Sober Ever After: A Memoir

by Jackie Elliott

Jackie Elliott loves her wine. It makes her feel confident and helps to relieve her anxiety. Drinking wine is normal! Drinking wine is fun! Until it isn’t. Jackie refuses to believe she has problem, after all she doesn’t live under a bridge, she is still quite thin (and therefore healthy), and is quite able to function! As Jackie’s “Drunken Magical Thinking” propels her into a toxic relationship, and her life begins to disintegrate, Jackie has this nagging thought that maybe she should cut down on the booze.. When Jackie starts to have blackouts – complete gaps in her memory after only a few glasses of wine, she suspects that the party might be coming to an end. Is Jackie’s love affair with Wine really over forever? From the lowest moments, to her first stumbling sober steps, Jackie shares her thought provoking, sometimes funny, sometimes sad journey to sobriety. 'Sober Ever After' is a memoir from an award winning sober blogger who fell for the Big Alcohol Con and believed that life wasn’t worth living without her beloved booze. If you are tired of waking up with a hangover, and have started to wonder if there is more to life than the couch and chardonnay, this book is a must read! Buy Sober Ever After and start your own sober journey today!

Genres: Alcohol, Memoir, Self Help, Addiction, Nonfiction

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2016

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Alicia A. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Obnoxious judgy self-righteous insulting "memoir" about some lady who apparently drank a lot and now uses her experiences to encourage others to quit drinking. The problem with this is she's so holier than thou because she stopped drinking that anyone who is still drinking is obviously a piece of shit who needs to follow all her advice and everything will be A-Okay.

This book offended me on so many levels. I am an alcoholic, but I'm not a judgmental insufferable poser looking to make money off of other people's struggles.

[Jena Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author hits the right notes in this easy to read memoir. She is supportive and encouraging without being preachy. She is honest and open, and she is not judgmental. The story is mixed with tales of the ups and downs of her life and the things she learned after she stopped drinking. The author also has a successful blog and much of this book reads as if it were taken from her blog. I was looking for positive advice and I found it in this memoir.

[Jessica Petit · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as sober memoirs go, this was relatable, not preachy and had overall good flow.

[Katherine Edmonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read with some interesting points. Felt a little judgmental at times. A very quick read…

[Reva · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book had no direction whatsoever but was pretty short so easy to read in one sitting.

[Elisabeth Brookshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, not my style

I'm addicted to addiction memoirs and I actually read this twice as it is really short. This author appears to have gotten sober on her own. No medical detox, no AA meetings, no real spiritual footing. She managed to get sober that way but I feel her journey is atypical to that of your average alcoholic. Most of us that have reached mid level alcoholism are going to need some medical help and the support of a group like AA. I also feel for most alcoholics we need that spiritual awakening where we turn our lives over to God and humbly ask him to remove our defects of character and keep us sober. You don't have to go to AA meetings but reading the Big Book and working the steps is a positive thing to do and nonaddicts should follow the tenants of AA anyway because they make you a more honest, authentic version of yourself. This is why three stars. I don't think her methods are going to work for most addicts. Kicking heroin? Go plant a tree. You'll be all better.

[Goth Gone Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

No more wining!

I never indulged in alcohol, but know people who have lost the battle with that particular demon. Hence, reading addiction memoirs to understand what they went through.

This one has a blog feel, quick easy to digest chapters in a fairly matter of fact tone:

"You want to hear the reassuring gasp and sigh as the cork slides out of the bottle, the comforting ritual ‘glug’ of liquid. You want to trace your finger through the slight condensation on your glass. You want to feel the day unhitch from your shoulders, as the alcohol seeps into the neural passages of your brain, pushing away dark and fearful thoughts, and stimulating the pleasure seeking synapses that communicate a comforting whisper... all is well now..."

Wine is the former drug of choice, with observations about the current Mommy wine culture that had me nodding along in solidarity. The author explains the good and the bad of drinking to excess, and what worked for her to stop it.

Kudos to her - to anyone - who succeeds in stopping their own negative cycles.b

[Pattie Gaudreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitting Home !

I loved this,lots of losses in my life,both parents before 13,a disastrous year with a cruel stepmother and ultimately being widowed at 51,which came with financial and lifestyle challenges.
I always drank to get drunk,hung around people who were heavy drinkers,periodically got sober and stayed there for a few years,then something would set me off.
2010 was the breaking point,my precious dog died,my house was about to be foreclosed on,my children and a friend became distant...
I drank 24/7,never stopping,lived in squalor,not eating,I was attempting to kill myself,wound up in the hospital for 14 days and from there into a nursing home,I had damaged my heart to the point that sudden cardiac death was likely,I could barely walk,muscles so weak from no nutrition.
This was 11 years ago,next month,my heart has recovered and my kids,for some reason, adore me!
I loved your book,I love the title...THANKYOU!

[Johanna Harlen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-Opening

This book is a must read for anyone who loves drinking. Everything she does may as well have been me. Exact same behaviors, hangovers, everything! I just finished drinking twelve bottles of wine in twelve days. This book will help me to not do that again. After reading this I will have the strength to look my enabler in the eye every time he brings me an alcoholic gift and say “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness in gifting, but I don’t do this anymore.” To the author: Thank you so much for having the courage to share your drunk and sober journey with your readers. You will change lives and you are an inspiration.

[Katy Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for the ‘sober curious’, newly sober or worried dysfunctional drinkers.

Jackie Elliott writes with breath taking honesty and humour about her journey to sobriety. She isn’t smug or preachy just honest and down to earth in her observation about her own life and that of societies who are indoctrinated into thinking that the attractively packaged poison that kills millions and robs us of time and physical and mental wellbeing is somehow sexy, classy and aspirational.
So much of this book resonated with me as I explore life without wine that I know I will read it again and again.

[J.P. Willson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into both the perspectives of a drinker and a non-drinker.
Having done both myself, I found many reminders of things I was acutely aware of yet had forgotten about in my daily journey of recovery. A phrase I would add the author is none too fond of.
We all do have our own interpretation of our individual journeys however.
A solid useful piece of writing I would certainly recommend.

[Chrystine Collins-blums · Rating 4 out of 5]

My perspective is as a person not in recovery. I am a family member of many people in recovery and have also been a social work intern with those new to recovery. I think there is a lot of valuable information but the presentation seems a bit rambling. And perhaps there are sections missing from the Kindle version but I feel as though there are big chunks of the story missing.

[Tanya Bissell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy and honest

Easy read.Admired the honesty.Adored the humor while delivering a serious message. Appreciated her sharing her experience. Truthful and thoughtful through a witty delivery.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shame to finish this

Absolutely loved this book and can relate to 90% of it. The story with the lady and her dinner parties was absolutely fantastic and had me giggling away in bed. Highly recommended

[K Sudbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is me

I cou!d.have wrote this book. I so recognisw.myself in jackies writing. Every word and scenario.I have livesd. So relatable and extremely helpful. Feel this.book.is a.tool.I will.come.back.to.over and over

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short, easy to read memoir covering the reader's demise into the depths of alcoholism and subsequent recovery. Some good advice and tips on how to stay dry and some interesting factual information.

[Ann - · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advise!

I found a lot of useful help in this book. I would recommend it to everyone who has a problem and even to those who are living with someone who is.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Read this book in one evening. I have been sober about 45 days and i could relate to the insanity of alcohol.

[Mrs G Athanasius-Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice and support throughout

Loved the authors honesty it inspired me to write about my journey with alcohol too and own up to my actions

[Karyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent advice

Jackie tells her story in a real way that certainly helps us all. She does with humor and straightforward words

[Renee Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatable!

So relatable and spot on. I saw myself over and over in this book. Thank You Jackie Elliot for writing this!

[Ed De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful

I liked the honesty and straight talk. Another sober book given me hope to beat this addiction. Keep up the good work

[MRS A L BENNETT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short honest read

Good for those who are sober curious or sober but still enjoy the stories of others who've quit. Enjoyed it.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great!

Quick easy read with some great points! I definitely have some lives highlighted for quick reference on my own journey.

[sarah ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

not life changing especially compared to other quit lit i’ve read, but i liked how straightforward and honest it was.

[mrs m a clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

After dry January,I'm moderating my drinking. I am reading lots of sober literature in an effort to continue with this. This book has been really helpful, lots of inspiring quotes.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. I liked the authors voice / tone. I appreciated that it was real. I also liked that it was not centered around the 12 steps which most sobriety books are.

[R P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational

Loved it. I would recommend to anyone questioning their relationship with alcohol. Adding one more sentence for minimum word requirement.

[Georgie Haddad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this books timeline a little chaotic however overall a good read.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was ok