the house that broke me: a daughter’s memoir of loving and losing through her mother’s addiction

by Kate Lariscy

In the house that broke me, Kate shares her deeply personal journey through the hidden world of prescription drug abuse in her own family, as the daughter of an addict. What began as subtle shifts in her mother’s behavior unraveled into a years-long battle with addiction that fractured relationships, challenged trust, and reshaped the meaning of love and safety.

With raw vulnerability and unfiltered truth, Kate reflects on what it was like to grow up in the shadow of her mother’s struggle—watching, questioning, and eventually understanding the gravity of what was happening behind closed doors. She uncovers how trauma shapes identity and how silence often protects pain more than people.

This memoir isn’t just a recounting of hardship—it’s a voice for the countless families who are suffering in silence. For anyone who’s ever loved someone lost in addiction, this story reminds you are not alone, and it’s okay to speak the truth.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2025

Reviews

[Barbara Lariscy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Journey of Strength and Survival

Reading this book was a deeply personal and emotional experience for me. Though the events described took place before I met my daughter-in-law, her story gave me a window into the strength and resilience she had to build from a very young age. This memoir is more than just a chronicle of her mother’s struggle with prescription drug addiction—it’s a powerful testament to the endurance of love, the complexity of family, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going when everything around you feels like it is falling apart.
What moved me most was the honesty with which she described her childhood—navigating the unpredictable stages of addiction, managing responsibilities no child should bear, and somehow still finding moments of hope and laughter. Her writing is clear and committed, yet always compassionate. She doesn't shy away from the pain, but she also doesn’t reduce her mother to just her addiction. Instead, she paints a full picture—of a woman battling demons, of a child forced to grow up too soon, and of a future built not in spite of that past, but informed by it.
This book isn’t just her story—it’s a light of hope for others who have lived through similar experiences, a reminder that they are not alone, and that healing is possible. As someone who only came into her life after these events, I’m honored to now understand more of what shaped her into the strong, determined woman she is today.
I highly recommend this read for anyone who wants a better understand the human side of addiction and the strength it takes battle the emotional roller coaster. I am so deeply proud of Kate for having the courage to put this all out there in hopes of helping someone else who may be in a similar situation. ….. to let them know that they are NOT alone.

[Angela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in 24 hours. When I wasn’t reading, I found myself thinking about the little girl in the green house and worrying for the teenager in the red house. I laughed with the besties and my heart broke with the family doing the best they could for each other. This book and her journey would undoubtedly resonate with someone connected to a person with addiction. But I think this is a must read book for anyone! I realized how important it is to better understand addiction and the real side of who it affects. Because I too thought “drug addicts live on the streets. They have missing teeth and shredded clothes… they don’t have a successful career, a beautiful home, a family, children.”
Amazing job Kate!

[Chandler Whitesides · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not my typical read, but a coworker posted she was writing a book so I had to read it. This book was raw, real, and thought provoking as Kate tells her own story of her mother who battled with an addiction. The author’s story actually takes place minutes from where I currently live, which made the story seem that much more real to me. This is not a “light” read, as Kate takes you through her life and her trials. Grief and tragedy are major themes in the book. If you have dealt with any kind of traumatic event, you can relate to this book. For me, this was an easy 5 star review.

[Jennifer Rust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible memoir of growing up in a challenging home. Kate’s story of living with a talented, successful, mother who became addicted to prescription drugs is told tenderly while truthfully. Kate developed a strong will and confidence to deal with the stress and anxiety of her situation. I’m so impressed with the way she overcame every challenge life has thrown her way.

[Jade Geary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate states in her book that she hopes this book can make someone feel less alone, that someone relates to this, and if so she has succeeded in her mission for this book. And Kate, you are going to make so many people feel less alone. You already are doing that.

Kate has a beautifully candid approach to this book in which she is able to tell an extremely difficult story with grace. Her compassion, understanding, and raw vulnerability in this book is going to allow so many others to connect with it.

Whether you struggle with addiction or someone you love does, this book will resonate with you. I can't recommend it enough!

[Dave Carrig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start out by stating that this being the first thing written by this woman and that it was written in early 2025 thoroughly impresses me. She stated that she entirely self published the entire book including the cover art work. So having said that - seeing at how well written this book was is very impressive to say the very least. You’re not going to find much about drug addiction in this book - but how it affected a daughter whose mother was an addict. I did not come away thinking of this a tragedy but as a triumph. In spite of all the horrible things this woman had to deal with growing up and then to endure the death of her mother she ends up coming out on top in the end. This book tells the tale on how she was able to get there. The biggest thing I got was how this daughter found the strength to forgive her mother and write lovingly of her in spite of all that her family went through. I half expected a bitter recount of how this woman’s life was ruined by having a mother as an addict. Instead it was just opposite. I do hope that this new author might find a way to put her IT career on hold and attempt to write more. I would love to see what she could do writing fiction. She’s got the writing talent for sure.