Sarah Levy self-identified as a girl "down for anything" in her twenties. At the time, she saw this as a state of being effortlessly cool and as someone who could get along with everyone and have fun doing anything. But now that she's sober, Sarah sees that being "down for anything" really just made her boring and passionless.

Sarah's memoir is really a collection of essays on how drinking alcohol shaped her life and her road to recovery. In some ways, Sarah's addiction and the ramifications felt slightly glossed over. There were certainly references to lost friends, her repeated blackouts, endless shots, vomit, and ending nights in the hospital. But, as Sarah said herself in the beginning, many of these stories are no longer part of her memories because of her blackouts and I could feel that in the writing.

Compared to many memoirs about addiction, this one felt a little tame. Sarah didn't have a child she was neglecting, her work didn't seem to suffer from her addiction, and besides a couple injuries and hospital visits, she didn't seem to suffer any major consequences from her drinking or experience a true "rock bottom." However, her drinking felt more relatable. Many people can relate to overindulgence for holidays and sporting events, experiencing a change of personality after a drink or two, or never being able to enjoy a specific alcohol again because of bad experience.

I liked that we learned of Sarah's recovery but it wasn't preachy nor was it religious or spiritual at all. However, even her recovery seemed a little glossed over. I imagine it was incredibly difficult and it sort of felt like she hit it out of the park. I could see this being a pain point for others in similar situations and wished Sarah had been a little more open about her difficulties on her road to recovery.

I appreciated that Sarah recognized her privilege. She has a great support system, obviously had financial stability, and access to influential people and she openly admitted to all of it. Again, this might be a pain point for others who do not have such a privileged background, but we can't help where we come from and I don't think that Sarah needs to apologize for that.

Sarah included a lot of information about her other addictions - social media, food and body image, clothing, etc. Some of it I could've done without, but I think it did show that she has an addictive personality and helped build her image as more than just an alcoholic.

Because this was more a collection of essays, the timeline was totally nonlinear. I could've used more reminders about when things took place but all in all, it did work.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I have family history of alcoholism, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't have my share of college party nights. So I was very interdependent in this book. Sarah Levy talks about her life and the negative effects of alcohol on it, her decision to live sober, and the positive changes to her life she may have missed out on if she hadn't become sober.
While her battle with alcohol looked different in many ways than what I've experienced, I found myself relating to a lot of it. I'm 42 years old now, and those days are behind me, both my own partying and alcoholism within my family, but reading this book was almost like a form of therapy. Revisiting pieces from the past and thinking more deeply about them.
I hope this book can reach the right people, and maybe help others who might be struggling with alcohol and may not even realize it. Alcoholism or alcohol abuse does not always look like someone who drinks all day and can't hold a job.

Thanks you to Netgalley and St Martin's press for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

The author has shown so much bravery putting so much insight out into her darkest days of binge drinking. Alcoholism is so rampant in this country, often denied in the name of a good social life. I think it’s so important how she took the story from her thoughts all the way to how it actually affected all the people around her. It’s not all fun and games but of course, that’s how it always starts out and draws people in. This book is very honest and upfront and personable, you forget you’re not reading the story of a close friend.

As a sober twenty-something, this book was everything and more. I resonated with so many pieces of this book, it often felt like I was reading my own story.

The plot was a little too sporadic - hence the lack of one star.

Sarah and Netgalley, thank you for this opportunity to read such a raw, thought provoking memoir.

“Whether it’s alcohol, food, exercise, or work, so many of us are grasping for control and struggling to keep our heads above water.”

Sarah Levy takes readers on a journey of self discovery—her own and ours. Part memoir, part social critique, Levy’s writing is easy to build a connection with. Detailing her experiences with binge drinking, blackouts, disordered eating, and sobriety, Levy shares what most shy away from.

And that’s what makes this book impossible to put down. It’s not one that you’ll soon forget about after finishing. Levy’s lessons stick with you.
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I’ll be honest here, most of this book felt like my own life story being told back to me. Like down to the waking up in a hospital room after my 24th birthday bottomless brunch in NYC and losing a best friend because of it.

I saw so much of myself in Levy. She answered questions I didn’t know I had and calmed fears I hadn’t even begun to worry about. She is honest and unafraid and this book is exactly what I needed—what the world needs.

If you have ever questioned your relationship with alcohol, or even just your relationship with yourself, “Drinking Games” is a must read.
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Thank you @stmartinspress for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review!

This is the kind of book that I wish I’d had back in my early twenties when it felt like everything was crumbling around me and alcohol was my only coping mechanism. While “Drinking Games” is a gritty and gut-wrenchingly honest book about Sarah’s journey with sobriety, it also touches on other topics like eating disorders and social media. It’s genuinely an eye-opening read for anyone in their twenties who feels lost or lonely or like they’ve already failed in life even though they’re just getting started. In a way it was almost a cathartic experience for me to read about someone else who struggled with alcohol, their relationship with food, and just figuring their life out in general, because it made me feel less alone in my own journey throughout my twenties.

All that being said, it did start to get pretty repetitive towards the end and I found myself starting to skim the last 20-25% of the book. I also thought there was a big lack of acknowledgement of the immense privilege that the author experienced and that just made things feel a little bit off to me.

Thanks so much to @netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 ⭐️’s

“After years underwater, I was finally coming up for air and examining what was left of my life.”

It takes courage to bare your soul and write with such vulnerability in the hopes of helping someone else. Alcohol has definitely become a driving force of our culture and the downfalls are not discussed nearly as much or as freely as they should be. This book is for anyone who has wondered if they perhaps have a drinking problem, and for those who are sure they don’t. It was excruciating to read the situations she put herself in, that so many young women do the same each day. Kudos to Sarah for her honesty and for laying out plans and ideas to help others in a similar situation to potentially change their life. My only criticism would be the non-chronological order could be jarring at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy.

When I first came across this book, I thought it was written by Sarah Levy from Schitt's Creek. Before I read it, I was scrolling through Sarah's Instagram and saw no mention of this book. After further research, I realized this book was written by a different Sarah Levy.

I am not a person who is sober, but I do practice mindful drinking and avoid getting drunk often. I really enjoyed this book. Sarah's journey to sober living is one that I feel many people, especially those in their 20s, can relate to. This isn't just a memoir about becoming sober, but also a book with reflections and observations on life, which I appreciated. I found myself using the 'highlight' feature on my kindle throughout this book. Sarah acknowledges her privilege throughout the book, noting that her sober journey may be different than others' experiences.

I'm glad Sarah finally achieved her dream of writing a novel and I hope this isn't her last!

Sarah Levy finally is saying all of the things I needed to hear. There’s life on the other side of sobriety when you’re a millennial. She writes in a way of just telling a story to a friend and has been there and went through it. I really enjoyed reading her journey and hope that this book helps other women with their journey. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

This was a very real account of a woman who decided to quit drinking. A lot of sober memoirs include really outrageous drunken behaviors and drinking in extreme excess. But this one was more relatable for those of us that don't fit that previous category. The timeline in this one kept switching back and forth which was slightly confusing. I wasn't sure if she was still sober at the beginning of some stories or when in her life it took place. It also led to some repetition. Overall a very real memoir.

This was brilliant, I loved the dark moments and the vulnerability that the author shared. It was relatable in many ways and I loved the raw honest vibes throughout the book. Would definately read Sarah Levy again! 5 STARS

This memoir was fantastic. It was realistic, engaging, and overall wonderfully written. I cannot wait to read what’s next from this author.

This memoir was honest and raw, but also a little redundant. It was a quick read and I enjoyed the journey the author took us on, but I wished there had been a little more depth and less whining.

4 stars

I always like reading about true life drinking/drug stories, they fascinate me. And I also applaud Sarah for sharing her story with everyone so that others may get help and know there is a possibility for life after addiction.

I think Drinking Games was a good audio and would definitely recommend it.

“My therapist once told me that trauma causes separation, while healing means integration”

The author, Sarah Levy’s part memoir and part social critique hit home to say the least. As a twenty-eight year old, she had everything - a job and life in New York City, and ability/affordability to socialize each weekend. Levy draws her readers by sharing her experiences both of addictive drinking, which resulted in constant blackouts, and moments of sobriety when she bore witness to loss of relationships like her best friend, Chloe, relationships, friendships, and self discovery.

Levy labels alcoholism as toxic, which shaped her formative years, and examines both long and short term consequences of consuming it long term. Her book is a reflection and social commentary on addictive behavior. In this intimate and funny memoir about the stories she experiences in her twenties, what she describes as the “messiest moments” are perhaps the most profound.

As someone who straddles between two cultures - one that sees it as a taboo while the other celebrates it, I always struggled as a child with alcohol. I lost my grandfather to liver cerosis, I have no actual memory of him as I was only 3 years old when he left us. Since then, my mom was always worried/concerned about the danger of addictive behavior while my father was more accepting. My first official drink was when I was 21, which I had asked my dad to get for me. Thus, these discussions were part of my upbringing and important ones to have. Perhaps, this book comes at a timely time as we are still reeling from the pandemic and the epidemic of loneliness where people do turn to addictive behavior often to cope (which is equally human). Ultimately, I think we need such stories to have an open, public, and honest conversations about these glaring issues.

With alcohol use at the forefront of my mind this holiday season, I found this to be an extremely timely read. Sarah Levy does a great job of helping readers understand and relate to her experiences. I love how this book isn't just about sobriety, but also covers limiting beliefs, habits, an untapped potential. I'd recommend it for anyone looking to develop a better future self. Sometimes the transitions between stories and chapter felt a little jarring or scattered, but it didn't distract me from the clear messages of the book. All in all, a wonderful commentary!

This book falls into my fave memoirs categories. This book is by far the most relatable book I have read as I am ending this year. I commend this author for even speaking about her sobriety and how she went about getting there in her own way.

Thanks NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A memoir in essays about a young New Yorker who decides to become sober and her struggles and insights. Not extremely deep, but a lovely and warm series of observations on drinking and culture and social media.

The mini-genre of memoirs of women-quitting-drinking is a favorite of mine, and this was a great addition to it. She absolutely captures something very universal in her experiences, it feels so relatable, and very thoughtfully written.

"Drinking Games" is a very self-reflective look at the author's relationship with alcohol and her decision to stop drinking. Anyone who drank in college will see some moments of themselves in her recollections. The audiobook is narrated by the author and her intimate connection to the words that she is reading comes through in her voice.