The true story of Stephen Liosi’s alter-ego, Peter Panelli—the disbarred lawyer who survived a brain injury, a family’s betrayal, and the ‘Living Bereavement’ of parental alienation.

Addict’s Way is the grit, the humor, and the raw truth about what it takes to reclaim a life that was left for dead.

If you want a clean, uplifting recovery story, look somewhere else. This is the blood, the self-loathing, and the dark, biting laughs that come when a man finally sees the beautiful mess he made.

4.7 ⭐ Global Rating / Get Your Copy Now 👉 Addict’s Way

To the Erased Parents…

Parental alienation doesn’t end when a child turns 18.

At 26, Liosi’s son Frankie is a stranger to him — lost in a narrative woven by ‘Flying Monkeys’ and a malignant narcissist tribe.

If you are living through the quiet agony of a child who has been turned against you, Addict’s Way is a reminder that you aren’t crazy, you aren’t alone, and your voice still matters.

4.7 ⭐ Global Rating / Get Your Copy Now 👉  Addict’s Way

From the Bar Exam to the Crack House to the Deletion from the Family Trust

This isn’t a ‘misfortune’ story — it’s a brawl.

Using the vulnerability of a Traumatic Brain Injury, Liosi’s sister Geralyn rewrote his history and eliminated him from the family and the living trust.

She thought a disbarred brother on the streets was a brother who couldn’t speak.

The toxic trustee was wrong.

The Funeral for a Man Who Wasn’t Dead

Imagine showing up to your father’s ‘imminent’ funeral only to find the vultures had already finished the meal.

While I stood there half-grieving, my sister was clutching the family trust— with my name professionally erased from the ledger.

I didn’t stay for the service.

I realized then that you can’t mourn the dead when you’re being buried alive by the living.

Fuck Geralyn.

4.7 ⭐ Global Rating / Get Your Copy Now 👉  Addict’s Way

The Verdict from the Readers

With only 50 global reviews so far, Addict’s Way is already being hailed as a modern classic of the independent spirit.

Readers are comparing Liosi’s voice to the raw honesty of Charles Bukowski— a writer who doesn’t pull punches.

“As mad as a box of frogs.” — Anonymous

“Like Anthony Bourdain, Liosi is a breathtaking storyteller.” — Laura LeVan

“This book reads like a movie.” — Rob Swigart, novelist

“Bukowski lives!” — Robert Turada

“Addict’s Way is a Powerful and Uncomfortable Story that Stays with You” ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stephen Liosi’s Addict’s Way is one of those books that grabs you from the first chapter and refuses to let go. It isn’t an easy read, but that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. Right from the start, we’re introduced to Peter Panelli at one of the lowest points in his life—cooking crack in an alley near Dodger Stadium while his wife Cheryl is giving birth. It’s a shocking scene, but it immediately sets the tone for a story that doesn’t sugarcoat addiction, bad choices, or the consequences that follow.

What struck me most as a reader was how real the characters felt. Peter isn’t portrayed as a simple villain or victim. He’s intelligent, successful on paper, and yet completely trapped by his addictions and self-destructive behavior.

Watching him and his second wife, Alison, struggle through homelessness, chronic illness, and life in a rundown crack house was heartbreaking at times. The supporting characters add even more depth to the story. Jerome, the ex-con working at IHOP, has a backstory that is both tragic and eye-opening. Eddie, the young dealer next door, provides some surprisingly memorable moments as he observes the chaos around him.

These aren’t just side characters—they feel like real people with their own histories and struggles. I also appreciated how the novel contrasts Peter’s privileged upbringing in Friendly Hills with the harsh reality of where his life eventually leads. Small details, like Peter naming a cockroach after his judgmental sister Amanda, add moments of dark humor that somehow make the story feel even more authentic.

This isn’t a feel-good redemption story. It’s messy, painful, and often difficult to read. But it’s also honest. Addict’s Way offers a raw look at addiction, regret, and the ways people can lose themselves while still desperately searching for a way back. Long after I finished the last page, I found myself thinking about Peter and the choices that brought him to where he ended up.

4.7 ⭐ Global Rating / Get Your Copy Now 👉  Addict’s Way

This is Liosi.

I’m not interested in redemption or moral resolution. I’m interested in what remains without them. Most narratives make things survivable for the reader. Mine are built to be accurate, continuous, repetitive, unresolved. My characters are not saved. They’re seen. I put the spotlight on their ugly.

— Liosi

P.S. Did you know that I was an acquaintance of “Hank” Bukowski at Hollywood Park Racetrack in the 1980s?

4.7 ⭐ Global Rating / Get Your Copy Now 👉  Addict’s Way