Jennette, if I could hug you, I would. You deserve the world. This broke my heart, repaired it. It reminded me of what living for a narcissistic was like. It healed wounds I forgot I had. I'd recommend it to anyone who knows Jennette's name so they can know the story too.

With a title as shocking as this one, it came as no surprise that Jennette McCurdy's memoir was bound to be a wild ride. I didn't expect, however, for this dark book to be laced with humor and humility, and I was not prepared to love Jennette McCurdy even more!

Growing up watching iCarly every chance I got, reruns and all, I assumed (like many other people) that the girl who plays Sam Puckett must be living the dream. She's beautiful, funny, rich- what else could she want? Reading this book and learning about the abuse she endured to get there and the abuse she endured even after her rise to fame was eye-opening to say the least.

"I'm Glad My Mom Died" follows Jennette's life, from her childhood days of trying to distract her mother with compliments in an effort to keep her from getting upset to her teenage years of learning to starve herself to keep her mother happy, and even through a bit of her adult life when she begins to understand the abusive relationship she had with her mother. This book delves deep into her family dynamic, her mother's undiagnosed narcissism, and her toxic eating disorder (taught to her by her mother).

Everything about this book is heartwrenching, especially when we are introduced to her at such a young age and watching her give absolutely everything she has to please her mother. From the outside looking in, readers are well aware that their relationship is toxic and abusive, which makes it all the more depressing to see young Jennette bend over backwards for her mom.

If you're hoping to read a book about Jennette's days as Sam Puckett, this isn't the book for you. Her time on iCarly is mentioned, as well as her fellow cast members, as it relates to her story of growing up. If you're on the fence about it, pick it up and give it a chance!

Jennette McCurdy has been through so much more than what we ever knew and is so deserving of a bright and happy future ahead. She's still working through her trauma, but hopefully this book sees her through the most painful parts of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

In I'm Glad My Mom Died, McCurdy describes the impact her mother had on her life and career. As a child and later as an adult, even after her mother's death, McCurdy has had to grapple with the abuse inflicted on her.

From the first page, McCurdy's voice demands the reader's attention. She doesn't sugar-coat her experience, but she also doesn't make her story so graphic or sorrowful considering the themes. Her humor is always on point, and it makes the read incredibly enjoyable. I read this on a flight, and could not put it down until I was finished - that's how good it was, and I credit that to McCurdy's writing ability.

I'll be honest, I didn't really know what to expect from this book going in; I wasn't aware of McCurdy's one-woman show of the same title, or of her podcast. The draw for me was the iCarly nostalgia of my tween years, and I have to say, after reading this book, I do feel a little guilty at how miserable McCurdy must have been making that show. Still, it's a fantastic read, and McCurdy's voice alone is worth picking this one up. I really hope she pursues other writing, because I'll be first in line to buy whatever she creates next.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

5 Stars

Let's start with a trigger warning list:
Abuse (Child, Physical, and Emotional), Manipulation, Anorexia, Bulimia, Eating disorders, Vomit, Mental Illness, Substance Abuse (drugs & alcohol), Death, Grief, Cancer, Undiagnosed Narcissism, Sexual Grooming

As dark and eye-opening as this book is, it is laced with comedic relief and knowledgeable awareness throughout. I grew up watching Jennette on iCarly—phased out around her Sam & Cat days, but I have followed her story personally since she left acting and was briefly aware of her childhood abuse. Reading this memoir has given me a newfound respect for this woman. Jennette deserves the world.

I'm Glad My Mom Died follows the in-depth and graphic life of Jennette from before the entertainment industry and after—all the way to the talks about writing this book. It delves into her family dynamic, her very toxic and abusive relationship with her mother, and every interaction behind the scenes of her struggle. Trying to please her mother and her work, using substances to stay numb, unhealthy routines, and almost never doing anything out of personal want for herself.

Everything is written in the present tense. It feels as though we are right there with Jennette at whatever age she was at that moment. This is incredibly well written and filled to the brim with nuance. As a reader, we really could see how much Jennette grew over the years. She was not well informed about adulthood, a late bloomer but only due to the suffocation and manipulation of her mother. I just kept thinking back to how when I was younger than she was, watching her on my tv screen knowing about things she never knew or experienced until much later in life.

Most of us know her as "Sam Puckett", the butter sock flinging witty wonder obsessed with food. Jennette was, however, obsessed with food in the opposite way. One of her biggest struggles was with food. Learning to count calories and undereat at a very young age which then turned to bulimia later in her young adult years. We take the journey with her in realizing how detrimental this was to her health and every mistake and heartache this caused.

This book is not about her days on Nickelodeon. And if that is something you are looking for, you won't find it here, this book is not that. iCarly, Sam & Cat, her co-stars, and others are mentioned when it is relevant to her struggles and dilemmas.

I am incredibly happy and proud of this woman. She is captivating, funny, and oh so deserving of a happy and painless life. This book is going to be one of my most recommended books.

