What do you think?
Rate this book
The Scarlet Badge: A Memoir
Hanna Martin's story begins traversing through an unstable childhood full of critical experiences that shaped the world she lived in, turning her from what was once an innocent child into a grown-up villain. Through the rough navigation of neurodivergence, depression, sexual assault, divorce, and abandonment, Hanna's story is one of turbulence and triumph.
Hanna's adult life begins when she finds herself accidentally friends with a “sugar daddy” who attempts to groom her to be his head of security for the cult-utopia he was cultivating. Instead, he introduces her to a sheriff in California and begins her career in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff. Hanna leaves her whole life and everyone in it to start over in California and finds herself quickly deep in love affairs, lies, and a hostile work environment. Despite a rough career start, Hanna never quits on her dreams of finding love and starting a family, wanting nothing more than to become a mother. Unfortunately, she instead finds herself in a narcissistic abusive relationship that spirals out of control, where Hanna sought anyone to save her from the corner she was backed into in all of the wrong places.
Against all odds, Hanna doubles down her bets on herself and takes the risk of leaving her husband to realize that the person meant to save her all along was herself. Risking her career in law enforcement, Hanna voluntarily sent herself to a women’s only in-patient treatment facility to seek help for all the scars she collected throughout her life. Hanna returns to a hostile workplace that forces her to leave law enforcement to continue her healing journey, choosing herself over what she once thought she wanted to be. Along the rocky road of figuring out everything there is to life with no blueprint, Hanna finds love and support that actualizes her dream life. With the newfound partnership and support, Hanna makes history as the first person in the United States to pursue a lawsuit against a court of law for gender discrimination.
Hanna's adult life begins when she finds herself accidentally friends with a “sugar daddy” who attempts to groom her to be his head of security for the cult-utopia he was cultivating. Instead, he introduces her to a sheriff in California and begins her career in law enforcement as a deputy sheriff. Hanna leaves her whole life and everyone in it to start over in California and finds herself quickly deep in love affairs, lies, and a hostile work environment. Despite a rough career start, Hanna never quits on her dreams of finding love and starting a family, wanting nothing more than to become a mother. Unfortunately, she instead finds herself in a narcissistic abusive relationship that spirals out of control, where Hanna sought anyone to save her from the corner she was backed into in all of the wrong places.
Against all odds, Hanna doubles down her bets on herself and takes the risk of leaving her husband to realize that the person meant to save her all along was herself. Risking her career in law enforcement, Hanna voluntarily sent herself to a women’s only in-patient treatment facility to seek help for all the scars she collected throughout her life. Hanna returns to a hostile workplace that forces her to leave law enforcement to continue her healing journey, choosing herself over what she once thought she wanted to be. Along the rocky road of figuring out everything there is to life with no blueprint, Hanna finds love and support that actualizes her dream life. With the newfound partnership and support, Hanna makes history as the first person in the United States to pursue a lawsuit against a court of law for gender discrimination.
475 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 2, 2024
9 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 18, 2024
A beautifully written, deeply honest and raw look at one woman's journey. Different from many others in this genre by its blunt honesty, both inwards and outwards, the author's journey from childhood, adolescence and through adulthood and her working career is filled with turbulence, trauma and hilarious commentary. A truly unique view of a woman inside a male-dominated career and the challenges that brings., in addition to simply being a woman in our society. I respect this author's courage to share her story and applaud her courage to stand her ground and fight back. A fascinating read!
April 29, 2025
If you thought your life was chaotic, buckle up — *The Scarlet Badge* by Hanna S. Martin is the ultimate “how am I still standing?” survival story. Hanna’s journey from an unstable childhood to full-on adult villain era is raw, brutal, and honestly? Inspiring AF. Trauma, heartbreak, cult vibes, law enforcement drama — she’s lived through what most people only survive in Netflix series.
It all starts with Hanna accidentally befriending a wannabe cult leader and somehow ending up a deputy sheriff. Cue: toxic workplaces, messy love lives, hostile stares, and a growing pile of emotional scars. She’s chasing dreams, making bad choices, and still somehow keeping it together with sheer stubbornness and a whole lot of dark humor.
