Have you ever wondered what goes on in the life of a child star? It’s not always glamorous, and in some instances, it’s downright toxic. In her best-selling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, former child star Jennette McCurdy explores the ways in which her acting career and her entire identity are inextricably linked with her difficult, often traumatic, relationship with her controlling mother.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the psychological research that both explains the behaviors McCurdy describes and details their effects, particularly on children. In addition, we’ll compare McCurdy’s narrative of her life to other popular books that take a clinical approach to similar issues, including Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, Quit Like a Woman, and The Power of Vulnerability.