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What Are You Thirsty For?: Rethinking alcohol and the life you want
'If you're curious about what a life without alcohol might look like, then this is the book for you. An optimistic, non-judgmental guide to asking the right questions, and finding the right answers.'
Clare Pooley, author of The Sober Diaries
Have you ever said to yourself, 'I'm not going to drink tonight' and then found yourself giving in? Was it really alcohol you longed for, or were you craving something deeper?
Anna Donaghey, former advertising exec turned alcohol mindset coach, stopped drinking six years ago when she realised that it was no longer enhancing her life - it was running it.
In this inspiring book, she invites you to take a clear-eyed look at your relationship with alcohol - not because you have to change, but because you deserve more.
This isn't a 'how to quit' manual. It's a 'what if?' book - a space to get curious about the life you want, and what might be standing in your way. A gentle wake-call for anyone is this really making me happy?
Blending personal experience, coaching insights and stories from her acclaimed podcast The Big Drink Rethink, Anna offers warm, thought-provoking perspectives to help turn alcohol from a habit or default into a conscious, empowered choice.
Clare Pooley, author of The Sober Diaries
Have you ever said to yourself, 'I'm not going to drink tonight' and then found yourself giving in? Was it really alcohol you longed for, or were you craving something deeper?
Anna Donaghey, former advertising exec turned alcohol mindset coach, stopped drinking six years ago when she realised that it was no longer enhancing her life - it was running it.
In this inspiring book, she invites you to take a clear-eyed look at your relationship with alcohol - not because you have to change, but because you deserve more.
This isn't a 'how to quit' manual. It's a 'what if?' book - a space to get curious about the life you want, and what might be standing in your way. A gentle wake-call for anyone is this really making me happy?
Blending personal experience, coaching insights and stories from her acclaimed podcast The Big Drink Rethink, Anna offers warm, thought-provoking perspectives to help turn alcohol from a habit or default into a conscious, empowered choice.
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2026
15 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 16, 2026
What Are You Thirsty For? by Anna Donaghey is a beautifully written, deeply humane book that feels less like a “how to” manual and more like a trusted conversation with a friend, about a subject which deep down is starting or has for a while concerned you. From the very first pages, the author invites the reader to slow down, reflect, and listen to what is happening beneath the surface of everyday life. The result is a thought-provoking book which in essence is asking you the question “Is your life good enough?” and if not, what is getting in the way.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its honesty. Anna doesn’t offer quick fixes or glossy promises. Instead, she approaches personal growth with compassion, research, and her own wisdom, acknowledging struggle while gently guiding the reader toward greater clarity and self-awareness. Her writing is warm, grounded with her own journey from being a “drinker” to becoming alcohol free, which was deeply relatable for me.
Each chapter feels intentional and nourishing, encouraging reflection rather than pressure. The author also has a podcast and she seamlessly summarises and links episodes to illustrate each chapter, to create further engagement. As I was reading this book, I felt it had the remarkable ability to ask the right questions—questions that linger long after you’ve put the book down. Rather than telling readers who they should be or how they should feel, she creates space for them to discover their own truths. This makes the book feel empowering and personal, as if it’s meeting you exactly where you are.
At its core, What Are You Thirsty For? is about connection—to ourselves, to others, and to what truly sustains us.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its honesty. Anna doesn’t offer quick fixes or glossy promises. Instead, she approaches personal growth with compassion, research, and her own wisdom, acknowledging struggle while gently guiding the reader toward greater clarity and self-awareness. Her writing is warm, grounded with her own journey from being a “drinker” to becoming alcohol free, which was deeply relatable for me.
Each chapter feels intentional and nourishing, encouraging reflection rather than pressure. The author also has a podcast and she seamlessly summarises and links episodes to illustrate each chapter, to create further engagement. As I was reading this book, I felt it had the remarkable ability to ask the right questions—questions that linger long after you’ve put the book down. Rather than telling readers who they should be or how they should feel, she creates space for them to discover their own truths. This makes the book feel empowering and personal, as if it’s meeting you exactly where you are.
At its core, What Are You Thirsty For? is about connection—to ourselves, to others, and to what truly sustains us.
January 9, 2026
Does the world really need another piece of Quit Lit? You might think possibly not. However, this one is by far the best I have read for the majority group of grey-area drinkers. While many Quit Lit books *claim* grey-area drinking as their focus, most cannot resist portraying alcohol as the devil incarnate and telling tales of spiralling so far out of control that it turns most moderate drinkers off. I have read many books in this category and found them almost detrimental: if I simply don't recognise the lifestyle they are describing, why should I change mine?
