The House of My Mother (Unabridged)
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4.8 • 1.2K Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Heart-wrenchingly personal…dizzying.” —Rolling Stone
From eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog—now the subject of a new Hulu docuseries—and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing.
Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined.
As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime.
Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.”
For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, “ConneXions.” No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Fans were shocked when the hugely popular mommy-influencer Ruby Franke was arrested on charges of child abuse. Now, in this heartbreakingly candid memoir, Ruby’s daughter Shari Franke shares the horrifying reality lurking behind the scenes of her family’s famous 8 Passengers YouTube channel. The eldest of six, Shari was well acquainted with her mother’s manipulation and abuse long before Ruby began vlogging about her seemingly perfect parenting. We were appalled by the punishments Ruby inflicted on her kids, from binding them with rope to withholding food to the point of malnourishment to even worse. But we were especially fascinated by Shari’s reflections on how being filmed and broadcast to millions of YouTube subscribers as a child was damaging in itself. Shari also reflects on how, despite her continued faith, her upbringing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints led her to prioritize obedience over her own well-being. The raw, unvarnished sincerity in Shari’s narration will make this listen impossible to forget.
Customer Reviews
Amazingly Written & Read
Loved this audiobook. Such a powerful story.
The bravery tho
It takes a lot to share your story, especially when it is full of vulnerability and pain. I appreciate you telling your truth. I’m sorry you and your siblings went through all that. You deserve so much more than what you were given. You are a pillar to trauma/abuse survivors and you deserve to be loved unconditionally. You got this lil mama! Thank you for sharing your story, life, and truth in the most beautiful way. Love and light.
Sad and beautifully written book
Walking away from this book, appreciating my family for being healthy.
Something in the Mormon faith encouraged this behavior of Ruby. I feel said for Shari- just heartbreaking and troubling to think that she and her siblings were broken down by a sick mother.