Ask Again, Yes
- Downloads：1102
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-09-11 08:53:24
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Mary Beth Keane
- ISBN：1405943130
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
A gripping and compassionate family drama set between neighbours in suburban New York。
Gillam， upstate New York: a town of ordinary， big-lawned suburban houses。 The Gleesons have recently moved there and soon welcome the Stanhopes as their new neighbours。 Lonely Lena Gleeson wants a friend but Anne Stanhope — cold， elegant， unstable — wants to be left alone。
It's left to their children — Lena's youngest， Kate， and Anne's only child， Peter — to find their way to one another。 To form a friendship whose resilience and love will be almost broken by the fault line dividing both families， and by the terrible tragedy that will engulf them all。 A tragedy whose true origins only become clear many years later 。。。
A story of love and redemption， faith and forgiveness， 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。 A story of how， if we're lucky， the violence lurking beneath everyday life can be vanquished by the power of love。
Gillam， upstate New York: a town of ordinary， big-lawned suburban houses。 The Gleesons have recently moved there and soon welcome the Stanhopes as their new neighbours。 Lonely Lena Gleeson wants a friend but Anne Stanhope — cold， elegant， unstable — wants to be left alone。
It's left to their children — Lena's youngest， Kate， and Anne's only child， Peter — to find their way to one another。 To form a friendship whose resilience and love will be almost broken by the fault line dividing both families， and by the terrible tragedy that will engulf them all。 A tragedy whose true origins only become clear many years later 。。。
A story of love and redemption， faith and forgiveness， 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。 A story of how， if we're lucky， the violence lurking beneath everyday life can be vanquished by the power of love。
Reviews
Jana Bouc
，
Two families’ lives forever connected by a moment of madness and by love。 This is a pretty deep book that is engaging to read。 While it covers heavy subjects including loss， mental illness， alcoholism， poor parenting， it isn’t a depressing read because of the characters’ resiliency and ultimately their love for one another。 It’s a thought provoking and satisfying read。
Rachael
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Not my favorite， but it had some steady life lessons。 There were a lot of moments of struggle without enough lift or resolution， but I suppose life is that way。 And it can be frustrating and hard， but we also have to stop and see the good around us。 I’d give it a solid 3。5。
Patricia
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This story explores how untreated mental illness can effect the lives of so many。 Every member of the Stanhope and Gleeson families would suffer permanent damage because of one seriously ill person。 This was a very good story and I highly recommend it。
Erin
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（Audio version）。 I liked， but not loved this book。 As often is the case with very hyped up books， it fell a bit short for me。 If you like Literary fiction or character driven novels， this is the book for you。 I prefer a fast moving plot that keeps you guessing， which was not really the point of this book。 That said， the character development was really well done。 There were a few characters I felt that I wanted to know more about， but that is intentional by the author， I’m sure。 The first half o （Audio version）。 I liked， but not loved this book。 As often is the case with very hyped up books， it fell a bit short for me。 If you like Literary fiction or character driven novels， this is the book for you。 I prefer a fast moving plot that keeps you guessing， which was not really the point of this book。 That said， the character development was really well done。 There were a few characters I felt that I wanted to know more about， but that is intentional by the author， I’m sure。 The first half of this one was fantastic， but it fell a bit flat in the second half for me。 I was kind of expecting something more climactic to occur， but when it mostly didn’t， at the end it gave me the chance to think more about the characters and their intertwined dynamic。 I would definitely recommend this book， and while it wasn’t quite as wonderful for me as I’d hoped based on rave reviews， I certainly see why many love it。 。。。more
Paige
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Decent story line but no big event， always seem to be waiting for something more to happen to really make the books but it never comes。 although it does have a happy ending。
Dora
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Really enjoyed the layout of the story。 Characters brought you in and kept you interested in their lives。
Elisa Santos
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Um livro que fala de temas difíceis， que tem como pano de fundo uma comunidade pequena e unida， onde um acontecimento traumático vai abalar essas noções de comunidade。Apesar dos temas difíceis， de ser um livro sofrido， não consegui emocionar-me como penso que uma narrativa destas deveria。 Algo na escrita， no tom deu um ar distante。
Kristen
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I really loved this one。 Just had to deduct a star because the pace was weird and it was overall too long。 I loved the perspectives of Peter the most。 I was rooting for all of these characters！ Such complex family dramas but hope， love， and above all forgiveness persevere。
Sharon A。
，
Such a beautifully written story of family tragedy and the triumph of love。
Ann
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By the end of the book， you can see some good even in characters that have said and done the most unforgivable things。 I’m disappointed in the endings of so many books but not this one。
Virginia
，
My book
Liz Pietrantoni
，
Beautiful written and emotionally heart wrenching。 Follows the storyline of two families facing the impacts of mental health on a family。 Definitely a slow burn but worth it！
Carson Butler
，
"But things are meant to change， Peter said。 Because life changes and people change。 As long as we change together， we're okay。" （364）This book touches themes of friendship， childhood tragedy， mental health， alcoholism， abuse， abandonment， marriage， and love。 I was really impressed with the writing。 The characters and the relationships between them were done really well， and while it is very sad and tragic in many ways， it's also very hopeful。"This is a story of two families over several decades "But things are meant to change， Peter said。 Because life changes and people change。 As long as we change together， we're okay。" （364）This book touches themes of friendship， childhood tragedy， mental health， alcoholism， abuse， abandonment， marriage， and love。 I was really impressed with the writing。 The characters and the relationships between them were done really well， and while it is very sad and tragic in many ways， it's also very hopeful。"This is a story of two families over several decades and how their lives intersect in a tragic way as well as one that is filled of love and ultimately forgiveness。""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。" 。。。more
Katie
