Controlled

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is an autobiographical account of Jennette’s dysfunctional upbringing.

Jennette’s mom pushes her into acting at a very young age. Her Mom’s control extends over her grueling schedule, eating, bathing and basically every waking moment. The rest of her family, “father” and brothers, are uninvolved in their dynamic. Jennette follows along despite her own unhappiness. She learns to follow her mom’s requests in order to avoid her meltdowns.

Jennette eventually lands her breakout role as Sam in iCarly which later leads to a spinoff. During her fame, Jennette is stressed and battling with eating disorders, codependent relationships and a drinking problem. Her mother’s cancer relapse and death only exacerbates her mental stability through these years.

Jennette’s recovery is a long road in which she must confront her demons and come to terms with the reality of an abusive relationship with her mom.