Book Trailer
about the book
Told in two raw, unforgettable voices, Coloring Outside the Lines: A Love Story in the Gray of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption is a gripping husband-and-wife memoir of addiction, codependency, trauma, and the winding road to recovery, braided together with heartbreak, resilience, grace, and unexpected surrender.
Chris isn't your stereotype of a struggling addict. He's a charismatic, funny, and successful entrepreneur whose pain ran deeper than anyone could see. Beneath the charm and achievements lived unhealed trauma, childhood abuse, loss, and grief that eventually spiraled into full-blown addiction.
Katie found herself trapped between choosing love and difficult choices, while trying to save her husband without losing herself. She became the keeper of secrets, the manager of chaos, and the detective in fighting for a life that felt like it was slipping through her fingers.
Together, they expose the often-invisible toll of living with addiction. But this isn't just a story of destruction. It's about what comes after. The rebuilding. The reckoning. The radical choice to heal, not only through traditional recovery models but also through alternative paths: plant/animal medicine, therapy, faith, and deep internal exploration.
Through it all, what's tested, and ultimately redefined, is unconditional love. Not the romanticized version, but the gritty, unglamorous kind that shows up on the bathroom floor at 3 a.m. The kind that holds space without enabling, that forgives without forgetting, and that learns to draw boundaries without abandoning the heart.
Published by Landon Hail Press •11.17.2025
about the authors
Chris Bowick / Adrift
Chris Bowick is a husband, entrepreneur, and recovering perfectionist who spent over a decade building a highly successful insurance agency from the ground up.
He studied Business Management and Finance in university and has been widely recognized in his industry.
But behind the numbers and accolades was a man quietly struggling with addiction. Coloring Outside the Lines book marks a new chapter for Chris, one where truth and vulnerability matter more than any award ever could.
Through resilience and recovery, he’s learned to redefine success not by titles, but by showing up, even when it’s hard.
He hopes this book offers courage to anyone fighting their way out of the dark and into a life that finally feels like their own.
“The Big Book is over 85 years old. Our book is for couples that challenge the notion that the first step is divorcing the person that led you to recovery.”
Katie Bowick /Anchor
Katie Bowick is a wife, author, entrepreneur, and proud aunt. She was born and raised in Colorado and studied Communications at university.
Part memoir. Part play book. Her contributions to Coloring Outside the Lines are an invitation to others to consider alternative options to traditional recovery approaches that are often at odds with sustaining love.
When she's not writing, you can find her snowboarding, golfing, collecting art, or snuggling up with a good book and a glass of wine. As a child of God, Katie finds peace in her faith. She is driven by a deep belief in magic and the beauty that exists in both people and the world around her.
Katie has spent over a decade building a successful career in marketing, communications, and client storytelling. Known for her creative problem-solving and strategic thinking, she brings the same energy and empathy to the page that she brought to boardrooms and brand campaigns. Whether she’s crafting a heartfelt narrative or helping others feel seen through words, Katie writes with clarity, vulnerability, and purpose.
“We wanted to update the language of how we speak about addiction through love. We chose the framework of anchor and adrift to empower others like us weathering the storm.”
What People Are Saying
★★★★★
“Emotion packed, raw and beautiful!” — Regina G.
★★★★★
“Very powerful story. Raw and honest. For those of us that either know someone that has struggled with addiction or is struggling themselves this story will stick with you. Highly recommend this book.” — Brent S.
★★★★★
“This book offers a deeply human look at the journey through addiction and recovery, not just as an individual struggle but as something that profoundly shapes a partnership. Told from both a husband’s and wife’s perspectives, it reveals the courage it takes to stay open, honest, and connected in the face of hardship. Their willingness to share both sides of the experience brings an authenticity and hope that many will find meaningful.” —Henry J.
★★★★★
“Honest, raw, and full of heart! Coloring Outside The Lines dives deep into addiction and forgiveness, shining light on pain, healing, and resilience. It’s a story that will undoubtedly help others find their way through similar challenges.” — Jessica C.
