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Butterflies: 12 1/2 weeks of recovery
Choose love, choose heartbreak, choose being a love junkie and a comedown that tears you apart. It’s more than life; Butterflies is a raw, real dive into recovery.
A black romantic comedy about a support group of heartbroken romance addicts attempting to piece their lives back together and end the cycle of falling in love then falling flat on their arse. Set in a Monday night support group tucked away in a Scottish community centre (after the karate class). Dave, the kind of recovering addict who thinks he knows better than everyone else, but a lovely man bar that, hosts Romantics Anonymous.
His group therapy sessions delve into the tangled webs of romance addiction and the courageous pursuit of healing. But from the first day she walks through the door, Millie catches Stirling’s eye despite his commitment to romantic sobriety. And he’s not the only one falling off the wagon.
One member ghosts another innocently enough by dying prematurely. Another, Scotland’s most homophobic homosexual, comes out of the closet (and the gay community may want to put him back in). And others frustratingly return to the same harmful relationship that sent them to the meeting in the first place. There’s a fake pregnancy, an affair, a few tears and a full-on swingers party. Some of the group do though, just about, make it through. Young hearts run free.
Butterflies is darkly funny and hilariously sad and almost as intoxicating as the early throes of romance itself. It has a fiercely Scottish edge to a sometimes-beautiful story. For anyone who’s ever been burned by love, and dared to try again, this is for you.
A black romantic comedy about a support group of heartbroken romance addicts attempting to piece their lives back together and end the cycle of falling in love then falling flat on their arse. Set in a Monday night support group tucked away in a Scottish community centre (after the karate class). Dave, the kind of recovering addict who thinks he knows better than everyone else, but a lovely man bar that, hosts Romantics Anonymous.
His group therapy sessions delve into the tangled webs of romance addiction and the courageous pursuit of healing. But from the first day she walks through the door, Millie catches Stirling’s eye despite his commitment to romantic sobriety. And he’s not the only one falling off the wagon.
One member ghosts another innocently enough by dying prematurely. Another, Scotland’s most homophobic homosexual, comes out of the closet (and the gay community may want to put him back in). And others frustratingly return to the same harmful relationship that sent them to the meeting in the first place. There’s a fake pregnancy, an affair, a few tears and a full-on swingers party. Some of the group do though, just about, make it through. Young hearts run free.
Butterflies is darkly funny and hilariously sad and almost as intoxicating as the early throes of romance itself. It has a fiercely Scottish edge to a sometimes-beautiful story. For anyone who’s ever been burned by love, and dared to try again, this is for you.
334 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2025
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Davie Bryce
2 books2 followersHailing from a council estate, outside Falkirk, my initial interest in creative writing was shelved for twenty odd years whilst I careered through some challenging lifestyle choices.
A regulation literary type and expected author I am most definitely not. The highs, lows and flashbacks have provided a decent back log of material and my story is for anyone still nursing a hangover from the 90’s, as a subtle prompt in the right direction and a reminder that it’s never too late to make a positive change.
A regulation literary type and expected author I am most definitely not. The highs, lows and flashbacks have provided a decent back log of material and my story is for anyone still nursing a hangover from the 90’s, as a subtle prompt in the right direction and a reminder that it’s never too late to make a positive change.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 30, 2025
Book Review: Butterflies: 12½ Weeks of Recovery by Davie Bryce
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Butterflies is a raw, darkly comedic, and emotionally charged deep dive into love addiction and recovery. Set in a Scottish community centre after the Monday night karate class, the story centres around Romantics Anonymous — a support group for people addicted to the highs (and lows) of romance. Davie Bryce delivers something jagged, unexpected, and painfully human — it's as heart-breaking as it is hilarious. With its chaotic energy, dark humour, and brutally honest exploration of addiction, Butterflies feels reminiscent of Trainspotting
Right from the start, this book pulls no punches. The writing is intensely vulgar, filled with frequent profanity and colloquial language that grounds it firmly in Scottish culture. The dialogue and narration are gritty and real — not polished or pretentious, but raw and relatable. It’s a refreshing break from formulaic romance tropes, though certainly not for the faint-hearted or those looking for a cosy love story.
The group is made up of a chaotic, mismatched cast — from Stirling, trying to resist his attraction to newcomer Millie, to Jack, a serial relapser with sharp one-liners. There's even "Scotland’s most homophobic homosexual" and a string of others who return to the same destructive relationships again and again. The antics are outrageous — from fake pregnancies and swingers parties to shock twists and gut-punches.— but somehow Bryce keeps it grounded in emotional truth.
Character development is central to the book’s success. Though the opening chapters introduce a lot of characters at once (which can feel overwhelming), each of them is fleshed out with time. As the story progresses, their flaws, hopes, and self-destructive patterns unfold in ways that are unexpectedly moving. I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, and by the end, I was in tears. The emotional impact crept up on me — raw, heavy, and completely earned.
It’s important to note that drug use is prevalent throughout the book, woven into the story as part of many characters’ struggles. While it’s handled with dark humour, it could be potentially triggering for readers who are in active recovery, or sensitive to substance abuse themes.
The book’s accessibility is also worth highlighting. Bryce intentionally wrote Butterflies as a “gateway book” for non-readers, and it works — short chapters, casual tone, and an easy-to-follow structure make it digestible even for those who don’t usually read fiction. And for those wanting an easy book that can be picked up and put down for short reading sessions, the short chapters make this effortless.
That said, the book isn’t perfect - it would have benefited from a stronger editorial eye. There are several grammatical errors that could have been caught with a more thorough proofreading, and the ending, while powerful, felt a little rushed — with some characters’ arcs left hanging just as they reached moments of real growth. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to this book and it's character's, but as the story itself reminds us - recovery isn’t linear - and neither is this book.
Still, Butterflies manages to be hilarious, shocking, heartbreaking, and oddly hopeful — much like love itself. It’s not a romance in the traditional sense, but rather a story about what happens after love destroys you — and what it means to try again anyway. Just be ready for the brutal honesty, dark humour, and deeply Scottish swagger that Bryce brings to the page.
A heartfelt thank you to Davie Bryce, a Scottish author based in Falkirk, for reaching out to Aggie’s Book Club — a Scottish-based book club — and gifting us copies of Butterflies in exchange for an honest review. It’s been a wild, emotional ride and a memorable reading experience. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support local talent and share stories that hit close to home.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Butterflies is a raw, darkly comedic, and emotionally charged deep dive into love addiction and recovery. Set in a Scottish community centre after the Monday night karate class, the story centres around Romantics Anonymous — a support group for people addicted to the highs (and lows) of romance. Davie Bryce delivers something jagged, unexpected, and painfully human — it's as heart-breaking as it is hilarious. With its chaotic energy, dark humour, and brutally honest exploration of addiction, Butterflies feels reminiscent of Trainspotting
Right from the start, this book pulls no punches. The writing is intensely vulgar, filled with frequent profanity and colloquial language that grounds it firmly in Scottish culture. The dialogue and narration are gritty and real — not polished or pretentious, but raw and relatable. It’s a refreshing break from formulaic romance tropes, though certainly not for the faint-hearted or those looking for a cosy love story.
The group is made up of a chaotic, mismatched cast — from Stirling, trying to resist his attraction to newcomer Millie, to Jack, a serial relapser with sharp one-liners. There's even "Scotland’s most homophobic homosexual" and a string of others who return to the same destructive relationships again and again. The antics are outrageous — from fake pregnancies and swingers parties to shock twists and gut-punches.— but somehow Bryce keeps it grounded in emotional truth.
Character development is central to the book’s success. Though the opening chapters introduce a lot of characters at once (which can feel overwhelming), each of them is fleshed out with time. As the story progresses, their flaws, hopes, and self-destructive patterns unfold in ways that are unexpectedly moving. I found myself deeply invested in their journeys, and by the end, I was in tears. The emotional impact crept up on me — raw, heavy, and completely earned.
It’s important to note that drug use is prevalent throughout the book, woven into the story as part of many characters’ struggles. While it’s handled with dark humour, it could be potentially triggering for readers who are in active recovery, or sensitive to substance abuse themes.
The book’s accessibility is also worth highlighting. Bryce intentionally wrote Butterflies as a “gateway book” for non-readers, and it works — short chapters, casual tone, and an easy-to-follow structure make it digestible even for those who don’t usually read fiction. And for those wanting an easy book that can be picked up and put down for short reading sessions, the short chapters make this effortless.
That said, the book isn’t perfect - it would have benefited from a stronger editorial eye. There are several grammatical errors that could have been caught with a more thorough proofreading, and the ending, while powerful, felt a little rushed — with some characters’ arcs left hanging just as they reached moments of real growth. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to this book and it's character's, but as the story itself reminds us - recovery isn’t linear - and neither is this book.
Still, Butterflies manages to be hilarious, shocking, heartbreaking, and oddly hopeful — much like love itself. It’s not a romance in the traditional sense, but rather a story about what happens after love destroys you — and what it means to try again anyway. Just be ready for the brutal honesty, dark humour, and deeply Scottish swagger that Bryce brings to the page.
A heartfelt thank you to Davie Bryce, a Scottish author based in Falkirk, for reaching out to Aggie’s Book Club — a Scottish-based book club — and gifting us copies of Butterflies in exchange for an honest review. It’s been a wild, emotional ride and a memorable reading experience. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support local talent and share stories that hit close to home.
July 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot. Loved the characters and was engrossed in their weekly meeting updates Familiar with Falkirk and surrounding areas I loved the Scottish language and read the conversations as if I was there in the moment. Cany believe it ended as it did. Would’ve loved to have known what happened further but at the same time you know it’s a vicious circle in the lives they all lead. Drama, Love and Loss. Also admit that I had a tear at the chapter about Jack!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews