Many thanks to Sriya Varadharajan and publisher Penguin Random House UK for my spot on this Blog Tour.

This was a gripping read, so damn unexpected that I couldn’t put the book down. One more chapter had me reading the book from midnight till 3am.

The story was about families and the problems that life brings with it. It told the story about the life of Kate and Peter neighbors who had known each other since forever. But the families had a past, a friendship turned sour where one night changed it all.

My first book by Mary Beth Keane, the story was an explosion of flavors. I thought it would be a good emotional read, but it turned out to be a thriller which caught me in its grips and did not let me go till I finished the book. The author had a terrific way of writing, a rare sensitivity to merge the past to the present.

The story spanned decades, repercussions of one incident seen later when Kate and Peter wanted to marry. Characters were well etched, each made an impact. There were hidden depths to them that I couldn’t begin to fathom. Forgiveness was the theme behind the story and emotions seeped out of the pages. Made me think quite a bit.

A slow read in some parts, but that could be due to my inherent love for thrillers. A poignant read, where compassion and humanity shines through. Absolutely enjoyable!!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and publisher Penguin Random House UK, and this is my journey into its pages, straight from the heart!! STRICTLY HONEST AND UNBIASED.

All my reviews can be read here

Mary Beth Keane was born in New York City to Irish parents and grew up in Rockland County, New York. She attended Barnard College and the University of Virginia, where she received an M.F.A in Fiction. In 2011, she was named by Julia Glass to the National Book Foundation’s ‘5 under 35’. She lives in Pearl River, New York with her husband and their two sons.

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, 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 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 40 years. 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 haunted by echoes from the past, is marked by tenderness, generosity, and grace.

Publication Date: 7th August 2019

Publisher: Penguin Random House UK