This book was enjoyable but overall felt very much like a debut - the writing was somewhat unsophisticated, and several of the characters felt flat and underbaked. That said, it was clearly very heartfelt and I’m sure that it would resonate for the right reader - Maddie is easy to root for. On my end, I didn’t love it but will definitely keep an eye on this author.

Jessica George's Maame is a truly captivating read. With its emotionally-driven characters and storyline, you are taken on a journey with Maddie as she struggles to maintain her relationships and balance her life. The love and loyalty she has for her family is palpable, and I was hooked from the very beginning. This book is a definite must-read.

Excellent debut novel from Jessica George. Maddie Wright has been dealing with being left by her mother and brother to care for her father battling late stage Parkinsons along with handling an unreasonable boss at a dead end job. When her mother finally returns to take over her father's care, Maddie is able to begin to explore the parts of being a young adult that she hasn't been able to thus far - dating, living on her own. Just when she's getting started, she gets fired and has to find a new job. After landing a new job that may or may not have a future and discovering just how difficult dating can be, another heartbreak occurs, sending Maddie into a tailspin. This book deals with many tough subjects - grief, family relationships, dating, job stress, racism - and does so well. I look forward to what George writes next!

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

Maame, in Ghanian, is given as a nickname to ne who is responsible for others like a mother,. In this story Maddie is Maame. Living in London and solely taking care of her father who has Parkinson’s Disease while her older brother makes every excuse to not be present and while her mother lives back in the home country, Maddie has so many expectations placed upon her at a young age. Not only at home but at work, she is a doormat. She doubts herself often and seeks answers how to navigate real life by “googling” for answers. At age 25, she has few friends and no love life. When Maddie’s mother comes back to live at the family home, Maddie rebels and decides to move out to finally live her life, if only for a year. Maddie discovers that trying to create a new life while not being true to yourself can be devastating. Through the ups and downs, Maddie does discover that she has true friends, what is truly important, and finds her inner strength. Walking with Maddie on her journey with her family, I felt a kinship with her and was so glad she had the true friends Shu and Nia to always believe in her. Having lost my own father to Parkinson’s, parts were very hard to read as memories flooded back but I appreciated the author’s authenticity to highlight this disease and its effect on loved ones. This is a beautifully written story showing familial/cultural connections with some sarcastic humor although there were some awkward moments. However, once I staring reading, it kept me engaged and I couldn’t put it down. I so wanted to see Maame (Maddie) embrace herself and find happiness. This is a story of hope and finding your inner strength.

Many thanks to #netgalley #maame #jessicageorge #st.martinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

“Comparison is no friend of mental health”

This debut thriller will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for 25 year old Maddie. She’s had to mature much faster than kids are supposed to as she plays head of household while her mother tends to their hostel in Ghana. Since she was 17 she is the sole caretaker of her father who has Parkinson’s. Depriving Maddie of maturing into adulthood, experiences, friendships, and relationships.

When her mother comes back for a year she makes the decision to set out on her own to finally live life. While Maddie has to endure death, friendship, dating, virginity, racism, cultural bias, and mental health you can’t do anything else but root for her and her happiness. A poignant story with bits of humor sprinkled in make this debut novel a compelling must read.

Maame is a coming of age story about Maddie. It show her path in becoming the primary caretaker of her dad who has Parkinsons. For me it was a slow paced read but was very witty!


Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the Arc!

Three stars. I enjoyed Maddie and her journey. I almost walked away at one point because it does move slowly and the Google inserts make it slower. HOWEVER, George created a character I was invested in and the characters weren’t flat. A good time was had by me and will be had by anyone who reads this.
Now I can also see this being adapted to a mini series.

In Maame, debut novelist Jessica George tells the story of Maddie, a self-described late bloomer who at the age of 25 is trying to juggle caring of her ill father (with no help from her mom or brother), moving out of the house, dealing with the microaggressions casually thrown at her by colleagues and roommates, and dating for the first time. With a mom who isn't exactly motherly and few close friends, Maddie looks for the answers to all her questions on Google. Readers are also given access to her inner thoughts, which reveal a woman who is deeply unsure of herself but also maybe stronger than she realizes. She's a character you want to root for and it was so satisfying to see her growth throughout the book. I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Heather Agyepong, who made the character of Maddie come alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the advanced copy of the book.

“Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.”

This book covers A LOT. Leaving home, racism, dating, friendship, self-doubt, sex, duty, illness, family, career, and and and.

