These rules – never drink before 7pm, or in front of my child – were very important to me, because they proved I wasn’t an alcoholic. And sometimes, it felt as if my entire life’s work was proving that I wasn’t an alcoholic. Of course, the effort I expended doing this should probably have told me that I absolutely was an alcoholic, but I could not bear the word and would have done anything to avoid it. Bryony says "life will always be full of new things to learn." I feel that this book paralleled some of my own struggle, when I suffered depression, I never thought it possible to enjoy the simple things in life, nor that I would find genuine interests, nor find contentment, as I gradually overcame it and started to heal, I discovered the beauty in the ordinary, daily life - I'm so thankful I held on. Much like Bryony, I now love baking and cooking, bird song and learning. There is so much to enjoy in life. This is a good book for anybody with an addiction, overcoming an addiction, or having been involved with someone with an addiction. I wanted to shake everyone, ‘DRINK’ I wanted to shout, “you’re allowed to drink so why aren’t you drinking properly!’” One day we had to lie down on a giant piece of paper and let someone draw an outline around our bodies with a marker. Then we had an hour to fill in said outline, in a way that represented how we were feeling. As I painted my body with glitter, purely because it looked nice, I wondered if I was taking part in an elaborate con. But nothing was as it seemed on the surface in rehab. There was a deeper reason for everything. I was told that the glitter perhaps showed a person who was keen to hide their true self behind a sparkly front. ‘That’s way too obvious,’ I laughed, secretly annoyed that I was so obvious.”

The truth is, I decided to stop drinking because if I didn’t, I was going to die. I was going to die either by accident – falling off a balcony or down a flight of stairs or choking on my own vomit. Or I was going to die on purpose, by actively making the decision to kill myself. Or – absolutely worst of all – I was going to die very slowly, by living in only the most literal of senses, my so-called life tiny and toxic, a Groundhog Day of misery and anxiety. I stopped drinking because I wanted to start living. With the support of her husband, family and friends, she undergoes a rehabilitation programme and, through the book, she takes us through that process. It's a fascinating, revealing, moving and compelling account.

I could not put this book down and read it within 24 hours. I’d recommend it to anyone who has found themselves at a tremendous low point or feel alienated by the ‘rainbow and sparkle’ lives that people share on social media, or indeed in real life. Bryony Gordon is a terrific, compassionate writer whose razor-sharp honesty slices through every sentence of this compelling memoir.’ Liz Day

The campaign for the book will be supported by a series of live events producedin collaboration with production company Fane, which will be publicly announced in early February. Bryony Gordon is a respected journalist, a number-one bestselling author and an award-winning mental health campaigner. She is also an alcoholic.It's not an easy read, and there were times the author's self-doubt really wore on me, but it's SO REAL. And so relatable, whether you're an addict or not. It's not a story of never drinking again and life being magically perfect. It's a story of an addict's struggles and triumphs, and how the wins often look like absolutely ordinary moments. It is when she contrives to invite a near-stranger to her house for drink and drugs while her young daughter is sleeping upstairs, that she realises she needs help. She can no longer abide by the meagre boundaries she has set for herself.

Known for her trademark honesty, Bryony relives the darkest and most terrifying moments of her addiction, never shying away from the fact that alcoholism robs you of your ability to focus on your family, your work, your health, your children, yourself. And then, a chink of light as the hard work begins - rehab; AA meetings; endless, tedious, painful self-reflection - a roller-coaster ride through self-acceptance, friendship, love and hope, to a joy and pride in staying sober that her younger self could never have imagined. People often ask me why I decided to stop drinking, as if there was one single moment. As if there was an epiphany. But the truth is, I decided to stop drinking almost as soon as I started as a teenager. Bryony’s voice becoming nearly hysterical throughout the narration was a bit much, not because it was gratuitous but simply because her high pitched, highly dramatic delivery was unpleasant to my ears.I guess I'm left with thinking who is this for? Clearly addicts or alcoholics won't be reading this type of book, or probably any, they have other things to be doing with their time, as the book makes clear. Those in recovery hopefully will have their own programme, sponsors, mentors etc. who can more actively support their recovery journey. Perhaps for those impacted by addiction will get the most out of it, gain an understanding from the other side. Living with an addict in your life is so tough I hope this book offers some comfort.