Crazed and Confused: A Delightfully Dysfunctional Familial Memoir

by Tiffany Ryan

Meet the Jenkins! A delightfully dysfunctional family that puts the fun in dysfunction.

This uproariously hilarious and laugh out loud narrative is told through the eyes of Addie, the Jenkin’s sixteen-year-old daughter, who humorously chronicles the craziness and frivolity of her family through keen observation and affable insight. By shedding light on the eccentricities of her family, Addie takes us on a wild ride through the entertaining spectacle of geriatric community theater, homeschooling mishaps, karaoke nemeses, and a slew of other outlandish situations.

The story is weaved seamlessly in and around the life of Olivia Jenkins, a wine loving, sanity seeking, homeschooling mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown and her mother, Grandma Helen, the self-adoring elderly matriarch of the family whose vigor for life and wild antics tend to keep Olivia in a perpetual state of stupefaction. Toss in two strong-willed, sarcastic sons, a freewheeling sister from out of town, a father with Harley Davidson fantasies, and a mother-in-law who sells finished paint by numbers as art, and you can see why Olivia just may find herself riding the crazy train out of town.

Join Olivia and the rest of her family as she works to juggle everyone else’s crazy while trying to keep her own sanity intact. It’s sure to be one hell of a ride!

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 5, 2023

About the author

Tiffany currently resides in North Georgia with her husband and two children. When she's not writing, you will often find her cheering her daughter on at soccer games, listening patiently to her son regale her with stories of his wild antics, hiking and frequenting North Georgia wineries with her husband, reading anthropological thrillers, or relaxing with a good paint by numbers.

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed funny, witty,charming...and this book delivers in spades. You´ll relax, laugh and smile.

[Bella Crooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book that I have read by this author I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the Jenkins family and Tiffany Ryan’s writing style this one was so fun and HILARIOUS I was laughing out loud at what beau was saying and that Olivia had to keep getting on to him!! I also love aunt Christine and Brian I am looking forward to seeing what happens to these two!! A light fun read!! I need a sequel NOW!!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, sarcastic, witty banter is so hard to find! Tiffany Ryan provides an entire book FULL of it!

Very entertaining, but an editor well versed in the proper use of quotation marks really needs to go through it ;)

[Charly Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazed and Confused puts the FUN in dysfunctional. I could absolutely see this as a sit-com on television. Think Married... With Children, but funnier and far less crass. Dry wit and humorous comebacks combined with the family's daily sarcastic banter throughout makes this a delightful read. And while most of the characters had me laughing out loud at least once, none had me snort-laughing like Beau's character. One of my favorite lines was this: "Well, that was rude... Mom just murdered two flies in the middle of having sex." I could go on and on with some great lines from this story, but trust me when I say read it and see what the fuss is about.

[Robin Brister · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am going to start by saying, this is not my usual read. I'm more of a suspense girl, but who does not love to laugh out loud. The sarcastic characters and hilarious family members interactions had me literally laughing aloud. There was never a dull moment in the Jenkins family, and I loved seeing them interact with each other. The story is told from the Jenkin's daughter, Addie's point of view. She doesn't miss a beat telling what her parents, siblings and both sets of grandparents are crazily doing and saying.
If you want a light read, with lots of laughs, I highly recommend this book.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book! The story was pretty funny. There were many sentences in it, that I have actually said to my children. it was entertaining, and I never knew what was going to happen next. My favorite part was the bullhorn. According to Beau’s parents, everything has to be a learning opportunity. He was my favorite character. I didn’t care too much for Olivia. She seemed to find fault with almost everything Beau did. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious dysfunction. Needs a good editor but fun for a new series.

[sue naegely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book to read

This was alot of fun to read the characters were real people that you would like to hang around with

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful dose of dysfunction

If you are in need of a lighthearted read with humor, sarcasm, and love- look no further! Tiffany creates a witty tale of a delightfully dysfunctional family that I wish I could meet in real life. The family dynamics are SO relatable,sometimes snarky,but at the end of the day, filled with love. I only wished my family functioned as well as the Jenkins! 5star read and can't wait for more wit and banter!

[Kathi Catalano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is entertaining, cleverly written, has unique fun characters, and is truly hilarious from start to finish. It’s a laugh out loud, never a dull moment read and would make a great sitcom. I look forward to many more books from this author.

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a break from my everyday genre, and this book was recommended.

This book had me laughing almost the whole time! The characters in this story all have their own little quirks.

Grandma Helen was my absolute favorite. She was definitely a character. And I can't forget Nana with her paintings. Both of these women were a hoot! They were all great characters but these 2 will stay with me for awhile.

The family dynamic and their interactions with each other was so hysterical at times I had to be careful not to laugh too loud as I was reading this late into the night.

If you are looking for a funny, laughing out loud, belly laugh kind of book, this one is for you.

I can't wait for Tiffany's next book!

[Kaylynn Wurzelbacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway on Bookstagram just a few days after joining 💕 and I LOVE it. It just screams DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY in the most charming and delightful way. There was never a dull moment and I thoroughly enjoyed the witty banter between all of the family members. Olivia Jenkins may be on the verge of a nervous breakdown (casting my vote now for her to have a solo spa day!) but at least she’s got her wine🍷😊 I chuckled at Beau and Addie telling her, “I thought you said you were going to stop drinking wine on the weekdays” as she poured herself a large glass and justified it by saying, “there are many scientific studies suggesting that wine is heart healthy, so I look at it as being precautionary about my health.”

I laughed out loud several times and liked each character, but Helen and Beau are definitely my favorites. Helen is such a dramatic and eccentric woman, and I liked the fact that she has a nemesis in the theater. I thought it was hilarious when she asked Olivia if she could borrow THAT item and was annoyed that she had to explain why, as if it were a totally normal thing to ask. 👀😅 Beau’s many “learning moments” and persuasion tactics had me cracking up. That long, well-thought-out text pleading with Olivia to allow him to ride his bike to get a donut with his friend was hilarious.

I really needed a fun, light read like this, and I was thrilled to find out that there will be more stories to come about the Jenkins family. Looking forward to reading more by Tiffany Ryan!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh out loud story of the Jenkins! A truly dysfunctional couple. Olive and Greg, and their three children, Ezra, Beau and Addie, are not your run of the mill family. The story is told from the viewpoint of Addie. The grandparents also add to the unusual cast of characters.

This book literally had me laughing out loud. It was funny and entertaining and the quirky characters made the book all the better.

It truly was a fun read with plenty of humor and odd family dynamics.

The author, Tiffany Ryan, has written one of the funniest books that I have ever read.

Laughter is good and this is the perfect book to have you in stitches.

[Behind The Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to review this book and give it the justice it deserves! The Jenkins, a family once introduced to, you want to move in with and become a part of their quirky life.
I am a die hard Psychological Thriller fan but in between reads, I need a to take a psychopath hiatus.
Crazed and Confused did the job!!
I devoured and laughed so hard throughout this entire book my face actually hurt.
The relatable characters were witty, eccentric, and hilarious.
I LOVED everything about this book. It just sparkled with cheery wit!!
Tiffany Ryan will now be an auto buy Author for me.

[Anita Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandma Helen is my favorite character of all time in this fun-loving dysfunctional family and I will never forget her. She is also a great motivation for Olivia. 😊 This is such a believable fun family. It almost feels like home. I love it.
I don't want give to too much away but know this. If you have an opportunity to get this book. Get it, you won't ever regret it.

That Grandma Helen and her family had me rolling in stitches.
Tiffany Ryan is one heck of an author.
Jingled and Jangled. AND Crazed and Confused
are two books I will keep by my side always.

[Gina Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern Sass at its best

This book is laugh out loud southern sass at its best!
The characters are very well written and the story just flows from one delightful day to the next, making you feel like you’re standing in the room or sitting at the table.
I couldn’t wait for the next chapter, and my only complaint was it was over way too soon.
Thankfully, there’s more where this came from…
Bring on the wine!

[Dragonfly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, Tiffany Ryan captures family antics that most of us can relate to in one way or another! Her characters are funny and well written while the storyline keeps your attention. There are so many laugh out loud things that happen in a family that puts the fun in dysfunction! The humor in this book is a great break!

