Jennette McCurdy

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.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

I’m Glad My Mom Died 

Ribs

How many times can you pratfall over a carpet or sell a line you don't believe in before your soul dies?

ReadwithZanariah 

Moms are saints. Angels by merely existing. NO ONE could possibly understand what it's like to be a mom. Men will never understand. Women with no children will never understand.

We've drifted apart. It's a sad reality for me in my late twenties. At the beginning of the decade, the people I was close to seemed like friends for life, people I could never imagine not seeing every day. But life happens. Love happens. Loss happens. Change and growth happen at different paces for different people, and sometimes the paces just don't line up. It's devastating if I think too much about it, so I usually don't.

karina

I yearn to know the people I love deeply and intimately — without context, without boxes — and I yearn for them to know me that way, too. 

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.

Mandy

I’m desperate to feel close with her but also desperate for that closeness to me on my terms, not hers. I want her to know me for who I’m becoming, I want her to allow my growth, I want her to want me to be me. But that feels more like a fantasy than a possibility, for now at least. 

Her happiness came at the cost of mine. I feel robbed and exploited. 

madeleine

I yearn to knoe people I love deeply and intimately-without the context, without boxes-and i yearn for them to know me that way too.

This feeling of sadness and ending is really common on sets. You get to know the people around you so intimately because your'e around them more then you're around your family. For a period of time. And little by little, you realize you start talking less and less to the people you thought you were so intimate with. Until you don't talk to them at all anymore. And it makes you wonder if you were ever really intimate with them in the first place or if it was all just a facade. If the connections were as temporary as the sets they were made on.

Magaly Belmontes

“SLIPS ARE TOTALLY NORMAL. WHEN you have a slip, it’s just that. A slip. It doesn’t define you. It doesn’t make you a failure. The most important thing is that you don’t let that slip become a slide,”

I’m Glad My Mom Died

Sara Poole

We listened to News of the World front to back while sitting on his his wooden floor. He kept scooting closer to me and brushing his hair behind his ear, which was mildly repulsive to me coming from a man. 

Celine

I've been journaling near constantly to get my feelings on paper, which is a challenging task since I struggle to identify my emotions. Is "all of the uncomfortable ones" an option? 

I don't like knowing people in the context of things. Oh, that's the person I work out with. That's the person I'm in a book club with. That's the person I did that show with. Because once the context ends, so does the friendship 

"Men, they'll hurt you without ever really knowing you," she often told me. “But women... women will know vou deeply, intimately, and then hurt you. You tell me which is worse.

This is the first time I've heard the word “anorexia." It sounds like a dinosaur. 

rachel

“I don’t like knowing people in the context of things. 

Oh that’s the person I work out with. That’s the person I’m in the book club with. That’s the person I did that show with.

 Because once the context ends, so does the friendship.”

Molly Sanderson 

My eyes are dead, my soul is nowhere to be found, but a smile is on my face and that's all that counts.

Liv Gliese Johnsen

I feel the wedge between Mom and I growing by the day. With every lie I tell, I feel myself slipping further away from her. With every pound I gain, every binge I partake in, I feel myself getting more disconnected from her.

I’m so confused and troubled by this wedge. I’m desperate to feel close with her, but also desperate for that closeness to be on my terms, not hers. I want her to know me for who I’m becoming. I want her to allow my growth. I want her to want me to be me.

Fame has put a wedge between Mom and me that I didn’t think was possible. She wanted this. And I wanted her to have it. I wanted her to be happy. But now that I have it, I realize that she’s happy and I’m not. Her happiness came at the cost of mine. I feel robbed and exploited.

Sometimes I look at her and I just hate her. And then I hate myself for feeling that. I tell myself I’m ungrateful. I’m worthless without her. She’s everything to me. Then I swallow the feeling I wish I hadn’t had, tell her “I love you so much, Nonny Mommy,” and I move on, pretending that it never happened.

My anxiety causes me to be a people pleaser. My anxiety causes me to take the picture and sign my autograph and say it’s a good one. But underneath that anxiety is a deep, unearthed combination of feelings that I fear to face. I fear that I’m bitter. I’m too young to be bitter. Especially as a result of a life that people supposedly envy. And I fear that I resent my mother. The person I have lived for. My idol. My role model. My one true love.

