Standby

by Beth McDonough

Beth McDonough spent two decades chasing truth on our TV screens. 

From 9/11 to the killing of George Floyd, she stood at the heart of America's biggest tragedies, exposing corruption and giving victims a voice. She clawed her way from tiny-town rookie to a high-profile crime and justice reporter, known for her fearlessness, her storytelling, and her refusal to back down.

But behind the polished on-air persona was a secret she could no longer outrun.

Beth's own life imploded under the weight of her alcoholism. One devastating night turned her from celebrated journalist to scandalized headline. Mugshots replaced her professional portraits. Her downfall became national news. She lost her job, her reputation, almost everything.
Now, stripped of everything she built, Beth faces the hardest investigation of her the truth about herself.

Will she drown in the shame of her addiction or fight her way back to become a beacon of hope for those still struggling to survive it?

This is a must-read expose of the world of TV journalism and the price Beth McDonough paid for the flaw that brought her down.

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This memoir by Beth McDonough offers a candid look at her professional life and the challenges that led her to use alcohol as a means of escape. Her story of overcoming adversity and finding recovery is both inspiring and well-written. It was an engaging and fast-paced read.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review

[Eileen Murphy-Schmehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest story about a woman in crisis, and how she finds a way forward.

Beth is a successful journalist, and from the outside looking in, all is well- but in reality she is overwhelmed, stressed, and full of grief. Her life is out of control. She must find the strength to ask for help.

I received a copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I downloaded an ARC Kindle version from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.

My honest review is I really enjoyed this book for the following reasons:

1) it’s a true life memoir
2) it’s a fast, easy and short read
3) Beth is honest about her addiction, struggles and has helped others and appears to have rebuilt her life
4) Beth sought help and sobriety and seems to have maintained the sobriety part

I definitely recommend this book. It’s raw and emotional too at the end and had me in tears.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standby is a memoir by Beth McDonough, focusing on her relationship with alcohol. We are able to see the slow descent into alcoholism. We see the excuses that can be made and how they don’t see it as a problem until it slams into them and how even then it can be hard to get help. While memoirs are deeply personal and intimate, I felt that this one was more so than the average. You can feel the descension into the alcoholism through her thinking and actions. You can see and feel the derailment of her career, one she worked so hard for, and her relationship with her family. It paints the picture of the alcoholism and its relationship with her career, her family, and personal life.

I really enjoyed that she showed the importance of her relationship with her family as it’s imperative to her memoir’s events. We see how deeply she cared for her parents and how she still lied and still succumbed to the addiction and lost her dad due to it. It shows the devastating side effects, not just losing your car, your license, your freedom, but the important and loved relationships you can have. And I think that is crucial to show because people don’t understand addiction. This is an intimate portrait of what addiction is, what it can do to you even when you love people and your job. People do not choose this. I think this is an important book because it can show people a truth of what can happen. If people want to understand alcoholism a little better, and addiction itself, this is a great book to read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standby was a quick, interesting read, probably more so if you’re already familiar with the author from her journalism and tv career, which wasn’t the case for me.
The main narrative was interspersed with backstory and anecdotes which sometimes felt a little sparse. I would have preferred a little more focus on the main narrative, especially the aftermath and recovery.
Sadly, the editing job was less than stellar, there were a few questionable verb tenses, some awkwardly worded sentences, and far, far too many chapter breaks.
Many thanks to Book Sirens and the author for the chance to read an ARC copy.

[Esther Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standby was an easy and engaging read overall.

Reading about her experiences as a reporter and the things she witnessed on the job really opened my eyes to how difficult and traumatizing that line of work can be. I grew to have a lot of respect for journalists and reporters—not just for what they face in the field, but also for the constant criticism they receive from viewers, even down to comments about their appearance.

While it doesn’t excuse her drinking, I could empathize with why she turned to numbing as a way to cope. The book helped me better understand the pressures and emotional toll of that career, and for that reason alone, it was worth the read.

[Liz Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is a very well written memoir. It starts out strong and connects you to the author, then brings you back to the past and returns you to a more present time period. It is a heat breaking story, and I deeply appreciate the vulnerability and strength it takes to share this with the world. It is a very valuable read; especially for anyone who is dealing with addiction, either directly, or through a loved one.

[Dottie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standby is a transparent self disclosure of a prominent big market crime reporter whose struggle with alcohol addiction led to a sudden fall from the pinnacle of her career to rock bottom in a matter of hours. In recovery for over 16 years, she delivers hope, resilience and insight. This is the story of her fall, her second book to follow will walk us through the rise back to work and rebuilding friendships.

[Charles Reimler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alcohol Addiction Life’s Destruction Is Transformative Into A New Life. Nobody THINKS Happen Too Them, But ESCAPE From Emotional PAIN, Stress, Etc. Slips Into An Intoxicating Addiction. AA Stories Are Acceptable With Meetings, But Book Brings Beth’s Confession Too Readers. Lesson Of Living Is GROWTH As A Person, New Identity, And Helping Others To Heal. Beth, A Former News Reporter; Entire Life BLEW UP Job, Loses Car, Home, & Broke! STOP BOOZE Folks, NOT WORTH IT Before Happens Too YOU!

[Sally Bruggeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important book!

Wow. Beth’s story is powerful and definitely worth reading.
It’s so painful that it’s almost hard to read, and yet I couldn’t put it down. It’s so raw and so real. I admire her tenacity courage. And she teaches us all about what it really means to be an alcoholic.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suitably reassuring for those battling alcoholism and suitably terrifying for those who have a problem with alcohol but don't know it yet, Standby is a tale of increasing alcohol lows, followed by the help that Beth finally got.

For people with substance problems, I'm sure this would be an automatic 5 star read. Received from Booksirens for an honest review.

[Beth McDonough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is good and I don't like to read....I can't put it down, Beth's writing made me feel like I was there. The last two chapters made me cry.