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.