What?” I ask, not because I didn’t hear what he said, but because I’m confused. Of course a little girl should worry about her entire family. That’s what little girls do.

“I don’t want to act anymore,” I say before I even realize I’ve said it.

Mom looks at me in the rearview mirror. A mixture of shock and disappointment fills her eyes. I immediately regret saying anything.

“Don’t be silly, you love acting. It’s your favorite thing in the world,” Mom says in a way that makes it sound like a threat.

dana

i have no idea how to go about life without doing it in the shadow of my mother, without my every move being dictated by her wants, her needs, her approval.

i feel the wedge between mom and i growing by the day. with every lie i tell, i feel myself slipping further away from her. with every pound i gain, every binge i partake in, i feel myself getting more disconnected from her.

i'm so confused and troubled by this wedge. i'm desperate to feel close to her, but also desperate for that closeness to be on my own terms, not hers. i want her to know me for who i'm becoming. i want her to allow for my growth. i want her to want me to be me.

but that feels more like a fantasy than a possibility, for now at least. so for now, i lie.

an incredibly well-written, poignant book - jennette mccurdy has a way of intertwining humor and self-reflection that makes for an easy, yet incredibly heartwrenching read.

so fucking hard to read but so powerful and poignant

rrai

Took so long to get through this book because some parts were a really tough read, I can’t believe she went through this much for so long and I just feel so proud of her for getting to where she is now. Also provided a great view re: the psyche of people who struggle with EDs.

With regards to the book itself, memoirs/ biographies aren’t really my favourite genre I think but definitely a worthwhile read regardless.

“So much of my life has felt so out of my control for so long. And I’m done with that being my reality. I want my life to be in my hands. Not an eating disorder’s or a casting director’s or an agent’s or my mom’s. Mine.”

Nicole

Took so long to get through this book because some parts were a really tough read, I can’t believe she went through this much for so long and I just feel so proud of her for getting to where she is now. Also provided a great view re: the psyche of people who struggle with EDs.

With regards to the book itself, memoirs/ biographies aren’t really my favourite genre I think but definitely a worthwhile read regardless.

-

“So much of my life has felt so out of my control for so long. And I’m done with that being my reality. I want my life to be in my hands. Not an eating disorder’s or a casting director’s or an agent’s or my mom’s. Mine.”

Such a sad story - hearing from the author definitely added a lot of emotion to many of the situations described. 

Paige Paul

Eva Ströberg

What a great reading, what a sad story. I also have an overbearing mother, and until recently I didn't realise how much it affected me and my personality until someone pointed out at me that it was not normal. Absolutely can relate with this story.

Camilla

Kiran Aftab

Patrick Book

I couldn’t put it down despite…all of it.

Sophia Sadoughi

Angelyn Francis

Listened to the audiobook. Great experience, earns the hype. Jeanette's sense of humour and critical insights shine through.

First memoir I have read and really liked it. I grew up watching Jennette on TV and it just makes you realise how captivated you get believing these characters on the other side of the screen. You would have never have know she was going through such horrible things. 

How she wrote this book was incredible. I expected it to be written as if she was reflecting on her experiences but she wrote it as if she was documenting her experience each day and at different ages whilst it happened and she did it well. In the beginning of the book, writing about how her mum would treat her at a young age, you sit there reading it shocked knowing everything her mum said was incredibly abusive. But how she wrote it, as if a young child again completely oblivious to it and just so in awe of her mum. My hand was over my mouth. Jeanette wrote this beautifully. I feel for her so much but also so proud of her and her progress.

Lily R

First memoir I have read and really liked it. I grew up watching Jennette on TV and it just makes you realise how captivated you get believing these characters on the other side of the screen. You would have never have know she was going through such horrible things. 

How she wrote this book was incredible. I expected it to be written as if she was reflecting on her experiences but she wrote it as if she was documenting her experience each day and at different ages whilst it happened and she did it well. In the beginning of the book, writing about how her mum would treat her at a young age, you sit there reading it shocked knowing everything her mum said was incredibly abusive. But how she wrote it, as if a young child again completely oblivious to it and just so in awe of her mum. My hand was over my mouth. Jeanette wrote this beautifully. I feel for her so much but also so proud of her and her progress.

tori 👻

By far one of the best books released this year. Jennette McCurdy deserves all the recognition and praise she's been getting for I'm Glad My Mom Died, she's a very talented and inspiring woman. This was hard to get through but I couldn't put it down. 
I'm really happy for her.

