Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over

by Mary Alice Stephens

Getting sober is one thing, staying sober another…

With a glorious bang, alcohol freed Mary Stephens from her lonely, self-critical teenage shell and fueled Fun Mary. For three decades, booze had been her best friend, the reliable spark igniting good times and (she thought) good friendships. But Fun Mary had a dark side: debilitating hangovers, blackouts, and perilous behavior. Not even a three-story fall that left her in a body cast could stop her from drinking. But finally, after putting her young son in danger and her marriage in jeopardy, Fun Mary had to go.

Now sober at age 45, everything Mary once cherished becomes a trigger—date nights with her husband, friendships centered around wine, and a father who expresses his love through alcohol. This new Sober Mary is lonely and vulnerable—feelings she drank to escape. Now what?

Told with heart and humor, A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over is the inspiring and relatable story of a woman's pursuit of a better life through sobriety.

About the Author

Mary Alice Stephens is a creative nonfiction storyteller. As a television writer-producer for HGTV, Food Network, and other media outlets, she has shared others’ stories on everything from outdoor adventures to home improvement. In her debut book, Uncorked, Mary shares her own powerful story of alcoholism, recovery, and starting life anew at 45. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Dominican University of California and resides in Northern California.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2025

About the author

Mary Alice Stephens is a creative nonfiction storyteller. As a television writer-producer for HGTV, Food Network, and other media outlets, she shared others’ stories on everything from outdoor adventures to home improvement. In her debut book, Uncorked, Mary shares her own powerful story of alcoholism, recovery, and starting life anew at 45. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Dominican University of California and resides in Northern California. When not writing, she can often be found cyber-stalking her teens, planning her family’s next adventure, or searching for her elusive phone.

Reviews

[David Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

All our stories are the same

All addicts’ stories are the same: “Just one more,” “TODAY I’ll be in control.” And all of us struggle with sobriety the same way: “Why is temptation all around me!?” and“It’s been a month of sobriety. Why aren’t I better yet?” But our stories are also deeply personal and unique. Stephens does a beautiful job of telling her personal, unique, yet universal story. Moving and helpful to anyone trying to become their fest self.

[BC Cowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Stephen's Uncorked is a vibrant testimonial to the karma we create in our lives. A dramatic accident in her early twenties became the teacher she needed to grow into the person she is today. Her attempts to control her life fueled decades of alcohol dependence, obscuring the profound emotional effects of her injuries. Some of us wear a self-created backpack full of bricks. Mary dragged a mule team plowshare through her life until she faced sobriety or losing all she loved. Uncorked is a lively read, written by a consummate literary professional able to disguise her skill under an engaging veneer of vulnerability and rigorous honesty. Well done! BC Cowling.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of "quit lit", and this is one of my favorites because the focus is on what it's like to struggle with letting go of your identity as a "fun drinker" and truly coming to terms with the cost of alcohol abuse.

[Sara C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable debut memoir, Uncorked is a poignant, funny, authentic account of what it is like to redefine what is meaningful in life and how one’s existing priorities and identity fit into that. A fantastic read that will stick with you long after you finish the last page.

[Jules The Book Junkie Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not claim this about most memoirs, but Mary Alice Stephens has something to share and most of us should listen. In Uncorked, Ms. Stephens shows her vulnerability and strength by sharing her good, bad and ugly moments with alcohol. From rebellious teenage drinking, to crazy college drinking, to "sophisticated" after-work drinks with colleagues, to stressed-out stay-at-home-mom drinking in a coffee mug to get through the day, Ms. Stephens bares it all.

More importantly, she shares with us the struggles to master her demons. She shares the loss of friends who probably couldn't face that Ms. Stephens' admission meant they too probably drink too much (maybe they thought she'd judge them or maybe they were just shallow). She shares the joy in finding friends who are truly understanding and supportive. She shares her past tragedies that led to or were the consequence of her excessive drinking. She shares her grace in dealing with the irony/hypocrisy of her husband demanding her sobriety but missing the shared cocktails and champagne toasts.

Ms. Stephens' memoir is a moving read as well as a catalyst for self-reflection.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at
www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Uncorked” is a candid memoir that follows Mary Alice Stephens as she transitions from a life dominated by alcohol to one of sobriety. She shares her story with sharp humour and straightforwardness, describing the long journey from party nights and career successes to blackouts, troubled relationships, and deep-seated self-doubt.

Stephens examines her two sides—“Fun Mary” and “Sober Mary”—with care and clarity. She delves into the challenges of motherhood, marriage, and the early, awkward days of giving up alcohol. Her writing resonates with anyone who has used drinking to mask anxiety or stress, making it relatable.

The book shifts from a serious fall in Dublin to a wine-filled Sunday in California, signalling a turning point. Stephens writes openly about her experiences with AA, questioning the label “alcoholic,” and gradually choosing to live differently. Her story is deeply personal, yet many readers will see reflections of their own struggles.

Overall, this work is more than just about quitting drinking. It’s about reclaiming self-respect, discovering joy, and finding a way to live without escape; it is about seeking genuine change.

Try it.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

How lovely I got to read this book, attend a book club meeting and meet Mary Alice Stephens! What an inspiration.

Uncorked is the true story of the hard journey of addiction to alcohol and its constant prevalence in our society. How do we celebrate birthdays, holidays, new years, finishing a day of work, Friday night, Saturday night? It's 5 o'clock somewhere is often said.

And many of us indulge. And many of us are avoiding stress, problems, anxiety, social stressors, job situations, LIFE. It solves nothing, insulates us temporarily and in some cases causes bad decisions, danger, and even death. And yet, we start going to bars before we are even 21!

This story makes you feel the push and pull and emotions and struggles this extreme journey takes us. The book. meeting made it evident that all of us had a story, a friend, a neighbor - with their own journeys - not always successful - full of loss (friendships), fall of love (relationships), full of support (fellow AA members) and full of disappointment (mom and dad may or may not be there the way you need them to be. It opened my eyes in a million ways and made me evaluate my own life and the limitations drinking can cause. Loved it.

[Bette Ceccoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brave, Beautiful, Must-Read for Anyone Reexamining Their Relationship With Alcohol

Uncorked is one of those memoirs that slips quietly into your hands and then opens your heart wide. Mary Alice Stephens gifted me this book, and I’m so grateful she did—because I saw so much of myself in her story. Her honesty, her grief, her humor, her resilience… it all felt like sitting down with a friend who finally tells you the truth they’ve been carrying for years.

Mary writes about her journey through alcohol addiction with clarity and compassion, but also with a strength that feels contagious. I found myself nodding along, tearing up, and pausing often to absorb the weight of her words. It’s moving in a way that lingers long after you’ve closed the final chapter.

If you’re evaluating your own drinking choices—or even feeling that whisper of curiosity before Dry January—this book is a gift. It’s not preachy, not prescriptive, just deeply human. A reminder that healing is possible and that choosing yourself is always worth it.
I’ll be recommending Uncorked to anyone on the path toward a clearer, calmer, more grounded life.

[Lisa Riddiough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written with humor and heart, Mary Alice Stephens depicts thirty years of alcoholism, her decision to quit drinking, and the struggle of recovery. Told with brutal honesty and vulnerability, she unpacks her Irish Catholic upbringing, where her home life, though stable and secure, was built on the love of drinking. The joy she took at an early age of helping her father with bartending set the stage for her life. As a wife and mother in swanky Marin County, she finally comes to realize that she is risking it all for her beloved Chardonnay and its constant beckoning. “The bottle moved in slow motion as she waved it back and forth, icy droplets arcing gracefully off the glass with each swing.” With interspersed flashbacks ranging from cringy moments to life-threatening danger, Mary reveals the truth about how her addiction. The end of the book took my breath away!

[Young Whan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Stephen's Uncorked is an honest and insightful telling of one woman's struggle with alcohol addiction. The author reveals to the reader the true cost of her addiction over the course of the book through vignettes that are relatable even though I haven't been through her experience. It's a gift of her writing that she is able to make the reader feel each and every step, fall, and climb of her sobriety journey. It's a witty book with moments that had me laughing. It's a heart wrenching book with moments that had me taking deep breaths. Ultimately, it's a book that felt like part of the author's healing process of facing the past with "rigorous honesty." It gave me courage to look deeply at my own life and what matters most.

[Maria B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an emotional, raw, honest and sometimes hilarious debut memoir from Mary Stephens! Uncorked had me laughing, crying, and rooting for Mary from start to finish. This deeply personal account really digs into the complexities of a mom, wife, daughter and friend struggling to get sober. She writes with such an honest voice that it sticks with you long after you've finished reading. Whether you struggle with addiction or are close to someone who has this book is for everyone. Stephens is brilliant at mixing heartfelt reflections with funny stories, making a narrative that feels both real and incredibly inspiring. Her journey, laid bare for us all, is a true testament to how resilient we can be and how powerful self-discovery is.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is rare that I find a book that both teaches me about some of life's most important lessons, and makes me laugh out loud. This book did both. While I am not much of a drinker, so much of this book was incredibly relatable. It is heartfelt, hilarious, heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and hopeful. I finished this book more grateful for my life, with a renewed commitment to being there for others. Highly recommend!

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. I couldn’t put it down. I laughed and cried. Her ultimate acceptance that her parents did the best that they could really hit home.

We’ve all experienced the loss of friendships - and her discussion of how this made her feel was raw and so truthful. I liked that this was a story about her journey of sobriety. It really gave me insight into how we are a society of drinkers and the expectation that everyone drinks alcohol.

[D. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating Storytelling

Mary told her story with honesty, dignity and humor. It was highly relatable, and provided the reader with hope for a life free of the constant spectre of relapse. Her description of binging and blackouts was both brutal and matter of fact. I did not see how she would pull herself out of this hell. Her grit and determination was truly admirable. She is someone I would be honored to call a friend

[DJH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real, authentic and inciteful, Uncorked is an entertaining and engaging read, whether or not you’re struggling with sobriety. It was funny, poignant and moving. I appreciated how she was able to take a serious subject like alcoholism and make it relatable, relevant and meaningful to anyone.
I enjoyed it cover to cover! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good, heartfelt storytelling.

[Erin Van Rheenen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw and honest, this recovery memoir is also pretty hilarious. The author is adept at creating scenes that ring true and give the reader a lot to think about, even if they themselves are not in recovery. Any story of a life-changing journey like this one is essentially about relationships, especially with oneself. Highly recommended!

[Jennifer A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

compelling sobriety memoir

A telling of achieving sobriety and all of the doubt that comes with the journey. Stephens’ telling is raw and honest, but not syrupy or unrealistic. The one thing I do wonder, however, is how this book fits with AAs tradition of Attraction rather than promotion. Regardless, I was inspired by the book and enjoyed her story.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulnerable, honest look at Mary’s struggle to sobriety. I cannot believe she survived that fall!