A therapist's story of complex trauma and her remarkable journey to recovery. When Connie Greshner was eight years old, her father walked into a bar in Ponoka, Alberta, and shot her mother. So began a young life defined by trauma. From Catholic boarding school in Kansas to the streets of the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, Connie travelled in pursuit of acceptance and belonging. Grief, confusion, and shame manifested as depression, addiction, and promiscuity. Branded chronically suicidal with no hope of recovery by the mental health system, Connie was determined to heal herself and help others. Supported and inspired by exceptional friends, a love of books, and a connection to nature, she finally found her home, purpose, and peace. In Borderline Shine, Connie breaks the silence and shame of intergenerational violence. With unflinching honesty she chronicles her unique journey through the darkness of suffering to the light of compassion, hope, and recovery.

Brian Pennie shouldn't be alive today. His drug addiction was so bad that he was deemed too much of a risk for detox. Determined to confront his demons, he went cold turkey at home. Discovered in a pool of blood, it didn't exactly go to plan, but that's where his life truly began. On 8 October 2013, he was finally clean after 15 years of chronic heroin addiction, and something extraordinary happened: the world suddenly became beautiful. Free of the anxiety and fear that had always plagued him, Brian was given a second chance at life, and he devoured every minute of it. Bit by bit he rebuilt his world and began to share what he learned with others. In this incredibly honest and inspirational book, Brian shares the story of how he turned a seemingly hopeless existence into a rich and rewarding life, showing that change is always possible, no matter how stuck we feel. 'The first book in 5 years I haven't been able to put down' - Jennifer Zamparelli, 2FM. 'It's a hopeful tale' - Oliver Callan, The Ryan Tubridy Show, RTE Radio 1. 'We really enjoyed the book, Brian is a tremendous writer. It's going to be a really important book for a lot of people.' - Dermot and Dave, Today FM 'Brian's book provides hope that lives can be turned around.' - The Mail on Sunday 'Brian Pennie's memoir tells the story of addiction, recovery and redemption' - Patrick Freyne, The Irish Times

As heard on BBC Radio 4 and RTE Radio 1 A WATERSTONES BEST FOOD AND DRINK BOOK OF 2022 'An easy read mixture of wit and wisdom ... should be read by all who drink more than the limit' Prof David Nutt, author of Drink? The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health The popular broadcaster and columnist sets out to discover the unsung pleasures of drinking in moderation. The recommended alcohol limit is 14 units a week. Adrian Chiles used to put away almost 100. Ever since he was a teenager, drinking was his idea of a good time - and not just his, but seemingly the whole nation's. Still, it wasn't very good for him: the doctor made that clear. If you lined them up, Adrian must have knocked back three miles of drinks. How many of them had he genuinely wanted? A mile? There's an awful lot of advice out there on how to quit booze completely. If you just want to drink a bit less, the pickings are slim. Yet while the alcohol industry depends on a minority of problem drinkers, the majority really do enjoy in moderation. What's their secret? Join the inimitable Chiles as he sets out around Britain and plumbs his only slightly fuzzy memories of a lifetime in pubs in a quest to find the good drinker within.