I loved the searing honesty - sometimes it's an uncomfortable read about the events that lead her to "rock bottom". Life is short and it’s only the experience that we make it for ourselves, but I completely see how this got out of hand for Gordon - where the darker moments in life have sent me reflecting that I maybe should control a few more of the elements of letting go, it’s usually been the guilt in retelling an anecdote that has driven me to add an act to the ‘maybe not to be repeated’ list. Very readable, full of striking honesty about the impact alcohol dependency has had on Briony Gordon’s life and loved ones. In parts it's a very raw, open account of active addiction and the attitudes, behaviours and barriers that addicts put in place to deny their reality and avoid doing anything about it.

I came across her by accident a few years ago with her book about running and expected fluff and then got entertaining depth.

I felt deep sympathy and optimism while reading this book— and it’s definitely changed my understanding of addiction (for the better! Her sober anniversary is my birthday, and later this month when I celebrate, I will raise a glass of non-alcoholic something to her. Bryony Gordon is a respected journalist, a number-one bestselling author and an award-winning mental health campaigner.

Knowing these thoughts and emotions and behaviours and cravings and outbursts I get are things other addicts experience too.This is a much darker, grittier read than her other memoirs, but given the subject this is unsurprising. This is I think the darkest of her books as she tackles her alcoholism with brutal honesty including the impact on her family. First Bryony Gordon faced her demons, then she fought them (and is still fighting-you’re always an addict and she’s thankfully in recovery now), and then she wrote it all down and revealed everything to the public. I was told that the glitter perhaps showed a person who was keen to hide their true self behind a sparkly front.

The narrative jumps from Bryony’s experiences in rehab to describing the often shocking situations she was in while drinking.I've read quite a few addiction memoirs and I've always been left with wanting to know how people navigate sobriety. It's not an easy read, and there were times the author's self-doubt really wore on me, but it's SO REAL. Often wince-inducing, the memoir does not shy from describing the lows of her alcoholism and the impact on her family. After my own day of anniversary planned excess and fun though I’ve changed my rating - she’s human and was trying to deal with life by living it - surely that’s always better than trying to deal with life by not experiencing and pushing the boundaries?