I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

*minor spoilers ahead*

I’m Glad My Mom Died is a memoir written by Jennette McCurdy about her relationship with her mother throughout her childhood star years and the subsequent mental health issues she went through. Jennette experienced disorders and addiction worsened by her mother’s behaviours, which are all explained in the book.

I have been wanting to read this book ever since it was published and I’ve loved seeing how popular the book has grown. Inevitably, the title is jaw-dropping and catches people’s attention, sometimes causing a stir but it’s clear that it is a perfect title after finishing the book. One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was because I loved watching Jennette in iCarly when I was younger and was glad to see her success growing after getting a spin-off show in Sam & Cat with Ariana Grande. However, now after reading the book and understanding Jennette’s true experience, it’s sad to look back and think that Jennette was forced into acting as a result of her mother’s pressure.

It was really interesting to read how much of Jennette’s life revolved around making her mother proud, despite Jennette gradually realising the toxic mentality her mother imposed. I’m Glad My Mom Died is a hilarious but also heart-breaking read. Jennette’s writing is very raw and emotional as she is able to depict her family and work relationships very well. Jennette has a talent for explaining how love and relationships are complicated, and in the case of her mother, she will always have a love for her despite the permanent damage she caused.

Jennette’s great ability to story tell was also paired with short snappy chapters which kept the book at a solid pace. I did find the calorie counting and restriction sections quite difficult to read especially as her next big booking after these disorders began was iCarly, a show where she plays a young teenager who loves food. But as a result, the reader was able to understand Jennette a lot more. The eating disorder discussions were graphic and so this took some getting used to, but it’s fascinating to see how vulnerable Jennette must feel letting the public in on these experiences. Whilst many of the chapters were an uncomfortable read, you really do feel like you are experiencing the emotions in real-time with Jennette.

I liked the writing around the behind-the-scenes of iCarly, as it gave another insight into the reality of the show. It was interesting to read how co-stars Miranda Cosgrove and Nathan Kress all interacted with each other. This led to Jennette’s experience with ‘The Creator’ who is heavily implied to be Dan Schneider. Whilst he is never explicitly named, Schneider was the main producer on the show, and for other popular TV shows on Nickelodeon. Finding out that Nickelodeon also tried to pay Jennette off in order to keep her quiet was not a surprise but still disappointing to read.

I also found the conversations around Ariana Grande interesting during the time of their spin-off show. I appreciated how candid Jennette is with her jealousy towards Ariana and her success in the industry. It was captivating to read how every child actor seemed to have a different experience despite the conditions and pressure that united them together.

‘Ariana Grande is a burgeoning pop star who misses work regularly to go sing at award shows, record new songs, and so press for her upcoming album while I stay back and angrily hold down the fort.’

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I’m Glad My Mom Died ends with Jennette announcing that she is not participating in the iCarly reboot (which aired in 2021). I remember when this was all over social media but now reading the full extent of Jennette’s experiences on the show, I am glad she decided to step away. It symbolised how far she has come, withdrawing herself from acting which was always her mother’s dream and not her own.

This was a great book to start 2023 off with! Overall, the book was immersive and addictive to read and I will definitely be reading anything else that Jennette publishes. It is a hard book to read and not the kind of book you read for escapism. I do also wonder how other readers who are not familiar with Jennette would receive the book. A lot of my emotion and sympathy came from growing up watching Jennette on television and now understanding the consequences of her upbringing, resulting in the book really hitting deep. Jennette has been able to reveal the reality of the industry, especially for child actors and it is poignant that she is no longer acting. There are so many jaw-dropping moments, especially towards the end of the book, and so I would recommend this book to anyone.

5/5 stars