I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy book cover
Memoir (child acting, family, eating disorders, grief)

I'm Glad My Mom Died

by Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy's memoir of a childhood spent auditioning for a controlling mother, a hit sitcom and the long road to recovery after her mother's death.

★★★★½ 4.5 / 5

A funny, fast and painful memoir with a strong voice. It is honest about how love and control can look alike inside a family, and short chapters keep it moving. It covers abuse by a parent, eating disorders, alcohol and grief, so check the content notes first. Four and a half out of five (draft).

I'm Glad My Mom Died: summary, review, book club guide and books like it

Every guide comes as a video and a full written article. Pick the one you need: the review is spoiler-free, the ending explained is not.

What is I'm Glad My Mom Died about?

I’m Glad My Mom Died is a memoir by Jennette McCurdy about growing up as a child actor in Garden Grove, California, her mother Debra, and the years after her mother’s death. The copyright page dates the first Simon and Schuster hardcover to August 2022 and says the names and identifying characteristics of some individuals have been changed. It has a prologue and 91 short chapters.

Below you’ll find a spoiler-free review, a full chapter-by-chapter summary, book club questions and books like it. Content note: the book covers abuse by a parent, eating disorders, alcohol use and grief. If you are struggling, please talk to a doctor or licensed professional; in the US you can call or text 988 in a crisis.

Read it if
  • You like honest memoirs with a dark sense of humor
  • You want to understand how a controlling parent shapes a child
  • You grew up with iCarly and want the story behind the fame
Skip it if
  • Eating disorder content is a trigger for you right now
  • You want a light celebrity memoir with behind-the-scenes gossip
  • Parental abuse is a hard line for you

I'm Glad My Mom Died review scorecard

Writing
5
Humor
4.5
Pacing
4.5
Impact
5
Accessibility
4
Average4.6 / 5

I'm Glad My Mom Died: questions people ask

Is I'm Glad My Mom Died worth reading?

A funny, fast and painful memoir with a strong voice. It is honest about how love and control can look alike inside a family, and short chapters keep it moving. It covers abuse by a parent, eating disorders, alcohol and grief, so check the content notes first. Four and a half out of five (draft). Read it if: you like honest memoirs with a dark sense of humor; you want to understand how a controlling parent shapes a child; you grew up with icarly and want the story behind the fame. Skip it if: eating disorder content is a trigger for you right now; you want a light celebrity memoir with behind-the-scenes gossip; parental abuse is a hard line for you. I'm Glad My Mom Died Review: Is It Worth Reading →

Is there a summary of I'm Glad My Mom Died?

I'm Glad My Mom Died summary by chapter: the ICU prologue, child acting, calorie restriction, iCarly, her mother's death and recovery. Full spoilers, with a content note. If you are struggling, talk to a doctor or licensed professional; in the US call or text 988 in a crisis. I'm Glad My Mom Died Summary: Chapter by Chapter →

What books are like I'm Glad My Mom Died?

Educated by Tara Westover, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, Wild Game by Adrienne Brodeur, Hunger by Roxane Gay, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb, Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Books Like I'm Glad My Mom Died →

What is I'm Glad My Mom Died about?

It is a memoir by Jennette McCurdy about growing up in Garden Grove, California, as a child actor pushed into the work by her mother, Debra, who was ill with cancer for much of it. It follows her from a first audition at six, through the show iCarly, to her mother's death and her own recovery in her twenties.

Is I'm Glad My Mom Died a true story?

Yes, it is a memoir, told in the first person from McCurdy's point of view. The copyright page says the names and identifying characteristics of some individuals have been changed.

Is I'm Glad My Mom Died worth reading?

Yes, if you want an honest, darkly funny memoir and you are in a steady place for the subject matter. We give it four and a half out of five. It covers abuse by a parent, eating disorders, alcohol and grief, so read the content notes first.

Why is the book called I'm Glad My Mom Died?

By our search, the title sentence does not appear in the ebook text. The book earns it across its chapters: McCurdy describes how her mother controlled her life and body, and in the last chapter says her mother abused her and that she also still misses her.

How long is I'm Glad My Mom Died?

It has a prologue and ninety one short chapters. By our count the main text is roughly 85,000 words, or about six hours of reading. The first Simon and Schuster hardcover is dated August 2022 on the copyright page.

Do I need to have watched iCarly to read it?

No. The show comes up often, but the book explains what you need, and its focus is McCurdy's relationship with her mother and her recovery, not the show.

Books mentioned in these videos

Educated
Tara Westover
Educated book · Educated audiobook
The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls
The Glass Castle book · The Glass Castle audiobook
Wild Game
Adrienne Brodeur
Wild Game book · Wild Game audiobook
Hunger
Roxane Gay
Hunger book · Hunger audiobook
Born a Crime
Trevor Noah
Born a Crime book · Born a Crime audiobook
Wintergirls
Laurie Halse Anderson
Wintergirls book · Wintergirls audiobook

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