Read

Supplementing therapy with outside reading can be an important part of recovery, but it’s hard to know where to start. Below is a curated selection of books, articles, and other written material recommended by us or other trusted professionals to support your personal growth. We’re always adding to this list—make sure to follow us on social media so you can stay updated on what's new.


Daily Readers

The Language of Letting Go - Melody Beattie

There are not enough great things to say about this book! It's a daily reader that covers the basics of how to relate to yourself and others in a healthy way. If you're looking to add a daily reader to your recovery practice, this is a great one to start with.

Strengthening My Recovery - Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families

Each day includes a quote from the ACA Fellowship text followed by some reflection. It is full of gems! It's applicable to anyone who grew up in a dysfunctional family, even if you aren't working an ACA program.


Family of Origin

Unspoken Legacy - Claudia Black

Unspoken Legacy is a comprehensive overview of the effects of growing up in an unhealthy family system and what recovery can be like. It's a great place to start if you're new to recovery, but those who have been on their journey for years will find it valuable, too.

The Soulful Journey of Recovery - Tian Dayton

This is another good overview-type book about growing up in a dysfunctional family. It not only has helpful information but also includes exercises throughout the book to help you think through the content.

Emotional Sobriety

Emotional Sobriety: What it is and Why It's Important in Recovery and in Life - Tian Dayton

A great article by Tian Dayton on emotional sobriety. It's a clear overview of the concept and why it matters. It's well worth a read.


General

A Sloth's Guide to Mindfulness - Ton Mak

I came across this fabulous little book at a local store in my town, and I'm so glad that I did! It can help you slow down and take a breath. It will make you laugh, it will make you think, and, if you take your time with it, will help you press pause.

Sark's Journal and Play Book - SARK

SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) invites you to connect with the playful part of yourself. All of her books are handwritten and drawn—and they are a joy! The Journal and Play Book is a guided journal with space to write, draw, and dream. 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse - Charlie Mackesy

Enjoy this delightful little book about life and relationships. Between the lovely artwork and the simple yet powerful text, it's a worthwhile read. 

This Messy, Magnificent Life - Geneen Roth

Grab a cup of tea, find a comfy spot and sit down with this gem of a book. It’s a great read that provides space for you to think about your life and yourself in an intentional way. If you know Geneen’s work, you’ll know that she has written extensively about our relationship with food. This book does refer to that, but it isn’t its central focus. I’m pretty sure this is a book I’ll read more than once.


Sex & Love Addiction

Facing Love Addiction - Pia Mellody

This book offers an explanation of Love Addiction, what recovery looks like, and a perspective on healthy relationships. It also includes practical tools and journaling exercises. It's a great book for understanding the process of Love Addiction and the childhood trauma at its core.

Ready to Heal - Kelly McDaniel

Kelly McDaniel has written a book that gets to the heart of Love Addiction—the original attachment wound from childhood. I've often had people say to me, "Kelly really gets it and gets me," when they read this book for the first time. Also, Kelly has a Ready to Heal study guide on her website (the link above will take you to her site).

Recovery

We Are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life - Laura McKowen

This gem of a book is beautifully written and provides a window into what early recovery can be like, but also into the richness that ongoing healing and recovery can bring. McKowen’s journey is about recovery from alcoholism, but I think it’s applicable to anyone on a healing path. As she says, we all have a “thing” that’s disruptive to our life, her primary thing was alcohol.


Trauma

Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology and How You Can Heal - Donna Jackson Nakazawa

Based on the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, this book provides a clear, accessible look at the effects of trauma on the body while offering hope for healing.

Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Guidance and Protection - Kelly McDaniel

This book has been a life changer for so many, including me. Kelly McDaniel gives clear thought and language to the ache that so many of us have. She not only names a deep wound but also explains it so clearly. It's a heavy read so take your time with it (I shared some thoughts about reading it on my blog).
 

The Betrayal Bind: When the Person You Love the Most Hurts You the Worst - Michelle Mays

The Betrayal Bind is a book that speaks to not only the deep wound of Partner betrayal but also offers tangible hope to those who’ve gone through that experience. But I think those whose primary betrayal is from childhood would also get a lot out of it. It’s a heavy topic that’s beautifully balanced with heart and hopeMichelle Mays has written it in such a way that it’s a joy to read.

 

The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel van der Kolk

A deep look at how trauma impacts the brain and body along with insights on the importance of body-oriented healing approaches. This is a hefty, ponderous read, but explains the mind/body connection in the experience of and the healing from trauma.