Author: Mary Beth Keane
Publisher: Scribner
Genre: Fiction
Source: Book Expo 2019

Goodreads:  How much can a family forgive?

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.

Ask Again, Yes is a deeply affecting exploration of the lifelong friendship and love that blossoms between Francis and Lena’s daughter, Kate, and Brian and Anne’s son, Peter. Luminous, heartbreaking, and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes reveals the way childhood memories change when viewed from the distance of adulthood—villains lose their menace and those who appeared innocent seem less so. Kate and Peter’s love story, while tested by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity, and grace. 

Ope’s Opinion: Reading the synopsis, I thought this was going to be more about police life then it was.  There were police officers and their families, but the story could have happened to any family.  

If you enjoy reading family drama – this book is for you.  Two families are tied up with each other in many ways.  For me, the character Kate saved the book.  I had a hard time connecting to the parents – the slow pace may have effected my opinion.

The message of messing up and still being loved came through at the end.