When I'm Not Myself
Deborah J. Wolf
Kensington, Aug 2007, $14.00
ISBN: 9780758213846

Six months and twenty three pounds ago, Jack Clancy dumped his wife of eighteen years Cara for a younger Barbie. Since he left, she came down three sizes from her size 11 married clothes, but struggles to being a swinging single as she finds the loneliness numbing in spite of sharing the house with their four kids; seventeen years old Katherine, ten years old William, eight years old Lucas, and seven years old Claire.

Cara's mom provides her usual support by blaming her for not being able to hold onto her man. Her best friends: Mel, Leah, and Paige try to help her by insisting Jack is an idiot and bringing covered dishes that are not eaten, but makes Cara feels like she is grieving; which she believes is true as she mourns the loss of her marriage. Clinging to a hope that he will come back ends when she meets by accident Barbie at the gynecologist on ironically Valentine's Day. Although Cara is still Jack's wife, Barbie carries his next offspring. Still she struggles with moving on even as she gossips with her support group in spite of Barbie pleading with her not to do so.

Although meeting coincidence is critical to the story line, fans will enjoy this fine family drama as Cara used to living with Jack must learn to live without him. The story line is character driven by the ensemble cast who provide unwelcome advice to Cara. However, the plot belongs to the heroine who goes through the Kubler-Ross five stages of catastrophic news: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Harriet Klausner