{"product_id":"ask-again-yes-9781405943130","title":"Ask Again Yes","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE \u003ci\u003eNEW YORK TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e BESTSELLER AND RADIO 2 SUMMER BOOK CLUB PICK\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''The new \u003ci\u003eLittle Fires Everywhere\u003c\/i\u003e . . . The perfect summer read'' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eSTYLIST\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Stunning! \u003c\/b\u003eAn absolutely \u003cb\u003ebrilliant, gorgeously-written novel. A must-read for our time'' \u003c\/b\u003eLISA TADDEO\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Immersive and deeply moving''\u003c\/b\u003e ANNA HOPE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e''I absolutely adored it''\u003c\/b\u003e LIANE MORIARTY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e*Features an extract from Mary Beth Keane''s new novel \u003ci\u003eThe Half Moon\u003c\/i\u003e!*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e_____________\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTwo ordinary families. One life-changing day . . .\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen the Gleesons and the Stanhopes become neighbours, lonely Lena Gleeson wants a friend. But Anne Stanhope - cold, elegant, unstable - wants to be left alone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt''s left to their children - Lena''s youngest, Kate, and Anne''s only child, Peter - to find their way to one another.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo form a friendship whose resilience and love will be almost broken by the fault line dividing both families, and a \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eStunning!\u003c\/b\u003e An \u003cb\u003eabsolutely brilliant, gorgeously-written\u003c\/b\u003e novel by a fearless writer. Ask Again, Yes is both \u003cb\u003ehaunting and hopeful, \u003c\/b\u003elike life itself. It's the consummate \u003cb\u003eepic family story\u003c\/b\u003e, one I can't stop thinking and talking about. \u003cb\u003eA must-read for our time\u003c\/b\u003e * Lisa Taddeo, author of Three Women *\u003cbr\u003eThe \u003cb\u003enew Little Fires Everywhere\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Exploring \u003cb\u003emental health, grief, forgiveness and love\u003c\/b\u003e, this conjures up the work of \u003cb\u003eCeleste Ng and Anne Tyler \u003c\/b\u003e- and we can't give higher praise than that. The \u003cb\u003eperfect summer read\u003c\/b\u003e * Stylist *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eImmersive and deeply moving\u003c\/b\u003e -- Anna Hope, author of \u003ci\u003eExpectation\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA wonderful novel about a lifetime of love\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Focusing on a small cast over several decades allows Keane to explore \u003cb\u003euniversal themes: marriage, family, betrayal and forgiveness.\u003c\/b\u003e Above all, what is a good life well lived? * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne of the most exceptional novels of the summer . . . \u003c\/b\u003eHas \u003cb\u003ethe makings of a future classic.\u003c\/b\u003e Keane's prose is \u003cb\u003espare and elegant \u003c\/b\u003eand she writes about mental illness and alcholism with compassion. It's \u003cb\u003ea remarkable achievement\u003c\/b\u003e * Sunday Express *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eI adored this book. \u003c\/b\u003eI sank completely into the world of this novel and loved being there from beginning to end. \u003ci\u003eAsk Again, Yes\u003c\/i\u003e reminds us that after happily-ever-after comes the grit and grief of everyday love: in-laws, illnesses, betrayals and, scariest of all, the flaws that each partner will uncover in the other. \u003cb\u003eIt's an absolute stunner, an ode to family and forgiveness that has been crafted with compassion and insight\u003c\/b\u003e * Sara Collins, bestselling author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCompelling\u003c\/b\u003e . . . it is neighbourly conflict, not love, that drives this \u003cb\u003equietly devastating\u003c\/b\u003e story . . . There are \u003cb\u003emultiple twists skilfully delivered\u003c\/b\u003e. The novel \u003cb\u003eraises a series of profound questions\u003c\/b\u003e . . . [and] as an exploration of parent-child relationships, the novel is\u003cb\u003e both thoughtful and powerful\u003c\/b\u003e * Hannah Beckerman, i news *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis is one beautiful book. I was wowed by Keane's writing and narrative skill - and by what she knows about