“Once you start reading, be prepared, because you won’t want to stop.” —Oprah Winfrey OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK New York Times bestselling author 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. No one expects the police to knock on the door of the million-dollar two-story home of the perfect cul-de-sac housewife. But soccer mom Lara Love Hardin has been hiding a shady secret: she is funding her heroin addiction by stealing her neighbors’ credit cards.

Lara is convicted of thirty-two felonies and becomes inmate S32179. She finds that jail is a class system with a power structure that is somewhere between an adolescent sleepover party and Lord of the Flies . Furniture is made from tampon boxes, and Snickers bars are currency.

But Lara quickly learns the rules and brings love and healing to her fellow inmates as she climbs the social ladder and acquires the nickname “Mama Love,” showing that jailhouse politics aren’t that different from the PTA meetings she used to attend. When she’s released, she reinvents herself as a ghostwriter. Now, she’s legally co-opting other people’s identities and getting to meet Oprah, meditate with the Dalai Lama, and have dinner with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

But the shadow of her past follows her. Shame is a poison worse than heroin—there is no way to detox. Lara must learn how to forgive herself and others, navigate life as a felon on probation, and prove to herself that she is more good than bad, among other essential lessons.

The Many Lives of Mama Love is a heartbreaking and tender journey from shame to redemption, despite a system that makes it almost impossible for us to move beyond the worst thing we have ever done.

**** In her captivating memoir, 'The Many Lives of Mama Love,' author Lara Love Hardin reveals her tumultuous journey from a life of deceit to one of redemption and purpose. This evocative narrative takes readers through a labyrinth of trials and transformations, detailing how she navigated the dark alleys of addiction, theft, and imprisonment to embrace a path of healing and human connection. Artfully weaving her experiences into a tapestry of hope, Lara's story offers a profound exploration of what it means to live authentically despite one's past.

**** Resilience can transform lives burdened by missteps into narratives of strength and redemption. Authentic self-reflection reveals light even in the darkest chapters of one's journey. Communities play a crucial role in fostering personal growth and healing.

**** \n'The Many Lives of Mama Love' chronicles the author's tumultuous existence beginning with the unraveling of her seemingly perfect facade only to lead her through the confining walls of a jail cell. Lara's ability to spin tales turns from a tool of deceit to one of survival. As she navigates the challenges thrown by the justice system and societal judgment readers witness a journey not just of punishment but profound self-discovery and vulnerability.

Each page invites readers to reconsider preconceived notions of right and wrong. Intertwining stories of her past with moments of epiphany and grace Lara reveals how she slowly stitches the fabric of her life back together guided by unexpected allies and long-lost familial bonds. Venturing beyond the external confines the memoir delves into the internal landscape of recovery.

Lara's journey is punctuated with moments of humor revealing her indomitable spirit and the power of embracing imperfection. Ultimately The Many Lives of Mama Love' is a testament to the transformative forces of love and community. Hardin's raw and honest writing will resonate with anyone seeking understanding forgiveness and a chance for renewal.

**** \nLara Love Hardin's memoir offers an unflinching look at the complexities of identity and redemption allowing readers to empathize deeply with her struggles and triumphs The narrative's ability to intertwine dark humor and earnest introspection provides a refreshing perspective on topics often shrouded in stigma elevating the memoir into an inspiring realization Its profound examination of the human condition flaws and all encourages readers to confront their preconceptions fostering compassion in unexpected places and provoking thoughtful conversation.