Saving Lily draws praise for human look at addiction and recovery

David Marlon and Jessica Kantor’s new book is getting strong reviews for pairing a personal recovery story with a broader critique of America’s addiction treatment system. Published by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster, the 304-page book is available in the U.S. and U.K. in paperback and ebook.

Why it matters: - Saving Lily is resonating because it treats addiction as a public health, mental health and systems issue, not just a personal story. - The book’s reception suggests there is a market for reporting that makes treatment, homelessness and recovery accessible to both general readers and professionals. - The book also pushes a larger question: whether the U.S. addiction treatment system can meet people where they are.

What happened: - Saving Lily: Lessons from Building the Largest Addiction Treatment Center in Sin City During the Opioid Epidemic was published by Post Hill Press and distributed by Simon & Schuster. - The book is by addiction specialist David Marlon and journalist Jessica Kantor. - The book is earning five-star praise from readers and positive reactions from public figures and professionals. - Former U.S. Congresswoman and Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley praised the book for combining personal experience with insight into addiction and treatment. - Clark County Commissioner and former legislator Marilyn Kirkpatrick also praised the book for its accessibility and honesty.

The details: - The book blends Marlon’s personal recovery story with the story of Lily, a young woman facing severe mental illness, substance use and homelessness. - The narrative examines addiction as a chronic illness and explores co-occurring mental health disorders. - The book looks at failures and limits in healthcare and criminal justice systems. - It also addresses homelessness, treatment, recovery and the need for individualized care. - Marlon said the goal was to tell the truth about addiction in America, with both his story and Lily’s story serving a larger point about people falling through the cracks. - Marlon is a nationally recognized interventionist and addictionologist who founded a major addiction recovery center in Southern Nevada after overcoming his own addiction. - Marlon now leads Vegas Stronger, a nonprofit focused on homelessness through treatment for substance abuse and mental illness. - Kantor brings a journalist’s perspective to the project and helps turn the personal stories into a broader examination of addiction systems. - The book is 304 pages long. - The book is available in trade paperback and ebook formats in the United States and United Kingdom. - Book information lists a foreword by Michael Adams, an ISBN of 9798895654774 and a publication date of Dec. 16, 2025.

Between the lines: - The reaction points to reader appetite for addiction coverage that is both emotionally grounded and practical. - The book’s appeal appears to come from its mix of memoir, clinical perspective and social critique. - Its emphasis on individualized recovery stands in contrast to one-size-fits-all narratives about addiction treatment. - The use of a second storyline, Lily’s, broadens the book beyond Marlon’s personal experience and into a wider critique of the system.

What’s next: - Saving Lily will continue reaching readers in paperback and ebook editions in the U.S. and U.K. - The book’s message is likely to keep drawing attention from readers looking for a clearer picture of addiction, homelessness and treatment policy. - Marlon’s work at Vegas Stronger keeps him active in the treatment and homelessness space while the book expands his public reach.

The bottom line: - Saving Lily is being received as more than a memoir. It is a case study in how addiction, recovery and systemic failure intersect in America.