This is a deeply troubling and emotional story that highlights complex family dynamics, abuse, and secrets. Shari Franke’s memoir, The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom, brings to light her harrowing experiences growing up in the Franke household, led by her mother Ruby Franke, the former “8 Passengers” vlogger, and her business partner Jodi Hildebrandt.
The memoir alleges not only severe child abuse, for which Ruby and Jodi are currently serving prison time but also sheds light on the possibility of an intimate relationship between Ruby and Jodi—despite their public condemnation of queerness through their ConneXions coaching platform.
Shari’s vivid descriptions, including her discovery of her former bedroom turned into a candlelit sanctuary and her mother’s secretive behavior, paint a haunting picture of life in the Franke household.
Shari’s reflections delve into hypocrisy, betrayal, and unanswered questions about her mother’s choices and actions. She openly speculates about Ruby and Jodi’s connection, calling it both “fascinating and horrific,” while expressing that she would have supported her mother if the truth had been shared openly, rather than hidden under layers of secrecy and lies.
This memoir also reflects Shari’s ongoing pain and resilience. From her accusations of neglect by her father, Kevin Franke, who she says “turned [his] back” when she needed him most, to her triumph in exposing the truth and seeking justice for her siblings, Shari’s story is one of survival and unflinching courage.
The public first became aware of the Franke family’s dark reality in August 2023, when one of Ruby’s children, reportedly emaciated, sought help from a neighbor, prompting authorities to arrest Ruby and Jodi. Shari, the eldest of Ruby’s six children, has been outspoken since, celebrating the justice served and sharing her journey of breaking free from a toxic household.
While Kevin Franke, Ruby’s ex-husband, was not charged with any crimes and has sought custody of the children, Shari’s revelations suggest deeper, unresolved issues within the family.
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This memoir serves as both a heartbreaking account of abuse and a hopeful story of liberation, as Shari Franke continues to advocate for her siblings and herself, determined to reclaim her life from the shadow of her traumatic upbringing.
