I Cannot Get You Close Enough holds a trio of novellas from Ellen Gilchrist, bringing one of her favorite characters from previous works, Rhoda Manning, to the forefront. Home for the summer in Alabama, Rhoda's life seems great: her father is rich, she is newly slim, and all of her friends are happy to see her. However, Rhoda has an independent streak, isn't satisfied with comfortable, and pushes against the constraints such a life hold.