In I’m Glad My Mom Died, McCurdy describes the impact her mother had on her life and career. As a child and later as an adult, even after her mother’s death, McCurdy has had to grapple with the abuse inflicted on her.

From the first page, McCurdy’s voice demands the reader’s attention. She doesn’t sugar-coat her experience, but she also doesn’t make her story so graphic or sorrowful considering the themes. Her humor is always on point, and it makes the read incredibly enjoyable. I read this on a flight, and could not put it down until I was finished – that’s how good it was, and I credit that to McCurdy’s writing ability.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect from this book going in; I wasn’t aware of McCurdy’s one-woman show of the same title, or of her podcast. The draw for me was the iCarly nostalgia of my tween years, and I have to say, after reading this book, I do feel a little guilty at how miserable McCurdy must have been making that show. Still, it’s a fantastic read, and McCurdy’s voice alone is worth picking this one up. I really hope she pursues other writing, because I’ll be first in line to buy whatever she creates next.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.