I’d heard a lot of discussion of this book, but it was Cabbage Sorter’s review of it that finally persuaded me to give it a look. As it was, I ended up pre-ordering it, because it hadn’t yet been released in the UK, which caused me a great deal of confusion 2 weeks later when it still hadn’t arrived lol. I wasn’t an ICarly fan growing up, I think I can recall watching a total of one episode, (I think it was something about a green screen?) but I, like most people, was interested to see what the ex-stars had to say about disgraced creator Dan Schneider. Dan the Creator is mentioned in this book, but the real expose is on Jennette McCurdy’s own mother- as the title of the book suggests. If you were looking for a juicy exposure of Dan Schneider this book isn’t that, but what it is is an incredibly intimate portrait of familial trauma. The Show-Mom and her long-suffering child is not a new or at all uncommon story in Hollywood, and we have reality shows like Toddlers and Tiaras or Dance Moms to see this kind of thing happening in real time. What’s different about I’m Glad My Mom Died is that this is a reflection by the child themselves, grown up and accepting that their own mother, whom they idolised, was abusive towards them. I was not expecting McCurdy to be quiet as honest as she was in her book, and whilst this made it an incredibly entertaining read, at times it was also quite difficult. McCurdy does not hesitate on the details, providing an incredibly clear picture of her childhood and life as a young adult. If you have a history with eating disorders, I’d advise you to read with caution, as McCurdy has no qualms with showing the situation exactly how it is, much like everything else in the book. Overall I’m Glad My Mom Died is a fascinating read. Its refreshing to read a memoir so brutally honest, you can almost feel the catharsis its author felt whilst writing it. Even if you aren’t ordinarily interested in stories from Hollywood, I think this one is worth a read. The family dynamic is morbidly fascinating, and you’ll find yourself thinking about it even after you’ve put the book down.