Why read Blackout?

Book cover of Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget

Book description

A memoir of unblinking honesty and poignant, laugh-out-loud humor, Blackout is the story of a woman stumbling into a new kind of adventure -- the sober life she never wanted.

For Sarah Hepola, alcohol was "the gasoline of all adventure." She spent her evenings at cocktail parties and dark bars…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Blackout as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Carol Weis

Author

This is another memoir that pulled me right in. Like Hepola, I loved the excitement of the whole bar scene, and quite often, drank until I blacked out. Trying to blackout things from my childhood that caused me so much anxiety and pain. And then having to remember and heal from it all when I got sober.

From Carol's list on The best addiction & recovery memoirs I wish had been available when I first got sober.

Deb Palmer

Author

This book does an excellent job describing what it’s like to feel “less than.” For me, that is the crux of my drinking. I truly appreciate that Hepola addresses sexuality patterns for many women alcoholics. It’s difficult to portray this in a way that is understandable but does not excuse the behavior nor shame it. This story is not glamorized and I appreciate that.

From Deb's list on The best books portraying addiction and family dysfunction with honesty, compassion, and humor.

Marilyn Davis

Author

Unexplained men and bruises the next morning are only a few of the unremembered experiences Sarah Hepola recalls in this honest, raw, poignant memoir. Finding that her creativity didn’t come from a bottle, she gets sober and finds a life she didn’t know she wanted.

From Marilyn's list on The best memoirs of drug and alcohol addiction.