I'm Glad My Mom Died
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A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.
Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.
In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.
Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.
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Readers say Jennette McCurdy’s memoir is a brutally honest, raw, and darkly humorous exploration of childhood fame and family trauma. Agreeing on its ...
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is a powerful and darkly funny memoir about her life as a child star and the deep emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother. Pushed into acting at a young age, Jennette details the pressures of fame, disordered eating, and lack of control over her own life. After her mother’s death, she begins to process the trauma, confront her past, and reclaim her identity. The book offers a raw, insightful look at fame, family, and the long road to healing.
I read I'm Glad My Mom Died in one sitting last January, and I still haven’t forgotten it. That’s how heartbreaking, raw, and emotionally powerful this memoir is. Jennette McCurdy’s writing is not only sharp and darkly humorous, but her storytelling is incredibly thoughtful and deeply moving. With every page I turned, my heart broke for her.
What she endured as a child star — from emotional and psychological abuse, to being stripped of her autonomy, to being manipulated and controlled by the very person who should’ve protected her — is nothing short of horrifying. Reading about the treatment she received from her mother was gut-wrenching. It’s something I can’t even imagine going through as a child, and certainly something I could never imagine subjecting any child of mine to. Her mother’s behavior crossed so many lines, all under the guise of love and ambition.
You can feel Jennette’s strength in every chapter, even when she doesn’t feel strong herself. Her resilience in the face of relentless adversity, the way she confronts the pain with brutal honesty, and her journey toward healing and acceptance — it’s nothing short of inspiring. She’s finally starting to live her life on her own terms, embracing her true self — and it’s what she so deeply and rightfully deserves.
This memoir is a difficult but incredibly important read. If you're in the right headspace for it, it's one of those books that stays with you — not just because of what Jennette went through, but because of the way she tells her story with such honesty, courage, and care.
I hate having to re-write this review because of something going awry in Goodreads. I can't recollect my initial thoughts as well...That said:
What a story! Initially, I had difficulty picking up the book due to the title. My own mother had passed only a few short months prior, and it felt in poor taste to get the book. I'm glad I got over myself. The title makes sense.
The author does a nice job narrating her story. It was as though being out with a girlfriend listening to her share life. Ha. I initially thought I may have inadvertently increased the speed of the audio. Nope. She just talks at faster pace. Liked that!
At the end of the book, I feel a sort of pride for this virtual auditory girlfriend. She's clearly come a long way having endured a bunch of sh*t. I admire her courage and vulnerability. Go, Jennette McCurdy!
What a story! Initially, I had difficulty picking up the book due to the title. My own mother had passed only a few short months prior, and it felt in poor taste to get the book. I'm glad I got over myself. The title makes sense.
The author does a nice job narrating her story. It was as though being out with a girlfriend listening to her share life. Ha. I initially thought I may have inadvertently increased the speed of the audio. Nope. She just talks at faster pace. Liked that!
At the end of the book, I feel a sort of pride for this virtual auditory girlfriend. She's clearly come a long way having endured a bunch of sh*t. I admire her courage and vulnerability. Go, Jennette McCurdy!
I am proud that she finally realized that her mother did abuse her and that in spite of that, she was able to get her life in order on her terms. I would love to just sit and chat with her. Although I have not experienced what she has and I am old enough to be her mother, she still inspires me. Keep up the good work!
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