Skinful

Reviews / Votes

'Compelling. [This] timely portrayal of "grey area drinking" is a valuable addition to the quit-lit genre.'

Roisin Ingle, The Irish Times 'Brave and unflinching. An engrossing journey to hard-won redemption.'

Susan Johnson, author of From Where I Fell 'A captivating true story of self-discovery.'

Peggi Cooney, author of This Side of Alcohol 'Robyn Flemming writes of her life, her angst, her struggle with addiction, and it is her story. But within the questions, the reflections, the accounts of her struggle, is a mirror that the reader can't help but see. [Skinful] is honest, poignant and real.'

Mary Murphy, The Budapest Times '[Skinful is a] brave, engrossing travel memoir about turning your life around.'

Teresa Quinn, presenter, Bookline, Dublin, Ireland 'A look at the world through the words of a strong woman, one who doesn't disguise her impatience or her fury or her curiosity or her joy. Robyn Flemming describes her one precious, imperfect life in a manner familiar to readers of Educated (Tara Westover), The Liars' Club (Mary Karr), Wild (Cheryl Strayed), and even - yes - the classic Eat Pray Love (Elizabeth Gilbert). Her raw memoir doesn't spare herself and offers hope to others.'

Laura Kennelly, arts writer 'Skinful tackles addiction head on: causes, consequences and re-connection with your one life. It's also curious, quirky and, quite simply, one of a kind.'

Dorothy Simmons, author of Of Breath and Blood '[Skinful is] a very brave, thoughtful and provocative memoir.'

Keith Finnegan, presenter, Galway Talks, Galway Bay FM, Galway, Ireland 'This book is important. It [may] give you the impetus you're looking for if you're trying to make real change in your own life.'

David Astle, presenter, Evenings, ABC Radio Melbourne Simply outstanding

'Like a backup singer in a band who finally releases an album in her own name, the author, having made a career out of editing other people's books, has now written one of her own - and boy can she write. Not a sentence is wasted. She uses words like ice picks, chiselling away to build the remarkable story of her life and her struggles with addiction. She travels ceaselessly, so the narrative doubles as an evocative travelogue, but the main theme is the author's struggle with alcohol, or more particularly her struggle with the shame of her addiction and the lengths she went to to hide it from others. Her humility and her self-awareness are endearing, as is her quiet wisdom. The book is laced with stunning observatory kernels about the human condition ('damaged people damage people' is one) casually dropped in almost as asides but which are apt to pull up the reader like a sharp slap. It's a book to which those struggling with addiction will relate (perhaps with unnerving familiarity), in the way that those coming to terms with loss can relate to Joan Didion's 'The Year of Magical Thinking.' But the book is just as relevant for those who do not drink in a problematic way and are unlikely to, because it explains how those who do can slide into such addiction. It explains how those with an alcohol problem do not necessarily descend into utter collapse and can maintain a facade that all is well. So in this regard, the book is many things and will have many audiences, but above all what it is, is an exquisitely well-written page turner.' Amazon reviewer Brutal rollercoaster memoir about addiction

'Skinful is a rollercoaster of a memoir in which the author Robyn takes us on an incredible journey through her struggles with addiction, men, her self image and where it is she finds home.


Within this beautifully written memoir Robyn allows the reader to see every single high and low she experiences, every single achievement and indeed every single flaw she possesses. It is for this reason I found myself wanting to shake her at times and was almost shouting at the book. Indeed, there are some sections in the book where you will think "Here we go again" but I think it is this often repetitive feeling which portrays Robyn's journey perfectly to the reader.


Robyn doesn't try to dress up her experiences as anything profound, there's no glitter covered "this saved me" moment. Skinful is a brutally honest look at how one woman tumbled into a downward spiral starting with one nightly glass of wine and very slowly but surely grappled her way back to the top with stubborn determination. A fantastic read for anyone who is at a stuck point in their lives or is questioning their relationship with alcohol.' Amazon reviewer A slightly sad, hidden life

'Robyn has written a memoir "Skinful". This is partially about her life and travels but also about her addiction to alcohol... I have just read her book. A strange tale for me to read as I have never drunk alcohol and have no intention of starting. Some people think I am rather strange like this, especially when I worked in France but let them think that, it is their problem not mine.


Even though I can't relate to the alcohol I still found it a fascinating, if slightly sad, tale. Robyn has not drunk alcohol in 10 years and let's hope she stays that way.


Hopefully this is not her last book, I am sure she has lots of travellers tales to tell..' Amazon reviewer Fascinating insight into addiction

'I've had some experience with people close to me being addicted to alcohol. What I find so interesting is the way that everyone has a different path leading them into their dependency and have unique experiences that encourage them to make a change in their lives. Robyn was living a very exciting life travelling the world but she knew that she had to gain control of her drinking. 'Skinful' tells the story of a woman who was not comfortable in her own skin, and who needed to shed her old skin and old habits in order to start anew. Her honesty and experiences in life make a wonderful read and give us all another unique perspective on addiction. I highly recommend this book.' Amazon reviewer A page-turning memoir told with breathtaking honesty.

'I hurtled through this memoir: Robyn is unflinchingly honest in describing her journey and it's ups (some very funny!) and downs (will this event break her? Can she overcome real heartache?). It's brave, it's raw and it's very relatable. A big recommendation from me.' Amazon reviewer An inspiring hero's journey

'This beautifully crafted memoir was hard to put down. Robyn vividly transported me to different corners of the world whilst being witty and thought provoking. More than being just about addiction or travel, it's a hero's journey. One that had me laughing, shouting at the book, feeling compassion and inspiration.' Amazon reviewer