A review by mmarlborough
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

5⭐️ alert!!! I have never read a more raw celebrity memoir (the only comparable one was “Will” by Will Smith, but McCurdy’s blows it out of the water.) This will stay with me for a long time. 

Jennette was pushed into the spotlight by her mother at a young age, struggling in Hollywood until her big break in Nickelodeon’s iCarly. This newfound fame coupled with her toxic mother cause Jennette to spiral with an eating disorder and crippling anxiety. She’s so close to her mother and is too young to see the problematic relationship that is ruining her life. It’s not until Jennette begins therapy that she can begin to heal and see her mother for the narcissistic she is. 

While there are some funny moments, this memoir is heartbreaking through and through. I’ve never understood the mindset of someone with an eating disorder before this book. Working on Broadway, I’ve known many stage parents and see the pressure of staying small to maintain their roles. This book illuminates so many problems in the entertainment industry. McCurdy is so honest about her mental state and straightforward yet impactful with her writing, I can’t believe this is her debut.

✨Trigger Warnings: Eating Disorder, Child Abuse, Death of a Parent, Cancer, Alcoholism, Mental Illness, Sexual Assault, Adult/Minor Relationship, Fatphobia