Sarah Levy wrote an honest introspection on drinking alcohol. What it means to her and as a society. Categorized as a memoir and social critique was spot on.

I've read a few memoirs about drinking and the spiral of being out of control, hitting rock bottom and finding God. This is very different as it's not preachy and it's incredibly relatable. She didn't find herself homeless without money. On the contrary, she comes from a good home and had a great education. She slips into work parties, meeting clients, and of course going out with friends that all involve alcohol. She points out that as a society these are acceptable invitations to have a drink. But for her it turned out as a way of coping that had serious consequences.

Sarah Levy dives deep into herself and shares her downs as well as the climb back up. I found this book inspiring and I think many readers will recognize a little of themselves in some of the drinking situations.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Levy, and St. Martin's Press for an early arc.

As a sober-curious Gen Z, I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Drinking Games! This book surpassed my basic expectations of sobriety discussions and talked about mother-daughter relationships, female friendships, and our tumultuous relationships with our own bodies and identities as women in our twenties. So many pages of this book really resonates with me, even though I don’t drink regularly by any means. It was just so fulfilling to see pieces of myself written here in the way she thinks about her mom, her friends, her partner, and her body. I’d really recommend this to just about any young millennial or Gen Z!

▪️REVIEW▪️

Drinking Games ~ Sarah Levy

🙏🏼 Thank you to @sarahllevy and @stmartinspress for this advanced copy!

▪️QUICK TAKE:
* Genre: memoir/social critique
* Pub date: January 3, 2023 (TODAY!)
* Pages: 286
* Gist: a real-deal look at millennial sobriety

Sarah Levy’s daily life in New York almost always included a drink - a work meeting over cocktails, Monday night wine with girlfriends watching the Bachelorette, or a first date cheers with a dirty martini. But Levy’s daily life was also becoming unmanageable and a refusal to “stop digging” towards rock bottom transformed her life, empowering her to use her experiences to spark a sober curiosity in others.

So I have been toying with this idea of sobriety for almost a year now making the timing for this one perfect. I was already open-minded to the relatable wisdom Levy has to impart on her readers so I embraced this full-on. However I don’t think the timing matters - I am certain her honest approach can pretty much be accepted by anyone on the drinking spectrum. The delivery here invites the reader into her life and let’s them think for themselves - she doesn’t claim to know it all, she just knows her own experience and that makes hers a credible commentary. I really, really loved this one - I think Sarah Levy is smart, brave, and I kinda wish she was my friend. An early contender for a top 2023 read for me.

I love this one. I think it’s a great look at our society’s issue with drinking. So many social activities revolve around drinking and drinking heavily and she addresses this. Her writing is superb and makes you feel like you’re talking to a friend. A well done memoir.

I love memoirs and since I decided to stop drinking I especially love drinking memoirs. It seems rare in today’s society for someone to choose sobriety and I love hearing stories of how others live a sober life since drinking is so enmeshed in our culture. Whether or not you have reached an unmanageable addiction to alcohol, everyone who consumes alcohol is consuming an addictive substance. Yet we shame those whose addiction causes harm to their life or others, even though we encourage everyone to start drinking this addictive substance at very young ages. It’s not a mystery why alcohol is destructive to some people, it’s just a matter of timing. Even if you never have an unhealthy relationship to alcohol, it is still poison to your brain and body, yet marketing would have you believe you could not live a normal life without it.

The author starts off with a disclaimer about how she doesn’t think alcohol is bad for everyone and if you can enjoy a drink without blacking out or having bad hangovers then you can continue what you’re doing. Yes, everyone acts differently with alcohol. But this author decided to place all of the blame on herself and none of it on alcohol itself. True, she couldn’t control her drinking to the point where she was consistently blacking out even when she didn’t want to, but she didn’t acknowledge the impossibility of her goal. Alcohol is addictive and the first area of the brain that is damaged when you start drinking is the decision making part of your brain, so it’s no wonder that after your first drink you forget your promise to only have one. Sure, this is harder for some people than others, and I do believe this is related to your motivations for drinking and how you manage your emotions. Some people may not have this problem and can happily have one drink and be finished. But that doesn’t mean alcohol is still harmless to them and only harmful to those that over-indulge.

I feel it’s difficult for me to tell my whole story with alcohol because people will hear that I used to blackout when I didn’t want to and assure themselves that I had to stop drinking because of my own problem. But after all I have learned since choosing to be sober I want to encourage them that even if their drinking is “normal”, alcohol is poisoning their bodies and minds and they could choose to live a fuller, healthier life by giving up alcohol, even if they don’t have a “problem”. I want their eyes to be opened to the facts around alcohol and the effects on humans swept under the rug by marketing campaigns and society’s expectations for what is a normal drinking habit or not. I don’t judge people for wanting to drink, not after it is encouraged for every stage of life, but I want people to see how they are being misled and then make their choice, and the language surrounding the “alcoholic” mask this reality. I’m sure taking all of the blame is a part of Levy’s recovery, but I wished for a different message.

