teenagers no option but to try and forget each other.

Can love conquer all? Or do life's events get in the way? Will Peter and Kate be reunited? These were the burning questions which kept me page turning. As an adult we see things from a different angle as when we were children. Hopefully we learn events have consequences and not everything is black and white. Everyone reacts to experiences differently and I feel this was eloquently explored throughout this book. Many times I found a part of the book heartbreaking only to understand it fully as the whole story unfolded.

The authors emphatic writing style is brilliant, I felt I personally knew the characters. Having experienced some of the issues personally I felt they were so well explored. Mental health, addiction, cancer, tragedy, police families and early retirement were all portrayed, but forgiveness and love were the major ones I took with me. In her acknowledgements the writer says the only secret of love is kindness , and this resounds throughout this beautiful book. I can’t recommend reading this enough thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my copy.

I'm adding this book to my recent favourites. I loved it, lived with it, and didn't want it to end. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this. I want to read it all over again.

Ask Again, Yes was compelling from start to finish. It’s a family saga, but more specifically the growing up and growing together of two children from very similar yet very different families through both extreme and ordinary circumstances.

The story jumps around various time frames, particularly in the first half of the novel, and also focuses on different characters at different points. At times I found this a little frustrating, simply because it meant some blanks in the story weren’t fully developed, and because I wanted to see events from a particular character’s perspective.

The plot has a sense of inevitability despite some twists, but I was please there is no easy or cliched conclusion and found the ending satisfying.

Although the plot and characters are different, this did remind me a little of Saints for all occasions, which I also loved!

Overall: I thought the writing was fantastic, I quite liked the characters and found they had good depth to them. However, for me, the plot let this book down. It started off pretty well paced, and I was really enjoying the build up to “the incident” but after this it slowed down significantly and didn’t really go anywhere …There was also quite a lot of summarising as we were taken through the years of the characters lives - sometimes pretty quickly. Unfortunately, this book didn’t wow me.
will be on blog tomorrow

'Ask Again, Yes' is a complex story of two families who are neighbours, the Stanhopes and the Gleesons. Two of their children have been friends since childhood until one day a tragedy rips them apart.

Many themes are explored in the novel: love, family relationships, friendship, loyalty, mental health, addiction and forgiveness, which make for an enthralling story. However, although beautifully written, for me the narrative dragged in some places. I felt it lost some momentum even with the variety of issues affecting the families.

Finally, what does the title 'Ask Again, Yes' mean?

Thanks to NetGalley and PenguinMichaelJoseph for the opportunity to read and review this book.