Sober Link-Up – July

A monthly roundup from the alcohol-free Substack community

Welcome! This is our monthly roundup of reads and resources from the alcohol-free Substack community.

We publish twice-weekly posts at Sober App Substack and welcome new and returning contributors. Reach out for submission guidelines.

Now, on to the links.

Below, you’ll find honest accounts of choosing sobriety and what had to change—including the stories we tell ourselves. You’ll also find reflections from the first 90 days, two years, and even decades into sobriety, along with reminders that there are many reasons not to drink—and all are equally valid.

Finally, seeing as it’s peak summer, we’ve thrown in some inspiration for celebrating and savouring—whether that means sparkling mocktails, a sober girls’ trip, deep rest, or reclaiming your weekends.

Join the conversation by sharing your favorite alcohol-free writers and resources in the comments. If you’re sober, feel free to include a link to your own publication or website. We celebrate all paths to getting and staying alcohol free.

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Summer sober

• Red, White + Bruised: Reclaiming My Freedom from Alcohol, Jennifer Bridgman

• The Sober Hostess: Easy Summer Mocktails, Candi Canncel

• Your First Sober Girls’ Trip, Suzanne Warye

• I won’t sacrifice my weekend for alcohol, Through Sober Eyes

• The Rest Alcohol Never Gave Me, Kate Baily

Changing the story

• The Not Drinking Thing, George Hahn

• “I’m not that bad.” The lie that kept me drinking, Rewriting Sober

• I Drank to Feel Better. It Made Me Feel Worse. Rachel Van Dolsen

• No One Saw, Jessica Dueñas

Living alcohol-free

• Somatics of Sobriety, Tender Frequency

• Waking Up Two Years Sober, Donna Francis

• Going with the flow, Louise Atthey

• The Only Sober Party Girl in The World, Mai El Mokadem

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Do you have any sober reads, resources, or recommendations to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

And before you go, would you take a second to tap that little heart? It lets others know there’s something helpful here and grows our sober community.

We know that sharing about recovery and sobriety can feel vulnerable. Like in recovery groups, we ask that commenters in this space refrain from giving unsolicited advice or spreading hate and division. Thank you for helping us foster a kind and inclusive community.

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Dr. Dana Leigh Lyons, DTCM is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine offering heart-sourced guidance on body-mind-spirit wellness. She manages Sober App Substack and writes PERFECT HUNGER, a newsletter devoted to living a more beautiful, nourishing life.

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If you’re sober and interested in contributing to Sober.com, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to managing editor here for submission guidelines.