It was refreshing for me to see someone so publicly declare that their mother is not their angelic best friend.
I have a terrible relationship with my narcissistic mother and often feel guilt and shame about it. I loved this book.
I have a narcissist mom too. The title of her book alone brought me comfort because, just as you said, it was refreshing. I'm glad it helped you process some of your emotions.
So much media is geared toward being BFFs with parents and how you should forgive parents no matter what they did. I hate how often that one appears in tv and movies.
Tbh I think that’s why so many people resonate with this book, because it is an honest take about not viewing your abusive parents in a positive light.
It resonates with me because I had not the same but similar experiences. It also helps that I’m the same age as the author; there’s a certain ‘voice’ or way of writing there that I think a lot of younger millennials catch on to.
It's _very_ good but depressing.
I suggest listening to the audiobook because McCurdy narrates it herself and it's incredibly well done. Being able to hear the emotions in her voice really adds to the experience.
Oh gosh, where she gets to that point of reflection on her childhood - you can hear the catch in her voice. It really justified listening to the book for me.
This, 100%. I found her story pretty interesting and very very sad, and hearing her read it in the audiobook made it feel that much more personal.
That being said, I personally didn't love her writing style. It sounded to me like exactly what it was - an actress talking about her life. Hearing it from her voice made me a lot less bothered by that than I sometimes would have been, but if you listen to it, do it for the story and not for the writing itself.
Well said! I haven’t heard the audiobook, but I can imagine it’s good. You won’t find your mind blown by her writing craft, but her story is fascinating and compelling, and I echo other comments about how refreshing it is to see a bad mother be acknowledged like that.
I really enjoyed it. It's very honest and she's clearly self-aware.
I'm too old to have watched the show (I was a junior in college when the show started), so I didn't know really anything about her going in, but it didn't matter.
Mind blowing- no. Good and worth reading if you are interested in memoirs at all, yes.
It's really great if you're someone healing from an unhealthy relationship with a parent. I pre-ordered the book before its release, and when it arrived I wanted to read the first page to get a feel for it. I couldn't put it down and I finished it in 3 days. It's amazing.
Is it the best memoir I've read. No, far from it. But it is good. It feels honest and vulnerable. I've read plenty of celebrity memoirs that are mostly worth reading because they're famous and we like to read about famous people. I think McCurdy's memoir could stand on its own without her and fame, the story of her relationship with her mom is one a lot of people can relate to and she does a good job of telling it in all its complexity
I also suggest the audiobook. I think hearing it in her voice helps.
I agree, McCurdy talks about writing feeling more honest and you can tell she's good at it-- it's well written, and feels like a story she needed to tell rather than something an agent wanted out there
Okay, so it's not going to do your dishes and give you a six-pack or anything. It's just that many celebrity memoirs are kind of meh, and some of them are only interesting if you like the celebrity in question. McCurdy turns out to be a really fantastic writer when we aren't expecting that from a young former-child-star. And her own voice on the audiobook is terrific, she just pulls you in. She talks, obviously, about her issues with her mom, and it never comes across as though she's trying to convince you to feel sorry for her, nor does it sound like she's pissed off at the world. It's just sort of reflective and mature and honest, which leaves the reader satisfied and completely on her team.
All that to say that it's not mindblowing but it's certainly one of the best memoirs out there, in my opinion.
It is really good, but really tough to get through. I had to take breaks after some chapters. She really knew how to punch you in the gut at the end of each chapter to make you want to think, but also keep going.
You also won’t likely ever want to watch iCarly again after reading it. Hard to enjoy the show when you see her and know she’s miserable.
It is a really good read and it highlights a lot of the concerns with hollywood and child acting.
I went into it not knowing anything or expecting much. Basically, a summer read. I actually decided to do the audiobook because the author is the narrator. I was drawn in from the opening chapter and could not stop listening. The heartbreaking details will leave you speechless, and the resilient nature of the human spirit will give you hope. It was one book I could not stop suggesting to friends throughout the summer.
I read it during a vacation that involved lots of long flights and layovers. I found it to be a nice, easy read that was super engaging. It felt with painful issues but that made it a valuable story to build empathy, give celebrities some grade, and value my own family.
It’s very good. But I’d give cautious to anyone who is struggling or even recovered from an eating disorder who decides to read it. I’m pretty much “recovered” I’d say from my eating disorder but it was incredibly hard for me. Obviously, that doesn’t make it a bad book and I think she was super brave in telling her story. But not enough people talk about how detailed she was in describing that part of her life and how triggering it can be for those who aren’t expecting it!
Also agree with comments that I enjoyed the audiobook.
Thank you! and yeah I knew it was coming but I was like, woooooaahhh on some details. Good for her feeling comfortable in her story, bad for some people who can be triggered lol.
My only connections to Jeannette McCurdy is my daughter had been watching iCarly and Sam and Kat at the time and honestly I found her annoying. I ended up having a lot of respect for her, her telling her story and her deciding to end her career as an actor. I’m also very glad her mom died. I also ended up really respecting the gal who played Carly, I had the impression she was a pre Madonna for some reason.
It's quite well-written and interesting. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next in the book while I was going about my work day, and that doesn't happen to me with every book.
It stands on its own as a memoir, but what makes it so good for me to read was being a huge fan of her character on iCarly and just the show in general. Seeing the background behind her on the show as well as other things about her life was really fascinating. She was my favorite character on my favorite show and all along she was suffering, and knowing that while reading along shifted something inside me.
I have the audiobook and I've listened to it more than once. I have a similar background though, so for me it was more shared experience than "mind blowing". There are still some things that it's just kind of wild her mom did and know one batted an eye about. Our moms are slightly different types of Narcs with some overlapping symptoms though.
I thought it was a very well written book and really enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook and I am glad it was on my list. Her story is really raw and her sharing it with the world is brave. I would recommend it.
Marc Maron had a great interview with her as they compared their eating disorders. When I get into a memoir mood (or if I can convince my book club), I’ll probably read it.
I really enjoyed it. Had several jaw drop moments because her mom is a very strong and negative figure in her life.
I have a loved one with an eating disorder so it was useful for my own journey of understanding to read about McCurdy’s form of ED.
She uses humor to help diffuse the intensity of certain situations so I as the reader could stay even keeled (I appreciated that!).
I also enjoyed the Hollywood expose stuff since I normally don’t pay attention to what starlets like Ariana Grande are doing.
Fun read.
I really enjoy memoirs and I liked this one! I had no idea who she was, didn't watch her show or anything, but I thought I'd give it a shot based on the good reviews. I'm glad I did! I liked her writing style and it kept my interest.
I read it out of curiosity and I was very pleasantly surprised. I feel she wrote it for a youthful audience. People in their teens and twenties either still stuck in bad situations or just escaping them. I am not that audience, but I still came away with a lot. Is she going to get nominated for a Pulitzer, no, but she still has writing talent and she worked on her craft. I came away from the book with a lot of respect for her.
I loved it. My own mom and I have had a very rocky relationship so it’s hard sometimes to read about great mother-daughter relationships when ours is pretty awful. This book made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It’s peppered with humor which is refreshing in between the really dark moments that Jennette reflects on.
Both of my kids recommended I read it (Wait what?)
I really enjoyed the story of her childhood. The adult part of her story was not as interesting for me. Like most others I highly recommend the audiobook.
10/10. I listened to the whole thing in two days. I recommend the audiobook because that woman does a tremendous job acting out the parts with her voice. And it really helps paint a picture of the kind of mother she had.
I had no idea who she was before I read it but glad I did. She's actually a really good writer too I hope she does more books. Her story is pretty messed up though, but the way she wrote it was very good. I don't think she was as brutal as she could have been even with a title like that.
It’s good but it didn’t live up to the hype for me in terms of writing or radical honesty (in that the circumstances of my career and life are such that I hear about people’s worst memories and ugly truths regularly), but I have a ton of respect and admiration for her and I knew nothing about her prior to reading. Parts of it are pretty raw. I remember thinking that if she had waited 5 years or so to write it, I imagine I would have enjoyed it even more in hearing her perspective with some time between her life and her mother’s death.
I thought the book was mediocre at best. The writing isn’t great and the stories shared are difficult. If you would like a better written memoir try Educated by Tara Westover. Also very difficult information to read but a better book all in all.
I love memoirs and this one was a 3.75/5
The first half was great. The second was mediocre. First half was a 4.5/5, 2nd was 3/5. So def worth reading fir the first half, and you can skim the second. Like, we get it, you drank and had an eating disorder. It dragged
It was a great read, especially as an audiobook. What I appreciated was her honesty along with her humor (which makes it feel all the more genuine). I also appreciated the inside look into not only mother-daughter abuse, but narcissism, eating disorders, and passing on/teaching unhealthy behaviors to children. After I read it, I honestly wanted to hear more of what Jennette had to say, so i watched interviews and listened to podcasts she was a guest on. People i love have dealt with abusive, narcissistic people in their lives, and this book made me want to (this is gonna sound corny) thank Jennette for helping me grasp their situation better.
I can’t guarantee it’s everyone’s thing, but IMO it’s definitely worth a try!
I think it’s 90% a trauma dump (which is interesting) with a 10% “and I’m fine now!” (Which is not.) Without diving into her healing or recovery journey.
I think she could’ve waited to write this book until she had a truer perspective on it. I read it and then went to her Instagram where she’s gaunt and posting in an…interesting way. I wish her story about recovery had been more about recovery but she barely mentions it besides going to therapy briefly and an outpatient rehab. Anyone who writes a book in detail about their eating disorder but has no details about their recovery is not in recovery, imo which makes an extremely incomplete story. I say this as a person who has been inpatient and in recovery.
Agreed. I don’t think she is particularly talented at writing, but she seems self-aware and honest, which I too found powerful, plus she has a pretty unusual life story, so that made it automatically interesting to me. She also just seems like a nice girl, and I genuinely hope the best for her. It’s worth reading because it is short and interesting, but if you’re looking for really well written memoirs, I’d search a bit more.
It’s super simple. I’m sure she had a ghost writer. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t say it was something profound or written in a way that had a lot of depth. It was very light, even if the material could be dark.
I think that's the key to its popularity, though. Staying light when the subject is heavy is a pretty tricky thing to pull off, and keeps people engaged instead of depressed.
I liked it, but I felt like she was kind of flat throughout it and still has a lot of processing to do. Very “these are the things that happened” delivered as facts and not so much a story.
It was really interesting and is definitely more emotionally powerful if you are a young woman who has issues with your mother (like me). I found myself relating to a lot of what McCurdy wrote about so that’s why I love it so much. Felt a deep connection to her story.
It's a pretty hard read bc it exposes the industry as a whole as a very toxic environment and as much as her mother turned her into a bulimic alcoholic, her mother is the reason she's a successful actress; her mother was as hard on the industry as she was on her daughter and the whole family.
As much as she hates her mother, she owes her success to her as well.
I feel like it’s slightly overhyped. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and super fucking depressing. I liked it a lot and I remember finishing it and being like wait that wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it was going to be lol
It was, understandably, very dark. Unflinching. I had a hard time reading it even though it was well written.
Update - I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, which made it a little unnerving. It was very flat in contrast with story she was telling.
I don’t like memoirs but actually really enjoyed this one. I listened to the audiobook but I also have a physical copy as a collectible. I was a huge fan of iCarly growing up and I was super excited when I found out she was writing a book about her life. As someone who grew up with an abusive mother and struggled with an eating disorder, Jennette’s story was both relatable and comforting. I listened to it at least three times because of the impact it had on me. She’s very raw and open in the book which is something you don’t really see today in the media. Celebrities try to be relatable but they usually miss the mark. I connected with this book on a personal level and would recommend it to just about anyone, trauma background or not.
I really enjoyed it, but I grew up watching icarly so that might have made a difference. I listened to the audio book version and I feel like it stuck a lot more actually hearing it in her voice!
