Going Under: A memoir of family secrets, addiction and escape

by Seana Smith

From the outside, Seana Smith lived an enviable life. An Oxford graduate, a successful career with the BBC and Sydney’s Channel 9, a bestselling author, happily married. But behind this perfect life she had a Seana was a drinker, and alcohol was slowly taking away her life, destroying her health, her emotional well-being, her world. 

With engaging style and wit, Going Under reveals the true story behind Seana’s lifelong battle with drink. It lays bare a confusing childhood of Scottish sailing adventures and also brutal violence from her bullying, alcoholic father; where punches were thrown, broken bones hidden and her family lived in fear.

Learning from the best, Seana drank her way through tutorials at Oxford University (which were held in the pub), through the sexual misadventures of her twenties and through the intensity and mundanity of motherhood. 

It took the death of her parents and a tree-change to Orange in regional NSW for Seana to find the courage to break free; a new life in a new world. She had finally left the past behind.

"Going Under is funny, insightful and inspiring.  This is like hanging out with a really brilliant friend who, you know, will make you a better person.
Seana Smith is the real deal - a truth-teller and a writer of immense integrity."
Kathryn Heyman
Author of Fury
 
"With a tender touch, Smith contemplates the two truths of her the wild island adventures and the brutal eruptions behind closed doors. Standing on the precipice of her own alcoholism, she realizes that reckoning with the past is the only way to shape the future."
Jenny Valentish
Author of Woman of Substances
 
"With sparkling, musical prose and unflinching generosity of spirit, Seana Smith lays bare the facts of a life stalked by alcohol. A life that ricochets ‘between privilege and terror, between adventure and fear.
So much more than a book about the booze, Going Under is an intricate, often beautiful mosaic of family, the individuals caught inside its sharp-edged cracks, and the self-yearning to make sense of all it all. The story of a woman emerging from the brokenness of the past and the never-ending pressures of the present to reclaim joy. 
Honest. Tender. Laugh-cry funny. Walking with Seana through her year of Going Under is to make a new and wise friend."
Kim Kelly, author of  Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room
 

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 4, 2024

Reviews

[Ann Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir of family secrets and alcoholism is extremely honest and at times upsetting.

[Martin Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brave and honest memoir about dealing with issues of alcoholism and families, at all stages of life, told with wit and tenderness, exposing vulnerabilities, all revealed through beautiful prose with a hint of Scottish brogue.

[Denise Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expertly weaving together stories of her past and present, Seana’s memoir is about childhood trauma, identity, and a drinking habit that does not quite meet the definition of “alcoholic” – so is it really a problem?

I believe many people (especially women) will relate to at least some aspects of Seana’s story; be it her father’s violence, or the cycle of self-abuse that can take many different forms in our wildly imperfect lives.

I loved this beautifully written book.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this memoir feels like having a long, cozy coffee date with a friend who is charming and a wonderful storyteller. Seana Smith takes you along with her as she weaves together past and present, reflecting on her complicated childhood with raw honesty and empathy, while figuring out how to heal and move forward. Going Under is at times heartbreaking, at times hilarious, and often wise and insightful. I’ll be reflecting on this book for a while, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys memoirs.

[Lauren Newhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and inspiring

Such a touching read. I loved her honesty, so much that resonated with me. Highly recommend if you questioning your drinking

[Rueben · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Helen Gibbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very moving and impactful.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author mentions several times that she tends to go on and on, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Memoirs tend to be hit or miss for me, and although Smith's personal stories and family trauma were poignant, there was too much fluff in this for my preferences. It also didn't help that I listened to the book as an audiobook and there was little differentiation between the author's two warring sides, her rational and alcoholic voices that had frequent conversations in her head.

Possibly this will resonate with someone who has experienced an alcoholic parent or alcoholism themselves.

[Bronwyn Orsatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Going Under" by Seana Smith is an incredibly moving memoir that dives deep into the author’s experiences with childhood trauma, and alcoholism, all while navigating the tough road to recovery. Smith writes beautifully, using vivid and poetic language that really captures the complicated emotions involved in her journey. The way she alternates between her past struggles and her present-day thoughts adds a rich layer to the narrative, making it all the more impactful. It’s a raw and honest reflection that resonates on many levels.

The memoir is a powerful exploration of survival and healing, addressing the harsh realities of addiction and abuse while also highlighting the strength and resilience needed for recovery. Smith’s introspection and vulnerability draw readers in, making her personal growth feel inspiring and relatable.

This book is a testament to Smith’s courage and tells a universal story of overcoming darkness. It offers solidarity and hope for those facing their own challenges, proving that healing, though challenging, is achievable.

