Close Menu
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • ❤️ CONTENT
    • ⭐ BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
    • CONTRIBUTOR DIRECTORY
    • DEAR READERS✏️
    • MEET THE SOBER CURATOR
    • 📰 PRESS 📺
    • THE SOBEES 🐝
    • CONTACT 📧
  • HAPPY EVERY HOUR
    • NA BEERS AND CIDERS 🍺
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC WINES 🍾
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS 🍸
    • READY TO DRINK 🥤
    • BEHIND THE BAR 🍋‍🟩
    • NA TASTING EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • BREAK FREE
    • CODEPENDENCY
    • MASTERING MENTAL FITNESS 🧠💪🏼
    • MENTAL HEALTH 🧠
    • RELATIONSHIPS 🤟🏽
    • SOBER NOT SUBTLE
    • SOBER POETRY 🖋️
    • SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! 🗣️
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE 🧬
    • WELLNESS AS A WAY OF LIFE
    • YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED
  • LIFESTYLE
    • #ADDTOCART 🛍️
    • ASK MRS. (W)RIGHT ⁉️
    • COMING OUT SOBER 🏳️‍🌈
    • 🏆 CONTENT
    • ✂️CURATED CRAFTS🎨
    • FASHION 👠
    • SHOP 🛒
    • SOBER SPOTLIGHT 🔦
    • SOBER CONTENT CREATION 💻
    • SOBER UNBUZZED FEED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • #QUITLIT 📚
    • MOVIE REVIEWS 🍿
    • MUSIC 🎶
    • POPCULTURE
    • RECOVERY PODCASTLAND 🎙️
    • SOBER CURATOR PODCAST 🎧
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBER SPORTS
    • TV SHOW REVIEWS 📺
  • TRAVEL & EVENTS
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBER RETREATS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
      • SOBER IN MINNEAPOLIS
      • SOBER IN NYC
      • SOBER IN SEATTLE
    • WHAT A TRIP! 🧳
  • SPIRITUAL GANGSTER
    • THE CARD DIVO 🔮
    • CLASSY PROBLEMS
    • SOBERCAST
    • SOBERSCOPES
    • SOBRIETY IN FLOW 🧘🏻‍♀️
    • THIRSTY FOR WONDER
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE 🧬
    • STOICISM
  • RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESOURCE GUIDE
    • BREAK FREE FOUNDATION
    • FAMILY RESOURCES
    • GLOSSARY OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY TERMS
    • LGBTQ+ RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • RECOVERY STORIES
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest YouTube LinkedIn TikTok
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • ❤️ CONTENT
    • ⭐ BECOME A CONTRIBUTOR
    • CONTRIBUTOR DIRECTORY
    • DEAR READERS✏️
    • MEET THE SOBER CURATOR
    • 📰 PRESS 📺
    • THE SOBEES 🐝
    • CONTACT 📧
  • HAPPY EVERY HOUR
    • NA BEERS AND CIDERS 🍺
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC WINES 🍾
    • NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRITS 🍸
    • READY TO DRINK 🥤
    • BEHIND THE BAR 🍋‍🟩
    • NA TASTING EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
  • HEALTH & WELLNESS
    • BREAK FREE
    • CODEPENDENCY
    • MASTERING MENTAL FITNESS 🧠💪🏼
    • MENTAL HEALTH 🧠
    • RELATIONSHIPS 🤟🏽
    • SOBER NOT SUBTLE
    • SOBER POETRY 🖋️
    • SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! 🗣️
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE 🧬
    • WELLNESS AS A WAY OF LIFE
    • YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED
  • LIFESTYLE
    • #ADDTOCART 🛍️
    • ASK MRS. (W)RIGHT ⁉️
    • COMING OUT SOBER 🏳️‍🌈
    • 🏆 CONTENT
    • ✂️CURATED CRAFTS🎨
    • FASHION 👠
    • SHOP 🛒
    • SOBER SPOTLIGHT 🔦
    • SOBER CONTENT CREATION 💻
    • SOBER UNBUZZED FEED
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • #QUITLIT 📚
    • MOVIE REVIEWS 🍿
    • MUSIC 🎶
    • POPCULTURE
    • RECOVERY PODCASTLAND 🎙️
    • SOBER CURATOR PODCAST 🎧
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBER SPORTS
    • TV SHOW REVIEWS 📺
  • TRAVEL & EVENTS
    • SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBER RETREATS CALENDAR 🗓️
    • SOBRIETY IN THE CITY
      • SOBER IN MINNEAPOLIS
      • SOBER IN NYC
      • SOBER IN SEATTLE
    • WHAT A TRIP! 🧳
  • SPIRITUAL GANGSTER
    • THE CARD DIVO 🔮
    • CLASSY PROBLEMS
    • SOBERCAST
    • SOBERSCOPES
    • SOBRIETY IN FLOW 🧘🏻‍♀️
    • THIRSTY FOR WONDER
    • SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE 🧬
    • STOICISM
  • RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RESOURCE GUIDE
    • BREAK FREE FOUNDATION
    • FAMILY RESOURCES
    • GLOSSARY OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY TERMS
    • LGBTQ+ RECOVERY RESOURCES
    • RECOVERY STORIES
The Sober CuratorThe Sober Curator
Home - The Better Sister: A Family Drama Soaked in Secrets, Sobriety, and the Summer Hamptons
THE MINDFUL BINGE (TV SHOWS)

The Better Sister: A Family Drama Soaked in Secrets, Sobriety, and the Summer Hamptons

Alysse BrysonBy Alysse BrysonJune 2, 20254 Mins Read
The Better Sister Amazon Prime
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Just as the East Coast elite dust off their linen pants and oversized sunglasses for another Hamptons summer, Amazon Prime drops a thriller that’ll keep you glued to the couch, no matter how perfect the weather outside. In my case, I was quite literally glued to the couch while working on a new art project involving buckets of rhinestones and glue. Don’t worry. I’ll soon feature that finished project in our Curated Crafts section of The Sober Curator.

The Better Sister, based on Alafair Burke’s domestic noir novel, invites us into the sparkling, scandalous world of Manhattan’s power players and the dark, tangled roots they try so hard to hide. Jessica Biel brings her signature poise to the role of Chloe Taylor, a glossy magazine executive who seems to have it all—until she finds her husband, Adam (Corey Stoll), dead in their Hamptons home. Shout-out to Jessica Biel’s white dress and muscular backside in this scene. Wowzers.

Enter Chloe’s estranged sister, Nicky (Elizabeth Banks), a woman who’s battled addiction and messy relationships, and who also happens to be the biological mother of Chloe’s teenage stepson, Ethan (Maxwell Acee Donovan). And oh yeah, spoiler alert —Ethan’s now the prime suspect in his father’s murder.

The series hits all the notes of a classic whodunit—glamorous settings, high-stakes secrets, and a crime that leaves no one unscathed. But The Better Sister is more than a murder mystery; it’s a meditation on family, addiction, and the blurry lines between love and resentment. As someone who recovers out loud, I was particularly struck by the phrase Chloe hurls at Nicky in a heated moment: “It’s always recovery porn with you people.” It stung in the way only a phrase that cuts too close to home can. It made me pause and wonder—do people see my own journey as a never-ending loop of self-help clichés? Or do they recognize the messy, beautiful work of rebuilding a life?

“It’s always recovery porn with you people.”

As a single mother in recovery (my son was 9 when I got sober), I felt closest to Nicky’s character. Elizabeth Banks nails the complicated energy of someone who’s trying so damn hard to keep it together, even when everything’s falling apart. One scene, in particular, hit me square in the gut: Nicky relapses at her ex-husband’s wake, trading five years of sobriety for one too many martinis and a bartender’s bed. (And by bed, I mean the back of the catering van.) Watching her stumble back into the bar the next morning, regrets heavy on her shoulders, ordering a triple bloody mary, was a reminder of how real the cycle of addiction can be—how quickly you can go from I’ve got this to I’m lost again.

The scenes in 12-step meetings—those quiet moments of sharing and the meeting after-the-meeting parking lot chats over cigarettes—felt heartbreakingly true to life. I often get annoyed at how 12-step is represented on screen, but this series gets it mostly right. In the end, The Better Sister doesn’t offer easy answers. It asks what it really means to be the “better” sister. Is it the one with the big career and curated Instagram life, or the one who’s learned to own her mess and keep going, even when she stumbles?

#ADDTOCART on AMAZON

Binge-Worthy? Absolutely.
I devoured this series in a single day—yes, while also working on a new art project, because sometimes multitasking is my sobriety superpower. The show’s twists kept me guessing, and its raw portrayal of addiction and family secrets left me entertained and deeply moved. If you’re anything like me, you’ll probably want to add Alafair Burke’s novel to your summer Addiction Fiction reading list, too.

The Better Sister is a must-watch for anyone who’s ever been told they’re too much or not enough—or dared to find out who they are beneath all the labels.

Available to stream now on Amazon Prime Video.

The Mindful Binge Sobees Score: 4 out of 5

The Sobees Mindful Binge 4 Sobees

The Better Sister – Official Trailer | Prime Video

The Better Sister – Official Trailer | Prime Video

SOBER CURATOR PODCAST – THE MINDFUL BINGE: Sisters, Secrets, and Sobriety: The Sober Curator Squad Deep-Dives into “The Better Sister”


The Mindful Binge TV reviews the sober curator

THE MINDFUL BINGE at The Sober Curator is where we binge-watch and chill—mindfully. In this TV series review section, we don’t just consume shows; we explore their stories, themes, and cultural impact through a sober lens. Using our signature Sobees Scoring System, we rate each pick to help you choose your next watch with intention.

Our digital shelves are neatly organized into Drama, Dramedy, and Reality, making it easy to find your perfect series for a night in.


movie reviews by the sober curator

MOVIE NIGHT WITH THE SOBER CURATOR: is your go-to guide for films and documentaries that intricately weave addiction, recovery, and mental health into powerful storytelling. Think of us as your bee-zy movie critics, curating a hive of must-watch titles that inspire, educate, and spark conversation.

Our review archives are neatly organized into Drama, Dramedy, and Documentary categories, making it easy to find your next captivating watch. Whether you’re in the mood for a heartfelt indie, a laugh-through-the-tears comedy, or a thought-provoking doc, we’ve got you covered.


🔥 The Sober Curator Amazon Storefront is OPEN! 🔥Looking for the ultimate sober lifestyle hookup? We’ve got you.🛒 Shop our curated collections for:
✨ #QUITLIT that hits
✨ Alcohol-free bevs that don’t suck
✨ Glassware & bar tools to up your AF game
✨ Recovery gifts that actually mean something
✨ Fashion, shoes & pop culture finds
✨ Journals, coloring books & creative inspo
✨ Games, home decor & so much more

Everything we love. Everything you need. #ADDTOCART


SOBER POP CULTURE at The Sober Curator is where mainstream trends meet the vibrant world of sobriety. We serve up a mix of movie, podcast, fashion, and book recommendations alongside alcohol-free cocktails, celebrity features, and pop culture buzz—all with a sober twist.

We’re here to shatter the “sobriety is boring” myth with a mash-up of 80s neon, 90s hip-hop edge, early 2000s bling, and today’s hottest trends. From celebrity shoutouts to red-carpet style inspo, this is where sober is as chic as it is fun. To the celebs using their platform for good—our Sober Pop Trucker hats are off to you!

Resources Are Available

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.

follow the sober curator on youtube

Subscribe to The Sober Curator on YouTube

addiction fiction amazon prime elizabeth banks jessica biel the better sister the mindful binge
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Alysse Bryson
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

Alysse Bryson is a strong woman in recovery, an innovative media maven, marketing guru, and gal about town. "I'm just a laid-back old school Seattlite...with sober superpowers. You can take the girl out of the party, but you can't take the party out of the girl."

Related Posts

27 Addiction Fiction Books We’ve Reviewed _ The Sober Curator

27 Addiction Fiction Books We’ve Reviewed | The Sober Curator

October 2, 2025
“The Bear's” Genetic Truth Why Television's Most Authentic Addiction Story Isn't Really About Food 

“The Bear’s” Genetic Truth: Why Television’s Most Authentic Addiction Story Isn’t Really About Food 

September 26, 2025
Iggy Pop Lust for Life Recovery Anthem

“Lust for Life” – The Ultimate Recovery Anthem on a Soundtrack to One of the Druggiest Films Ever Made? 

September 21, 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Top AF Sober Travel Companies USA Today
Sober City Mobile App
SOBERSCRIBE AND GET ON THE LIST!
May the sober force be with you
7 events found.
  • Week of October 6
  • Previous week
  • Next week
Notice
No events scheduled for October 6, 2025.
8:00 am
Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025
October 7 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm PDT

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

Tawny Lara Virtual Course
See website
4:00 pm
Trivia Night at 309 Social Club
October 7 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm PDT

Trivia Night at 309 Social Club

BigVision 309 Social Club 309 East 49th Street @ 2nd Ave, New York
Donation
5:00 pm
Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents
October 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents

Roots Music Project 4747 Pearl Suite V3A, Boulder
See website
An Evening with Sober Sisters in STL: Shopping, Sound Bath & Mocktails
October 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT

An Evening with Sober Sisters in STL: Shopping, Sound Bath & Mocktails

Goldie's Hair + Wardrobe 2712 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood
$25.42
+ 1 More
5:00 pm
Zero Proof Cocktail Class With the NA Sommelier
October 8 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT

Zero Proof Cocktail Class With the NA Sommelier

700 Dexter Avenue North #suite 201, Seattle
$85.00
7:00 pm
Drag Bingo (Spooky AF Edition)
October 9 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

Drag Bingo (Spooky AF Edition)

SOBER AF Bottle Shop Tacoma 5222 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
See website
11:00 am
STOP THE SHUFFLE SCREENING – Wilmington Deleware International Film Festival
October 10 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PDT

STOP THE SHUFFLE SCREENING – Wilmington Deleware International Film Festival

The Screening Room West
$15.00
Ongoing
MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures
October 11 @ 5:00 am - October 19 @ 2:00 pm PDT

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

Cusco, the Salktanay Trail, and Machu Picchu!
See website
7:00 am
Fresh Start: Breathwork with Kyle Harder | Teetotal Initiative Pittsburgh
October 11 @ 7:00 am - 9:00 am PDT

Fresh Start: Breathwork with Kyle Harder | Teetotal Initiative Pittsburgh

Thrive on Health 730 Brookline Blvd, Pittsburgh
Free
11:00 am
Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025
October 11 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

Tawny Lara Virtual Course
See website
+ 1 More
Ongoing
MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures
October 11 @ 5:00 am - October 19 @ 2:00 pm PDT

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

Cusco, the Salktanay Trail, and Machu Picchu!
See website

Week of Events

Mon 6
Tue 7
Wed 8
Thu 9
Fri 10
Sat 11
Sun 12
October 11 @ 5:00 am - October 19 @ 2:00 pm <span class='timezone'> PDT </span>

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

October 11 @ 5:00 am - October 19 @ 2:00 pm PDT

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures Our journey blends the culture and cuisine of Cusco with the legendary Salkantay Trail, culminating at the Incan masterpiece of Machu Picchu. Trek through shifting

See website
October 11 @ 5:00 am - October 19 @ 2:00 pm <span class='timezone'> PDT </span>

MACHU PICCHU | Capsule Adventures

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

October 7 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm PDT

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025 Live Seminar Via Zoom 1:00PM – 3:00PM

See website
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Trivia Night at 309 Social Club

October 7 @ 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm PDT

Trivia Night at 309 Social Club

Trivia Night at 309 Social Club Get your game face on and put your knowledge to the test at Trivia Night! From pop culture to history and everything in between,

Donation
5:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents

October 7 @ 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm PDT

Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents

Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents Announcing Sober Night Live! A monthly open mic event for sober creatives, featuring performances, storytelling, and a supportive community. We are excited

See website
+ 1 More
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Zero Proof Cocktail Class With the NA Sommelier

October 8 @ 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm PDT

Zero Proof Cocktail Class With the NA Sommelier

Zero Proof Cocktail Class With the NA Sommelier Join us at Studio Forma for a tailored, hands-on, zero-proof cocktail-making experience with NA sommelier Juanita Unger. Professional bartending techniques, cocktail theory,

$85.00
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Drag Bingo (Spooky AF Edition)

October 9 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm PDT

Drag Bingo (Spooky AF Edition)

Drag Bingo (Spooky AF Edition) Thu, Oct 09 Sober AF Zero Proof Bottle Shop Kick off Sober October by joining us for one of our KILLER Drag Bingo Nights. Sells

See website
11:00 am - 12:30 pm

STOP THE SHUFFLE SCREENING – Wilmington Deleware International Film Festival

October 10 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PDT

STOP THE SHUFFLE SCREENING – Wilmington Deleware International Film Festival

STOP THE SHUFFLE SCREENING - Wilmington Delaware International Film Festival An intimate look inside the billion-dollar addiction treatment industry where young people are bought and sold for their insurance policies

$15.00
7:00 am - 9:00 am

Fresh Start: Breathwork with Kyle Harder | Teetotal Initiative Pittsburgh

October 11 @ 7:00 am - 9:00 am PDT

Fresh Start: Breathwork with Kyle Harder | Teetotal Initiative Pittsburgh

Fresh Start: Breathwork with Kyle Harder | Teetotal Initiative Pittsburgh Come breathe in community during a guided breathwork session—a space to let go of stress, quiet the noise of everyday

Free
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

October 11 @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025

Just F*%#ing Write: Get Words Out of Your Head and Onto the Page Zoom Seminar with Tawny Lara on Saturday, October 11th, 2025 Live Seminar Via Zoom 1:00PM – 3:00PM

See website
12:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Sober AF Entertainment: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers @ Camp Randall Stadium (Madison – WI)

October 11 @ 12:30 pm - 6:30 pm PDT

Sober AF Entertainment: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers @ Camp Randall Stadium (Madison – WI)

Sober AF Entertainment: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers @ Camp Randall Stadium (Madison – WI)

See website
+ 1 More
View Calendar
The Sober Curator
Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok YouTube Pinterest
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • LINKS DISCLAIMER
  • EDITORIAL GUIDELINES
  • TERMS OF SERVICE
  • REFUND POLICY
  • DON’T SELL MY INFO
  • DATA SUBJECT REQUEST FORM
  • CONTACT US
© 2025 The Sober Curator - Benefits of a Alcohol Free Lifestyle

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.