- It’s surprisingly (not so surprisingly) hard to find an addiction and recovery memoir that isn’t written by a white person, and FIRST IN THE FAMILY gets into the many reasons why that is.
- Hoppe blends memoir with facts and figures about how addiction was treated in her family and among people of color more broadly; specifically, how BIPOC experiences are purposefully erased from the mainstream frameworks of recovery.
- Hoppe reads the audiobook, and is such an engrossing and emotive narrator.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an early audio copy of First in the Family. The author narrates her memoir, and it is both enthralling and heartbreaking to listen to her speak so clearly about her life and its included trauma.
While I could connect in some ways, such as being around the same age and from the same part of NJ (I don't think many people know Dover, NJ), there were many other ways that the author's upbringing. I learned a lot about sobriety and how addiction resources have not always been as accessible to people of color. I appreciated the author sharing her story, and I definitely recommend the audiobook. Hearing her powerful story in her own words and her own voice made this even more impactful for me.

I learned so much about the system of sobriety and how people of color have been excluded from these resources and institutions. This is kind of half memoir and half expose. A very interesting point of view that needs to be heard.

Jessica Hoppe courageously used her voice to tell her story. A story of love, family, addiction, and how addiction affects families of color. This biopic highlights how addiction issues are treated differently for POC. Hoppe was brutally honest and narrated the story in a way that was straightforward and cut to the chase. Hoppe made connections between the drug war and her family's history with substance abuse that were eye opening. This book lends a voice to decreasing the stigmatization of substance abuse and alcoholism, especially in POC communities. This is a book that will stay with me a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Another fantastic memoir.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. It did not influence my opinion on it in any way.

The author narrating the book was on point.

It is always interesting to me to read about other people's stories on alcoholism, and how this addition affects them and the people around them. Brings a little extra joy and happiness when there is recovery involved however, at the same time, it is bittersweet because for often than not that recovery comes with a big cost, in the case of the author, suffering and dealing with trauma related to generational, racial and societal aspects that otherwise they wouldn't have to experience or they could experience their addiction and healing process in a different way.

I always appreciate when authors present their stories in the most honest, raw, and real way, no matter how ugly, or uncomfortable these are. Vulnerability doesn't come natural for most people, in this case Jessica does a pretty good job at it. I also appreciate how the author took the time to understand and comprehend the history behind her family, the roots of her trauma, and the struggles that come with family, society and one owns bagage.

I appreciate the author sharing her story.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for the free advanced listeners copy, in exchange for an honest review.


Wendy

This is a really good memoir about addiction, recovery, and generational trauma. The audiobook is well read by the author, and she did a good job of digging into her family's history and talking about how the prominent systems of recovery (& similar stories to this one) are not created or geared towards people of color.

I think the history, understanding, and conversations surrounding addiction are so very important. I think so many lack awareness and education about what it is like for those that struggle and how it impacts them and their family system.

I think there need to be more stories like this. Hoppe’s bravery to be so open and vulnerable allows those conversations to happen. She dives deep into many important topics and themes including generational trauma, the institution of Alcoholics Anonymous, and hope and resiliency.

People that are struggling, those that support them, and anyone that has come out on the other side will relate and learn something from Jessica’s story. I think that is so important.

I listened to this one and really recommend that be the way you consume this memoir. Jessica’s voice is lovely and hearing her tell her story made it even more meaningful.

Thank you so much @macmillian.audio and @netgalley for the early copy.

This one came out yesterday

A memoir, written by Jessica Hoppe explores the firsts that she experiences. The first in her family to graduate college. The first in her family to go into AA for recovery of Alcoholism. The writing and the story were raw. Jessica showcases generational trauma and societies views on Latinx / people of color and addiction. I don’t love reading about politics and there were many moments where this book dove into that. The audiobook was read by Jessica herself, and I think she did a great job. Not every author can pull it off. I always enjoy reading about people’s unique journeys. This one was worth the read.

Much more than one person’s story of survival and recovery. This books examines the cultural impacts on addiction and breaking the generational cycle. At times, political, but mostly heartfelt, the author shares her emotional experience escaping the hold of addiction. I appreciate the openness and willingness to share the entire family and community with us, the readers.