trouble\u003c\/b\u003e -- Stephen King\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eI absolutely adored Ask Again, Yes\u003c\/b\u003e. I was only a few chapters in when I knew Mary Beth Keane was about to become one of my favourite authors. \u003cb\u003eI'll read everything she writes\u003c\/b\u003e * Liane Moriarty *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA pleasantly accessible novel that will be popular with book clubs ... Keane is a nuanced observer\u003c\/b\u003e * The Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003eA novel of \u003cb\u003egreat compassion and understanding\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003erich with story\u003c\/b\u003e * John Boyne, Irish Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePowerful and moving\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Mary Beth Keane is a writer of extraordinary depth, feeling and wit. \u003cb\u003eReaders will love this book\u003c\/b\u003e, as I did * Meg Wolitzer, bestselling author of The Female Persuasion *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eOne of the most exceptional novels of the summer\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Has \u003cb\u003ethe makings of a future classic\u003c\/b\u003e * Daily Mirror *\u003cbr\u003eLeaves one shaking one's head in frank admiration. \u003cb\u003eA triumph\u003c\/b\u003e * Matthew Thomas, bestselling author of We Are Not Ourselves *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKeane takes on one of the most difficult problems in fiction - how to write about human decency \u003c\/b\u003e. . . a compelling case for compassion over blame, understanding over grudge, and the resilience of hearts that can accept the contradictions of love * Louise Erdrich, National book award winning author of The Round House *\u003cbr\u003eA shocking tragedy turns what had been a portrait of domestic tension into a profound story of trauma and blame. Keane's \u003cb\u003egracefully restrained prose gives her characters dignity\u003c\/b\u003e * Vogue *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ebeautiful novel,\u003c\/b\u003e bursting at the seams with empathy * Elle *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA powerful tale\u003c\/b\u003e * Woman \u0026amp; Home *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA captivating, authentic and intricately-woven story . . . Immensely affecting\u003c\/b\u003e, this book poses big questions. Can we ever escape our history? Are we prisoners of our bloodlines? Ultimately, this book is an examination of love - familial and romantic\u003cb\u003e. It is an epic story, quietly told\u003c\/b\u003e. And it is all the better for that * Irish Sunday Independent *\u003cbr\u003eA story with \u003cb\u003ereal heart - moving and subtle and often very touching\u003c\/b\u003e * Literary Review *\u003cbr\u003eIf \u003cb\u003etense family dramas\u003c\/b\u003e are your thing, you'll love this. I found this story \u003cb\u003ehugely engrossing\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003ethe characters so well-drawn\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eI became completely invested in their lives\u003c\/b\u003e * Good Housekeeping *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA candidate for one of my best books of the year. \u003c\/b\u003eI savoured every word of this \u003cb\u003eeloquent, lyrical novel\u003c\/b\u003e, which explores how the secrets that families carry can effect future generations . . . \u003cb\u003eI was swept up in the drama\u003c\/b\u003e * Prima *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn explosive study of family dynamics\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003emoving and thought-provoking\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003ea gripping family saga\u003c\/b\u003e that tackles mental illness and addiction and explores how childhood can inescapably shape the future * Daily Express *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFans of Liane Moriarty, meet your new favourite author\u003c\/b\u003e * Red *\u003cbr\u003eFamily ties are stretched to breaking point in the baking hot New York summer of 1973 . . . A book that's \u003cb\u003efull of life lessons\u003c\/b\u003e for people in a particular stage of their lives * Mariella Frostrup, BBC Radio 4 Open Book *\u003cbr\u003eKeane draws two families in \u003cb\u003esharp, moving detail, effortlessly peeling back decades of history \u003c\/b\u003eto look at friendship, mental health, and the changing and sometimes warped face of love * Sunday Post *\u003cbr\u003eA rare example of \u003cb\u003epropulsive storytelling \u003c\/b\u003einfused with \u003cb\u003eprofound insights about