The House of My Mother

by Shari Franke
The House of My Mother cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Biography and Memoir
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Waterstones
Hardback • £20.00
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 2752
  • Added: 2025-10-16
  • Updated: 2025-10-17
  • ISBN: 9781668065419
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2025-01-07
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival under the tyrannical rule of her mother, Ruby Franke, who presented a wholesome image on their popular YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, while hiding a brutal reality. The family’s online fame grew, but so did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness, fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt. Together, they subjected the children to an inhumane disciplinary regime. In 2023, Ruby and Jodi were arrested on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. Shari, the eldest daughter, shared a photo of the police outside their home with a single word: 'Finally.' This memoir reveals the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and the family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, 'ConneXions.' Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.

Reviews
Indiependent · 2025-03-17
harrowing 4.50

The book offers an intimate and personal account of growing up in an emotionally abusive household, exploring themes of trauma and resilience. The narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, providing a raw look into the author's journey.

The reviewer highlights how 'The House of My Mother' delves deeply into the emotional turmoil and abuse the author endured as a child. They appreciate the candid and poetic writing style, which makes the story both harrowing and compelling. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of healing and freedom is particularly powerful, making it a must-read for those interested in personal memoirs and stories of overcoming adversity. The raw honesty in the narrative is praised for its ability to draw readers into the author's world and evoke strong emotional responses.

Quick quotes

    House of My Mother is an intimate and personal story of a child coming of age in an emotionally abusive household.

    The narrative is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, providing a raw look into the author's journey.

    The exploration of healing and freedom is particularly powerful, making it a must-read for those interested in personal memoirs.

The Simpsonian · 2025-02-05
shocking 4.00

The book is described as a shocking and traumatic account of the author's upbringing, with a focus on her journey towards freedom. The reviewer finds the storytelling compelling and impactful, highlighting the author's courage in sharing her story.

The reviewer at The Simpsonian emphasizes the shocking nature of the book, which details the author's traumatic upbringing and her path to freedom. They commend the author for her bravery in revealing the hidden abuse she suffered, making the narrative both powerful and unsettling. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of trauma and resilience is particularly noteworthy, providing a deep and moving account of the author's experiences. The honest and open writing style is praised for its ability to engage readers and evoke a strong emotional response.

Quick quotes

    Trauma, shock and freedom are the three words that perfectly describe this book.

    Author Shari Franke, daughter of the convicted child abuser, shares her story with courage and openness.

    The book's exploration of trauma and resilience is particularly noteworthy, providing a deep and moving account.

Reddit - IReadABookAndAdoredIt · 2024-08-05
compelling 4.50

The book is praised for its honest portrayal of dealing with a difficult upbringing and the journey to healing. The reviewer appreciates the author's courage and openness in sharing her story, making it a compelling read.

The reviewer on Reddit highlights the book's honest look at dealing with a difficult upbringing and the journey to healing. They appreciate the author's courage and openness in sharing her story, which makes the narrative both compelling and relatable. The reviewer also notes that the book's exploration of abuse and resilience is particularly impactful, providing a raw and unfiltered account of the author's experiences. The honest and open writing style is praised for its ability to engage readers and evoke a strong emotional response, making it a must-read for those interested in personal memoirs.

Quick quotes

    It's a really honest look at dealing with a difficult upbringing, abuse and the journey to healing.

    The author writes with courage and openness, making the narrative both compelling and relatable.

    The book's exploration of abuse and resilience is particularly impactful, providing a raw and unfiltered account.

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