Lin's Perspective

This was a read that just blew me away.

When I was growing up I used to watch iCarly a lot and Sam (Jennette) was my favourite character, just loved her personality and how funny she was. Oh boy, little did I know what was going on on that set and in her home behind closed doors. I listened to the audiobook read by the actress herself and it did hit hard. It made me uncomfortable, made me angry, sad, hopeful just all the emotions were there.

It just shows how we glorify and seek this glamorous lifestyle and we think they have it all good and everything is set up for them… Well, no we keep forgetting one fundamental thing: they are humans just like us normal people, with their own struggles and demons to fight. The awful thing: there is no privacy, every single thing you say, or do, even your expression is judged and put under a microscope, let’s not forget how lucky we-normal non-famous people are when it comes to this.

Jennette has done an amazing job at presenting us with her life story, she did not spare us anything. And I admire her for it, it does take a lot of courage to say some of the things she did and I know it was not easy for her to do so.

I just hope she stays in this healthy mindset and keeps writing because I would absolutely love to read more of hers.

SPOILER SECTION

Where one does begin?…

I am glad her mom died too. Although a horrible thing to say, if one knew what her mother put her through they will think the same thing.

This book deals with so many things, that are so complicated and hard to wrap your mind around, especially when it comes to your own parents and family. It just shows how toxic and abusive the one that should love us unconditionally can become: your own mother. It is mindboggling to me how some parents would literally do anything so they could “help” their child do the things they were never allowed to or had the chance to do when they were younger. I just can’t comprehend this logic. Not only that but to emotionally, and physiologically abuse your own flesh and bone is simply outrageous.

My thoughts are so scattered, that I struggle to articulate what I want to say… Reading this book has brought up some stuff from my own life about family members that I had to cut off or minimise my interactions with, due to their toxicity, some of whom were my own paternal grandmother which reminded me a lot of Jennette’s mother in so many aspects. She, just like the author’s mother, used to shower me in my teen years, constantly commenting on my weight and appearance, and always wanting to know what was going on in my life, asking intimate questions, something she still keeps doing to this day, however, I have learned to ignore her comments and barely see her anymore. The same thing with my aunt, my dad’s sister. They always have to say something negative and bring you down, no matter what you say or do. So, I could relate to some parts of her own story, just like I think many other people would be able to.

As the actress delves into the behind-the-scenes of the show business industry we unravel her struggles with mental health, especially her eating disorder, which her own mother introduced her to at the age of 11, her love relationships, and alcoholism.

I am so glad she managed to push through all these difficulties, grabbed her own life in her own hands, and is doing so much better now.

If you have not read this book, or are contemplating whether to pick it up or not: