Boycrazy: And how I ended up single and (mostly) sane

by Tiffany Dawn, Kirsten Reilly (Illustrator), Kelly Hopson (Editor)

Time was ticking away and Tiffany was losing her mind, waiting for Mr. Right to show up and press the "START" button on life. That led to a horribly broken relationship, addiction to attention from guys, and fear -- constant, tormenting fear -- that no one would ever love her. This book is a novel-like collection of heartaches, fears, and (just for fun) some weird date stories. But it’s also different from your typical book on singleness. It has all sorts of lessons Tiffany wishes she’d learned growing tips on how to date, how to be yourself around guys, how to know if a relationship is healthy, and thoughts on what contentment really is. In her humorous, heart-baring way, Tiffany shares her mistakes, questions, and the lessons she learned over the last ten years that brought her from "Boycrazy" to "Single and (Mostly) Sane."

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published September 4, 2014

Reviews

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, can I just say COVER LOVE!!! It’s even cuter in real life.

Boycrazy: And How I Ended Up Single And (mostly) Sane by Tiffany Dawn is the book I needed in high school and college. I wasted so much of those years struggling with many of the same aching-heart issues that the author discusses here with humorous and heartfelt honesty. (The major difference is that no one actually ever wanted to date ME lol. Until hubby, bless him.) I’ve watched younger friends caught in the same cycles and wished I had more than my own advice to give them. This book is exactly what I was looking for.

Tiffany seems hilarious and sweet and so very down to earth. This transfers to her writing in a way that puts readers immediately at ease and able to identify with her. The book feels in many ways like a cross between a girls’ night chat, a glimpse into her diary, and a young adult novel – which makes it much more entertaining than most non-fiction. But it’s full of such important truth, practical insight, and points for discussion. Additionally, readers gain access to Tiffany’s website for even more fun & helpful resources.

If you’ve ever struggled with feelings of being “not enough” or if you’ve fallen victim to the trap of waiting for Prince Charming to come along before your life can start … or if you haven’t but someone else’s name instantly came into your heart just now …. Boycrazy by Tiffany Dawn needs to be your next book purchase. Humorous, authentic, practical, it lets you know you’re not alone and more importantly it gives you hope. Hope that it IS possible to find contentment in singleness. Hope that it IS possible to trust God with what your heart desires. Hope that even though the fairy tale may not work out the way you had planned (as a little girl, Tiffany wanted to “get married by age 20, move with my husband to China by age 21, and there be martyred together“) you don’t have to find Prince Charming to be happy. The “Boy Talk” and “Discussion Questions” at the end of each chapter make Boycrazy an exceptional resource for teens and young adults in small groups.

(I received a copy of this book in exchange for only my honest review.)

See my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author. Wow, where has she been all of my life?

Let me start out with a disclaimer: There are parts of this book that I really *don't* agree with. But, with that being said, this book is a gold mine of great thoughts, quotes, and honesty.

Seriously. Miss Tiffany is so incredibly honest that it makes the book so much more powerful. While reading this book I realized how dishonest I am with MYSELF at times. I gloss over what I'm thinking or feeling, and justify it somehow, or just act as though anything I dislike in my life hasn't really happened. Miss Tiffany is SO refreshing because she talks about her life in an incredibly honest way, but without going into too much detail or making it sound like she deserves pity.

This book was so amazing that as I was reading it I was sending texts to one of my friends, quoting Miss Tiffany. In the end I just bought the friend the book because it's so worth reading.

"Boycrazy" doesn't shy away from tough topics. It doesn't downplay reality. It's real, thought-provoking, encouraging, enlightening, and helpful.

[Squire Whitney: Hufflepuff Book Reviwer · Rating 4 out of 5]

So…I am an almost 27-year-old, single straight guy, and I decided to read Boycrazy. I am a weird duck, that’s for sure.

