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A Perfectly Good Fantasy: A Memoir
INDEPENDENT AUTHOR NETWORK BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS, FINALIST
Fiercely determined to live without drugs and alcohol, Lynn has rebuilt her life—survived, somehow, her dad and his cocaine and his smuggling—but she can’t seem to find all the pages to life’s instruction manual.
With wit and insight, Lynn takes us on a journey, and what a wild ride it is! Trying not to drink vodka in a Russian castle. Trying not to drink anything in graduate school. Cocaine-addicted lab rats. Peeing next to a grizzly bear. Trudging through the wilderness of relationships in search of this thing called love.
Even if you’ve never struggled with addiction or love, you’ll find humor and wisdom in this very human, true story of how we can use just about anything—booze, relationships, potato chips—to try to change the way we feel.
Brace yourself for this candid and darkly funny sequel to Lynn’s award-winning book, Midnight Calling: A Memoir of a Drug Smuggler’s Daughter.
Fiercely determined to live without drugs and alcohol, Lynn has rebuilt her life—survived, somehow, her dad and his cocaine and his smuggling—but she can’t seem to find all the pages to life’s instruction manual.
With wit and insight, Lynn takes us on a journey, and what a wild ride it is! Trying not to drink vodka in a Russian castle. Trying not to drink anything in graduate school. Cocaine-addicted lab rats. Peeing next to a grizzly bear. Trudging through the wilderness of relationships in search of this thing called love.
Even if you’ve never struggled with addiction or love, you’ll find humor and wisdom in this very human, true story of how we can use just about anything—booze, relationships, potato chips—to try to change the way we feel.
Brace yourself for this candid and darkly funny sequel to Lynn’s award-winning book, Midnight Calling: A Memoir of a Drug Smuggler’s Daughter.
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2024
53 people are currently reading
6463 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Walker
4 books137 followersLYNN WALKER is the author of the best-selling books, Midnight Calling: A Memoir of a Drug Smuggler's Daughter and Breaking Midnight: A True Story. Her debut novel is Three Days Earlier: A Psychological Thriller.
For many years, Lynn worked with high school students whose parents were drug addicts & alcoholics. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
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For many years, Lynn worked with high school students whose parents were drug addicts & alcoholics. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@walkermemoir
Instagram: www.instagram.com/walkermemoir
Facebook: www.facebook.com/walkermemoir
YouTube:www.youtube.com/@walkermemoir
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 11, 2024
An Immensely Powerful Story
Firstly, I would like to thank Lyn Walker for sharing her story with everyone. I highly recommend you read Breaking Midnight and midnight calling first if you can so you will understand the impact Lyns father's actions had on her and her brother from their first hit when they were younger. Lynn has hit rock bottom after fueled up on Coke, and alcohol which led to her spiral downfall which has had a lasting effect but has not broken her as she battles addition daily.
Lyn carries on her life from the age of twenty-six when she finally gets into graduate school after getting of the drugs and alcohol. Lyn realises this is a place of pubs and partying so she finds a support group straight away, but Lyn makes the faithfully decision to bypass the meeting and head to the pub. Thinking she can either not drink or just have one may as the little voice in her head tells her she has her drinking under control. Sadly, this is not the case as anyone who is an addict knows there is no such thing as one.
This book reads like fiction but is true and teaches you about family, Relationships, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of both, as well as the Long-term impact that grief and addition can have on not only a person but an entire family. Lyn tells some very touching stories throughout this book when she is peeing and looks up to see she is next to a Grizzly. Lyn goes to Russia for work research where drinking Vodka is the norm. There are some very tender and heart rendering moments, and I would say somewhere in this book is something anyone can resonate with.
Eventually Lynn proves that change for the better is always possible, no matter what is in your past with help from Phycologists, support from family, friends, and support groups like AA. This book teaches you about family, relationships, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of both as well as the long-term impact that grief and addition can have on a person. A truly exceptional book in every way beautifully written raw and honest. This book is immensely powerful story shared from the heart. I cannot Recommend this book Highly enough. Thank you once again thank for sharing your story, Lyn.
I am part of the ARC group for Lyn Walker, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Firstly, I would like to thank Lyn Walker for sharing her story with everyone. I highly recommend you read Breaking Midnight and midnight calling first if you can so you will understand the impact Lyns father's actions had on her and her brother from their first hit when they were younger. Lynn has hit rock bottom after fueled up on Coke, and alcohol which led to her spiral downfall which has had a lasting effect but has not broken her as she battles addition daily.
Lyn carries on her life from the age of twenty-six when she finally gets into graduate school after getting of the drugs and alcohol. Lyn realises this is a place of pubs and partying so she finds a support group straight away, but Lyn makes the faithfully decision to bypass the meeting and head to the pub. Thinking she can either not drink or just have one may as the little voice in her head tells her she has her drinking under control. Sadly, this is not the case as anyone who is an addict knows there is no such thing as one.
This book reads like fiction but is true and teaches you about family, Relationships, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of both, as well as the Long-term impact that grief and addition can have on not only a person but an entire family. Lyn tells some very touching stories throughout this book when she is peeing and looks up to see she is next to a Grizzly. Lyn goes to Russia for work research where drinking Vodka is the norm. There are some very tender and heart rendering moments, and I would say somewhere in this book is something anyone can resonate with.
Eventually Lynn proves that change for the better is always possible, no matter what is in your past with help from Phycologists, support from family, friends, and support groups like AA. This book teaches you about family, relationships, forgiveness, healing, and the importance of both as well as the long-term impact that grief and addition can have on a person. A truly exceptional book in every way beautifully written raw and honest. This book is immensely powerful story shared from the heart. I cannot Recommend this book Highly enough. Thank you once again thank for sharing your story, Lyn.
I am part of the ARC group for Lyn Walker, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 19, 2024
Recommended: sure
For a look at one person's life in recovery, for some ideas on how to understand others who have dealt with addiction
Thoughts:
It's been a while since I've read a memoir about a former addict, although I guess you could argue that for Lynn she was still very much dealing with it in the course of this book too. It also feels like addition is something you can manage, but will always need to work to keep in check. That's what I got from her story and experience anyway, as even when she had been sober for years and felt like she had strategies and everything in check, it can sneak back into life so quickly and take things down.
That was really sobering (ha..?) to read about, how quickly she could go from solidly confident in her recovery stage right back to blackouts and random hookups. I really appreciated how blunt she was in her recounting of some of these stories, too. It felt like she took it all seriously in a genuine way, and didn't let herself brush things off too much as the silly and ultimately harmless things people do when drinking. For her, she knew they wouldn't be harmless.
One mantra that stuck with me from her support group folks was the idea that the first drink is what gets someone drunk. Not necessarily in a literal sense, but in the sense that once they've had one they've opened the floodgates and they're going until they've had a 12-pack or are blacked out. The fear of waking up and having to try to piece together what happened after that point was so surreal and painful to witness. It felt like there was no way out, and I'm glad there *is* in fact even if it's hard to see.
Her love of wilderness felt very calming and peaceful, as well. There's a lot of struggle and embarrassment and self-loathing at points throughout this, but it ends very hopefully. Where she draws the line felt like such a great moment, and I really wished her the best despite being a literal stranger. xD In a way it felt sort of like rooting for anyone who's dealt with, or currently going through, something similar. I am happy I have even a tiny bit better understanding of what it can be like so I can support anyone I might meet in the future who is in that place as well.
Thanks to the author and LibraryThing for a free copy! This is my honest review.
For a look at one person's life in recovery, for some ideas on how to understand others who have dealt with addiction
Thoughts:
It's been a while since I've read a memoir about a former addict, although I guess you could argue that for Lynn she was still very much dealing with it in the course of this book too. It also feels like addition is something you can manage, but will always need to work to keep in check. That's what I got from her story and experience anyway, as even when she had been sober for years and felt like she had strategies and everything in check, it can sneak back into life so quickly and take things down.
That was really sobering (ha..?) to read about, how quickly she could go from solidly confident in her recovery stage right back to blackouts and random hookups. I really appreciated how blunt she was in her recounting of some of these stories, too. It felt like she took it all seriously in a genuine way, and didn't let herself brush things off too much as the silly and ultimately harmless things people do when drinking. For her, she knew they wouldn't be harmless.
One mantra that stuck with me from her support group folks was the idea that the first drink is what gets someone drunk. Not necessarily in a literal sense, but in the sense that once they've had one they've opened the floodgates and they're going until they've had a 12-pack or are blacked out. The fear of waking up and having to try to piece together what happened after that point was so surreal and painful to witness. It felt like there was no way out, and I'm glad there *is* in fact even if it's hard to see.
