Closer to Fine: A Novel

by Jodi S. Rosenfeld

Overview

Closer to Fine is the story of Rachel Levine, a young, Jewish, bisexual woman finding her adult footing in a world full of uncertainties. Rachel has many teachers along the way—a stubborn grandfather, a progressive rabbi, a worldly girlfriend, a wise supervisor, and an insightful therapist—but in the end, it is her own anxiety that is the best teacher of all. As Rachel learns that accepting that which she cannot control is the mark of true growth, she becomes ever more connected to the people who matter most in her life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647420604
Publisher:	She Writes Press
Publication date:	05/25/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Jodi S. Rosenfeld is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and acceptance-based therapies. She is a graduate of Tufts University and the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (now William James College). She plans to enter rabbinical school in the very near future. Closer to Fine is her first novel. She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Phoenixville, PA.

Editorial Reviews

A warmhearted exploration of modern love with considerable psychological and philosophical insights.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“This book radiates goodness. It’s warm and smart, funny and brave. It has deep, particular knowledge of people, while at the same time embracing the great, wistful messiness of being human. And it’s a sheer pleasure to read: a beautifully paced, searching journey full of surprises and wisdom.”
—Leah Hager Cohen, author of Strangers and Cousins

“Closer to Fine is a tender coming-of-age novel that will resonate for anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world. Rosenfeld tells an absorbing story full of keen emotional insights into coming out, finding love, and staying true to one’s self in a time of growth and change.”
—Idit Klein, president and CEO of Keshet—for LGBTQ Equality in Jewish Life

“Jodi Rosenfeld masterfully intertwines explorations of identity, relationship, and wisdom to create a compelling portrait of a young woman seeking a life of integrity and love. This is a moving and engaging novel.”
—Rabbi Deborah Waxman, PhD, president of Reconstructing Judaism

“Closer to Fine is full of heart and humanity and the tensions that pull on all of us. It is a story that is both satisfying in depth and tension and an easy weekend novel to curl up with. Rachel stayed alive for me long after I finished reading about her.”
—Sharon Chatkupt Lee, PsyD, clinical psychologist.

From the Publisher

2020-12-22
In this coming-of-age novel set in 1995, a young woman starting graduate studies struggles with the vagaries of relationships, sexual orientation, and faith.

At the age of 23, Rachel Levine moves to Boston to begin a doctoral program in clinical psychology and to live with her 86-year-old grandfather, an observant Jew coping with the loss of his beloved wife. The two have a close bond, and Rachel serves as a needed companion but must keep parts of her life hidden. While she regularly accompanies Zayde (the Yiddish word for grandfather) to his synagogue, she is under strict instructions from her mother not to reveal to him her bisexual orientation. When she falls headlong into a passionate relationship with Liz Abraham, a brilliant young member of the congregation, she conceals it from him. The book examines the shifting plates of the religious community—more involvement of women and non-Jews in the rituals, to the consternation of Zayde. In her clinical training, under careful supervision, Rachel is learning how to enable her patients to handle change in their lives. Meanwhile, she becomes increasingly anxious about the uncertainties she faces. She is not confident about Liz’s commitment to her; her parents are uncomfortable with her bisexuality; and she fails to foresee some serious problems with a favorite patient. Her own experience with a skilled therapist grants her tremendous insights as she navigates some very rough waters. Rosenfeld’s novel is framed by events from 2019, indicating that Rachel has successfully achieved significant career and personal goals. Much time is spent on elaborate discussions of Jewish observance and beliefs, such as washing and sitting with a body between death and burial. The pacing flags at times for secular readers when these descriptions venture into the esoteric. The early romance of Rachel and Liz is a high point described with humor and zest. On an early date, Rachel explains to Liz that she doesn’t like spicy dishes but does love trying new foods, with the unspoken subtext: “I’m not into leather but don’t think that means I’m boring in bed.” The book’s descriptions of psychological disorders and treatments, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, are informative and extremely readable. Rachel’s therapist, Kevin Miller, summarizes the story’s message succinctly: “Rachel, the notion that we can have complete certainty about anything is a lie.”

A warmhearted exploration of modern love with considerable psychological and philosophical insights.

Kirkus Reviews