Review of Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy

This highly anticipated debut novel after Jennette McCurdy’s bestselling memoir I’m Glad my Mom Died is an extraordinary look into power dynamics, female rage and desire. Waldo is seventeen years old and she’s never connected with any of the boys at her high school, they all lack the emotional maturity to form a deep and intimate relationship. When a new creative writing teacher joins the school, Mr Korgy, Waldo has her sights set on him because despite his age, he’s got something the other boys don’t: experience, wisdom, and is someone she can’t have.

Waldo lives with her mother who always has a new man. Someone she can never hold down. They get by just fine, but Waldo’s online shopping habits get out of hand as she purges on fast fashion and beauty products she doesn’t need, all for a hit which leaves her deflated. Never truly satisfied, she’s desperate for something new and shiny.

What begins as a student teacher relationship shifts into a strange friendship as Waldo is invited to Mr Korgy’s house to have dinner with him and his wife as a promising young writer the couple want to nurture. But as they spend more time outside of school, the boundary of their professional relationship vanishes until they’ve crossed the line and cannot find it again. Engaging in an illicit affair, Waldo and Mr Korgy sneak around having sex, sometimes too careless, and if anyone were to catch them the consequences would be catastrophic. 

But Waldo keeps wanting more. More of his time, his affection, his commitment. She’s not a casual girl and her appetite for an adult relationship grows. But in order to get what she wants Mr Korgy would have to leave his wife and son. Would he leave his family for her, and if he did, would that still be enough?

Half his Age is an agonisingly indulgent and aching look into female desire and wanting more than what’s available to us. A stunning debut novel which further reinforces McCurdy’s creative talents.

Reviewed by Victoria

Published on 20/01/26 by Fourth Estate

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