When Jennette McCurdy released her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, back in 2022, the whole world stopped and listened. She didn’t just tell her story; she lifted the lid on the darker corners of Hollywood. And you know what, with no filter, no apology.
Now, she’s switching gears. McCurdy is diving into fiction with her first novel, Half His Age, set to release in January 2026.
And let’s be honest, the title alone has already sparked debate.
Jennette is not the kind of person to play it safe. Her memoir was not only a bestseller, but a cultural bomb going off across history. And now, instead of slowing down, she has decided to drop a story that is apparently meant to provoke even more noise.
Half His Age is a young woman caught in a relationship with an older man–you can guess what the responses are going to be. There are those who say that it is about playing around with ugly power dynamics. Others? They are terming it hazardous ground. In any case, McCurdy is not holding back. That’s never been her style.
Publishing insiders have whispered that the book feels “Intimate But Explosive.” That sounds exactly like something Jennette would write, half-confessional, half-hand grenade. She’s not giving anyone a soft landing here. This is fiction, sure, but it’s fiction that wants to bite.
The cover reveal, which dropped through Vogue, only added fuel to the fire. Minimal yet striking, it has that kind of vibe that makes you uneasy without telling you why. And of course, the internet reacted instantly. Fans are split—half cheering her boldness, half accusing her of romanticizing something they’d rather not touch.
But that’s the thing with McCurdy, right? She doesn’t do “SAFE.” She doesn’t polish her stories into something cozy.
I’m Glad My Mom Died made people angry, too, before it made them listen. Half His Age feels like the next step, not a retreat.
If her memoir was about clawing back her truth, this novel looks like her shot at turning scars into something bigger, maybe even art. And whether people love it, hate it, or drag it online, one fact’s clear: it’s already one of 2026’s most talked-about books and it isn’t even out yet.
Jennette McCurdy isn’t trying to be liked. She’s trying to tell the kind of stories that make you squirm, argue, maybe even rethink what you thought you knew. And come January, with Half His Age, she’s about to do it all over again. Stay connected with Vogue Vocal for the latest updates.
Are the men in house ready to take their style game up a notch? Aly at Vogue Vocal is the eyes and ears of entertainment industry with that Gen-Z x-factor! Aly’s personal style statement raises the bar high and knocks it out of the park so trust him for picking the best for Vocal Fashion, our e-magazine edit, the heart and soul of Vogue Vocal!
.jpg "Captain Dunes")
