Cover Image: Soberish

Soberish

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Member Reviews

Soberish, suggests not fully sober to me and the books starts with being fully sober.

Its an interesting read and helped me question many things about myself but i expected it to be easier to read in the sense of it being more pretty. not just lots of dull text on a page. Its a tough one to read about and any help to keep it interesting would be apprciated.

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This is an interesting book that promises with the help of science and with the plan included in the book to have a different and healthier relationship with alcohol. It starts with discovering what kind of drinker is any person who drinks alcohol and why as societies people drink and then suggestions that may help to reduce the drinking. I think some people will find the book of being a huge help knowing they are not alone on their journey.

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This book has a lot of helpful information/statistics for those wanting to understand the impact of alcohol use versus sobriety. It is nice to see some options for harm reduction and changing the social relationship with alcohol rather than the usual abstinence only strategies for alcohol use.

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“Being soberish means freeing yourself from the power alcohol holds over so many of us, forging your own path and healing in a way that works for you.” These words begin to describe Kayla Lyons thorough guide to changing your relationship with alcohol. She continues with a history of the popularity of alcohol, efforts to control drinking and the power of advertising. She suggests haling a seven day pause from drinking and following these guidelines: Intention, Enlightening, Encouraging and Enabling. A discussion of the ways alcohol effects your body follows with possible reasons why you drink. Lyons adds vitamins you may need on your journey to sobriety and helpful meditations and exercises.

Soberish incorporates information with a kind, forgiving attitude. Anyone who is dealing with a problem drinker or is reflecting on their own drinking habits will benefit from reading this. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Kayla Lyons for this ARC.

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I would struggle to be able to review this book due to issues with the file/download. The issues stopped the flow of the book. The issues are:
- Missing words in the middle of sentences
- Stop/start sentences on different lines
- No clear definition of chapters.

I’m not sure if it was a file/download issue but there were lots of gaps and stops/starts which really ruined the flow. I would love the chance to read a better version as the description of the book appeals to me. I would be more than happy to re-read the book with a better file or as a physical book as the book topic and genre are of interest to me. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

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I liked the premise of this book. The idea that people need to think about their relationship with alcohol is such an important one. So many of us drink without considering the impact of it on our health and well-being. This book does a good job in shedding some light on this area and provides the evidence to inform decision making.

But I didn’t find the tips to be anything particularly groundbreaking. I think this is a good entry way into reading ‘quit-lit’ but as someone who has read books of this nature before there wasn’t really anything unique about this one.

Id recommend for someone who is new to the area and thinking about their relationship with alcohol but it is not really for someone who is familiar with the literature around getting sober.

Thanks for the opportunity to review

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I did not find this book useful, but it is on me. The book is doing exactly what it tells it would do, namely helping to plan a journey you can go on to a soberish lifestyle, but nothing more. I hoped it would have more tips on how to communicate your journey with other people, other than a "don't worry, people are too busy with themselves to pay attention to you" message, which I would have found more useful.

This book is definitely of its time, which is great right now but it is not going to age well, and it is definitely marketed towards young women.

The points were generally easy to follow and I found the writing style very approachable. The structure of the book makes it easily searchable, which comes in handy when you want to revisit a section.

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This was certainly more action oriented then I was expecting, which might be useful if you were looking for a sort of guide. I enjoyed the first section, learning about the history of alcohol, but it did lose me a little in the middle. A lot of the topics which were covered are very common recommendations for dealing with several disorders, so I didn't find it that informative. However, that's not to say someone else wouldn't find those useful!

It was well written and easy to digest, if I had a friend who was starting on a sober journey I would recommend this book. I think it gives a good overview and doesn't sound preachy or judgemental.

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I really enjoyed this book. Definitely able to relate to it. I'm a big fan of quit lit as it's helped me with my soberiety and find them all helpful still.

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I'm a big fan of 'quit-lit' so I jumped at the chance to review this book. It made for interesting reading and did mention some thoughts that have been raised in previous books that I have read. But I am certainly glad that I had the opportunity to read this. I want to hone in on a thought towards the end of the book: '...any progress you make will never be wasted.'

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I do wish we could use in between and half stars, I would definitely rate this at 3.75. I feel like my own sober journey has a lot of similarities with Kayla’s which is really nice in the sense that I feel less alone. There is a lot of really useful and helpful information here along with quite a bit of history in alcohol that I didn’t know. I’ve been on a sober journey for a few years so I found that some of the content wasn’t particularly helpful for me but I feel like I might be perfect for someone just starting their journey into sobriety or sober curiosity. I did find the cold therapy information interesting and plan on trying to implement using it in my own daily routine

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This book was an excellent resource for those who are trying to quit or cut back on alcohol consumption. It is told through a relatable lens and has some very helpful techniques to get through cravings, look at what you are gaining rather than giving up, how to find a sober community, and some science behind how alcohol affects the mind and body. Although not every part will be for everyone (I will not be doing cold immersion therapy), there will hopefully be something to help everyone. I appreciated the conversation around slipups not needing to put you back at the starting line and viewing sobriety as a goal rather than complete black or white.

