22/06/2026
As you may know by now, Nicola from our support services team is a big reader, and we love when she shares her reviews of some of the books available from the Church St Helens community library! Her latest read was ""Little Addictions"" by Catherine Gray, and here's what she thought!
Is this a book your interesting in reading? Pop into our Community library!
📍 Support Services office in St Thomas's church, Peter St, Eccleston, St Helens, WA10 2EB, Monday-Friday 10am-2pm.
I adore Gray's writing. I've read all of her previous books over the years and her book 'The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober' was a pivotal book in my own sober curious journey.
The book starts with a scientific summary of addiction and dopamine. She then asks you to complete a survey that helps you pinpoint your own little addictions of which there are eight.
Catherine writes with humour and with a lot of wisdom from learned sources and her own lived experience.
Some of the chapters I thought wouldn't apply to me still had really interesting facts and good general advice.
This book is very clear about the difference between the little addictions and serious life altering addictions so if you are seeking advice for one of those I would suggest looking at different set of resources.
The science of how we get hooked into these little addictions is fascinating and understanding how your brain is working creates an awareness which is helping me to action some of the exercises that Gray suggests.
The chapter on people pleasing really resonated with me and the quote 'Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is disappoint someone' really stayed with me. Gray offers lots of gentle but impactful advice on boundaries that I've practised and found helpful.
You can certainly read this book independent of Gray's other work as it is in a different style."
