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The Many Lives of Mama Love (Oprah's Book Club): A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing Hardcover – August 1, 2023

by Lara Love Hardin (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,450 ratings
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“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.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    August 1, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1982197668
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1982197667
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Many Lives of Mama Love

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Heartfelt, humor-tinged prose…The Many Lives of Mama Love contains notes of Wild, Orange is the New Black, and Catch me if you Can. —The New York Times

"A courageous and inspiring memoir." —Kirkus Reviews

“Grips you as suddenly as any psychological thriller… Readers will experience the lows and highs of addiction, incarceration and rehabilitation as Love Hardin assembles the pieces of her shattered life into something beautiful again in this inspiring chronicle.” —BookPage

“A hilarious and heartbreaking confession that will not let you go until it is done—and then it will haunt you. It will give you hope in what is possible for each of us if we allow others—and ourselves—to move beyond our shame, find redemption, and write a new, more inspiring story of our lives.” —Lori Gottlieb, author of the New York Times bestseller, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

“The Many Lives of Mama Love is a masterclass in perseverance. This brilliant memoir is a reminder and inspiration that sometimes the only way out of suffering is to go straight through it. This book will leave you inspired and empowered to reveal your own most authentic self.” —Rich Roll, bestselling author of Finding Ultra and host of The Rich Roll Podcast

“Laced with penetrating wit, written with unsparing honesty and manifesting irrepressible resilience, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a book to intrigue, enchant, instruct, entertain and inspire readers of all ages and backgrounds. It speaks to our common human experience of suffering and the healing that can follow.” —Gabor Maté M.D., author of the New York Times bestseller, The Myth of Normal

“Start this thrilling, heartrending, funny book, and you won’t stop. I couldn’t. From page one, I was swept into Hardin's remarkable, un-put-down-able, artfully told story of suffering and redemption. This book can help anyone who’s struggled and felt hopelessness (and who hasn’t?). shows that not only can we survive the bleakest times, but we can thrive in them and because of them. ” —David Sheff, author of #1 New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Boy

“A compelling and timely rebuttal to the perverse and unjust notion that people who are convicted of crimes can only be criminals. This critically important idea is essential for a nation that has been so derailed by destructive “law and order” narratives that have left us both less just and less safe.” —Bryan Stevenson, author of the New York Times bestseller Just Mercy

“Hardin reveals who we truly are deep inside: infinite souls of limitless possibility. We are far more than the sum of what we have done and not done, what we have and do not have. In her profound, moving memoir, Hardin is honest, courageous, and challenges us to exceed the limiting definition we impose on ourselves and one another. We all can be redeemed.” —Dr. Lisa Miller, psychologist and author of the New York Times bestseller, The Spiritual Child

“This book will make you laugh, cry, and realize that everyone deserves a chance and, sometimes more than one. A powerful, poignant memoir filled with grace, enlightenment and love.” —Dr. James Doty, author of the New York Times bestseller, Into The Magic Shop

“Lara Love Hardin writes with the same humor and bravery that helped her navigate incarceration, sobriety and a daunting return to the community to regain her place in her children's lives. This beautifully told story flies in the face of assumptions about substance use disorder and incarcerated women and shows how community and connection help people rebuild themselves for the better.” —Piper Kerman, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Orange is the New Black

About the Author

Lara Love Hardin is a literary agent, author, and president of True Literary. Prior to founding True Literary, she was the co-CEO of Idea Architects. She has an MFA in creative writing and is a five-time New York Times bestselling collaborative writer, including the #1 bestseller Designing Your Life and the 2018 Oprah’s Book Club pick The Sun Does Shine, which she coauthored with Anthony Ray Hinton. She lives in La Selva Beach, California.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster (August 1, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1982197668
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1982197667
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3,450 ratings

About the author

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Lara Love Hardin

Lara Love Hardin

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LARA LOVE HARDIN is a literary agent, author, prison reform advocate, and president of True Literary. Her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a 2024 Oprah Book Club pick and a New York Times bestseller. She has an MFA in creative writing and apart from her own book, is also a five-time New York Times bestselling collaborative writer, including the #1 New York Times bestseller Designing Your Life, and 2018 Oprah Book Club pick, The Sun Does Shine, which she coauthored with Anthony Ray Hinton about his 30 years as an innocent man on Alabama’s death row. In 2019, she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit,” nominated for an NAACP Image Award, and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Lara is also the co-founder of The Gemma Project, a gender-responsive organization serving incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women with integrity and compassion. Love Hardin lives in La Selva Beach, California.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
3,450 global ratings
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
5 Stars
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
The Many Lives of Mama Loveby Lara Love HardinThe Many Lives of Mama Love is an eye-opening, heart-wrenching memoir. Lara Love Hardin is the typical suburban mother. She has a good job, a beautiful house and a growing family. Then one day, she pops a pill and can’t stop. Lara’s craving for drugs leads her to steal credit cards out of her neighbors’ mailboxes to help fund her addiction. Watching this woman sacrifice herself, her life and her kids for drugs just proves how addiction possesses an individual. Addicted to heroin and opiates Lara Love Hardin cannot beat the vicious dependency cycle until she gets charged with 32 felonies.As a mother of three boys, I found parts of this book unfathomable and infuriating. The injustice Lara endured compared to her husband was unbelievable. Her journey to gain her life back and fight for redemption is inspiring. This book is a brilliant story of addiction, recovery and forgiveness. If you want a memoir to challenge your comfort zone and evoke your emotions this book is for you.
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Top reviews from the United States

SCH
5.0 out of 5 stars So Many Lives and So Many Books In One
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
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Laura Love Hardin, aka Mama Love, has experienced many lives and is still living all of them. Fortunately for readers, one of her lives includes sharing what she has learned along the way and writing incredible stories. As an accomplished ghost writer she writes true stories, and the truest of all is this memoir, her own story. It takes us from a troubled youth through years of horrifying addiction, living as “the neighbor from hell,” to imprisonment and recovery and finally finding, in the words of Oprah, the person she is supposed to be. Taking the journey with her is engrossing and ultimately inspirational and uplifting. Beautifully written, honest, and a compelling read. 6 stars!
One person found this helpful
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Lindie Malan
5.0 out of 5 stars Soulful read
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
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I loved the raw, honesty. The story unfolded effortless.
We can all relate to learning to live with ourselves as a whole
Inspiring and beautiful- read the book in almost one sit-down
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BBC fan
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
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I enjoyed reading this memoir of a woman who chose to make her mistakes her triumphs. It was educational to find out how much our criminal justice system needs to do better, so every prison sentence isn’t a life sentence burdened by impossible financial and logistical dilemas. Her story illustrates that all people deserve another chance to create a beautiful life.
2 people found this helpful
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C. Orders
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring read
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
I am so glad she has told her story. Wow.
In many ways, it has similarities to Orange is the New Black, which was a much better book than it was a TV show. The description of life behind the bars, and the dynamics of the women she meets while incarcerated were very similar.

There are several times in the story when you just want to shake her for her dumb decisions, but there are also plenty of times when you are outraged by how ridiculous the criminal system can be. It seems like it’s almost designed to make people fail.

This is a great book for anyone who is serving time or has been released, or has tried to escape a shady past and live as a good person. She has come a long way!

This is a quick easy read and definitely worth it! Now I want to read some of the books that she has edited and cowritten.
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Maureen H.
5.0 out of 5 stars motivating and inspiring
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2024
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Hardin is a fantastic storyteller.
While there are many stories written on this topic she engages with her intimacy.
Also, I think it shines a light on the terrible injustice in our judicial system. A great read for many other reasons and so worth the read.
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Tanya Jennings
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful and enlightening read!
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2024
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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was both well written and enlightening. It reflected the power in learning to live in the moment, and learning to be okay with yourself, regardless of where you are in life. When you honestly learn to love your whole complete self, you've really done something worth reverence.
One person found this helpful
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Vara Lyn Conrath
4.0 out of 5 stars Anxious
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023
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Could not stop reading this book. It made me anxious wondering what was going to happen to Lara next and what choices (good or bad) she would make.
4 people found this helpful
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anl
5.0 out of 5 stars well done
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Aside from her obvious but not unique life, I was hesitant to read this story, as there are many like it in print. Her story is refreshing in its candor and lack of blame.
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Top reviews from other countries

Avid Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in Canada on March 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
When this book was finished I missed reading it and needed a day to breathe. It leaves an imprint on you.
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ANGELA S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Lara love is a real, true inspiration, best book I have ever read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
Lara opened up with her struggles with addiction and the real pain and heartache it caused to her family and herself, she tells it like your there sitting beside her in the court room, you can feel the deep pain of her wanting to give up when she writes about wrapping sheets around her neck, Thank goodness she fell asleep and didn’t see it through.
The struggles of one step forwards and two step back for her shows how that inner strength within her made her fight her way through those dark moments and the advice from books she read at the right time helped her gain strength within to find herself again.
This book, her story is going to be one of those books that will do the same for others that the books she read did for her.
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Amelie
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and touching!
Reviewed in Germany on March 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thank you Mama Love for this book. It reached my heart and strengthens me to follow my path. Your honesty and vulnerability is really a gift to us readers 🩷
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Alexandra F
4.0 out of 5 stars Raw, brave, unputdowneable
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
If you were to dig deep inside yourself to bring out all the worst you ever did, and put it on paper and release it to the world, well, that is what Lara bravely does with this book.
It is a story of healing through writing, it is brave, harrowing, and very real. I think any reader will find something to relate to here, as Lara’s story unfolds from impossible to hopeful. A story that will touch your heart, definitely worth the read.
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