The Many Lives of Mama Love

No one expects the police to knock on 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 learns jail is a class system with a power structure 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 finds the rules and brings love and healing to her fellow inmates as she climbs the social ladder to become the “shot caller,” 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. She must learn to forgive herself and others, navigate life as a felon on probation, prove to herself that she is more good than bad, and much more.

Published by Simon & Schuster
on August 1, 2023

Review:

I tend not to read non-fiction, mostly because I use reading as an escape from real life – I don’t necessarily want to read about real life. Every once in a while, I venture outside of my beloved fiction, though, and I’m often surprised at what I find (both in good and bad ways). I wasn’t particularly interested in the book club picks that Jenna and Reese chose for March 2024, and I’d already read the GMA pick, so I decided to give Oprah’s latest a shot, and I am so glad I did. “The Many Lives of Mama Love” by Lara Love Hardin is a raw, honest, and gripping memoir that takes readers on a journey through the highs and lows of one woman’s life. From the pristine facade of her suburban home to the harsh realities of prison life, Hardin bares all as she recounts her tumultuous past as a heroin-addicted soccer mom.

When we first meet Lara, she is a toe’s length away from rock bottom. Her power has been shut off, and she’s used stolen credit cards to buy gift certificates that she then used to book a hotel stay for herself, her toddler, and her husband. Her life of stealing from the suburban mothers in her neighborhood has caught up with her, and it’s not long before she and her husband find authorities knocking down their door and hauling them off to jail while their toddler watches.

The rest of the book takes us through Lara and DJ’s (her husband) sentencing, Lara’s time in jail, her attempt, her failure and her second attempt at getting clean and finally (though not easily) turning her life around.

In this expository book, Hardin unapologetically delves into the depths of her addiction and criminal behavior. Her story is a stark reminder that addiction knows no boundaries and can affect anyone, regardless of their background or social status. Through her vivid descriptions, readers are transported into the chaos of the prison system, where survival is key, and alliances are formed based on power and influence.

One of the most striking aspects of this book is Hardin’s ability to make us feel all the emotions. In the beginning, I was disgusted by her behavior, but then I became sympathetic as she attempted to turn her life around, and finally, extremely frustrated by all of the hoops she had to jump through, even after she had more than proven herself a changed woman. Despite her troubled past, Hardin manages to bring healing to her fellow inmates and rise to a position of authority within the prison hierarchy. Her transformation from a desperate addict to a respected leader, authentic friend, and loving mother is nothing short of inspiring.

As Hardin navigates life after prison, she grapples with the weight of shame and the challenges of probation. Her journey towards self-forgiveness is a poignant reminder that redemption is possible. Through her struggles, setbacks, achievements, and interactions with celebrities and spiritual leaders, she learns valuable lessons about the power of forgiveness and the importance of self-acceptance.

Overall, “The Many Lives of Mama Love” is a compelling and thought-provoking read that will resonate with readers on a deeply emotional level. Despite her life of crime, Lara wasn’t a bad person, and I loved watching her beat the odds and turn her life around. Addiction is an awful thing, but even more awful is the broken system that focuses less on rehabilitation and more on punishment. The book is emotional, thought-provoking, and extremely frustrating at times, but it carries a powerful punch and a great message. If you enjoy a book about personal struggles and perseverance, I highly recommend this one.