Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

79 reviews

rivergrid's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

Gripping story but the writing style wasn't to my liking. Most of the time, it was confusing to figure out which character's point of view I was reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Death of parent

brtvajes1's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Violence

larappenfeller's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

What a journey! I read this book at the request of my husband, and I absolutely understand why he loved it so much. Two broken families, in so many different ways, brought together by love and commitment despite all odds. 

I loved watching the character development and how they each fell apart and came back together across decades. I was so invested in all of their stories individually, but the way they interconnected and the growth each character had along with how it impacted the forgiveness and reconciliation as a whole was absolutely beautiful. 

I wouldn't recommend this book to just anyone, but if you want to feel something.. this is the one! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexual assault

kristinetp's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I kinda don’t care for marriage/family dynamics

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Mental illness

readersmultiverse's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This book challenged my thinking and therefore gave me a lot of ‘Ponder The Implications’ moments. Ultimately it is a story that deeply delves into the lives of people, trauma and it’s impacts, forgiveness, and how trauma can look different when viewed from the safe distance of adulthood. It was enlightening to see how perpetrators lose their menace over time as we grow to understand better, and how those we once thought of as victims can change, too. 

It will be difficult to move on to another book after being so absorbed in these characters lives. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Infidelity

bestkasescenario's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Loved it! I liked how the author switched between perspectives & the timeline kept it really interesting. Not giving 5 stars because the ending felt rushed & I feel like it could’ve been more detailed. Overall a great read, I’d recommend 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

tracytcamp's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, and Abandonment

lyndsmarie321's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Seemed a little drawn out but relatively kept my interest. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Mental illness

mgdsmile's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I’m having trouble placing exactly what captivated me in this novel. In Ask Again, Yes, we follow two families whose lives become intertwined through trauma as well as marriage. The depiction of mental illness here was impactful and hopeful, and this book explicates how people can grow through life experience (both related to mental illness and unrelated to it). Reconciliation, commitment, and love are themes explored here. While it’s not necessarily Keane’s main point, I am personally continuing to learn how small of a world it really is, how long life is, and that it matters how we show up and speak and behave, which are prominent threads through this novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Alcoholism and Gun violence

Minor: Death and Sexual assault

mysterymom40's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Mental illness, Medical trauma, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Sexual assault