I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is an autobiography about the famous actor of Sam from iCarly and Sam&Cat, Jennette McCurdy. What immediately hooked me is the title of the book, as I’m sure not many people can empathize with the sentiment it conveys. But, once I started reading it, I was shocked to see how her life truly was behind the screens. 

Synopsis:

Jennette’s mom’s dream was to become an actor. Ever since Jennette was born, her mother pushed the ideals of what a “perfect woman” is supposed to look like, teaching her how to diet, do her hair, and act. Then, once she became about eight years old, she got pushed into the acting world. From there, her mother’s emotional abuse got worse, turning into an extremely unhealthy relationship that ruined her social life and her mental health. But, besides that, this autobiography also tells of Jennette’s life growing up as an actor, and how hard it became for her to make friends and lead a normal life. The book gives us an insight into the struggles of her life, and how she became who she is now.

Review:

Jennette’s writing style is what makes this book so amazing. She changes the style of her writing as the timeline progresses to show how her thought processes changed as she grew, and also how we see her mother’s influence become evil throughout the years. The pacing of the book can feel a little strange at times, sometimes jumping multiple years between chapters. But, I feel that it adds to the story, and helps you see how Jennette views her life in chunks divided by major events, all surrounding her mother’s actions. It’s difficult to find anything I dislike in this autobiography, and I love how Jennette fearlessly calls out so many issues she encountered, from the toxic Hollywood culture to societal pressures on women. She is a wonderful storyteller and the book hooks you from the start.

Overall, I feel that this autobiography does a wonderful job at talking about important issues that many young girls face in our society today. I’d recommend it to any teen girl who has ever felt insecure about the way she looks as a way to feel that you are not alone in your feelings. 

This book is definitely a 📚📚📚📚📚 — a wonderful and true story of the life of a girl in our world today!! (5/5)

Love, Bruna

GFB Ambassador