Books we’ve read and are currently…
Our Book for September 2023
I Don’t Take Requests by DJ Fat Tony
We are meeting on Sunday 24th September 5pm BST / 9am PT on zoom - hit the button below to join us!
Our Book for August 2023
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD.
An in-depth scientific analysis of the different methods of dealing with trauma, Kolk takes us on his journey as a psychologist where he discovers the best methods for healing trauma including EMDR, yoga,
Our Book for July 2023
The Unexpected Joy of The Ordinary by Catherine Gray
This book is delightful. Packed with neat and sweet soundbite information about living a perfectly pleasant ordinary life. Gray argues that this is far better than stepping onto the hedonistic treadmill.
Our Book for June 2023
Blackout by Sarah Hepola
Our Book for May 2023
Sober on a Drunk Planet by Sean Alexander
Our Book for April 2023
The Outrun by Amy Liptrot
Our Book for March 2023
Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions by Russell Brand
Based upon the AA principles, Brand weaves his personal story of addiction whilst guiding us on the best practises for our own recovery journey.
Our Book for February 2023
Glorious Rock Bottom by Bryony Gordon
A deeply honest and heartbreaking account into alcoholism and family life, Gordon bares it all in this sometimes provocative and utterly raw memoir.
Our Book for January 2023
Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry
One of the most talked about books of 2022 - Matthew Perry has given us a deep insight into his life, fame and addiction, introducing us to the best and worst parts of himself. There’s even some juicy celeb goss flung in for good measure. A trigger warning: there is some dark content that might be too intense for some.
Our book for November 2022
My Fair Junkie by Amy Dresner
This is one of the most shockingly raw accounts of addiction we have read. Amy shares her most destructive and intimate stories, stories of violence, heartache, community service and sex addiction, all drastic tales that have led her up to where she is now; in recovery and sober. This book is honest and inspiration for the recovery community.
Our book for October 2022
Firewater: How Alcohol is Killing My People (and Yours) by Harold R. Johnson
This is an incredibly touching and thought-provoking account into indigenous cultures and their relationship to alcohol. Crown prosecutor Harold R. Johnson takes us on a journey through politics, law and culture, concluding that measures on alcohol cannot be reached through law but through our individual becomings into sobriety and “being the change”.
Our book for September 2022
Beamish Boy by Albert Flynn Desilver
This book begins with some really beautiful prose and imagery, lines such as “a new moon at dusk is spilling forth its shadow like a sea of lost ink” really made me connect to Alberts poetic voice, but even though his lyrical language is beautiful and warm, Albert’s story is heartbreaking. I went through so many emotions whilst reading this and was in awe at the compassion and bravery within which he spoke of his somewhat tragic life. We spoke to Albert after reading his memoir on our instagram page, you can watch this live chat here.
Our book for August 2022
A Nice Girl Like Me by Rosie Boycott
Readers are taken on quite a journey in Rosie’s memoir which was written in the 1980’s. We get to experience her travels which lead her down a sometimes dark road, the drug addiction she found herself caught up in and her time as a writer for a feminist magazine. Rosie is wildly intelligent but her troubles sometimes get the better of her. Her story of recovery is like her; eccentric.
Our book for July 2022
Drink? by Professor David Nutt
Professor Nutt is a scientist with 40 years of medical research knowledge and hands-on experience treating patients. This book holds the key to all the questions you want to know the answers to, covering mental health, sleep, hormones, fertility and addiction. It sheds light on what 'responsible drinking' truly means and equips us with the essential knowledge we all need to make rational, informed decisions about our consumption now and in the future.
Our book for June 2022
My Not So Secret Recovery by Claire Hatwell
Claire tells an honest and raw story of her struggles with work, family and alcohol; a tale that hit us a little close to home. Her anxious ramblings are exactly that of a recovering alcoholic and something that our readers said she depicted well when we met for our book club meeting. We were lucky enough to be joined by Claire in our meeting who told us that she is still running and now has a healthier relationship at work and at home- a happy ending!
Our book for May 2022
In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
An incredibly in-depth scientific analysis of the effects of drug addiction, Gabor Mate tells the stories of his patients lives and urges us to show a compassionate approach to all addicts, whether that be drugs, alcohol, or in his case, classical music - we can all relate to the lives of an addict and we all have our coping mechanisms. This book humanises and de-stigmatises the often scolded stereotype of what we deem our back alley drug addict to be when realistically, we are not all that different.
