Drunk Mom by Jowita Bydlowska

This is an honest and sometimes gruesome look at what a mother would do because of alcoholism. Three years after becoming sober, Jowita finds herself going down a slipper alcoholic slope after drinking a glass of champagne to celebrate the birth of her son.  What follows is months of hiding bottles, blackouts, one trip to Montreal, a concerned sister and fights with her boyfriend.
There are no excuses in this tale, instead Jowita is frank and honest about her feelings as she tells of her love of booze, which somehow exists in conjunction with the love she has for her son.
There is no doubt that she cares deeply for her child, as any new mom would, however she is also dealing with her own demons, something that is not often talked about. I loved the grittiness of this memoir, and different portrayal of being a first time mom.  Yes some people may be offended by this refreshingly honest offering, but I hope it will forest some discussion about the dark side that can come from being called a mom.
Drunk Mom is a raw, emotional look at addiction and shows what lengths someone will go to for their love of alcohol.

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

Honestly, I expected to hate this book. With all the ads on the subways and buzz I thought it would be yet another book that is so beloved by everyone and hated by me. I was very wrong.
I found myself helpless against the pull of the story and the characters. Yes it had the every so slight hint of romance novel, but at the same time it was real.
The novel follows Lou Clark a happy small town waitress in England, who is unexpectedly fired from her job. Left unemployed and with the need to pitch in to the family income, she takes a job as a caregiver to the son of a wealthy family.  Through caring for Will, a thirty-something ex-financial whiz, Lou learns about herself and is slowly pushed outside of her comfort zone.  Though Lou has a wild spirit and loves people, she is resistant to change.
Will is tested too, as Lou pushes Will to embrace life even though it is now limited by his mobility and medical issues.  Moyes does a great job of showing their lives in a realistic light and without over the top sentiments or I love yous. Instead she provides a beautiful coming of age story of self discovering that applies to both of her main characters. Me Before You is a lovely, heartfelt, and engaging read.  Perfect for a lazy summer day.