I understood going into the book that Boycrazy was specifically written for women, but after stumbling across Tiffany Dawn’s YouTube channel and seeing the memoir being advertised there, I felt inspired to purchase the book. Romantic relationships have never been easy for me. And, by that, I mean that there has always been something that held them back from ever taking shape in my life—until a few months ago when I had my first official relationship and my first breakup. I found myself in need of some hope, as well as a fresh perspective. Boycrazy—which breaks down Tiffany Dawn’s dating relationships from the age of 17 to 27 and illustrates how each of them helped shape her perspective of dating and marriage—proved to be just what I needed! I ate up the author’s transparent honesty, and I love how she uses all of her experiences to relay key messages to her readers. Perhaps my favorite aspect of Boycrazy, though, would be the resolution of the narrative—how Tiffany realizes that she is content remaining single for as long as it takes until she meets her life partner—if she ever meets him at all for that matter. While she makes it clear that it is okay to crave a life partner and that one cannot force themselves to feel content, she is able ultimately (after years upon years of struggling) to find contentment in her Heavenly Father’s intimacy.

My only real critique for Boycrazy would be that I never got a particularly strong sense of the personalities of most of the boyfriends. Sure, I get a clear impression on how they treated Tiffany and how she viewed them and how they shaped her—Eric, for instance, seems like a total shmuck, while Travis shines as the type of amazing boyfriend that I want to aspire to be more like in my future—but I never really came feel like I entirely know what these guys’ personalities were beyond how they treated Tiffany. This is an overwhelmingly subjective critique, though. In illustrating how the author interacted with each of her boyfriends and how they each of them shaped her journey, the memoir certainly pulls off what it needed to accomplish. But I, personally, would have loved to know more about these men.

Overall, Boycrazy makes for a captivating and instructive dating memoir that is written for women—but it by no means can be enjoyed solely by women. As a young man, I still got helpful dating advice and insight through this book, and I still had so much fun following Tiffany’s dating journey. I would recommend Boycrazy for any Christian who wants to make sense of their singleness.

[Katherine Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The longer I live, the more I appreciate this sisterhood of girls — and by that I mean we girls who have become women, and those girls who are still girls. I appreciate the differences that set us girls apart from boys, as well as the similarities that bind us together as part of the human race. But — let’s be honest — it’s the differences that are so particularly fascinating — always (I think), but especially for girls who are on their way to becoming women. And it’s in that tricky phase known as The Teen Years when older girls (i.e., women) are particularly valuable in helping younger girls (i.e., teens) navigate the dating scene on their way to becoming women.

That’s why it’s so good and refreshing to find a voice like Tiffany Dawn’s. At 29, she’s old enough to have put some distance between herself and her own teen years, enabling her to find appropriate godly perspective — and yet young enough to be fresh and interesting to the girls growing up behind her.

Her story, as told in Boycrazy, is one that many, many teens will resonate with in varying degrees. As Tiffany relates her trials and sometimes triumphs, she’s humbly authentic and honest. And as one who’s learned (often the hard way), she has wisdom worth sharing:

“I was just beginning to learn that rejection was simply God’s direction, it didn’t mean there was something wrong with me: it meant He had something else for me. The hard part was trusting Him before I saw what the ‘something else’ was.” (p. 83)

The aspect to Tiffany’s story that some might find a bit off-putting is her focus on looks — both Tiffany’s own and the boys she’s interested in (or not). But Tiffany also seems to acknowledge this as part of the problem — not only for herself, but for most girls everywhere. As such, her story provides a springboard for honest convo.

One other note: I was especially taken in by the thoughtful craftsmanship Tiffany and her design team gave to creating this book. I found its ultra-feminine cover especially appealing. I could easily see this book (as well as Tiffany’s first book, The Insatiable Quest for Beauty) in the hands of moms and daughters, as well as girls and their leaders in youth groups everywhere. Girls will appreciate Tiffany’s breezy conversational style and tone — her vulnerability that encourages authentic sharing. Savvy leaders will appreciate the prepared reflection questions (“Boy Talk”), plus the discussion questions to help guide conversation.

Thanks to the author for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an awesome book, and not just for the boy-crazy girls. She speaks even to people in relationships, her story is so helpful and encouraging!

[Rakayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great story. Lots to learn, and perspective every one should consider while dating.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read!!