hayleyvem's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug use, Bullying, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Vomit, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mental illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Dysphoria, Gaslighting, Grief, Drug abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Blood, Homophobia, and Pregnancy
camilleingram's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Gaslighting, Medical content, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Rape, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
taylorgarcia's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia
green_t's review
Graphic: Death of parent, Fatphobia, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Sexual content, Vomit, Body shaming, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Drug abuse
Minor: Homophobia
jacquies's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Vomit, Drug use, Gaslighting, Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Homophobia, and Mental illness
erebus53's review against another edition
3.75
I read this because it was one of the most read books on 2022 in the online book-club I'm in, and I really had no idea what it was about going in. I have no vested interest in the subject matter; for all her fame, Jennette McCurdy (or her character, Sam, in iCarly) was not on my radar at all until now. I wouldn't know her from a bar of soap... except I assume she would be the biped.
This book is seriously grim, I don't know why it didn't rattle me though. I guess I somewhat identified with the eating disorder stuff, to a lesser extent. It's complete garbage how some parents treat their children. Having to live through a childhood on eggshells .. needing to maintain that level of vigilance, even when you don't know that your experience is any different from anyone else's, leaves some serious scars on a person. I have seen it in people close to me.. and it tends to be intergenerational.
Some people go through horrors and come out careful and mindful, and some just come out a bit worn out and snarky. I don't know that I would have ever become friends with someone like Jennette McCurdy, as she is the sort of person who leans away from conflict and then ends up feeling sore about it afterwards. I have always felt on edge around such people. It's a survival thing, but not one I like to be around, and that may be what causes some of my disdain for parts of the book.
I did enjoy some of the one liners; "Our yoghurt has soured" felt very metaphorical and also absurd; the term "thrug" for an awkward three person hug that someone else invites themselves into, feels like a fantastic neologism that I really ought to adopt.
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug abuse, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Cursing, Cancer, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Self harm, Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Death, Vomit, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Infidelity
Moderate: Grief, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Abandonment, Misogyny, Blood, Chronic illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Stalking
linkamarisa's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Medical content, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Drug use, and Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Alcohol, Body shaming, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Blood, Excrement, and Homophobia
gayelfboi's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Drug use, Death, Dysphoria, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Bullying, Ableism, Addiction, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Toxic relationship
kerrigor's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Grief, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Pedophilia, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Drug use, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Drug abuse
Minor: Homophobia
saturnsam_'s review against another edition
5.0
this book follows jennette through her life, how her abuse of her mother went with her becoming an actress at such a young age. it’s an important book that many need to read. it’s such a huge moment to see someone like jennette talk about her experience as a child actor.
reading about her abuse was heartbreaking and heavy. she talks about how her mom forced an eating disorder of her and how controlling her mother was. it’s horrible to see and can be very triggering if you’re a victim of abuse.
jennette’s storytelling and writing skills were amazing. from the beginning to start i never felt i found the writing skills lacking. the opening of each chapter was perfect and kept you engaged. i loved how jennette’s narration changed as she aged. the final chapter was truly beautiful to see how far she has came, with her coming to the realization about her mother, her talking about how people romanticize death was such a great way to wrap up this book.
this books recognition has mainly had to do with the so called ‘tea’ in it. while jennette does talk about sam & cat and how much she hated it. along with how much hatred she had for Ariana. the creator as he is talked about and the hush money, but this book is so much more. it’s full of heartbreaking, important stories that need to be heard.
Graphic: Eating disorder and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia