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dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Listen: I am so sorry for the low rating. This book caught me in a weak moment and I stupidly didn't read any reviews and thought to be starting some type of dark comedy memoir. The story was heavy, sad and the humour bone dry. All in all a very brave book that shows the dark side of child actors (yet again) and eating disorders.
It's great work it just didn't "resonate" with me. 🙏
It's great work it just didn't "resonate" with me. 🙏
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Sexual harassment
emotional
funny
fast-paced
I loved this book. Difficult subject, sure, but the retelling was so expertly done. I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is one of the most emotionally raw, funny and insightful pieces of media out there.
Jennette McCurdy is an absolute inspiration to all those out there who struggle with relationships of all kinds - parental, romantic, platonic, and relationships with food, fame and God.
Jennette McCurdy is an absolute inspiration to all those out there who struggle with relationships of all kinds - parental, romantic, platonic, and relationships with food, fame and God.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
When I was a child watching children’s sitcoms I was so deeply jealous, I wanted to be them. Jenette McCurdy does a brilliant job of de-mystifying and de-romanticising the children’s entertainment industry. And then there’s her relationship with her mother, of course I felt sorry for her but I also felt angry for her, I felt violated when she did, I felt stuck when she did. I didn’t think it would be this raw… this personal, but she poured everything into this memoir. I did think the book took on a self-pitying tone towards the middle but I understand she was just being honest, and I think those parts made me uncomfortable because, like I said, they made me feel like I was stuck and struggling with her, which is only more of a testament to Jenette’s talent as a writer. Her book was extremely thought provoking, gritty and vulnerable, it felt like an epic where she triumphed in the end . Jennette has so much potential as a writer, I’m glad she’s fulfilling this dream like she’s always wanted.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Vomit, Alcohol
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content, Blood
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This book was raw and honest. Jeanette McCurdy really took a look inside and worked through all of the muck she found in there. It really cracks into the love we feel for our mothers and how that can cloud how we see them. It was equal parts heartwarming and heart wrenching. Particularly when she gave us an insight into her grandmother, and allowed us to understand her mother a little better. I applaud Jeanette for her honesty not just with us but with herself. It's so difficult to tear down your understanding of something or someone and really see it for what it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Child abuse
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Dysphoria
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Vomit
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
I’m Glad My Mom Died is an ACCOUNT. I truly felt like I was standing witness to two very interesting people. Jennette McCurdy makes me ask many questions throughout this book while giving us serious context so much so I had to make notes throughout reading so italics you see will be from there.
Her mom
The death grippingly consistent nature of a narcissist is almost fucking enviable. Bitch you’re on your last leg asking to go to Wendy’s because you want pity. You got one foot in the grave cuh and you talm bout fat in whoppers.
Jennette pointed out that her mom almost died plenty of times and never told her about her biological dad. Also she made her call her own dad by his name. Until she died. Wtf. She yelled at her and called her names over a paparazzi photo and said she’d steal her fans. This has always been about Debra living vicariously through Jennette but I wonder if she thought she’d somehow become a star along the way. I’d say she reminds me of those parents that record their kids getting disciplined or when under severe distress, but that’s exactly what she did. If Debra cared about her daughter it wasn’t in any way that was actually beneficial to her. Like ok Debra.. you have cancer and you don’t want your daughter to have it. But instead of dealing with it in the best way for your kid, you choose something unnecessary and cruel. I loved when Jennette was talking to her ED therapist, Laura, bro Laura was clocking it. I admire how they know what questions to ask cuz Laura was clocking it… she seen this stuff before obviously. So lets segue into…
Jennette
“How does calorie restriction help you?”
That moment you’re talking it out and you realize how blind you’ve been. That you cosigned ur own mistreatment… That moment you’re saying it out loud and you realize how blind you’ve been. That you cosigned your own mistreatment because you didn’t know there was better.
It’s a testament to how badly Jennette was conditioned and not at all her character when she chooses not to stand up for herself. Plus her mom had cancer so… literally the best get out of jail free cards. Being young and impressionable and told you’re your mom’s best friend, treated like the favorite, and all these tactics made it so she couldn’t see it even past growing up. That conditioning along with the anorexia and forcing malnutrition so that she wouldn’t outgrow you. That shit is CRAZYY. And Jennette does not know herself. The honesty in this book is harrowing because nobody likes to admit to being a pushover or a doormat. I was like “ GIRL WTF DONT LET HER MOVE IN.” When the book started I knew about the things that she described. Studying her mom, walking on tightropes, OCD, and coping thru dependency on something. In her outline for her autobiography she only needs two words to structure it. Before & After. The pure culmination of this book and her life so far is the death of her mom. Because the damage was done. Her trash relationships, her people pleaserism, her life consuming ED, and bro. I remember in one of the chapters her grandad just says to her, “You should just be a kid.” And lil jean cries.
At the end of the book, her grief is like an onion. Mourning her youth, her mom, and her concept that her mom wanted what was best for her. All these things must’ve felt so heavy, and as uncomfortable as it is to admit… alot of us are gonna feel relief when our parents die. Jennette’s had to die so Jennette could live. Ending line is so baller. Reading tales of abuse, recovery, self discovery I feel is so important. She held these things so tightly to her chest and now they’re out. I want to think of her as she actually is which is bitter, petty, and self advocating as fuck. Maybe she’s had enough mothering in her lifetime, but I hope she has someone who can hold her tight and protect her and if that person is herself well that’s FUCKING AWESOME!
If this book resonated with you watch The Program (documentary about troubled teen industry) on Netflix. There’s this quote they mention.
Some songs to listen to to help you process are
- lose you to love me
- motion sickness
- parents noah fince cover
- encanto soundtrack
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Vomit
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Eating disorder
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Vomit