Half His Age: A Novel

Jennette McCurdy

Jan 2026 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died comes “a thorny examination of power, lust, shame and rage” (Los Angeles Times) from “a writer able to capture some of the darkest parts of human nature with unflinching honesty and devastating humor” (NPR)

“Unapologetic and undeniable . . . If there was ever any doubt whether the narrative command that Jennette McCurdy displayed in her bestselling memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died might translate to fiction, let it henceforth be put to rest.”—Elle

Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher with the wife and the kid and the mortgage and the bills, with the dead dreams and the atrophied looks and the growing paunch. She doesn’t know why she wants him. Is it his passion? His life experience? The fact that he knows books and films and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar filter with which they each take in the world around them? Or, perhaps, it’s just enough that he sees her when no one else does.

Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles—or attempts to overcome them—in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved.

Ratings and reviews

I devoured this book. The short chapters launch the way through the upheaval of the awkward, often irrational choices we make as teens, clawing and grabbing at the little things that make us feel good in the moment. McCurdy's blunt and bold writing is gritty and opens up the dirty truth of wanting to feel special when our parents cannot do that for us and the truth the can come from looking for love in the wrong places

I haven't read a book in about ten years, and I've been wanting to read "im glad my mom died", but I saw this was a new one from jeanette mccurdy, just realased 2 days ago, so I was intrigued. I couldn't stop reading, this is such a good book, I put it down once, and read the 2nd half later that day. Im definitely a fan, I love her style of writing.

find smart intelligent so nice book

About the author

Jennette McCurdy is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I’m Glad My Mom Died, winner of the 2023 American Library Association Alex Award. The book has been published in more than thirty countries and has sold more than three million copies. McCurdy is creating, writing, executive producing, and showrunning an Apple TV+ series loosely inspired by I’m Glad My Mom Died, starring Jennifer Aniston. Half His Age is her debut novel.