Lara Love Hardin recounts her slide from soccer mom to opioid addict to jailhouse shot caller and her unlikely comeback as a highly successful ghostwriter in this harrowing, hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir.

In this book, Hardin recounts her descent from respected soccer mom to opioid addict, committing crimes to feed her habit. She discusses frankly how her addiction not only impacted her life, but the lives of her children. It is easy to judge Hardin for thinking her addiction was hidden from her family. Her addiction leaves her blind to the risk to her family as she commits crime after crime to feed her growing habit.

Eventually, Hardin is caught, and she goes to jail. It is in jail that this story becomes interesting, a story of strength and resilience. She shows strength in beating her addiction for herself and her children and resilience in jumping through all the loopholes put in place by an unsympathetic system once she is on probation.

In reading her story, one may think that if Hardin can succeed after jail time, any one can and those that don’t succeed are either lazy or born criminals. Hardin herself address that, making it clear that although she struggled, she had it easier than most. She is a well-educated with a talent for writing and a support system that helped her succeed. This in no way diminishes her many accomplishments. If only the other women she encountered in jail had a similar support system, perhaps more of them would succeed out in society like Hardin.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book is scheduled to be published on August 1, 2023.

Wow. I loved this so much. I was not expecting to like it because I am not a big memoir person. But midway through I double checked that it was a memoir and not fiction because it was so entertaining. I rooted for Lara for most of the book and really felt like she did a great job describing how unfair the system is. It did feel at times that she did not do enough to fight back when it came to DJ. But such is life. I really enjoyed the retelling of Lara’s story and would recommend this to anyone.

Reading this memoir hit all the marks for me. This book is very well written. The words flow which makes it easy to read and submerse yourself in what Hardin is conveying rather than getting tripped up with confusing diversions or unnecessarily long explanations. Her writing is succinct and to the point which I liked. She also helped me to pause and recognize all the things I take for granted in my everyday life. It was such an important reminder of all the things – the sunlight, the grass, the trees, the sky, the freedom – that we forget to be grateful for as we move through our everyday lives.

Hardin did not make excuses for the addiction and behaviors that led her down the path she ultimately travelled. What I found so compelling was how Hardin was able to show how those who are at their lowest point, those who need our help the most, are often shunned, rejected, and are given faux second chances. Yes, she took advantage of people and paid for what she did, but she was also taken advantage of with no recourse, no justice for those apparently “acceptable” crimes committed against her like the false reporting of crimes she did not commit for which she also paid for. Hardin also acknowledges that her experiences are through the lens of privilege, and that she is speaking only through that lens, but that there are so many more stories to be told by those currently incarcerated and those who are imprisoned by our society long after they have been released. She discusses the unpaid labor of women, and how the system is set up to conveniently ensure there is a steady stream of incarcerated women to do that unpaid labor and that without it, the system could not survive.

This is a memoir with so many facets, so many compelling points that make the reader stop and think: maybe all is not what it seems with our justice system. Maybe we need to open our eyes and our minds instead of pretending it doesn’t affect us. We, as a society, always assume the guilty rightfully are incarcerated and we can just forget about them and move on with our lives feeling just a little bit safer. But what about those wrongfully convicted? What about those who serve their time and are left on the street with nothing and no way to get a job, no way to find a decent place to live, no options but to return to their previous life or return to incarceration no matter how hard they have tried to change their circumstances? What about those where incarceration is the safest place for them to be because of all the abuse they have suffered throughout their lives? What does that mean about us as a society? About our humanity? Our system isn’t broken. It is very intentional. There is nothing to be fixed. It needs a complete overhaul – a brand new system. Unfortunately, as a society, we love to leave those issues to someone else to deal with because “it doesn’t affect us.” But I have seen firsthand the damage incarceration can do to a person, and it is a life-long trauma that is not easily overcome compounded by the enormous fees, fines, loss of driver’s licenses, loss of the right to vote, and the myriad things that can be done to them by our justice system long after they have paid the price for their actions. It is redeeming to see Hardin’s hard-fought success, but she points out that many do not have the privilege, education, or opportunity that gave her the small chance of success that she had. We see her privilege and how extremely difficult it was for her, and we have to wonder, what is it like for those who don’t have those privileges?