Really enjoyed Jennette's story. She had a hard time growing up with her abusive mother and being put through the entertainment industry as a child. My favorite part of the book was the last half where she went and got help and worked through her childhood.

Just… wow. I almost don’t want to rate this book because I don’t want to feel as though I’m giving a rating to Jennette's life. This poor woman has gone through so much, and still turned out to be someone who seems to be very caring and loving towards others. It’s almost hard to believe all these horrible things could happen to the same person, but it always seems to be that bad things happen in droves and never seem to stop. This book covers disordered eating, emotional abuse, improper power dynamics, and the true strength it takes to seek help after years upon years of enduring all of these awful things. I just want to give her a hug, and I’m also so glad that she is now able to start living the life that SHE wants to live. (Also very glad to hear that Miranda Cosgrove was a nice person, I was worried to think otherwise.)

This was hard to read. I went into this book knowing next to nothing about iCarly, the author, and her upbringing. I cannot even imagine the amount of courage it has taken Jeanette McCurdy to face this trauma head on and come out of it with a sense of humor and then write a whole ass book about it. She's incredible.

But I had to take this a little bit at a time. It so intensely *too much.* The abuse, the disordered eating, the assault. Please take the time to look up the content warnings for this if you are in doubt. It is, however, truly a testament to the strength of McCurdy that this book is even here in ARC format for me to preview. It was a privilege to get to read what she felt comfortable sharing with us and I wish the best for her.

A celebrity memoir that will redefine the genre for modern figures, I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy transcends audience. I can't think of anyone that I would not recommend this book to. McCurdy tells the story of her childhood in a series of moving vignettes that slowly paint a picture of manipulation, abuse, and eventual understanding and recovery, creating an exceptional story ark that is compelling and emotionally gripping.

This is very good. McCurdy's writing voice is fantastic and I hope to see more books from her. This book is incredibly open about some very difficult topics and absolutely worth a read. I have never seen her in anything (as iCarly was definitely after my Disney-watching time) but still found this quite riveting.

I love this girl! I was a little too old to watch her shows at the time. I’m right before her in the Drake & Josh age group, but I was always aware of her and thought she was really goofy and funny so I was interested when I saw she was writing a book.

I had heard she had some issues with her family and other struggles but obviously not to this extent. My heart really goes out to her and I understand codependent relationships and what a double-edged sword that can be. When she said, “the fragility of [mom’s] life is the center of mine” I really felt that. I never would have thought to put that in words.

Anyway, she is so dark, funny, and quick-witted. I love that in a person. This book is so wild that it reads like fiction. I haven’t had as many evil laughs while reading nonfiction since Chelsea Handler’s books in the 00’s! I found myself bookmarking and highlighting every page. I had to tell myself to chill.

I respect the heck out of people who can turn lemons into lemonade and Jennette is so strong and smart. I can’t wait to see what this “stinker” does next.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review! I highly recommend.

With a title like that, the book is sure to pull you in.
Jennette so eloquently writes of all the struggles and abuse she endured throughout a career that hardly ever brought her any joy. The strength and resilience that she shows both in her life and in sharing her story is astonishing.

I watched iCarly, but by the time Sam and Cat was airing it was behind my age range, similar to Jennette herself like she mentions, but to know what she was dealing with behind the scenes while filming a funny show that so many kids enjoyed watching is just so heartbreaking.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died we get to see Jennette McCurdy heal from physical, emotional and mental abuse from her mom, her grandma, coworkers at Nickelodeon, men she dated, and the list goes on…
Then we get to watch her heal. She shares her therapy journey, personal journeys she had to go on, her decision to quit acting, relationship with her father, and so much more.
I’m in awe of her strength. I appreciate her sharing her story with people so they can see the other side of her. The side that wanted to be seen all along.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Jennette McCurdy for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.


*rated 5 stars because I will not diminish someone telling their own story, and I do think it’s very well written.

This was a hard read, and I couldn’t put it down.
Jennette puts the reader inside her head as a young girl given the responsibility of financially supporting her family and managing their wellbeing while enduring her mother’s emotional, mental, and physical abuse. She deals with OCD and multiple eating disorders and we hear about their untreated (and, in the case of her EDs, long encouraged) manifestations in excruciating detail.

It’s uncomfortable to hear her internal monologue as these horrific moments unfold. She was taught so many fucked up things about herself and others by her mother. Throughout it all, she keeps us firmly planted in the time period she’s describing. This is an effective tool for placing us in her shoes, but limits her ability to call out the harms of these situations until we reach her current experiences at the end of the book.

