Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

This one is exciting for me. This is the first (of many, I hope) opportunity I have had to receive an advance copy of a book for review before its publication date. So cool!

Ask Again, Yes is the story of two families who live next door to each other just outside of New York City. Both husbands are police officers in New York City and were even partners as rookies. They are looking for a safe place to raise their families and Francis Gleeson discovers the town of Gillam and lets Brian Stanhope know when the house next door to him is up for sale. Brian and his wife, Anne, buy the home next to Francis and his wife Lena. Francis and Lena already have two daughters, Natalie and Sara and are expecting a third baby. Brian and Anne have dealt with a pregnancy loss but soon discover they are expecting again.

The two babies (Peter and Kate) are born 6 months apart and as children become best friends. However, issues develop between the two families, mainly revolving around the mental health of Anne. As Peter and Kate prepare for high school and their blossoming romance a horrible incident involving both families causes the Stanhopes to move away and the Gleesons to deal with the repercussions.

Peter and Kate always wonder what happened to the other and find each other again as adults. But with all that happened between the two families, can they (and should they) be together?

The story takes place over several decades and is told from different character's perspectives throughout the book. I really liked that. Years would go by from the perspective of one character and you are temporarily left to wonder what is happening to the others at the same, with small clues sometimes appearing.

I also felt the characters were really well developed and strong.

All in all, it was a good, quick read and was very compelling. It really helped get me through my sick day yesterday! I highly recommend you check this one out when it is in stores at the end of this month.

The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson

Not surprisingly, I follow a lot of book sites on my different social media platforms. About a year ago this book was being hyped as a new book to watch so it caught my eye. Then someone in my book club chose it as our selection for April so I finally had a chance to read it.

This is the story of Miranda, a young woman who receives a mysterious package from an uncle she hasn't seen in 16 years. When she was little, Uncle Billy used to create special scavenger hunts for her, so when receives this package she knows a new hunt is about to begin. But immediately following the arrival of the package comes the news that Uncle Billy has passed away. She leaves her home in Philadelphia to attend his funeral in Los Angeles and hopes to discover where this new scavenger hunt will take her.

Uncle Billy was the owner of Prospero Books, a charming bookstore where she loved to spend time as a child, and he has left the store to her. The store is struggling financially and may have to close. Miranda is a history teacher in Philadelphia, so what can she do with a struggling book store in Los Angeles?

The clues of the scavenger hunt take her through different books that Uncle Billy loved and lead her to people who were important in his life. What will she discover about why he disappeared from her life all those years ago? What made him stay away?

Anyone who loves books and books stores will enjoy this story. Everyone in our book club agreed that the mystery was fairly easy to guess, but it was still fun getting there. There are some interesting characters to meet along the way, although I was frustrated with Miranda's treatment of some of them, especially her boyfriend back in Philadelphia. She wasn't always a very thoughtful person.

Other than that it was an enjoyable read, and a great homage to independent book stores.