Drunk-ish

A Memoir of Loving and Leaving Alcohol

By: Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

Narrated by: Stefanie Wilder-Taylor

This “perfect balance of bold honesty and riotous wit” (Shelf Awareness) from the author of Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay explores Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s journey to breaking up with alcohol for good.

For Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, alcohol was the seasoning that could give almost any activity more flavor—from liquor cabinet concoctions in high school to tequila shots in her early stand-up comedy days to grocery store wine in young motherhood. A drink instantly took the edge off and made even the most difficult adversary (be it a tough crowd in a comedy club or a judgmental PTA mom) not just bearable but fun.

As the years go by, Stefanie wonders if her relationship with alcohol is different from other people’s. Is everyone else struggling this hard to moderate? Is it even legal to watchThe Bachelor without a glass of white wine?

Having spent a lifetime grappling with the question of whether or not she is a “real” alcoholic, one evening brings Stefanie close to the edge of losing it all. Miraculously unscathed, she decides that she doesn’t need to dive all the way down to a stereotypical rock bottom before deciding to stop drinking; if sobriety will improve her life, that’s a good enough reason to quit. A tender and funny farewell letter to a beloved but toxic friend, Drunk-ish is “a roller coaster of a book. You will love this candid and funny memoir even if you’re not sober. Trust me” (Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author).

Unexpectedly Good!

I purchased this audiobook because it popped up as an Amazon suggestion a few days before my sobriety birthday. I had several credits building up and really should use them. When I realized that it was written by a comedian, I thought “Oh boy, this is going to be awful. She’s going to spend the whole book trying to prove how funny she is.” I listened to the sample and it sounded ok. I clicked “purchase,” fully expecting to hate it. To my great surprise, the humor and narration hit just the right tone. The humor really hit home when describing her rationalizations for why she “wasn’t that bad” or “wasn’t really an alcoholic.” Yep. It was all so real and so ridiculous. The author’s story was so similar to my own, mostly in the way she thought about alcohol, and how nothing devastating had happened YET. I like the way the author addresses the many mental obstacles to accepting a 12-step program: the God-thing, the Cult-thing, the meetings and, worst of all, the “never drinking again-thing.” Yeah. That’s a doozy. But as a person with 18 yrs of sobriety, I can say, the author does a really good job of describing how this system somehow succeeds. As someone who tried for years to get a grip through ‘anything but AA’ … in the end, I discovered that it was the only way that worked for me. The book is so serious and entertaining at the same time. I finished listening to it in just one day. I feel sure that it will help many drinking moms face the reality of their situation. I sincerely hope they will recognize themselves in this well-written story and maybe take action a few years sooner than they would otherwise.

Beautifully told

Honest and brutal but still somehow lighthearted. Relatable, lovely, and so well-narrated! I can’t recommend it enough.

Great listen

Stephanie is a wonderful story teller. She takes a hard subject and makes it easy to digest. She is never preachy. Every women can relate to at least one story in this book! #FCOL

thank you!

I'm 55 yrs old, first drink 14 yrs old. you gaven me hope. thankyou

Loved

This book is relatable in so many ways!! Whether you drink or don’t, have a loved one who has struggled or you just enjoy hearing others experiences this is a fantastic read!