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AudiobookI found myself feeling empathy for all of the characters in the book who all had very different experiences/ perspectives。
Amanda SG
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Read as an audiobook。 Really enjoyed it！
Patti
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Great read。 I'm having trouble finding a book to read next。 This book was a tough act to follow。 Great read。 I'm having trouble finding a book to read next。 This book was a tough act to follow。 。。。more
Cara
，
Dark family drama over a few decades。 I expected to love it more than I did but I think that may be because of the painful storyline and family life。 The beginning was a slog to get thru at times， but I kept reading， wondering what all the good reviews were about。 The 2nd half picked up when things were coming together。 Overall I liked it in the end， but it was a bit too long and dark for me to love it。
Rebekah Hoeger
，
I love finishing a book， when I know I'm going to carry a little bit of it with me forever。。。 That it changed my perspective even the tiniest bit。 Empathy， mental health， regret， family - I now see it all just little bit differently。 Thank you， Mary Beth Keane。 I love finishing a book， when I know I'm going to carry a little bit of it with me forever。。。 That it changed my perspective even the tiniest bit。 Empathy， mental health， regret， family - I now see it all just little bit differently。 Thank you， Mary Beth Keane。 。。。more
Mia
，
I couldn’t put this book down！ Each character’s story gripped me。 I really liked the concepts of people not being fully good or fully bad and that everyone is capable of change。 The themes of compassion and forgiveness are beautifully woven into this story。
Jeanette
，
Really fantastic character writing。
Karen Boman
，
I don't really know how to express my feelings for this book。 I wouldn't say I like the book， but I will say it's had a powerful effect on me。 The characters are complex， the storyline a tough read。 I felt sad and anxious， not knowing if the characters of Peter and Kate would end up together。 When they did， it almost felt anti-climatic。 This is not one of those books with a nice happy ending; it is happy but bittersweet and a tough road for the characters。 And I guess it's realistic; life is not I don't really know how to express my feelings for this book。 I wouldn't say I like the book， but I will say it's had a powerful effect on me。 The characters are complex， the storyline a tough read。 I felt sad and anxious， not knowing if the characters of Peter and Kate would end up together。 When they did， it almost felt anti-climatic。 This is not one of those books with a nice happy ending; it is happy but bittersweet and a tough road for the characters。 And I guess it's realistic; life is not a fairy tale。 。。。more
Bridget
，
LOVED this book！
Alexis
，
I could not put this book down！ It is not the typical kind of book I gravitate towards。 There is a lot of jumping around between POVs， and intergenerational timelines that spans several decades with jumping around through points in time as well。 Those are things that usually make me feel disconnected from the characters， but not the case in this book。 The writing really just pulled me in and made me care about EVERYONE， and root for everyone despite their flaws。 I definitely want to read more fr I could not put this book down！ It is not the typical kind of book I gravitate towards。 There is a lot of jumping around between POVs， and intergenerational timelines that spans several decades with jumping around through points in time as well。 Those are things that usually make me feel disconnected from the characters， but not the case in this book。 The writing really just pulled me in and made me care about EVERYONE， and root for everyone despite their flaws。 I definitely want to read more from this author。 。。。more
Erin Gray
，
The interpersonal connections of these characters are what made this book so powerful。 At one point， I wasn’t sure I could get through it because of some of the difficult scenarios some characters faced。 But， I feel rewarded for sticking with it because the story was worth it。
Colleen
，
An enjoyable and relatable read - difficult families are all difficult in their own way
Meghan Geary
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This took me a while to get into， but once it hooked me， I was sunk。 This is a beautiful story well-told， but it is deceptively heartbreaking。 As the characters worked their way around my heart， I took my time， savored each chapter。 Im usually eager to speed through a good book， but this story had so many quietly powerful moments， so many perfectly wrought sentences， so many exquisitely accurate expressions of human love and loss and hope， that I just slowed down and read it all very carefully。 This took me a while to get into， but once it hooked me， I was sunk。 This is a beautiful story well-told， but it is deceptively heartbreaking。 As the characters worked their way around my heart， I took my time， savored each chapter。 Im usually eager to speed through a good book， but this story had so many quietly powerful moments， so many perfectly wrought sentences， so many exquisitely accurate expressions of human love and loss and hope， that I just slowed down and read it all very carefully。 I’m just now finishing it， and writing this through tears—those final pages？ Whew！—so I’ll come back and add more details when I’m able。 But I highly recommend this book！ 。。。more
Sammie Bryant
，
I had no idea what this was about - was told it was a "suburban drama" - but it was so much deeper and more interesting than that！ It was so fascinating to read about the two families across 4 generations and to see how parents impact their children for better or for worse in so many ways。 Would highly recommend， I couldn't put this down！ I had no idea what this was about - was told it was a "suburban drama" - but it was so much deeper and more interesting than that！ It was so fascinating to read about the two families across 4 generations and to see how parents impact their children for better or for worse in so many ways。 Would highly recommend， I couldn't put this down！ 。。。more
Elizabeth Boyle
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Tragedy after tragedy and continued sadness throughout。 A much darker view on life than I personally like to read about， but it was well written and could be great for some！
Melinda
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Every family has drama and secrets。 This is very satisfying in that it doesn't take the easy way out。 Not all problems are resolved， not all relationships are healed， but the family goes on。 Every family has drama and secrets。 This is very satisfying in that it doesn't take the easy way out。 Not all problems are resolved， not all relationships are healed， but the family goes on。 。。。more
Dana P
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Wow， could not put this down and finished it in three days！ Believable characters and tribulations。 Sometimes heartbreaking and poignant but always kept my attention。 The timeline also thoughtfully shows how society has changed in views on mental health，addiction and family。 Highly recommend this book。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Ask Again, Yes
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Ask Again, Yes&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Ask Again, Yes&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0