This is a beautiful story about redemption and second, and third, and fourth chances. It's also a brief glimpse of the broken justice system. I can't imagine having to negotiate everything that this woman had to do in order to keep everything in line once she decided to make the choice to straighten out her life. The fact that one person's unproven statement could completely derail everything is unbelievable. It's also a brief look at what white privilege can do for someone. The system is broken. I'm happy for Lara Love Hardin and that she could turn her life around and be successful. Many women she came in contact with likely didn't fare as well.

I read this book due to a podcaster giving it high praise. It was unfortunately not the book for me.

Lara Love Hardin's memoir about her drug addiction, felonies, incarceration, and rehabilitation reads like fiction. I could not turn the pages fast enough. This is one of the best books I have read this year. Lara's journey will stay with me for a long time. I want my book club to read this. We will have a lot to talk about.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster, and Net Galley for the advanced copy of this amazing book. The comments expressed are my own.

(3 1/2). Pretty amazing memoir. We all know someone, a relative, a friend, a child of a friend who has addiction problems. The life, the bad decisions, the experiences that Lara Love had and is having are truly amazing. .A very compelling read. Yes, the ending is a little too perfect but she earned it, and not in an easy way. Good stuff.

I really appreciated this book. As a Probation Officer I get to know a lot of addicts and often they're really nice people but went down the wrong path because of drugs. It's nice that there is a book that really shows how it'll ruin a person's life until they take steps toward recovery. Drugs don't discriminate! Thank you for the ARC!

I loved this book the ending was a bit slow for me to get through but I loved it such a big eye opener for me. As a mother that had her kids go through foster care it hurt my soul to read that. But I didn't expect to enjoy the book like I did.

This reads like a work of fiction. I continuously had ro recall that I was reading memoir. Lara Love Hardin gives readers an honest look into her chaotic, messy past and the path she forged to turn her life around.
She survived addiction and jail, realizing that her release from incarceration was far from her final hurdle. Hardin sheds light on her uphill climb after lock up and how the prison system makes rehabilitation so difficult ; as the system relies on repeat offenders to keep the prison population up in order to use prisoners as free labor.
Hardin was fortunate to catch some breaks and receive grace and support which she admits so many former inmates lack on their road to health and recovery.
She writes a reminder to us all that while.there is freedom in accepting all of our parts ( good bad, ugly and beautiful ) we get to choose to create an identity out of the best parts of ourselves.
Her journey to finding her calling and finally loving and forgiving herself is remarkable !

Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ability to read this ARC.

This book needs to be read. It is the account of a woman’s (could be any of us) descent into addiction, the consequences, and the climb out of the grip of addiction. This is an inspiring story of hope, courage, and perseverance. I definitely recommend with 5 stars!

An unflinching portrait of a woman who had it all before losing it all to addiction. This novel was so well-written and drew me in immediately. Great for fans of Orange is the New Black (the novel, not the Netflix special) and self-discovery memoirs.

The author also mentions other books she has ghostwritten post-jail and I've definitely added them to my TBR.

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a new perspective on the lives of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. Lara is inspirational and never gave up. She didn't let her past define her.It also hit home that no one is immune from being touch by drugs.I definitely recommend this book to all readers of memoirs.

WOW! Such an incredible life Lara Love has had! She first tells us about her drug addiction around the time of her arrest. We learn later about her incarceration and then how her love for her sons motivated her to dig herself out of a life of crime and drug abuse. Through incredible persistence with her parole, and setbacks galore, she has been able to acquire the career that she was meant for. And through forgiveness, she is living the life that she is proud of.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read a review The Many Lives of Mama Love.

The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin is a heartfelt memoir about the author's journey of self-discovery and healing through her relationship with her mother, Mama Love. The book explores the complex relationship between the author and her mother as they navigate through years of trauma and pain.

The writing in this memoir is raw and emotional, making it a powerful read. The author's vulnerability and honesty are admirable, and her story touches on important issues such as intergenerational trauma and mental health.

However, at times, the storytelling feels disorganized and jumps from one scene to another without a clear sense of direction. This can make it difficult for the reader to stay engaged with the story.

Overall, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a moving and important memoir that sheds light on the struggles of intergenerational trauma. While it can be a challenging read at times, it's a book that offers an important message of hope and healing. I give this book a 3 out of 5-star rating.

In conclusion, I would recommend The Many Lives of Mama Love to anyone who enjoys memoirs that explore complex family relationships and the process of healing. It's a book that will leave readers with a sense of hope and appreciation for the power of love.

