Thirsty

"Thirsty A Novel" by Jas Hammonds is a powerful young adult story about 18-year-old Blake Brenner, who is determined to join a prestigious sorority for women of color alongside her girlfriend, Ella. Feeling the pressure to prove herself due to her working-class background, Blake turns to alcohol to boost her confidence. The novel sensitively portrays her escalating addiction as she navigates intense sorority pledging, exploring themes of identity, belonging, social class, and the dangerous allure of substance abuse. It's a raw and honest look at how quickly a coping mechanism can spiral out of control, making it a crucial read for discussing addiction, peer pressure, and self-worth with young adults.

From Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments, comes an unflinching novel about addiction that Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and I’m the Girl, called “sensitively wrought and gorgeously written.” It’s the summer before college and eighteen-year-old Blake Brenner and her girlfriend, Ella, have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a sure thing—she’s the daughter of a Serena alum. Blake, however, has a lot more to prove. As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut . . . But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.