I appreciated this raw and honest story of Love going through jail, addiction, and fighting for recovery. The writing was compassionate towards Love's and other's struggles.

This was such a great book of the life of Lara Love. I was so interested just based off the description but reading about her life before/during drugs, being in jail, and her life after was mesmerizing. I loved that this book showcased what Lara learned even after she had relapsed. She picked herself up, learning from her mistakes, and make a life that she had always wanted. This is a great book for people who may not understand addiction and the back story of people who have been in jail. I also loved the theme of forgiveness throughout this book, not only outward forgiveness, but self-forgiveness too.

What a powerful memoir. As outraged as I was at the judicial and probation systems, I cannot imagine having to navigate it. How does an average inmate released do it?

And the addiction story was devastating yet spot on. I highlighted so much. This was more than a war story recitation with a redemption bow tying it up. Lara tells about what is underneath the addiction. Because it's never really about the substance, right?

I don’t think words can’t aptly describe how I feel about this book. For the sake of context, my mom died less than a year ago after a long struggle with alcoholism. Any memoir that has addresses addiction has a tendency to hit me hard because I’ve personally experienced the hurt and pain that comes with it- for the addict and the people around them. That being said, this book blew me away. This is the type of book that everyone should read, no matter who they are or what their history is. It avoids any feeling or “lecturing,” while still sharing magical nuggets of inspiration. Lara Love has been through a lot- a lot has been done to her and she’s done a lot to herself. Her journey through the legal system, remedying relationships with family and others, finding her footing in the world and then, lastly, accepting who she is and what she has done to find real and true JOY…. It’s all just amazing.

Like I said, no words. Just wow. Really, really beautifully done.

A well-deserved, inspiring 5 stars.

Lara Love Hardin's memoir takes a look at the grittiest, darkest parts of her life, opening on a scene where she desperately tries to use a stolen credit card to get a hotel room for her and her young son Kaden. She's desperately trying to keep her head above water, attempting to make sure her older three sons with her ex-husband can see her, while simultaneously being dragged down by her current husband DJ as he only encourages their drug dependency. Ultimately, it ends in their arrest and Kaden being forcibly separated from his mother; this is, she notes, the rock bottom moment of her life.

Nonetheless, Lara perseveres, finding her footing in prison and learning the complex and unwritten hierarchy and social norms in this isolated world. It is through her long-held love of writing and literature, however, where she's able to pull herself out and stay clean of drugs and attempt to return to the outside world - but this poses its own set of challenges. Having never been in a situation like hers, it was eye-opening to see the biases and obstacles in place for those with felony convictions and how impossible it is to find even one opportunity to have a new chance at life.

This is a triumphant novel that doesn't shy away from Lara's moments of shame and guilt - these are necessary, I think, to fully understand her later successes and achievements. Her writing is simultaneously fierce and emotional, and I was pulled in from the very first sentences through the end of the novel; any reader will cheer her on, hoping for a happy ending. While it is a memoir, she spends time on some very large and pressing topics at large - her own privilege in the system as a Caucasian woman; the the detrimental conditions in prison, like the lack of access to clean water and food; and the nonsensical rules and requirements in incarceration that makes it difficult for many to escape the system; and the societal barriers and prejudices in place against those who have been previously convicted. As an avid reader, it was a delight to find out novels I had previously read that she was a co-author on, which only adds to her strength as a writer.

I know many readers will benefit from and cherish this novel when it's released in August 2023!

Although there were some inconsistencies in pace, this was a compelling story that I'm glad I read. This was absolutely a redemption story and that is always a narrative I enjoy. I found early Lara hard to relate to and connect with initially, but I imagine that is the nature of addiction. It did delay my connection with the story. Overall I enjoyed this memoir.

This book shows up there is no such thing as completely coming full circle around - but this story is close. Mama Love starts out seemingly having it all and then it's gone. Drugs, jail, losing her children - that's just the beginning. She learns to navigate the system with all it's pitfalls. Dealing with others' opinions of your worth and most importantly learning to value yourself.

A fantastic read. Thank you Lara Love Hardin for baring your life. Thank you NetGalley for the chance to experience this.

