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stormghosts's review
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Quick read on audio. I love Carrie’s writing and miss her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Mental illness
withemilyrose's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.25
A must listen (as compared to a must read) as Carrie Fisher’s delivery is absolutely iconic. It makes total sense that this book was originally a stage performance. I wasn’t expecting to hear such a wholesome description of mother/daughter relationships- the way she describes her mother is genuinely moving. I appreciated that the contempt she has for her father is shown, not told, and she does a great job describing the wild cast of characters in her life with heart and humor. Just wish it was longer!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Homophobia, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol
flowersfordes's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Eating disorder
deathmetalheron's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I've never had a booked I simultaneously loved/hated at the same time. The rating does not stand for "meh," it stands for the fact that I think some of this book is hilarious, insightful, and interesting and other parts are eyeroll inducing, repetitive, or padding.
It's very extreme book in its mood, not necessarily the content. Fisher will make a Boomer-tier joke that's like "I'm Princess Tater, my ex is Darth Tater, and daughter is Rehabili-tater" and then she'll say something like "and that's why my dad got all the good p*ssy!"
Yes, it's unbelievably unhinged in some regards in a way you wouldn't really expect a celebrity memoir to be. It's very crass and some of the stories are delivered with such brutal honesty. As refreshing it is, the looming feeling that Fisher's brand and personae is simply this image haunts the text. It's every celebrity memoir book, asking for genuine insight from someone who puts on a mask at all times is a big ask, and I don't fault her for leaning into that mask. If anything, the mask itself is just refreshing to have someone like Fisher talk about her issues in an honest light. For all the public images she could have presented, this one is at least focused on destigmatizing mental illness and not being afraid to discuss issues that affect everyone but are more uncouth to speak about.
It's very extreme book in its mood, not necessarily the content. Fisher will make a Boomer-tier joke that's like "I'm Princess Tater, my ex is Darth Tater, and daughter is Rehabili-tater" and then she'll say something like "and that's why my dad got all the good p*ssy!"
Yes, it's unbelievably unhinged in some regards in a way you wouldn't really expect a celebrity memoir to be. It's very crass and some of the stories are delivered with such brutal honesty. As refreshing it is, the looming feeling that Fisher's brand and personae is simply this image haunts the text. It's every celebrity memoir book, asking for genuine insight from someone who puts on a mask at all times is a big ask, and I don't fault her for leaning into that mask. If anything, the mask itself is just refreshing to have someone like Fisher talk about her issues in an honest light. For all the public images she could have presented, this one is at least focused on destigmatizing mental illness and not being afraid to discuss issues that affect everyone but are more uncouth to speak about.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child abuse, Toxic relationship, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
libraryduchess's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
jessicafaithh's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
4.5
Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking is a refreshingly fast-paced memoir that delves into the darker corners of her life without ever letting the mood drag. Fisher’s signature wit and dark humor shine through, making this a uniquely engaging read that feels less like a structured autobiography and more like a candid, unfiltered conversation.
The writing style is sharp and conversational, creating a sense of intimacy as though Fisher is sitting across from you, sharing her life’s highs and lows. Her humor, often biting and dark, adds levity to heavy subjects like addiction, mental health struggles, and family dynamics. It’s a tone that some readers will adore—especially those who appreciate raw honesty—but it might not suit everyone.
One of the most eye-opening aspects of the memoir is the insight into how Fisher’s family handled her addiction issues. The balance of love, exasperation, and resilience in these relationships is both touching and revealing. Her relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds, is particularly memorable. Through her anecdotes, it’s clear how much Fisher admired and revered her, even as they navigated the complexities of their familial bond.
Beyond the humor and family stories, Wishful Drinking also offers a poignant perspective on mental health. Fisher’s reflections on her experiences with bipolar disorder are deeply personal, shedding light on the realities of living with mental illness in the public eye.
This memoir isn’t a traditional, linear life story. Instead, it’s a patchwork of memories, reflections, and tangents that might feel scattered to some but perfectly encapsulates Fisher’s chaotic brilliance. It’s a book that’s best suited for readers who are ready to embrace her unconventional style and can handle the emotional weight of topics like addiction, mental illness, and loss.
Trigger warnings are a must for potential readers, as Fisher doesn’t shy away from discussing heavy, potentially upsetting themes. But for those who connect with her humor and storytelling, Wishful Drinking offers an unforgettable glimpse into the mind of a cultural icon.
Highly recommended, but with the caveat that this is Carrie Fisher in her rawest, most unfiltered form—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Grief, and Alcohol
ricelatte's review
funny
informative
sad
fast-paced
I enjoyed how frank she was about living her entire life as someone who grew up in the spotlight with a complicated mental illness that was incorrectly diagnosed and often misattributed to other things. Her candor and sense of humor about it was both shocking and refreshing!
ultimately a few complicated feelings on this book. she and I have different views on a couple things, and ultimately I was left wishing she had more compassion for herself because I think her life was painful enough. addiction is a disease and people that suffer from addiction deserve as much grace and understanding as anyone else, if not more.
I also kind of struggled with the audiobook because the way my version split up the stories didn't align properly. the book itself isn't one that's worried too much about organization, so to have a technical issue was an added challenge that could have been avoided if I'd read physically.
Overall a quick listen and I'm glad I picked it up. I'll definitely seek out more of her.
happy birthday Carrie Fisher, I love the person you authentically were more than the whole original trilogy combined.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Grief
etbishop's review
emotional
funny
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
sassyjax's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug use, and Mental illness
ninahuynh's review
dark
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
Carrie Fisher is hilarious! Her wit and comedic writing makes her story easily digestible and engaging. The content itself is a different story. It is nice to hear about her life through her voice, literally, as we can only know so much from the media and internet. I didn't know much about her other than that she played Princess Leia and was the daughter of celebrities. The way she discuss the "hollywood inbreeding" was both funny and informative. One of the be celebrity memoirs I have read/listened to. Highly suggest listening to it, as it is read by Fisher herself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Pregnancy