I'm Glad My Mom Died.

 

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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 wants. 

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Heartbreaking. Haunting. 

I loved Jennette McCurdy ever since I saw her on ICarly not long after the show was released. I thought that Jennette did an amazing job at playing Sam, and not once did it occur to me that acting wasn’t Jennette’s choice until I read the book. I was excited when I found out that Jennette wrote a book and curious when I found out the title of the book. I’m Glad My Mom Died, how can you not wonder why that title is? I couldn’t help but wonder what happened between Jennette and her mother for her to come up with a title like that. Once I started reading the book, I understood why Jennette felt that it didn’t take me long to dislike her mother. I did wonder how Jennette didn’t see what her mother was doing, and it wasn’t love; it was abuse. I saw it when her mother made Jennette attend that audition when she was six. Her mother wasn’t doing it for Jennette; she was doing it for herself; she forced Jennette into acting. I understood why Jennette didn’t enjoy it, which wasn’t her passion. 

I don’t know Jennette personally, but I felt as if I did as I read I’m Glad My Mom Died . The emotions in this book…I don’t think I can describe how I felt because so many emotions went through me. Considering what her mom made her do, it’s no wonder she had an eating disorder. My heart broke for Jennette, and I wished that I could give her a big hug. I think that I cried a few times while reading this book. I have read several celebrity memoirs, but this one hit me the hardest. I’m Glad My Mom Died is a sad book that breaks your heart at times, but you have trouble putting it down. I don’t even want to believe that a parent would put their child through what Jennette’s mother put her through. If it weren’t for school and tests that week, I would finish it faster than I did. I’m Glad My Mom Died was such an inspirational novel. 

While reading the book, Jennette became one of my favorite people. She was brave. I knew that writing the book meant she had to relieve all those memories again. I wouldn’t been as courageous as her. I got to know her much better after reading this book. I can see why so many people loved this book; I couldn’t get enough of this book. I have a feeling that I will be coming back to this book in the future. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would. I highly recommend checking this book out. I’m Glad My Mom Died is worth every single page, a book you won’t be able to forget.

The Forgotten Bookshop In Paris.

 

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  *Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review*

 

 Paris, 1940: War is closing in on the city of love. With his wife forced into hiding, Jacques must stand by and watch as the Nazis take away everything he holds dear. Everything except his last beacon of hope: his beloved bookshop, La Page Cachée. 

But when a young woman and her child knock on his door one night and beg for refuge, he knows his only option is to risk it all once more to save a life… 

Modern day: Juliette and her husband have finally made it to France on the romantic getaway of her dreams—but as the days pass, all she discovers is quite how far they’ve grown apart. She’s craving a new adventure, so when she happens across a tiny, abandoned shop with a for-sale sign in the window, it feels fated. 

And she’s about to learn that the forgotten bookshop hides a lot more than meets the eye… 

 

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I love books that feature bookstores. Whenever I come across a book that features books in a bookstore, I’m always eager to pick the book out, and most of the time, I’m fascinated by the stories. The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris wasn’t any different and ended up being one of my favorite historical fiction I read this year. The fact that it was also historical fiction made the book much more enjoyable. For as long as I remember, I have always loved books that are told in different timelines but connect the characters. I couldn’t get enough of Juliette’s and Jacques’s stories; they had a unique story to tell. Even though I had enjoyed both stories, I felt more drawn to Jacques’s story than I did to Juliette’s. Much more was going on with Jacques's story, and everything had me on the edge of my seat. Although I enjoyed most of Juliette’s story, I felt she was whiny at the start. I understand why she was upset, considering what had happened. However, as the novel progressed, it was as if Juliette became a completely different person. I loved the development of Juliette throughout the story. 

I was afraid when Jacques started helping others, hiding them at his place. I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to him if he got caught. I knew he was careful, but that doesn’t always work. For some reason, Jacques’s story had me on the edge of my seat, and I found it hard to put the book down. If it weren’t for school, I would have read the book faster than I had. Jacques helped so many, and at some point, I felt as if maybe he was trying to take in too many. But he had such a good heart, and even though he was a fictional character, to me, he was real. That was what I loved about The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris ; everything felt natural. This is another book where my emotions went on a roller coaster ride. 

I loved the descriptions, and despite not knowing how it felt when the Nazis took over, it felt like I did. While reading the book, I pictured everything, all of the tragedy and fear. The Forgotten Bookshop In Paris is a story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I couldn’t get it out of my head. I wanted to go back and reread it. This was my first book by Daisy Wood , and now I am eager to check out the rest of her works. Highly recommend this book, especially for historical fiction fans.