This book changed my life and I am sober because of it. I found this book when I realized I was drinking too much and needed to do something about it, however, stigmatizing labels and a traditional recovery model didn't resonate with my beliefs. Holly presents a "feminine-centric" framework for understanding addiction and pursuing sobriety that is an alternative to the patriarchal default of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps.
The way that society normalizes and encourages alcohol use means that, "We are not conditioned to ask the most reasonable questions of all: Is alcohol getting in the way of my happiness, my life, my self-esteem? Is it getting in the way of my dreams, or maybe just not working for me? Does it cost more than it gives, does it shrink more than it expands, does it cut out pieces of me I can't reclaim?" Mary Oliver wrote, "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" If you know that alcohol detracts from those pursuits then pick up this book and go pave a new path for your life.
