Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - I'm Glad My Mom Died

I read I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy via audiobook, which is a big deal for me because I’ve never before read a book in this format. I usually find audiobooks impossible to pay attention to due to my auditory processing issues, but this one worked for four reasons.

1. It’s narrated in first person, which makes it feel like someone telling a story

2. It’s narrated by the author, which gives it an aura of authenticity

3. The author is a former actor, so she communicates the emotions/voices well

4. It’s a powerfully written book—very accessible and engaging, with short chapters

There’s not much I can say about this book that hasn’t already been said. It’s fantastic. Not only is the story emotionally devastating, but it’s supremely well-written. McCurdy seems to have a strong instinct for storytelling and weaving together vignettes to get her message across. It’s clear that she has done a lot of internal work to be able to get to a point where she can write about her early life from a point of clarity.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like I’m Glad My Mom Died if . . .

· You are in a good space mentally to handle the triggering descriptions of abuse and eating disorders

· You are looking for an honest, focused, well-written, and emotionally devastating memoir (with a touch of humor added in every now and then)

You might not like I’m Glad My Mom Died if . . .

· You are expecting a traditional celebrity memoir

· You are reading it to learn about the behind-the-scenes details about iCarly

A Point of Comparison:

How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair (2023). Similar to I’m Glad My Mom Died, it follows the author from childhood through young adulthood, focusing on the abuse they suffered under the care of a narcissistically physically and emotionally abusive parent. Both memoirs also meditate on the pressures put on their authors as they were forced to perform at a high level at a young age, as well as the refuge writing can provide. Unlike I’m Glad My Mom Died, Sinclair’s writing is quite poetic and flowery and centers around the abuse suffered under her Rastafarian father.

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capp518's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.5

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lucylou's review against another edition

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fast-paced

5.0

HIGHLY recommend getting the audiobook read by Jennette! The last 20 chapters (“after”) were my favorite, and I wish that there had been more time spent on her recovery and how she came to terms with her mental illness and eating disorder, and her relationship to her mother and family.

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nikmahie's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

This book can be extremely triggering for those struggling with eating disorders. And sometimes it made me feel a bit awkward, as it was written very explicitly.

However, this book is important. Not only for the writer, but for everyone. It shows how someone in the spotlight can be struggling really badly, without anyone noticing and/or taking action to help. It’s horrible what happened to Jennette, and I wish someone was there in her childhood that would have saved her from that turmoil and pain. It’s amazing to see though how she’s handled herself and her recovery, how she’s been able to choose herself and her own (mental) health. What a strong and amazing woman.

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