Jennette McCurdy is expanding her career as a writer with the release of her debut novel, Half His Age.
The former Nickelodeon star and bestselling author announced Thursday that the book will be published by Penguin Random House’s Ballantine imprint on January 20, 2026.
McCurdy, who gained acclaim with her 2022 memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died, revealed the cover of her first work of fiction alongside the release date. Described as a dramedy thriller, Half His Age follows a 17-year-old girl named Waldo who enters an affair with her teacher, exploring themes of power, desire, self-discovery, and the complexities of adolescence.
Ballantine Books calls the novel “startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant,” highlighting its blend of humor and psychological depth.
The project comes after the massive success of McCurdy’s memoir, which has sold more than three million copies and spent over ninety weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. I’m Glad My Mom Died earned the 2022 Goodreads Choice Award for memoir and the 2023 American Library Association Alex Award.
Currently, McCurdy is adapting that memoir into an Apple TV+ series starring Jennifer Aniston, who also serves as executive producer alongside Sharon Horgan, Jerrod Carmichael, Ari Katcher, and Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment. McCurdy is co-creator, co-showrunner, and co-writer of the 10-episode series.
In a statement, McCurdy described writing Half His Age as her most creatively fulfilling experience to date. “Waldo’s story is ultimately about finding yourself in a world designed to make you lose yourself, and that felt profoundly meaningful for me to write,” she said.
The novel is now available for pre-order.
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