2 years ago before I got sober I found myself browsing books about sobriety. As I listened to sober podcasts I learned this genre is referred to as “quit lit” …which I soon adopted to feel “in the club.”
I’ve always loved reading and learning, so when I wanted a different life for myself yet couldn’t picture actually quitting alcohol, I turned to research. I figured I should at least hear what sober people had to say about it. The worst I could do is drink less! Here’s my top 5 book recommendations for anyone interested in sobriety, anyone already sober, and all those in between.
This naked mind by Annie grace – this is my first and go to book suggestion for anyone sober curious or freshly curious or just questioning their relationship with alcohol in general. It is SO GOOD. It was the first book I read after getting sober and it just solidified everything. Grace goes through every liminal point and excuse that a drinker uses and combats it. Everything is broken down in an easy to read or listen to format. It’s scientific but understandable, lots of amazing quotes at the beginning of the chapters- some which I still share today (almost 3 years after reading!). I’ve even told someone “don’t read it unless you wanna quit because you won’t wanna drink after!” Very powerful.
Euphoric by Karolina Rzadkowolska
I attribute Karolina’s podcast as the final piece that I needed to get sober. So of course I bought her first book! Euphoric is set up as an eight week plan to take a break from alcohol; I read it a year into sobriety and still found it useful. The cover art is amazing and fun and I always felt a peak of dopamine picking it up to read and just glancing at it. Made me grateful to be living this life alive, alert and sober. Similar to this naked mind Karolina goes through different excuses drinkers make to stay drunk and shares truth. She shares many relatable situations and moments from her experience with alcohol (such as punishing yourself after a night of drinking with a hard work out the next morning). My favorite part of Euphoric is the drink recipes shared in every chapter- they had me excited to be making special non alcoholic drink. Find Karolina here
3.
Unexpected joy of being sober by Catherine
Gray paints a picture of her life before and after getting sober, sharing her story with humor and wit. I recall seeing a lot of myself in her and her experiences; especially in the tight grip she had on booze and her unwillingness to let it go after all it did was bring pain and heartbreak over and over. I will never forget that she drank mouthwash when alcohol was no longer an option and how she thought it was clever to put it in peppermint tea. She is British and I highly recommend listening to this one as it’s read by the author and adds an element of delight (if you’re American like me!). She approaches sobriety reluctantly, as we all do, and in the end is won over by the sheer freedom and beauty of it. This one was written in 2017 and she has written a book nearly every year since; that alone is a testament to what sobriety can do for you.
The sober lush by Amanda Ward and Jardine Libaire
All time favorite book on sobriety. This is the book I had been searching for for over a year. One that actually just shares the wonderful things about being sober without first diving into a rock button recap. I recommend reading this once you have 2+ years of sobriety under your belt, as it might be a little odd if you haven’t quit yet or are freshly sober. The truth is that until you let go of alcohol and it’s far behind you, you are just unable to enjoy the little things, because alcohol is still the crowning jewel of every experience. Ward and Libarie share a series of short stories diving into the simple yet extraordinary (and slightly random!) little things we live for. I was instantly adding all of their suggestions to my notes, sharing them with my husband and friends. My daughter and I watched the live stream of the Norwegian train one beautiful morning and I have a plan for a psychedelic lunch any day now. THIS is the book for sober people. After the first year of not drinking you are kinda over hearing about the bad ol days and are just ready for another kind of sober literature. Many books on sobriety claim to do this but don’t deliver; they are typically an entire book on their process of getting sober (which dont get me wrong- is important) followed by 1 or 2 chapters ending the book on how it’s “so much better now.” The Sober lush is a book on exactly what “so much better” looks like. I found this book at the exact time I needed it- around 2 years sober- I was kinda hitting a wall. The pink cloud was fading (I hear this is when it does for most) and I found myself with that missing something feeling. I chalked it up to pregnancy and postpartum and the hormones. Upon reading The Sober Lush I realized I was just in need of a fresh infusion of joy, beauty, gratitude and daily adventure into my life again.
We are the luckiest by Laura McKowen
McKownen had me flinching with her brutal honesty and rawness. Her story is both excruciating and relatable and had me crying and laughing. As my latest listen in the quit lit genre I was thrown back into the emotions of the early days of sobriety and left basking in my own 2 years dry. McKowen shares her heartbreaking and terrifying rock bottom and how even after almost losing her daughter, she still fought for alcohol. I was surprised how much she shared in this memoir overall, but was so appreciative she did. I enjoyed relating to McKowen’s experience of getting sober as a mother and slightly later in life. McKowen shares how there is still so much life to live, why waste it hungover? My favorite take away from We are the luckiest is in the last few chapters where Laura talks about the parts of herself she doesn’t like. How they are not going anywhere, so like shells on the shore, she picks them up, shine them up and puts them back down. That image has stuck with me in the weeks and months after finishing this book. Audiobook was narrated by the author and a short listen; about 6 hours. Find her & her books here