Read this if you like: Gut wrenching stories, child star stories

Major triggers**

First of all, I screamed when I got approved for this. This was absolutely one of my most anticipated reads. I loved iCarly. I didn't watch Sam and Cat because I was at that point out of the age for it so I just didn't watch the channel.

This is a heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by about her struggles as a former child actor that include eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother. She wasn't able to full recover until her mom died.

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 was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

The dryness of how this was written was not lost on me. It was perfect. I love how the story is told and the pace from age to age. She tells us about her auditions along with the horrible things her mom said and did to her. Her experiences on Nickelodeon are shocking. This is raw, real, and you should absolutely pick this up on the 9th! Highly recommend this book!

Thank you for NetGalley, the author, and Simon and Schuster for the gifted book! ❤️

Surprisingly good! I’m not sure what I was expecting but it wasn’t a well written, well thought out book. The stories were at times entertaining and at times heartbreaking.

It feels weird to say I *enjoyed* this book, since it describes some really horrible experiences in the author's life. But I found it engaging and thought McCurdy's voice came through very clearly. It was fascinating to read about what she has gone through and how she has overcome it.

Celebrity memoirs can be hit or miss, so I didn't go into this with very high expectations; however, Jennette McCurdy blew me away with this one! I ended up reading this in just a few hours because I was so captivated by both her story and her writing. I've always liked Jennette McCurdy as an actress but didn't know much about her as a person. After reading I'm Glad My Mom Died, I have a new appreciation for her and am truly in awe of her strength and resilience.

tw: cancer, bulimia, anorexia, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, hoarding, alcoholism

this was fantastic. heart wrenching and hard hitting, accessible but difficult to read.

if you've somewhat kept up with jennette mccurdy and you're around my age (early 20s) then you're probably aware of her story. you were probably young and watching icarly and then consequently grew up into someone who realized how destructive the entertainment industry is on children. jennette was failed as a child, but it's more nuanced than that.

i'm grateful that she is telling her story and i'm glad she's doing better now. i hope writing this book was therapeutic for her.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing my review copy

I was such a fan of iCarly as a teenager, and Jennette was really the break out star of the show (sorry, Miranda.) When the reboot happened, I was sad to see her not return…until I read this book. Jennette details her struggles with eating disorders in a very raw, very real way that hits you deep. She doesn’t hold back, going into detail of the actions she took to get skinny under the watchful eye of her mom. Speaking of, this title might be jarring for some, but this is a bold and abrasive look into how a parent and their expectations of their children can shape who they become as adults. Jennette was forced into acting as a way to lay the bills for her family, and despite wanting to quit, continued to do so to not disappoint her mother. There’s many scenes that are uncomfortable to read-her mother showering her well into her teens-but are necessary to see why Jennette has chosen to not continue acting. Her time on “iCarly” and “Sam and Cat” are discussed, and it’s jarring to read the things she was going through while we were falling in love with her, this book is the testament of “dont judge a book by its cover” and makes you stop and think about reality Vs perception when it comes to celebrities.

Jennette McCurdy has written one of the best celebrity memoirs I've ever read - but I also think that giving it that name feels a bit reductive and simplistic for a story that's so heartbreaking, complex, and honest. I highly, highly recommend this book for a variety of reasons, but primarily for an amazing example of how you can feel unimaginably broken and irreparably messed up, but you can still overcome. Although this healing is a lifelong journey, Jennette truly did the work to start living the life she deserves.

I loved watching iCarly as a kid, and you would never know about the horrific abuse Jennette endured to get her there. From the beginning of the book, Jennette does an excellent job of capturing herself as a child and returning to how she saw the world at that time, when she was vulnerable, impressionable, and wanted nothing more than to make her mother happy. Her narrative techniques in harnessing this childlike voice and simultaneously painting her mother as a villain (rightfully so) create such a strong reaction in you as a reader - you immediately see how wrong everything is and are angry at not only Jennette's mom, but everyone around her for not stopping this - but you can also empathize with young Jennette, who had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Things absolutely escalate from there. Jennette goes into excruciating detail about her mom's mental, physical, and emotional abuse, her own eating disorders, mental health issues, destructive habits, substance abuse problems, and so much more. The only thing I wish got a bit more attention was how Jennette went from idolizing her mom and seeing her as a figure who could do no wrong, especially after her death, to realizing that her mom was an abusive narcissist who forced Jennette into a life she never wanted. In the book, she describes how a therapist started hinting at this, but then Jennette abruptly stopped seeing that therapist. A few chapters later, it's like a switch flipped and she made all these realizations. I'm fascinated by that process of getting from A to B.

