Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Ask Again, Yes

I've seen such mixed reviews of this, but it's a book I totally devoured. It's contemporary fiction - a genre I usually struggle to get on board with - but has elements of romance and things that kept me gripped.

Ask Again, Yes tracks the lifelong romance of Kate Gleeson and Peter Stanhope. Growing up as next door neighbours, the pair bond irrevocably against the backdrop of Peter's mother's distaste for their relationship. When a traumatic night wrenches the bond between the families in two, the pair must confront their love for one another in the face of tragedy.

It's hard to say *too* much about this book without giving away a big spoiler, but what I can talk about is how well its written. The characters are flawed and realistic, but likeable. They're 3D and develop with time and are devastatingly human. One of my favourite things about the book is just how well the author looks at severe mental illness. The book highlights what can happen if a mental illness goes untreated, and treats the idea of a mother who is struggling and makes mistakes in such a nuanced way. My only issue with this book is that parts of it did drag quite a bit, and after you got over the initial twist, the pace of the novel really slowed.

I gave this four stars and would really recommend this if you are a fan of Celeste Ng's writing as it reminded me of both her books.

Content Warnings

caraebs's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

do not regret reading this book but did not hit too personally for me. a very reflective read around love, mental illness, struggle, and forgiveness. it helped me gain perspective and understanding.

Content Warnings