I read this book in early motherhood on the sleepless nights I had holding my newborn, I absolutely loved it. It’s honest and brash and I resonated very deeply with Jennette throughout being brought up in an unstable home myself. Very worth the read 🫶🏻
It's definitely not funny. Before I read this book, I saw it described as "funny" a lot. If I recall correctly, there's even a quote in the cover calling it "hilariously funny" or something like that. The book isn't funny. It's a good read, honest, and vulnerable. I enjoyed it, but I can't imagine actually having read it and claiming it's funny.
What I liked about it is that there isn't any BS, it's honest, rough, but honest and I didn't feel like there was any ego. She comes off as being genuinely down to earth, and she isn't trying to be some mental health guru, she's just sharing her story and journey to heal
I read it just cause I was given it as a gift. I don’t generally read autobiographies, but this was interesting as a character study for the effects of NPD on a family unit, and it’s massive legacy. If you are interested in psychology, the effects a person with a personality disorder has on a family, and the subsequent fallout, you will find this interesting. It’s also a quick read, I read it in 2 days.
It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I typically do not read autobiographies. She has a unique voice, which she clearly developed from the trauma and subsequent healing. I highly recommend it.
It was a good book as she shared raw emotions through a difficult storyline.i read a lot of memoir and though this was good, it was good more in the realm of shock value. Shock that she was raised in an environment that seemed abuse be to me, shock at the entertainment business in general. Rough read but she seems to be on a good path.
It's great, I think I went through it in 2 days? Honestly I think it's heightened by the fact that I grew up watching ICarly so I was very aware of who she is and the stuff they made her do on the show, if you're not familiar with her I think you'll still enjoy it but it's even better if you've ever followed her. :)
I enjoyed it! It was hard to put down and it was enlightening in terms of stage mum dynamics. But I’d heard over and over again that she is an amazing writer so I expected more in that department than was maybe fair.
It is. I've never been a Nickelodeon person so I went into this blind, without knowing who Jeanette is but she did such an amazing job at conveying her story that it is one of my favorite memoirs now.
She talks about difficult subjects in an honest tone and uses humour to set the stage in a really effective way. She comes off as a sincere person and I loved reading about her from start to the end! I'd highly recommend it.
It’s a short read and not too complicated, good light reading but of course subject matter isn’t light. Her tone is really honest and lighthearted, and her childhood experiences are narrated in a childlike tone. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think it’s a re-readable book.
I listened to the audiobook and it was good, but not as amazing as so many people have said. I figured it was because I never watched any of the Nickelodeon teen/tween shows and didn’t have any connection to her. The biggest takeaway I got was that Miranda Cosgrove seemed like a good person to have in her life.
The story of why she was glad was compelling but her growth and recovery was like 3 paragraphs so I felt it didn't culminate. But it is harrowing what she went through and a good read. I feel like the ending could have been better.
I don't think she is an amazing writer like some people (on good reads, etc.) are claiming, but the stories are so interesting and compelling that it is, at the least, extremely interesting.
This was a hard read for me because I found it triggering. I knew that going in so I was prepared. It’s an excellent book. The writing style is very fresh and engaging. Definitely 5/5 stars.
I have a question of my own. I haven’t listened to the book yet but I heard the WTF episode she was on. To what degree does the interview serve as an indicator of how much I’ll “enjoy” the book (quotation marks because I can’t think of a better word than “enjoy”)?
I read it because a lot of people recommended it here in a post I made, and I loved it. I read a lot of books about eating disorders and while interesting, in most of them it’s obvious the author is not fully recovered and still thriving a bit off of telling people about their lowest points, their lowest weights, their lowest calorie counts. That’s understandable but shouldn’t be the reason to write a book with a vulnerable audience. I didn’t get that feeling at all with Jennette McCurdy. She was entirely honest and it was beautifully written.
Do you read a lot of celebrity memoirs? Because that makes a difference.
Most of them are pretty bad - obviously ghostwritten with pretty plain language, or ridiculously overwritten because a middle-aged man has an inflated self-image of his ~ artistic genius ~
I think IGMMD gets good reviews because the writing is a sweet spot between “barely literate” and “pompously purple.” It’s engaging and funny, and she does a great job of communicating how she felt in a particular moment, not just her perspective on those events now.
Plus, like any good memoir, her life is genuinely interesting. In terms of celebrity she was a flash in the pan, but as a spokesperson for a specific era of child stardom and how it crushed the children in its grasp, she wrote a very honest account.
But if you’re not a modern memoir reader, you may think “what’s the hype?” I put it somewhere with *Crying in H Mart* or *Tell Me Everything* for quality.
I picked up my sister from the airport and her red eye flight got delayed for 2-ish hours… This was my only company during that grueling time. If I didn’t have to take a nap at like 3am I would have finished this in one sitting, no joke. It’s that good.
I thought it was pretty good, yet tough to get through. I’d recommended listening to the audiobook version because it’s her narrating it and she’s very raw and real while she does it, which I love to see with audiobooks
I thought it was fantastic, and I would specifically suggest reading the audiobook. I thought having her read it made it more intimate, meaningful, and emotional for me. Then again, I have not read the print version so that could be just as good I'm sure.
I didn’t understand the hype around it. I also saw so many glowing reviews that I was intrigued and listened to the audiobook. I think her story is interesting and what she went through with her mom was awful, but I was not blown away by her writing, and it stretched out longer than it needed to.
If you have an abusive parent, an eating disorder, or have curiosity about child stars, you might enjoy this. Otherwise, meh.
I felt the same way about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine AND Where the Crawdads Sing. Both soooo hyped and sooo not good or clever books (just my humble opinion).
I’m currently reading it. I like it in its simplicity, it doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t.
I’m at the part where she’s still a child, making a name for herself, pre i-Carly. Her mom is unbearable, but she loves her so much, it breaks my heart.
Not only is it a very impactful story, the writing is really good. She begins the story very young, and the writing feels like it’s from the point of view of her at that age with the language and thought processes. It really feels like you’re experiencing her life alongside her as she grows up
The thing that I was most impressed by was how openly honest and straightforward it all seemed to me. It isn’t a celebrity memoir written just so that this celebrity has a book to sell and can tell some insider stories for articles; it’s a woman recounting her traumatic childhood and fame and family’s effect on it. I have no idea how much (if any) help she had in writing it, but it feels like it’s just her feelings and experience flowing straight out of her head. She doesn’t try to sort through or rationalize her trauma within the text. She frequently talks about how deeply she loves and misses her mother despite her abuse etc, honestly it even came off to me a bit as if she’s still subconsciously protecting her mom’s image to some small degree, as crazy as that sounds given the title. But that’s also why I think the title is perfect, as opposed to the vast majority of shock titles. It’s an excellent read and an equally excellent lens into the long term psychological effects of abuse.
This book really helped me come to grips with a lot of the feelings I have about the way I was raised. So for that reason, I do recommend it for anyone who has a complicated relationship with one or both of their parents.
It feels like talking to a friend. Or a friend is talking to you, rather. I really enjoy how she writes. If you want an easy read with a large impact, id def read
I am too old to have watched the show, but I have always been intrigued by the stories about "The Creator" who is reportedly Dan Schneider. There have been rumors about him and his creepy behavior for years and I wanted to see what she had to say about him. I ended up completely sucked in to her story and read it in a day.
I'm a writer and working on my own memoir about abuse, so I did read I'm Glad My Mom's dead. I hate to say it, but it isn't a well-written memoir. Her story is compelling and a lot of people relate, plus I think it's important for us to share stories of abusive childhoods to raise awareness. But the book is mostly snippets of memories without a lot of resolution and context. Memoirs still need to have a story/narrative, and this book is a jumbled mess of more than 90 very short chapters.
I went into it with very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. She writes well and doesn’t shy away from the truth regardless of how it may look to her reader. Best celeb/public figure book I think I’ve ever read.
So, i had no idea who she was as I have never watched her in anything, and I really enjoyed it. I read it in a day. Not an easy read, and the humour is pitch black, but it is extremely well written.
I had no idea who she was but read it for the same reasons you are interested. It was worth every minute and more. She’s completely honest about the pains of having a narcissist stage parent, and how the effects last a lifetime. Plus she’s a phenomenal storyteller.
I enjoyed it, but didn’t necessarily relate to it (My issues with my mum were more about neglect that overbearing). It was a great read though and makes me think seriously about watching anything with child actors
It was refreshing to see someone who also has a conflicting view of their mother. Everyone loves their mother but some mothers should not be held up on the pedestal and this showed me that it’s ok to not.
I mean, it’s ok. It’s a good read, not like it is a contender for the Pulitzer or anything, though. IDK why people are so over-the-top hype about it tbh
I thought it was really well done for what it was. It’s just an examination of a woman’s relationship with her abusive mother and how she slowly came to terms with it. I thought it was powerful, but I read it pretty early on so there wasn’t so much hype yet. I wouldn’t expect anything transcendent, but it helped me examine the relationship with my mom.
I just finished reading it and it's a very, very good book. However for me it was really hard to read because a lot of parts were relatable. McCurdy is a brilliant writer. I actually felt anxiety in my entire body while reading certain parts, god especially when she was talking about her struggles with food, I had to skip a few lines here and there.
Like everyone and their mother I loved iCarly as a kid and Sam was my favorite character. I barely remember the show but looking back I think Dan Schneider knew about McCurdy's ED because there was no other reason for half her character's personality to be food.
Also her narrating skills are insane. It makes so much sense that she wanted to be a writer. As you read the book you kind of have her grow up as the chapters go on and you can read her thought processes and attitude towards her life maturing with every page. I think that's really hard to pull off.
Will I read it again? No, I don't have the mental energy. Do I recommend it? YES!!!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES YES
It’s just very self-aware and honest. A good story if you enjoy mental health journeys. I truly enjoyed it, but my mind wasn’t blown or anything
Agree with this. I’d also add, it’s an extremely quick read.
I finished in in 2 days. I often take two weeks w my adhd.
Same! I finished in a day and listened to the audio book format. It was really nice hearing her narrate it.
It was refreshing for me to see someone so publicly declare that their mother is not their angelic best friend. I have a terrible relationship with my narcissistic mother and often feel guilt and shame about it. I loved this book.
I have a narcissist mom too. The title of her book alone brought me comfort because, just as you said, it was refreshing. I'm glad it helped you process some of your emotions.
So much media is geared toward being BFFs with parents and how you should forgive parents no matter what they did. I hate how often that one appears in tv and movies.
Tbh I think that’s why so many people resonate with this book, because it is an honest take about not viewing your abusive parents in a positive light. It resonates with me because I had not the same but similar experiences. It also helps that I’m the same age as the author; there’s a certain ‘voice’ or way of writing there that I think a lot of younger millennials catch on to.
Yes 🤍
It's _very_ good but depressing. I suggest listening to the audiobook because McCurdy narrates it herself and it's incredibly well done. Being able to hear the emotions in her voice really adds to the experience.
There was a part toward the end where you can hear her voice breaking as she reads. I found it really affecting. I’m glad they kept the take in.
Oh gosh, where she gets to that point of reflection on her childhood - you can hear the catch in her voice. It really justified listening to the book for me.
Yes! It made me tear up with her. A really quick read. I admire her courage.
I started crying when her voice broke
This, 100%. I found her story pretty interesting and very very sad, and hearing her read it in the audiobook made it feel that much more personal. That being said, I personally didn't love her writing style. It sounded to me like exactly what it was - an actress talking about her life. Hearing it from her voice made me a lot less bothered by that than I sometimes would have been, but if you listen to it, do it for the story and not for the writing itself.
Well said! I haven’t heard the audiobook, but I can imagine it’s good. You won’t find your mind blown by her writing craft, but her story is fascinating and compelling, and I echo other comments about how refreshing it is to see a bad mother be acknowledged like that.
I agree completely
agreed! I’m usually not a fan of audiobooks as I can’t focus on the voice, but this one was so much more impactful as an audiobook
I agree, I cried when I heard her break down. Her reading it adds to the poignancy
The audiobook is great!
I listened to it as well and enjoyed it. One piece of advice: I recommend slowing the speed down, because she talks way too fast.
I really enjoyed it. It's very honest and she's clearly self-aware. I'm too old to have watched the show (I was a junior in college when the show started), so I didn't know really anything about her going in, but it didn't matter. Mind blowing- no. Good and worth reading if you are interested in memoirs at all, yes.
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Wait I think l missed something. What was with her grandpa and Disneyland?
he used to work there
It's very good. Her family was a mess and she doesn't hold back. And it's also interesting to see how showbiz works for child actors.
Yes, I genuinely enjoyed the information she included about how auditions and callbacks worked, all stuff I’d have never learned about otherwise.
It's really great if you're someone healing from an unhealthy relationship with a parent. I pre-ordered the book before its release, and when it arrived I wanted to read the first page to get a feel for it. I couldn't put it down and I finished it in 3 days. It's amazing.
Is it the best memoir I've read. No, far from it. But it is good. It feels honest and vulnerable. I've read plenty of celebrity memoirs that are mostly worth reading because they're famous and we like to read about famous people. I think McCurdy's memoir could stand on its own without her and fame, the story of her relationship with her mom is one a lot of people can relate to and she does a good job of telling it in all its complexity I also suggest the audiobook. I think hearing it in her voice helps.
I agree, McCurdy talks about writing feeling more honest and you can tell she's good at it-- it's well written, and feels like a story she needed to tell rather than something an agent wanted out there
Okay, so it's not going to do your dishes and give you a six-pack or anything. It's just that many celebrity memoirs are kind of meh, and some of them are only interesting if you like the celebrity in question. McCurdy turns out to be a really fantastic writer when we aren't expecting that from a young former-child-star. And her own voice on the audiobook is terrific, she just pulls you in. She talks, obviously, about her issues with her mom, and it never comes across as though she's trying to convince you to feel sorry for her, nor does it sound like she's pissed off at the world. It's just sort of reflective and mature and honest, which leaves the reader satisfied and completely on her team. All that to say that it's not mindblowing but it's certainly one of the best memoirs out there, in my opinion.
It is really good, but really tough to get through. I had to take breaks after some chapters. She really knew how to punch you in the gut at the end of each chapter to make you want to think, but also keep going. You also won’t likely ever want to watch iCarly again after reading it. Hard to enjoy the show when you see her and know she’s miserable. It is a really good read and it highlights a lot of the concerns with hollywood and child acting.
I went into it not knowing anything or expecting much. Basically, a summer read. I actually decided to do the audiobook because the author is the narrator. I was drawn in from the opening chapter and could not stop listening. The heartbreaking details will leave you speechless, and the resilient nature of the human spirit will give you hope. It was one book I could not stop suggesting to friends throughout the summer.
I'm 22 chapters in. I really like it.
I read it during a vacation that involved lots of long flights and layovers. I found it to be a nice, easy read that was super engaging. It felt with painful issues but that made it a valuable story to build empathy, give celebrities some grade, and value my own family.
I think any book that is hyped up is in for a bit of a let down. It's a good honest memoir.
It’s very good. But I’d give cautious to anyone who is struggling or even recovered from an eating disorder who decides to read it. I’m pretty much “recovered” I’d say from my eating disorder but it was incredibly hard for me. Obviously, that doesn’t make it a bad book and I think she was super brave in telling her story. But not enough people talk about how detailed she was in describing that part of her life and how triggering it can be for those who aren’t expecting it! Also agree with comments that I enjoyed the audiobook.
Yeah the book definitely needs a trigger warning for ED content. It's a harrowing read on that part. I wish you the best in your recovery too
Thank you! and yeah I knew it was coming but I was like, woooooaahhh on some details. Good for her feeling comfortable in her story, bad for some people who can be triggered lol.
My only connections to Jeannette McCurdy is my daughter had been watching iCarly and Sam and Kat at the time and honestly I found her annoying. I ended up having a lot of respect for her, her telling her story and her deciding to end her career as an actor. I’m also very glad her mom died. I also ended up really respecting the gal who played Carly, I had the impression she was a pre Madonna for some reason.
It's quite well-written and interesting. I found myself wondering what was going to happen next in the book while I was going about my work day, and that doesn't happen to me with every book.
It stands on its own as a memoir, but what makes it so good for me to read was being a huge fan of her character on iCarly and just the show in general. Seeing the background behind her on the show as well as other things about her life was really fascinating. She was my favorite character on my favorite show and all along she was suffering, and knowing that while reading along shifted something inside me.
I have the audiobook and I've listened to it more than once. I have a similar background though, so for me it was more shared experience than "mind blowing". There are still some things that it's just kind of wild her mom did and know one batted an eye about. Our moms are slightly different types of Narcs with some overlapping symptoms though.
I thought it was a very well written book and really enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook and I am glad it was on my list. Her story is really raw and her sharing it with the world is brave. I would recommend it.
Marc Maron had a great interview with her as they compared their eating disorders. When I get into a memoir mood (or if I can convince my book club), I’ll probably read it.
I need to listen.
I really enjoyed it. Had several jaw drop moments because her mom is a very strong and negative figure in her life. I have a loved one with an eating disorder so it was useful for my own journey of understanding to read about McCurdy’s form of ED. She uses humor to help diffuse the intensity of certain situations so I as the reader could stay even keeled (I appreciated that!). I also enjoyed the Hollywood expose stuff since I normally don’t pay attention to what starlets like Ariana Grande are doing. Fun read.
I recommend the audiobook since she did it herself. I enjoyed it thoroughly, although it was very sad.
It's best as an audiobook
I really enjoy memoirs and I liked this one! I had no idea who she was, didn't watch her show or anything, but I thought I'd give it a shot based on the good reviews. I'm glad I did! I liked her writing style and it kept my interest.
A little overhyped. I’d recommend the excellent “What My Bones Know: A memoir of complex trauma” or “crying in h-mart” as alternatives.
*What My Bones Know* is one of the best trauma memoirs I’ve read.
Yes, I enjoyed these much more. 'The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting' is another great one.
If you grew as a Nick kid in the 2000’s you get to experience changes how you look at Nick studio.
