Plot:

A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.

Jennette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jennette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what Mom called “calorie restriction,” eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while Mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay? You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers?” She was even showered by Mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, email, and all her income.

In I’m Glad My Mom Died, Jennette recounts all this in unflinching detail—just as she chronicles what happens when the dream finally comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called iCarly, she is thrust into fame. Though Mom is ecstatic, emailing fan club moderators and getting on a first-name basis with the paparazzi (“Hi Gale!”), Jennette is riddled with anxiety, shame, and self-loathing, which manifest into eating disorders, addiction, and a series of unhealthy relationships. These issues only get worse when, soon after taking the lead in the iCarly spinoff Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande, her mother dies of cancer. Finally, after discovering therapy and quitting acting, Jennette embarks on recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.

Told with refreshing candor and dark humor, I’m Glad My Mom Died is an inspiring story of resilience, independence, and the joy of shampooing your own hair.

Review:

I got to know Jennette McCurdy who I have known as ‘Sam’ from iCarly. There is always more than what the surface shows.

Some quotes that stood out to me include ehen Jennette openly discusses her hatred at the time towards Ariana as she was very successful: “I can’t help it. I’m constantly in the same environment as her and she doesn’t exactly try to hide her successes.
At first, I managed my jealousy well.”

Jennette views, well her mum’s views which is 100% agreeable: “Men, they’ll hurt you without ever really knowing you… But women, will know you deeply intimately, and then hurt you.”

“At the beginning of the decade, the people I was close to seemed like friends for life…but life happens…change and growth happen at different paces for different people.

All of these quotes are little glimpses into this novel and the story of how Jennette is here where she is today and how it all began.
Her mother had some wisdom as we can see in the above. However her mum should have treated her daughter and other children and husband/ ‘father of the children’ a lot better.

Jennette has been underrated and should have been given more leading roles during her time.

One of the elements I really enjoyed was during each stage of her life throughout this novel. She words her thoughts and mindset at those particular moments in her life. She captured her thoughts at each stage perfectly as she comes to realise, grow and develop as a person.
During particular times in her life we see the scenes she wants you to see and shows you what it was like for her at those points.

This novel comes across as a very honestly thought out novel with her thoughts.
It should go without saying this novel should have a warning for triggers involving food/eating disorders, and child abuse.

I feel McCurdy portrays this perfectly. I really did enjoy getting to know her honestly.

4/5 Stars