curlyjessreads 's review for:

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

3.0

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This was my selection for our book club to read. I remember seeing it recommended somewhere and was hooked by part of the description stating it was a novel about two families and, “the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness.” But whew was it a long family drama packed into a small package. While it covers four decades, it doesn’t feel drawn out in that way. There were slow parts, but we got small glimpses into the mundane parts of life in the midst of some pretty huge events in the lives of these two families. From the husband’s first days on their beat as NYC cops, through marriage, kids, friendships, broken relationships, huge tragedies, overcoming odds, generational issues, moving on, mental health (and the small progresses over forty years), letting go, reconnecting, grandkids, and finally forgiveness.
Because of the extensive timeline and short page count, we don’t get a lot of details about certain things that can lead the reader wanting more. But it didn’t take away from the story for me. I think I liked it better than most of my book club members. I find myself thinking about it quite a bit since I finished. I appreciated the discussion on mental health, the progress that has been made in that field over time, and the huge importance of not just seeking therapy, but finding the right therapist for you. I appreciated the picture of marriages that while they had struggles, and huge issues to overcome, some of them did work through them and find ways to move forward.
If you like family dramas, this may be a book for you!