She is Me
By Cathleen Schine

      Elizabeth is an assistant professor who's been living with Brett for three years. They have a son together. As much as Elizabeth loves Brett, she still can't bring herself to marry him. Her life has been dealt a double blow. Her grandmother, Lotte, has cancer. Now she learns that her mother, Greta, has it as well.

     In the midst of her shock and sadness, Elizabeth is offered the career opportunity of a lifetime. Leaving behind the stuffy halls of East Coast academia, Elizabeth moves to California. She's going to write a screenplay and take care of her loved ones.
Elizabeth is stretched to the limit. She has new surroundings, and new professional obligations. She's also taking care of her mother, her grandmother, Brett and their son. As she becomes overwhelmed with stress, Elizabeth finds herself fantasizing about her boss as well as her brother's best friend, Tim.

     Greta has been a wife and mother for 32 years. Suddenly she finds herself entertaining fantasies about her daughter's friend, Daisy. She knows it would turn her family life upside down, but she has always lived her life for others. Now she may be dying. It's time she did something just for herself.

     Lotte's pride and joy has always been her lovely complexion. Now she has a nasty tumor on her face. Not only is it sapping her life energy, but it's also destroying her appearance.
All three women are confused. They love each other, but are sick and tired of each other as well.

     This book could have used a stronger plot. There was too much introspection. Fewer literary references would improve the readability. The best part of the book was Lotte. She's a cranky old firecracker of a woman with the vocabulary of a sailor.