[Tam Sesto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, funny, sarcastic, and the writing was done so well, it was a movie rolling in my head the entire time. Grandma Helen is hilarious and the responses from the family in regards to her antics are priceless. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2025 Reading Challenge June #1: title with memory related words: examples: memory, forget, remember, confuse, know

I enjoyed the witty banter, but it honestly was a bit much after a while. Also, Grandma Helen may be one of the most irritating characters I could imagine.

[Trisha Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

[Melinda May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny! The sarcasm and wit of this family is right up my alley! Can't wait to read more!

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

5☆☆
It's absolutely hilarious and brilliant.  The Jenkins family had me literally in tears laughing. Grandma Helen is an absolute hoot. She is definitely a tidal wave of lunacy lol.
" She is Greek sea siren luring her prey."  I'm dying.
"Whenever life gives you lemons, make champagne,"
We should all celebrate a whole week for our birthday!!!
I loved this book...looking forward to more of the Jenkins family

[Kerry Murtagh Ramsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

An extremely generous 2. Not funny, witty, or charming. Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word choice are frequently incorrect. POV makes no sense. Characters are unlikable. It’s like a sitcom that was yanked off the air after 3 episodes.

[Anne Haggerty · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, open a bottle of wine then relax and enjoy the adventures of the Jenkins family. This is a really fun way to spend an afternoon!

[John Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me be clear: this book should come with a warning label. Do not consume alcohol while reading. You will waste good wine/margarita/tequila. I nearly did, more than once. By the time I hit “Gramps with Tramps,” I was clutching my side, wheezing like I’d just run wind sprints through an Applebee’s parking lot after having way too many bottomless shrimp. It got to the point where I almost had to go to the ER, not from drama, but from laughing so hard I forgot how lungs work. The nurse said something about breathing. Whatever that meant. There are so many quotable lines of dialogue.

Tiffany Ryan has somehow written the literary equivalent of a stand-up set, sitcom pilot, and family intervention rolled into one. But here’s the twist: beneath all the ridiculous karaoke showdowns, cult-adjacent grandma schemes, and gloriously over-the-top Southern mayhem, there’s actual character development that stunned me. I’m amazed at how real these people feel. Even in the middle of mayhem, you catch glimpses of their hidden bruises and backstories.
I could write a novella just chronicling the subtle shifts, the lines that cut deeper than they first seem, and yes, the dozens of moments that had me spitting up my drink.

And then there’s Grandma Helen. She deserves her own award. Her own series. Honestly, her own country. This woman could outwit a Vegas con man and outdrink a country club. She’s part spiritual guru, part chaos agent, and part therapist who charges in emotional blackmail. And I say this with all sincerity: I want to take a road trip with her. I don’t even care where we go. I’ll ride shotgun with the windows down while she lectures strangers about the superiority of boxed wine and the healing powers of petty revenge.

Addie, the teenage narrator, is sharp, self-aware, and somehow manages to be both the eye of the hurricane and a contributor to the chaos. She’s not just funny. She’s observant in a way that makes the comedy land harder, not safer. And here’s the kicker: I love stories where everyone is kray kray except the narrator. Addie might be the only sane one left, and her dry commentary makes the madness around her even funnier. That balance between laughter and truth is what separates this from your average quirky family tale. It knows when to push a gag, and when to let a moment sit quietly in the reader’s chest. And that’s rare.

To other readers: if you’ve got any love for dysfunctional family stories that don’t play it safe, for books that go from absurd to oddly emotional in the span of a page, then you owe it to yourself to dive in. This isn’t just funny. This is well-built, with heart stitched into every gag. I love comedy, and for any author to pull off comedic writing in a novel and to do it on a masterpiece level—well, I’m in awe.

Tiffany Ryan didn’t just make me laugh. She reminded me why voice matters, why great comedy always cuts close to the bone, and why, once in a while, you find a debut that earns every bit of your attention. This is that book.

[Chele Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't give Helen a gun! A hilarious ride keeping up with Grandma Helen, a self-proclaimed diva of community theater, and star of her own life! When her 75th birthday week arrives, she cranks up the celebration in high style and expects to be fawned over for DAYS.

