Jennie Garth reflects on emotional divorce from Peter Facinelli in new memoir

Jennie Garth has revealed that forgiving her ex-husband Peter Facinelli following their divorce was the turning point that ultimately set her free.

The actress, 54, opens up about the emotional aftermath of her 2013 split in her new memoir, I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose, and Embracing Reinvention, detailing the pain she endured after the end of their 17-year marriage, during which they share three children.

Garth admits the breakup left her grappling with anger, heartbreak, and a deep sense of personal loss, emotions that, over time, began to affect every aspect of her life.

Reflecting on that period, she acknowledged how the weight of resentment dimmed her sense of self and impacted her relationships.

However, she says a pivotal moment of clarity led her to make a conscious decision to let go.

“I don’t want to carry this anymore,” Garth recalled telling herself, describing forgiveness as a deliberate choice rather than a gradual process.

Once she made that decision, she said, the shift was immediate — “like flipping a switch” — and ultimately became “the most freeing thing in the world.”

According to Garth, forgiveness was less about the other person and more about reclaiming her own peace, emphasizing that holding onto anger only leads to self-sabotage and emotional stagnation.

In the years since their divorce, Garth and Facinelli have rebuilt their relationship into a supportive friendship, successfully co-parenting their children while moving forward with their lives.

She is now married to actor Dave Abrams and has embraced a lifestyle centered on personal growth, sobriety, and self-empowerment.

Through her memoir and her broader “I Choose Me” movement, Garth hopes to encourage others to prioritize their own well-being, rediscover purpose, and find joy even after life’s most difficult chapters.