Half His Age

A Novel

By: Jennette McCurdy

Narrated by: Jennette McCurdy

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.

The author is very honest but …………..

The book was complicated ,graphic , sad , The story of this girl ‘s journey in this book was hard to read. The author is very honest ,raw and descriptive but it reads more like a memoir again and less like a fictional read . There is a lot of shock value ,a lot . Was it necessary? I don’t think so in my humble opinion. I think you can get across the sad girl ‘s journey and the people who take advantage of her ,try to save her or feel like they understand her better than she knows herself with out all the extreme shock value sexual description.It was a lot of repeat graphic writing and reading and it took away from the story I thought . So it was just okay . I could have skipped chapters and still the story was in the same graphic place and it got old fast . Sometimes less is more and with this book I think it would have been better to have had less .

Brilliantly relatable writing!

Okay so this book was amazing. I just can't say enough about the importance of stories like this. Where's Waldo? Uhh, she was inside us the whole time!!

📖 Book Review: Half His Age Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Genre: Literary Fiction / Psychological Coming-of-Age

I wanted to hate this book, but I couldn’t. It thrives in discomfort, and that feels entirely intentional.

After reading Jennette McCurdy’s memoir, this novel feels like a natural extension of her voice. While the memoir is raw and explicit in its trauma, this story explores the psychology of healing in a quieter, more internal way. It is not meant to be comfortable, and it does not try to be.

This is not a romance, even though it centers on a relationship. The focus is on identity, self-awareness, and how past experiences shape desire and attachment. The writing leans into emotional tension and unease, allowing the reader to sit with thoughts and feelings that are often glossed over or avoided in fiction.

What stood out to me most was how aware the book is of its own discomfort. It does not sensationalize or justify what it presents. Instead, it observes, allowing the reader to witness the gradual internal shifts of the main character as she begins to question familiar patterns and expectations.

The story is introspective and character-driven, with a strong emphasis on emotional realism. It explores themes of self-worth, boundaries, and the difference between intensity and fulfillment. Nothing is rushed, and nothing is neatly resolved, which felt appropriate for the story being told.

This book will not be for everyone, but for readers willing to sit with discomfort and ambiguity, it offers something thoughtful and honest. I loved it not because it was easy to read, but because it was intentional and deeply aware of what it was exploring.

For me, that made it a five-star read.

Love Jennette’s Narration

Jennette is a great writer she really knows how to paint a picture. I wish the ending was clear. It seems Waldo like chose herself but I’m not so sure.

Felt So Real And Raw

I loved how true and raw this was. I only didn’t like how you didn’t finish the ending, what was her life after leaving? What did he do or say? Like what kind of ending was that ugh