Who Would Like This Book:
Sarah Hepola’s memoir is brutally honest, wickedly observant, and laced with dark humor about her journey with alcohol and blackout drinking. It’s relatable, witty, and full of sharp self-reflection, making it a compelling read for anyone who loves raw, unfiltered life stories. If you’re curious about what it’s really like to struggle with addiction - or just drawn to well-written memoirs about overcoming personal demons - this book is for you. Readers will also appreciate her exploration of friendships and identity, whether or not they’ve faced the same challenges.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the later chapters a bit wordy or philosophical, feeling they lost the tightness and punch of the earlier storytelling. If you’re looking for nonstop dramatic revelations, or if you prefer memoirs that go easy on introspection and self-analysis, this might leave you wishing for a little more action and a little less inner dialogue. A few people felt that Hepola tries too hard to be witty or that her story wasn’t especially unique compared to other addiction memoirs.
About:
'Blackout: Remembering the Things I Drank to Forget' by Sarah Hepola is a memoir that delves into the author's struggles with alcoholism and the impact it had on her life. The book explores Hepola's journey through blackouts, relationships, and self-discovery, all intertwined with her battle with addiction. The writing style is described as honest, engaging, and witty, offering a raw and unfiltered look at the author's experiences with alcohol.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of alcoholism, addiction, mental health struggles, and themes of self-harm and emotional distress.
From The Publisher:
'Extraordinary… Writing with warmth and wit' Independent
'It's such a savage thing to lose your memory, but the crazy thing is, it doesn't hurt one bit. A blackout doesn't sting, or stab, or leave a scar when it robs you. Close your eyes and open them again. That's what a blackout feels like.'
For Sarah Hepola, alcohol was 'the gasoline of all adventure'. She spent her evenings at cocktail parties and dark bars where she proudly stayed till last call. Drinking felt like freedom, part of her birthright as an enlightened twenty-first-century woman.
But there was a price. She often blacked out, waking up with a blank space where four hours should be. Mornings became detective work on her own life. What did I say last night? How did I meet that guy?
Publicly, she covered her shame with self-deprecating jokes, and her career flourished, but as the blackouts accumulated, she could no longer avoid a sinking truth. The fuel she thought she needed was draining her spirit instead.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER
A memoir of unblinking honesty and poignant, laugh-out-loud humour, BLACKOUT is the story of a woman stumbling into a new adventure-the sober life she never wanted. Shining a light into her blackouts, she discovers the person she buried, as well as the confidence, intimacy, and creativity she once believed came only from a bottle. Her tale will resonate with anyone who has been forced to reinvent themselves or struggled in the face of necessary change. It's about giving up the thing you cherish most-but getting yourself back in return.
A raw, vivid and ultimately uplifting memoir of addiction and recovery for anyone who is looking to find their way.
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