Catherine Gray – författare

The guided sobriety journal Ever sworn off alcohol for a month and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink? Welcome!Quitting drinking, whether for a month or for life, is enormously satisfying, but also fiendishly difficult. -There's the getting started ('But I have that party next week!')-There's the feeling clenched and socially anxious.-Throw in a sizeable amount of social pressure and suspicious questions ('So, do you have a drinking problem?'-Finally, chuck in the hundreds of pro-drinking messages we see every day; films where a round of shots always comes with a whoop; fridge magnets that say 'I don't trust people who don't drink'; pub clapboards announcing 'Strong people need strong drinks'; and memes declaring 'Beer: it's a holiday in a glass.' Whew. It's no wonder we find it tricky to stay teetotal. But don't worry. We're going to tackle all of the above. I'm going to give you tools that enable you to clear all of these stumbling blocks with the grace of a gazelle. So, let's get started, shall we? PRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:"An icon of the Quit Lit movement." - Condé Nast Traveller"Fascinating." - Bryony Gordon."Not remotely preachy." - The Times"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing." - The Telegraph "Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying." - The Guardian"Truthful, modern and real." - Stylist"Brave, witty and brilliantly written." - Marie Claire"Haunting, admirable and enlightening." - The Pool '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 long-awaited sequel to THE UNEXPECTED JOY OF BEING SOBER 'Exquisite' - Fearne Cotton, Happy Place'A paean to the longer-term pleasures of staying booze-free' - The Guardian'The kind of book that changes lives, and very possibly saves them' - The Lancet Psychiatry'A reflective, raw and riveting read. A beautiful book on what it takes to root for yourself' - Emma Gannon, Ctrl Alt Delete'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 UKWhat's it like to give up drinking forever?We know now that being teetotal for one, three, even twelve months brings surprising joys and a recharged body... but nothing has been written about going years deep into being alcohol-free.As Catherine Gray, author of runaway bestseller The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, streaks towards a decade sober, she explores this uncharted territory in her trademark funny, disruptive and warm way.This is a must-read for anyone sober-curious, whether they've put down the bottle yet or not.Praise for The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober:'Fascinating' - Bryony Gordon'Truthful, modern and real' - Stylist'Brave, witty and brilliantly written' - Marie Claire'Gray's tale of going sober is uplifting and inspiring' - Evening Standard'Not remotely preachy' - Sunday Times'Jaunty, shrewd and convincing' - Sunday Telegraph'Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying' - Guardian'An empathetic, warm and hilarious tale from a hugely likeable human' - The Lancet Psychiatry

**FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR**'Life-affirming' - THE TELEGRAPH'Wonderful' - INDEPENDENT'She made it her mission to learn how to be default happy rather than default disgruntled' - RADIO 4 - WOMAN'S HOUR'Take a leaf out of Gray's book and be kinder to yourself by appreciating life just as it is' - IRISH TIMES'This book came to me in an hour of need - during lockdown when I had to focus on the positive, appreciate simple things, not lose my shit, and value each day. It was a pure joy for me and held my hand' - SADIE FROST'Interesting and joyful. Lights a path that could help us to build resilience against society's urging to compare life milestones with peers' - LANCET PSYCHIATRYUnderwhelmed by your ordinary existence? Disillusioned with your middlin' wage, average body, 'bijou' living situation and imperfect loved ones? Welcome to the club. There are billions of us. The 'default disenchanted'. But, it's not us being brats. Two deeply inconvenient psychological phenomenons conspire against our satisfaction. We have negatively-biased brains, which zoom like doom-drones in on what's wrong with our day, rather than what's right. (Back in the mists of time, this negative bias saved our skins, but now it just makes us anxious). Also, something called the 'hedonic treadmill' means we eternally quest for better, faster, more, like someone stuck on a dystopian, never-ending treadmill. Thankfully, there are scientifically-proven ways in which we can train our brains to be more positive-seeking. And to take a rest from this tireless pursuit. Whew.Catherine Gray knits together illuminating science and hilarious storytelling, unveiling captivating research showing that big bucks don't mean big happiness, extraordinary experiences have a 'comedown' and budget weddings predict a lower chance of divorce. She reminds us what an average body actually is, reveals that exercising for weight loss means we do less exercise, and explores the modern tendency to not just try to keep up with the Murphys, but keep up with the Mega-Murphies (see: the social media elite).Come on in to this soulful and life-affirming read, to discover why an ordinary life may well be the most satisfying one of all.