It’s emotional and impactful to hear how she had to truly face the effects of this trauma after her mom’s death. This is one of those books where you keep reading because you want to make sure she makes it out okay.

eARC from Simon & Schuster and NetGalley

TWs: graphic eating disorders (starvation, binging, and purging), cancer, dubiously consented sex, child abuse and domestic abuse (verbal, emotional, psychological, and sexual), depression, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, threats, bribery

I must admit that I went into this book with the elitist ideology that a homeschooled ex-child actor could never write a quality book.
I was wrong.
This book is raw. Disgustingly and horrifically honest, and I devoured it. McCurdy writes about the abuse she faced throughout her life, as well as the mental illness she struggles with, and she never hides anything. Plenty of memoirs try to victimize the author, but McCurdy tells the whole truth: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The only reason I took a star off this is because of a few lines (metaphors, mostly) that I found insensitive. Since this is an ARC review, I'm not going to quote them, but I hope they'll be taken out or adjusted for the final printing.

I have vague memories of my sister watching iCarly but I knew very little about Jeannette McCurdy until I read her memoir. All I can say is… wow. Her brutal honesty about hard truths is gut-wrenching while simultaneously refreshing. She’s not afraid to tell the truth about an abusive mother, alcoholism, bulemia. My heart ached to see her pushed into a career that she didn’t want and didn’t enjoy, even after seeing success. Her mother teaching/encouraging anorexia at age 11…. It’s literally heart breaking. I love that Jeannette is not afraid to tell the truth, but even more than that, I love how she recognized the areas where she wanted to change, and she went after that whole-heartedly.

Honestly, I think this is a must-read for all people, but especially young women and even more so for those who had a less-than-ideal upbringing.

Brilliantly done and I’m so glad I read it.

I am mostly a fiction gal, but this one intrigued me based on the usual pop-culture references. I loved this, it gave such an insight into child acting, bad parenting, and stage mom-ism. I, however, thought a lot of it was very obviously cut out. For example, I felt like there was a ton more to be said about The Creator, and it was so clearly left out. Overall, great memoir. Very relatable, and sad and hilarious at the same time.

I’m really heartbroken for her. Her mother was a terrible human stain of a human. There are no excuses. This poor woman was tortured as a girl in nearly every way.


I’m so sorry for Jeanette. I hope that she has more people show her grace soon - so that she may experience it and live in it, and learn to extend it to others (This doesn’t include her family..she should always get the eff away from them).

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this advanced copy!

Raw. Emotional. Funny. Shocking. Eye-Opening. Must Read. With this being a memoir, I do not feel a normal review is needed, as I implore you to read this book to get its full impact. I will say that I stayed up all night reading this book. The emotions I felt were tremendous. The bafflement that I did not know that all of this was happening to Jennette. I am extremely happy that she got to tell her story and wish for nothing but the best for the rest of her life journey. Highly highly recommend.

What a brave, funny, sad memoir this is. The author appears to hold nothing back in detailing her strange, abusive upbringing as a child actress, and then her struggles with eating disorders and alcohol as she navigates adolescence and young adulthood. This should serve as a cautionary tale for any parent entertaining the idea of getting their kid into show biz. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book for an exchange for an honest review.

I do not have the words to describe how amazing this memoir is, but I’m going to try.

Content Warnings:
If feels weird to put content warnings on someone’s life, but I also don’t want this book down rated because someone went in blind. This book does detail: eating disorders, addiction, terminal illness of a parent, OCD, sexual situations, emotional and verbal abuse of a parent, and childhood trauma.

I’m going to start this by saying, while I’m about a generation past what the target audience for iCarly was, I spent my teen years watching the show for its stupid humor and because I did love the cast, including Jennette McCurdy as Sam. I was bummed that I missed her one-woman show, but amazed and excited that she was releasing a book about her relationship with her mother.

McCurdy outlines her life as a child all the way to her late twenties, and opens her life to her eating disorders, OCD, her bitterness, and anger towards the life she’s been pushed into and all the while struggling with her love but her anger and resentment towards her mother. I honestly don’t know how to put into words how mind blowing-ly amazing and honest McCurdy is with her life.

To say this book is vulnerable is an understatement. I have never read a memoir that is as honest as I’m Glad My Mom Died. I put it up there with Augusten Burroughs’ Running with Scissors, in its insight to a sole person’s childhood, the pretty and the pretty ugly.

Things to expect:
- Don’t let the chapter count throw you off – this book is comprised of mini essays that all mesh into the same story. It’s very much like reading a diary of someone’s deepest darkest parts of their life and trusting you with that information.
- It’s a heavy read, while the book is tinged with a dark humor around Jennette McCurdy’s life and circumstances, there aren’t many light moments to this (there are a couple).

Overall: I highly recommend this book, this really blows a lot of memoirs out of the water and the only way to understand the how and why of it is to delve into it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Jennette McCurdy for an Advanced Readers copy of this book!

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and Jennette McCurdy for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Although the title might seem a bit shocking at first, I really don't blame Jennette at all based on her deeply personal account about the abuse she went through with her mother. As someone who watched iCarly when I was younger, I had no idea that Jennette was going through a lot of issues behind-the-scenes. If you have had experiences with narcissistic parents, you will relate deeply with this book. I certainly could not put it down. TW: child abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, eating disorders