I’m Glad My Mom Died

by Jennette McCurdy

4.7(74,627 ratings)

12 min read

Brief overview

This book takes you behind the scenes of a former child actress who navigates relentless pressure at home and on set. You’ll follow the author’s difficult relationship with her mother, her battles with an eating disorder, and her journey to break free from the emotional grip of her upbringing, ultimately finding a voice of her own.

Introduction

Growing up as a child star, the author quickly discovered that fame could feel like a double-edged sword. She navigated the bright lights of Hollywood while also feeling tethered to her mother’s overwhelming demands. The pressures of auditioning, dieting, and fulfilling family expectations planted early seeds of anxiety.

At the heart of everything was a deep desire to please her mom. She believed her mother was a hero for surviving cancer and providing everything, from guidance to home-bleached highlights. Yet beneath this loving image lay layers of manipulation, secrecy, and heartbreak that shaped her life and self-identity.

In these pages, we explore how the author’s childhood was spent on set and in tense travels between family conflict and Nickelodeon studios. This introduction sets the stage for a complex tale of a family under strain, a child desperate for approval, and an industry that profits from her innocence.

By the end of this journey, you’ll see how she learned to separate her true self from her mother’s wishes and began the painful yet uplifting process of recovery. Let’s begin.

Early Pressures and Pleasing Mom

From her earliest memories, the author recognized her position as the family’s breadwinner. Her mother encouraged her to act, convinced that stardom would offer a better life than the one she had. Auditions became second nature: from memorizing lines to perfecting crying on cue.

Behind the scenes, she saw how easily roles could slip away and how vital it was to please casting directors and, above all, her mom. If she resisted or expressed her own preferences, she felt her mother’s guilt-tripping stares bearing down on her. The family clung to every check that trickled in.

At home, the reality was stark: a cramped, hoarder-like house that brimmed with worry and tension. Bills piled up. Grandparents, siblings, and parents all seemed to scramble around each other. Amid the chaos, her mother’s controlling presence was a strange anchor—both comforting and suffocating.

Working hard and earning money for the entire household can shape children to believe love is tied to performance.

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What is I’m Glad My Mom Died about?

This memoir offers a candid window into the life of a child actress whose every move was shaped by her mother’s controlling presence. Between set calls and constant pressure to stay small, the author reveals how her identity was built on pleasing someone else. The result is a raw exploration of how family expectations intertwine with professional obligations, creating an environment where boundaries and self-expression are often lost.

At the heart of the narrative is a tense mother-daughter relationship that underscores the long-term impact of emotional abuse, guilt, and secrecy. It shows how struggles with disordered eating and anxiety can persist after childhood—and how true healing only begins when we examine the stories we’ve been forced to live by. Readers gain a powerful look at why telling your own truth is one of the most challenging yet liberating steps toward adulthood.

Review of I’m Glad My Mom Died

This book’s strongest quality is its fearless portrayal of childhood in the public eye and the hidden costs of maintaining an image. The author brings practical clarity to the themes of manipulation, food control, and mental burden, making the pages both relatable and eye-opening. Her writing style alternates between stark honesty and understated humor, creating an accessible approach to heavy topics.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book also provides tangible lessons on setting boundaries, confronting family secrets, and rebuilding independence. Though it’s a personal account, many will relate to the universal quest for acceptance and self-worth. In the end, this memoir stands out as a poignant guide for learning that the path to self-confidence often begins by breaking away from oppressive cycles. It’s well worth reading for anyone looking to understand both the glitz and the heartbreak behind the spotlight.

Who should read I’m Glad My Mom Died?

Mental health professionals seeking a close-up account of a disordered eating recovery and family dysfunction.
Former or aspiring child performers who want a realistic understanding of industry pressures.
Readers exploring healing from emotionally manipulative relationships in their own families.
Anyone who values personal memoirs that combine raw honesty with practical life lessons.

About the author

Jennette McCurdy is an American writer, filmmaker, former actress, and singer. She is best known for her breakthrough role as Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly (2007-2012), which earned her four Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. McCurdy has since transitioned to writing and directing, releasing her critically acclaimed memoir in 2022, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and stayed at the top for 43 consecutive weeks. She has also been honored as part of the 2022 TIME100 Next list.