What an engaging yet hard to read debut novel by Jessica George. The story is both heartbreaking yet up lifting. I had a hard time connecting with it at times but think because age difference. So totally different priorities and life point of views.

Wow, this book had my hooked right away. So well written, and fresh. It had vibes from some other books I’ve loved, but felt younger and more modern. Wonderful read, that I highly recommend.

Let me start by saying I was hoping to be over the moon about this book after reading but I wasn’t. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed it and the flow of it was good. I just didn’t find my self thinking about it days later. This story is about Maddie an African girl that has basically raised herself. She is very GREEN when it comes to the ways of life and the world. There are some triggers in this book mainly depression and severe anxiety. Maddie or what her family calls her Maame is beautiful, smart and funny. Too bad she doesn’t know it. She yerns to be loved but looks for it in all the wrong places. She has placed her life on hold to care for her father. She is the glue that holds this family together but even the glue can Start to crack. Crack is just what Maddie did emotionally. The author gave us Maddie’s story of growth and self discovery. My heart broke for Maddie because she like so many have to sacrifice their childhood way to early. This was a 3.5 star read for me.

What a surprisingly book that brought me so much delight. First of all, as with most books that I love, it is funny! Maddie’s wry sense of humor and internal monologue cracked me up, when they weren’t making me cry. Because yes, it’s also very sad. It’s a portrait of grief, and finding yourself when there are many factors against you. I was frequently frustrated by the things Maddie’s goes through, and though I felt like the end may have been a little too tidy, I was really happy with it. I half listened/half read the print copy of this one.

This brightly colored gem has set mockingly on my TBR shelf for some time, I think it is because I saw myself in Maddie and was not ready to confront that---yet. That said, this book will hit many of your 2023 (and beyond) markers: it is a book written by a Black woman; it is a debut novel; it is a book club pick which will be adapted; it is a coming of age story.

All told, one will have much to discuss when reading in a book club setting. And for those like me, who are dealing with grief, do take care of yourself when reading.

Maame is a beautifully written novel depicting the life of a 25-year-old woman named Maddie, who has put her life on hold to care for her father who has Parkinson’s Disease. The responsibility has fallen on her as her mother spends much of her time in Ghana and her brother is focused on his own life. When Maddie's mother moves back to London from Ghana for a year, Maddie takes the opportunity to move out and experience life as a typical woman in her 20s.
This book was fantastic. It handles so many heavy topics, including grief, depression and racism, but still manages to include many light-hearted moments. Maddie is such a wonderful character that you can't help but root for. I loved this book and definitely recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love a book when you feel like you are sitting right there with the main character. Jessica George did a great job of creating characterization in the book Maame.

Maddie, the main character, was born in England to Ghanian parents. Her mom is pretty much an absentee mom who spends most of her time in Ghana, and her brother doesn't have time for family. As an adult, Maddie stays home to take care of her dad who has Parkinson's disease. Having had a parent with Parkinson's, this book hit a little too close to home, but George does a beautiful job of describing the ailing father. "Maame" is a Ghana name for mother, woman, or responsible one. This describes Maddie perfectly.

The book takes you on a emotional rollercoaster. At times, I was laughing out loud right beside Maddie in her self-deprecating ways, and other times, my heart was breaking right along with her.

This is a growing of age book, even though it happens for Maddie in her twenties, even her first boyfriend.

I gave this book five stars. It wasn't an "I can't put this book down" kind of book, but it warmed my heart. It is filled with life lessons, and it is a book I will remember for awhile.

I was given this book for my honest review.

🎧📱 “Maame” by Jessica George

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
published January 31, 2023

I really loved this book- great character development and a relatable, easy writing style. The novel is emotional- sad, but yet uplifting and hopeful, filled with great messages.

Maddie is a 25 year old Ghanian woman living in London, while trying to figure out who she is. A people pleasing, self-proclaimed late bloomer, having spent most of her life caring for others. Her life consists of work and home. She is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s disease. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana, and always has an excuse as to why she needs more from Maddie. At work, her boss is a nightmare- Maddie is overworked, overwhelmed and tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie is excited to get out of the family home and finally start living. She finds some roommates and a flat, says yes to after-work drinks, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. I laughed, cried and rooted for Maddie as she discovers who she is, what she wants, the complexity of love, and friendship. A family tragedy forces Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and who she is.


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For a debut novel, this one wasn't bad! I am fairly reserved with my stars, and this one was awarded three simply by the fact that the middle of the novel seemed to drag on, and on for me.
I was engrossed with the first and last quarters of the book, but I feel with a firmer edit - this book could have easily moved towards 4, or 5 stars.
The "google" references were overdone for me. It was a cute quirk the first few times, but it got boring as they continued. This would have been better if it was a simply been a paraphrased answer by the narrator, along the lines of "according to google this is [fill in the blank]".
I emphasized deeply with the MC and the guilt she felt not being there for her father, having lost my own mom to illness and understanding her guilt, but I think her inability to function in her day to day was lost on me and I couldn't help but become frustrated that she had a new job that she just checked out of, and immediately upon her determination to return it was all sunshine and roses. I guess what I'm trying to say is the middle of the story dragged and the end seemed rushed. The pacing of the book just felt off to me.

Overall, did I enjoy it? Yes. I think George has the potential to be a brilliant author, but much like the manuscript that Maddie submits in the novel, I'd like to see a version that she's put more time into perfecting.

This stunning portrait of grief and healing hit me right in the gut. Maddie is such a multidimensional character, and her growth throughout the story was beautiful to see, even if it took a heartbreaking loss to find it. Jessica George’s prose is gorgeous without being overly flowery, and despite being a character driven novel, it still moved at a steady pace. I really loved that this is a coming of age story, but the main character is several years older than is generally found in this type of book. I also really enjoyed how much Ghanaian culture was included, and that the author shows how sometimes the traditions that make us who we are can also stifle growth and hold us back. Maame is a truly breathtaking story that kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Maddie’s father struggles with late-stage Parkinson’s and her family has designated her as his primary caregiver with no input from her and very little help. Her mother spends her most of her time in Ghana while still constantly giving Maddie advice about how she should live her life. Her boss makes her job unpleasant, and Maddie is tired of serving as the sole Black person in every meeting. When her mom finally returns to London from Ghana, Maddie decides to spread her wings and experience what others her age are doing: she rents an apartment, goes out with co-workers and dips a toe into the crazy world of internet dating. Maddie stumbles along the way, but ultimately comes to understand who she wants to become. I both read and listened to this beautiful coming-of-age tale and feel the audio enhances the experience of the book.

Really enjoyed this book. Four and a half stars. Heavy subject (grief, guilt, parental resentment) but found myself laughing out loud at some of her conversations. Believable, fully developed characters within an interesting story.

The main character in Maame, Maddie, is quite charming and it is sweet to "watch" her grow up and come into herself (as Jenna Bush Hager says: "It's a coming-of-age" story). She is 25 and is experiencing LOTS of firsts - first love, first heartbreak, moving out of her parents' house for the first time, death of a loved one, employment issues. While all of this is truly coming-of-age stuff, I just felt like I am not the demographic for the book as I am old enough to be her mother. I liked Maddie, and I especially liked her more in the last quarter of the book when she finally learns to truly express HERSELF. I enjoyed Maddie's subtle sense of humor and her use of Google! I mean, it's not YA and its not like I ONLY align with books about people my age, it's just that something didn't click for me. My biggest pet-peeve, however, comes at the beginning of Chapter 43 with this: "...which made choosing Nia and I's flat...." What? "I's"? WTH? It is so wrong. I hear it all the time on reality TV and I cringe. I hear it in Insta stories and I cringe. Can we PLEASE not let this become acceptable? Can I hope that because I had an ARC that this was fixed when published? It is grammatically incorrect ("MY" - my flat, our flat) and also, Maddie is an editorial assistant. Would she actually say that? Ugh.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the Publisher for giving me an early copy/ARC to read.

Maame is a fresh and engaging debut novel by Jessica George. it is the story of Maddie Wright, nicknamed Maame by her mother. Maame means woman or mother in her native Ghanian language.

Maddie is 25 years old and the caregiver to her father who has advanced Parkinson's Disease. Her mother is absent and separated from her father, she spends most of her time in Ghana. (Maddie and her father live in London.) Maddie's older brother is busy living his life and is not much help assuming Maddie will take care of everything as always. Maddie at 25 has not gotten to liver her own life due to her responsibilities. Her mother is now returning to London and is finally giving Maddie time to move out and start her own life.

What follows is a touching, witty and heartfelt coming of age story. I loved following Maddie's journey!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this story!!
4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book! I chose to read it after Jenna Bush Hager picked it for her February “Read with Jenna” Book Club. She equated it to “Bridget Jones’ Diary” and I would agree. It was light at times and heavy at others. I could feel Maddie’s struggles with each member of her family. I knew the choices she was making in men were wrong, but she had to choose poorly first so she would know when something good came along. What remained the constant through the story was the love of her two best friends. I normally don’t feel satisfied when a book ends with loose ends, but this one just worked. I could envision what happens to Maddie and I’m very satisfied.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Jessica George for an ARC of Maame, in return for my honest review. I loved Maame, it was well written and gave you all the feels, sometimes you were laughing, sometimes you were cringing, sometimes crying. It is the story of a young woman working towards her independence from family yet trying to keep their traditions alive. A great read for sure.

Ahh, the burdens of being the responsible person. Maddie embraces these responsibilities. You could even say they keep her safe. But when she begins to break free, to live her life for herself a little, the center doesn’t hold. But is that necessarily a bad thing?
I enjoyed seeing Maddie come out of her shell. Wish I done it myself a little earlier.

I was, and always, will be rooting for Maddie!

This was such a great book.! I’m glad that I didn’t know much going in. I’m oddly always up for “heavy” book, but the writing was the right amount a humor that one would casually toss in my inner circle. You know, just trying to diffuse the situation or just plain awkward? Yes! Lol

Maddie lives at home and takes care of her father, who has Parkinson's. She only mildly resents the fact that her mother spends half her time in Ghana and her brother pursues his career, while she shoulders both the financial responsibilities and caretaking. Not to mention her unfulfilling job with her depressed boss who blames her for so much more than she should be blamed for. When Maddie's mother returns from Ghana, Maddie finally has the opportunity to live like a typical twentysomething, despite misfortune and tragedy piling one on top of the other.

Other reviewers commented that they alternately laughed and cried throughout this book. I cried more than I laughed, to be honest, but it is an excellent book and has a happy ending. #Maame #NetGalley

I absolutely LOVED this book. For the past several months, I've struggled to get through books, even those that I love. I rarely sit down for hours at a time and devour books anymore. However, I devoured this book in 24 hours. It was THAT good.

This book is beautiful, poignant, and heartbreaking at time. It teaches life lessons, and is such a fantastic coming-of-age story. It follows the life of Maddie, who is 25 and trying to find her way in the world. So many coming of age stories take place with younger protagonists, but Maddie, as the primary caregiver of her father (who has Parkinson's), has not lived the typical life of a young adult.

It is rare for me to find books that repeatedly make me laugh out loud, and even rarer to find books that bring me to tears. Maame managed to do both. I found myself so angered and hurt on Maddie's behalf at some points, but also completely cheering her on at other points. She is one of my favorite book characters, and not one I'll soon forget.

The writing in this book was excellent. I found myself highlighting several quotes and loved learning about Ghanaian culture, customs, and the Twi language. The story interjected text threads, google searches, and Maddie's inner dialogue amidst beautiful prose and moving passages.

This book taught me things, but most importantly, it made me FEEL. I rarely give out 5-star reviews, but this is unquestionably a 5-star book, and I suspect it will be one of my favorites of 2023.

I'll be recommending this book to everyone - but if you happened to read and enjoy Queenie (another book I adored), then I think you will absolutely love this one as well.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.