New York Times bestseller · Family & Relationships · Biography & Autobiography
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2022320 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.3 (70)
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What is I'm Glad My Mom Died about?
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.
A glimpse inside
The Price of Child Stardom
McCurdy exposes the hidden costs of growing up in the entertainment industry, especially for children. She details how her mother's ambitions led to relentless pressure, unhealthy routines, and a loss of normal childhood experiences. The book reveals the emotional toll of being forced into the spotlight and how the pursuit of fame can mask deeper dysfunctions at home. McCurdy’s story challenges the glamorized image of child actors and invites readers to question the systems that enable such exploitation.
Parental Control and Emotional Abuse
At its core, the memoir is about the damaging effects of parental control and emotional manipulation. McCurdy’s mother micromanaged every aspect of her life—from her diet and appearance to her privacy and finances. The narrative unpacks how love and abuse can be intertwined, and how children can be conditioned to accept harmful behaviors as normal. By sharing her experience, McCurdy gives voice to those who have felt trapped by a parent’s expectations or guilt.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.3 / 5
70 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Price of Child Stardom
- 2Parental Control and Emotional Abuse
- 3Disordered Eating and Mental Health
- 4Grief, Guilt, and Ambivalence
- 5Reclaiming Identity and Agency
Popular quotes from I'm Glad My Mom Died
“I'm glad my mom died.”
“My mom emotionally, mentally, and physically abused me in ways that will forever impact me.”
“I’m finally free.”
Frequently asked
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