Contemporary Fiction: Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

I am not sure how I stumbled across Mary Beth Keane's Ask Again, Yes, or why it took me so long to read it. At some point I must have seen the beautiful cover, glanced over the synopsis, and was intrigued enough to place it in my always growing to-read pile. Thanks once again to the Could Library for the easy access and readability.

The Situation: In the early 70s, Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope started out together as rookie cops for the New York Police Department. For six weeks they would be partners, and later, when they both get married, they will be neighbors in the small community of Gillam. Almost immediately, it is clear to Francis' wife Lena that not all is well at the Stanhope house, particularly with Brian's wife, Anne. The years go by, and both families grow, and both of the men continue in their work as cops for the NYPD. The youngest of Francis' kids, Kate, happens to be the same age as Brian's only child, Peter, so the two children naturally become close, best friends even, until tragedy strikes just before the two of them celebrate their graduation from the eighth grade. It is an event that will change the trajectory of both families, and cause Kate and Peter to lose touch for many years.

The Problem: What happened will have effects that will reach well into the next few decades. Even after all of the surgeries, the rehab, and the stays in psychiatric hospitals, and all of the "healing" that is supposed to occur on both sides, what happened and why it happened cannot be easily forgotten, or forgiven. And although Peter moved away to live with his Uncle George, and Kate stayed behind in Gillam, the two never forgot each other, managing to reconnect while they attended two different colleges. Naturally, there are fears on both sides as to what this means, and what it could lead to, but it seems that both time and tragedy cannot keep the two of them apart. But is love enough to overcome what happened in the past? Is it enough to deal with what will come in the future?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in modern-day America, primarily in the northeast region of the country. The story begins in 1973, when Francis and Brian decide to join the NYPD, and follows both of their families through the decades as far as 2017. In that time, both men will marry, have kids, and endure hardships and tragedies that will shape who they become and how their families turn out. And where Francis and Lena may represent a relative amount of stability and normalcy, Brian and Anne are the cautionary tale of settling down with someone too soon, maybe without really knowing who they are. And then there are Kate and Peter, whose connection seems to be able to endure through nearly anything, while ignoring all protests and opposition. It would make sense if they did not work out, and it would make sense if they simply lost touch and moved on with their lives. But how long can we let one incident in the past decide who we are in our future?

My Verdict: This is an extremely well-written novel that explores something I love seeing books tackle: How do we extend forgiveness to someone for something they did in the past? Or maybe more appropriately, do we ever extend that forgiveness at all? Or do we simply move on with our lives and ignore that person's existence? What if that person is family? What if that person is sick? What if that person is not the only one to blame? Keane explores all of this and much more in her story about the Gleesons and the Stanhopes. The characters are not only relatable, but also real, and fully fleshed-out, and believable. We have all met and know some of these people, some of us have even been hurt by them. There is something in here that everyone could relate to; something in here that everyone has struggled with at some point in their lives. 

Favorite Moment:  *spoiler alert* When Kate confronts her father about the affair he had, giving her the opportunity to tell him about her and Peter.

Favorite Character: George Gleeson is Brian's brother and Peter's Uncle. He is far from perfect, but he manages to step in when *spoiler alert* Brian disappears, leaving his son behind while he starts an entirely new life. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Shelter by Jung Yun, which also asks the question of what obligation do we have to the people in our lives who have hurt us?