A Clean Mess

 

A Clean Mess

By: Tiffany Jenkins

Genre: Memoir

Summary:

In her previous book, High Achiever, Tiffany shares her addiction story. In this follow-up, she takes you through her recovery and into her marriage. As she lives life's ups and downs while not relying on her addiction for help, some things were unsalvable. Within these pages, Tiffany shares her marriage to a fellow addict and how it all came tumbling down.

You, like myself, probably know Tiffany Jenkins from her funny videos. I related to many of them far more than I'd like to admit- as did countless others. I read her first book and learned how her addiction came to be and how it, eventually, spiraled out of control costing her everything. Due to the number of years (and books read since), I don't remember if she opens up about her marriage in High Achiever. If she did, I know it wasn't in the detail A Clean Mess goes into.

Tiffany walks you through her meeting her now ex-husband at a sober anniversary ceremony. It was instant attraction for her. The draw to him was undeniable. Once she knew those feelings were returned, they were a force unable to stop. Their relationship moved at lightening speed- with the aid of an unplanned & unexpected pregnancy. Lies were told to cover up their actions so they wouldn't be thrown out of their sober living facilities. Secrets were kept from the very people wanting to help Tiffany. But she had her man and that was all she needed.

Things were rough for awhile, but they were able to carve out a little life for themselves and their daughter. Life being what it is, threw them another cure ball by adding his daughter from a previous relationship into the mix. They made a family and bonded. Life was going well. Stress was survived. Ups and downs were lived through. Sobriety was continuous- until it wasn't.

One weekend turned Tiffany's life upside down. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying a bachelor weekend her husband went on- with fellow addicts- cost him his wife, life and hard earned 14 years of sobriety. Lies told her husband and uncovered by Tiffany's sleuthing were the fallout that couldn't be recovered from. Now, as she's navigating a successful career and comedy tour, she's also navigating divorce and single parenting. 

As the book bounces back and forth between their romance unfolding and the wake of the fall out from divorce, Tiffany shares her feelings. How did she handle what she never wanted to? How did she learn to make a new life for herself that looked nothing like the one she had? Was this just the inevitable? As she wades through the wreckage, she finds herself. And she takes you along with her. She'll even tell you what it was like to learn that he had moved on before she did.

Overall, while it wasn't as engrossing for me as High Achiever, I'm glad I read this book. I've been cheering her on on social media and now know more of what was going on. I've been loving seeing her on the other side, and now I know what she went through to get to that other side. Fans of her work will connect to her newest book and love seeing our high achiever become a overcomer.