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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They are often people who are more self aware, and have more gratitude for the profound beauty in the simplicity of daily life. The term “mental health awareness” is bandied about in such a facile way to the point where it’s lost all meaning, but Bryony genuinely does raise awareness of incredibly debilitating and life changing conditions. Reading this book has helped me enormously with my journey and I will revert back to it for help and guidance.

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. This is a good book for anybody with an addiction, overcoming an addiction, or having been involved with someone with an addiction. In soul-baring flashes to the past, to recovery and to life after getting sober, Gordon paints the reader a picture of the height of her addiction, and echoes so many messages we've heard so often - I'm not an alcoholic, *I* couldn't possibly quit drinking, going to rehab only happens to OTHER people.

I can imagine this book was a terrifying, but cathartic memoir to publish and I wish Gordon all the success.

Gordon's new book is a frank, sometimes wince-inducing and often very funny look at her 20-year relationship with booze. Her sober anniversary is my birthday, and later this month when I celebrate, I will raise a glass of non-alcoholic something to her. It felt like she didn’t want to blame anyone but herself, which is very gallant—but I did wonder about her childhood family dynamic. 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. For those that are battled, or are battling, addiction it sends a message of comradery and encouragement.

Writing this review as someone with an intimate knowledge of the disease of addiction, I can say that this is written by a lady who certainly knows her stuff, I identify with you, Byrony, all the way, I just wish I had your gift with words. I have loved Bryony Gordon’s writing ever since ‘Mad Girl’ - the first time I’d ever seen the symptoms of Pure OCD put into mainstream public consciousness.