This one is different as it genuinely addresses the question of moderate drinking. While the author *does* describe her own relationship with alcohol as one in which she lost a significant amount of control, she acknowledges that this may well not be the case for her listeners. She addresses habitual moderate alcohol consumption as the most likely place where you find yourself and offers suggestions and solutions for both reduction and cutting it out altogether. As with her podcast, one of the simplest but best things for me that she points out is that for moderate drinkers, cutting out alcohol actually only means finding an alternative for around 2-3 hours per day, a period of time she calls "the witching hour": once you realise that, it seems almost ridiculous that we set so much store by this particular habit in the context of our whole lives.
I was genuinely impressed by this contribution to the Quit Lit library. I honestly think that it will resonate with far more people than some of the big-hitters already out there.
This one is different as it genuinely addresses the question of moderate drinking. While the author *does* describe her own relationship with alcohol as one in which she lost a significant amount of control, she acknowledges that this may well not be the case for her listeners. She addresses habitual moderate alcohol consumption as the most likely place where you find yourself and offers suggestions and solutions for both reduction and cutting it out altogether. As with her podcast, one of the simplest but best things for me that she points out is that for moderate drinkers, cutting out alcohol actually only means finding an alternative for around 2-3 hours per day, a period of time she calls "the witching hour": once you realise that, it seems almost ridiculous that we set so much store by this particular habit in the context of our whole lives.
I was genuinely impressed by this contribution to the Quit Lit library. I honestly think that it will resonate with far more people than some of the big-hitters already out there.
January 13, 2026
A compassionate, powerful read
What Are You Thirsty For? is a beautiful, thoughtful book that asks a different kind of question. Instead of telling you what to do, it gently invites you to consider, what if life could be better? That framing felt especially meaningful to me as a grey-area drinker. For a long time, I believed I only needed to stop drinking if I was a “full-blown alcoholic.” That belief kept me resistant to change. Anna’s approach is accessible, compassionate, and quietly powerful.
I loved the way she connects our beliefs about ourselves to the way we act. The Oxford test story, in particular, really stayed with me and gave such a clear picture of how subtle these patterns can be.
Her therapy session story also deeply moved me. When she shared that she didn’t want to die, she was just exhausted, it hit home. I had a moment like that too, and hearing her speak that truth out loud made me feel less alone and released some shame I didn’t even realize I was still carrying.
There were many moments where I found myself saying, “Oh my god, yes!" frequently. I also loved the highlights and the way she connects chapters with podcast episodes for more opportunity to learn.
Truly well done. This book is a gift.
— April
What Are You Thirsty For? is a beautiful, thoughtful book that asks a different kind of question. Instead of telling you what to do, it gently invites you to consider, what if life could be better? That framing felt especially meaningful to me as a grey-area drinker. For a long time, I believed I only needed to stop drinking if I was a “full-blown alcoholic.” That belief kept me resistant to change. Anna’s approach is accessible, compassionate, and quietly powerful.
I loved the way she connects our beliefs about ourselves to the way we act. The Oxford test story, in particular, really stayed with me and gave such a clear picture of how subtle these patterns can be.
Her therapy session story also deeply moved me. When she shared that she didn’t want to die, she was just exhausted, it hit home. I had a moment like that too, and hearing her speak that truth out loud made me feel less alone and released some shame I didn’t even realize I was still carrying.
There were many moments where I found myself saying, “Oh my god, yes!" frequently. I also loved the highlights and the way she connects chapters with podcast episodes for more opportunity to learn.
Truly well done. This book is a gift.
— April
February 17, 2026
I read this based on other 5 star reviews and am really pleased I did. Unique and very thought-provoking. It’s about our collective and personal relationships with alcohol - but more than that it’s about how we cope more generally. You could apply it to eating behaviours and a multitude of other things that become our mechanisms. Completely non-judgemental and packed with perspectives I found really refreshing.
February 18, 2026
A beautifully written and spoken book ..
Very easy to follow and understand .. backed by references to podcasts that support issues and questions as they arise ..
A great read for some
One wanting to change their relationship with alcohol and to deeply understand why they find themselves in the place they are ..
if you want to be free ... read it !
Very easy to follow and understand .. backed by references to podcasts that support issues and questions as they arise ..
A great read for some
One wanting to change their relationship with alcohol and to deeply understand why they find themselves in the place they are ..
if you want to be free ... read it !
February 17, 2026
Heard about this book in the newspaper and thought it sounded really interesting. Such a good read. Loved how it made me think deeply - and the way the author weaves her story through is very relatable. Written with real charm - and even a bit of wit.
Want to read
January 13, 20261P not 1K
February 14, 2026
A genuinely insightful read that deserved five stars - not just because it is well written but because it make me think long after I finished it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews