"A tale of grit told with brutal honesty and a hefty dose of humor by the woman who lived it.
Pretty Wrecked is pretty awesome, and I highly recommend it to anyone who has not yet figured out how to live the life they deserve."
Angela Duckworth
Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Author of "Grit" and Co-Host of "No Stupid Questions"
My name is Tracy, and I am a recovering addict and alcoholic.
I’m proud to be one of the few who clawed their way out of addiction and built a life in long-term recovery. I wouldn’t wish the struggle on anyone—but getting sober so young taught me lessons and strength I wouldn’t trade for anything.
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I grew up in a wealthy Philly suburb with every privilege on paper. But addiction doesn’t care about zip codes. It found me at 16, after years of emotional abuse from my stepfather and neglect from my father. Drugs and alcohol became my escape—my way to numb, to avoid, to look away. And once I opened that door, addiction took hold...
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Recovery didn’t happen all at once. I showed up and fought for it—minute by minute, day by day. That choice, made 29 years ago, has shaped everything since.
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​Pretty Wrecked started as a personal project, fueled by the spike in alcohol and cannabis abuse during COVID, and the rise of fentanyl and opioid deaths. As I began sharing my story, my husband pushed me to go bigger—to spread hope and the hard-earned wisdom that sobriety has given me. Like they say in AA, “In order to keep it, you have to give it away.”
If you’re struggling, stuck, or just searching—I hope these lessons remind you that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Tracy Viola's Debut Memoir
Marred by emotional turmoil and addiction's grip, can one teenager rise up to mend the shattered pieces of her life and soul?
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In this engrossing and unexpectedly funny memoir, ascend from the cold city streets to the Ivy League, where one woman proves it doesn’t matter where you start … it matters where you finish.
Pretty Wrecked is the inspiring true story of Tracy Viola's journey through addiction and recovery.
