Ask Me Again

A must listen!

This is the follow up to Ask Tell, which I thought could not be topped. So I waited a while before diving in. Oh my, was I wrong. Book 2 is even better!
The perspective alternates between Sabine and Rebecca which adds a whole new dimension to the story. Sabine's struggle with the effects of PTSD and the reactions of those close to her, are so well portrayed. At times I would get so frustrated with her and Rebecca's miscommunication, but that was entirely due to becoming so emotionally invested in the events and characters. And just when I thought it was going to descend into cliché or sentimentality, the story would take an unexpected turn, or a deeper level of understanding would be reached.
I cannot say enough about the narration. Abby Craden seems to have truly grasped every nuance in the text. She gives each character a distinctive voice and infuses the audiobook with something special.
If you enjoyed the first book, this is a no brainer. If you haven't read/listened to it yet, what a treat you have in store.

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

A great book and brilliant audiobook

This was the highly anticipated sequel to Noyes’ debut novel ‘Ask, Tell’. Although technically not necessary to read the first installment to enjoy this one, I highly recommend doing so in order to fully grasp the dynamics within the story.

‘Ask Me Again’ picks up 2 years after the end of the first book. Surgeon Rebecca Keane is now retired from the Army and runs a civilian trauma center in Washington DC. Captain Sabine Fleischer is finishing her second to last deployment before fulfilling her contract with the Army. Everything should be perfect now that they found a way to be together, however, they are both reeling from ‘The Incident’ and Sabine’s subsequent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Can their love be enough to keep them together?

The mains in this story are very likable and already established from the previous book. Now, this one is narrated from Sabine and Rebecca’s alternating first person point of view. This opens up the storytelling and we get to hear about Bec’s struggles too, which would be too easy to miss if only Sabine was narrating like in the first book. I also got the story of how Bec felt and managed during the immediate period after ‘The Incident’, which I wondered about since reading it.

I also tried to imagine what would be the aftermath of such a traumatic event. PTSD is a term that gets thrown around frequently, but I doubt people in general understand what it means or how crippling it can be. Sabine is an accomplished surgeon with a great support system, yet can not help feel impaired by the disorder. Her struggles taint what should otherwise be a beautiful relationship with Bec, a rewarding career and simply, her independent and capable self.

I had the opportunity to listen to the recently released audiobook. As with the first installment, Abby Craden was the narrator. I can say without a doubt, this one is my favorite performance by Ms Craden. The book is full of high and lows (ok, mostly lows) and the narrator totally enhances the feelings in the story. The happiness and the sorrow, it is all beautifully told with such sentiment, that is difficult to not get totally wrapped in the story and root for these characters to find a way out of their predicament. I most definitely felt more connected with Bec, and Ms Craden simply made her feel as someone any person could love. I’m not a fan of calling someone darling, but I love when Bec calls Sabine that! Somehow it is not stiff and proper but rather sweet and caring. Even amongst all the sadness, Ms Noyes injects her ever present witty dialog and Ms Craden also pulls that off magnificently. The narrator took an already fantastic book and made it even better. This one is a true synergistic collaboration between author and narrator.

At the end of the day, this is a terrific love story and a brilliantly narrated audiobook that will appeal to all fans of the genre. 5+ stars

2 les gens ont trouvé cela utile

oh my what a ride

Abby Craden, you're seriously magnificent at narrating. Take a bow!

This book was not an easy read and this author has quickly become a fav.

This is a book dealing with mental illnesses. PTSD is not a joke and you shouldn't feel bad or guilty for needing more and more time to get back to feeling more like yourself daily. Don't rush the process, be patient with yourself and let those who love you help. It takes a very strong person to deal with that. If you're struggling, I don't know you but I'm rooting you on! PTSD can happen not just with military personnel.

Most importantly seek professional help, don't try to do it on your own.

To our military personnel, saying thank you for your service doesn't even begin to cover it, but it's all I can say. Thank you.

The story is about our couple from Ask Tell coming back home and dealing with the PTSD that one of them and in actually both of them (to different degrees) have suffered from the last book.

Our captain is no fool so she thinks she knows best and tries to get better by getting ahead of things and doing things on her own. It's frustrating because you know all these people want to help but she lives in her own head and doesn't let people know the thoughts going through them so she ends up isolating herself.

Rebecca doesn't know how to reach the woman she's loves and tries to deal with it by trusting that our captain will talk to her when she's ready. She used military tactics as that's what she knew as her commanding officer to try and get her better. Meanwhile she's also dealing with decisions made in the last book. Leaving the military, and starting a new life was also an adjustment for her, and she's doing it all with grace.

This book also addresses the importance of taking medication to get better and the importance of seeking professional help. This was/ is important!

This book will stay with me for a while. These psychological books always do. If you want to read another book like this, may I recommend 'Alone' by the same author.

I'm going to go watch a marathon of Family Guy and Archer now.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Outstanding

The reality of the content is so stark and well written, addressing PTSD, love, family. The narration is just superb. Noyes and Craden , perfect together, I could not stop listening! Intelligent, sexy, and real. Top notch. Bravo.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Beautiful story

I love both Ask, Tell and this book. Very emotional and feels very real. I'm not a fan of the narrator, but as I like the story so much I still enjoyed both audiobooks.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Beautiful and heartbreaking (in the best way)

I have never been in the military, let alone in a war zone, and I won’t pretend I understand what Sabine is going through with PTSD following “the incident” from Ask, Tell. I have however been trying to convince myself for years that I do not suffer from my own PTSD (my wife will be very proud of me for acknowledging this) since a car bomb exploded outside my high school when I was eleven (or was I twelve?). Add burnout and anxiety with sometimes similar symptoms… So while the experience is different, I can relate to parts of it. I knew listening to this book would be hard but hey, I survived reading and listening to Lise Gold’s Living. Right.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has just been repealed, Sabine and Rebecca can live their relationship openly. They’re still very much in love and everything should be peachy, except Sabine is struggling with PTSD and trying to fight it on her own. Both because she’s having trouble seeing it as anything other than weakness and because she’s forever trying to protect Bec. Who, in turn, is so focused on taking care of Sabine that she’s oblivious to her own pain. She too is, to some extent, suffering from PTSD, while at the same time dealing with the toll mental illness also takes on loved ones.

E. J. Noyes is one of the most talented authors right now. While it is definitely a love story, Ask Me Again is certainly not a romance. It is not light and witty and heartwarming. It is intelligent and intense and heartbreaking. It is so good and true and terrifying and beautiful at the same time. It is also wonderfully written, as are all E. J. Noyes’ books, and so well narrated by Abby Craden that I am in total denial that Sabine and Rebecca are not real people. If you’re like me, this book will break you. Right now, I’m choosing to believe it is for the better. Ask me again in a couple of months.

I’m not crying you’re crying!

This will have your allergies acting up really bad. LOVED IT! The miscommunication can be frustrating but that is what makes the resolve of Sabine and Bec so gratifying.

Emotional rollercoaster worth the ride

Hell, that was a lot. But everything was so well written and conveyed that I couldn’t stop listening. The highs were highs, the lows were so low and I was so invested in every part of this book. Definitely recommend if you liked the first book!

Emotional roller coaster

Emotionally exhausting, yet satisfying. Wonder how many listeners can relate to the high heels, perfume, and make up. A bit too much erotica, but maybe the publisher has a minimum for that sort of content.

Healing Delayed

Sabine is still suffering the effects of PTSD which has become as all consuming issue. After her return from another tour in Afghanistan she and Rebecca try to pull their dreams and hopes back together. Great performance and depiction of the effects of war. Recommend.