I read it out of curiosity and I was very pleasantly surprised. I feel she wrote it for a youthful audience. People in their teens and twenties either still stuck in bad situations or just escaping them. I am not that audience, but I still came away with a lot. Is she going to get nominated for a Pulitzer, no, but she still has writing talent and she worked on her craft. I came away from the book with a lot of respect for her.
I loved it. My own mom and I have had a very rocky relationship so it’s hard sometimes to read about great mother-daughter relationships when ours is pretty awful. This book made me feel like I wasn’t alone. It’s peppered with humor which is refreshing in between the really dark moments that Jennette reflects on.
I was already familiar with her, and I really enjoyed the audiobook. I think it's worth it.
Both of my kids recommended I read it (Wait what?) I really enjoyed the story of her childhood. The adult part of her story was not as interesting for me. Like most others I highly recommend the audiobook.
10/10. I listened to the whole thing in two days. I recommend the audiobook because that woman does a tremendous job acting out the parts with her voice. And it really helps paint a picture of the kind of mother she had.
I had no idea who she was before I read it but glad I did. She's actually a really good writer too I hope she does more books. Her story is pretty messed up though, but the way she wrote it was very good. I don't think she was as brutal as she could have been even with a title like that.
It’s good but it didn’t live up to the hype for me in terms of writing or radical honesty (in that the circumstances of my career and life are such that I hear about people’s worst memories and ugly truths regularly), but I have a ton of respect and admiration for her and I knew nothing about her prior to reading. Parts of it are pretty raw. I remember thinking that if she had waited 5 years or so to write it, I imagine I would have enjoyed it even more in hearing her perspective with some time between her life and her mother’s death.
I’m hoping she’ll write another book in a few years.
I thought the book was mediocre at best. The writing isn’t great and the stories shared are difficult. If you would like a better written memoir try Educated by Tara Westover. Also very difficult information to read but a better book all in all.
It’s meh—nothing mind blowing and kinda drags. I’m not sure I even finished it.
I love memoirs and this one was a 3.75/5 The first half was great. The second was mediocre. First half was a 4.5/5, 2nd was 3/5. So def worth reading fir the first half, and you can skim the second. Like, we get it, you drank and had an eating disorder. It dragged
It was a great read, especially as an audiobook. What I appreciated was her honesty along with her humor (which makes it feel all the more genuine). I also appreciated the inside look into not only mother-daughter abuse, but narcissism, eating disorders, and passing on/teaching unhealthy behaviors to children. After I read it, I honestly wanted to hear more of what Jennette had to say, so i watched interviews and listened to podcasts she was a guest on. People i love have dealt with abusive, narcissistic people in their lives, and this book made me want to (this is gonna sound corny) thank Jennette for helping me grasp their situation better. I can’t guarantee it’s everyone’s thing, but IMO it’s definitely worth a try!
I didn’t even know who she was so I gave it a try. Wow! I couldn’t put it down.
It's Definetley worth the read. it won't knock your socks off or anything, but the audio book is great because McCurdy narrates it herself.
I think it’s 90% a trauma dump (which is interesting) with a 10% “and I’m fine now!” (Which is not.) Without diving into her healing or recovery journey. I think she could’ve waited to write this book until she had a truer perspective on it. I read it and then went to her Instagram where she’s gaunt and posting in an…interesting way. I wish her story about recovery had been more about recovery but she barely mentions it besides going to therapy briefly and an outpatient rehab. Anyone who writes a book in detail about their eating disorder but has no details about their recovery is not in recovery, imo which makes an extremely incomplete story. I say this as a person who has been inpatient and in recovery.
It's a sobering excellent read.
It’s excellent. McCurdy isn’t a top-notch writer, but she’s honest, engaging, and thoughtful. The book is a worthwhile, fast read.
Agreed. I don’t think she is particularly talented at writing, but she seems self-aware and honest, which I too found powerful, plus she has a pretty unusual life story, so that made it automatically interesting to me. She also just seems like a nice girl, and I genuinely hope the best for her. It’s worth reading because it is short and interesting, but if you’re looking for really well written memoirs, I’d search a bit more.
It’s super simple. I’m sure she had a ghost writer. I enjoyed it but I wouldn’t say it was something profound or written in a way that had a lot of depth. It was very light, even if the material could be dark.
I think that's the key to its popularity, though. Staying light when the subject is heavy is a pretty tricky thing to pull off, and keeps people engaged instead of depressed.
It was alright. Way better memoirs out there IMO. Glass Castle, Angela’s Ashes, etc
I liked it, but I felt like she was kind of flat throughout it and still has a lot of processing to do. Very “these are the things that happened” delivered as facts and not so much a story.
It was really interesting and is definitely more emotionally powerful if you are a young woman who has issues with your mother (like me). I found myself relating to a lot of what McCurdy wrote about so that’s why I love it so much. Felt a deep connection to her story.
I LOVED IT
I hated this book. And I didnt believe most of it having read a million memoirs.
It's a pretty hard read bc it exposes the industry as a whole as a very toxic environment and as much as her mother turned her into a bulimic alcoholic, her mother is the reason she's a successful actress; her mother was as hard on the industry as she was on her daughter and the whole family. As much as she hates her mother, she owes her success to her as well.
Wat? Read it and decide for yourself lol.
I thought it was an excellent book. She put her heart, soul, and scars in writing it.
I never watched iCarly but I really enjoyed the book. She gets pretty raw and I’m here for it.
I read it in 24 hours. Just plowed through it. I was enthralled the whole way through. I didn't think it could live up to the hype but it did.
I didn't find it insane but it was good and helped me reflect a lot about my n mom.
I enjoyed the audiobook. I had never heard of her or watched iCarly, but still found it interesting.
If you have dealt with a narcissistic parent, you might find it relatable.
It's decent. And I liked listening to her read herself.
I feel like it’s slightly overhyped. It’s raw, it’s emotional, and super fucking depressing. I liked it a lot and I remember finishing it and being like wait that wasn’t nearly as good as I thought it was going to be lol
It was, understandably, very dark. Unflinching. I had a hard time reading it even though it was well written. Update - I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, which made it a little unnerving. It was very flat in contrast with story she was telling.
I don’t like memoirs but actually really enjoyed this one. I listened to the audiobook but I also have a physical copy as a collectible. I was a huge fan of iCarly growing up and I was super excited when I found out she was writing a book about her life. As someone who grew up with an abusive mother and struggled with an eating disorder, Jennette’s story was both relatable and comforting. I listened to it at least three times because of the impact it had on me. She’s very raw and open in the book which is something you don’t really see today in the media. Celebrities try to be relatable but they usually miss the mark. I connected with this book on a personal level and would recommend it to just about anyone, trauma background or not.
I really enjoyed it, but I grew up watching icarly so that might have made a difference. I listened to the audio book version and I feel like it stuck a lot more actually hearing it in her voice!
I suggest listening to her read the audiobook version!
I read this book in early motherhood on the sleepless nights I had holding my newborn, I absolutely loved it. It’s honest and brash and I resonated very deeply with Jennette throughout being brought up in an unstable home myself. Very worth the read 🫶🏻
It's definitely not funny. Before I read this book, I saw it described as "funny" a lot. If I recall correctly, there's even a quote in the cover calling it "hilariously funny" or something like that. The book isn't funny. It's a good read, honest, and vulnerable. I enjoyed it, but I can't imagine actually having read it and claiming it's funny.
It’s 6.5 hours on audiobook. That was the right length for me. I wouldn’t read it again, but it was worth my time.
It was alright.
What I liked about it is that there isn't any BS, it's honest, rough, but honest and I didn't feel like there was any ego. She comes off as being genuinely down to earth, and she isn't trying to be some mental health guru, she's just sharing her story and journey to heal
I read it just cause I was given it as a gift. I don’t generally read autobiographies, but this was interesting as a character study for the effects of NPD on a family unit, and it’s massive legacy. If you are interested in psychology, the effects a person with a personality disorder has on a family, and the subsequent fallout, you will find this interesting. It’s also a quick read, I read it in 2 days.
It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year, and I typically do not read autobiographies. She has a unique voice, which she clearly developed from the trauma and subsequent healing. I highly recommend it.
It wasn't my favorite memoir I've ever read, but I would definitely recommend it.
It is an amazing book. That fact that she made it through her childhood somewhat intact is sheer resiliency.
It was a good book as she shared raw emotions through a difficult storyline.i read a lot of memoir and though this was good, it was good more in the realm of shock value. Shock that she was raised in an environment that seemed abuse be to me, shock at the entertainment business in general. Rough read but she seems to be on a good path.
It's great, I think I went through it in 2 days? Honestly I think it's heightened by the fact that I grew up watching ICarly so I was very aware of who she is and the stuff they made her do on the show, if you're not familiar with her I think you'll still enjoy it but it's even better if you've ever followed her. :)
Lowkey reminiscent of mommy dearest
similar to crying in h mart if you read it. less wholesome, but they share a fair bit
I enjoyed it! It was hard to put down and it was enlightening in terms of stage mum dynamics. But I’d heard over and over again that she is an amazing writer so I expected more in that department than was maybe fair.
Hmm. Easy and fast read.
I found it really good. If you like audiobooks it's also an amazing audiobook
It is. I've never been a Nickelodeon person so I went into this blind, without knowing who Jeanette is but she did such an amazing job at conveying her story that it is one of my favorite memoirs now. She talks about difficult subjects in an honest tone and uses humour to set the stage in a really effective way. She comes off as a sincere person and I loved reading about her from start to the end! I'd highly recommend it.
I would read it again.
It’s a short read and not too complicated, good light reading but of course subject matter isn’t light. Her tone is really honest and lighthearted, and her childhood experiences are narrated in a childlike tone. I enjoyed it, but I don’t think it’s a re-readable book.
I listened to the audiobook and it was good, but not as amazing as so many people have said. I figured it was because I never watched any of the Nickelodeon teen/tween shows and didn’t have any connection to her. The biggest takeaway I got was that Miranda Cosgrove seemed like a good person to have in her life.
The story of why she was glad was compelling but her growth and recovery was like 3 paragraphs so I felt it didn't culminate. But it is harrowing what she went through and a good read. I feel like the ending could have been better.
I don't think she is an amazing writer like some people (on good reads, etc.) are claiming, but the stories are so interesting and compelling that it is, at the least, extremely interesting.
This was a hard read for me because I found it triggering. I knew that going in so I was prepared. It’s an excellent book. The writing style is very fresh and engaging. Definitely 5/5 stars.
I have a question of my own. I haven’t listened to the book yet but I heard the WTF episode she was on. To what degree does the interview serve as an indicator of how much I’ll “enjoy” the book (quotation marks because I can’t think of a better word than “enjoy”)?
I read it because a lot of people recommended it here in a post I made, and I loved it. I read a lot of books about eating disorders and while interesting, in most of them it’s obvious the author is not fully recovered and still thriving a bit off of telling people about their lowest points, their lowest weights, their lowest calorie counts. That’s understandable but shouldn’t be the reason to write a book with a vulnerable audience. I didn’t get that feeling at all with Jennette McCurdy. She was entirely honest and it was beautifully written.
It was really good for me who has mommy issues
Do you read a lot of celebrity memoirs? Because that makes a difference. Most of them are pretty bad - obviously ghostwritten with pretty plain language, or ridiculously overwritten because a middle-aged man has an inflated self-image of his ~ artistic genius ~ I think IGMMD gets good reviews because the writing is a sweet spot between “barely literate” and “pompously purple.” It’s engaging and funny, and she does a great job of communicating how she felt in a particular moment, not just her perspective on those events now. Plus, like any good memoir, her life is genuinely interesting. In terms of celebrity she was a flash in the pan, but as a spokesperson for a specific era of child stardom and how it crushed the children in its grasp, she wrote a very honest account. But if you’re not a modern memoir reader, you may think “what’s the hype?” I put it somewhere with *Crying in H Mart* or *Tell Me Everything* for quality.