'No other writer has ever made me laugh and cry as much as Catherine Gray'Daisy May Cooper'Tender, lush and electric; a wild, heartbreaking, exhilarating ride'Daisy Buchanan'Exquisite, stunning, executed brilliantly'Poorna Bell____Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse.Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.Warm and brilliantly wise, this is the irresistible fiction debut from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.______⭐ Readers are loving Versions of a Girl: ⭐ 'What a fabulous book - read in 3 days which hasn't happened a long time!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'This isn't just a book-it's an experience that sticks with you' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'I can't think anyone who wouldn't enjoy this book... a damn good read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'No other writer has ever made me laugh and cry as much as Catherine Gray' Daisy May Cooper'Compulsive, edible, I devoured it' Holly Whitaker, New York Times bestelling author of Quit Like A WomanDo we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse.Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.Warm and brilliantly wise, this is the irresistible fiction debut from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.

'If you read anything this summer make sure it's this. An absolute bloody masterpiece'Daisy May Cooper'Tender, lush and electric; a wild, heartbreaking, exhilarating ride' Daisy Buchanan'Exquisite, stunning, executed brilliantly' Poorna Bell____Do we become who we are because of our parents, or in spite of them?Fern's mother is a social climber and a former ballet dancer who lives a plush life in a London townhouse. Fern's father only climbs if there's a bottle at the top, has an IQ of 133 and lives hand-to-mouth in Californian motels.Aged fourteen, Fern has spent equal time with each of her parents. That is, until an unexpected visitor triggers a life-changing dilemma: whether she should get on a plane to London to be with her mother, or stay in California with her father. Here, Fern's narrative splices in two.Two possible lives, one person. Each Fern will grow in wildly different, but eerily similar directions. Both must determine who they want to be - and how they deal with a thorny problem which threatens to undo them all: a murder.Warm and brilliantly wise, this is the irresistible fiction debut from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.

'Snortingly funny and entertainingly researched via an impressive suite of scientists' - The TimesSmartphones, ultra-processed food, online shopping, people-pleasing, gambling, dating... most of us can identify a little addiction we don't need to quit but certainly do a little too much of.In her brand-new book, LITTLE ADDICTIONS, Catherine Gray, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, shows you how to fight back against the insidious drip-feeding of addictive influence, master your micro addictions and unlockmaximum happiness. A little at a time, it might even change your life.'Bloody loved it.' - Bryony Gordon'Fascinating and confronting. A book I'll return to and recommend to clients.' - Psychotherapist Joshua Fletcher'As our world becomes increasingly engineered to create dependency, the old distinction between "addiction" and "bad habit" is collapsing. This book meets that moment with compassion and rigour, giving readers the science and practical tools to take back control.' - Shahroo Izadi, Behavioural change specialist

They're addictions so small, we don't need to say no. They don't cost much, emotionally or financially, and they only have micro-consequences on our health, wealth, relationships or home... so what's the big deal?Only, their sum total is huge. These tiny addictions, once they snowball, become massive in impact.Enter this deeply necessary, illuminating book to dip into over a lifetime. Catherine Gray, the bestselling 'icon of quit lit', has already lit the way for tens of thousands through big addictions and behaviours (alcohol, love, negativity). Now she turns her gaze onto gaining greater mastery over our smaller compulsions, freeing up peace of mind, disposable income, time, wellbeing and happiness.One tiny increment at a time, this catch-all book might just change your life.

'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, GuardianEver 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 alcoholThe 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 UKThe Unexpected Joy of Being Sober was a Sunday Times bestseller in January 2018

'This refreshing, unusual book needs to exist. A culture shift which repositions a single person as someone who is relationship-free, complete, and not lacking is long overdue.' - The i'Absolutely f*cking brilliant' - Florence GivenHaving a secret single freak-out? Feeling the red, heart-shaped urgency intensify as the years roll on by? Oh hi! You're in the right place.Over half of Brits aged 25-44 are now single. It's become the norm to remain solo until much later in life, given the average marriage ages of 35 (women) and 38 (men). Many of us are choosing never to marry at all. But society, films, song lyrics and our parents are adamant that a happy ending has to be couple-shaped. That we're incomplete without an 'other half'*, like a bisected panto pony. Cue: single sorrow. Dating like it's a job. Spending half our lives waiting for somebody-we-fancy to text us back. Feeling haunted by the terms 'spinster' or 'confirmed bachelor.'Catherine Gray took a whole year off dating to find single satisfaction. She lifted the lid on the reasons behind the global single revolution, explored the bizarre ways cultures single-shame, detached from 'all the good ones are gone!' panic and debunked the myth that married people are much happier.Let's start the reverse brainwash, in order to locate - and luxuriate in - single happiness. Are you in?*Spoiler: you're already wholePRAISE FOR CATHERINE GRAY'S WRITING:"Fascinating." - Bryony Gordon"Not remotely preachy." - The Times"Jaunty, shrewd and convincing." - The Telegraph "Admirably honest, light, bubbly and remarkably rarely annoying." - The Guardian"Truthful, modern and real." - Stylist"Brave, witty and brilliantly written." - Marie Claire"Haunting, admirable and enlightening." - The Pool