Reasons to be CheerfulA brilliantly funny and heartbreaking story of growing up and finding the independence you might not actually want Teenager Lizzie Vogel has a new job as a dental assistant. This is not as glamorous as it sounds. At least it means mostly getting away from her alcoholic, nymphomaniacal, novel writing mother. But, if Lizzie thinks being independent means sex with her boyfriend (he prefers bird watching), strict boundaries (her boss keeps using her loo),