One of the most talked about books of 2026 is now available but does it live up to the hype?

Everyone is talking about Jennette McCurdy's fictional debut, Half His Age

Jennette McCurdy made waves in the bookish world when she released her memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died, but is now making waves with her fictional debut, Half His Age.

Her highly anticipated novel has already soared to the top of the book charts, but does it live up to the hype?

Readers have already been giving Half His Age four and five-star reviews, with many saying they were pleasantly surprised by how good it is.

One wrote, "A brilliant read. It's one which may well turn out to be my favourite read for 2026, and I have already started recommending it to my friends."

"This is an incredible debut novel. I read it in a couple of hours, I couldn’t put it down," said another.

One added, "An amazing debut novel from Jennette McCurdy! Her memoir was fantastic, but the story she weaves with the protagonist Waldo, is shocking. Consumerism, power, female rage, and sex are all explored and make for a "can't put down" reading session curled up in bed!"

What is Half His Age about?

Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Hurting. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all? Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher.

Mr. Korgy, 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 that she doesn’t? Or are they actually kindred spirits, sharing the same 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.

Jennette McCurdy's fictional debut isn't as strong as her memoir, but it has certainly impressed readers, with many reading it in one sitting.

It is a book that's definitely worth reading, especially if you loved My Dark Vanessa, Cleopatra and Frankenstein.

Buy the Kindle version here.

Buy Half His Age here.