I'm Glad My Mom Died
| Company type | Memoir |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | August 9, 2022 |
| Founder | Jennette McCurdy |
| Products | Memoir book |
I'm Glad My Mom Died is a 2022 memoir authored by American writer, filmmaker, and former actress Jennette McCurdy. The book, adapted from her solo stage performance bearing the same title, explores her experiences as a child actress alongside the complex and abusive relationship she had with her mother, who passed away in 2013. This debut memoir was released on August 9, 2022, through Simon & Schuster.
Summary
McCurdy reflects on her early achievements in acting during childhood, a short-lived country music career, and the controlling influence exerted by her mother, Debra, who died from cancer in 2013. She also touches upon a difficult rapport with a Nickelodeon producer she refers to as "The Creator," widely believed to be Dan Schneider.
The narrative is divided into two segments, "Before" and "After," detailing events that occurred prior to and following her mother's passing.
Background
Beginning her acting career at age six, McCurdy continued professionally until she ceased acting in 2017. Between 2009 and 2012, she was signed with Capitol Records Nashville, releasing a self-titled debut album in 2012.
In addition to acting and music, McCurdy contributed essays to outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, gradually developing personal writings that her manager encouraged her to expand into a full-length book. Rather than immediately publishing, she created a one-woman show titled I'm Glad My Mom Died, which she performed in Los Angeles and New York City. Plans for an extended tour were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting her to transform the material into a memoir format.
McCurdy disclosed that she turned down a $300,000 offer from Nickelodeon intended to secure her silence regarding her experiences at the network, including allegations involving the producer referred to as "The Creator."
Book cover
The cover features McCurdy holding a pink urn from which decorative paper spills out. Speaking about the image choice to Entertainment Weekly, McCurdy explained:
Reception
Within 24 hours of release, the memoir sold out at major retailers including Amazon, Target, and Barnes & Noble. It swiftly reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list for non-fiction in both hardcover and e-book categories, moving over 200,000 copies during its opening week. By early October 2023, it had remained on the hardcover list for 60 consecutive weeks. According to Rolling Stone, sales exceeded three million copies by July 2025. The book was also among the most borrowed titles from public libraries across the United States throughout 2023 and 2024.
Receiving critical acclaim, Publishers Weekly awarded it a starred review, describing it as "Insightful and incisive, heartbreaking and raw." Kirkus Reviews lauded it as "The heartbreaking story of an emotionally battered child delivered with captivating candor and grace."
Nina Li Coomes of The Atlantic characterized the memoir as "a layered account of a woman reckoning with love and violence at once." Meanwhile, Dave Itzkoff of The New York Times portrayed it as "a coming-of-age story that is alternately harrowing and mordantly funny."
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Goodreads Choice Awards | Best Memoir & Autobiography | Template:Won |
Release history
| Country | Release date | Format | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple countries | August 9, 2022 | ||
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Translations
- . Iași: Alice Books. 2023. .
- . São Paulo: nVerso. November 15, 2022. .
- . Warsaw: Prószyński i S-ka. January 24, 2023. .
- . Amsterdam: Spectrum. February 9, 2023. .
- . Milan: Mondadori. March 14, 2023. .
- . Stockholm: Bookmark Förlag. April 3, 2023. .
- . People's Publishing House. June 9, 2023. .
- . Frankfurt a.M.: Fischer Taschenbuch. May 24, 2023. .
- . Helsinki: Johnny Kniga. August 10, 2023. .
- . Vilnius: Alma littera. August 24, 2023. .
- . Oslo: Kagge Forlag. August 30, 2023. .
- . Bratislava: IKAR. September 19, 2023. .
- . Sofia: Helikon. February 2, 2024. .
- . February 7, 2024. .
- . Zaprešić: Fraktura. February 2024. .
- . Szeged: Könyvmolyképző. April 30, 2024.
- . Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten. June 14, 2024. .
- . First News. June 22, 2024. .
- . Rīga: Helios. July 29, 2024. .
Television adaptation
In July 2025, Apple TV+ commissioned a ten-episode series featuring Jennifer Aniston, who also serves as an executive producer. The narrative is adapted from McCurdy's memoir and explores the complicated dynamic between an eighteen-year-old actress starring in a popular children’s show and her self-centered mother; Aniston takes on the role of the mother.
The series was developed by McCurdy and Ari Katcher, both acting as co-showrunners and executive producers alongside Sharon Horgan, Stacy Greenberg, Dani Gorin, Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Jerrod Carmichael, Erica Kay, and Aniston herself. Initially attached as director was filmmaker Jason Reitman, who later departed due to creative disagreements regarding the tone of the show, reportedly conflicting with McCurdy over adopting a more comedic style.
See also
- Mommie Dearest (1978) – memoir by Christina Crawford detailing her difficult relationship with her adoptive mother Joan Crawford.
- Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024) – documentary examining Dan Schneider’s time at Nickelodeon through accounts from former actors and crew members.