This is extremely hard to read at points, and she does not shy away from any of the uncomfortable, ugly, horrifying parts of her childhood and young adulthood - and I will forever admire her courage in not only writing about this, but doing the difficult work of trying to heal herself: going to therapy, reassessing her relationship with her mother, and rebuilding her own foundation. From her own description, this is one of the hardest things a person can go through.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC via Netgalley.

Former child star, Jennette McCurdy recounts her life with her abusive mother and her journey being forced into acting at the age of 6. This book was not easy to read, multiple times I would reach the end of the chapter and have to set it down and take a walk to let my emotions settle. Jennette's writing is amazing, she captures the age and feelings so perfectly it's hard not to feel like you're right in the room with her, the weight of the world on her shoulders.

*arc provided by netgalley & publisher*

this book was phenomenal. i have so much love & admiration in my heart for jennette. I know I’m going to have a hard time writing a review for this book because it was truly so shocking and emotional.

i know readers are excited for this book, because most of us know jennette from our youth & watching her acting career. but jennette is so much more than just sam from icarly and she truly deserves so much love & respect.

the way this story is told is so unique, and I truly don’t think I’ve ever read memoir quite like this. i can’t tell you how many times I felt sick to my stomach. i sobbed at the end because of how happy I am for her, how she was able to grow and find her own sense of happiness.

jennette has her own narrating voice, and way of telling her story that makes it so personable and interesting. this isn’t a ‘spilling the tea’ type of memoir, this is her own story and I’m glad she found her own voice to tell it.

i feel like it’s so hard to write a review for this book because my heart is truly so full of emotions. i want to cry because of the ending and I want to cry because of what she went through. i hope that everyone preorders this book because really it is a story worth reading.

You needn't have been an iCarly fan to be moved, enraged, and oddly enough, entertained by this memoir by the actress who played Sam on the series. (For the record, I watched the show with my daughter when she was a preteen, so I have a soft spot for both the series and McCurdy, whose character was our favorite.) This isn't your typical "child actor makes good, goes bad, finds redemption" story. McCurdy's voice is so vivid, and her relationship with her narcissistic stage mother so fraught, that I actually gasped several times while racing through the book. At the same time, even though the realities of her life are far different from mine, there was so much I related to. I credit much of that to her writing skill and empathy. This is a fast read, but it will definitely stay with you. I hope she turns her talents to writing fiction; I'll definitely buy any novel she writes.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

There isn’t really much to dislike about this at all. The title itself is bold and I couldn’t help but be interested in the book despite the fact that I rarely, if ever, read a celebrity memoir that isn’t an audiobook.
I was hooked from the first page and much of this is absolutely great. As someone who doesn’t typically read this type of book, I had a wonderful time reading about someone I watched during my childhood. That isn’t to say that everything in this is happy sunshine and rainbows. I think it’s clear from the title that it isn’t going to be. Be sure to look up the trigger warnings as always, but I definitely think@this one is worth the read.

What a must-read. I loved Jennette's memoir, and despite its dark topics, it was so readable and captured me from the title.

I did spend a lot of time on IMDB and Wikipedia to see her roles in different projects, as I wasn't familiar with her work, but I wanted more about her life and hope she finds more ways to write and bring her voice forward.

The title of this memoir easily peaked my interest in reading. I had no prior knowledge of Jeannette as iCarly and her other shows are out of my time. Without knowing her, I still found this a fascinating read. Her path to stardom, her relationship with her family, her struggles, and her decision to walk away from her career were all very interesting and her style of writing kept me engaged. I think anyone who grew up watching McCurdy would especially enjoy this read.