Our book for April 2022
We are the Luckiest by Laura McKowen
In this book, Laura shows us that being sober does not equal a life of deprivation. Quite the opposite, the deprivation was a life of substance use. By being sober we give ourselves more connection with ourselves, more meaningful relationships, and general better appreciation of life. Laura recognised that “those of us who answer the invitation to wake up, whatever our invitation, are really the luckiest of all.”
Our book for March 2022
Girl Walks Out of a Bar by Lisa F. Smith
Lisa was a lawyer in a NYC that worked hard and played even harder. As the stress of her job gets worse, as does Lisa’s drug and alcohol addiction. We are taken through the dark years of addiction and the light at the end of the tunnel through sobriety. Hilarious, insightful and inspirational.
Our book for February 2022
Sobering by Melissa Rice
Melissa has written an fantastic book about her spiral down into addiction and the struggles of getting out of it. Her message is clear: mental health issues often drive vulnerable people to addiction and working on mental health and personal development can help recovery.
Our book for January 2022
Alcohol Explained by Willian Porter
William has written a book that lays out the affect alcohol has on humans from a chemical, physiological and psychological level. This is a great book for those needing motivation to leave alcohol behind, or need extra incentive on the days were sobriety is a struggle.
Our book for December 2021
This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
In this mixture of memoir, science and practical advice Annie gives the ultimate ‘get sober’ book. We are taken through the psychological, neurological, cultural, social and industry factors that lead to us drinking alcohol and what we can do to break the mould. This book gives us the freedom from alcohol we have always needed.
Our book for November 2021
The Sober Lush by Amanda Ward & Jardine Libaire
This book is high on our “favourite quit lit books” list. The Sober Lush is definitely one to read if you’ve been sober a while and are in need of some sober warmth; with beautiful prose, delicate anecdotes and heartwarming stories, Amanda and Jardine perfectly encompass wholesome sober living.
Our book for October 2021
The Sober Diaries by Clare Pooley
A really honest depiction of uphill battle with alcoholism, told from the perspective of a hard working, family oriented woman. Clare Pooley illustrates the difficulty of running a home, tending to children, being on her a-game at work and a loving wife; all whilst struggling to stay sober. She checks off her sober days and we get to witness how each stage of the sober journey affected her; from day 1 to day 300. I 100% recommend this book if you have kids!
Our book for September 2021
Sunshine Warm Sober by Catherine Gray
This is the perfect book for those that are firm in their sobriety and are looking for the next stage. Catherine rejects the term ‘stone cold sober’ - it doesn’t reflect what sobriety is truly like. We are taken through those stone cold drunk occasions and they are contrasted with the now sunshine warm sober reality. Catherine has us laughing out loud yet again in this second instalment.
Our book for August 2021
How To Go Alcohol Free by Kate Bee
A short and handy guide for anyone at the start of their Alcohol-Free journey. This book is filled with tip and tricks on dealing with difficult situations, motivation to stay on your path and ways to maximise a life free of alcohol.
Our book for July 2021
Quit Like A Woman by Holly Whitaker
Simply the most bad-assed Quit-lit there is!
Holly takes us through how addiction is a feminist issue and what we can do about it. After struggling with addiction for many years Holly looks for support in the AA. For her, this did not work and decided to go it alone. Holly created her own female-focused recovery programme that teaches woman to stick it to the system and be the best versions of ourselves.
This is a fantastic book for anyone struggling to get sober and looking for an alterative to AA or those well into their sobriety and needing some positive reinforcement.
Our book for June 2021
The Sober Girl Society Handbook by Millie Gooch
This book is a fantastic handbook for anyone nervous about delving into the world of sobriety, and what that means for your life as you know it. Millie takes us through ending her toxic relationship with alcohol and embarking upon her new and improved sober life.
Where this books differs from many others is that Millie wasn’t struggling with an alcohol addiction in the typical sense but it was still taking over her life. You will feel excited and emboldened about sobriety once you’re finished!
Our Book for May 2021
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
The most loved quit-lit book. Gray’s book is one we chose to read first because it is the one everyone has heard of and there is reason for that. She tells her story in a light-hearted yet serious call to action for people to start questioning their sobriety.
She’s funny, relatable and smart.
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