As interesting as the premise of this book was, the execution fell very flat for me. Unfortunately, there was no deeper life or authenticism to be found inside the characters – moreover, several scenes and most backgrounds are also lacking in terms of dynamics. The story interested me in the beginning but gradually lost its grip until it just turned bland. Neither Eva nor Jamie are interesting past first glance and the lack of movement in their inner and outer workings does nothing for a gripping novel. This book, for me, thus read like a row of mundane scenes – each one less special than the previous.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend "Ask Me Again".

Really intricate writing and I enjoyed the daily, mundane observations Eva had as she transitioned out of school and into adulthood. I wished we got more of her and Jamie's friendship rather than Eva's separate life but an interesting discussion of politics, religion and what it means to live according to your ideologies.

Oh that was a pain... I only persevered out of respect for Picador. I never gave up my hope that "Ask Me Again" would become a marvellous coming of age story that was promised. It never did. How many times I thought I was about to give up this book? Every 5%, every other page. There was no moment where I was engrossed or impressed or enjoying myself (and, after all, isn't it why we read?!). I feel cheated. Bitter. Disappointed.

It reads like Clare Sestanovich knows her way with words, but cannot come up with an engaging story/plot! Everything, from situations to characters, feels transitional, sad, pointless.

Ask my again, did I enjoy this? No.

What a beautiful cover though!

With many thanks to the publisher.

This is one of those books I wanted to LOVE , on paper it ticks all the boxes for me but it ended up being one I liked but nothing memorable . I tend to gravitate towards plotless novels and love a good character study but just didn’t feel any sort of connection with these characters , I just found them a bit dull ! I did become more invested towards the latter half of the book and I am glad I didn’t dnf . All things aside though , the writing is really good and I loved the setting , I just felt it needed something more . It’s quite philosophical in parts and I think a lot of lit fic fans will enjoy it . It’s sort of a love story , sort of a coming of age story and also it’s just about life !
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Thank you in advantage to Pan Macmillan | Picador for the access to this ARC. It wasn’t what I expected if I am honest. The prose in the book was certainly beautiful, and I genuinely enjoyed it. However, it didn’t quite align with my expectations. As I read, I found myself waiting for moments that would evoke a sense of wonder, but those moments never materialized. I pushed through to the end, hopeful that the narrative would improve, yet it remained rather plain throughout. While the characters held some interest, they ultimately did not resonate with me as I had hoped. Though it aimed to be a coming-of-age story, it felt more like an extensive character study, which left me wanting more depth and engagement.

I really wanted to love this and I'm giving it 3 stars because the prose was beautiful, but I just can't recommend this book. 30% into it I realised I couldn't say what the book was about or where it was going, and while I love slow characters stories and coming of age tales, I don't know what this book was saying or why it took so long to say it. I think its drifting portrait of young adulthood is reminiscent of THE IDIOT, but that's carried by an incredibly strong protagonist, which this book didn't have. Unfortunately not for me.

I loved this book! At times reminiscent of Batuman’s The Idiot, the novel follows Eva from age 16 into early adulthood, focusing on her friendship with Jamie, a boy she meets in the hospital waiting room. Full of sharp observations on relationships, I found Eva’s character really compelling, her existential struggles believable. While not a fast-paced book, there is plenty to chew through and it held my attention the whole time.

It took me an unusually long time to get through this novel (my fault, I was unwell) but I do think that’s reflective of the fact the plot isn’t what I’d describe as propulsive. It’s a good character study and I really enjoyed if but I can see that others might find it slow paced. Recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Smartly observed and deeply contrived. This is a well thought out and delivered novel. A must read for the year ahead!

I don’t particularly mind books that are largely plotless as long as it can be carried through characters or has good pacing but this one didn’t work for me at all. I tried hard to DNF it and wish I had. I loved Eva and Jamie’s relationship and the book did have some gorgeous quotes. Shame as it had a lot of potential with great characters but poorly executed

Ask Me Again is a debut novel about a young woman’s coming of age, in parallel with a renegade male friend who challenges her beliefs and the course of her life.

Although I rate it 3 stars, I genuinely hope Ask Me Again is read by as many readers as possible.
I am new to Sestanovich’s writing. Ask Me Again starts off as a literary delight; an encounter between Eva, the MC, and James at a hospital, and just as their friendship, it moves quickly and in a gripping way in the first quarter or so. One of the reasons behind this is because we get to know Eva mainly through her interactions with James, and when James is around.
At the sentence level, some chapters are simply exquisite.
James’ insights, Eva’s confusion and curiosity, her awkwardness and lack of experience were all engaging.
The later stages in Eva’s life were not always convincing, engaging or interesting to me - I appreciate an immature, flawed and sometimes unlikeable character who does not change much, however if these were intended, then the later stages of Eva’s life could have fleshed our her new traits and those she does not wish to change more potently with more decisions, or examples. I think part of the problem for me was knowing Eva via James’ company (There were instances at school with Neill, or Eva’s teen life, which I liked). Eva after college did not always read authentic to me. That being said, I had very high expectations set by the author’s writing in the first chapters.
James’ trajectory is interesting, but the later parts about James did not connect well with Eva’s story in my opinion.
All in all, this is one of the better reads out there, for the contemporary take, for the characters, for the author’s craft. I am curious about her other and future work.
(I loved the philosophical, life questions, observations, scientific facts, discussions, the time Eva and James spent together at home. Was not a fan of most of the chapter titles)

Ask Me Again by Clare Sestanovich is a deftly observed and nuanced novel about friendships and relationships and working out where you want to be and what you want to do with your life.

This novel masterfully delves into the intersections of personal values, purpose, and the enduring impact of close relationships. Sestanovich’s portrayal of the characters’ internal struggles and evolving identities, rendered in her keenly observant prose, prompted me to reflect on how relationships mold our sense of self. The exploration of personal growth, societal values, and the nuanced dynamics of friendship felt deeply resonant and emotionally compelling. Undoubtedly, a it’s a full 5 stars read.

Clare Sestanovich’s debut novel begins with sixteen-year-old Eva meeting James in a Brooklyn hospital waiting room. Theirs is an unlikely friendship, their worlds so different they never intersect, and yet it lasts for many years, sometimes more tenuous than others. She wins a place at a prestigious university where she falls in love with Eli, another relationship that will continue in a variety of guises, never as important to him as the political career on which he is focussed. While Eva pursues her journalistic ambition, James drops out of college, joining the Occupy encampment on Wall Street moving in with Eva’s parents when it’s disbanded, then turning to a ramshackle church in his continuing search for meaning which will eventually lead to disaster.
Each of the novel’s chapter headings is a question, echoing Eva’s quest for meaning and purpose, perhaps with an eventual understanding that there are no answers. Little happens in this introspective novel. Friendships are made, loneliness endured, identities explored and life lessons learned, all of it expressed in a low key yet absorbing style full of beautifully observed detail. A few chapters in, I wondered if I might not stick with it but the more I thought about it the more impressed with this novel I became. I’m loath to make comparisons but if Sally Rooney’s novels send you screaming for the exit, best steer clear of this one. I’ll be happy to read whatever Sestanovich comes up with next.

Really loved this. A proper coming-of-age book about the kind of observant from-the-outside-looking-in protagonist that I love and haven’t read in years. Funny and sad, familiar and inevitable, reminded me of a Laurie Colwin, wouldn’t let me put it down for a second, and made me cry twice.