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5 Books Every Addict’s Family Should Read

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Duffy’s Napa Valley Rehab

Making it through a loved one’s addiction can be very challenging.

Exploring the stories and opinions of others can help and encourage you through this period of your life.

Below you will find a list of five of our favorite recovery books for families. For each book we’ve included

  • Some of our favorite quotes
  • Kindle and print prices
  • Page length
  • A quick reason why you should read it

#1

In Codependent No More, Melody Beattie looks compassionately into codependency—the idea of losing oneself in the cause of helping another. Her insights have helped millions understand that they are powerless to change anyone but themselves.

Favorite quotes

“Furthermore, worrying about people and problems doesn’t help. It doesn’t solve problems, it doesn’t help other people, and it doesn’t help us. It is wasted energy.”

“…the pain that comes from loving someone who’s in trouble can be profound.”

Why you should read Codependent No More

This book will show you that you can’t change your loved one, but that you can—and should—change yourself.

Codependent No More is available on Amazon, and has a 4.5/5 star review. 

#2

Psychologist, clinician, researcher, teacher and author, Dr. Stephanie Brown described The Lost Years well when she said:

“This is the most extraordinary memoir I have ever read. Kristina and her mother Constance have written a gritty, wrenching, starkly honest and emotionally moving account of addiction and recovery. This daughter-mother writing is no-frills, yet beautiful and utterly compelling.”

Favorite quote

“What I have learned over all these years is that it is not the adversity itself, but how I handled it that has come to define my life. I have tried to face our issues, understand and accept my part, forgive myself, and help my children move on. Our recovery has been a process, and we have all grown, changed, and healed.”

Why you should read The Lost Years

This book gives you the honest depiction of how addiction affects and changes everyone. It is an extraordinary, and deeply honest memoir about redemption and forgiveness—grit, and tough love.

The Lost Years is available on Amazon and has a 5/5 star rating.

#3

There’s no way around it, the boundaries we set affect all areas of our lives. In this book, Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend discuss the importance of taking responsibility and ownership of our lives and why setting appropriate boundaries help us take important steps in the right direction.

Favorite quotes

“We change our behavior when the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. Consequences give us the pain that motivates us to change.”

“Anger is frustration at the fact that we are not God, and do not have control over reality.”

Why you should read Boundaries

“In this insightful and extremely helpful book, you will learn about a simple concept that can change your life: healthy boundaries.” –John Trent, PhD

Boundaries is available on Amazon and has a 4.5/5 star rating.

#4

In this very practical guide, Melody Beattie walks her readers through three basic things:

  1. The 12 Steps and how each applies to your particular issues
  2. Specific exercises and activities to use both in group settings and on your own
  3. A directory of the wide range of programs for families in recovery

Favorite quote

“We may have felt alone, but we are not unique in our pain or our dilemma. Neither are we isolated in our solution.”

Why you should read Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps

This book will renew and refresh your belief in the steps and their ability to facilitate recovery in anyone’s life.

Codependents’ Guide to the Twelve Steps is available on Amazon and has a 4.5/5 star rating.

#5

Beverly Conyers outlines the physical and psychological changes that recovering addicts go through. She offers practical tools that will help family members and friends cope with relapse, build a relationship with the addict, avoid enabling, set appropriate boundaries, and much more.

Favorite quotes

“Recognize that relapse is a possibility, and avoid getting your hopes up too high, too soon.”

“Acknowledge reality.”

Why you should read Everything Changes

This book acts as a guide to newly recovered addicts and their families for navigating the early months of recovery.

Everything Changes is available on Amazon and has a 5/5 star rating.

Read about other books we’ve liked and reviewed

Here are a few other books we’ve read, enjoyed, and written blog posts about:

What’s Your Favorite Recovery Book?

Tell us what your favorite recovery book is in the comment section below. We might just read it and write another book review!

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