(I know this is late but I'm finally working my way through my backlog of books, and I want to make sure to leave a review - sorry for the late review!) I don't typically read nonfiction, but Mallory O'Meara is always an auto-read. I loved her book Lady from the Black Lagoon, and how she focuses on the lost Hollywood history of Milicent Patrick. She follows the same method in Girly Drinks, looking at the little-known/often-overlooked history of women and alcohol, and she does it in a way that's so entertaining, it hooks you in from the beginning and keeps your attention through the entire book. I learned so much reading this one, and I can't wait for her next book!

I love everything that Mallory O'Meara has written. And full disclosure, I have listened to her podcast Reading Glasses for years. She is smart, witty and all of her books have been intensely researched. This is no exception. We get an incredible history of women and drinking -- distillers, bartenders, 'female' drinks, girly drink glasses, etc. I just wish that she would have included some recipes of her own favorite cocktails as well.

A fascinating look at the “dance” of women and alcohol. Where can women drink—allowed in tha bar, but they have to be served at the table. What’s an appropriate drink for women—expertly disguised alcohol, whether fruity or blend with sweet whipping cream, are perfectly all right, but beware if a woman orders an “alcohol forward” drink!

Girly Drinks is an enlightening tour through the history of women and alcohol, and presented in a manner that invites the reader in on the story. A great book for those interested in history, or drinking!

Highly recommended— four and 1/2 stars.

This is an absolutely fascinating look at a very little known aspect of drinking culture. Quite well written and incredibly easy to read.

What an interesting book! I would call this book a feminist social history that is told through the lens of alcohol. I was not expecting the book to start literally in prehistoric times and continue up through the modern day, but this book touches on everything from medieval alchemy to the Stonewall riots. I recommend picking this up if you like nonfiction told in a conversational tone. It really is remarkable how much the author is able to connect. I had no idea there was such a rich tapestry of history surrounding women and alcohol, but hearing how the trends changed over time was fascinating.

O"Meara provides a delightful history and commentary on the relationship between women, society, and alcohol in Girly Drinks. Her approach is witty, informative, and inviting, and makes the reader eager to turn through the next chapter to find out where things will go next. Girly Drinks does a wonderful job spanning the globe and highlighting cultural differences and similarities in relation to women in the sphere of alcohol. It calls out disparities, not just in gender, but in race, class, and more. This book was clearly crafted with care and a wealth of knowledge.

This is a cute book idea and the illustrations were cute. I think it would make a sweet gift for a female best friend and could be paired easily with a shaker or cocktail tools. I think everything in the book goes well with the theme and the design is very cohesive.

This was such a great book about the history of women and drinking culture. The author details how women have always found a way to participate in and contribute to the business and enjoyment of alcohol.

I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look into the alcohol industry more than the straight biography parts.

I absolutely loved this book. Mallory O'Meara has become a favorite writer for me. I love her subjects and her writing style. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next!

I'm not really a drinker, but I love a good microhistory! This is one of those books where if I started sharing every new-to-me fact, it would be the whole darn book. And the author has a fantastic sense of humor. Unfortunately, she'll also interrupt the story of one historical woman to discuss women elsewhere in the world during the same time period. This can range from anywhere to a couple paragraphs to several pages. If it wasn't for this, the book would be an easy four stars, but I just can't bump it up from 3.5. Still absolutely worth the read if you have any interest in the subject!
Thank you very much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was unfortunately not for me, as I am not a big drinker. I do enjoy non-fiction, but I think this subject matter just didn’t appeal to me. It is clear that this was well-researched, and O’Meara definitely has a comedic voice that shines through.

I loved this author's first book and this one was just as fun and informative a read. Mallory O'Meara has a voice and tone I enjoy reading and I look forward to what she comes out with next.

"Girly Drinks" chronicles the history of alcohol from the start of time to present days through a series of 15 discrete stories. The stories are full of charm and interesting facts. More than anything this is a book that seeks to capture women's history which sometimes gets lost in the margins and tells that history through the lens of alcohol. How does this one substance relate to the kinds of lives that women have lived throughout the centuries and around the globe? This is the kind of book that can be read one chapter at a time and doesn't have to be read in order. Instead, you could pick it up and enjoy each chapter as it's own short story.

Girly Drinks was nothing like what I expected, but to say that I was not disappointed is a gross understatement! This book was amazing!!! It was a deep dive into the history of women and drinking alcohol. As a woman who has a love for making and drinking amazing alcoholic concoctions, Girly Drinks was a book that I didn’t even know I needed!

Pleased to include this interesting history angle in the pop culture Nostalgia themed list of my holiday gift books guide for Zoomer magazine's Books section in December. (The listicle is online at related link.)

I love Mallory and her nerdy obsessions, so it was a joy to hear her narrate her micro-history on the involvement of women within the development of alcohol and its customs around the world. Each chapter is straightforward and interesting and the overall ideas created a compelling narrative regarding the treatment of women in society and especially regarding alcohol.

Who knew! Those were the first words that came to my mind when I finished reading O’Meara’s smart, original, and completely absorbing book exploring the story of how women were originally in charge of the production and distribution of alcohol, and how eventually denied this role due to patriarchy and thus mostly written out of history.

An engaging blend of mystery, history, and appealing wily influential women across different continents, cultures, and countries makes for an informative, accessible, and plain fascinating read!

I appreciated the journey from the beginnings of the business of alcohol to the present time when women are once again asserting and gaining the long overdue recognition being in the forefront in the business of alcohol.

I recommend this book to those who are interested in women’s history, the business of alcohol, or just occasionally enjoy an alcoholic drink!

This was a great book! I love the fact that it questions what actually makes a drink "girly" and why we try to gender drinks.

Girly drinks was a delightful journey around the world into the various capacities women facilitated the culture of alcohol consumption. O'Meara's history lesson included great cultural variances, which was refreshing. Having read her other book, this author's style is in a very easy-to-read conversational format, injecting a bit of wit and humor throughout. I think anyone, whether they consume alcohol or not, would enjoy the women's history and assorted stories about some of the most famous female connoisseurs. Many of the drinks I am excited to ask for the next time I visit a bar, or even visit the liquor store to concoct my own "girly drink." Also, I will definitely recommend this to all of my girlfriends!

Fascinating overview of how women shaped drinking culture and industries with lots of historical characters deserving of more recognition.