‘Quit Like a Woman’ by Holly Whitaker

Quit Like a Woman was featured prominently in HBO Max’s And Just Like That…, and for good reason. Author Holly Whitaker is a feminist health and sobriety coach who developed the first woman-centric recovery program. In this New York Times bestseller, she recalls her personal journey of quitting alcohol and struggling to find a sober community that wasn’t couched in spirituality or patriarchal values. It’s an entertaining but powerful critique of our culture’s obsession with alcohol, complete with practical advice for women who are considering sobriety.

‘This Naked Mind’ by Annie Grace

Annie Grace is a two-time author and sobriety coach who became interested in this topic after quitting alcohol herself. In This Naked Mind, she draws on recent scientific research and her own lived experience in the hopes of helping others ditch drinking. Grace also unpacks her tried-and-true approach to sobriety, which focuses on “positive desire” and personal empowerment instead of scare tactics or shame. It’s no wonder This Naked Mind is an enduring bestseller in Amazon’s Alcoholism Recovery category.

‘We Are the Luckiest’ by Laura McKowen

We Are the Luckiest is the debut memoir from Laura McKowen, founder and CEO of the digital recovery program The Luckiest Club. McKowen herself overcame an alcohol use disorder. In the throes of her struggle to get sober, she realized just how lucky she was to feel her feelings again and fully connect with her family. This reframe helped her power through; eventually, it also inspired her to help others get sober. She chronicles all of this and more with grace and humility — and without sugarcoating the harsh realities of being addicted to alcohol.

‘Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions’ by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.

No list of sobriety literature would be complete without a nod to AA. Alcoholics Anonymous is one of the most popular and enduring recovery programs in the country, in part because of its high success rate. Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, authored by one of AA’s co-founders, is an overview of the program’s core tenets, including the titular Twelve Steps. The book was first published in 1952; to this day, it’s still used in AA groups around the world.

‘Sober Curious’ by Ruby Warrington

Ruby Warrington is a British author, journalist, and host of the podcast Sober Curious. She also claims to have originated the phrase “sober curious.” In her popular book of the same name, she combines expert interviews, scientific research, and anecdotes from her personal life to explore the benefits of ditching alcohol. Between Warrington’s well-cited insights and conversational, non-judgmental writing style, this book is perfect for anyone who’s questioning what their life could look like without drinking.

‘The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober’ by Catherine Gray

Most books about alcoholism and sobriety focus on how and why you should get sober. But what can people expect after they’ve ditched drinking once and for all? British journalist and author Catherine Gray tackles this topic with candor and wit in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, her Sunday Times-bestselling memoir. She also incorporates interviews with expert psychologists and neuroscientists, shedding light on the complicated reasons why so many of us are hooked on alcohol.

‘Drink’ by Ann Dowsett Johnston

Before Quit Like a Woman, there was Drink, journalist Ann Dowsett Johnston’s 2013 deep-dive into how binge drinking and other alcohol use disorders affect women. Johnston combines scientific research and expert interviews to investigate why the rates of alcohol use disorders are so high among American women and girls. She also incorporates personal narrative from her own battle with alcohol abuse. The Washington Post named Drink one of its top-10 books of 2013.

‘The Sober Diaries’ by Clare Pooley

Before she became a published author, Clare Pooley was the anonymous writer behind Mummy was a Secret Drinker, a wildly popular, diary-style sobriety blog. The Sober Diaries tells the tale of Pooley’s decision to quit drinking and start blogging as she navigated sobriety. It was a tough year in Pooley’s life, and not just because of her recovery: She also developed (and beat) breast cancer. She recounts all of this with humor and an upbeat attitude in the hopes of helping other women kickstart their sobriety journeys.

‘Sober on a Drunk Planet’ by Sean Alexander

A more recent addition to the “Quit Lit” canon, Sober on a Drunk Planet is full of eye-opening facts about how drinking affects us physiologically, psychologically, socially, and even financially. Author Sean Alexander is a certified counselor, fitness coach, and financial advisor. He builds a strong case for sobriety by focusing on what we gain when we quit drinking. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone who’s considering a dry lifestyle, even if they don’t have an alcohol use disorder.

‘Blackout’ by Sarah Hepola

If you’ve ever blacked out from drinking, then you know how terrifying it can be to have holes in your memory. Blackout is a New York Times-bestselling memoir on this very topic. Author Sarah Hepola used to drink so heavily that she’d black out on the regular. Like many writers and artists, she once believed that her creative spark came from alcohol. Eventually, her excessive drinking (and frequent blackouts) began untenable. She documents her journey of getting sober with humor and unflinching honesty, illuminating the transformative power of ditching drinking.

‘Understanding Addiction’ by Charles Smith and Jason Hunt

Dr. Charles “Chuck” Smith is an addiction medicine physician at Florida’s Recovery First Treatment Center; Dr. Jason Hunt is a psychiatrist, addiction medicine specialist, and former professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In Understanding Addiction, both physicians clearly and concisely unpack the science behind substance use disorders. The book isn’t exclusively about drinking, but it’s an informative, digestible read for anyone who wants a stigma-free overview of why substances like alcohol are so addictive.

‘Nothing Good Can Come from This’ by Kristi Coulter

After essayist Kristi Coulter quit drinking, she began writing about sober living for publications like The Awl. Her wry observations laid the groundwork for Nothing Good Can Come from This, Coulter’s critically acclaimed memoir-in-essays. Brimming with hilarious anecdotes and raw reflections, the book explores what it’s like to live and socialize without alcohol from a feminist perspective. It was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award.

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