Unexpected Joy of Being Sober
'An icon of the Quit Lit movement' - Condé Nast Traveller
'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire
'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying' - Alice O'Keeffe, Guardian
Ever vowed to quit drinking, only to cave by day seven? You're not alone-64% of Brits want to cut back. In The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, Catherine Gray shares her raw, witty journey from hangovers and bad decisions to a life of clarity, confidence, and zero regrets. Packed with personal stories, expert insights, and laugh‑out‑loud honesty, this book reveals the surprising perks of sobriety-from better sex and brighter mornings to deeper connections and true freedom. Whether you're sober‑curious or ready to ditch the drink, this is the ultimate guide to discovering how intoxicating life can be without alcohol
The Unexpected Job of Being Sober was a Sunday Times bestseller in January 2018.
'Many people wonder if they can still have fun without alcohol... Gray tackles this misconception.' - The New York Times
'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist
'Gray's tale of going sober is uplifting and inspiring' - The Evening Standard
'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober came to me at a time when I much needed it... The book became my best friend, and got me through, and took me on a journey.' - Sadie Frost
'Particularly lovely, because it's not a deep and dark dive into someone's terrible addiction. It's a celebration of everything that she has gained from not drinking' - Laura Donnelly
'Not remotely preachy' - The Times
'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph
'Fascinating' - Bryony Gordon
'Haunting, admirable and enlightening' - The Pool
'A riveting, raw, yet humorous memoir with actionable advice. A truly unique blend of storytelling and science that holds a universe of hope.' - Annie Grace, author of This Naked Mind
'Like listening to your best friend teach you to be sober. Lighthearted but serious, it's packed with ideas, tools, tips and, most importantly, reasons for living a sober life. This book is excellent.'- Eric Zimmer, host of podcast The One You Feed
'Gray's fizzy writing succeeds in making this potentially boring-as-hell subject both engaging and highly seductive' - The Bookseller
'Catherine Gray is an exceptional writer. Her exquisitely crafted thoughts on the joys of being sober are not only deeply honest and pragmatic, but she manages to infuse tons of humor. This is a delightful, informative, and compelling read for all those who are sober or seeking sobriety.' - Sasha Tozzi, Huffington Post columnist
'Catherine's writing style and voice captivate me. She has a way of translating her story into an experience I don't want to end. I want to drink every drop she produces.' - Holly Whitaker, founder of Hip Sobriety School and co-presenter of Home podcast
'This book is great. A balanced, informative and entertaining mélange of memoir, sociology and psychology. I identified very strongly with huge sections of it.' - Jon Stewart, guitarist of Sleeper and Leaving AA, Staying Sober blogger
'Sober is too often equated with "sombre" in our culture. Gray's book turns that idea on its head. Her experience of sobriety is joyful and life-affirming. A must-read for anyone who has a nagging suspicion that alcohol may be taking away more than it's giving.' - Hilda Burke, psychotherapist and couples counsellor
'Catherine Gray really captures the FUN we can have in sobriety. This book challenges the status quo; sobriet sounds as liberating as taking a trip to the jungle. Fun and inspirational. What an important book for our time! A joy to read.' - Samantha Moyo, founder of Morning Gloryville
'No other author writes about sober living with as much warmth or emotional range as Catherine Gray. Her deep insight into the subtle psychologies of drinking, and of life, means that everything she writes is both utterly relatable and stretches our minds. Hers is a rare wisdom.' - Dr Richard Piper, CEO, Alcohol Change UK
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober was a Sunday Times bestseller in January 2018
Catherine Gray is author of five books, including The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober. She's sold over half a million books in English-speaking territories, her work has been published in the likes of Stylist, Marie Claire, The Lancet Psychiatry and the Guardian, and her books have been translated into nine languages. In 2018, Catherine founded charitable campaign Sober Spring, a three-month sabbatical from alcohol, and she now runs it with Alcohol Change UK, for whom she is an ambassador. She's been sober since 2013. Catherine lives in Hove and when not writing she enjoys falling off a paddleboard, giving her plants names like 'Cassandra' and 'Miguel', and spamming Instagram with pictures of dogs.
Instagram.com/unexpectedjoyof
Twitter.com/cathgraywrites