Wow! What a powerful story!
The “Mama Love” of the title is what her fellow inmates called the author while she was incarcerated for many felonies, including theft of money and credit cards and illegal drug use. While she was locked up her toddler son was taken from her, her three other older children were sent to live with her ex-husband and his evil wife, her house was repossessed and she realized her present marriage was on the rocks. All this arose from her addiction to illegal drugs, starting with Vicodin (up to sixty per day) and progressing to heroin., firstly inhaled then intravenously..
Addiction is such a terrible disease. The pull to use again and again makes recovery so very difficult. But somehow Mama Love beat the drugs. She realized that she would never see her kids again if she continued to use, so she quit. Just like that. While the other inmates continued to smuggle all sorts of drugs into the jail, she kept herself clean. Amazing!
Her lawyer managed to secure a plea agreement, so she was released, but with so many conditions that life was almost impossible. If she messed up in any way she would be back behind bars for a very long time. She participated in drug rehab programs, underwent many drug tests and managed to jump through all the hoops put in front of her.
How did she manage the impossible? Well, she was white, middle class and educated to a Master’s level. She already knew she enjoyed writing and was good at it. And she found a few people who were willing to take a chance on her. And, obviously, she has tremendous determination and strength of mind.
She turned out to be a superb ghostwriter (writing other peoples’ stories in collaboration with the “real author”) and has worked with the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Tutu and a gentleman who was incarcerated for thirty years for a murder he did not commit. Her kids were returned to her and they still seem to love her. She is in a new marriage and she is a productive member of society.
I am totally in awe of Mama Love - I who cannot say no to a jelly donut. How do you keep away from addictive drugs that your body craves? And she can write too. This book, while talking about heavy matters, is easy to read and hard to put down.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley, for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Many Lives of Mama Love! This autobiography about Lara Love Hardin’s fall from upper class suburbia and rise to overcome her addictions and make a new life for herself was fantastic! I could not put this book down, her style of writing really put me in the middle of her trials and tribulations and opened my eyes to the difficulties of assimilating back into normal life after being a convicted felon. Lara’s troubles with the probation and court system really shine a light on the problems with our justice system and why so many offenders end up back in jail because of all the red tape they have to go through just to get back to a somewhat normal life.
Lara learns the in and outs of how to survive in G block and eventually how to live outside of jail again, but reading about her court dates, meetings, community service and random drug tests made me stressed! I would definitely recommend this book!

Motherhood in the suburbs is an adventure unto itself. Social systems are constructed on your children’s achievements, your helpfulness in your community and your popularity among your fellow soccer moms. It can be a boring existence and it can be one that is easily shattered when you step out of the Stepford Wives Club.

For Lara Love Hardin, her step out comes when her million dollar home on a quiet cul-de-sac is met by the police who are there to arrest her and uncover what she has been doing behind the Stepford Wives façade. Hardin has been stealing her neighbor’s credit cards to fund her heroin addiction and now she faces being charged with 32 felonies and a lengthy jail sentence as she goes from soccer mom to inmate S32179.

Hardin quickly discovers that much like the intricacies of suburban soccer mom life, prison life also offers it’s own social system where candy is currency and tampon boxes make furniture. Also, there is the sad realization that not even prison can quell the adolescent behaviors that permeate through mom social life. Hardin quickly learns what it takes to climb the prison social ladder and becomes “the shot caller.”

In a memoir of falling from soccer mom social status to numbered prisoner, Hardin shows that even rock bottom doesn’t mean it is the end of your life. After her stint in prison, she goes on to become a ghost writer, writing her way through healing and redemption in a memoir that has you laughing, crying and cursing your way through as Hardin shows you that the hardest part of all is forgiving yourself. Powerfully raw–this memoir made me struggle through her journey with her, as a mother myself, I found it hard to sympathize with her and her return to drug use despite the damage it was doing to her young children. However, what kept me reading and loving her writing and her journey was that she told it with humor and humility and ultimately by having her darkest secrets discovered she was able to find herself, find forgiveness and build a new life.

Book Information
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin will be released on August 1, 2023 from Simon and Schuster with ISBN 9781982197667. This review correspond to an advanced electronic galley that was supplied by the publisher in exchange for this review.

