Brian Larson’s forthcoming memoir
The Afterparty
An Open Invitation to Sobriety
What if sobriety is not the end of the party, but the beginning of a life you can finally be present for?
“A comprehensive and compassionate guide to recovery. Brian’s story is one you won't forget and his advice is clear-eyed and kind in equal measure, the work of a writer who deeply cares about the person on the other side of the page.”
Malala YousafzaiNew York Times bestselling author of I Am Malala and Finding My WayPhoto: Rinaldo Sata
Available May 4, 2027 from Broadleaf Books in print, ebook, and audiobook formats
Come as you are. No dress code required.
Exclusive cover reveal
The Afterparty,
in PEOPLE.
A first look at the cover, the story behind the book, and the possibilities of a life without alcohol.
Read the exclusive feature“I wanted The Afterparty to focus instead on what can come back to you: your time, your curiosity, your relationships, your creativity and a clearer sense of who you are.”
The book
The party after the party
When Brian Larson stopped drinking, he expected sobriety to solve his problems. Instead, it introduced him to all the feelings, questions, and parts of himself that alcohol had helped him avoid.
The Afterparty is the book Brian wishes someone had handed him when he was struggling to imagine what a life without alcohol could actually look like. Through candid personal stories, humor, and hard-won insight, he explores what happens after the last drink: the changing friendships, uncomfortable emotions, mental health questions, search for connection, and gradual rediscovery of the person underneath it all.
Written from Brian’s perspective as a gay man, The Afterparty is for anyone who is sober, sober-curious, questioning their relationship with alcohol, or simply trying to build a more honest and intentional life. It also makes room for readers who do not see themselves reflected in traditional recovery narratives or feel comfortable embracing a Twelve Step model.
This is not a manual for doing sobriety perfectly. It is an invitation to discover what might become possible.
About the bookListen along
The soundtrack to The Afterparty
Songs Brian listened to while writing, and music that inspired the spirit and emotional world of The Afterparty.
Open the playlist on Spotify
About the author
Meet Brian
Writer, speaker, podcaster, finance professional, Oprah Daily Contributor, and NBC10 Books Contributor.
Brian Larson is the author of The Afterparty: An Open Invitation to Sobriety and the host of Shelf Care Society. His work explores identity, addiction, sobriety, books, and personal transformation.
He has been featured in People magazine and on The Oprah Podcast. A graduate of Boston University and The Fletcher School at Tufts University, Brian lives in New York City.
Selected work
Brian’s work and conversations have appeared on
The podcast
A podcast for people who care about stories
Smart, warm, curious, and deeply human, these conversations go beyond the usual talking points and stay with you.
On Shelf Care Society, Brian sits down with celebrated authors, emerging literary voices, activists, artists, actors, and cultural figures to explore the lives behind the work, the ideas shaping culture, and the stories we cannot stop thinking about.
Stay in the know
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Join Brian’s list for book updates, event announcements, behind-the-scenes dispatches, reading recommendations, and news from The Afterparty.
Save the date
The Afterparty starts May 4, 2027
Come for the honesty. Stay for the possibility of a life that feels more fully your own.
Preorder The Afterparty: An Open Invitation to Sobriety in print, ebook, and audiobook formats wherever you buy or listen to books.