The Jenkins are a loving family of intelligent word warriors so it's never a dull moment as they defend their antics in witty explanations, and Mom, Olivia, drowns her aggravation in wine! When her husband Greg can't take it anymore, he's trading in ounces of nuttiness for bourbon on the rocks!

I think Grandma Helen's husband, Anthony, (which she confides is still a sex machine) is the only sane one, and he cooks for the family while sometimes forgetting to wear pants! Despite this, his Italian cuisine sounds divine, and I'd love a place at the table.

Twelve-year-old Beau is especially expressive in his preteen woes. Life's not fair, and he's sure his parents created him just to dangle cookies he isn't allowed to eat--not without a banana first--and he's just there to take out the trash, and let Churchill, the bulldog in and out, or help his grandparents clean out their garage.

New adult brother, Ezra, has graduated from homeschooling, but not the homestead. He's taking nearby college classes and working as a landscaper, but he still hasn't mastered aiming at the toilet. Will his precision have better luck with cupid's arrow and a turtleneck?

Told by 16-yr-old Addie, she spills the beans and spotlight on her crazy relatives, especially Grandma Helen. Addie's her biggest fan and has a knack for defusing the wake of explosive actions Gram's words leaves all over town. Addie's a gem at smoothing Gram's feathers too when star treatment doesn't go quite her way, and a theater rival keeps horning in!

There is A LOT of drinking going on among the adults in this difunctionally fun family. I wondered how good it could be for an elderly lady to keep the gin, and everything else, coming. You may think, who cares, it's a FICTIONAL story, haha, but the antics are based on Tiffany Ryan's real-life family, so I imagine there's a real Grandma Helen wreaking hilarious havoc somewhere!

I'm off next to celebrate a crazy Christmas season with the sequel, Jingled and Jangled! Tis the Season to be a Jenkins!

[Chrissy D (Chrissysliterarybites) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and laughed a lot and I highly recommend it!

This is a story about The Jenkins family, told from the 16 year old daughter Addie’s perspective. She and her older and younger siblings were homeschooled by their mother. Their mother Olivia is always somewhat stressed but handles it with humor and loves her wine- especially when she feels very stressed or on the verge of a breakdown, which I can relate to (not wine but wanting a drink in general lol). Olivia’s father Greg is very kind, and her brothers are both very sarcastic. Her Grandparents live with them including her very hilarious Grandmother Helen. She says whatever she wants and does whatever she wants and I was cracking up at the things she said- I want to be Grandma Helen when I grow up! They also live near her other set of Grandparents. Finally the family has a bulldog named Churchhill who doesn’t really want to be around the family unless he had to.

Olivia’s brother Beau completely reminds me of my almost 12 year old daughter, always saying we’re forcing her to do child labor by making her clean, saying we never yell at her brother, etc. I chuckled at some of the things he said. Addie also reminded me of my daughter how she only ever wants to wear sweatshirts/dress down. Some of the commentary between the parents a and the kids cracks me up! Reminds me of me and my kids! Also the daughter plays soccer and so does mine. I loved the fend for yourself breakfast mentality - so much in this mimics things in my life it makes me laugh. The only thing I slightly struggled with was it didn’t really have a main plot/something the story was driving to - it was really just a variety of random things happening day to day to the family and not heading toward a main event or anything. It did all lead up eventually to Grandma Helen’s birthday, which Olivia’s Aunt Christine comes in town for. I was cracking up when Olivia has her mom in her phone as “Karen” because she thinks she’s a “Karen” because my kids call me that too.

Overall this book is so relatable for anyone raising kids right now! I could totally see this becoming a weekly tv show. This is supposed to be a series so I’ll be excited when more come out!

[Tiffany D · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were moments I laughed and several moments where I could completely understand the mother’s frustrations.

I did however have trouble with the narration aspect in the beginning. Addie is the daughter who narrates it but also is a character in the scenes so there were a few times where I had to remind myself that she was also the narrator. Especially when describing a scene that she wasn’t apart of at all. I had to tell myself that because she is also the narrator she could know what happened even if she wasn’t there. It may be due to the fact that the current series I am writing is all first person so it’s hard when reading perspectives outside of that sometimes. It’s not a deal breaker as it is a completely normal way to write but it just took a moment to get used to. This in no way affected my rating.

The family is very entertaining. Although, this isn’t necessarily a book with a beginning, middle and end. There was no real plot exactly. It just felt like a peek into the daily crazy and yet, in a strange way, comforting life of this family. There is no heart pumping adrenaline wondering what will happen next in this book but rather what it is supposed to be, a relaxed read. There’s family drama of course but all very entertaining. If you are looking for a relaxing comedic read this is one you should check out.

Beau (the youngest son) was quite hilarious in his quick witted teenage comebacks. The mother was equally entertaining with hers as well. And I would probably be tempted to drink more wine just like the mother dealing with the ups and downs she endured each day. The author did a great job at making you feel like you were apart of the scene and enjoying their crazy antics. You could tell they love each other very much.

One downside is that I do feel like the dog Churchill was mentioned in the beginning but forgotten about later in the book. With him being on the front cover I expected to read more scenes with him in them.

It was very enjoyable and I’m glad I read it 😊.I will be continuing onto the next one in the series Jingled and Jangled.

[Tambi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Laugh-Out-Loud Journey

Crazed and Confused by Tiffany Ryan is an addicting, hilarious, and completely unforgettable familial memoir of the dysfunctional Jenkins family. This is the first book of the Delightfully Dysfunctional series. The story is told through the eyes of Adelaide Indubious Jenkins (Addie), the Jenkins family 16 year old daughter. The reader gets to follow along with Addie and discover all the chaotic shenanigans that take place involving many wonderful characters; in which, was challenging to have a favorite.

Readers get to read about the lives of Addie’s brothers: Beau (who is always trying to find an easy way out) and Ezra (the argumentative one of the family), her mother: Olivia (who takes on the limitless roles of a mother), her father: Greg (the peacekeeper), Grandma Helen (the adventurous and boisterous one of the family who loves her wine), Grandpa Anthony (the Italian who likes cooking in his underwear), Grandma Carol (who found her passion in painting), Grandpa George (who has the green thumb), and Aunt Christine (who tries to deal with all the catastrophes that are thrown her way).

Crazed and Confused kept me turning pages to see what was going to happen next and every moment with the Jenkins family felt realistic. From critters in the garden, to teaching a teenager to drive, to running errands, Tiffany Ryan has managed to describe the eventful lives of the Jenkins family in ways that are sidesplitting relatable.
There was not a single moment that I did not enjoy reading this book and look forward to reading all others of this series. It is one of the best books that I have ever read and is one that I would undeniably read again.

Warning: Crazed and Confused by Tiffany Ryan will more than likely leave you in stiches.

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’ve ever felt like your family belongs in a sitcom, Crazed and Confused by Tiffany Ryan will make you feel right at home. This riotously funny novel introduces the Jenkins family—a lovable, wildly dysfunctional bunch who redefine what it means to put the fun in dysfunction. Narrated by sixteen-year-old Addie, whose sharp wit and keen observations turn everyday chaos into comedic gold, this book is a non-stop ride through homeschooling disasters, geriatric theater debacles, and karaoke rivalries you never saw coming.

At the heart of the madness is Olivia Jenkins, a wine-dependent, sanity-chasing mother who somehow keeps the household from completely imploding—though not without a fair share of exasperation. Then there’s Grandma Helen, the larger-than-life matriarch whose antics would make even the most patient saint consider an early retirement. Add in two mischievous sons, an eccentric sister, an over-the-top father, and a mother-in-law with a questionable approach to art, and you’ve got a recipe for unfiltered, laugh-out-loud mayhem.

Tiffany Ryan masterfully balances humor with heart, crafting a narrative that is as warm as it is hilarious. Beneath the absurdity, there’s a relatable core—because who among us hasn’t questioned our own grip on reality amid family chaos? Every page bursts with witty dialogue and situations so outlandish yet oddly familiar that you’ll be torn between laughing and nodding in agreement.

If you’re looking for a feel-good, snort-inducing read with the perfect mix of charm and calamity, Crazed and Confused is your ticket to a wildly entertaining escape.