But here’s where it gets real: Hanna doesn’t wait around for a knight in shining armor. She becomes her own damn rescue. She quits a toxic marriage, walks away from a career she once dreamed of, and checks herself into treatment — no shame, no apology. Watching her take that power back? Chef’s kiss. Emotional whiplash in the best way.
And because this woman doesn’t know how to stop winning, she doesn’t just heal — she makes history. Hanna goes full badass and sues a court for gender discrimination. First. Ever. In. U.S. History. Like, excuse me while I chant her name from the rooftops. ICON behavior.
It all starts with Hanna accidentally befriending a wannabe cult leader and somehow ending up a deputy sheriff. Cue: toxic workplaces, messy love lives, hostile stares, and a growing pile of emotional scars. She’s chasing dreams, making bad choices, and still somehow keeping it together with sheer stubbornness and a whole lot of dark humor.
But here’s where it gets real: Hanna doesn’t wait around for a knight in shining armor. She becomes her own damn rescue. She quits a toxic marriage, walks away from a career she once dreamed of, and checks herself into treatment — no shame, no apology. Watching her take that power back? Chef’s kiss. Emotional whiplash in the best way.
And because this woman doesn’t know how to stop winning, she doesn’t just heal — she makes history. Hanna goes full badass and sues a court for gender discrimination. First. Ever. In. U.S. History. Like, excuse me while I chant her name from the rooftops. ICON behavior.
April 26, 2025
In keeping with my stance not to rate a memoir, I was absolutely blown away by this book. Hanna writes an unflinching, raw, and and honest account of her life. Starting with her upbringing that saw her traveling around the world, let down by the very people that should’ve been there for a child and growing into an adult that became the villain in many people’s stories, readers will get a sense of the woman she is (essentially, a bad@ss cop in every way). Eventually becoming the first person in the U.S. to sue a court of law for gender discrimination, Hanna’s life was wrought with depression, neurodivergence, sexual assault, abandonment and an overarching dream to find love, family, and acceptance. I laughed at several parts as she brings humor to her story, saw myself in her a few times by being a woman in a male-dominated field, but mostly my heart broke for her and the fact she was let down by nearly every single male she met in the worst possible way. I’m so incredibly happy she finally found the family she was looking for, with a caring, loving husband and child. She continues to make a difference with the people she works with, and uses her story to uplift women and anyone else who may see themselves in her story.
November 7, 2024
The Scarlet Badge is a stunning memoir. This compulsive read will transcend all expectations as you follow an unbreakable woman through trials, tragedy, triumphs, and even travel.
The story of Hanna Martin will undoubtedly break your heart as she details her first hand account with depression, sexual assault, abuse, and neurodivergence. But at a time when most would accept failure and defeat, Hanna pushes through, battling her way past objectification in law enforcement and actualizing self-love and acceptance.
What could have easily been a cautionary tale turns into a story in which Hanna refuses to be victimized, leaving her failed marriage and abusive husband to start over, and build the life she grows to understand she deserves.
Hanna's healing journey is marked with love affairs, lawsuits, a hostile work environment, devastating lies, and even a sugar daddy. There is quite literally something in this book for everyone and it will not disappoint. You need this memoir in your life!
The story of Hanna Martin will undoubtedly break your heart as she details her first hand account with depression, sexual assault, abuse, and neurodivergence. But at a time when most would accept failure and defeat, Hanna pushes through, battling her way past objectification in law enforcement and actualizing self-love and acceptance.
What could have easily been a cautionary tale turns into a story in which Hanna refuses to be victimized, leaving her failed marriage and abusive husband to start over, and build the life she grows to understand she deserves.
Hanna's healing journey is marked with love affairs, lawsuits, a hostile work environment, devastating lies, and even a sugar daddy. There is quite literally something in this book for everyone and it will not disappoint. You need this memoir in your life!
December 12, 2024
Absolutely amazing book! I couldn’t put it down. It is an amazing story that fills the reader with confidence and empowerment. The author shows how you can be strong and change the world for the better. I absolutely recommend this book!
December 13, 2024
The Scarlet Badge: A Memoir
by Hanna S. Martin
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉This book is a raw and powerful journey of resilience, heartbreak, and redemption that will leave you inspired and in awe. From the very beginning, Hanna takes us through a childhood filled with challenges—neurodivergence, depression, and the pain of sexual assault—shaping her into someone who had to fight for everything. This memoir is not for the faint-hearted, but it's a story that needs to be told, a life that needed to be shared.
👉Hanna's adult life is no easier. She finds herself drawn into a toxic relationship with a man who, while introducing her to law enforcement, also exposes her to a world of manipulation and lies. Her career as a deputy sheriff becomes a tangled mess of love affairs, workplace hostility, and personal turmoil. But despite it all, Hanna holds onto one dream: to find love, build a family, and escape the chains of her past. Unfortunately, she falls deeper into a toxic relationship that spirals out of control.
👉What truly sets this story apart is Hanna's courage in the face of adversity. When she realizes that no one is coming to save her, she saves herself. Leaving her husband, Hanna takes the brave step of entering a women’s-only in-patient treatment facility, risking her career and life as she knew it to heal from the scars of her past.
👉Her decision to choose herself above all else leads to one of the most remarkable moments in the book—she sues for gender discrimination, becoming the first person in the U.S. to take a court of law to task for such injustice. Talk about a boss move!
👉Through it all, Hanna’s writing is unflinchingly honest, emotional, and full of heart. Her transformation from someone trapped in her circumstances to a woman who created the life she always dreamed of is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit.
👉This memoir is a must-read for anyone looking for inspiration, a reminder that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can always rise again. The Scarlet Badge is a story of personal triumph, the power of choosing yourself, and the resilience to stand up against the system.
#review
by Hanna S. Martin
Rating:5/5
Review:
👉This book is a raw and powerful journey of resilience, heartbreak, and redemption that will leave you inspired and in awe. From the very beginning, Hanna takes us through a childhood filled with challenges—neurodivergence, depression, and the pain of sexual assault—shaping her into someone who had to fight for everything. This memoir is not for the faint-hearted, but it's a story that needs to be told, a life that needed to be shared.
👉Hanna's adult life is no easier. She finds herself drawn into a toxic relationship with a man who, while introducing her to law enforcement, also exposes her to a world of manipulation and lies. Her career as a deputy sheriff becomes a tangled mess of love affairs, workplace hostility, and personal turmoil. But despite it all, Hanna holds onto one dream: to find love, build a family, and escape the chains of her past. Unfortunately, she falls deeper into a toxic relationship that spirals out of control.
👉What truly sets this story apart is Hanna's courage in the face of adversity. When she realizes that no one is coming to save her, she saves herself. Leaving her husband, Hanna takes the brave step of entering a women’s-only in-patient treatment facility, risking her career and life as she knew it to heal from the scars of her past.
👉Her decision to choose herself above all else leads to one of the most remarkable moments in the book—she sues for gender discrimination, becoming the first person in the U.S. to take a court of law to task for such injustice. Talk about a boss move!
👉Through it all, Hanna’s writing is unflinchingly honest, emotional, and full of heart. Her transformation from someone trapped in her circumstances to a woman who created the life she always dreamed of is a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit.
👉This memoir is a must-read for anyone looking for inspiration, a reminder that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can always rise again. The Scarlet Badge is a story of personal triumph, the power of choosing yourself, and the resilience to stand up against the system.
#review
November 22, 2024
The Scarlet Badge is a delightful and humorous read. It highlights challenges anyone could relate to from a young age to adulthood. Specifically, if you have faced discrimination in life or the workplace, this book is for you. It's clear the author's message is to stand up and fight back. The author displayed an immense of passion to relate and help others who might have faced similar stories.
May 18, 2025
Hannah Martins writing is refreshingly honest and true to her life experiences. I am thoroughly enjoying this read and I highly recommend this memoir.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews