Review: Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Ask Again, Yes, by Mary Beth Keane

Simon & Schuster Canada - Available May 28th, 2019
Literary Fiction
E-book 

400 Pages
* I received this digital ARC courtesy of Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. This does not influence the following opinions which are my own. 

My Rating (out of 5)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deeply moving story about the legacy of trauma and the healing power of forgiveness as told through two families over several generations.

The story opens in 1973 as Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope meet while both are rookies on the police force in New York. They ultimately end up being neighbors in a small suburban community as Francis and his wife Lena move in to the house next door to Brian and his wife Anne. The two  couples never develop any kind of close relationship, but the Stanhope's son Peter and the Gleeson's daughter Kate end up being the very best of friends.

One night something horrible happens which results in both families going in directions they could never have imagined. The Stanhopes must leave suddenly and Peter and Kate are torn apart, forbidden to contact each other.  The absence of each leaves a hole in the other's life, and eventually they find their way back together, their childhood friendship blossoming into something new; but the events of that fateful night years before cannot be forgotten Together, they lead themselves and their families on a journey of enlightenment, acceptance and forgiveness.

There is a saying, "be kind, for every person is fighting a battle you may know nothing about". This book beautifully captures that idea. Each of these characters is fighting battles- their own personal demons. This book also demonstrates the soul freeing power of forgiveness.  Keane's writing was superb and took me through a wide range of emotion, her characters complex but not complicated. The story so expertly woven that you do not immediately realize how delicate some of the threads are until you finish and see the story as a whole.

This stunning  and poignant story of trauma and tragedy, friendship and forgiveness,  is a great read by itself, but would be an excellent choice for a book club read or a buddy read.  

Happy Reading,

Christine