I'm not sure how I feel about this book. We start following Eva when she's a teenager living in New York City, up until she's a young adult trying to find her own path. Even though the story has a linear timing, I don't feel there's much of a plot. I enjoyed the writing, but couldn't connect much with any of the characters. It all felt a bit flat to me.

*Ask Me Again* by Clare Sestanovich is a compelling coming-of-age novel that delves into the complexities of friendship, identity, and personal growth. The story follows Eva and Jamie, two teenagers from vastly different backgrounds, whose bond shapes their paths in unexpected ways. Eva chooses a conventional route, focusing on career and relationships, while Jamie embarks on a quest for self-discovery through radical ideas and spiritual exploration. Sestanovich’s lyrical prose beautifully captures their evolving journey, examining deep questions of purpose, faith, and societal expectations. A thoughtful and poignant exploration of how we define ourselves, *Ask Me Again* is a nuanced reflection on the transformative power of connection and the search for meaning in an ever-changing world.

As soon as I learned that the author has previously published mainly short stories, it was a clear aha! moment. I will first admit that it took me forever to read this book (3 months!) I kept putting it down and reading other things, but eventually picking it back up because I did enjoy the writing. The way I finally got through it was to treat each chapter as a standalone short story. That was quite easy to do, as the author spent zero time cultivating the central "best friendship" of the two "main" characters. The entire novel is written from one character's point of view and the other "main" character ambles in and out of chapters but you learn literally nothing about his personality or desires. This story is supposed to follow two best friends as they grow up and move through life; I would say that this story depicts acquaintances, at best, who seem to kind of tolerate each other. Even the narrator is an enigma. She seems disenchanted with all aspects of life; it's hard to root for her when she doesn't seem to have any depth or substance. All of the other characters - her parents, her on and off boyfriend, her best friend, a random politician she befriends - are the broadest of sketches and seem to have no inner life.

So why did I keep reading this book until the end? The prose is good. The words flow in an almost lyrical way at times. I think this is the book equivalent of an art house film that you see at the local art museum, tell everyone you loved it to sound smart and artistic, but actually can't remember any of the plot the minute you leave the theater.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advanced copy of this story.

Ask Me Again was a great read from Clare Sestanovich. I liked the character study and loved the writing. Would read more from her.

When they are sixteen years old, Eva and Jamie encounter each other in a hospital by chance. They don't realize that this single meeting will launch a friendship lasting well into adulthood. At first, their differences are what bring them together. Eva is from a tight-knit middle class family in Brooklyn, while Jamie is from a wealthy and distant family in upper Manhattan. As they grow older, their lives increasingly diverge: Eva follows a more traditional approach of a good college and a regular job, while Jamie drops out of school and pursues unconventional paths.

Like her earlier short story collection, the author's first novel is well written, offering insightful observations about human relationships, the identities people create for themselves and how others see them, and the challenge of carving one's own path in the world.

Highly recommended!

As Me Again tells the story of Jamie and Eva, two people who are friends for a very long time but who come from different socio-economic statuses. This is a character-driven novel about friendship, love, family and mental illness. I really could not connect with these characters, so that made reading the book very difficult.

Eva and Jamie meet as teens, and form a friendship despite their differences. Eva is shy and cautious to Jamie's boldness. Eva grew up in a middle-class family, while Jamie comes from wealth. These differences lead to vastly different life paths for the characters - a conventional life of education, career, and romance for Eva, and a more unconventional, radical path for Jamie. The novel follows their paths to discovering themselves and their purposes.

I was very excited for this book by the description and it was so interesting! I really enjoyed reading the more relatable point of view from Eva, but I wasn't expecting the book to focus on her as much as it did. I wish there had been more from Jamie's perspective. A lot of the things Jamie goes through aren't as common and are harder to understand, which left me wanting to know more. But maybe that's the point.

I loved loved loved Clare Sestanovich's collection, and so was very excited to dive into this. The novel didn't disappoint, and if you were a fan of her stories, you'll be a fan of this one as well, as they feel thematically similar. Sestanovich's sentences sing and sing, and my heart ached for her characters. Thanks to the publisher for the egalley.

Characters felt so real. Loved the backdrop of New York as well as across the country. Loved the time period as well

I started this book thinking I'll read it in a few days but I love it so much and want to take my time with it. I'm going to purchase a copy today. It's needed!

2.5 stars

I was so grateful to get an advanced copy of Ask Me Again by Clare Sestanovich thanks to NetGalley and Knopf.

I loved the premise of this book. At 16, Eva and Jaime meet at the hospital as each await news of a close family member. A friendship builds between these teenage New Yorkers from different sides of New York, Jaime from wealthy upper Manhattan and Eva from South Brooklyn.

Jaime has a way of connecting with people; the life he’s lived allows him to move through the world with a confidence that Eva doesn’t have. And yet he keeps her at a distance even when they are at their closest. Eve is a fairly normal, albeit self-conscious, motivated student.

We follow them through their college and young adult years as they try to figure out who they want to be. We see them navigate romantic relationships and tumultuous political times. We're along for the journey as they each try to build a life for themselves and put distance between the world of their childhood and their choices in adulthood.

One thing I liked was the cast of characters Sestanovich creates. Eva and her parents Nick and Gail, her college friends like Lorrie, her post-college roommate Mollie, her on/off again love interest, Eli, and Eva and Jaime themselves were very real, well defined characters.

Despite the passage of time, this book was more of a character study than a book heavy on the plot. What didn’t work for me is that some of the questions raised and some of the philosophizing didn’t add up. Either it didn’t make sense within the context of the story and was therefore a distraction, or it just hinted at things in a way where the reader really needs to stretch to make sense of what the author might be alluding to.

I think Sestanovich shines in capturing the essence of relationships. I came away from the novel feeling more like I read a few separate short stories that weren’t woven enough together for it to feel like a cohesive story.

I really flew threw this. The premise intrigued me and I am happy to report the book did not disappoint! I loved the writing style and look forward to reading more from this author.

This is a well-written novel, but I don't think it will be my new favorite of this year. I've read some incredible novels so far in 2024, and even though I enjoyed the story, I don't think I will remember much of it by the end of the calendar year. This is a nice and lovely story of two people who become life-long friends, Eva and Jamie. I liked how their lives intersect and grow in different directions throughout the course of this novel. They are similar but very different as well. Something was missing though, I don't know what it was, but I still thought this is a good story, if highly predictable. I liked this author's writing style/prose/overall tone, so I will pick up whatever she publishes next in the near future.

The novel follows the intertwined lives of Eva and Jamie, exploring themes of identity, love, and the complexities of human relationships. As each character’s journey sends them on radically opposite paths, they find they are still connected through a lasting friendship.

As the narrative unfolds, the characters delve deeper into finding their meaning and purpose within a world that may not be as forgiving as they once were with each other. With Eva focusing on her career ambitions and Jamie renouncing everything he once was, we become companions of these two as they propel forward on a journey of self-discovery and understanding. But what if what they were searching for has been in front of them the whole time?

Overall, this novel lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned and is a must-read for anyone who appreciates beautiful, thought-provoking literature.