It is refreshing to read a memoir written by a professional author. Many reviewers will emphatically state “This reads like fiction!” I couldn’t agree more. I sped through this journey right along with Mama Love. I was rooting for her and shaking my head at her self-destructive ways. This is a heartwarming story about addiction, motherhood and forgiveness. I had a mother who struggled with addiction, and the author's portrayal of the addict’s struggle of doing what is right v. using was enlightening. I appreciate the author who graciously shares her story of struggle and overcoming shame.

Thank you to Simon and Shuster and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to review this ARC.

Lara Love Hardin has lived many lives within one. A former wealthy soccer mom turned opioid addict tells her journey from one to the other. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and it is obvious even without knowing her accomplishments in literature that she is a very talented writer. In the beginning I became very frustrated with some of the choices Lara made. Yes, I understand addiction but I also understand the power of love for your children being the driving force to overcome even the most daunting obstacle. Fortunately, she finally has that realization and turns things around. It doesn't come without extensive damage done first though. This is not only a look at her decisions and their consequences but also an overall look at our justice system and how it fails our citizens each and every day. Our jail and prison systems are not meant to rehabilitate and reinstate people but consistently set them up for failure. This is told in a firsthand viewpoint through Lara. I do feel there was so much to pack in to her story that maybe some things were glossed over that I would have liked her to explore more - rebuilding her relationship with her children, how she navigated life without the car, finances, and ability to make rent, meeting Sam. I was appalled, but not surprised, that people still have such hostility towards her (i.e. the rotary speech). It is so sad that others feel they have the right to continuously judge others and decide their worthiness. Of course, we see it every day on social media and it's never something anyone would say if facing the person. I'm so glad Lara has found peace and put her past behind her and is living her life to the fullest. After reading the acknowledgements, I'm ready for her next book about the DNA story, at least a blog post.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC.

This was a fascinating account of a woman who triumphed against all odds over drug addiction, imprisonment for identity theft/illegal drugs, and the threat of losing custody of her youngest child. I was riveted by the desperate and crafty tactics she used to survive while in the throws of her addiction. The politics of prison life was also quite an education with its popularity contests and the underbelly of smuggling in drugs. This woman hit rock bottom and came within a hair of ending it all in prison.

The author communicates from the heart to reach the reader who might have a hard heart about the court system. She conveys from personal experience how difficult and perhaps unfair the rules are regarding probation and restitution. Many will sympathise with her plight, fighting to get employment and lodgings without the stain of prejudice because of her prison record. A sincere desire to start out fresh with honesty and a clean life can be made very difficult when a Google search delivers scandalous articles of a shameful past.

This is a true story of hard won redemption in resetting a life destroyed by drugs. Since Hardin has been a very successful co-writer of other famous people's best sellers, it is to the author's credit for sharing an embarrassing story to shed light on a not always fair legal system.

Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

Lara Love Hardin gets a new lease on life when she lands a job with a publisher and ends up as a ghost writer... but the reason the fresh start is so special isn't because it's a career she's always really wanted while she was putting in time as a soccer mom. It's because she spent years in prison, recovering from opioid addiction and doing time for 32 felonies.

This memoir was enthralling from the first page and, while Hardin fesses up to huge mistakes, neglect, and deceptions, she manages to stay a sympathetic force who holds a deep love for her children and strong passion for her work. We join her explorations through her experience in women's prison and the politics that come with it, where she becomes the trusted "Mama Love." And then her re-entry to society and the job that really helps her rebuild.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. So well written, encouraging, and heartening.

And personally, it made my heart smile that I'd actually seen Hardin's name on the page of a book I'd read a few years ago: The Book of Joy (Dalai Lama XIV and Desmond Tutu w/ Douglas Abrams). Her telling of this experience of working with the Dalai Lama was incredibly special - perspective from an every person who finds themself in an awe-inspiring situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC: 4.5 stars, rounded up: Lara Love Hardin is a terrific writer and she has a very important story that she tells so well. Love Hardin was jailed for 32 felonies and spent way too long having to pay back the system for her crimes. She writes beautifully--she ghost wrote many books by social justice luminaries that I've read and enjoyed. Probation was created to rehabilitate but it's just petty punishment as she describes and it creates insurmountable barriers. The author is truthful and compelling. Her insight and the power of her story make her a social justice warrior and this book is highly recommended.