Half His Age

Book • 2026

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of I'm Glad My Mom Died comes Half His Age, a startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old girl who disregards all obstacles in her effort to be seen, desired, and loved.

Waldo is a ravenous, blunt, naïve yet wise, impulsive, and angry seventeen-year-old who desperately wants her creative writing teacher, Mr. Korgy, despite his wife, kid, and life circumstances.

McCurdy expertly captures the dichotomy of feeling mature at 17 while remaining young and naïve.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 2 episodes

Mentioned by

Rachel Martin

as Jeanette McCurdy's new novel about a 17-year high school student in a relationship with her creative writing teacher.

Jennette McCurdy

Mentioned as

Jennette McCurdy

's new novel, which centers around a relationship with a clear power imbalance between a 17-year-old and her high school teacher, exploring desire and loneliness.

Jennette McCurdy: Half His Age

Recommended by Elizabeth as a recently released, quick novel about a student-teacher relationship that she found very good.

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Recommended by

Em Vernem

as a compelling new novel by a former child actor exploring a troubling age-gap relationship.

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Reviewed by

Eden Denyer

as a debut novel about a 17-year-old girl's relationship with her teacher, exploring desire, power, and mother-daughter dynamics.

Book review: Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

Gilbert Cruz

introduces it as the first novel from the former co-star of iCarly, Jennette McCurdy.

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