#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
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.
I’m very glad I read so many rave reviews for this memoir because I never would have picked this up otherwise. I never watched iCarley, and didn’t know who Jennette McCurdy was. She was a child actress and one of the stars of the hit show, iCarley. I’ve grown up hearing about the many dysfunctional family and lives of child actors, but I’ve never heard one as disturbing as Jennetee’s life. I thought this might be like Mommie Dearest, a story of Joan Crawford’s daughter, but I found this story a bit more sinister, as the abuse was hidden behind a very manipulative woman, and disguised as love.
The story is heartbreaking, and tough to read at times, but also compelling. Janette is a wonderful writer and has an endearing sense of humor, which was a good balance with the tougher parts of the book.
OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A HARPERS BAZAAR BEST BOOK OF 2022 • A PARADE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK • A MARIE CLAIRE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK
“It’s clear from the first page that Davis is going to serve a more intimate, unpolished account than is typical of the average (often ghost-written) celebrity memoir; Finding Me reads like Davis is sitting you down for a one-on-one conversation about her life, warts and all.”—USA Today
“[A] fulfilling narrative of struggle and success….Her gorgeous storytelling will inspire anyone wishing to shed old labels.”—Los Angeles Times
In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.
This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.
As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth of how our stories are often not given close examination. We are forced to reinvent them to fit into a crazy, competitive, judgmental world. So I wrote this for anyone running through life untethered, desperate and clawing their way through murky memories, trying to get to some form of self-love. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be . . . you.
Finding Me is a deep reflection, a promise, and a love letter of sorts to self. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you.
Finding Me by Viola Davis is one heck of a story. I am a huge fan of Viola Davis and have admired her acting talent for years, and now after reading her memoir, I admire her even more. She grew up in poverty, and the stories of her life as a child are heartbreaking and tough to read at times, but it tells the story of racism and poverty and how tough it is to escape that life. Instead of blaming her parents for the way she lived as a child, she understands the obstacles they had to face every day and gives the reader a glimpse into her horrific childhood.
Even after she leaves home and goes to college, her life isn’t easy, but she manages to persevere in a world where a young black woman isn’t welcome, especially in the entertainment business. She breaks barriers because she has to and because she is one tough woman.
Her story is heartbreaking, inspirational, and laugh-out-loud funny at times. I’m still in awe that she found a way to escape her tough childhood and become the beautiful, inspirational actress that she is now.
My advice is to listen to this story on audiobook because hearing her story in her own words is even more powerful. Viola Davis is an actress and she knows how to narrate and tell a story. Plus she tells the story and her emotions shine through
About Jennette McCurdy
Jennette McCurdy got her start in child acting, which by her late teen years had brought her success (she starred in Nickelodeon's hit show iCarly and her own spin-off, Sam & Cat). She went on to star in the Netflix series Between, and had a short-lived country music career with Capitol Records Nashville. Despite her outside success, McCurdy felt ashamed of 90% of her resume and ultimately unfulfilled, so she turned to alcohol, but since that didn't work, she quit acting and began pursuing writing/directing in 2017. She has written/directed a pilot and four short films. Her work has been featured in/on The Hollywood Reporter, Short of the Week, Florida Film Festival, Salute Your Shorts, and many more. She has written articles for Huffington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Her one-woman show “I’m Glad My Mom Died” had a sold-out run at Lyric Hyperion Theatre. She hosts a podcast called “Empty Inside”, where she speaks with guests about uncomfortable topics.
Viola Davis’ raw and moving memoir “Finding Me” (HarperOne, 304 pp.) finds itself at No. 1 on USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list this week.
The Oscar-, Emmy- and Tony award-winning thespian, the first Black woman to win the acting triple crown, shares her personal story of overcoming a childhood filled with poverty and dysfunction to become one of the most celebrated artists of her generation.
Now considered Hollywood royalty, the actress pulls no punches telling her story. According to USA TODAY, “it’s clear from the first page that Davis is going to serve a more intimate, unpolished account than is typical of the average (often ghost-written) celebrity memoir; ‘Finding Me’ reads like Davis is sitting you down for a one-on-one conversation about her life, warts and all.”
Oprah Winfrey chose the memoir for her book club and said “Finding Me” had a big impact on her. “After I finished reading the first paragraph, I knew this was a book I wanted to share with the world,” Winfrey said in a statement. “I am in awe that Viola overcame all that she did to not only survive but become a role model for the world as a renowned actress, a mother, a wife and the woman that she is today.”
I feel bad for Jennette McCurdy and what she had to endure from her mother all for her mother’s desire for fame! Terrible. Both these women sound like they had a tough time of it. I’m glad Jennette’s mom is dead for her sake too!
Jenny+McClinton
This sounds very emotional, and is not someone I recognise but glad you enjoyed listening to her story, great review
My daughter watches the newer iCarly show and I don’t belief McCurdy is in it. I saw her interview with Trevor Noah and that got me interested in her book. It’s not one I would gravitate towards otherwise. I am glad you enjoyed it and can recommend it!
Finding Me is on my Christmas wish list this year. I just love Viola Davis. She’s such a smart and talented woman. As much as I would prefer to listen the audio, I know I’m more likely to read the print version. I’ve been listening to the same audiobook for half a year or so now and I still have half of it to go. It’s not my format, try as I might.
Neither of these were on my radar till recently. I was too old for iCarly as well. I did get to see Viola Davis speak at the ALA convention in NOLA a few years ago and really was impressed by her background. So I’m guessing this one would be really good! Thanks for sharing these!
I don’t know anyone who didn’t enjoy “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”
I remember I found her demeanor to be whiny, which carried over into her acting (in some cases, such as the “Law & Order” episodes, they worked). However, learning about everything Jennette has been through has me rethinking her acting. She must have been very good to act through all of those emotions.
I loved I’m Glad My Mom Died. I did grow up watching iCarly so it was very interesting (and sad) to hear how McCurdy felt while filming the show, and about acting in general. She’s such a great writer that I really hope we get more of her work!
[…] Tour and Book Review: All the Lost Places by Amanda DykesSaturday: Stacking the Shelves. Saturday: Audiobook Reviews: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and Finding Me by Viola Davis. Sunday: Sunday […]
I don’t follow actors and their lives and fame, but it sounds like both of these actresses had tough childhoods. For McCurdy it seems that success and money didn’t buy happiness. Good reviews on these books though, Wendy.
I'm Glad My Mom Died 
Finding Me
I feel bad for Jennette McCurdy and what she had to endure from her mother all for her mother’s desire for fame! Terrible. Both these women sound like they had a tough time of it. I’m glad Jennette’s mom is dead for her sake too!
This sounds very emotional, and is not someone I recognise but glad you enjoyed listening to her story, great review
My daughter watches the newer iCarly show and I don’t belief McCurdy is in it. I saw her interview with Trevor Noah and that got me interested in her book. It’s not one I would gravitate towards otherwise. I am glad you enjoyed it and can recommend it!
Finding Me is on my Christmas wish list this year. I just love Viola Davis. She’s such a smart and talented woman. As much as I would prefer to listen the audio, I know I’m more likely to read the print version. I’ve been listening to the same audiobook for half a year or so now and I still have half of it to go. It’s not my format, try as I might.
Neither of these were on my radar till recently. I was too old for iCarly as well. I did get to see Viola Davis speak at the ALA convention in NOLA a few years ago and really was impressed by her background. So I’m guessing this one would be really good! Thanks for sharing these!
I don’t know anyone who didn’t enjoy “I’m Glad My Mom Died.”
I remember I found her demeanor to be whiny, which carried over into her acting (in some cases, such as the “Law & Order” episodes, they worked). However, learning about everything Jennette has been through has me rethinking her acting. She must have been very good to act through all of those emotions.
Yes, she sure had a tough time. But, she does reveal in the book that she never liked acting and only did it for her mother.
Thanks for sharing. I was very interested to hear about these two books.
I loved I’m Glad My Mom Died. I did grow up watching iCarly so it was very interesting (and sad) to hear how McCurdy felt while filming the show, and about acting in general. She’s such a great writer that I really hope we get more of her work!
[…] Tour and Book Review: All the Lost Places by Amanda DykesSaturday: Stacking the Shelves. Saturday: Audiobook Reviews: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and Finding Me by Viola Davis. Sunday: Sunday […]
I have read either of these. They look like tough, but good, reads.
Two great reviews, for two books on my TBR 😊. Both reviews are pretty helpful!
Oh good. I hope you enjoy both of them
I don’t follow actors and their lives and fame, but it sounds like both of these actresses had tough childhoods. For McCurdy it seems that success and money didn’t buy happiness. Good reviews on these books though, Wendy.
Thank you, Linda. I read so many great reviews for both these books, I just had to try them.
Wonderful review Wendy! My daughter read this one and loved it!🤗📚💜
Oh, I’m glad she loved it too.
I don’t know anything about Viola Davis by I used to watch ICarley with my children. Very interesting to read about these two.
They both had such tough lives growing up. It’s good to think they’ve persevered through everything.