That being said, I found Levy to be incredibly relatable and really enjoyed her writing style. Her memoir is made up of essays cataloguing her worst black outs, insecurities, and transition to sober life. At first I found her stories addicting, probably because I saw so much of myself in her. I also struggled with blacking out, and her stories felt like my own. I didn’t want to put this down. Other things were not as personally relatable to me, like her struggles with social media or dating, but I still enjoyed her essays. One of my favorites was her story about manifestation, I found this fascinating.

I also agreed with Levy when she speaks about the dangers of discounting twelve step meetings. I have also read the anti-patriarchal arguments about how twelve step meetings are harmful and unhelpful to women, and I also disagree. While this may not be the right size fits all approach for everyone, I do believe that twelve step meetings have helped many people, including many women, and to denounce them completely would be a mistake. Do there need to be other acceptable options for reaching sobriety? Absolutely. And anyone needing help in doing so should have a multitude of opportunities to try out. I think this is all Levy wants to portray: that if you are seeking help don’t be afraid to try to find it, you are not alone, and there are so many others like you.

The main message I would like to portray is that you don’t have to have a problem to quit drinking. It most likely doesn’t serve you, except for making you feel like you belong. Those hangovers are direct results of your body recovering from being poisoned, and you don’t ever have to feel horrible again if you don’t want to. Even if you don’t black out, you won’t ever have to cringe at something you did or said that you wish you hadn’t. And instead of numbing your experiences by buzzing down with alcohol, you could instead experience all that life has to offer with a clear mind and strong body. There was a time in your life when you were fun and had fun without drinking, and you can find that version of yourself again if you want to.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book.

DRINKING GAMES
Sarah Levy, Author and Narrator Memoir

This book explores the life of the author, a 23 year old alcoholic. It covers what it is like to become sober at a young age.

This book takes on the age old question of how young a person can become an alcoholic. It explores the process of what happens when a younger person questions whether they can really be an alcoholic. There are varying opinions on this subject matter and I love that she opens up to tell her story. I would definitely give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

Sarah Levy self-identified as a girl "down for anything" in her twenties. At the time, she saw this as a state of being effortlessly cool and as someone who could get along with everyone and have fun doing anything. But now that she's sober, Sarah sees that being "down for anything" really just made her boring and passionless.

Sarah's memoir is really a collection of essays on how drinking alcohol shaped her life and her road to recovery. In some ways, Sarah's addiction and the ramifications felt slightly glossed over. There were certainly references to lost friends, her repeated blackouts, endless shots, vomit, and ending nights in the hospital. But, as Sarah said herself in the beginning, many of these stories are no longer part of her memories because of her blackouts and I could feel that in the writing.

Compared to many memoirs about addiction, this one felt a little tame. Sarah didn't have a child she was neglecting, her work didn't seem to suffer from her addiction, and besides a couple injuries and hospital visits, she didn't seem to suffer any major consequences from her drinking or experience a true "rock bottom." However, her drinking felt more relatable. Many people can relate to overindulgence for holidays and sporting events, experiencing a change of personality after a drink or two, or never being able to enjoy a specific alcohol again because of bad experience.

I liked that we learned of Sarah's recovery but it wasn't preachy nor was it religious or spiritual at all. However, even her recovery seemed a little glossed over. I imagine it was incredibly difficult and it sort of felt like she hit it out of the park. I could see this being a pain point for others in similar situations and wished Sarah had been a little more open about her difficulties on her road to recovery.

I appreciated that Sarah recognized her privilege. She has a great support system, obviously had financial stability, and access to influential people and she openly admitted to all of it. Again, this might be a pain point for others who do not have such a privileged background, but we can't help where we come from and I don't think that Sarah needs to apologize for that.

Sarah included a lot of information about her other addictions - social media, food and body image, clothing, etc. Some of it I could've done without, but I think it did show that she has an addictive personality and helped build her image as more than just an alcoholic.

Because this was more a collection of essays, the timeline was totally nonlinear. I could've used more reminders about when things took place but all in all, it did work.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I have family history of alcoholism, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my share of college party nights. So I was very interdependent in this book. Sarah Levy talks about her life and the negative effects of alcohol on it, her decision to live sober, and the positive changes to her life she may have missed out on if she hadn't become sober.
While her battle with alcohol looked different in many ways than what I've experienced, I found myself relating to a lot of it. I'm 42 years old now, and those days are behind me, both my own partying and alcoholism within my family, but reading this book was almost like a form of therapy. Revisiting pieces from the past and thinking more deeply about them.
I hope this book can reach the right people, and maybe help others who might be struggling with alcohol and may not even realize it. Alcoholism or alcohol abuse does not always look like someone who drinks all day and can't hold a job.

Thanks you to Netgalley and St Martin's press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

The author has shown so much bravery putting so much insight out into her darkest days of binge drinking. Alcoholism is so rampant in this country, often denied in the name of a good social life. I think it’s so important how she took the story from her thoughts all the way to how it actually affected all the people around her. It’s not all fun and games but of course, that’s how it always starts out and draws people in. This book is very honest and upfront and personable, you forget you’re not reading the story of a close friend.

