The Programme (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798583139705)

Father-of-two Vinnie thinks his wife Jill's struggles with alcohol are way behind her, so he is devastated when he comes home one evening to find her crashed out in a drunken stupor. He wearily sets about trying to figure out once again what he can do to help her stop drinking.

Having rejected all his other suggestions, Jill eventually agrees to go to AA. However, this comes at a price. She spends more and more times at meetings and falls increasingly under the influence of her 12-step sponsor, Laura.

Although she apparently manages to stop drinking, Jill begins to isolate herself from her family and friends, and her closest relationships are put under increasing strain. At first Vinnie tries to support her in her efforts to follow the programme, but inwardly he struggles with the effect her behaviour is having on their small, close-knit family.

Daughter Rosie shares her innermost thoughts in her diary. At first, her lively commentary focuses on the usual teenage stuff: friendships, school, boys, her little sister Holly, and her football team. But eventually her mother's 'working' of her programme affects her life in a way neither of them could have imagined.