quit lit-adjacent

quit lit -- a new genre of storytelling that focuses on alcohol dependence and is helping some women curtail drinking or quit altogether*

I've been a reader of "quit lit" since my sister Andee introduced me to Ruby Warrington's Sober Curious at the end of 2018. I can typically power through a quit lit title within a few days, and it's rare that I don't take away some nuggets. I feel like each book has made a contribution to a larger conversation about women and alcohol, even if I wouldn't categorize every one as a personal favorite. 

Quit lit titles aren't hard to locate. Google "quit lit," and you'll have as many book lists as mocktail recipes. Some bookstores even have dedicated shelves. Find to a "sober curious" friend, and she likely has a book or two sitting on her nightstand that you can borrow. I'll use this post instead to share what I call two quit lit-adjacent books. Ok, I totally made up that term. I'm talking about non-fiction titles that weren't intended to be part of the quit lit genre, but could be useful for someone re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol.

The Book of Boundaries: Set the Limits That Will Set You Free by Melissa Urban

Many people know Melissa Urban from Whole30 fame. Whole30 scares me (I enjoy Frozen Cokes and Dunkin Donuts too much), but I enjoy her fresh takes on Instagram. Looking back, I'm not sure what compelled me to order Boundaries through Bookshop.org. But I'm so glad I did! Melissa offers specific language for navigating common scenarios that test our boundaries. What does this have to do with quit lit? I would fall into the bad of habit of overdrinking when feeling uncomfortable in a social situation, and I can't be the only one. Even if you don't read from cover to cover, it's still worth the investment to have access to select chapters as needed.

The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power by Katherine Morgan Schafler 

The Perfectionist's Guide was our first Sparkling AF Book Club selection, and I'm really proud of that. It led to rich discussion around perfectionism and the tendency to overdrink. Author Katherine Morgan Schafler proposes that there are five kinds of perfectionism, and you can take her pop magazine-style quiz to Get Your Perfectionist Profile. Schafler reminds us that perfectionism can be our superpower! Our goal should be to harness our perfectionism for positivity. The challenge is avoiding maladaptive habits as a result of our tendencies. Like Urban, Schalfer offers sound advice through her Instagram account. 

Quit lit is great! Keep reading it, and know there are more gems on those non-fiction bookstore and library shelves that can also support you with your journey.

Kristin Patrick, Co-Founder

Loren's Alcohol-Free Beverages

Definition borrowed from 'Drinking until I passed out': Quit lit targets women's sobriety' (The Washington Post, 1/19/23)