I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
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.
My Review minus spoilers but if I let a few slip, I’m sorry.🫶🏻 This book is my second favorite book I read in 2022. I read along & listened to the Audible. Highly recommend if you can, listen to Jennette read in her own words. It’s truly a powerful, emotional, roller coaster, of a memoir. I cannot imagine all this young Woman went though. It was a lot. I hope by writing her Memoir in her own words, it has provided her in many ways of healing. I Field that she was completely honest in her feelings about her upbringing, her career, and the struggles that she went through. As a saying goes you never really know what a person goes through you just assume sometimes we’re all guilty of that. I hope in this next stage and or phase of her life, she can find the serenity and peace that she’s so rightfully and just fully deserves. This was a very well written memoir and I know people have talked about the title of her memoir but personally for me, I think it fits perfectly. Sometimes you have to look beyond the title and look at the story and her story definitely tells a lot. I wish you nothing but the best and that she continues on a healthy and happy mindset in a healthy and happy path with her life.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read for me. I truly recommend reading this book and definitely listening to the audio version whether it’s through Audible, or through your local library streaming if they are able to get that service. Hearing her tell her story will definitely stick with you. I cannot again express how many times I cried along when she spoke. I see this being one of the best books of 2022.
