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SHE, MYSELF & I is a light, fluffy trifle of a novel --- a charming tale of three compassionate, flawed and perfectly human sisters. The saga of the Cassel sisters is thoughtfully rendered and at times quite poignant.
Whitney Gaskell, who also is the author of TRUE LOVE (AND OTHER LIES) and PUSHING 30, breaks up the novel into three sections, each narrated by a different sibling. The first is told in the voice of oldest sister Paige, a driven divorce attorney who is still stinging from the breakup of her marriage and trying to find her footing in the daunting world of dating and men. The second is told in the voice of middle sister Sophie, who, following the birth of her son, suddenly begins to feel stifled and overwhelmed by her once idyllic life. The last section is narrated by Mickey, the newly-graduated youngest sister whose role as "the good and reliable one" weighs heavily on her as she harbors more than a few secrets of her own. Adding to the drama of the sisters' lives --- in an amusing and well-drawn but never distracting subplot --- is the unexpected rejuvenation of their parents' marriage after a long and messy divorce many years ago.
After reading Gaskell's bio, it's easy to see why Paige's portion of the novel is the most honest and feels the most real. Gaskell herself was once a "reluctant lawyer" as is Paige, and, of all the sisters, Gaskell's affinities seem to lie primarily with her. Thus Paige's section is the strongest, and when it draws to a close and readers realize they have entered into Sophie's mind, they may be a tad resentful to have lost a character who is so skillfully drawn --- I know I was.
When I first read Paige's account of her conversations with Sophie, I groaned inwardly at her childish antics --- I was not looking forward to wading through what I thought would be self-pitying reflection and childish whims. Yet, when I actually found myself in Sophie's head, I was impressed by Gaskell's ability to round her out and fill in the spaces that Paige, when interacting with or musing on her sister, had left out. By humanizing Sophie, Gaskell reveals Paige's quickness to judge and Sophie herself becomes real --- a fully fleshed-out character instead of a cliché.
While Gaskell and her readers may have even less in common with Mickey, the serious but impulsive, sweet but fiery youngest sister is a disarming array of contradictions that make for a strong and compelling narrative voice. Mickey is more than likeable; her mix of youthful bravado, emotional insecurity and deep compassion for her sisters is irresistible. And Gaskell has fun with her, taking the time to note small details like her love of peanut butter on just about anything and naiveté regarding appropriate lingerie on a first date. Her wry yet sympathetic voice is also ideal for describing the outcome of the climactic events of her sister's previous sections and detailing her parent's messy trips and falls back into matrimony.
Readers will appreciate that Gaskell does not try to tie everything together in a neat little bow by the end of the novel; we know the sisters and their parents will continue to trip and fall and pick themselves up again, slightly bruised but a little wiser, as we all do. SHE, MYSELF & I may be a gift, but it is not of a neatly wrapped, perfectly tied variety. Instead, the story of the Cassel sisters is a gift of the "wrong holiday wrapping paper, bows slightly askew and names misspelled in the cards" type. It is not perfect but it is from the heart. That is what Gaskell has done here --- created something that is sweet, but slightly messy, honest, relatable and real.
--- Reviewed by Jennifer Krieger
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