★★★★★
“Coloring Outside the Lines is a beautiful story of the resilience of true love. While reading this book, it felt so powerful to walk with Katie and Chris through the most vulnerable time in their lives. Their love is rare, but their struggles are unfortunately common. And their willingness to share this story will undoubtedly save lives.” — Izabela O.
★★★★★
“Coloring Outside the Lines is so much more than another book about addiction. Told in dual voices, it gives a true glimpse into what life can look like, both as an addict and as the loved one. Chris and Katie invite you into their story with vulnerable honesty, raw emotion, and heartbreaking choices. Addiction is messy, but so is healing, and I think we forget that sometimes. This book takes you through every emotion but ultimately leaves you with a deeper understanding of what addiction is, what an addict endures, how they can come out the other side, and the kind of support it truly takes to get there.” — Ashley P.
★★★★★
“Coloring Outside the Lines is honest, messy, and full of heart. Chris and Katie share what love looks like from both sides of addiction—raw, vulnerable, and deeply human. It shows how healing isn’t something you do alone, but something you learn to walk through together.” — Rebecca S.
★★★★★
“Wow! These two hold nothing back in Coloring Outside the Lines. Great read. The humor infused with hard lessons learned and the brokenness with the greatest capacity to love makes this book one that touches every part of your heart. You ache for them, cry, and laugh more than expected. Getting to hear the same story of addiction and redemption told from both sides who lived it is like nothing I’ve ever read before. Feels like the kind of book everyone, who has struggled with something or supported someone through their struggle, needs to read. I like their take on the “Adrift” and the “Anchor.” Hope they do an audiobook! I’d love to hear this told in their voices. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that’s so relatable.” — Paige K.
★★★★★
Coloring Outside the Lines isn’t just about addiction, it’s about the slow erosion and unexpected resilience of a marriage pushed to its limits. It’s messy, heartbreaking, infuriating, and at times so intimate it almost feels wrong to be reading it. But that’s exactly what makes it powerful. A must read for anyone going through something similar!!” — Jess F.
★★★★★
“Coloring Outside the Lines is one of those books that stays with you long after the last page. It’s honest without being hopeless, tender without being sentimental, and real in a way that only people who have lived through addiction and recovery can write. What I loved most is how human this story is. It’s not just about substance use or healing, but about the quiet moments, the hard truths, the small choices, and the brave, messy love that carries you through the gray. The authors let you into their hearts in a way that feels intimate, vulnerable, and deeply generous. If you are sober, sober-curious, loving someone who struggles, or trying to make sense of your own story, this book will meet you exactly where you are. It’s the kind of story that reminds you redemption is possible, healing is real, and none of us are as alone as we think. A beautiful, necessary read. Highly recommend.” — Kaitlin H.
★★★★★
“Coloring Outside the Lines is one of those rare memoirs that doesn’t just tell a story, it invites you into it with unflinching honesty and unforgettable vulnerability. Told in alternating voices, Chris and Katie open the door to the messy, painful, hopeful world of addiction and recovery with a level of candor that feels both brave and deeply human. What struck me most is how the book refuses to offer easy answers. Instead, it paints recovery as it truly is: nonlinear, courageous, humbling, and sometimes held together by nothing but hope and a willingness to keep going. The love between Chris and Katie is not romanticized but instead shown through its grit, growth, setbacks, and quiet moments of grace. This memoir is for anyone touched by addiction, codependency, trauma, or complicated love, or anyone who simply appreciates a beautifully written story about resilience and redemption. It’s honest. It’s messy. It’s healing. And it’s absolutely worth reading.” — Taylor
Thanks to everyone who has left a review on Amazon so far. People we didn’t even know took the time to read and review which is so humbling.
If you have thoughts, please send us via email or leave a five-star review HERE so our message can reach others in the Gray of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption.
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the journey
