I'm Glad My Mon Died by Jennette McCurdy

Most of you may have heard about this book, but if you have not here is the plot: Former child actress Jennette McCurdy writes a memoir about how her mother abused her while at the same time helping her to become a Nickelodeon star on "iCarly" and later "Sam & Cat." While teaching her own daughter such concepts as "calorie restriction," McCurdy's mother, Debbie, propelled her into a childhood plagued by anorexia, binge eating and bulimia. While difficult to read, because it addresses the mental health issues that Hollywood can too often perpetuate, the book can also spark humor in the middle of heartbreak. What is so brilliant about the writing is that the author does not look back on her traumatic life with adult eyes and the wisdom that comes with age. Instead, she reflects on her life through the rose-colored glasses of a child, who not only loved her mother but trusted her above any other adult. It was her mother, not Jennette, who had dreams of fame and fortune, and she force-fed her own ambitions into the naive mouth of her daughter. I heard the author recently on the Spotify podcast "Armchair Expert" talking with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman about her memoir. It is clear that she has done a lot of work on herself to overcome her mother's abuse, with therapy and group support. Thankfully, she has been able to shed her mother's dream of acting, and selected a new chosen profession. The call sheet for McCurdy now reads, "writer." To buy this book on Amazon click here.