When the reader meets Maddie she is struggling with all aspects of her life, caring for an ailing father with Parkinson’s, pressures of work, racial issues, cultural issues, loneliness due to the stress of caring for her father as her peers are going out, a very poor connection with her mother and her brother. I actually felt the weight on Maddie’s shoulders and was caught up in her quest for change. Change comes, but not in the best ways for Maddie.
Jessica George created an interesting way for the reader to see someone in the throes of depression, the ways it can creep up on people, and the struggles with seeking help.
I was certainly invested in the storyline but struggled to connect with Maddie. George did an excellent job of giving the reader glimpses of Maddie’s childhood that created the hangups she is currently dealing with but I still struggled to connect with her. I totally struggled with her mother until late in the book when I learned her backstory.
Jessica George placed me in a position to better understand the racial and cultural biases that occur in every day life as well as an emotional journey of someone dealing with depression.
Many thanks to Jessica George, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published book.

This book is going to be a real crowd pleaser. Maame is a sweet coming of age story that will be very relatable to most folks.

Maame is a powerful and unique coming-of-age story. Maame lives in London, feels stuck and questions who she is and who she is meant to be.

This is a story about relationships, love and grief. Rooted in family and friends. This story hits on some heavy topics but the author is really thoughtful about the heavier topics - racism, loneliness, loss, depression and couples the story with love, friendship and career.

Definitely recommend this book! Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC. Maame will be out this Tuesday, January 31!

📖 This story is told from a first person perspective, main character being Maddie, a mid-twenties Londoner with some serious weight on her shoulders. Part coming of age, finding yourself, figuring out what the heck you are meant to do and be, all while balancing familial expectations and care for an ailing father, there were times I really identified with her but also just wanted to give her a hug. This novel transported me back to that time of my life, when you’re trying to make your own way but with uncertainty brimming at every turn. One of the parts I really loved were her “rules” she set for herself as she made an effort to branch out:

The NEW Maddie

🍹 Drinks alcohol when offered
🙌🏻 Always says yes to social events
👗 Wears new clothes
🥘 Cooks new food
🧳 Has different experiences (travel? brunch?)
🚬 Tries weed or cigarettes at least once (but don’t get addicted!)
💄 Wears makeup
💕 Goes on dates
🔥 Is not a virgin

I enjoyed experiencing Maddie’s growth as she navigated moving out on her own, friendships, dating, and establishing a career. I loved all the thought-provoking themes, including mental health, grief, racism, dysfunctional family relationships, sexuality, and the unfair burden society often places on women.

💜 Overall I found this novel to be beautifully written, and despite tackling some heavy topics, made it equally hopeful and heartbreaking. I could not help but compare it to Queenie as I was reading–I hate to compare books because each is so special in their own way but this is high praise as Queenie is one of my most recommended reads.

❗️ Favorite line:
“I’m sure there was a time when I was happy, but how do you measure that? How do you know if you’re genuinely happy or if you’re just mostly all right, with sprinkles of laughter and occasional shit storms of sadness? Maybe I’ve only ever been all right.”

I started this literary fiction last month and it didn’t stick (hello mood reader) but im so glad i picked it up again. It was both saddening and heartbreaking, yet it contained elements of humor that provided elements of relief from the heavy emotions. The combination of heartbreak and humor created a well-balanced reading experience.

Maame (ma-meh) in Twi has many meanings, in Madeline's case it means "woman" but it also means "the responsible one". This name fits Madeline because she's been caring for her sick dad since she was 12 yrs old but you could say the name was predictive of her future.

When her mom finally returns from Ghana Madeline gets the chance to move out and start living a life of "firsts". It doesn't take long for tradegy to strike and for Madeline to spiral into feelings of guilt and depression. Please please research trigger warnings ⚠️ this book deals with HEAVY stuff.

If you’re a fan of literary fiction, you’ll likely really enjoy this book!

Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my gifted copy!

Maame by Jessica George will be published on Jan 31st and i highly recommend you read it!

A beautifully written novel with great character growth and development. Engaging and moving! A fantastic debut by Jessica George.

<b>Jessica George's debut <i>Maame</i> takes on big issues of race, culture, and the challenges of growing up between two cultures while shining in its details: wonderful dialogue, messy moments, and the main character's hard-won self-discovery and growth.</b>

<blockquote><b>Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.</blockquote></b>

Young adult Maddie's life in London is exhausting. She's the primary caregiver for her father, who has Parkinson's disease; she pays the bills; her mother spends the majority of her time in Ghana yet manages to micromanage Maddie's religious faith and life from across the globe; her older brother never seems to be around to help; and she's the only Black person at work with a boss who shifts all of the blame and none of the accolades her way.

Her nickname, Maame, has long conveyed upon her a womanlike responsibility about which she has mixed feelings, when she stops to think about it. But there's little time for introspection when so much needs doing day to day.

When her mom shows up from Ghana, Maddie jumps at the chance for some independence; a late bloomer, she finds a flat share and revels in finally being on her own. Maddie is inexperienced and has been somewhat isolated in her caregiver role (although she has close friends, who are wonderful characters in the story), so she's got a lot of learning to do and mistakes to make.
But she seems destined to be continually pushed around and taken advantage of--by her family, her boss, her flatmate, and her love interest.

That is, until she decides that she simply isn't going to take it anymore. Tragedy, misfortune, and a passionate desire to take charge of her life together spur a satisfying turnaround--with plenty of realistic missteps--and show Maddie her own inner strength.

Jessica George offers a wonderful story with messy moments of love, some humor, big issues of race, loss, anger, lies and betrayal, and underneath it all, the constant, stressful push and pull between Maddie's two cultures.

<i>Maame</i> explores Maddie's search to establish herself in the world, and I loved rooting for her the whole way.

This is Jessica George's first book. I can't wait to read what she writes next.

The issues of race and of young-woman Maddie making her way in the world in London in <i>Maame</i> reminded me somewhat of <i>Girl, Woman, Other,</i> Bernardine Evaristo's interconnected stories about Black women in contemporary Britain.

I received a prepublication copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

<b>To see my full review on The Bossy Bookworm, or to find out about Bossy reviews and Greedy Reading Lists as soon as they're posted, please see <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-maame-a-novel-by-jessica-george/"><i>Maame.</a></i></b>

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I loved this book. Sometimes books come at the right time, and this one did for me. But I'm not sure there would have been a wrong time. It was all the things: family drama, light romance, coming-of-age, women's fiction, friendship fiction, diasporic fiction, humorous, current ... just everything I was looking for right now.

Maddie Wright is the person in her family who takes care of everything and everyone except herself. Her father has Parkinson's and she lives alone with him while her brother pursues his entertainment career and her mother travels between London and Ghana, where her parents are originally from. Though she has hopes and dreams for herself, Maddie feels strongly that she needs to be the one to hold down the homefront, since no one else seems inclined to do it. Then her chronically absent mother announces that she is returning from Ghana for a year, so she can take over the care of her husband, and she urges Maddie to move out and make a life for herself.

Consulting Google message boards, as Maddie does for most of her decisions, Maddie decides to make some serious changes and become the kind of person she never had the space to become before. She wants to date and lose her virginity, smoke, drink, and take her career in publishing more seriously. And to Maddie's surprise--and the persistent soundtrack of her self-doubt--a handsome suitor presents himself, as does a new apartment with flatmates who could become friends, and the possibility of an unanticipated but exciting development in her career. But even as she embarks on what seems to be a new life, Maddie is still carrying a lot of baggage from the old one. And eventually, it all catches up with her, forcing her to reckon with who she is in her family, and in the new world and life she is building for herself.

With the light touch and tone of a rom-com, Jessica George managed to meaningfully address some very heavy subjects-depression, chronic illness, cultural identity, race, sexual discovery ... like I said, all the things. This didn't read like a debut novel; it read like the work of someone adept at giving readers just enough to understand where the characters are and what they feel without belaboring the pivotal moments in the fear that we won't recognize just how pivotal they are. The dialogue was clever and snappy without being trite, and the main character, Maddie, nicknamed Maame ("Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman."), endearing and relatable.

The significance of the title is revealed in the novel, and becomes key to helping us understand who Maddie is in her family when we meet her, and who we have the delightful experience of watching her become. A great read! Thank you NetGalley!

Audiobook note: I listened and read. Both experiences were equally positive. The narrator is exceptional. I could almost believe she is Maddie.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Maddie is a mid-twenties woman that is not having a good time. Graduated from university - she keeps bopping around Admin jobs trying to find where she fits. On top of that, she has become the caretaker for her father who is deteriorating from Parkinson's Disease. Her mom is back in Ghana running the business she inherited from her father. Maddie's brother is not there, while older, he does his own thing and leaves Maddie to handle it. Maame has multiple meanings in Twi, her parents native language, but the main use is for woman. Maddie has been called that all her life, which implies that she is a woman, capable of handling everything. However, that is not true.

When mom comes back from a year-long trip away, Maddie takes the chance to escape and start her life. Her mom will be home to take care of her dad and pay the bills. Maddie moves out and decides that she is going to start doing a lot of things different. Offer her a drink - sure! Go for a better job - absolutely! Lose her virginity - heck yea!

The book winds through Maddie's time and loss as she navigates her new world.

While the character is a Ghana/British black woman, I completely related to her story on the aspect of putting everyone else first, being a people pleaser, and shrinking when you do not want the spot light.

I loved this book and look forward to her next writing.

Comparisons to QUEENIE are very apt, though I preferred this book. It did take me until the second half to become invested in Maame as a character. There were some lovely meditations on grief.

“I ask if you think you’re well-loved because it’s easy to conflate being well-liked with being well-loved. There’s often a misconception that to be well-loved, the love has to come from multiple sources, when truthfully, one or two people can love you with the strength of ten. Do you have people in your life who love you with the strength of many?”

I was thrilled to get an eARC of Maame from the publishers and Netgalley, and truly enjoyed reading this coming of age story. Maddie, a 25 year old British-Ghanaian, deals with family issues, grief, jobs, creativity, friendships, dating, and mental health, and not all well (mostly not). The story begins with Maddie caring for her father who is ailing with Parkinson’s, and we soon learn why the nickname Maame, Twi for “woman,” carries so much weight.

What really leapt out to me here was the strong characterization. By the end of the first chapter, you KNOW clearly who Maddie is. Her voice and those of the other characters, especially her mother, are vibrant. It definitely deals with heavy topics in an intimate and careful way, and her moments of bravery felt really earned. That this is author Jessica George’s debut is exciting because she’s got a bright future in storytelling.

I recommend Maame to anyone who likes coming of age stories, novels about immigrant families, or first person emotional journeys.

Did Not Finish @12%

Nope. Nope. Nope.
Here are just some of the problems I had in the 12% I was able to finish:
1. The writing is very, very, juvenile. It feels more like a [poorly written] YA book than an adult novel.
2. The MC is completely unbelievable. There is no 25 year old [unless they have been kept in a commune or a cult for their whole lives] that doesn't know all the stuff that Maddie doesn't know. I completely understand sheltered, as I was [along with the religious aspect] very much sheltered, but she grew up in LONDON. Went to school AND Uni. The amount of googling is insane.
Example: A guy asks for her number and says that they should go out sometime and she immediately wants to google what that might actually mean [SERIOUSLY??] Mind you, in the previous chapter, she is all about moving out so she can have a man over? Contradiction much?
3. Her friends are gross. Her boss is extremely gross. WHO wants to go to lunch to listen to a friend berate them over the fact that they are not having sex and then listen to them go on and on about their OWN sex life? Much less hear them say "You are wasting your 20's, where its all about getting as much as d*ck as possible"? EW. No thank you.
4. She lies. All the time.
5. It was all about the shock value and it was gratuitous and crude. What I hoped was going to a really great read, was not. I am very disappointed.

I was asked to read/review this by St. Martin's Press and I thank them for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I almost gave up on this one at 10%, and again at 55% but I kept listening and I’m glad I did. While it takes a while to warm up to Maddie, she definitely grows on you. She’s smart but naïve and inexperienced in a lot of things due to having to take care of her father but the true joy is going along the journey with her to becoming the person she’s meant to be. I really enjoyed my time with her and found her to be caring and warm, trying to please everyone all the time and eventually learning that it’s not possible. Her google searches had me laughing the whole time. Recommended for those who are willing to put in the work to get the treasure.

This is a coming of age story, which sounds funny since Maddie is about 25, but that was her experience. Since her mother was in Ghana, full responsibility of caring for her father who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, fell on her shoulders. When her mother returned, Maddie was able to explore what being on her own meant. Then tragedy strikes.

The book explores race and diversity but also grief. Maddie had the ability to be extremely awkward which just made me laugh. We can all relate to that! She googled everything and any question she had. She spent more time on Google than with people. For example, she Googled what to expect on dates, how to deal with grief and more. While that started as a hilarious side note, it quickly made me feel sad. This woman had no one in her life to ask these things.

While interesting at times, this was a little slow for my taste. Maddie carries a heavy load of Ghanaian expectations, her mother’s expectations, a nickname (Maame) that made her grow up too fast and so much more. I felt the weight of her afflictions. While I cheered her on with accomplishments, I overall felt the heaviness of her burden and did not enjoy feeling the weight. It’s a story about family, love, relationships and life. But also finding who you are. The writing was really done well and I believe many will love it!

AUDIO REVIEW: It was done well! Heather Agyepong portrayed emotions beautifully. She helped me get into Maddie’s head to fully understand the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the digital copy and to Libro.FM for the audio!

The book releases January 31, 2023.

a wonderful debut novel with believable dialogue, loveable and relatable MC Maddie, and tender moments regarding grief, depression, shame, love, friendship, guilt, and dating. seriously, you need this on your bookshelf NOW. Maddie was a phenomenal main character that I saw parts of myself in, and saw traits that I envy in her. when I think of what made this book great, it really comes down to Maddie. I’ve never loved a book character more, tbh. she was unique, down-to-earth and super funny and googled things that I also would probably google LOL.

I became so invested in her story, and was captivated from the very beginning. Maddie’s Ghanaian culture was beautifully woven into this, and it was interesting to see her whole family dynamic, and also how it changed throughout the book. I was tearing up through a whole chapter, but also giggling to myself and saving so many quotes for later, in other parts of the book.

heartbreaking, engaging, and insightful, this book is magnificent!! I definitely recommend to any and everyone, I know this will be a favorite of the year for me :)

Maddie is not happy or fulfilled with her life. She is the main caretaker for her father, who is in advanced Parkinson's. She makes an effort to change her life by stepping out of her comfort zone. Can she find love and fulfillment in her life by making changes she hopes will lead her into fulfillment?

I really enjoyed the second half of this book, but the first half was slow going. 3⭐

Maddie is a Ghanian-British young woman trying to navigate caring for her ill father, her unenjoyable job, and the increasing pressure she feels to move out and find her own way. She has complicated relationships with her mother, brother, coworkers, and friends, which sometimes makes it difficult for her to complete her "coming of age bucket list."

This was more of a coming-of-age, new adult story than I expected, with some romance built in at times. Maddie's best friends are amazing and were really the stars of the show at times. A lot of things come together for her at the end and I didn't predict all of them. I gave an extra 1/2 star for the ending, which I really enjoyed.

I will say that this book felt more focused on character development than plot development, which was a struggle for me at times. The first half was very slow and it didn't speed up until maybe the last 20-30% of the book.

⚠️ illness, death, sex scenes that don't seem completely consensual

HAPPY PUBLICATION WEEK TO MAAME BY JESSICA GEORGE!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

Where to start? This book is a must-read. Full stop. I will continue talking about it of course but I really could just end it there. The debut novel by Jessica George is a breath of fresh air in the contemporary fiction genre.

Maddie is not exactly where she thought she’d be in life at age 25. While most of her friends are out chasing their dreams, making new connections, and figuring out who they are, she still lives at home so that she can be the caretaker for her father with advanced Parkinson’s disease. Her mother spends most of her time working at her family’s hostel in Ghana, and her older brother is local but refuses to contribute any help towards the care of their father. She feels isolated, overwhelmed, and burned out.

Ever since she can remember, her mother has called her “Maame” meaning woman in Twi. When she was little she loved the nickname, but looking back on her life, she has realized the burden that came with it. Her family expects her to be the responsible one, the one who makes sacrifices for her family, the one who bears the weight of all their family stress and struggles.

Her mother finally moves back home for good and takes over the care of her husband, so Maddie takes the opportunity to move out and figure out what she wants and who she is. All at once she is trying to navigate her career aspirations, dating, sex, and relationships, being on her own, meeting new friends, taking risks, and so much more. Maddie is such a lovable and relatable protagonist and you can’t help but root for her to succeed. The author beautifully develops her character as she steps out into the adult world as a strong Black woman for the first time and fights for the life that she wants and deserves.

When tragedy strikes, Maddie hits rock bottom and must confront her all-consuming grief and guilt. It’s only at this point that she learns to open up, be vulnerable with friends and family, and finally ask for help.

I loved this moment between Maddie and her therapist:
“How do you feel about the name Maame now?”

“Before, I said I hated it, but I don’t think I do. I like the name. It can feel heavy and it won’t be what I call my children if I choose to have any, but it’s really a term of endearment. Well, it’s meant to be, so maybe what I didn’t like was how my family turned it into an excuse. The name Maame put a lot of pressure on me, but it also made my dad feel safe when he must have felt trapped and uncertain. It made my mum’s life a little easier and, ultimately, it taught my brother a lesson. It made me someone I needed to be so I could find out who I want to be. I suppose I owe Maame a great deal.”

This book is absolutely captivating and at times both triumphant and heartbreaking. I was laughing out loud on one page and crying my eyes out on the next. It forces the reader to evaluate their own life and the names they have given themself or given by others. Are these names our entire identity? Do we have a chance to change the way we view ourselves and the direction of our future?

Maame is a 5-star, all-consuming, late coming-of-age story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Thanks again NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this incredible read!

This beautiful story about love, loss and family is a must read. Maame, or Maddie is a woman of immigrant parents trying to navigate taking care of her father and his declining health while balancing a career, social life and trying to work on herself. As someone that lost their father recently this was such a moving and beautiful story about a father daughter relationship that I was able to relate to on many levels (and yes through many tears) but made me feel so connected to Maddie and her pain and grief.
I highly recommend this as a read and can't wait to share with family and friends who are looking for a great new book this year!

I will give all the stars to Maame. I absolutely loved it. It is the story of Maddie, a single woman living in London, trying to find her place in this world - at work, in love, with friendships and with her family. Maddie is such real, honest character filled with self doubt, fear, guilt and grief but also so much resilience, compassion, forgiveness, love and pure humor. I guffawed so many times while reading this book. The humor is dry and sharp. I held my breath as Maddie dealt with racism, misogyny and guilt from her own mother. And I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her as I watched her grow into a strong, self-sufficient and confident woman. I alternated between the audio and the physical book because the British accent of the narrator was amazing but there are texts and google searches and chats mixed in that I also wanted to see. You can’t go wrong with either format.