blame, forgiveness and abiding love\u003c\/b\u003e * People *\u003cbr\u003eDisplaying \u003cb\u003eimpressive reach\u003c\/b\u003e . . . Keane delivers \u003cb\u003ean epic of domestic emotional turmoil\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003eTender and patient\u003c\/b\u003e, the novel avoids excessive sweetness while planting itself deep in the soil of commitment and attachment. \u003cb\u003eGraceful and mature\u003c\/b\u003e. A \u003cb\u003esolidly satisfying, immersive read\u003c\/b\u003e * Kirkus, starred review *\u003cbr\u003eAn \u003cb\u003eimmersive read \u003c\/b\u003eabout family secrets and redemption * Editor's Choice, Bookseller *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003egut-wrenching tale \u003c\/b\u003ecentered around the families of two rookie, next-door neighbor NYPD cops and a tragedy that reverberates over four decades. The book revolves around \u003cb\u003ethe bond between their children, the daily intimacies of marriage and the power of forgiveness\u003c\/b\u003e * Good Morning America Summer Reads *\u003cbr\u003eOne of the most \u003cb\u003eunpretentiously profound \u003c\/b\u003ebooks I've read in a long time . . . As a writer, Keane \u003cb\u003ereminds me a lot of Ann Pratchett;\u003c\/b\u003e Both have the \u003cb\u003emagical ability\u003c\/b\u003e to seem to be telling \"only\" a closely-observed domestic tale that transforms into something else deep and, yes, universal. In Keane's case, that \"something else\" is a story about forgiveness and acceptance - qualities that sound gooey, but are so hard to achieve in life . . . \u003cb\u003eModestly magnificent\u003c\/b\u003e * Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh Air *\u003cbr\u003eAn \u003cb\u003eUpdikean epic\u003c\/b\u003e of intertwined families destabilized by grief and estrangement following a mother's breakdown, then redeemed by their enduring compassion for one another * Best Books by Women Summer 2019, OPRAH Magazine *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e10 new books to read this August\u003c\/b\u003e * SheerLuxe *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA powerful tale\u003c\/b\u003e of two neighbouring families forever entwined by love and tragedy. . . \u003cb\u003eA touching read\u003c\/b\u003e * Woman's Weekly *\u003cbr\u003eMary Beth Keane draws two families in \u003cb\u003esharp, moving detail\u003c\/b\u003e . . . With hints of Curtis Sittenfeld about it - the way \u003cb\u003eit effortlessly unspools years\u003c\/b\u003e, but buffets you with a huge amount of detail - \u003cb\u003eit considers friendship and mental ill health, how love changes and warps\u003c\/b\u003e, and despite a fairly slow start, \u003cb\u003edoes so beautifully\u003c\/b\u003e * The Herald *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePoignant and powerful\u003c\/b\u003e * Image *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA miniature epic\u003c\/b\u003e . . . \u003cb\u003elike Elizabeth Strout, Keane is good at creating distinctive characters\u003c\/b\u003e - flawed, empathetic men and women whose inner landscapes she captures in \u003cb\u003epowerful, pared-down prose. \u003c\/b\u003eThe novel is \u003cb\u003ea nuanced portrait\u003c\/b\u003e of the impact of mental illness and addiction, the limitations and endurance of love and of how 'we repeat what we don't repair' * Belfast Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003eA \u003cb\u003ethought-provoking read\u003c\/b\u003e exploring mental illness, alcoholism and violence * Candis *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFans of Celeste Ng will love this\u003c\/b\u003e modern American novel based on two families linked by tragedy and passion . . . A lovely mix of childhood memories growing in to adulthood, and\u003cb\u003e its really powerful \u003c\/b\u003e * Stellar *\u003cbr\u003eWith the author's deftness of touch, characters are rendered as real as those you encounter in daily life, and \u003cb\u003eit's hard not to think about them even after reading the last pages\u003c\/b\u003e * Connaught Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn engrossing drama about family, forbidden love, the toll of mental illness and the power of mercy\u003c\/b\u003e * People Magazine *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA powerful novel about mental illness, alcoholism, love and redemption\u003c\/b\u003e * Daily Express *\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49407943770455,"sku":"9781405943130","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781405943130.jpg?v=1730501035","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/ask-again-yes-9781405943130","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}