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I loved this book, I loved the insight , and the stories, I do socially drink but have cut back over the years, so many of the things I read in this book hit home, and hard. Great read , whether you drink or are dry, its a great read. 4 stars!

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Soberish: The Science-Based Guide to taking your power back from alcohol, is a guide to assist individuals in creating a better relationship with alcohol. Too often, we believe that drugs are bad for us and our health, and we discount the effect of alcohol on our lives. The use of alcohol is seen as “fun” and what you “do” on the weekends or time off. However, is it is as benevolent as advertised? A negative relationship with alcohol can be formed merely, by habit or faulty thinking patterns, as explained by Kayla Lyons. Ms. Lyons does a really nice job of starting at the very beginning, explaining the brain-body connection and what occurs when alcohol is consumed. She then encourages the creation of a “soberish” toolkit, with presented tools and strategies. Kayla addresses many important components of recovery, including getting adequate nutrition and sleep, journaling, engaging in some form of physical activity, and surrounding yourself with a community of like-minded people. A direct, kind voice is presented, with personal stories and practical advice. This book is inspirational and positive. It gives an individual hope on this journey. I highly recommend this book. Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Overall enjoyable, especially since I’m a fan of quit lit. Part One was by and large the best, but I’d say the book trails off slightly after that. Part Two was more action oriented but a little too long and bloated. I think some of the magic of Part One was connecting to a personal story, and the rest of the book past that loses it. On the whole I liked it though!

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Soberish by Kayla Lyons is a comprehensive and empowering guide that offers science-based strategies for reclaiming your power and transforming your relationship with alcohol. Lyons presents a non-judgmental and inclusive approach, catering to those seeking to go completely alcohol-free or make adjustments to their drinking habits.

The book covers a wide range of topics, including the societal influences surrounding alcohol, self-assessment exercises, and debunking common myths. With insights from addiction and nutrition experts, as well as real-life stories, readers gain a well-rounded perspective.

The inclusion of a Soberish toolkit, featuring techniques like breathing exercises and movement, adds practical tools to support individuals in their journey. The guide also addresses real-life scenarios involving alcohol, helping readers navigate social situations while staying aligned with their goals.

Lyons' writing style is accessible and engaging, making complex information easy to understand. The emphasis on science-based facts ensures that readers receive accurate information about the impact of alcohol on the body.

Soberish is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to redefine their relationship with alcohol. With its supportive guidance and evidence-based approach, this guide equips readers with the necessary tools to make positive changes and regain control over their lives.

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I've been AF for five years but still enjoy reading about the topic of people giving up alcohol. Soberish was a helpful book to get tips that I could pass to others that desire to cut back on drinking. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.

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*** Thank you to Netgalley, Kayla Lyons, and Watkins Publishing for the ARC***
Release Date: 09.12.2023

As I get closer and closer to turning 30 (a little over 3 weeks away at this point) I am looking into things to do to better myself. The way I drink is one of them. Genetically, I am likely to become an alcoholic. As a Registered Nurse who worked through a pandemic and jumped from one stressful job to another, I am even more likely. As a millennial who wants to drink for any reason – it’s 75 and sunny, I am on vacation, I am celebrating a special event – gimme a drink. The 30 pounds I’ve gained over the past few years are further proof. BUT HOW. I have stopped and started more times than I can count. That’s where I hope Soberish can help me.
Soberish breaks down all aspects of drinking, even down to levels I didn’t think of. I started the book taking a test to figure out which kind of drinker I am. The book has many graphs and explanations that anyone can understand. Chapter 5 explains nutrition and supplements/minerals/vitamins which, to be honest, I probably learned to pass a nursing test and never remembered again, it was beneficial to me to be able to understand why my body needs these nutrients and how alcohol can cause deficits. There is also a chapter on cold exposure therapy, which I watched a lot of Tiktoks about, but never read up on and after reading about it in Soberish, I think it might be the key to helping me break my cycle for good.
The only downfall I had with this book was some parts read more long winded like a school research paper and less than a self-help book for the average consumer, but as previously stated the material is easy to digest.
I may never become 100% sober, but I do believe this book will get me on track to making better choices and becoming the best drinking version of myself. If you want more information on giving up alcohol, pick up Soberish. You are not alone, this might be all the help you need.

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I’m a big devourer of quit lit having reassessed my relationship with alcohol 5 years ago and I am particularly interested in the science behind our addiction, how some people can escape relatively unscathed whilst others are fully consumed. This book didn’t bring any new information to the table as far as I am concerned but maybe Kayla is preaching to the converted!

That said any new books are welcome and if you want to start exploring this complicated subject then this may be a place to start.

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