Tiffany Jenkins (2) (1985–)

[3.75] Don’t expect an easy or breezy read.

Some reviewers have branded Jenkins’ stark narrative as flippant, self-absorbed, self-serving, entitled and narcissistic. Bingo. These are precisely the traits that severe addiction can cause. I saw it firsthand coming from a family ravaged by drug addiction. My older brother battled addiction for seven agonizing years before dying of an overdose at age 27. I had just turned 17. Even as a teenager, I recognized how drugs turned a once caring, show more sensitive and fun-loving soul into a lying, manipulative shell of a person.

Jenkins is brutally candid in this twist-filled memoir. She aptly describes herself as “an expert at manipulating.” Some of the heartbreaking anecdotes make it incredibly easy for readers to detest the storyteller. Had I been her editor, I would have likely urged her to tone down many passages that flirt with flippancy. Also, the nonlinear storyline works brilliantly about 90 percent of the time. However, there are spots where the switching timelines become a tad jumbled.

All this being said, “High Achiever” is a fast-moving and enlightening deep dive into the underbelly of addiction. show less

Beyond being a story of inspiration and hope in the grip of addiction, High Achiever is very well written by a natural story teller. At different times you will be on the edge of your seat, have tears streaming down your face, or uncontrollably smiling so hard that your cheeks hurt. Tiffany Jenkins has a number of videos on Facebook sharing the joys and challenges of her current life: Juggling the Jenkins. I encourage everyone, whether they've struggled with addiction or not, to check out show more this book and/or her videos on Facebook. show less

2.5 Stars

An interesting story of one young woman’s struggle with addiction.
I happened on this one while trying to find something to listen to on Audible and it has amazing reviews so I decided to give it a go. I wasn’t familiar of Tiffany Jenkins but I do like a story where someone can overcome, and take charge of their lives and turn a bad situation into something good.

This was a difficult story but my heart went out to all the people Tiffany wronged in the process. I would genuinely show more loved to have heard her husband’s and his family’s side of the story as how hurt and manipulated they must have felt when this book came out.
Having said that a part of me thinks in order to get clean and move forward in life she has to put her past behind her and if she felt guilty all the time, how long would she stay clean. To be fair Tiffany has paid her dues and turned her life around and that is commendable.
The story is certainly an eye opener in how far someone will go to feed their addiction and how many people get wronged along the way.

I am glad Tiffany turned her life around and her story is certainly interesting and I have no doubt that her story brings hope to many people out there who struggle with addiction or have someone in their family fighting their demons.

I listened to this one on Audible, it was read by the author herself. show less

Brutally honest, often disturbing and unflinching in her account of her years as a drug addict, Tiffany provides a glimpse into her feelings of desperation, despair, followed by triumphant hope and recovery.