I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy * * * *

I'm Glad My Mom Died is a memoir by Jennette McCurdy, written in her own voice and from her own experience. As a child, Jennette wanted to be a writer, not an actor. The book’s provocative title sets the tone, and while it may sound shocking at first, by the end I understood her, and was also glad her mother died.

Many describe this as a book about the dark side of childhood stardom, but they are only partially right. This is more a story about abuse and enmeshment—about a mother so entangled with her child’s identity that there is no space left for that child to grow, express herself, or even exist as a separate person. It should be required reading in psychology courses as a modern case study of dysfunctional family dynamics.

While the book covers disturbing aspects of the entertainment industry, Jennette herself recognises that being a child actor doesn’t have to be inherently damaging. During the filming of Sam & Cat, she briefly becomes friends with Ariana Grande, and the stark contrast between their parental support systems is telling. Ariana is loved, protected, and free. Jennette’s mother, on the other hand, both pushed her into acting and failed to shield her from its harms. Though, had she had a healthy, supportive parent, Jennette likely would never have become an actress in the first place.

Although Jennette's family is Mormon, religion plays a relatively minor role in the story. Unlike another memoir I’ve read recently, her family’s faith isn’t deeply devout or central to her experience.

Importantly, the story doesn’t end with her mother’s death. That’s just the beginning of a long, uneven road to recovery. Some moments were truly shocking. Also the People she met along the way were sometimes despicable, and once I even found it funny, because it came out of so left field, her misfortune was getting ridiculous. I am glad that by the time she wrote this memoir, Jennette was in a better place. I sincerely hope that continues.

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Jennette herself. Oddly, her delivery was quite flat and monotone in many places, which is surprising for a professional actress. It matched the stark, unflinching tone of the writing, but I sometimes wondered if it was a form of emotionally distancing herself from the trauma she was recounting.

Overall, this is a compelling, weighty read. As a mother myself, it served as a stark reminder of the immense responsibility we have to protect and respect our children’s individuality. You come away from the book rooting for Jennette, and really want to see her build a life for herself. Finally.