Dive Deeper into Emotional Explorations: 20 Recommended Reads Like “I’m Glad My Mom Died”

The critically acclaimed “I’m Glad My Mom Died” by Jennette McCurdy is an honest, raw exploration of grief, resilience, and the complexities of mother-daughter relationships. If you found yourself profoundly impacted by this riveting memoir and are looking for more stories that tackle life’s toughest situations, you’re in the right place.

We’ve curated a list of 20 books that echo the themes and sentiments found in McCurdy’s work. Each one will take you on a deeply personal journey, offering insight, catharsis, resilience, and hope amidst life’s challenges.

The 20 best recommendations if you loved “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

1. “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” by Cheryl Strayed 

After suffering personal loss, Cheryl embarks on a grueling emotional and physical journey along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A woman navigating through grief and loss.
• A journey of self-discovery and resilience.
• A raw, honest, and evocative narrative.

2. “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion 

This is Didion’s account of the year following the death of her husband, weaving grief, memory, and resilience.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Profound exploration of grief and recovery.
• Intimate and profound contemplation on love and loss.
• Unflinching honesty in portraying personal struggles

3. “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom 

This memoir weaves Albom’s weekly meetings with his former sociology professor Morrie, who is battling ALS. The story touches on life, death, and everything in between.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Confronting mortality and what it means to truly live.
• The importance of relationships in shaping our lives.
• Deep philosophical insights into life’s fundamental questions.

4. “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch 

Pausch, diagnosed with terminal cancer, imparts lessons on life’s essential values and achieving one’s childhood dreams.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Life reflections from the prospects of mortality.
• Conversation around dreams, obstacles, and seizing every moment.
• A profound exploration of life’s key lessons.

5. “H is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald 

Macdonald narrates her experience of training a goshawk as a form of dealing with her father’s death.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Using a unique pursuit as a means of navigating grief.
• A deep connection to nature as a source of healing.
• Interplay of personal challenges with wider themes of life and death.

6. “A Grief Observed” by C.S. Lewis 

A poignant journal of Lewis’s thoughts after the death of his wife, this offers raw, honest insights into the grieving process.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• An intimate confession of personal loss.
• A profound exploration of faith amidst grief.
• Deep, philosophical meditations on love and loss.

7. “The Long Goodbye” by Meghan O’Rourke 

Meghan says farewell to her mother in this memoir of grief that intertwines personal loss with broad cultural exploration of mourning.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A heartrending recount of a mother’s death.
• Deep insights into the grieving process.
• A cultural critique of how we deal with death and mourning.

8. “The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying” by Nina Riggs. 

This poignant story by a direct descendant of Ralph Waldo Emerson chronicles living fully in the face of terminal cancer.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Honest examination of mortality.
• Profound exploration of the beauty and complexity of life.
• Balancing despair and joy in the face of impending death.

9. “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi 

Written by a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer, it is both a memoir of life and an unforgettable insight into death.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Confronting impending death with grace and introspection.
• An intimate narrative of personal and professional life lessons.
• A reflection on what makes life meaningful.

10. “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End” by Atul Gawande 

In this thought-provoking book, surgeon Gawande explores how medicine can not only improve life but also the process of its ending.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A profound exploration of death, aging, and disease.
• Discussion about the importance of quality of life.
• An honest look at the medical approach towards mortality.

11. “The Rules of Inheritance” by Claire Bidwell Smith 

An exploration of grief and resilience as Claire navigates her way through loss of both parents at a young age.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A dual narrative of loss and survival.
• The evolution of grief over time.
• The search for identity in the wake of parental death.

12. “Let’s Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship” by Gail Caldwell 

This deeply moving memoir of female friendship is colored with intense joy, shared adventures, and ultimate tragedy.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• The experience of profound loss.
• A testament to the power of friendship.
• Unwavering honesty in recounting personal grief and recovery.

13. “Wave” by Sonali Deraniyagala 

A poignant memoir in which Deraniyagala grapples with the tragic loss of her family in a tsunami.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A raw, honest account of devastating loss.
• A journey of healing and self-discovery.
• Insights on the conflicting emotions associated with grief.

14. “The Light of the World” by Elizabeth Alexander 

This memoir provides a contemplative examination of sudden loss and the soothing power of love.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• The process of grief following a sudden death.
• An intimate portrait of loss and love.
• A thoughtful look into the complexities of life and death.

15. “Ordinary Light” by Tracy K. Smith 

An extraordinary memoir about a woman’s coming of age, and the deep, loving bond between her and her mother.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A powerful exploration of a mother-daughter relationship.
• Deeply personal reflections on personal growth and loss.
• A poignant narrative addressing identity, faith, and race.

16. “About Alice” by Calvin Trillin 

A touching tribute to the author’s late wife Alice. A tale of love, respect, and coping with loss.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• An intimate portrait of loss and enduring love.
• A personal examination of grief.
• A light-hearted, warm writing style that explores a profound loss.

17. “The Still Point of the Turning World” by Emily Rapp 

Rapp shares the journey of her young son’s diagnosis with a terminal illness and how she finds meaning and purpose in life’s most challenging moments.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A candid exploration of grief and resilience.
• Balanced mix of personal stories, philosophical insights and different aspects of grief.
• The process of finding strength and continuity in the face of heartbreaking loss.

18. “Healing After Loss” by Martha Whitmore Hickman 

A collection of daily meditations aimed at those grieving the loss of a loved one.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Practical tools to cope with grief and loss.
• Reflective pieces that encourage self-understanding.
• A supportive guide through the grieving process.

19. “This is How: Surviving What You Think You Can’t” by Augusten Burroughs 

A guidebook for those undergoing personal crisis, Burroughs offers his own experiences as illustrations on how to survive the worst that life throws at us.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• Tackling life’s toughest setbacks head-on.
• A brutally honest approach to advice on grief and loss.
• The power of resilience and survival against unfavorable odds.

20. “Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss” by Hope Edelman

Edelman combines her own story with those of other women who’ve experienced early maternal loss in this compassionate exploration of the enduring effects of motherloss.

Elements in common with “I’m Glad My Mom Died”:

• A focus on the lasting impact of losing a mother.
• Shared experiences and advice on grief and healing.
• An exploration of how such a loss can shape the rest of one’s life.

In the realm of literature, shared experiences can create connections that span continents. We hope that this carefully curated selection of books, akin to Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died”, will provide consolation, empathy, and perhaps even some degree of healing as you navigate your own journey through life’s highs and lows.

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