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In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette McCurdy pulls zero punches. This is not a cozy celebrity memoir with amusing behind-the-scenes stories and a tidy redemption arc. It’s raw, uncomfortable, and often downright bleak. I went in expecting at least a few laughs, given the buzz and the cheeky title. Instead, I found myself wincing more than smiling.
McCurdy details her childhood as a working actor with devastating clarity—from obsessive weigh-ins and “calorie restriction” to a level of parental control that’s hard to fathom. Her rise to fame on iCarly and later Sam & Cat doesn’t bring freedom, only deeper anxiety, addiction, and disordered eating. The material can be crass at times, and it’s definitely not an easy read, but it never feels gratuitous.
What surprised me most was McCurdy’s compassion for her mother. Even when revealing shattering truths—about identity, manipulation, and loss—she writes with insight and restraint. I wasn’t familiar with her work beforehand, which may have shaped my reaction, but there’s no denying the impact.
This is a heartbreaking memoir of survival and self-reclamation. Not an enjoyable read—but a powerful and memorable one.