What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Grow an Addict
Randall Grange has been tricked into admitting herself into a treatment center and she doesn’t know why. She’s not a party hound like the others in her therapy group—but then again, she knows she can’t live without pills or booze.
Raised by an abusive father, a detached mother, and a loving aunt and uncle, Randall both loves and hates her life. She’s awkward and a misfit. Her parents introduced her to alcohol and tranquilizers at a young age, ensuring that her teenage years would be full of bad choices, and by the time she’s twenty-three years old, she’s a full-blown drug addict, well acquainted with the miraculous power chemicals have to cure just about any problem she could possibly have—and she’s in more trouble than she’s ever known was possible.
Raised by an abusive father, a detached mother, and a loving aunt and uncle, Randall both loves and hates her life. She’s awkward and a misfit. Her parents introduced her to alcohol and tranquilizers at a young age, ensuring that her teenage years would be full of bad choices, and by the time she’s twenty-three years old, she’s a full-blown drug addict, well acquainted with the miraculous power chemicals have to cure just about any problem she could possibly have—and she’s in more trouble than she’s ever known was possible.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2015
178 people are currently reading
2978 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Wright
2 books133 followersJodi (J.A.) Wright was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and moved to New Zealand in 1990, where she has worked in the festival and event industry since 1992.
How to Grow an Addict, her first novel, while not a memoir, reflects her journey into addiction and her struggle to crawl out. The novel received several awards.
Eat and Get Gas is a coming-of-age novel set in 1971 in a coastal town in the Pacific Northwest. It tells the story of an average American family struggling with the impact of the Vietnam War.
Eat and Get Gas is the winner of the 2024 Publisher's Weekly Booklife Prize for fiction (YA). The book also won the 2024 Story Circle Sarton Award for fiction (YA).
Emmy-nominated producer Leanne Moore (GLOW and The Lincoln Lawyer for Netflix, ROAR for Apple TV+) picked up the film and TV rights option.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
October 11, 2015
How to grow an addict by J A Wright took my 5 hours to read, I could not/would not put it down.
The book starts by introducing us to Randall who "somehow" ends up agreeing to go to rehab. Then we go back to her being around 12-13 living with her Mom, Dad, and brother Robbie.
I am not sure Wright could have created a more realistic and authentic look inside a dysfunctional family which ultimately leads to Randall trying to self medicate and block the pain. The subtlety of the writing about the horrific situations Randall finds herself in and the abuse she endures packs a powerful punch. Randall's father is a tyrant alcoholic who she desperately wantsto love her. Even though the hate she has for him simmers and grows daily. He makes his disdain for Randall very clear and shows us just how much our parents shape who we are and how we cope. Her mother is a weak women who obviously married young but at the core of her loves her children and is just trying to get through day to day life. She does so by taking the pills that Randall steals hoping they will help her too.
How to Grown An Addict is an accurate portrait of a person using drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of childhood and the self hate that stems from it. This could be the picture of any middle class American family. I loved Randall and I ached for her. I have personally been down the road she traveled and I am one of the lucky few who have lived through it to follow a new road. The only thing that did not seem realistic to me was when Randall was in rehab she had no withdrawal symptoms. There was a few references to her not feeling well but the truth is, with the amount of pills she consumed daily the first 7 days of her stay she would have been so sick she probably wouldn't have even made it to those group sessions she refused to participate in at first.
Other than that Wright has written a book I believe will help a lot of people understand they are not alone. I am giving it 5 stars because I almost felt as if I was reading a memoir rather than fiction. I will be following J.A. Wrights work from her on out.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and She Writes Press for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
The book starts by introducing us to Randall who "somehow" ends up agreeing to go to rehab. Then we go back to her being around 12-13 living with her Mom, Dad, and brother Robbie.
I am not sure Wright could have created a more realistic and authentic look inside a dysfunctional family which ultimately leads to Randall trying to self medicate and block the pain. The subtlety of the writing about the horrific situations Randall finds herself in and the abuse she endures packs a powerful punch. Randall's father is a tyrant alcoholic who she desperately wantsto love her. Even though the hate she has for him simmers and grows daily. He makes his disdain for Randall very clear and shows us just how much our parents shape who we are and how we cope. Her mother is a weak women who obviously married young but at the core of her loves her children and is just trying to get through day to day life. She does so by taking the pills that Randall steals hoping they will help her too.
How to Grown An Addict is an accurate portrait of a person using drugs, alcohol, and sex to numb the pain of childhood and the self hate that stems from it. This could be the picture of any middle class American family. I loved Randall and I ached for her. I have personally been down the road she traveled and I am one of the lucky few who have lived through it to follow a new road. The only thing that did not seem realistic to me was when Randall was in rehab she had no withdrawal symptoms. There was a few references to her not feeling well but the truth is, with the amount of pills she consumed daily the first 7 days of her stay she would have been so sick she probably wouldn't have even made it to those group sessions she refused to participate in at first.
Other than that Wright has written a book I believe will help a lot of people understand they are not alone. I am giving it 5 stars because I almost felt as if I was reading a memoir rather than fiction. I will be following J.A. Wrights work from her on out.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and She Writes Press for the advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
December 17, 2017
This is a tough book to read, but the story is relevant and sadly all too common. From the opening pages, my heart ached for Randall. Through no fault of her own, she is saddled with a family no one would want – her father is an alcoholic who is self-centered and mentally abusive, her mother is weak and unable to stand up for anyone, and her brother has problems of his own. To block the pain she feels, Randall becomes an addict, and for a large part of the book makes incredibly bad choices that are downright painful to read about. I agree with another reviewer that this book is not for the faint of heart. It is a harrowing and depressing story but timely and relevant for today’s world. Thanks to J.A. Wright for telling Randall’s story – it is an honest look at addiction and the hell it brings.
May 19, 2019
Won on Goodreads giveaway. Thanks very much for that.
& I always appreciate a little extra touch on a giveaway. Like Ms Wright enclosing a matching card.
& the layout & presentation of this book is quite beautiful.
J A Wright was born in the States & that is where this novel is set. Is part of this harrowing tale autobiographical? (Wright's brief bio at the back says she has been in recovery for 30 years) I don't know, but Randall's sad life is powerfully told. With an alcoholic father & ineffectual mother, Randall's self loathing takes her down a horrible & destructive path, until help arrives from a most unexpected source.
In the middle I found it hard to keep going, but two thirds of the way through I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended.
& I always appreciate a little extra touch on a giveaway. Like Ms Wright enclosing a matching card.
& the layout & presentation of this book is quite beautiful.
J A Wright was born in the States & that is where this novel is set. Is part of this harrowing tale autobiographical? (Wright's brief bio at the back says she has been in recovery for 30 years) I don't know, but Randall's sad life is powerfully told. With an alcoholic father & ineffectual mother, Randall's self loathing takes her down a horrible & destructive path, until help arrives from a most unexpected source.
In the middle I found it hard to keep going, but two thirds of the way through I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended.
October 7, 2015
I received an advanced reading copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She Writes Press is a publisher that is new to me, and the same can be said for J.A. Wright. That being said, I was certainly not disappointed. This book was beautifully written, and though darker at times, it tugged on all of my heartstrings. I couldn't put it down.
"By the time I turned seventeen and finished eleventh grade I wanted to die. I didn't know why; it just seemed like it would be easier."
Our main character Randall is growing up in a home with a somewhat despondent mother and an alcoholic father. This hit a little close to home. Though my mother was always the one we ran too if we needed saving, we learned quickly to stay out of her boyfriends way when we could. There were a lot of subtle things that Randall and her family did that I could relate to, and the embarrassment she felt towards her father. These things immediately connected me to Randall's character.
One thing I really appreciated was the way that J.A. Wright sort of subtly shifted the language she used in the narrators voice as she grew up. Although there was a certain naivety that remained throughout, the way she described things in the beginning and the way they were described as Randall got older was definitely altered and I felt that really helped in staying true to the character.
Right off the bat we can see that Randall is destined to become an addict and she has easy access to both prescription drugs (her mother is constantly taking Valium and other substances) and alcohol (through her father).
"Mom handed me a glass of water and a piece of one of the blue pills she usually took at night. 'Here, swallow this. It'll help you forget everything and sleep. I'm about to do the same thing.'"
Randall stumbles through various challenges during her life and though a lot of times it broke my heart when I realized she probably wasn't making the best decisions, I still kept rooting for her. Her relationships at home are rocky at best, and her salvation is really when she gets to spend time with her Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo. Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo have the healthiest relationship of the people in Randall's life, and when she gets to spend an entire summer with them, Randall is elated. Suddenly she is surrounded by love, support, and positive affirmations.
Uncle Hank's storyline in How to Grow an Addict was devastating to me.
The glass mermaid mosaic in the bottom of the swimming pool that Uncle Hank created is probably one of my favorite details of the story. It was incredibly visual. Every time Randall swam in the pool I could picture the sun reflecting off all the glass pieces.
I wondered why my parents didn't believe in God and if my Dad was right about God being a "fantasy for lazy people". But Uncle Hank wasn't lazy. And if there was no God, why did I feel so good when I prayed along with Uncle Hank but felt so bad when I was around Dad?
Although religion isn't heavily factored into this novel, there are certain parts where Randall is struggling with the idea of faith. She loves that Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo believe in this God that is willing to accept who you are and forgive your mistakes, but at home she is told that God is a lie. How can something that makes her feel so good be a lie?
I don't know that it was done intentionally, but it almost felt like foreshadowing to the end where Randall is attending AA meetings and accepting help. But she struggles with accepting help, just as she struggles with her beliefs.
As Randall gets a little older we see her starting to get involved with men and it's just a mess. It seems she starts associating with all the wrongs ones, especially Nick. Oh, Nick. He's the married pharmacist who supports Randall's financial needs and offers her prescription drugs in exchange for her complete submission in the bedroom.
Although it can be painful to read, J.A. Wright portrays the realities of dependency and immaturity in an addict perfectly. Randall knows her relationship is unhealthy, but Nick has a pull that brings her back every time she threatens to cut the ties. This is only strengthened through his emotional abuse.
"I followed, and even as I watched him get into his car and start the engine I thought I'd be able to resist, but when he rolled down the passenger window and held two prescription bottles up for me to take from his hand I only hesitated for a second before I reached out to grab them. When I did, he held onto the bottles for just long enough to let me know I could never leave."
Finally after a particularly bad episode where Randall throws herself out of a moving vehicle, she is admitted to a hospital and referred into a program so she can get some help. Although about three quarters of this book is about Randall's life growing up, the last bit is where we get into the recovery. There are times when How to Grow and Addict can make you almost uncomfortable with how dark it gets, and the ending is really the light at the end of the tunnel. Things are left a little open ended, but we know that she is on the right path.
My only feud in this book would really be the end. I felt like the significance of Uncle Hank's box was a little underrated and it didn't feel as powerful as the author intended. At the end, I was kind of like "that's it?".
Overall, this book is definitely worth reading. I'm really grateful that I received this story, and I look forward to see how the author continues her career!
She Writes Press is a publisher that is new to me, and the same can be said for J.A. Wright. That being said, I was certainly not disappointed. This book was beautifully written, and though darker at times, it tugged on all of my heartstrings. I couldn't put it down.
"By the time I turned seventeen and finished eleventh grade I wanted to die. I didn't know why; it just seemed like it would be easier."
Our main character Randall is growing up in a home with a somewhat despondent mother and an alcoholic father. This hit a little close to home. Though my mother was always the one we ran too if we needed saving, we learned quickly to stay out of her boyfriends way when we could. There were a lot of subtle things that Randall and her family did that I could relate to, and the embarrassment she felt towards her father. These things immediately connected me to Randall's character.
One thing I really appreciated was the way that J.A. Wright sort of subtly shifted the language she used in the narrators voice as she grew up. Although there was a certain naivety that remained throughout, the way she described things in the beginning and the way they were described as Randall got older was definitely altered and I felt that really helped in staying true to the character.
Right off the bat we can see that Randall is destined to become an addict and she has easy access to both prescription drugs (her mother is constantly taking Valium and other substances) and alcohol (through her father).
"Mom handed me a glass of water and a piece of one of the blue pills she usually took at night. 'Here, swallow this. It'll help you forget everything and sleep. I'm about to do the same thing.'"
Randall stumbles through various challenges during her life and though a lot of times it broke my heart when I realized she probably wasn't making the best decisions, I still kept rooting for her. Her relationships at home are rocky at best, and her salvation is really when she gets to spend time with her Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo. Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo have the healthiest relationship of the people in Randall's life, and when she gets to spend an entire summer with them, Randall is elated. Suddenly she is surrounded by love, support, and positive affirmations.
Uncle Hank's storyline in How to Grow an Addict was devastating to me.
The glass mermaid mosaic in the bottom of the swimming pool that Uncle Hank created is probably one of my favorite details of the story. It was incredibly visual. Every time Randall swam in the pool I could picture the sun reflecting off all the glass pieces.
I wondered why my parents didn't believe in God and if my Dad was right about God being a "fantasy for lazy people". But Uncle Hank wasn't lazy. And if there was no God, why did I feel so good when I prayed along with Uncle Hank but felt so bad when I was around Dad?
Although religion isn't heavily factored into this novel, there are certain parts where Randall is struggling with the idea of faith. She loves that Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo believe in this God that is willing to accept who you are and forgive your mistakes, but at home she is told that God is a lie. How can something that makes her feel so good be a lie?
I don't know that it was done intentionally, but it almost felt like foreshadowing to the end where Randall is attending AA meetings and accepting help. But she struggles with accepting help, just as she struggles with her beliefs.
As Randall gets a little older we see her starting to get involved with men and it's just a mess. It seems she starts associating with all the wrongs ones, especially Nick. Oh, Nick. He's the married pharmacist who supports Randall's financial needs and offers her prescription drugs in exchange for her complete submission in the bedroom.
Although it can be painful to read, J.A. Wright portrays the realities of dependency and immaturity in an addict perfectly. Randall knows her relationship is unhealthy, but Nick has a pull that brings her back every time she threatens to cut the ties. This is only strengthened through his emotional abuse.
"I followed, and even as I watched him get into his car and start the engine I thought I'd be able to resist, but when he rolled down the passenger window and held two prescription bottles up for me to take from his hand I only hesitated for a second before I reached out to grab them. When I did, he held onto the bottles for just long enough to let me know I could never leave."
Finally after a particularly bad episode where Randall throws herself out of a moving vehicle, she is admitted to a hospital and referred into a program so she can get some help. Although about three quarters of this book is about Randall's life growing up, the last bit is where we get into the recovery. There are times when How to Grow and Addict can make you almost uncomfortable with how dark it gets, and the ending is really the light at the end of the tunnel. Things are left a little open ended, but we know that she is on the right path.
My only feud in this book would really be the end. I felt like the significance of Uncle Hank's box was a little underrated and it didn't feel as powerful as the author intended. At the end, I was kind of like "that's it?".
Overall, this book is definitely worth reading. I'm really grateful that I received this story, and I look forward to see how the author continues her career!
August 15, 2016
A dark, ultimately hopeful story that reveals how a young, female addict is grown (starting with a mean, drunk dad, an equally mean brother, and a distant, damaged mother). I fell for Randall Grange in the first line: "I still can't figure it out. How the therapist persuaded me to stay in rehab." And then we go back in time to see how Randall ends up drinking and popping pills before she's turned fifteen. Randall's story isn't sugar-coated, but throughout her voice is strong. Even in her darkest moments as an addict, I cared enormously about her welfare. I think this would be a great read for a book club.
November 20, 2015
When you think of addiction you often think of the seedy, shameful side of it. You forget that it happens and can happen to anyone you know. Your mum, daughter, sister, neighbour, aunt, employer. So when you see the title of "How to grow an addict" it would be easy to dismiss this book as a just another book written by a screwed up junkie with no real ambition, homelife or future. It isn't like this at all but is an amazing, honest, funny story about a regular young girl who has bad luck, makes bad choices and has bad role models - it doesn't make her a bad person - but she falls into a life of addiction. So if you want to take a peek into how this can happen to anyone, not by choice, without the usual cringeworthy, voyeuristic and scandalous tone of most stories about addiction - you can't pass this amazing book by. You wont read this under the covers, ashamed to show what you are reading but you will be reading whenever you can - on the train, at the dinner table, walking down the street - because you can't put it down and you will be 100% behind Randall and her journey, her relationships both good and bad and her road to recovery and hope. Buy this book and tell your friends.
May 19, 2017
"I know a lot about trouble. Mostly about causing it and not much about staying out of it."
I will start off by cautioning you that you will cry. You will get upset. You'll want to crawl through the pages of this book and taken Randall by the hand, away from the toxic people she is forced to grow up around. You will be taken on the full rollercoaster ride of emotions with this read.
Randall is just 26 when she is finally checked into rehab. She doesn't belong here, the hospital made a mistake and she needs to got home. Now. It isn't until she realizes she is here for a reason and she might as well play along while she is stuck here. After meeting Randall where she is now, we are taken to her past allll the way back to when she was 7 and her journey started. I loved Randall as a child. She needed guidance and help from her parents and a relationship with her older brother. She didn't have both of those. As the story progresses, we see where alcohol and pills come into play and how they start to effect her life. The story of How to Grow and Addict takes you through year by year of Randall's life until we meet back up in rehab? Does Randall have what it takes to fully recover?
My favorite characters in this book were both Randall and her Uncle Hank. As I stated before, I wanted to throw myself into this book and become her guidance. I wanted her to be treated and loved the way she should have been from the very beginning. We know that not everyone has the same experiences when it comes to addiction, it does not discriminate in the slightest. Unfortunately, the case for Randall was the complete and utter toxicity in her life as she was growing up. That's where Uncle Hank comes in. He is the one and only person who can redeem Randall of her god awful life, and he does for awhile..
Can we take a minute to acknowledge how great a writer J.A. Wright is? Her writing grips you from the moment you open to the first page. The fact that she could make you feel so many emotions, that the story will stay with you for years to come, says something about what kind of author she is. I am so happy to have come across her and thank the wonderful Megan Lawrence for pointing me in her direction!
I do not think this story is for the faint at heart. It truly will shatter your heart into a million pieces, so I urge you to take a deeper look into yourselves to make sure you can handle what this girl experiences.
May 20, 2017
I was fortunate to get an early copy of J.A. Wright’s novel, “ How to Grow an Addict”. The title grabbed me and the writing kept me reading. I didn’t want to put it down. It’s beautifully and descriptively written. The main character, Randall Grange is an intensely loveable girl, often in frighteningly circumstances, due to drugs and alcohol. The author engages the reader at depicting a believable progression of addiction.
Randall has meaningful loving relationships with her Aunt Flo and Uncle Hank , and challenging ones with her horrid brother and father, as well as other men in her life. Some scenes are heart-breaking to read, and yet when she gets to rehab, writes and is away from her crazy life, a calmness comes. I was relieved her life found new meaning as we moved through the story.
I think about and miss Randall. And as the writer makes very clear, at times with humour and at other times, in a very frank manner, addiction starts one day at a time and so can recovery, and that life can change from a nightmare to one with endless possibilities.
Randall has meaningful loving relationships with her Aunt Flo and Uncle Hank , and challenging ones with her horrid brother and father, as well as other men in her life. Some scenes are heart-breaking to read, and yet when she gets to rehab, writes and is away from her crazy life, a calmness comes. I was relieved her life found new meaning as we moved through the story.
I think about and miss Randall. And as the writer makes very clear, at times with humour and at other times, in a very frank manner, addiction starts one day at a time and so can recovery, and that life can change from a nightmare to one with endless possibilities.
November 21, 2015
Booze, pills, sex with a side order of violence? Don't mind if I do! This cautionary tale reveals the inner mind of the addict but does so in a way that is compelling without being preachy. Impossible you say? You'd think so, but JA Wright manages to wave a deft hand across this narrative and bring us both the life and the soul of protagonist, Randall, without falling into schmaltz or clinical notes. Humour abounds as we look through the eyes of the young girl growing up in the fertile soil of adult addiction. What could have been a depressing read is ultimately hilarious in places, engaging and uplifting. One of the best of 2015.
December 5, 2015
I read books when I brush and floss my teeth at night and sometimes over my tea in the morning. I got on a cross-country plane with "How To Grow An Addict" and six hours later I was wishing the ride was a little longer so I could get to the end that I was rapidly approaching. As soon as I got to my destination I barred the door, sat down and finished. I felt elated, shaken and awakened by this story. J.A. Wright speaks to my heart with her frank, in-depth and vivid writing shot through with razor emotions. This book made me laugh many times out loud but always broke my insides open with tears. It's a panoramic emotional experience and I love her style. The eye of the author zooms into extremely intimate, private moments with her protagonist examining her from the guts to the bones to her outsides. Then she pans back to take in a wrecked landscape of broken families and relationships, frightening choices and a descent to rock bottom. It's journey into darkness rewarded by the discovery of a kind of light found only in absolute darkness. My deepest thanks to J.A. Wright who clearly has poured her honed craft into this exquisite story.
April 16, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of 'How to Grow an Addict' by JA Wright, and I could not put it down! The prologue sets the scene with the main character entering rehab and being asked by her counselor what 'three things' led her to become an addict. For the protagonist narrowing it down to just three things is the hard part and from there we are taken on a journey that delves into the repercussions of being raised by dysfunctional and emotionally unavailable parents, and the ways addiction can take over ones life.
At times this book is utterly heartwrenching and shocking. The author has a clear voice and is able to portray the perils of addiction in a realistic and vivid way. And yet at the same time, the tale of despair surrounding the protagonist's childhood and subsequent life as an addict is beautifully balanced within the narrative through the careful and considered incorporation of amazingly descriptive and life affirming scenes, which demonstrate how important love is and how even the tiniest bit of hope can help change a person's life.
An amazing book from debut author JA Wright!
At times this book is utterly heartwrenching and shocking. The author has a clear voice and is able to portray the perils of addiction in a realistic and vivid way. And yet at the same time, the tale of despair surrounding the protagonist's childhood and subsequent life as an addict is beautifully balanced within the narrative through the careful and considered incorporation of amazingly descriptive and life affirming scenes, which demonstrate how important love is and how even the tiniest bit of hope can help change a person's life.
An amazing book from debut author JA Wright!
November 2, 2015
I absolutely love the title of this book! It sums it up perfectly.
How To Grow An Addict is the very moving tale of 23-year-old Randall. Written in the first person perspective, Randall chronicles her life growing up with an abusive father addicted to alcohol and a disconnected mother who copes with the help of pills and alcohol.
I had to read this in small stints to get over each little heart-wrenching episode that left me thinking 'that poor kid'. Randall's "relationship" with her father was so sad. Desperate to be noticed and to be loved by him, she tried so hard to please him, while at the same time hating him for his actions.
The writing was beautiful. It felt like reading an autobiography, a memoir, rather than a piece of fiction. Randall's voice as a young child is initially full of naivety, which is never completely lost, but as she grows up and experiences death, sex, violence and more and more hopelessness, her tone is altered. The character development was great and the characters depicted seemed real. Randall's dependency on, and unhealthy relationship with, Nick who supplies her with pills in exchange for using her body, was incredibly realistic and painful to read.
Not a light read, but a very powerful portrayal of a dysfunctional family and one woman's harrowing journey through childhood and into rehab.
4.5 stars. My only criticism being that there was too much detail regarding the cooking sessions with Hank and Aunt Flo, and it lost my attention for a bit.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
How To Grow An Addict is the very moving tale of 23-year-old Randall. Written in the first person perspective, Randall chronicles her life growing up with an abusive father addicted to alcohol and a disconnected mother who copes with the help of pills and alcohol.
I had to read this in small stints to get over each little heart-wrenching episode that left me thinking 'that poor kid'. Randall's "relationship" with her father was so sad. Desperate to be noticed and to be loved by him, she tried so hard to please him, while at the same time hating him for his actions.
The writing was beautiful. It felt like reading an autobiography, a memoir, rather than a piece of fiction. Randall's voice as a young child is initially full of naivety, which is never completely lost, but as she grows up and experiences death, sex, violence and more and more hopelessness, her tone is altered. The character development was great and the characters depicted seemed real. Randall's dependency on, and unhealthy relationship with, Nick who supplies her with pills in exchange for using her body, was incredibly realistic and painful to read.
Not a light read, but a very powerful portrayal of a dysfunctional family and one woman's harrowing journey through childhood and into rehab.
4.5 stars. My only criticism being that there was too much detail regarding the cooking sessions with Hank and Aunt Flo, and it lost my attention for a bit.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
February 23, 2021
I'm not surprised this novel has so many 5 star reviews. J.A.Wright gets Randall's voice so right, and we are there with her as she tries to make sense of her world. It is raw, especially as we experience Randall's young adult struggles with addiction and understanding herself and her family. I heard the author interviewed recently on National Radio, and her insightful responses about her own alcohol addiction as a young person made reading this novel even richer. As she made very clear, Randall and her family are not at all like J.A. Wright and her family; this is definitely not a memoir, but I think only someone with her experience could write such a heartrending and honest story.
October 11, 2017
It's not easy to write as an adult about a child from the child's point of view. But Wright did it right.
I read that she herself was a wicked alcoholic and blacked out a lot and therefor didn't feel she could write a memoir so this was second best so perhaps drawing from her memories as she felt what it was like to be Randall was what made it so good but whatever. It was good.
Randall grew up with a jerk of a father and a mother who was sort of there but mostly not. She also had a brother who turned on her the moment she saw something of him that he didn't want her to see and he continued to be a world-class asshole So it's not surprising that she was primed for some chemical dependency but it wasn't just a cut and dry sort of thing. It was ridiculously believable how she little by little started drinking and using pills and her body to get by. The people she interacts with and the situations she comes across were wholly realistic and I couldn't put it down.
It is entirely worth the read if you can get your hands on this if you enjoy coming of age books mixed with addiction.
As always I have a copy and would be happy to mail it to you if you'd like to read it. I couldn't find it at any library so I treated myself.
I read that she herself was a wicked alcoholic and blacked out a lot and therefor didn't feel she could write a memoir so this was second best so perhaps drawing from her memories as she felt what it was like to be Randall was what made it so good but whatever. It was good.
Randall grew up with a jerk of a father and a mother who was sort of there but mostly not. She also had a brother who turned on her the moment she saw something of him that he didn't want her to see and he continued to be a world-class asshole So it's not surprising that she was primed for some chemical dependency but it wasn't just a cut and dry sort of thing. It was ridiculously believable how she little by little started drinking and using pills and her body to get by. The people she interacts with and the situations she comes across were wholly realistic and I couldn't put it down.
It is entirely worth the read if you can get your hands on this if you enjoy coming of age books mixed with addiction.
As always I have a copy and would be happy to mail it to you if you'd like to read it. I couldn't find it at any library so I treated myself.
November 13, 2015
How to Grow An Addict is a startlingly personal, beautifully insightful account of a young woman's journey from childhood to young adult, fighting a crippling dependence on drugs, alcohol and sex.
Author J.A. Wright weaves a seamless and beautifully written account of Randall Grange's life, dominated and terrorized by an abusive, uncaring father; bullied by an older brother she idolized; and benignly tolerated by a largely indifferent mother. None of them realize there is a sensitive, eager-to-please little girl hovering in the shadows, pining for just a little positive attention.
It's no wonder she chews her nails until they bleed.
In one particularly haunting passage, Randall recalls watching her parents sleep: "I was five or six then, and would often sneak into my parent's bedroom late at night because I liked to listen to my father snore. It had a whistle sound to it, like a train in the distance."
After an idyllic summer living with her Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo, whom she adores for their normalcy and stability, Hank is found dead in their swimming pool. Predictably, Randall thinks it's her fault. In an agitated state, she dives into the water, alone. "I tried to stay under until I went to wherever Uncle Hank had gone, but I couldn't do it."
Randall finally achieves a positive relationship with her mother later in the book -- but only after her father dies of an apparent stroke. Still, she can't seem to avoid blaming herself for his death as well, arguing that she had caused his blood pressure to be too high.
Randall graduates high school, but, after a series of failed jobs because she's stoned all the time, she hooks up with Nick -- a much older married man who owns a pharmacy. It's an ideal if dysfunctional arrangement -- he gets rough sex whenever he wants it at his rented condo, and she gets all the drugs she wants.
She knows the end is near when she winds up in the hospital one night after being sexually assaulted in a moving car. She thought she'd just step out of the vehicle as it rolled along. Two black eyes and twelve stitches teach her otherwise. She's committed involuntarily to a rehab facility and finally the healing begins.
You'll find yourself smiling and then crying with this achingly vulnerable young woman as she fights her way back from a life which, looking back on it, is both predictable and utterly sad. But you'll never give up on her, and, in the end, you'll be very glad you stayed around to fully experience the satisfying ending.
Five stars to this brilliant breakout novel, and congratulations to the author for the impeccable writing, editing and pacing. It should be made into a major motion picture.
Great job, and I look forward to more fine work by this gifted writer.
Author J.A. Wright weaves a seamless and beautifully written account of Randall Grange's life, dominated and terrorized by an abusive, uncaring father; bullied by an older brother she idolized; and benignly tolerated by a largely indifferent mother. None of them realize there is a sensitive, eager-to-please little girl hovering in the shadows, pining for just a little positive attention.
It's no wonder she chews her nails until they bleed.
In one particularly haunting passage, Randall recalls watching her parents sleep: "I was five or six then, and would often sneak into my parent's bedroom late at night because I liked to listen to my father snore. It had a whistle sound to it, like a train in the distance."
After an idyllic summer living with her Uncle Hank and Aunt Flo, whom she adores for their normalcy and stability, Hank is found dead in their swimming pool. Predictably, Randall thinks it's her fault. In an agitated state, she dives into the water, alone. "I tried to stay under until I went to wherever Uncle Hank had gone, but I couldn't do it."
Randall finally achieves a positive relationship with her mother later in the book -- but only after her father dies of an apparent stroke. Still, she can't seem to avoid blaming herself for his death as well, arguing that she had caused his blood pressure to be too high.
Randall graduates high school, but, after a series of failed jobs because she's stoned all the time, she hooks up with Nick -- a much older married man who owns a pharmacy. It's an ideal if dysfunctional arrangement -- he gets rough sex whenever he wants it at his rented condo, and she gets all the drugs she wants.
She knows the end is near when she winds up in the hospital one night after being sexually assaulted in a moving car. She thought she'd just step out of the vehicle as it rolled along. Two black eyes and twelve stitches teach her otherwise. She's committed involuntarily to a rehab facility and finally the healing begins.
You'll find yourself smiling and then crying with this achingly vulnerable young woman as she fights her way back from a life which, looking back on it, is both predictable and utterly sad. But you'll never give up on her, and, in the end, you'll be very glad you stayed around to fully experience the satisfying ending.
Five stars to this brilliant breakout novel, and congratulations to the author for the impeccable writing, editing and pacing. It should be made into a major motion picture.
Great job, and I look forward to more fine work by this gifted writer.
September 19, 2016
This well-received novel is a very readable and engaging look at the multiple factors that lead central character Randall to rehab - and hopefully redemption. Randall's growing up in the late 70s, early 80s in a complicated family. Her dad's an unapologetic and embarrassing drunk, while her mum deals with her stress with prescription pills. On the flip side are her loving, quirky aunt and uncle, who often offer Randall a respite from life at home.
It would have been too easy to split Randall's family into saints and devils, offering her a straightforward choice of lifestyles. But Wright doesn't go there. There are good and bad aspects to all of Randall's formative relationships, which grow more blurred and tangled as she gets older. By creating the supporting characters she does, who alternately delight and disappoint, Wright cleverly sets up Randall for adult codependency as well as substance abuse.
A novel about addiction is necessarily going to be didactic to some degree, but "How to Grow an Addict" avoids laying it on with a trowel. There's lots to love and laugh at in Randall's life. The deftly handled details are a delight. I loved the descriptions of suburban West Coast US 70s life, viewed through the eyes of a child who can mix a cocktail well before she turns 10. It's a world where drink, pills and later, pot, smooth life for everybody. Why do some characters handle them, and others fall into a mire of dependency? Is it in the blood, in the upbringing, or somewhere in between? Where does the line lie between embarrassing drunk and quiet, functional addict? The book offers no simple answer - and I appreciate that - but raises many points to think about.
As other reviewers have noted, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where it all starts to go truly wrong, but I began to watch in horror as poor Randall grew up, desperate for something go right and stay right. Nonetheless, the handling remains deft and there is lightness even in Randall's darkest moments. I suspect many of these stories would resonate with many recovering addicts and the book might well be a useful tool for people in recovery - but it's also an enjoyable book in its own right.
Disclaimer: I used to work for the author and I like and admire her as a person.
It would have been too easy to split Randall's family into saints and devils, offering her a straightforward choice of lifestyles. But Wright doesn't go there. There are good and bad aspects to all of Randall's formative relationships, which grow more blurred and tangled as she gets older. By creating the supporting characters she does, who alternately delight and disappoint, Wright cleverly sets up Randall for adult codependency as well as substance abuse.
A novel about addiction is necessarily going to be didactic to some degree, but "How to Grow an Addict" avoids laying it on with a trowel. There's lots to love and laugh at in Randall's life. The deftly handled details are a delight. I loved the descriptions of suburban West Coast US 70s life, viewed through the eyes of a child who can mix a cocktail well before she turns 10. It's a world where drink, pills and later, pot, smooth life for everybody. Why do some characters handle them, and others fall into a mire of dependency? Is it in the blood, in the upbringing, or somewhere in between? Where does the line lie between embarrassing drunk and quiet, functional addict? The book offers no simple answer - and I appreciate that - but raises many points to think about.
As other reviewers have noted, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where it all starts to go truly wrong, but I began to watch in horror as poor Randall grew up, desperate for something go right and stay right. Nonetheless, the handling remains deft and there is lightness even in Randall's darkest moments. I suspect many of these stories would resonate with many recovering addicts and the book might well be a useful tool for people in recovery - but it's also an enjoyable book in its own right.
Disclaimer: I used to work for the author and I like and admire her as a person.
June 4, 2016
If I had to describe this book with one sentence, it would be "oh my god". I don't know how often I thought this while reading. The writing is really good, so good in fact that you get sucked into the story and can hardly put this book down. At least I had trouble doing so.
The title describes How to grow an addict perfectly, because that's exactly what it is about. You get taken back to Randall's really bad childhood and experience her life with her up until she is 'mistakenly' admitted to a rehab center. Brace yourself for a really realistic tale, that may make you cry but will leave you with hope.
I got an early ARC and there were some mistakes in it, like missing spaces between words and around 60% the formatting was faulty.
Disclaimer: I was provided through NetGalley with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
The title describes How to grow an addict perfectly, because that's exactly what it is about. You get taken back to Randall's really bad childhood and experience her life with her up until she is 'mistakenly' admitted to a rehab center. Brace yourself for a really realistic tale, that may make you cry but will leave you with hope.
I got an early ARC and there were some mistakes in it, like missing spaces between words and around 60% the formatting was faulty.
Disclaimer: I was provided through NetGalley with a free copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.
August 25, 2019
I don't hand out 5-star reviews. They are saved for special works of art, in writing. This book was so full of five stars.
Star 1) The use of words. Powerful.
Star 2)The way the story was told. Gripping.
Star 3) The way Randall's life unfolded. Heartbreaking.
Star 4) The richness of the characters and their relationships. Realistic.
Star 5) The captivating quality the story held the entire time. Incredible.
This was just SO good. If you are remotely interested, read it. And allow it to touch your soul and connect to anger, compassion, and most of all redemption and freedom.
Thank you J.A. for sharing your work with us. I can see why this book won countless awards. This is not just a book about addiction, it is a book about humanity.
Star 1) The use of words. Powerful.
Star 2)The way the story was told. Gripping.
Star 3) The way Randall's life unfolded. Heartbreaking.
Star 4) The richness of the characters and their relationships. Realistic.
Star 5) The captivating quality the story held the entire time. Incredible.
This was just SO good. If you are remotely interested, read it. And allow it to touch your soul and connect to anger, compassion, and most of all redemption and freedom.
Thank you J.A. for sharing your work with us. I can see why this book won countless awards. This is not just a book about addiction, it is a book about humanity.
November 29, 2015
Captivating and compelling, this novel shows us how an innocent child can grow to be an addict, and the impact of family on confidence and sense of self-worth. The story flows extremely well and I was hooked from beginning to end. The character of Randall comes alive, the story told through her 1st person voice. This is an awesomely riveting story and highly recommended.
May 1, 2022
2/3 stars? This book was a lot different than I thought it was going to be. It was good and very interesting, but so heartbreaking. Books like this are hard to read because you want the character to make good choices so bad but they never do! There wasn’t a ton of closure with a lot of the characters, but I’m glad it had somewhat of a happy ending.
March 9, 2022
Randall’s journey is astonishing to read. I couldn’t stop reading even if I wanted to. Her experiences from her childhood all the way to her adulthood really shows you how the actions of the adults in your life can really set you up or begin a treacherous path for you.
July 16, 2019
A beautiful story that has such strong ring of authenticity to it, it reads like a memoir. The storytelling is conversational and accessible, it is full of grace and humanity. The author has a firm handle on presenting the voice and personality of the young Randall and her transition from troubled teen to fucked up young adult. There are certain horrific situations that Randall endures and they are written with an air of detachment that is also authentic and credible- the way in which boozehounds and druggies have a disconnect to certain events both emotionally and in terms of memory. They live in an altered reality. This is not a downer of a story. It is a coming of age story with a lot of heart, not just for Randall, but a few other characters as well. Loved it and am rooting for Randall all the way!
November 21, 2015
“I still can’t figure it out. How the therapist persuaded me to stay in rehab. Maybe it was her smile or the way she motioned for me to sit down, or perhaps it was the way she put her hand on my shoulder when she introduced me to the group. Most likely it happened when I saw her wipe a tear from her cheek after I lied to the group about my black eyes and broken nose.”
How to Grow an Addict is a fresh and fascinating addition to the addiction genre. Written in the first person, I felt as though I was watching through Randall’s (the protagonist) eyes as she grows from a confused child to overwhelmed teenager to drug addicted young women. Few people write from the perspective of children and teens successfully, Wright does though. I found myself viscerally feeling the joys and confusion of childhood, the angst of her teen years and the despair of adulthood. I was taken along like a toy on a string, and each time she subtly stepped towards her addiction; a beer or two from her fridge after a bad day at school, a pill from her mom’s stash to help her forget some horrible thing her father said or did, getting high with boys so they’d like her, I found myself thinking she was maybe onto something here. Maybe it’s okay for her to indulge a little. I suppose that’s how all dependency begins - as a good idea at the time.
The characters are realistic, interesting and well developed. It may be trite to say “every good has some bad, every bad some good”, Wright has really made this work for her characters. I was surprised at the sentiment in a Glen Campbell song her father could sing perfectly and the pettiness of a beloved aunt.
How to grow an addict is a beautiful and terrifying presentation of a lifetime, a story told at a measured pace. Highly recommended
April 22, 2016
An Exceptional Book To Read!
How To Grow An Addict is a must read if you enjoy contemporary fiction, laced with addiction and recovery, family drama and pain. Family dynamics play a large role in this storyline that will have you rooting for Randall from the time she is a little girl into her adult life. She struggles many let downs from people she vested in as support, but never finds that relief of 'unconditional love' she desperately craves throughout her life journey. Heartbreaking and raw at times, it will make you laugh, cry and feel the impact of 'Randall's Triumph!'
Even though this book is fiction? I could relate to it until the very last page as being in recovery from addiction myself. One reviewer mentioned, "the book seemed to be a long winded excuse to become an addict." I didn't feel that at all. As a recovery writer myself, I know how hard it can be to write and share about addiction without it sounding like denial or excuses.
J. A. did an exceptional writing job with this book and powerful story. When you read and follow Randall's journey you are moved, feel empathy and compassion, and toward the end you can feel her Triumph! It gives insights into what addiction looks like from the addicts point of view. Drug addiction is no joke as the author herself has been in long-term recovery as you know she weaves some of her own experiences into this book.
I enjoyed how the book flowed and enjoyed her style of writing. Now I await reading her own
'Real Memoir' soon? Look forward to many books by J. A. Wright ....
How To Grow An Addict is a must read if you enjoy contemporary fiction, laced with addiction and recovery, family drama and pain. Family dynamics play a large role in this storyline that will have you rooting for Randall from the time she is a little girl into her adult life. She struggles many let downs from people she vested in as support, but never finds that relief of 'unconditional love' she desperately craves throughout her life journey. Heartbreaking and raw at times, it will make you laugh, cry and feel the impact of 'Randall's Triumph!'
Even though this book is fiction? I could relate to it until the very last page as being in recovery from addiction myself. One reviewer mentioned, "the book seemed to be a long winded excuse to become an addict." I didn't feel that at all. As a recovery writer myself, I know how hard it can be to write and share about addiction without it sounding like denial or excuses.
J. A. did an exceptional writing job with this book and powerful story. When you read and follow Randall's journey you are moved, feel empathy and compassion, and toward the end you can feel her Triumph! It gives insights into what addiction looks like from the addicts point of view. Drug addiction is no joke as the author herself has been in long-term recovery as you know she weaves some of her own experiences into this book.
I enjoyed how the book flowed and enjoyed her style of writing. Now I await reading her own
'Real Memoir' soon? Look forward to many books by J. A. Wright ....
June 6, 2016
I won a copy of this book through First Reads.
Lately it's been difficult to find a book that grips me from the very first page, but I simply could not put this book down unless I had to grudgingly go to work or sleep. Every chapter is an emotional roller coaster, and I often found myself wanting to reach out to the protagonist and stop her from doing things that would have, and often did, lead to incredible repercussions. As the saying goes: "Sometimes it's like watching a train wreck. You're uncomfortable, but you just can't help yourself." The writing style was refreshing and it was easy to slip into the mind of Randall Grange, but incredibly difficult to leave. I highly recommend How to Grow an Addict, in fact, I'm going to immediately recommend this to my book circle.
Lately it's been difficult to find a book that grips me from the very first page, but I simply could not put this book down unless I had to grudgingly go to work or sleep. Every chapter is an emotional roller coaster, and I often found myself wanting to reach out to the protagonist and stop her from doing things that would have, and often did, lead to incredible repercussions. As the saying goes: "Sometimes it's like watching a train wreck. You're uncomfortable, but you just can't help yourself." The writing style was refreshing and it was easy to slip into the mind of Randall Grange, but incredibly difficult to leave. I highly recommend How to Grow an Addict, in fact, I'm going to immediately recommend this to my book circle.
January 27, 2016
Right from the start the story grips you, as you see how naive but at the same time smart Randall is as a young girl. Her honesty as she tells her story drives you to read on and on in the hope that soon she will learn the consequences of her actions and turn her life around.
J.A Wright’s insight into the lives of the troubled family is raw and heartfelt and certainly left me with a greater understanding of how subtle the slide to addiction is and how easily you can make excuses for it.
This book gives you a window into the lives of many troubled people, and may ultimately result in one of us helping to change someone’s path in a good way.
An addictive read, pick it up – you won’t regret it!
A great book cover too – made me look twice on the shelf.
J.A Wright’s insight into the lives of the troubled family is raw and heartfelt and certainly left me with a greater understanding of how subtle the slide to addiction is and how easily you can make excuses for it.
This book gives you a window into the lives of many troubled people, and may ultimately result in one of us helping to change someone’s path in a good way.
An addictive read, pick it up – you won’t regret it!
A great book cover too – made me look twice on the shelf.
November 14, 2015
How does a seven year old take the first step, and the next, on the path to drug and alcohol abuse? Randall Grange will tell you in her raw and authentic voice. Author J.A. Wright, with her 30 years of recovery under her belt, has the street cred to write this novel, and that makes it all the harder to witness the situations her protagonist faces - being handed tranquilizers by her mother, learning the hair-of-the-dog hangover cure from her father, tolerating sexual abuse from a boyfriend that supplies her pills. But that street cred also makes it compulsive read, the kind where you plan to stop at the end of the next chapter and then find yourself continuing on. How To Grow an Addict delivers on the promise of its title, telling us all the things that should never happen to a child.
November 7, 2015
How to Grow an Addict isn't my usual genre of book to read, however this was rather a charming and easy to read story which I didn't want to put down.
Randall is very likeable and you really do feel quite sorry for her, her family almost ignore her existence and the only father figure she has dies! I was relieved to find out that her story wasn't too traumatic, she basically just has a life filled with bad luck resulting in her bad choices but then she gets into rehab and things seem to turn around for her.
Great book!
Randall is very likeable and you really do feel quite sorry for her, her family almost ignore her existence and the only father figure she has dies! I was relieved to find out that her story wasn't too traumatic, she basically just has a life filled with bad luck resulting in her bad choices but then she gets into rehab and things seem to turn around for her.
Great book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2018
This is an excellent, honest look at addiction. It’s the story of a girl growing up in a household of addicts and follows her development into addiction. It’s alternately sad, appalling, humorous, and scary. I think this is an important topic today and this is a great book about it.
April 28, 2019
Awesome! On the YA side as far as writing goes, but I really enjoyed it. Author likely dealt personally with many of the issues. I find the character's disconnect from her addiction to be interesting and very eye opening.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews