The Sober Lush is not the book you might think it will be. Quitlit books tend to follow a similar structure pattern: hitting rock bottom, followed by the history of addictive substance abuse (to drive home the point of the utter desperation), and then hopefully, they end soberly ever after. The Sober Lush is more than a collection of snackable essays on addiction and recovery.
I’m not even sure addiction and recovery have a place at this sober table. There’s no real drunkalog or steps to follow. Instead, it is a refreshing perspective on reconsidering living their best life to the fullest sans booze. Free from guilt or judgment, this is more of a luscious how-to guide to zero-proof self-care.
The Authors, Amanda Eyre Ward and Jardine Libaire, are not on a mission to get you or anyone else sober, for that matter. These two friends share the love of the written page. They also share their journeys of what they’ve found on the other side of the bottle. As it turns out, the grass is greener over there. Theirs is not a story about how to get sober but how to thrive sober. And we at The Sober Curator are here for that life!
One of my favorite reviews of this book was done by the Los Angeles Review of Books in October 2020. Check it out here.
Secret Confession
Sometimes, I buy a book based on the cover. Seriously. When I saw a copy of The Sober Lush from across the room at my favorite local bookstore, Island Books, I wanted to shout out, “Take my money!”. I have been buying #QUITLIT books for nearly 15 years. And let me tell you something. There were not a lot of options back in the late 2000s in the self-help aisle at Barnes & Noble. Over the years, I have grown in my recovery, and so has my recovery library.
This is the kind of book you will proudly want to display on your shelves. The hardcover is even more lush than the name. The plush matte finish begs for your fingers to paw all over it. I also have a pretty robust fashion book collection. While my #QUITLIT and fashion books don’t usually mix (I keep my #QUITLIT Library in my home office), The Sober Lush is proudly displayed in my living room tower of books.
The Sobees #QUITLIT Score: 4 out of 5
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Have a Me Party
What to drink and nibble on while you read this book:
This book is meant to be an experience. While I have read this book a few times, I thoroughly enjoyed indulging in it the first time.
I started the book with a hot bubble bath, surrounded by soft lighting (bright enough to read with), and burning one of my favorite candle brands, Voluspa. As an ode to Jardine Libaire, I was burning the Peruvian Lime Jardine Corta Maison Candle with notes of Peruvian Lime, Shiso Leaf, and Ripe Grapefruit. Throw on a face mask and live your best bubble bath book-reading life. So divine!
My skin had started to wrinkle. After I had properly pampered myself, I dressed in my softest jammies and poured myself a Dry Botanical Bubbly Blood Orange Sparkling Beverage in my special “Alysse” glass, a memento from my friend Dele’s wedding in 2019. I paired this with a fresh slice of angel food cake topped with fresh raspberries.
A little Amy Winehouse vinyl was playing softly in the background on my Victrola record player. It was a luscious evening as I devoured the book (and the cake and the entire bottle of DRY), fully enjoying my Me Party of One. It turns out it’s okay to drink an entire bottle on your own when there’s no booze in it.
When you purchase this book and want to own your own copy, I also recommend getting a small supply of little bookmarks to tag all of your favorite pages. Grab a highlighter in your favorite shade of neon to call out the thoughts that get in under your skin where the good stuff is. I like these Mini Magnetic Bookmarks from Target.
#ADDTOCART DRY BOTANICAL BUBBLY
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.
