Glorious Rock Bottom: 'A shocking story told with heart and hope. You won't be able to put it down.' Dolly Alderton

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I've read quite a few addiction memoirs and I've always been left with wanting to know how people navigate sobriety. This book would be excellent for anyone trying to understand more about alcoholism/addiction, or for someone undergoing a similar journey. She is the presenter of the Mad World podcast and in 2016 she founded Mental Health Mates, now a global peer support network which encourages people with mental health issues to connect and get out of the house. I feel that this book paralleled some of my own struggle, when I suffered depression, I never thought it possible to enjoy the simple things in life, nor that I would find genuine interests, nor find contentment, as I gradually overcame it and started to heal, I discovered the beauty in the ordinary, daily life - I'm so thankful I held on. Very readable, full of striking honesty about the impact alcohol dependency has had on Briony Gordon’s life and loved ones.

This book, warts and all, is a beacon of hope and is a testament to the human ability to persist and endure.

And then, a chink of light as the hard work begins – rehab; twelve-step meetings; endless, tedious, painful self-reflection – a rollercoaster ride through self-acceptance, friendship, love and hope, to a joy and pride in staying sober that her younger self could never have imagined.

Never did I think I’d describe a book about alcoholism as “charming” but Gordon has such a way with words that I often found myself pulled into her life and her story in much the same way I assume booze pulled her in: with drama and a bit of a gamble. Her previous books and campaign work for mental health charities have done brilliant things in terms of opening up the conversation and helping people speak up and get help.However, they still remain somewhat trite and I can't help wanting a little more to elevate this book above others in the field. In 2017 she won the MIND Making A Difference Award for her work in changing the perception of mental health in the media. Life is short and it’s only the experience that we make it for ourselves, but I completely see how this got out of hand for Gordon - where the darker moments in life have sent me reflecting that I maybe should control a few more of the elements of letting go, it’s usually been the guilt in retelling an anecdote that has driven me to add an act to the ‘maybe not to be repeated’ list.

I’ve read everything she has ever written, laughing out loud at The Wrong Knickers and being inspired to try Couch to 5K after reading Eat, Drink, Run.

Alcoholism is often misunderstood, viewed as a choice rather than a disease, and I hope that this memoir will encourage empathy and understanding. This is a good book for anybody with an addiction, overcoming an addiction, or having been involved with someone with an addiction. Reading this book has helped me enormously with my journey and I will revert back to it for help and guidance. Alcoholism is such a misunderstood illness and I just wish this book could be read by those people who seek to punish addiction instead of getting to the root cause and offering the best treatment.