The House of My Mother

A Daughter's Quest for Freedom

By: Shari Franke

Narrated by: Shari Franke

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.

Beautifully written and devastatingly relatable

First, the book is well written, laid out, and respectful. And sadly, heartbreakingly relatable for me. I don’t think I have ever taken so many notes in a book before, marking little insights or tidbits I’d like to reflect upon more later. Although not LDS I did grow up in another closed, conservative Christian denomination, and related intensely to the cultural norms and expectations Shari experienced. All while balancing a two pronged existence with an abusive mother: one that looks perfect for the public, and the unpredictable fear and chaos of the ‘real’ one. I hope writing this out was cathartic and healing for her, and wish her only the good life has to offer.

Wow

For anyone who thinks they have had a dysfunctional childhood this is the book to listen to. Very well told, not overly sentimental. It shows the effects of religion and cults on families.

Captivating and Moving

I followed this family during their vlogging years. I was so devastated to learn what happened to their youngest children at the time of Ruby's arrest. I was so eager to read Shari's account of her upbringing as I was I proud to watch her navigate such a horrific situation. She is, without a doubt, a beautiful writer. I couldn't stop listening because I was captivated by each part of the story. I was inspired by Shari's resilience. I was moved by her tenacity to keep fighting for herself and her siblings. I was touched by her forgiveness of her father. I was also enlightened and motivated to examine my own parenting practices and to think about my own five children- their emotions, their preferences, and their gifts. I highly recommend this read!

Shari’s story is worth telling!

I loved this insightful story. Shari sounds like a brave young woman with a great head on her shoulders. My only gentle criticism would be that she is still building up the LDS church as a purely positive influence in this story, when in reality, Jodi was recommended by the LDS church, and she was on an official list of approved LDS therapists. She had a history of doing this before and the church knowingly silenced anyone complaining about her. This is documented in court cases. There was a chance to stop Jodi over a decade ago, but the church chose to support her instead. This story is deeply intertwined with LDS faith and culture, for better and for worse, and I hope someday Shari dan find peace with that and move forward.

Such a heartbreaking story…

This book is incredibly well-written! Wishing you and your siblings all the best as you continue to heal from such unimaginable abuse.

Shari- you are brave and strong. May God bless you and your siblings always.