Going Under is a transformative and cathartic read that will linger with readers long after they finish. This book deserves a five-star rating for its honesty, depth, and emotional resonance. It is highly recommended for anyone seeking a powerful and uplifting memoir.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I so very much enjoyed this book. It popped up on LibroFM this month, and it sounded like something I might like to read. Seana tells the story of her life, weaving together the abuse she and her siblings endured because of her father's drinking as well as her own wonderful adventures which came about for her as a result of needing to flee her family to save herself. Now an adult with children of her own, she finds herself drinking more and more as the years go by, not to any good effect on herself or her family. She is most alarmed (as I am) that any amount of alcohol--not to mention the amount she was drinking!--correlates to breast cancer in women. How she comes to terms with her childhood, her personal demons, and her addiction is a story very much worth reading. She's gifted in keeping the tone of the story light and funny even as she faces head-on subjects that aren't a bit funny--without ever being inappropriate. I am so glad I stumbled across this book, and I will be recommending it far and wide.

[Lorna Neligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "Going Under", Seana Smith takes readers on an emotional and unflinching journey from her childhood in Scotland to a new life in Australia with lyrical prose that is both raw and endearing. She masterfully captures the gnawing allure of alcohol as a coping mechanism and its deep rooted hold of her "library of secrets" she refers to of her troubling past with an alcoholic father and more. Her vivid descriptions and dramatic writing contrasted with the beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the every day bustle of the Sydney suburbs, makes her memoir particularly poignant and unputdownable. A compelling narrative that is honest and relatable - and not to be missed!

[James Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seana Smith’s Going Under had me hooked from the first paragraph. She pulls a thread from her domestic life and struggle with alcohol, and as the story unravels, we’re transported through time and space—from 1970s Ireland to 2019 Australia, with all her adventures in between.

I haven’t read anything this good since Helen Garner. The imagery, the way Seana captures emotions and feelings with such precision—it’s astonishing. I found myself identifying with so much: the need to escape, the alcohol abuse...and the sausages!

It’s incredibly brave for an author to reveal so much of herself and her family. This book is raw, honest, and unforgettable. Highly recommended.

[Clare Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book full of heart and soul. Giving voice to the inner critic whilst caught on the relentless addiction plus motherhood hamsterwheel. I felt like I travelled through time and round the world with this well crafted memoir. Spoiler: Our heroine eventually gives up struggling with the drink, but not the ritual of having a fancy glass of something else instead. Worth a read if you have wondered about your own or a loved ones drinking having a life of it's own. Life affirming if you have recently decided to quit.

[SMM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seana Smith's beautiful memoir is lovely, heartbreaking, funny and lovely all over again. A rollercoaster of emotions, I felt heartache, cried big tears for her and had frissons of guilt by laughing out loud - she really is very funny.
What a story - I can't wait to hear her beautiful Scottish accent in her audiobook next (thankyou The Publisher and the Writer podcast with the brilliant Jane Curry!).
A must read.

[Susanne Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

. An honest, insightful and funny memoir I loved it , going on this journey with the author felt very engaging and the descriptions of her childhood and the trauma experienced and how that has shaped her life was very moving .
This memoir was very engaging from the start , it’s a powerful journey of overcoming the addiction to alcohol and moving on to a new place of understanding of why it happened.

[Sandy Papas · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. This a very raw and brave memoir, thats primarily about addiction, generational trauma, domestic violence and migration but its also about modern families, travel, work, growing up, and the challenges of being a mother, wife, daughter, sister & friend.

It’s very well written and something the author should be deeply proud of.

I think many people could relate to many aspects of it.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going Under is a candid memoir about the effect of alcoholism and alcohol dependence across generations. Seana Smith’s vulnerable storytelling and evocative writing convey the emotional depth of her journey. A powerful testament to resilience, this memoir reminds us that people’s struggles are often hidden beneath the surface. Highly recommended for its honesty, empathy, and inspiring message.

[Jill Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very brave and truthful account of her life and battle with “grey drinking”.
Thoroughly recommend.
Heard Seana on ABC conversations and was captured by her honesty. Her book is just like her interview.

[Sarah Ginsberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧 An interesting memoir about how alcoholism can have a negative impact even when the person doesn’t hit “rock bottom”. I found this a bit meandering and hard to follow from a timeline sense but really loved listening to the author read the audiobook.

[Laura Johnstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in a street library because I liked the cover 😂 addiction is not something I have much experience with, however the family history and traumas were something I connected with. A very funny way of talking about something very serious and challenging

[David RC · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of true life account that stays with you after you read it. Very relatable

[Kelly Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

A memoir written with incredible honesty. Beautifully written. Was sad when it ended!

[Katrina]

Fascinating story

[Janet Camilleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great book. I've read a lot of rubbishy memoirs in my time. This is NOT one of them. Loved it!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

An honest memoir of addiction and trauma and hiding it in everyday life. The writing itself jumped around a little too much for me, it was hard to keep track of the timeline.