4.5 stars // This is definitely one of the best celebrity memoirs I've ever read. Jennette's writing is compelling and the pace moves along quickly. I've seen some people write in their reviews that this was darkly humorous, but I wouldn't say that I noticed that.

This memoir really is a tell-all. Jennette writes about her acting career from start to finish, the mental/physical/emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, her disordered eating, friendships and animosity with her co-stars, and so much more.

Her story is tragic, but she tells it so well. I highly recommend.

From an emotionally abusive mother, to an eating disorder, to an unwanted acting career…this one is not at all an easy read. And I think that’s kind of the point.

Jeanette has a very interesting story that really leaves you wondering about all of your favorite actors that you grew up with/watching.

This one took me awhile to get through as it’s not an easy “binge” read. Her story is interesting. Her story is hers. I wish her the best.

Words cannot describe how great I think this memoir is. It was easily five stars. Jennette McCurdy discusses her childhood in such a raw and honest way. Instead of focusing on her life and career, it's mainly about the relationship between her and her mom and how much of an impact it has on her today. McCurdy's writing style is witty, honest, and blunt at times, but even with the complicated subject matter, I had a hard time putting the book now because it felt like talking to a friend. I've always liked McCurdy and how real she is about the industry's treatment of child stars, which carries over to how important this book is. I'll be interested to read anything McCurdy writes next because I love her writing style. Before reading, check the trigger warnings because she is candid about the trauma she experienced. Check out this book when it comes out on August 9th.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.

In this memoir, child actress Jennette McCurdy recalls her life, career, and relationship with her mother.

Hoo boy, did this book have me in tears. When I was a kid, I was the target demographic for iCarly and Sam & Cat. Sam Puckett was a household name, a familiar face, the hilarious tomboy with the butter sock that ended up being the butt of hundreds of jokes. When you're a kid, watching people on TV, even when they're at or around your age, you just assume they're in control. You figure they're rich and famous because they want to be, and when you're eating boxed macaroni while sitting on a towel on the floor in front of the television, you figure all of that adds up to them being infinitely happier than you'll ever be. You don't buy it when adults say money can't buy happiness, and besides even if it couldn't, anyone who's on screen in front of millions of kids every weeknight must really want to be there, right? You look at them and you see nothing but dreams coming true.

And then you become an adult, and you learn what the child stars you grew up watching went through, and you realize that no amount of fame or fortune exempts someone from abuse and tragedy. If anything, it makes those things more likely.

This was a really good book, inasmuch as reading about someone suffering for the better part of two decades can be "good." McCurdy has an ear for humor in even the darkest situation, and also writes with an unabashed honesty that is really compelling. As horrible as many of the things she went through were, I couldn't put the book down.

I don't know what else to say except that this is a phenomenal book about what it looks and feels like to lose yourself at the hands of someone else, and then yourself, and about the genuine, difficult work it takes to discover and become the person you want to be, and I absolutely loved it.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
4.5/5 stars
*I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Like many people in my generation, I grew up watching the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon sitcoms that ruled television in the 2000s and early 2010s. Out of all of these shows, my favorite was iCarly; I watched it religiously and referenced it constantly. When I found out that Jennette McCurdy was releasing a memoir (dealing heavily with her childhood as an actress and the ways it affected her), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I knew vaguely about the abuse she had suffered (moreso at the hands of the Nickelodeon team than the hands of her mother) and her decision to quit acting, but otherwise, I was going into this book completely blind.

I’m Glad My Mom Died is a book that I couldn’t put down. It is engaging and fast paced but by no means is it an easy read. It deals heavily with addiction, eating disorders, and parental abuse. It’s a book that doesn’t hold back, and it’s one of the most honest things I’ve read in some time. McCurdy will hit you with one of the most devastating paragraphs you’ve ever read, then end it with “the props department handed me my butter sock and I went to set”, which only makes it even more devastating. The entire book is written in present tense, and it often feels like we are living through these traumatizing scenarios with McCurdy.

