Ask Again, Yes

A Novel

By: Mary Beth Keane

Narrated by: Molly Pope

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

The triumphant New York Times Best Seller * The Tonight Show Summer Reads Pick *

Named one of the best books of the year by People, Vogue, Parade, NPR, and Elle

“This is one beautiful book. I was wowed by Keane’s writing and narrative skill - and by what she knows about trouble.” (Stephen King)

How much can a family forgive?

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, rookie NYPD cops, are neighbors in the suburbs. 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.

In Mary Beth Keane's extraordinary novel, a lifelong friendship and love blossoms between Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope, born six months apart. One shocking night their loyalties are divided, and their bond will be tested again and again over the next 30 years. Heartbreaking and redemptive, Ask Again, Yes is a gorgeous and generous portrait of the daily intimacies of marriage and the power of forgiveness.

©2019 Mary Beth Keane (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Narrator Molly Pope delivers this character-driven exploration of two families whose stories intertwine over decades. With sensitivity and insight, she creates believable, multilayered characters, leading listeners through shifting narratives across time.... Pope's steady pace and excellent voicing of dialogue work well. Like the event at its center, this story unfolds with long-lasting reverberations for listeners." (AudioFile Magazine)

Second Listen

I read this book a few years back when it was first released and loved it. I loved it as much listening to it now (for my book club selection). A wonderfully written glimpse into the human condition; the cause and effect in our lives, the angst, the turmoil, the struggles...and the loves we create.

Great book

I love this author and always enjoy her books!
Very interesting story and I enjoy how it spans the years and you get to follow the characters through a majority of their lives.

All that listening time to end nowhere.

The ending was a huge disappointment for me, because there really wasn't one. When we listen to a fiction story, we take a journey into someone else's life. If the life has no substance, good or bad, it's not worth writing about. This story seemed to be going somewhere and anticipation built for a conclusion. The conclusion we are given in this fiction work is relatively worthless, and was, certainly for me, not worth the time spent leading up to it. For me, this book won't be memorable in any way other than to say it demonstrated the impact of one woman's illness on the people who were close to her for one reason or another. Other than that, the book gave me nothing else to remember her or all of them by. Would I listen if I knew that going in? The answer to that question is no, I'm sorry to say.
Wow...I rarely am so harsh, but I was just disgusted when I realized that was it.....had I looked at my device to see there were only a few minutes left, perhaps I could have prepared myself for the let down I experienced.

Just ok

I enjoyed the first half more than the second half. The narrator did a great job of the Irish accents, but the character of Kate was super annoying. I think disliking Kate was why I didn’t like the second half of the book as much. In all the story was just too tedious for me and too much like real life to be an enjoyable listen. The detail in which they talked about going to work, picking up the kids from daycare and cooking dinner was not my idea of escapism!

Weird Ending

I really liked the story of the relationships and how everyone intertwined. I felt slightly let down at the ending.

Great book

I really enjoyed this novel. I knew nothing about it, or the author except the brief description on Audible. I was about to drive 4 hours and wanted something different than what I had currently been listening to. Excellent character devopment, along with a few twists and turns. The characters stayed with me while reading it and will continue to do so. It shows you that life, and all that it throws at you, is not perfect, and in the end, that's OK
It has to be.

Beautifully written

This writing and character development in this book are exceptional. Lovely, rich story from beginning to end. Narration is phenomenal.

Good story. .

Not predictable. True to life. Would recommend. Profiles 2 believable, realistic American families over 2 decades.

Expected more

I got this since it was the Tonight Show summer read. Perhaps I like lighthearted stories too much and went into this book with the wrong expectations. Some parts I thought were good but other were dragging on. I agree with other reviews that the characters are honest, flawed and real but there was something just missing for me. Would I recommend it to friends? Maybe, but with a caveat that it's depressing. The narrator did a good job.

Go Now. Read It.

Mental illness can lead to a messed up life for everyone around. This story navigates through life after a tragic situation that was the result of mental illness. It's a love story. It's a tragedy. I would even read it again and I'm not a double dipper.