5 Quit Lit Books Every Woman Should Read When Rethinking Alcohol
- Ali Payne
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 24
Because you're ready for something better
If you’re starting to question your relationship with alcohol — or even just feeling curious about what life could look like without it — welcome. You’re not alone, and you’re not the first woman to feel this way.
One of the best places to start? Your bookshelf.
"Quit lit" (short for “quit literature” if you didn’t know!) is a powerful genre that offers support and educates you about alcohol. These books can give you the language, perspective, and emotional strength to make changes — on your terms.
Here are five of the best quit lit reads I recommend to clients (and have returned to myself) — starting with a surprisingly simple classic that’s helped thousands of women find freedom.
1. Allen Carr’s The Easyway for Women to Quit Drinking
By Allen Carr
Let’s start here, because this book is often a game-changer.
Carr is best known for helping millions quit smoking, but his alcohol method is just as powerful. There’s no guilt, shame, or scare tactics. Instead, it calmly dismantles the illusion that alcohol gives us anything we actually want — and shows you why you don’t need it to relax, have fun, or cope.
This version is written specifically for women, and the core message is gold:
You don’t need willpower when you realise you’re not giving anything up.
2. The Sober Diaries
By Clare Pooley
If you’re a mum juggling kids, wine o’clock, and the pressure to keep it all together — Clare Pooley gets it.
This book is a warm, funny, honest memoir of her first year alcohol-free. She charts the highs and lows of quitting wine after years of “functional” drinking — and makes you feel like you’re sitting down with a very honest friend.
It’s packed with relatable stories, emotional insights, and just the right amount of humour. Perfect if you’re looking for inspiration and a bit of lightness in the early days.
3. Alcohol Explained
By William Porter
If you’ve ever wondered why you find it so hard to stop after one glass — or why alcohol seems to make anxiety worse, not better — this book is a must.
William Porter dives into the psychological and physiological effects of alcohol in a way that’s easy to understand, even if science isn’t your thing. He explains how alcohol affects the brain, the body, sleep, and even self-esteem — and why we get stuck in the cycle of “I need a drink” when we’re actually craving relief.
This one’s more factual and less memoir, so it’s great for anyone who likes a logical, no-nonsense approach.
4. The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
By Catherine Gray
This is one of the most uplifting and empowering quit lit books out there. Catherine Gray shares her personal story of going from regular binge drinker to someone who not only quit, but actually enjoys sobriety — and all the life upgrades that came with it.
It’s honest, relatable, and full of lightbulb moments. She also gets deep into how marketing and culture shape our beliefs about alcohol, especially for women.
“I didn’t have a drinking problem as such. I was great at drinking! It was the stopping. I had a stopping problem.”
5. Quit Like a Woman
By Holly Whitaker
Part memoir, part manifesto, this book challenges everything we’ve been taught about drinking and recovery. Holly calls out the alcohol industry, dives into the toxic wellness trends that still normalize drinking, and offers a fresh, feminist approach to sobriety.
This book is bold and full of permission — to question, to be angry, to heal, and to create a life that’s yours.
Click here for my recommended list of quit lit books on Amazon and let me know if have read any others and I’ll add to the list.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to figure this all out in one go. You don’t need to label yourself. And you definitely don’t need to do it alone.
Books can’t do the work for you — but they can light the path, change your mindset, and help you feel less alone while you figure out what freedom looks like for you.
I've collated a list of these and many other quit lit books on Amazon here.