Full disclosure: if you’re looking for a tell-all about the drama on the Nickelodeon sets, you’re not going to find it here. This is a book about McCurdy’s personal journey and focuses mainly on her relationship with her mother and how that affected her throughout her life. Her co-stars and her acting career are brought up only when they are relevant, but they are included; Ariana Grande’s name is brought up a few times, as is Miranda Cosgrove’s (and on a personal note, it made nine-year-old me very happy to learn that Cosgrove and McCurdy were best friends off-set and are still close to this day). Most interesting is the choice to not name drop Dan Schneider (created iCarly as well as several other Nickelodeon sitcoms), who is referred to solely as “The Creator”. This is a very effective way of portraying the godlike power he held at Nickelodeon at the time, as well as the way he struck fear in the hearts of those who worked with him.

This is a difficult book for me to review because of the nature of it being a celebrity memoir; the majority of the people who will read this book will be former fans of iCarly like myself. If you aren’t already a fan of McCurdy, or if you didn’t grow up watching her the way I did, I don’t know what I can say to convince you to read this book. What I will say is that calling I’m Glad My Mom Died just another celebrity memoir would be doing it a serious disservice. It is deeply vulnerable and oftentimes very upsetting, but it’s funny and inventive and wholly original.

There’s a heartbreaking passage in the book where McCurdy shows her mom a screenplay she had written and her mom responds by saying she should stop writing because “she doesn’t want her to love writing more than she loves acting”. I cannot express how glad I am that McCurdy decided to continue writing, and I wish her every happiness in her life moving forward.

I'm Glad My Mom Died is a ruminative look into abusive family dynamics, the pitfalls of child stardom, and how we cultivate relationships with body image. McCurdy wraps all of this up into a biting, funny, heartbreaking memoir. She unravels the persona we usually associate with her Nickelodeon days to show us the portrait of a strong young woman who has made something of herself despite years of abuse, whether it be at the hands of a family member or show producer. Her narrative capability is strong and clear, while her stories put you in the moment right there with her. This book will make you root for McCurdy and her future endeavors.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I am not the biggest memoir reader. I've probably read less than five in my entire thirty-two years and over 1,000 books (per Goodreads). This freaking title though....how can you resist?

Slight disclaimer - I knew who Jennette McCurdy was going into this, my little sisters used to watch iCarly, but I hadn't particularly followed her career. I probably will now though, because HOLY SHIT this woman writes a damn engaging story.

I really don't want to get too into the content because I think going into this as blind as possible is a good idea. I will say this book covers MANY dark topics, like eating disorders, mental/physical/emotional abuse, hoarding, codependent relationships, etc. If you're a reader that's sensitive to these themes.... then why are you picking up a book called "I'm Glad My Mom Died?" Lol sorry, I couldn't resist.

Anyway, since I don't want to dive too deep into the subject matter, here are some random thoughts:
- This chick is genuinely funny. She had me chuckling out loud at 3% with, "If there is one thing I could pinpoint as being directly in opposition to my soul, it's ruffles."
- The "Before" section, everything up to her mom's death, is told in past tense. The "After" section is told in present, and I thought the shift in tense was a solid technical choice.
- I think there are so many aspects to this book that will be so relatable to a lot of people, despite the fact that McCurdy has (obviously) lived a highly unusual life. For instance, I also have a grandmother who can be charitably described as "difficult."
- McCurdy clearly respects her readers because she doesn't try to interpret events for you; she just shows you what happened. And I do mean, "show," - McCurdy's writing is atmospheric and engaging, straightforward without sacrificing voice.
- Hollywood is a freaking nightmare, huh?
- That said, DO NOT go into this book expecting some sort of tell-all. It's not. McCurdy sticks to mentioning only situations and people as they relate to her life story, and she doesn't even name them all.
- Short chapters....we love to see it.
- This book doesn't seem to hold anything back. Again, I don't read a ton of memoirs so I'm not sure if they're all so upfront with highly personal events/actions/thoughts, but this one sure is. I'd definitely say McCurdy has big balls for being so open.
- A minor downside: sometimes, in dialogue-heavy moments, it isn't super clear who's saying what, though I was typically able to figure it out from context.
- Miranda Cosgrave (sp?) seems cool.
- There were a few grammar issues and typos, but I'm sure those will get corrected in the final copy.