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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Special thanks to the author, stmartinspress, & netgalley for my advanced readers copy!!!
Trying to get more into memoirs and thought this one would be interesting. I have a close family member that battles with alcoholism so I enjoyed reading about Sarah’s personal experience and journey to recovery.
The author was very honest and showed vulnerability with being open about her addiction and how it almost ruined her life. I loved the insight she provided with what it was like for her. It takes courage to not only admit you have a problem but to actually do something about it.
It seemed as though she used alcohol as a coping mechanism for her insecurities. In her mind drinking made her feel more self-assured around others and like the girl all guys wanted. But the drinking became so excessive she’d experience blackouts and have no recollection of what occurred prior.
She loss her job, friendships, even a little self-respect for her actions. The lying also got out of hand with multiple attempts to cover up the addiction like saying she was hit by a car. When in actuality she had a blackout and was unsure of how she ended up in the hospital. But it was easier to lie than face the truth or judgement from loved ones.
The author covers a lot of other topics: Addiction, Trauma Bonded Friendships, Depression, Recovery, Self-Doubt, Limiting Beliefs, Acceptance, Suicide, Imposter Syndrome, Manifestation, and Mental Health
Overall, her memoir was cool didn’t really read like your typical memoir. That actually helped me get through it rather quickly. It’s great she chose sobriety before it really destroyed her life because the situations she ended up in were wild. My only downside was the repetitiveness and her timelines were a bit scattered.
Trying to get more into memoirs and thought this one would be interesting. I have a close family member that battles with alcoholism so I enjoyed reading about Sarah’s personal experience and journey to recovery.
The author was very honest and showed vulnerability with being open about her addiction and how it almost ruined her life. I loved the insight she provided with what it was like for her. It takes courage to not only admit you have a problem but to actually do something about it.
It seemed as though she used alcohol as a coping mechanism for her insecurities. In her mind drinking made her feel more self-assured around others and like the girl all guys wanted. But the drinking became so excessive she’d experience blackouts and have no recollection of what occurred prior.
She loss her job, friendships, even a little self-respect for her actions. The lying also got out of hand with multiple attempts to cover up the addiction like saying she was hit by a car. When in actuality she had a blackout and was unsure of how she ended up in the hospital. But it was easier to lie than face the truth or judgement from loved ones.
The author covers a lot of other topics: Addiction, Trauma Bonded Friendships, Depression, Recovery, Self-Doubt, Limiting Beliefs, Acceptance, Suicide, Imposter Syndrome, Manifestation, and Mental Health
Overall, her memoir was cool didn’t really read like your typical memoir. That actually helped me get through it rather quickly. It’s great she chose sobriety before it really destroyed her life because the situations she ended up in were wild. My only downside was the repetitiveness and her timelines were a bit scattered.
I may be a little closer to a 2.5 stars on this book.
What I liked - I liked that the collection of essays that built her story. The reader is taken on an interesting journey with details not revealed in chronological order which made it more interesting. I also really liked looking at alcoholism in a different way. We grew up thinking alcoholics were walking disasters who needed a drink to start their day. Levy sheds light on how addiction and rock bottom looks different for different people.
What I didn’t like - I wanted to relate to her so bad, as I myself drank irresponsibly in my 20s. But her lifestyle… Ivy League, family with money, fabulous friends and parties in NYC were so NOT relatable. Obviously being a memoir, this is her story. But it did make it feel like fiction at times.
Lastly, I wasn’t crazy about her writing. Sometimes it felt a little mechanical.
But overall an interesting read and had me really thinking about addiction in a different way.
What I liked - I liked that the collection of essays that built her story. The reader is taken on an interesting journey with details not revealed in chronological order which made it more interesting. I also really liked looking at alcoholism in a different way. We grew up thinking alcoholics were walking disasters who needed a drink to start their day. Levy sheds light on how addiction and rock bottom looks different for different people.
What I didn’t like - I wanted to relate to her so bad, as I myself drank irresponsibly in my 20s. But her lifestyle… Ivy League, family with money, fabulous friends and parties in NYC were so NOT relatable. Obviously being a memoir, this is her story. But it did make it feel like fiction at times.
Lastly, I wasn’t crazy about her writing. Sometimes it felt a little mechanical.
But overall an interesting read and had me really thinking about addiction in a different way.
related to a ton… some essays were skips but overall really cool to read about being young in recovery
Sarah Levy bared her soul in this and I’m in awe. It’s relatable, engaging, and funny as well at parts. I found it very interesting too that she also critiqued drinking culture in general, the whole “work hard, play hard” mentality.
The chapter about her mother in particular resonated with me. It made me cry. Sarah articulated certain feelings I’ve felt too. A must read memoir, in my opinion.
The chapter about her mother in particular resonated with me. It made me cry. Sarah articulated certain feelings I’ve felt too. A must read memoir, in my opinion.
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
A solid 4.5 stars! I saw this book and knew I wanted to get my hands on it (or ears). I think there’s a grey area of people who want to feel and do better who may not drink every day, but they binge and need different answers. Sarah’s reflection on her relationship with alcohol should be a thought everyone pauses for now and then.
the author is incredibly annoying and self-absorbed. it was excruciating to be inside her head for an entire book. her insights were very surface level and unoriginal. the writing was basic, repetitive, and clichéd to the point of cringe. the structure was confusing and sloppy.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