Shaq H

she was such an important part of my childhood and i've loved her ever since. this was just devastating to read and i've been a teary mess throughout. love you jennette.

Surprisingly relatable and compelling read. Jennette has a talent for writing that a returning to reading person like me found engaging. I picked up this book a couple days ago and next thing I knew I was done with it. Would love to see more from the author.

’Mike Richardson

I love how Jennette opened up about everything she went through sometimes it was hard to read and I needed to close the book a few times so please check trigger warnings before reading

lala

The second memoir I read this month. I waited for the release of this book with GREAT anticipation. A couple of days after the release, I got my hand into a digital copy. This memoir is absolutely heartbreaking to read as a former Nickelodeon child. It discusses a first hand experience on very hard issues such as eating disorder, abusive and unhealthy relationships, please check content/trigger warnings before reading this. The book was comprised of two parts: before and after (the passing of McCurdy’s mother). She tells the story of her past, her childhood, her relationship with her mother and family in great detail. McCurdy gave us a glimpse of her unhealthy relationship with her mother, how her life plan were based on what her mother wants herself to be. We can see how McCurdy is slowly, painstakingly develop bad habits and “succumb” into the trauma she experiences as a child actor. She also discusses how Nickelodeon executives treat the actors, giving them alcohol and stuff. McCurdy tells us about her personal relationship and how her pas affect her interpersonal relationship. All in all it was very sad to read, but I think Jennette shows potential as a writer, her writing is very easy to read. Also, on a technical note, I love that she uses short chapters in her memoir. 

I give I’m Glad 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow. If you have a complex relationship with your parents this is for you. 

Addison Miller

I can't say I've cried, but it really devastated me. I don't resonate with the narcissistic mother but I did with the childish one.

It's hard to feel like you're not your age, like you're your mom's age. And that she's yours.

I can't say I've cried, but it really devastated me. I don't resonate with the narcissistic mother but I did with the childish one.

It's hard to feel like you're not your age, like you're your mom's age. And that she's yours.

super interesting, not my favorite writing

wow. i just don't have any words. Jennette deserves all the love. 

sani

brooklyn leota

I audiobooked it and it’s made me want to listen to more memoirs read by the author. 

This was heartbreaking to listen to her struggles from a VERY young age to see the progress she has made now. Before reading I thought the title was questionable, but hilarious, it felt risky. After about 5 minutes of listening, I’m also glad she died. It’s an amazing yet terrible insight to the truths of child actors. I’m glad Jennette is better today than she was only a few years ago.

An overview of Jeanette’s life that was interesting to hear. This book challenged who I thought she was an actor and person, changing my perception when faced with the reality of her childhood and early adulthood. The recounts of her life when dealing with an abusive parent were relatable and familiar. Some parts of the story were simplistic and repetitive but addiction can be a cycle so I understand. My preference is for the audiobook version which I believe does a better job at having the humorous portions came across more naturally. 

Turia L. M.

Marz 

I think there are many reviews talking about the content of this book. I too find myself reflecting on my childhood years watching Jennette on-screen as Sam knowing now how difficult that time was for her. 

However I want to instead praise the writing in this book. This memoir has the perfect amount of humour in it, it deals with such heavy topics so brilliantly. It shares so much insight into her mind, her thought process in her different stages of life. 

I too am glad Jennette McCurdy's mom died.

ebrar

az çok yaşadıklarını bildiğim için kitabın daha kasvetli bir havasının olacağını düşünmüştüm ama pek çok bölümde heyacan ve merak duydum. yazım tarzını, kitabın kurgusunu bu sebeple beğendim. sam karakterini çocukken çok severdim, yazarın o dönem bunca zorluk yaşadığını öğrenmek üzücü oldu. umarım şu anda her anlamda daha iyi bir hayat sürüyordur.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

Reviews

Highlights