By Jennette McCurdy
SPOILER-FREE
Waldo is ravenous. Horny. Blunt. Naive. Wise. Impulsive. Lonely. Angry. Forceful. Hurting. Perceptive. Endlessly wanting. And the thing she wants most of all: Mr. Korgy, her creative writing teacher 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 and things that she doesn’t? Or is it purer than that, rooted in their unlikely connection, their kindred spirits, the similar 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.
Startlingly perceptive, mordantly funny, and keenly poignant, Half His Age is a rich character study of a yearning seventeen-year-old who disregards all obstacles — or attempts to overcome them — in her effort to be seen, to be desired, to be loved.
REVIEW
THEMES: DARK, CONTEMPORARY, SEXUAL, FAST-PACED.
Mr. Korgy is all Waldo wants. She doesn’t know why but he has unknowingly drawn her in, and she will do anything to have him. The issue is that he is her creative writing teacher, he is married and she is half his age.
This was not received well.
Half His Age was one of the most anticipated releases of 2026, after Jennette McCurdy’s success with, I’m Glad My Mom Died. Now, it has an average rating of 3.4/5. Was it actually that bad?
No, in my opinion it is not nearly as bad as the reviews claim. The word ‘vulgar’ reoccurs in many reviews. I feel the right word is ‘disgusting’. There was some confronting content and at times I felt squeamish and grossed out.
I think this book fell into the wrong crowd. Her memoir is widely enjoyed so it attracted a general audience, but Half His Age is an acquired taste. As someone who has read many weird books, this is in keeping with the themes explored in ‘weird lit’.
Personally, I do not think this book romanticizes the inappropriate relationship at all, if anything it paints it in a very bleak light. Unless there is something I am missing?
I did find the main character, Waldo, slightly implausible. She was too self-aware; her behaviour was always explained or analysed. I do not think it is unreasonable for a 17–18-year-old to be perceptive, but no one is that aware of themselves, unless retrospectively.
Part of me wonders, if this book was partially autobiographical. I am not saying entirely, but the writing is so vivid and intimate.
Overall, I would not say I love the book, but I don’t hate it like I thought I would (considering the reviews). If you have read books like; The Vegetarian or Boy Parts, I would give it a try.
Click link below for Storygraph overview, which includes general rating, summary (same as above) and other reviews.
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