I came into Shari Franke's *Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers* knowing next to nothing. But I also didn’t want to miss out on what everyone was talking about. https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...This book is a very respectful and measured account of a story that is, frankly, unbelievable. So many hot-button topics that people can't resist—cults, Mormonism, family vlogging, hints of sapphic relationships—are explored here. It's no wonder every new development in this story caused a med...

The line between genuine interaction and performance had blurred so completely that sometimes, I wasn’t sure any of us could tell the difference anymore. This book reinforces the conclusion I reached after reading Jennette McCurdy's *I’m Glad My Mom Died*: no child can consent to fame and a life lived in the spotlight. It's often difficult to read, but ultimately compelling, with short, engaging chapters. Every time I see a child YouTuber or those horrifying child beauty pageants, I've as...

So impactful and important! This is exactly why I'm so against family vlog channels and any social media pages that exploit children for income before they're old enough to understand what they're agreeing to. This quote from chapter 48 of *Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers* by Shari Franke really resonated with me: “I wondered how the public’s consumption of others’ pain and suffering crossed the line from empathy to voyeurism? How quickly have we, as a society, become numb to the strugg...

Rating based on my personal reading experience.As someone who was raised Mormon and grew up in the same town as Ruby, reading "Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers" by Shari Franke felt both harrowing and intensely relatable. Homophobia, abuse, grooming, manipulation, and coercion, all masked by the image of sweet, innocent Mormons? Yeah, that tracks! This book is well-written, insightful, and brutally honest.It felt like Shari was *this* close to fully grasping the role the LDS church playe...

*I don't usually rate memoirs.* Like many, I followed the case against Jodi Hildebrant and Ruby Franke closely. I never watched Eight Passengers, and I'm not into family vlogging content in general (and yes, I'm proud of that). However, I keep up with happenings in the Mormon community, and that's how I learned about this case. I think Shari Franke and her co-writer did an excellent job; the story in **Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers** was well-written. I listened to the audiobook, na...

I… have so many thoughts swirling around, and I'm not even sure if it's right to judge this book. I'll just say that I felt like Shari Franke was *this* close to understanding the part her church played in the abuse she experienced, and I really hope she gets there eventually after writing "Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers". This is a tough read and a complicated story, and I'm processing a lot after finishing it. Definitely a conversation starter for anyone interested in book reviews ab...

Honestly, "Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers" by Shari Franke wasn't the most gripping memoir I've ever picked up. The storytelling felt a bit scattered, and characters drifted in and out without much explanation, which got confusing. It's clear Shari Franke is young, and while I totally get the healing power of sharing your story, I think a little more time to process everything, plus some tighter editing, would have really elevated this book. If you're looking for insightful book review...

"In the end, ConneXions didn't change Ruby's tactics, it just gave her a manual to refine them."

This was so unbelievably heartbreaking. I'll post my full review of Shari Franke's "Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers" in the morning! This book review will cover the emotional impact of the memoir.

UPDATE: I'm SO GLAD Shari finally got to tell her story, without news outlets and social media exploiting her family. Reading "Finally Free: My Life After 8 Passengers" had me in tears; my heart was racing for her. She is stronger than I could ever hope to be. I hope anyone who reads this can learn the patterns of abuse that Shari Franke lays out in her book. These topics are so important to prevent abuse for ourselves and to advocate for others. WELL DONE, SHARI. This is a must-read memoir!I'M ...

Fuck mommy bloggers. (Review contains strong language, as per source text)