I'm Glad My Mom Died

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!

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!

This was a wild read. I had watched iCarly as a teenager and loved that show. I thought it was funny and I found Jennette’s character, sam, very entertaining. I also had heard a little about her not wanting to act anymore later on. I did not know the full extent of her story and oh my god is it a doozy. Her mother was a psychotic individual and truly did nothing good for her own daughter. I could never imagine my own mother doing anything close to what hers did and it is seriously so depressing to listen to. All of her struggles stemmed from her mother and no child should ever experience that. it was a very heart aching story to hear and I am very glad that jennette was able to get the help and perspective she needed in order to write this memoir and tell her story with such strength.

I am unsure why this book has gotten so much praise. Any celebrity seeking sympathy or “woe is me” look how hard I had it, doesn’t sit right with me. She says she hates being famous yet writes a book, and a poorly written one at that, and goes on to do an entire book release tour so she can profit off of it? The beginning was insufferably slow I didn’t think I’d make it though to the end. It did have a few chapters I liked and even gave me a few laughs. Overall, I would not recommend.