Overall had significant trouble getting into this book. The writing was good but I don’t think it was the story for me

Maame!! How I loved this book and this character! I haven’t loved and rooted for a character like this since Eleanor Oliphant. This book had so, so much heart and beautiful messages that were exquisitely articulated. I loved the character-driven story and focus. I also appreciated the focus on micro aggressions and lesser-, harder-to-recognize forms of racism. Loved, loved, LOVED this book!

3.5 stars for this book for me. I loved the main character, Maddie, but I found some of it hard to trudge through and a little bit slow for me. I did love how everything kind of came together at the end and I found myself rooting for Maddie!

I absolutely fell in love with this book, when I read it way back at the start of 2023. yes I am catching up on these reviews right now and I will say its gonna be fragmented. it poured in me so many emotions and its truly a powerful story on family, mother and daughter/ mother and father relationships, and all about growing in life,

This is a wonderful debut novel, with an engaging story and characters that I really connected with (I am always nervous about reading a debut novel, but in this case I needn't have been!). I also really love the author's writing style, and this alone will have me coming back to this author again, given the chance!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This is such an incredible book! Maddy is a young adult living at home as the primary caregiver for her father who has Parkinsons. Her parents are separated, though still married, but her mother lives in Ghana most of the time. Maddy has an older brother but he is enjoying his own young adult life and is not able to support her and their father financially or otherwise. When Maddy's mom returns from Ghana it is the perfect opportunity for Maddy to have some independence and freedom, she moves out of the family home, takes on a new job and some new relationships, things are going fairly smoothly until tragedy hits and Maddy's life changes more than she anticipated. This is a story about navigating love, life and loss in the early twenties, but from the perspective of someone who had to grow up so young.

There was so much about this novel that spoke to me. I started listing off the similarities between Maddy at 25 and me in my early 20s and my husband said "wow, it's basically a book about you". Most of my annotations were related to these connections, but I also noted how much I loved the character development and writing style. This is such a well written and beautifully crafted story. It is emotional and heartbreaking, but also inspirational and endearing. Definitely worth picking up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher @stmartinspress for giving me the opportunity to read and review this incredible book.

This was a lovely story made more beautiful by the authors way of writing. Heartwarming and engaging. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

This book went somewhat viral last year. At least within my circles. It wasn’t a quick read for me but something inbetween my other reading.

Maame was an excellent and engaging debut novel from Jessica George. I will definitely be looking out for future books from her

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This was a wonderful debut that was had a rich plot and vibrant characters.

Maddie is stuck between two worlds in a sense. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana and she is the primary caretaker of her father with Parkinson's in London. She is trying to move out and be on her own, but she is feeling guilty for not caring for her father properly.

There are many disagreements between mother and daughter in this story and they come together after a major life event to be honest with one another.

There are many different layers to this novel that touch on big topics such as racism and family dynamics.

"Maame" by Jessica George is an exceptional book that left a lasting impression on me from start to finish, I was captivated by the story and the profound impact it had on my emotions. This book is an absolute gem that I wholeheartedly recommend to readers of all genres.

I really enjoyed this book! It was one of my book club's selections for last year and we had a great discussion.

3.5 stars !

“ Sometimes I think of love as pieces of one heart. I love someone, I break off a piece and give it to them. There are not so many because that way each piece is substantial, but without a doubt, my dad has one of the biggest pieces I have and will ever give. It cannot be replaced. It is his forever.”


This is a Emotional well written story, coming from age story. I liked the writing style ,the character and overall storyline.

Maame is heartfelt, insightful, funny, devastating, and hopeful all at the same time. Author Jessica George delves into the complexities of identity, family, and the search for belonging, as the protagonist Maddie navigates a challenging life in London, where she cares for her father battling advanced stage Parkinson's while juggling a demanding job and the complexities of being the only Black person in her workplace. Throughout the novel, Maddie works towards changing her path while facing unexpected setbacks, tragedy, and betrayals.

"Maame" is a moving and thought-provoking read that resonates with readers on a deeply emotional level. George's skillful storytelling and vivid character development make Maddie's journey one that readers will not soon forget. It is a book that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of love and friendship in overcoming life's challenges.

An emotional book that I had a hard time putting down. The main character was easy to care about and I related to situation because my mother has Parkinson's Disease just like Maddie's dad. Maddie has so many things that stress her out at such a young age and yet she holds herself together pretty well. She is definitely a people pleaser and needs to take more time to care for herself. She did not have much of a childhood thanks to her dad's health problems and the instability of her mom. I felt for Maddie throughout this book.

The writing is thought provoking and very realistic. Though the pace started out a bit slow I was thoroughly invested by the middle and very satisfied with the ending. I highly recommend this heartfelt book. This is a stunning debut for Jessica George, and I look forward to reading many more of her books!

I have voluntarily written an honest review and am very grateful to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this beautiful book.

I loved this book. A coming of age novel about a women who is experiencing all the things (racism, sexism, grief, family drama, romance, etc.). This is one of the best books of 2023.

A daughter is the one who holds down the family when the mother is away. But should she have to be the main caretaker of her father? Dealing with his doctor's appointments and making sure he is eating and getting exercise, so his disease does not destroy him. When she decides to take some time for herself, the inexplicable happens.

This is a great book about families and the relationships between mother/daughter, daughter/father, brother/sister, and husband/wife.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a free early review copy.

Loved the perspective of a new-adult immigrant woman - so different from my own. Loved the perspective of losing a dad - so similar to my own. The main character is young, sheltered, ignorant, and innocent all at the same time. Her decisions are frustrating to watch, but she does learn and grow. I suspect this is a book I'll be thinking about for a while.

Absolutely loved this novel - what a beautiful, breathtaking story - and it landed in my top ten for 2023. I am hopeful that the author will publish more of her work in the near future but, until then, I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thank you St. Martin Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC of the book.

This book describes Maddie's journey as she moves out of her childhood house, changes her job and starts dating.
It was one of those books where I wanted to hug the protagonist because I felt that she wasn't heard and seen by many people in her life. Even though it was a tough journey to find herself and her own voice, I enjoyed following her journey.
Jessica's writing style is beautiful and poetic.