As a sober twenty-something, this book was everything and more. I resonated with so many pieces of this book, it often felt like I was reading my own story.

The plot was a little too sporadic - hence the lack of one star.

Sarah and Netgalley, thank you for this opportunity to read such a raw, thought provoking memoir.

“Whether it’s alcohol, food, exercise, or work, so many of us are grasping for control and struggling to keep our heads above water.”

Sarah Levy takes readers on a journey of self discovery—her own and ours. Part memoir, part social critique, Levy’s writing is easy to build a connection with. Detailing her experiences with binge drinking, blackouts, disordered eating, and sobriety, Levy shares what most shy away from.

And that’s what makes this book impossible to put down. It’s not one that you’ll soon forget about after finishing. Levy’s lessons stick with you.
•••

I’ll be honest here, most of this book felt like my own life story being told back to me. Like down to the waking up in a hospital room after my 24th birthday bottomless brunch in NYC and losing a best friend because of it.

I saw so much of myself in Levy. She answered questions I didn’t know I had and calmed fears I hadn’t even begun to worry about. She is honest and unafraid and this book is exactly what I needed—what the world needs.

If you have ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, or even just your relationship with yourself, “Drinking Games” is a must read.
•••

Thank you @stmartinspress for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review!

This is the kind of book that I wish I’d had back in my early twenties when it felt like everything was crumbling around me and alcohol was my only coping mechanism. While “Drinking Games” is a gritty and gut-wrenchingly honest book about Sarah’s journey with sobriety, it also touches on other topics like eating disorders and social media. It’s genuinely an eye-opening read for anyone in their twenties who feels lost or lonely or like they’ve already failed in life even though they’re just getting started. In a way it was almost a cathartic experience for me to read about someone else who struggled with alcohol, their relationship with food, and just figuring their life out in general, because it made me feel less alone in my own journey throughout my twenties.

All that being said, it did start to get pretty repetitive towards the end and I found myself starting to skim the last 20-25% of the book. I also thought there was a big lack of acknowledgement of the immense privilege that the author experienced and that just made things feel a little bit off to me.

Thanks so much to @netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 ⭐️’s

“After years underwater, I was finally coming up for air and examining what was left of my life.”

It takes courage to bare your soul and write with such vulnerability in the hopes of helping someone else. Alcohol has definitely become a driving force of our culture and the downfalls are not discussed nearly as much or as freely as they should be. This book is for anyone who has wondered if they perhaps have a drinking problem, and for those who are sure they don’t. It was excruciating to read the situations she put herself in, that so many young women do the same each day. Kudos to Sarah for her honesty and for laying out plans and ideas to help others in a similar situation to potentially change their life. My only criticism would be the non-chronological order could be jarring at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy.

When I first came across this book, I thought it was written by Sarah Levy from Schitt's Creek. Before I read it, I was scrolling through Sarah's Instagram and saw no mention of this book. After further research, I realized this book was written by a different Sarah Levy.

I am not a person who is sober, but I do practice mindful drinking and avoid getting drunk often. I really enjoyed this book. Sarah's journey to sober living is one that I feel many people, especially those in their 20s, can relate to. This isn't just a memoir about becoming sober, but also a book with reflections and observations on life, which I appreciated. I found myself using the 'highlight' feature on my kindle throughout this book. Sarah acknowledges her privilege throughout the book, noting that her sober journey may be different than others' experiences.

I'm glad Sarah finally achieved her dream of writing a novel and I hope this isn't her last!

Sarah Levy finally is saying all of the things I needed to hear. There’s life on the other side of sobriety when you’re a millennial. She writes in a way of just telling a story to a friend and has been there and went through it. I really enjoyed reading her journey and hope that this book helps other women with their journey. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

This was a very real account of a woman who decided to quit drinking. A lot of sober memoirs include really outrageous drunken behaviors and drinking in extreme excess. But this one was more relatable for those of us that don't fit that previous category. The timeline in this one kept switching back and forth which was slightly confusing. I wasn't sure if she was still sober at the beginning of some stories or when in her life it took place. It also led to some repetition. Overall a very real memoir.

This was brilliant, I loved the dark moments and the vulnerability that the author shared. It was relatable in many ways and I loved the raw honest vibes throughout the book. Would definately read Sarah Levy again! 5 STARS

This memoir was fantastic. It was realistic, engaging, and overall wonderfully written. I cannot wait to read what’s next from this author.

This memoir was honest and raw, but also a little redundant. It was a quick read and I enjoyed the journey the author took us on, but I wished there had been a little more depth and less whining.

4 stars

I always like reading about true life drinking/drug stories, they fascinate me. And I also applaud Sarah for sharing her story with everyone so that others may get help and know there is a possibility for life after addiction.

I think Drinking Games was a good audio and would definitely recommend it.