Really interesting and engaging blend of memoir, review of addiction research, and some opinion and advice. The particular, and really important, focus of this book is about women's experience of addiction, and how they are severely marginalized and overlooked in treatment and research, while suffering as much (and in many cases much worse), and in as large numbers, as men. As much as anything else, this is a fervent cri de coeur for women's experiences of addiction to be recognised and treated with the importance they deserve.

I have read a couple of drinking memoirs and this was definitely the best. Memoir combined with hard science with no trite theories or sense of ultimate redemption. For some complete sobriety is unrealistic and managing change, emotions and physical and mental health are more important. This book didn't make me want to give up drinking altogether but it did make me think about my social, cultural and historical relationship with alcohol and how I might view it in the future. Very rewarding read. ( )

I received a copy of the ebook for "Woman of Substances" from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!!!
I love books about alcoholism, addiction, and mental illness. I am a recovering alcoholic myself so I especially gravitate towards books on that subject written by women. This book is a little different than the typical memoir that a recovering alcoholic writes. This book DOES tell Jenny's story (her life, her addiction, her recovery, etc.) but that isn't what the meat of this book is in my opinion. This book goes into a lot of detail on issues that particularly women struggle with during the process of recovery and alcoholism. - issues that a lot of books like this don't go into such as hormonal issues that women addicts might go through. There are a lot of facts, statistics, etc. that are very interesting.
My favorite part was when she talked about her sobriety because she is very real about it. Sobriety isn't sunshine and rainbows and she was very honest in her portrayal. I especially loved how she went through every week her first year of sobriety and how she was feeling. I also had to laugh during the "a word from my sponsor" part because I could relate to that.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot of other books to look into, it gave me a lot of issues to look more into. I would recommend this to any woman who is struggling with addiction or has gone through it. ( )