Jennette McCurdy's announcement of upcoming novel 'Half His Age' sparks mixed reactions

Jennette McCurdy’s new novel may land in hot water over its controversial teacher-student relationship plot.

Jennette McCurdy, bestselling author and former child star, is facing significant online backlash following the announcement of her debut novel Half His Age.

The book, which is set for release in January 2026, tells the story of a 17-year-old girl named Waldo who engages in a secret affair with her married high school teacher. The premise has sparked intense debate, with critics accusing McCurdy of romanticizing grooming and promoting inappropriate relationships.

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The controversy erupted shortly after McCurdy revealed details about the book in an interview with Vogue. She described Half His Age as “a novel about sex, class, consumerism, power, self-discovery… as seen through the eyes of one very lonely teenage girl.” She emphasized her desire to explore difficult and often taboo topics, noting that writing about discomfort has personal meaning. “Something I learned from the first book that I really wanted to take into this one is that the more uncomfortable something is to write, the more important it is to write,” she said.

The main character, Waldo, is portrayed as emotionally complex and unapologetically bold. McCurdy explained that she was inspired by the character’s unexpected development during the writing process, adding, “She’s ravenous, horny, blunt... I really wanted to honor that.”

Despite McCurdy’s intent to tackle dark themes through fiction, many on social media have called the storyline “creepy” and “irresponsible.” Critics questioned why the protagonist couldn’t have been older, with one user writing, “She couldn’t be a college student??? Like, why a high school girl???” Others accused the book of glamorizing exploitative dynamics, with some even calling for McCurdy to be “cancelled.”

Supporters, however, argue that fiction can explore uncomfortable realities without endorsing them. One commenter noted, “Just because you write about a dark subject doesn’t mean you condone it.”

Half His Age marks McCurdy’s first venture into fiction, following the massive success of her 2022 memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. That book spent over 90 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and is being adapted into an Apple TV+ series starring Jennifer Aniston and produced by Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment.