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Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over
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.
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.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
338 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 8, 2025
About the author
Mary Alice Stephens
1 book1 followerHi! I’m Mary Alice Stephens, the author of Uncorked: A Memoir of Letting Go and Starting Over. I wrote Uncorked for those struggling with their relationship with alcohol but don’t think they can quit (or are afraid to) because they believe life won’t be fun or manageable anymore. I have learned that alcohol is a tricky bitch. Don’t believe a word it tells you. You can have fun and live your best, most authentic life without it.
My favorite line from the book is from a scene when I was attending a party 7 days sober: "She enveloped me in a big hug, the wet [chardonnay] bottle bumping against my back like a boner demanding attention."
Uncorked focuses on the first year of my sobriety journey, and because I love a good epilogue, there is a meaty one written when I was 11 years sober. I feel that anyone writing a sobriety memoir needs some time under their belt to have street cred. I got sober in 2011, when my kids were 4 and 5. It took me a long time to write the book (published in 2025) because I worked on it in fits and starts between running after the kids, running the PTA, and a million other things that kept me busy. But this book was burning a hole in me. It had to be written, and it wouldn’t let me rest until I finished. Writing it over time deepened my sobriety. I was able to reflect on the person I was when alcohol ruled my life versus the authentic person I am becoming (I use the present tense because personal growth is a lifelong journey).
Before becoming an author (hello, bucket list!), I worked in television production as a producer/writer on travel, design, and cooking shows on HGTV, Food Network, and more. I earned my MFA in Creative Writing when I was 58. I am a wife and mom who's just entered the empty-nest phase and am directing my excess affection toward my mini-labradoodle, Cozmo. I love traveling, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and watching quality television. With snacks. Too many snacks.
My favorite line from the book is from a scene when I was attending a party 7 days sober: "She enveloped me in a big hug, the wet [chardonnay] bottle bumping against my back like a boner demanding attention."
Uncorked focuses on the first year of my sobriety journey, and because I love a good epilogue, there is a meaty one written when I was 11 years sober. I feel that anyone writing a sobriety memoir needs some time under their belt to have street cred. I got sober in 2011, when my kids were 4 and 5. It took me a long time to write the book (published in 2025) because I worked on it in fits and starts between running after the kids, running the PTA, and a million other things that kept me busy. But this book was burning a hole in me. It had to be written, and it wouldn’t let me rest until I finished. Writing it over time deepened my sobriety. I was able to reflect on the person I was when alcohol ruled my life versus the authentic person I am becoming (I use the present tense because personal growth is a lifelong journey).
Before becoming an author (hello, bucket list!), I worked in television production as a producer/writer on travel, design, and cooking shows on HGTV, Food Network, and more. I earned my MFA in Creative Writing when I was 58. I am a wife and mom who's just entered the empty-nest phase and am directing my excess affection toward my mini-labradoodle, Cozmo. I love traveling, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and watching quality television. With snacks. Too many snacks.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 12, 2026
This is a highly entertaining, highly personal memoir of an alcoholic.
I say highly entertaining and I mean it. This book got me out of such a reading slump which speaks to how engaging Stephens is, despite the difficult subject matter.
Mary is by all accounts living the dream life in Marin county. She's in the heart of beautiful California, a stone's throw from wine country and San Francisco. She's married to a gorgeous man who adores her and has two young children. A former marketing exec, Mary is the life of the party and her closet is filled with sparkly dresses, her evenings and weekends with boozy brunches and extravagant parties.
Except, Mary doesn't have it all together. Every morning she wakes nursing a hangover and planning her next drink. Where she'll get the next sip from, even as she's actively drinking, is always on her mind. On just another Sunday, her family visits with friends. Lounging at the pool, sipping wine with the other mom, Mary laments aloud that if her 5 year old falls off his pool noodle she'll be forced to put the wine glass to save him from drowning. This thought stays with her, echoes into the next morning - where once again she left the evening so drunk she blacked out. And so from one day to the next, Mary stops drinking cold turkey.
Stephens recounts her journey almost hour-by-hour during the first year of sobriety. It's a really fascinating experience to be right there with her. I loved this approach. I wonder if she kept a diary during this time that she could draw from, because it feels very raw.
Stephens speaks frankly and unflinchingly about who she was and is. Which is brave, because she does not come across well in this book at all.
Mary is very focused on social class, looks, status. When encountering another woman, she sizes her up, only if she has a good marriage/looks put together/has nice hair/a decent family does Mary decide if she will associate with her. This is particularly striking as she attends AA meetings: sizing up each participant, and even sponsors, to decide if they're good enough for her.
She freely admits to driving "buzzed" (that means drunk, DUI) as a regular thing, even with her children in the car. Later she regrets the risk she put her children in, but not the risk she put everyone else around her in - other drivers or pedestrians who had nothing to do with her at all. She seems to take very little responsibility, being a stay at home parent (at least in the year the book follows) but not really parenting since she's buzzed all evening and hungover all morning. As she gets sober she truly struggles to handle her young children's big emotions whilst keeping herself calm. Nothing unusual there, but what I found fascinating was the lack of empathy in retrospect.
In general as these - not great - characteristics reveal themselves there is no editorializing nor retrospective musing that hints at growth.
Maybe this is who Mary is even now: a selfish, snobby, "good Christian" with zero self-awareness. Then again, maybe she's become a whole different person and this lack of editorializing was a form of the rigorous honesty she seeks to practice as part of her sobriety.
Does it matter though?
If nothing else, this book likely speaks to a broad but hidden-in-plain-sight demographic that is as prevalent on the borders of wine country as it is in Europe. The seemingly perfect, bubbly wine mum/former marketing professional who always has a glass in hand. The pressure to be the life of the party, the sexy little wife, always moving, never dull.
I also feel how disconnected Mary is from genuine support: her boozy brunch friends that evaporate, her husband telling her "be careful what you wish for" when their romance fizzles without date drinks, her stupid hugging therapist who she sees ONCE and then gets swept up in AA's Lutheran chastising..
I bet there are a lot of women who recognize themselves in Mary, and wonder if they've crossed the threshold into unhealthy drinking habits. Stephens offers a lot of clarity on why her relationship to alcohol is obsessive, how much of an issue it is despite her being ever-so-high-functioning. Despsite her being Fun Mary when she has it and boring Mary without it.
So, I'm glad this book exists for those people who can really empathise with Mary, hopefully it is both a resource and a tonic to them.
And I'm also glad that this book demonstrates that, yes, people can really make huge lifestyle changes in their 40's and beyond! It's published by Sibylline Press, who publish the work of women over 50, check them out here.
I'm also glad this book exists for me, because I love getting inside the heads of people I probably wouldn't be friends with. And I was thoroughly entertained.
Mary in a full-body cast after falling 3 stories off a wall, drunk. Barely escaping paralysis she has carried a physical reminder of alcohol's sabotage for her life.
Check out this interview with Stephens from just after the book was published.
I say highly entertaining and I mean it. This book got me out of such a reading slump which speaks to how engaging Stephens is, despite the difficult subject matter.
Mary is by all accounts living the dream life in Marin county. She's in the heart of beautiful California, a stone's throw from wine country and San Francisco. She's married to a gorgeous man who adores her and has two young children. A former marketing exec, Mary is the life of the party and her closet is filled with sparkly dresses, her evenings and weekends with boozy brunches and extravagant parties.
Except, Mary doesn't have it all together. Every morning she wakes nursing a hangover and planning her next drink. Where she'll get the next sip from, even as she's actively drinking, is always on her mind. On just another Sunday, her family visits with friends. Lounging at the pool, sipping wine with the other mom, Mary laments aloud that if her 5 year old falls off his pool noodle she'll be forced to put the wine glass to save him from drowning. This thought stays with her, echoes into the next morning - where once again she left the evening so drunk she blacked out. And so from one day to the next, Mary stops drinking cold turkey.
Stephens recounts her journey almost hour-by-hour during the first year of sobriety. It's a really fascinating experience to be right there with her. I loved this approach. I wonder if she kept a diary during this time that she could draw from, because it feels very raw.
Stephens speaks frankly and unflinchingly about who she was and is. Which is brave, because she does not come across well in this book at all.
Mary is very focused on social class, looks, status. When encountering another woman, she sizes her up, only if she has a good marriage/looks put together/has nice hair/a decent family does Mary decide if she will associate with her. This is particularly striking as she attends AA meetings: sizing up each participant, and even sponsors, to decide if they're good enough for her.
She freely admits to driving "buzzed" (that means drunk, DUI) as a regular thing, even with her children in the car. Later she regrets the risk she put her children in, but not the risk she put everyone else around her in - other drivers or pedestrians who had nothing to do with her at all. She seems to take very little responsibility, being a stay at home parent (at least in the year the book follows) but not really parenting since she's buzzed all evening and hungover all morning. As she gets sober she truly struggles to handle her young children's big emotions whilst keeping herself calm. Nothing unusual there, but what I found fascinating was the lack of empathy in retrospect.
In general as these - not great - characteristics reveal themselves there is no editorializing nor retrospective musing that hints at growth.
Maybe this is who Mary is even now: a selfish, snobby, "good Christian" with zero self-awareness. Then again, maybe she's become a whole different person and this lack of editorializing was a form of the rigorous honesty she seeks to practice as part of her sobriety.
Does it matter though?
If nothing else, this book likely speaks to a broad but hidden-in-plain-sight demographic that is as prevalent on the borders of wine country as it is in Europe. The seemingly perfect, bubbly wine mum/former marketing professional who always has a glass in hand. The pressure to be the life of the party, the sexy little wife, always moving, never dull.
I also feel how disconnected Mary is from genuine support: her boozy brunch friends that evaporate, her husband telling her "be careful what you wish for" when their romance fizzles without date drinks, her stupid hugging therapist who she sees ONCE and then gets swept up in AA's Lutheran chastising..
I bet there are a lot of women who recognize themselves in Mary, and wonder if they've crossed the threshold into unhealthy drinking habits. Stephens offers a lot of clarity on why her relationship to alcohol is obsessive, how much of an issue it is despite her being ever-so-high-functioning. Despsite her being Fun Mary when she has it and boring Mary without it.
So, I'm glad this book exists for those people who can really empathise with Mary, hopefully it is both a resource and a tonic to them.
And I'm also glad that this book demonstrates that, yes, people can really make huge lifestyle changes in their 40's and beyond! It's published by Sibylline Press, who publish the work of women over 50, check them out here.
I'm also glad this book exists for me, because I love getting inside the heads of people I probably wouldn't be friends with. And I was thoroughly entertained.
Mary in a full-body cast after falling 3 stories off a wall, drunk. Barely escaping paralysis she has carried a physical reminder of alcohol's sabotage for her life.
Check out this interview with Stephens from just after the book was published.
October 16, 2025
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.
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.
August 8, 2025
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.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 9, 2025
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.
August 8, 2025
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.
July 10, 2025
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
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
July 14, 2025
“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.
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.
January 2, 2026
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.
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.
November 27, 2025
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.
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.
July 22, 2026
Mary Alice Stephens' memoir, Uncorked, resonated with me, not because I am a drinker, but because I am a terrific co-dependent. I read her story and found myself thinking, "That's not so bad," "I wouldn't blame you for that..." But as she continues her tale and gets to her big reveal at the end (no worries, I won't spoil it), I really had a moment myself of, whoa, she really did have a problem, and she needed to quit. It's made me think hard about my own complicity in the drinking around me -- fetching another one, buying liquor, buying a round, making an excuse or a phone call for someone. I have to own my own codependence. I had very conveniently not thought hard about my own complicity, which is kind of an addiction itself, but Mary Alice's memoir took me there. I highly recommend this book -- not a "skid-row bum" story, but a wine mom, one of us, one of the PTA crowd. I couldn't put it down, and it stays in my mind. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2025
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!
September 21, 2025
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.
September 26, 2025
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.
August 23, 2025
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!
November 6, 2025
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.
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.
February 16, 2026
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
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
November 6, 2025
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.
I enjoyed it cover to cover! I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good, heartfelt storytelling.
November 26, 2025
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!
January 28, 2026
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.
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.
June 7, 2026
Addiction is a tough thing to beat
This book is a good description for how hard it is to stop drinking alcohol. This country has booze. at every corner. Our stores do too. It seems almost impossible to not drink booze. The author did a great job of describing accurately the difficulty.
This book is a good description for how hard it is to stop drinking alcohol. This country has booze. at every corner. Our stores do too. It seems almost impossible to not drink booze. The author did a great job of describing accurately the difficulty.
July 1, 2026
So enjoyed this book!! The struggle is real and it journaled the daily/monthly choices that can be made. A true representation of freedom from alcohol. It is difficult at times but each day and each choice changes our lives. Thank you for sharing your humor, your struggles and most of all the change that happens over a year.
March 22, 2026
Vulnerable, honest look at Mary’s struggle to sobriety. I cannot believe she survived that fall!
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July 13, 2026This memoir was pretty funny at times. Definitely seemed like a long lost girlfriend sharing her stories.
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