Part memoir and part social critique, Drinking Games is about how one woman drank and lived― and how, for her, the last drink was just the beginning.
On paper, Sarah Levy’s life was on track. She was 28, living in New York City, working a great job, and socializing every weekend. But Sarah had a secret: her relationship with alcohol was becoming toxic. And only she could save herself.
Drinking Games explores the role alcohol has in our formative years, and what it means to opt out of a culture completely enmeshed in drinking. It’s an examination of what our short-term choices about alcohol do to our long-term selves and how they challenge our ability to be vulnerable enough to discover what we really want in life.
Candid and dynamic, this book speaks to the all-consuming cycle of working hard, playing harder, and trying to look perfect while you’re at it. Sarah takes us by the hand through her personal journey with blackouts, dating, relationships, wellness culture, startups, social media, friendship, and self-discovery.
In this intimate and darkly funny memoir, she stumbles through her twenties, explores the impact alcohol has on relationships and identity, and shows us how life’s messiest moments can end up being the most profound.
#QUITLIT Review
There’s something special about a book that can truly capture the heart and soul of its reader. That’s exactly what Sarah Levy does with her memoir Drinking Games. More than just a diary, this book offers an honest insight into Levy’s journey through addiction and recovery. As someone in recovery myself, I found it to be a compelling read. Plus, I loved the cover art. Yes, I am that girl that will buy a book based on the cover artwork alone.
Why I Connected with It
From the very first page, I felt connected to Levy. She writes in such a down-to-earth way that I felt as though she was talking directly to me. She talks honestly about her struggles with alcohol and the emotional rollercoaster of sobriety, which made it easy for me to relate to her story on a personal level. The connections between our stories were unmistakable, and it helped me feel less alone in my own experiences.
Levy also writes about how she has come to terms with her past mistakes and learned how to forgive herself for them. This resonated with me; it was refreshingly honest without being overly dramatic or preachy. Her writing is so sincere that it made me think deeply about my life and how far I’ve come since getting sober—and that’s one of the most powerful gifts any author can give a reader!
The Power of Language
One thing that stood out to me while reading this book was Levy’s use of language. Her writing isn’t flowery or poetic; instead, she opts for short sentences and straightforward language, which makes her story all the more powerful. She also utilizes humor throughout, which lightens the mood and adds another layer of relatability to her narrative. Her words resonate long after you’ve finished reading them; they stay with you like old friends who are always there when you need them most.
In Conclusion
Drinking Games is an amazing memoir that genuinely captures the spirit of recovery from addiction. It gave me hope, reassurance, and comfort and reminded me of some of the dark times in my journey before getting sober. If you’re looking for a powerful story about overcoming adversity and finding strength within yourself, this is definitely worth checking out!
The Sobees #QUITLIT Score: 4 out of 5
Recovery Rocks podcast: Special Guest Sarah Levy
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