Member Reviews
I’m a sucker for a good memoir, and this was definitely one of them! Despite the heavy topic, it was very easy to read and gave me some laughs.
In DRUNK-ISH, Wilder-Taylor offers a perspective on women's alcohol consumption that is neither self-serving nor judgmental. I truly appreciated her humor, and I felt like I was listening to an older sister telling it exactly how it is. Written with unflinching honesty, this memoir grants the reader space to consider their own alcohol consumption while feeling supported regardless of where they land on the spectrum, from non-drinker to alcoholic. The audiobook is narrated by the author and resembled a casual conversation. For anyone that enjoys memoirs, self-help nonfiction, or simply a humorous, yet honest approach to improving oneself, I cannot recommend this one enough. Thank you, Gallery Books and NetGalley, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was an extremely vulnerable and honest look into mommy and wine culture and the societal views of it all. Definitely a good discussion book and got me thinking a lot about decisions I make regarding alcohol because I want to or because it’s just accepted or even encouraged
Drunk-ish is a funny, honest look at women who use alcohol to relieve the stress of motherhood. The beginning chapters explain how Stefanie planned and attended lunches and afternoon play groups where the moms indulged, and husband was always willing to bring another bottle of wine home after his long days at work. The books takes a hard look at social drinking and stress. Recommended for book discussion groups.
Drunk-ish was a great memoir about questioning the role of alcohol in "mommy" circles. I appreciated the author's honesty and vulnerability in talking about how drinking negatively impacted raising her children. The book questioned the acceptance of mommy drinking culture, which I appreciated. It was pretty funny too! Great on audio.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “Drunk-ish” in exchange for an honest review. I appreciated Wilder-Taylor’s openness by sharing her life with so many witnesses. At times the conversational/cavalier tone felt at odds with the content. I’m not familiar with her work so that could be why.
This was my first book by Stefanie. It felt very familiar like I was having a conversation with a friend. Her story is so relatable as a parent in “live, love, wine” culture where we question what people think if we aren’t drinking.
This is an unabashed and self-acknowledging of when is the time to admit you have a problem. Additionally, I really enjoyed Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's writing style.
Hilarious and honest look at one mom's path to sobriety, after being a blogger and author steeped in Mommy Wine Culture. I found this really relatable, even as someone who doesn't have kids, and I think sober (or sober-curious) moms will find it even more so.
This is an honest exploration of the author's journey to sobriety incorporating many stories presented in a funny and/or self-depracating way. She's great at entertaining and the BFF tone comes through in this relatable memoir. From the camaraderie of mommy drinks to questioning her relationship with alcohol, it's like a tender and funny farewell to a once-beloved but toxic friend. Recommended for anyone looking to take a break or stop altogether.
I love memoirs, and this was one of the best I've read! I know a lot of people who struggle with addiction, specifically alcohol and this was such a powerful read. The storytelling, bluntness, and truth behind Stephanie's words were truly captivating. And the wittiness just added to the overall emotion and feel.
Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to review this book.
After becoming a mother, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor found herself exhausted and overwhelmed. She returned to her old vice of drinking to soften her overwhelm and unwind at night. As a stand-up comedian, having a drink was considered just part of the job and eased her stage fright. With a sharp wit and a refreshingly candid voice, Stefanie shares how she ended her not entirely problematic yet not beneficial relationship with alcohol for good. She confronts the “mommy juice” culture and gives the sober-curious some thoughts to consider.
I appreciated that Stephanie Wilder-Taylor acknowledges her privilege in her addiction while also noting that addiction can impact anyone. This was a courageous and hilarious memoir that many readers may find relatable and helpful in considering their own relationship with alcohol.
Read This If You:
-have ever wondered if your relationship with alcohol is different than others
-love to root for your friends making life changes
-found early motherhood to be more difficult than expected
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s memoir is a must read for anyone who has wondered about their drinking. I have a feeling that most of us have. Her light, funny, self-deprecating style quickly pulls you into her world. As a stand-up comedian, she self-medicated with alcohol to calm stage fright and anxiety. As a new mother, she found “wine o”clock” relieved the pressure of long days spent with a colicky baby. Postpartum depression, infant twins (one with special medical needs) and a husband who worked sixty hours a week turned “wine o”clock” into a longer daily celebration. Stephanie naturally selected friends who were into playdate chardonnay and avoided the one glass and done drinkers. However, when an evening out with her children could have had devastating consequences, she knows she has to stop.
Stefanie is brutally honest about how difficult it was for her to stop drinking. She knows she cannot moderate her drinking. A glass of wine will lead to a bottle and a bottle…you get it. It takes time for her to admit she is an alcoholic, go to meetings and stop. And stop she does, for years now but she is brutally honest about her desire, even now and then, to drink again. In our world where almost everything - holidays, graduations , children’s parties, meetings, vacations, weddings, etc. - Drunk-ish stands out. Stefanie’s journey could be yours, your neighbor’s, your sibling’s or mine. Unless you are one of the lucky few who never drinks or stops after one, buy this book. Stefanie Wilder-Taylor wrote it for you. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor for this ARC.
I'm a sucker for a good memoir, and this one hit the spot. As a child of two alcoholics, I've been thinking a lot about my relationship with alcohol and this one really makes the reader think and reflect.
Her witty banter, her honesty, her gift to pull the reader in to her story is what made this an enjoyable and quick read.
This is an honest look into Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's struggle with addiction. She tells us truthfully how she didn't see that she had a problem and how she came to realize it was one. Her writing is engaging and keeps you in the story.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely
This title is a solid addition to the quit lit genre. The author shares her experience of becoming sober in a way that is insightful, humorous, and supportive to others who may be struggling with their own relationship with alcohol. The author never comes across as preachy and can take a good laugh at herself when needed. I really enjoyed reading this title and hope to read more from this author in the future.
From the author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay, comes a true account of author Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s journey to breaking up with alcohol for good. Stefanie was a former stand up comedian who needed alcohol, lots of alcohol to battle stage fright. After having twins, she consumed alcohol to help with anxiety. As a mom, I could relate to her struggles with parenting and the need to drink alcohol to cope. I admire her decision to completely give up drinking for her kids. Also, appreciated the author’s courage to share her story with the world. This story was so powerful, candid and laugh out loud hilarious.
Drunk-ish is Stefanie Wilder-Taylor's examination of her relationship with alcohol, spanning the course of her life, while working through the process of realizing she needs to cut out alcohol and go sober.
This was my first time reading anything by Wilder-Taylor and I was immediately hooked. Her writing, though deliberate and careful, feels casual — as if she's just explaining this to her girlfriends or a therapist. It's accessible and it makes everything relatable. There can sometimes be a fine line when discussing additions, where one might come off on a high-horse for being sober, but you never get this with Wilder-Taylor. Instead, it feels stripped back—we see her at her worst and then we see her start to climb her way out of it.
As someone who has sat and questioned her own relationship with drinks in the past, a lot of this hit home. There was humor in everything she said, but a fine layer of seriousness to balance it; you were appropriately taken along on her journey of dismissing how much she was drinking until the Moment she knew she had to quit.
Wilder-Taylor touches on it a bit, but since it's focused on her own story we don't get too into it, but Drunk-ish does bring up questions and points on how normalized drinking has become in 'mommy' culture.
Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir and would definitely recommend to anyone.
A great memoir of addiction. It was honest and raw, but also hilarious at times. I loved her witticism and ancedotes as she looks back at her own life.
I picked this book up because the author questions whether she constitutes as a "real" alcoholic when she decides to go sober. As someone who has questioned their own relationship with alcohol, I was interested to hear a sober story from someone who didn't necessarily consider themselves an alcoholic. That all being said - this woman had a very bad relationship with alcohol and she was lucky enough to recognize it before anything terrible happened. Therefore, it wasn't the alcohol memoir I was personally looking for, but with that out of the way, I still enjoyed it.
Wilder-Taylor does a great job of writing as her past self despite being 14 years sober. Her line of thinking is very easy to follow, and I really felt for her. She writes of the complexities of our society's relationship with alcohol, and even acknowledges her own role in normalize Mommy drinking. I really enjoyed this book, and I feel like I got a lot out of it as someone who has questioned her relationship with alcohol, even if I was not drinking as much or as frequently as the author was before she went sober.
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!