Hardin is a fantastic writer and I commend her for this powerful memoir. Be prepared to feel like you’re right there with her along the journey of ups and downs and everything in between. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

This was a beautiful book. I went in blind and was delighted to go on this journey.

At times, it’s a rough read, but stay with it, it’s worth the tough parts. There’s a lot of strength and joy in here.

Try your best to not read too much about it before you go in. It’s a wonderfully well written book that doesn’t shy away from the bad or let the light shine on the good.

Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read such a great book.

I immediately clicked request upon reading the description of this book. Wow! I enjoyed the story and Lara's voice. There were times I hated her, times I pitied her, and times I wanted to be her friend. An excellent memoir!

This book was slow to grab me. I was struggling to sympathize with her continual return to drug use, at the expense of her young children, relationships, etc. But then Lara pulled herself up by her bootstraps and became a mentor for others and got her life in order. The writing could have been a bit tighter, but I'm thrilled that she got things together, reunited with her boys, and finally selected a winner as a partner!

This was such a personal, emotional and heartfelt book! The subject matter is sometimes difficult to read, but it is so worth it. Lara Love Hardin speaks honestly about the trials and tribulations she has gone through in her life, what led her to the bad decisions and what leads her to the good ones. This is a story about lifting yourself up and forgiving yourself for your past mistakes, no matter how bad they were. It is definitely worth a read.

Highly recommend.

5/5 stars.

*** I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Lara Love Hardin for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Powerful, raw, and honest. This is a fasten your seatbelt ride with Mama Love. Lara shares with intimacy her family relationships, drug addiction struggles, jail life experiences and her jail mates, the recovery process, the love for her children and introduces us to the almost impossibility of success once a person is released from jail, prison or recovery therapy. The endless demands of court and probation appointments, therapy’s, fees, along with the label and stigma associated with the persons past, makes success almost impossible. Not to mention how unfair and unbalanced some of the rules and court decisions are. Certainly reading this people can understand how it’s just easier for a person to give up, throw up their hands and relapse. This book couldn’t have been more open and honest. Thank you for sharing Lara. You have most definitely enlightened me. I think everyone should read this story. Addiction is such a huge part of so many people’s lives and non addicts have a difficult time relating and ask “why can’t you just stop!?”

This was a brutally honest, hard to tell tale. But it was told with humor and humility. I really appreciated the author's struggle with with her past, even though she had successfully moved forward with her life. The looming cloud of discovery was a palpable character throughout her journey of finding self worth. I loved riding the lows and highs and learned a lot about forgiveness.

This book was the most engrossing book that I have read in years. I could not put it down and could feel her heartbreak and her joy. The Many Lives of Mama Love really puts a face on the struggle of quickly your life can change and what it takes to get back on top. I cannot wait to devour everything that Lara Love Hardin has written.

Award winning author Lara Love Hardin uses a wide-angle lens to showcase her descent from a suburban mom to a woman addicted to Vicodin and heroin, a sisterhood that developed in jail and programs she was admitted to and finally a climb out of the morass as a flourishing ghostwriter. It is a raw self examination that squeezes your heart and expands your mind. This was a woman who made some bad choices that caused her to spiral down. Well educated with a masters, the pain she carried seemed to be only alleviated by the drugs until she was stealing neighbor’s mail, money and credit cards. Love of her children was one of the reasons that prompted her to commit this identity theft as she needed money to turn on electricity and heat. Her fears and shame are laid bare throughout the book making this a compulsively readable story with a definite sympathetic character. The pages just turn themselves-well worth diving into.

In addition to reading with bated breath I found myself alternating between wanting to reach out and shake Lara and wanting to reach out and hug her. She does a beautiful job of sharing not only her experiences but her internal struggles alongside the complex issues of the judicial system.

As I read The Many Lives of Mama Love I could actually sense her transformation as I progressed through each chapter, her writing flourishing with each turn of the page. Reading it will either leave you with a more compassionate heart, an urge to reform our nation's jail/prison system, or inspired to find your passion and use it to serve others. Or perhaps all three.