When we think of Denise Richards, we think of her sexy “Wild Things” era, her Bond Girl days, and of course, her tabloid divorce from Charlie Sheen. But now, the 40-year-old mom happens to look hotter in a bikini than ever before.

Self.com‘s “Selfy Stars” column caught up with Denise, who just adopted a third daughter (Eloise Joni Richards, adopted domestically as a newborn and named after Denise’s late mother, Joni) and whose memoir, The Real Girl Next Door, comes out next month, to ask her what she wants women to learn from her public “heartbreak” — and how she keeps her abs looking washboard-flat.

Your memoir is about your happier times with your ex-husband, Charlie Sheen. Why have you chosen to celebrate that moment? What do you hope other women will learn from your memoir? “I share a lot in my memoir from when I was a child until now. As far as my marriage, I do share the good memories but also get into my divorce. Not the details, more the feelings. Many women experience divorce and it is heartbreaking to go through. I’m hoping anyone who has gone through what I did will have hope that it does get better.

Is it possible to recover from a bad divorce? And is it possible to stay friends with your ex? “I recovered from my divorce — it wasn’t easy but I got there. And yes, I do think it’s possible to be friendly with your ex, especially when you have children.”

When we think of Denise Richards, we think of her sexy “Wild Things” era, her Bond Girl days, and of course, her tabloid divorce from Charlie Sheen. But now, the 40-year-old mom happens to look hotter in a bikini than ever before.

Self.com‘s “Selfy Stars” column caught up with Denise, who just adopted a third daughter (Eloise Joni Richards, adopted domestically as a newborn and named after Denise’s late mother, Joni) and whose memoir, The Real Girl Next Door, comes out next month, to ask her what she wants women to learn from her public “heartbreak” — and how she keeps her abs looking washboard-flat.

Your memoir is about your happier times with your ex-husband,  Why have you chosen to celebrate that moment? What do you hope other women will learn from your memoir? “I share a lot in my memoir from when I was a child until now. As far as my marriage, I do share the good memories but also get into my divorce. Not the details, more the feelings. Many women experience divorce and it is heartbreaking to go through. I’m hoping anyone who has gone through what I did will have hope that it does get better.

Is it possible to recover from a bad divorce? And is it possible to stay friends with your ex? “I recovered from my divorce — it wasn’t easy but I got there. And yes, I do think it’s possible to be friendly with your ex, especially when you have children.”