The audiobook is read by the author with a level of emotion that kept me invested.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and author Jessica Hoppe for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I struggled with this book, as it is a lot of trauma porn and is very similar to other stories like it. I would have preferred a different take on her experiences, which are valid.

First in the Family was an excellent memoir. I loved her perspective of intergenerational trauma, addiction, managing familial expectations, and working in a biased world.

A stark and honest look at alcoholism, systems race issues, and how we’ve failed as a country to halt addiction rather than further its cause.

Jessica has really put herself out here, on to the page, in an alarmingly honest way. Trigger warnings abound but I don’t know how one could read this and not feel educated, convicted, and called to helping solve the problem of alcoholism/addiction being systemically perpetuated. Excellent storytelling and support of facts surround then issues that nearly made Jessica’s story turn out much differently. Highly recommend listening!

I think this would be a great book for those who are looking to get sober. Hoppe navigates her addiction well, is very relatable, but also brings in new aspects different from mind. She weaves in culture and race with addiction. The way she weaves in facts with her story is reminiscent of Leslie Jamison, but still very unique.

First In the Family by @jessicahoppeauthor was an honest and raw memoir, with the author sharing some of the most intimate details of her life in a beautiful voice and prose.

Hoppe's story is a gift to all of us, covering difficult topics of substance use and abuse, abortion, racism, and white supremacy.

Sharing our stories builds empathy, understanding, and compassion. Jessica Hoppe does this beautifully with her memoir, FIRST IN THE FAMILY.

Hoppe is a Latinx woman who grew up in the US, a country that’s been divided by racism since its inception. She shares what this was like for her personally, and for her family as a whole.

During these tumultuous years, something horrible happened to Hoppe. The resulting stress and silence led her down the road of alcoholism.

Eventually, Hoppe found her way to recovery. She tells her story with straightforward honesty, shining a light in those dark corners where addiction thrives.

I listened to the audiobook, which Hoppe narrates. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her tell her story.

*I received a free audiobook download from MacMillan Audio.*

4.5! I *loved* this and if you like QuitLit, add this to your TBR immediately. The author made an important point that most quitlit is written from white women, and it’s important we give our attention to BIPOC authors sharing their stories.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the audiobook—there’s something deeply personal about the author sharing her story and quite literally TELLING you her story. I loved the connection the author made between the legacy of the drug wars and her own family’s legacy with substance abuse—it was a powerful component of this story. I think the back ~30% of this book and the work it does to break down the problems with AA and its patriarchal/racially problematic approach to sobriety is SO IMPORTANT. I want o read so much more about that—I got some of it from Quit Like a Woman, but it left out how racist the institution is and how much it has not evolved with society as a whole.

I’d highly reccomend this book, and am so grateful I got to hear this story.

Thank you #macmillanaudio for this advance audio copy of this book. While I think this book will reach and help someone, it is not for me. There are several potential triggers in the book (rape, excessive drug use, abortions) . A lot of back history of AA and alcoholism that I wasn’t aware of but again not enough to pull me into her story.

A powerful and personal account of substance addiction and sobriety. Through her own experiences the author weaves broad societal situations with how those circumstances affect real people and cause cycles in families.

Thank you Jessica Hoppe, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. This memoir was so raw. It was real and it was rewarding in many ways. As a white woman, I can never presume to truly understand Jessica’s experiences but she did such a wonderful job of vividly depicting the generational trauma, the acts of vile abuse and discrimination not only from the people her family encountered outside of their own family, but within it as well. There were many times I had to pause, to put it away, and take a break. As the adult child of an addict, there were things that hit too hard, that felt too close to home for me to listen right through. But to layer onto that the experiences I will never know, can never truly understand, it it just incredible that she was able to overcome, to fight her way out, to become the brilliant, strong (in will, mind, and in body) woman she is today. I am grateful for her willingness to not only share her story, but to narrate it herself. Highly recommend this book.

I find it difficult to review memoirs as they are the author's account of their life, and they have chosen to be vulnerable and share it with strangers. This account is incredibly honest. I thought it was well told, and I appreciate the author for sharing.

Please note that this memoir includes content related to alcoholism, sexual assault, drug use, abortion, racism, and suicidal thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.