I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy will Blow your Mind!

There’s nothing quite as juicy as getting an inside scoop on one of your favorite celebrities, and when it is paired with a sense of nostalgia, well … all the better. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is a firsthand telling from one of the biggest names of Nickelodeon during the mid-2000s to around 2013, and boy will this book blow your mind!

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

Growing up, I was a fan of both iCarly and Sam & Cat, starring Jennette McCurdy. I loved Sam’s sarcasm, her stubbornness, her deadpan humor. So, it only made sense that I would want to read this memoir. And with a title like I’m Glad My Mom Died, how could I resist? Well, let me tell you, this is one of those books that makes TMZ’s juiciest exclusives look like a Sunday school lesson! Jennette McCurdy went all out in her memoir, left no stone unturned, and ultimately made me think about the 1976 TV mini-series, Sybil … I know others have drawn comparisons with Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s story, but my head just went back to Sybil’s mother, time and time again. We’re talking about the psychological abuse, spiritual abuse, even sexual abuse, all while maintaining it’s in Jennette’s best interest.

Spilling the Tea

The memoir starts off where McCurdy explains how she wanted to please her mother no matter what. At the age of six, she had already been manipulated to such an extent, that she would do anything to keep her mother alive (who had begun her battle again breast cancer by the time McCurdy was three years old), even going so far as to use her birthday wishes to keep her mom alive. So, McCurdy was convinced to go into acting, even though that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. Her mother proceeded to push her only daughter harder to get roles, to do everything in her ability to “see her succeed”, to bring in money … Then we get to how her mother taught her to count calories.

A downward spiral begins as McCurdy becomes very conscious about her food intake. It’s a heartbreaking, raw telling of how an indoctrinated young girl becomes anorexic, then bulimic, all to please her mother. A mother who sexually abused her own daughter by “checking for cancer”.

It’s almost every child star’s story, yet it’s very different.

Later on in the memoir, we see how Jennette became friends with iCarly co-star, Miranda Cosgrove, and the way she felt during her first on-screen kiss. Then, there’s some talking about “The Creator”, who continued to manipulate the young McCurdy and her co-stars into working harder by comparing the iCarly show with Victorious. Eventually, we get to the Sam & Cat show, which starred Ariana Grande. Now, I expected a bit more from the drama that developed there, but it was simply an honest retelling of how Jennette McCurdy felt toward her co-star and why they didn’t get along.

Leaves You With More Questions

In regards to “The Creator”, we are left with more questions than answers. Everyone who follows Nickelodeon and Disney news are aware of the allegations that are often made against those in power … in this case, everyone knows Dan Schneider was more than a bit iffy when it comes to the child stars. McCurdy says she was offered a hefty sum of hush money by Nickelodeon, which she turned down. I’m glad she did. However, did more happen than she revealed in this memoir? Other Nickelodeon stars have started talking, so we have to wait and see if another tell-all will come out.

In Conclusion

It’s always difficult reviewing a memoir, because essentially we’re only hearing one side of a story. In this case, the other major player cannot reply … Do I think everything in this book is real, though? In this case, yes. Jennette McCurdy sounds brutally honest in her account, and considering how other child stars have shared similar, albeit not identical tales, I believe her.

This is an emotional story, and readers should be aware that it’s not for the faint of heart. Things that are shared include: sexual abuse, psychological abuse, eating disorders, addiction, and more. That being said, there is a shining ray of hope at the end as Jennette McCurdy begins to heal after all the trauma she’s endured and one cannot help but hope she succeeds wherever her life’s path takes her next.

About Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy got her start in child acting, which by her late teen years had brought her success (she starred in Nickelodeon’s hit show iCarly and her own spin-off, Sam & Cat). She went on to star in the Netflix series Between, and had a short-lived country music career with Capitol Records Nashville. Despite her outside success, McCurdy felt ashamed of 90% of her resume and ultimately unfulfilled, so she turned to alcohol, but since that didn’t work, she quit acting and began pursuing writing/directing in 2017. She has written/directed a pilot and four short films. Her work has been featured in/on The Hollywood Reporter, Short of the Week, Florida Film Festival, Salute Your Shorts, and many more. She has written articles for Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Her one-woman show “I’m Glad My Mom Died” had a sold-out run at Lyric Hyperion Theatre. She hosts a podcast called “Empty Inside”, where she speaks with guests about uncomfortable topics.