Her love of wilderness felt very calming and peaceful, as well. There's a lot of struggle and embarrassment and self-loathing at points throughout this, but it ends very hopefully. Where she draws the line felt like such a great moment, and I really wished her the best despite being a literal stranger. xD In a way it felt sort of like rooting for anyone who's dealt with, or currently going through, something similar. I am happy I have even a tiny bit better understanding of what it can be like so I can support anyone I might meet in the future who is in that place as well.
Thanks to the author and LibraryThing for a free copy! This is my honest review.
May 4, 2024
Though dealing with the serious topic of alcoholism, this well-written, very candid memoir uses a casual, light voice and is quick to get through. It centers on a period of the author’s life when she has gotten over her cocaine addiction (dealt with in the first book of the series, which I have not read). She is now apparently sober and undertaking a fresh start, doing graduate work. But it is apparent that she is still fighting with addiction. We watch (cringing) as she starts to drink, with her excuses and delusional claims of being in control. It gets somewhat repetitive as we go through a series of scenarios in which she is tempted by alcohol, and goes through some mental anguish before giving in. We see some of the collateral damage that her drinking has on her ability to form and sustain relationships. Yet she manages to graduate and hold down a serious job, (making me wonder if anyone I know is secretly battling alcoholism.) The story finally changes directions towards the end of the book when, through therapy, the author gains some self-awareness and develops coping skills. I appreciated learning of her (life-saving and overdue) personal growth here.
This is book three of a 3-book series but works totally fine as a standalone. I had read and enjoyed book 2 in the series, about the author’s father, a narcotics detective who becomes a drug-trafficker (and introduces her to cocaine).
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
This is book three of a 3-book series but works totally fine as a standalone. I had read and enjoyed book 2 in the series, about the author’s father, a narcotics detective who becomes a drug-trafficker (and introduces her to cocaine).
I won a free copy of this book (thanks to the author & publisher!) and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
January 6, 2026
A Perfectly Good Fantasy: A Memoir is a candid, witty, and deeply engaging memoir that combines humor with insight while exploring themes of addiction, resilience, and personal growth. Lynn Walker’s voice is sharp, authentic, and fearless, drawing readers into a life marked by challenges, absurdities, and moments of profound reflection.
What sets this memoir apart is its ability to turn hardship into compelling storytelling. From navigating her father’s cocaine smuggling to grappling with her own battles with substances and relationships, Walker recounts her experiences with honesty, levity, and emotional depth. Her sharp wit balances the gravity of her life events, making the memoir both entertaining and meaningful.
Ultimately, A Perfectly Good Fantasy is a story of survival, self discovery, and humor as a form of resilience. It is an inspiring and relatable read for anyone who has faced adversity or sought to reclaim agency over their life. Readers will laugh, reflect, and admire the determination that permeates Walker’s story.
What sets this memoir apart is its ability to turn hardship into compelling storytelling. From navigating her father’s cocaine smuggling to grappling with her own battles with substances and relationships, Walker recounts her experiences with honesty, levity, and emotional depth. Her sharp wit balances the gravity of her life events, making the memoir both entertaining and meaningful.
Ultimately, A Perfectly Good Fantasy is a story of survival, self discovery, and humor as a form of resilience. It is an inspiring and relatable read for anyone who has faced adversity or sought to reclaim agency over their life. Readers will laugh, reflect, and admire the determination that permeates Walker’s story.
November 29, 2024
Ms. Walker opens up her life for everyone to see the ugly side of being an addict.
She pulls no punches as she goes from being a rising star as a mediator to almost sinking into their addictions again.
She has fought through her addictions once, maybe more over time, to become clean and sober.
With her, her long-time psychologist she calls for help as she sees her returning to her old ways because lied to herself believing that a beer or two wouldn't hurt. She knew deep down that wasn't true but her addiction started to take her over again.
Drunken nights that led to black-out sex and repeat this over and over.
She hid her addiction as long as she could and finally started back at AA meetings and saw a male therapist, who understood her need for strong ground rules.
I won't give away the ending, but if you know someone who is addicted, she will be fighting her addiction for the rest of her life.
She pulls no punches as she goes from being a rising star as a mediator to almost sinking into their addictions again.
She has fought through her addictions once, maybe more over time, to become clean and sober.
With her, her long-time psychologist she calls for help as she sees her returning to her old ways because lied to herself believing that a beer or two wouldn't hurt. She knew deep down that wasn't true but her addiction started to take her over again.
Drunken nights that led to black-out sex and repeat this over and over.
She hid her addiction as long as she could and finally started back at AA meetings and saw a male therapist, who understood her need for strong ground rules.
I won't give away the ending, but if you know someone who is addicted, she will be fighting her addiction for the rest of her life.
Read
April 14, 2024I received this book through the Giveaways program; Kindle edition. I am was enthralled with the author's story of recovery from addictions. She did a great job of leading us down the path of the stories that she told herself as she moved through the phases of recovery. Don't most of us talk ourselves in (or out) of what might be best for ourselves? SO relatable. I am going to go back now and read books 1 and 2. Great read!
June 6, 2024
I received this book through a giveaway and finally had the chance to read. Although it wasn’t what I was expecting, I can say that it has given me a new perspective on addiction.
I have never dealt with it myself, but know many that have. Being able to read the thoughts and feelings throughout has helped me even think more into rash decisions. It may not be something everyone goes through, but it is something to learn from and use in the healing process of other issues.
I have never dealt with it myself, but know many that have. Being able to read the thoughts and feelings throughout has helped me even think more into rash decisions. It may not be something everyone goes through, but it is something to learn from and use in the healing process of other issues.
February 7, 2024
In this light-hearted tell-all tale, the author reveals her strength and resilience as she strips herself of her innermost fears. She lets us into her mind as her thoughts crash through, with a well-balanced dash of seriousness and humour.
Highly recommended for readers looking for stories of personal power and overcoming addiction of any kind.
Highly recommended for readers looking for stories of personal power and overcoming addiction of any kind.
March 3, 2025
A Perfectly good Trilogy
I enjoyed this book and appreciate Lynn Walker,s style of writing, humor, honesty and grit. The "Trilogy" captures an openness and truth about addiction and relationships written in a captivating manner. I would have given it 5 stars but there seemed to be quite a few typos.
I enjoyed this book and appreciate Lynn Walker,s style of writing, humor, honesty and grit. The "Trilogy" captures an openness and truth about addiction and relationships written in a captivating manner. I would have given it 5 stars but there seemed to be quite a few typos.
November 24, 2025
Highly readable recovery memoir. The merry-go-round pull of fighting reality and looking for anything *except stopping* to help is familiar. This story is one of coming to acceptance and will be relatable for anyone recovering from anything. Reads like a fiction story, fast paced and just enough detail to paint the picture and not bore me as a reader. I’ll be looking for more of her work for sure!
May 12, 2024
Loved it. Her honesty and forthcoming about her issues is impressive. As the parent of a recovering addict I found it very meaningful from the addicts perspective. Especially with how easy it is to validate why you've slipped and started using again.
May 19, 2024
Very interesting read. Lynn honestly tells us about her addiction and how overcoming it is a lifelong process as it is so easy to fall back into old habits. I'm glad that she was able to get her life on track and go to grad school and has a good career now.
Thanks for the free book.
Thanks for the free book.
May 21, 2024
Well written and powerful story topic of alcoholism - interesting life from a young age to adulthood - how she handled going to college - boyfriends - meetings - job - etc. - some incite of what triggered the addiction over & over...... all the characters were interesting -
January 23, 2024
Such a powerful and wonderful read
April 29, 2024
great books
Loved all 3 books!!! What a treat to read and the different perspectives is enlightening. Thank you for your insight into a touchy topic
Loved all 3 books!!! What a treat to read and the different perspectives is enlightening. Thank you for your insight into a touchy topic
June 5, 2024
I won this in a goodreads giveaway. It’s been a few days since I finished this book and I cannot get it out of my head. Lynn Walker’s story is powerfully poignant and almost unreal. It was hard to put down and I kept wanting to know more about her life experiences. Highly recommend her three memoirs.
December 11, 2024
This was a Goodreads giveaway winner. A nice story.
April 1, 2025
I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the first two, but worth reading to finish off the series.
April 24, 2024
This is a very open and honest memoir. The author had turned her life around after dealing with addiction. But despite gaining success obtaining her masters degree and professionally, she turns back to alcohol, thinking she can control it. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews