Review: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes

by Mary Beth Keane

Publisher: Scribner

Pages: 390

Format: ARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness.

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come.

Kritters Thoughts:  When I went into this book, I was ready and prepared for a great novel about the affects of the police career on family and friends.  I was excited about the notion of this book as I was hoping for a book that would hit close to home that I could relate to.  This book was less about that and more about the families at the heart of the drama.  With forgiveness, hope and second chances, this book was quite the roller coaster of a ride.

Peter and Kate are two kids who from the beginning were doomed.  With parents with conflicting issues, they should have been pulled apart, but from the beginning they kept finding themselves in each other's lives.  The reader goes on quite the journey with these two and it was enjoyable to read their ups and downs.  

After reading this book, I went to a book club to discuss it and it was a great chat.  The first thing we debated which I didn't even think about was - "who is the villain?"  There were a few in this book and it was interesting to see where we all came from and who we thought was the victim and the villain.  

If you like to read those books that center around family drama, then this should be the next one you pick up.  This one walked the close line about having just the right amount of drama, it wasn't soap opera level - but close!


Rating: definitely a good read, but can't read two in a row

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from BookExpo.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.