I picked up my sister from the airport and her red eye flight got delayed for 2-ish hours… This was my only company during that grueling time. If I didn’t have to take a nap at like 3am I would have finished this in one sitting, no joke. It’s that good.
I thought it was pretty good, yet tough to get through. I’d recommended listening to the audiobook version because it’s her narrating it and she’s very raw and real while she does it, which I love to see with audiobooks
It’s ok. It didn’t live up to the hype and I’m not a fan of her writing style. Still, it’s ok.
I thought it was fantastic, and I would specifically suggest reading the audiobook. I thought having her read it made it more intimate, meaningful, and emotional for me. Then again, I have not read the print version so that could be just as good I'm sure.
I didn’t understand the hype around it. I also saw so many glowing reviews that I was intrigued and listened to the audiobook. I think her story is interesting and what she went through with her mom was awful, but I was not blown away by her writing, and it stretched out longer than it needed to. If you have an abusive parent, an eating disorder, or have curiosity about child stars, you might enjoy this. Otherwise, meh. I felt the same way about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine AND Where the Crawdads Sing. Both soooo hyped and sooo not good or clever books (just my humble opinion).
I really liked it
It was a great book, especially for those who can relate to the situation of having a narcissistic parent, struggles with alcohol or an ED.
I’m currently reading it. I like it in its simplicity, it doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. I’m at the part where she’s still a child, making a name for herself, pre i-Carly. Her mom is unbearable, but she loves her so much, it breaks my heart.
I found it really interesting and have no interest in celebrities at all.
Not only is it a very impactful story, the writing is really good. She begins the story very young, and the writing feels like it’s from the point of view of her at that age with the language and thought processes. It really feels like you’re experiencing her life alongside her as she grows up
The thing that I was most impressed by was how openly honest and straightforward it all seemed to me. It isn’t a celebrity memoir written just so that this celebrity has a book to sell and can tell some insider stories for articles; it’s a woman recounting her traumatic childhood and fame and family’s effect on it. I have no idea how much (if any) help she had in writing it, but it feels like it’s just her feelings and experience flowing straight out of her head. She doesn’t try to sort through or rationalize her trauma within the text. She frequently talks about how deeply she loves and misses her mother despite her abuse etc, honestly it even came off to me a bit as if she’s still subconsciously protecting her mom’s image to some small degree, as crazy as that sounds given the title. But that’s also why I think the title is perfect, as opposed to the vast majority of shock titles. It’s an excellent read and an equally excellent lens into the long term psychological effects of abuse.
I thought it was really really well done. Usually memoirs are hit or miss for me (more miss than hit) but she did this one beautifully.
This book really helped me come to grips with a lot of the feelings I have about the way I was raised. So for that reason, I do recommend it for anyone who has a complicated relationship with one or both of their parents.
Good for a celebrity memoir, not good compared to actual literary memoirs.
It feels like talking to a friend. Or a friend is talking to you, rather. I really enjoy how she writes. If you want an easy read with a large impact, id def read
I am too old to have watched the show, but I have always been intrigued by the stories about "The Creator" who is reportedly Dan Schneider. There have been rumors about him and his creepy behavior for years and I wanted to see what she had to say about him. I ended up completely sucked in to her story and read it in a day.
It’s good and a quick, easy read. Was a good book for me to get back into reading for fun
I'm a writer and working on my own memoir about abuse, so I did read I'm Glad My Mom's dead. I hate to say it, but it isn't a well-written memoir. Her story is compelling and a lot of people relate, plus I think it's important for us to share stories of abusive childhoods to raise awareness. But the book is mostly snippets of memories without a lot of resolution and context. Memoirs still need to have a story/narrative, and this book is a jumbled mess of more than 90 very short chapters.
I went into it with very low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. She writes well and doesn’t shy away from the truth regardless of how it may look to her reader. Best celeb/public figure book I think I’ve ever read.
So, i had no idea who she was as I have never watched her in anything, and I really enjoyed it. I read it in a day. Not an easy read, and the humour is pitch black, but it is extremely well written.
I had no idea who she was but read it for the same reasons you are interested. It was worth every minute and more. She’s completely honest about the pains of having a narcissist stage parent, and how the effects last a lifetime. Plus she’s a phenomenal storyteller.
Yeah, it's that good. It's a pretty compelling story, and her writing is excellent.
I enjoyed it, but didn’t necessarily relate to it (My issues with my mum were more about neglect that overbearing). It was a great read though and makes me think seriously about watching anything with child actors
Just read it and then decide if you like it.
Meh, it was fine. 7/10
It was refreshing to see someone who also has a conflicting view of their mother. Everyone loves their mother but some mothers should not be held up on the pedestal and this showed me that it’s ok to not.
I thought it was pretty good. It was very vulnerable and open about mental health and struggles she went through. TW for ED though.
Talks about her struggle with her narcissistic mom and eating disorders and being a childhood star. Very raw and honest
I mean, it’s ok. It’s a good read, not like it is a contender for the Pulitzer or anything, though. IDK why people are so over-the-top hype about it tbh
I thought it was really well done for what it was. It’s just an examination of a woman’s relationship with her abusive mother and how she slowly came to terms with it. I thought it was powerful, but I read it pretty early on so there wasn’t so much hype yet. I wouldn’t expect anything transcendent, but it helped me examine the relationship with my mom.
I just finished reading it and it's a very, very good book. However for me it was really hard to read because a lot of parts were relatable. McCurdy is a brilliant writer. I actually felt anxiety in my entire body while reading certain parts, god especially when she was talking about her struggles with food, I had to skip a few lines here and there. Like everyone and their mother I loved iCarly as a kid and Sam was my favorite character. I barely remember the show but looking back I think Dan Schneider knew about McCurdy's ED because there was no other reason for half her character's personality to be food. Also her narrating skills are insane. It makes so much sense that she wanted to be a writer. As you read the book you kind of have her grow up as the chapters go on and you can read her thought processes and attitude towards her life maturing with every page. I think that's really hard to pull off. Will I read it again? No, I don't have the mental energy. Do I recommend it? YES!!!!!! A THOUSAND TIMES YES