I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy [Book Review]

After a few months of hearing about how much people really loved this book, I decided I needed to dive in. At first, I wasn’t sure whether I should get the audiobook or the physical book. Sometimes really heavy topics are harder for me to listen to, but because Jennette is the narrator for the book, I decided to go with the audiobook and I’m glad I did.

As a kid, I definitely watched iCarly and even spent time on their website writing in fan mail and whatever other activities existed on the website. I had a crush on Freddy and liked the cheesy, lighthearted humor. With all of this in mind, I can still definitely see why Jennette felt embarrassed about the show and even hated being recognized for it.

I relate to this book in numerous ways and I think if I had not already been to counseling myself, I probably would have struggled to get through it. But instead of breaking down my own issues, I chose to focus on her story and not apply myself to it. In the end, I felt proud of Jennette for finding her way through impossible situations and I admire her resilience.

The title of the book is somewhat divisive and I definitely wasn’t sold on reading another bitter memoir. However, I’m Glad My Mom Died turned out to be anything but bitter. She recounts the abuse she suffered with a healthy dose of humor and her voice is what makes the story tolerable. I was rooting for her the whole time.

You should be aware of the trigger warnings in this book before you begin. If you aren’t sure whether this book is for you, I suggest watching her interview with Drew Barrymore because it is ultimately what made me download the book and start listening.

I’m Glad My Mom Died

Title: I’m Glad My Mom Died

Author: Jennette McCurdy

Description: (From Goodreads)

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by 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.

Conclusion

This is a really great book and Jennette really pours her heart into the audiobook narration. I wish the best for her and I hope that you, readers, will enjoy it too.