It somehow manages, however, to not feel too heavy. Mainly, I think this is due to the main character’s weird mixture of maturity in some things (taking care of her ailing father) and immaturity in others (stunted, socially). One second, she’s talking about feeding her father, the next, she’s Googling about how to lose her virginity at 25.

I’m not sure if YA was the vibe I was looking for, but it toned down what could have been a tragic slog of a book.

This book has a lot going for it.

The stunning cover.
The growth Maddie undergoes as she explores herself.
The personalities of her friends and family.
Did I mention the constant GAD Googling?

I read this one with both my eyeballs and my earholes, and the narrator was A GIFT.

The plot was slow going, but I think it allowed the characters to cook a bit more than they normally might.

8/10

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Hodder and Stoughton Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for this steeped ARC.

MAAME is an absolutely incredible debut novel by Jessica George. You know the writing is masterful when you connect with characters and situations that are unfamiliar to you. This book will be on my mind for a long time!
In some ways, 25-year-old Maddie was forced to grow up early. She takes care of her sick father and the household as her brother is rarely home and her mother’s presence is basically non-existent. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie moves out, ready to start a new chapter and experience some ‘firsts’, but it’s definitely not a smooth road. I would describe MAAME as kind of a coming of age story, as Maddie deals with familial, dating, roommate, cultural and work related challenges and milestones, all the while figuring out who she is as an individual.
George’s writing style had me fully invested in Maddie’s journey. This book deals with tough topics, but the humour and wit helped carry the weight. It just felt so real and authentic. The pacing was perfect and this story didn’t lose me for a second.
I highly recommend, and can’t wait for its release so I can get it into the hands of everyone I know.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the absolute perfect coming-of-age story. The writing is vibrant, the MC is relatable and authentic, and the plot sucks you in. The author’s voice is completely new and fresh - totally unlike anything I’ve ever read before. This book hits on so many themes I love - cultural influence, self discovery, mental health, grief, friendships, sexuality, and so much more. This book will sneak up on you - it hits you with the snarky witty humor but then takes you by surprise with the emotional impact you feel by the end. 100% recommend this to everyone!

Maame is a coming of age story about Maddie. She finds herself becoming the primary caretaker of her dad who has Parkinsons.

She has the opportunity to move out and find herself. I loved the the story of Maddie discovering who she is and how to navigate her life.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Maame is a beautiful, tender story of a young woman fighting through unrecognized depression, abandonment issues, grief and guilt to learn who she is and what she wants, and blossoming into fullness. Maddie, a young British-Ghanian woman, has been the rock of her family for as long as she can remember. As sole caregiver for her father who has Parkinson's, she leads a quiet life of drudgery at home and at her low-paying admin assistant job where she is frequently the only Black person in the room, while her mother stays in Ghana (and regularly demands Maddie's meager savings to augment her own life) and her older brother flits around the world as part of a musician's entourage. When Maddie's mother returns to England for a year, Maddie takes the opportunity to move out of the family home and build a life for herself. Although there are setbacks and tragedies, Maddie must learn to cope with it all and integrate the "new Maddie" with the old.

Despite the somewhat heavy subject matter, this book is a joy. Maddie is brilliant and hilarious, and watching her grow into herself and find the strength to advocate for herself and untangle her messy family relationships was so rewarding. I can't wait to make everyone I know read this gem, and I'm excited for future stories from Jessica George. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book!

Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.

“It’s fair to say that Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced-stage Parkinson’s. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.”

When her mother returns, Maddie takes advantage of her freedom and moves out of her family home and into a flat share with other young women. She makes a list of things the “New Maddie” will do, things that other young women her age take for granted: drink alcohol, wear new clothes, say yes to social events, and go on dates. Maddie is just beginning to figure out who she is when tragedy strikes. It’s while grieving that Maddie learns the value of friendship, trusting your own intuition, and putting yourself first every once in a while.

You will find yourself cheering Maddie on the entire way. An incredible debut, Maame by Jessica George is equal parts funny and heartbreaking and will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced loss or tried to figure out where they belong in the world. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader’s copy.

This book!!!! What a story and I can’t believe it’s a debut. This reminded me that I am definitely a mood and emotional reader. A story about a British Ghanaian woman named Maddie. It’s about grief, guilt, sorrow, family, friendship, finding who you are and love. It has a bit of everything and I was rooting for Maddie the whole time. There were so many good lines in this story which I must go back and tag. I’m predicting that this will be a favorite for many in 2023.

Big thanks for Netgalley and St Martin’s press for my electronic arc and physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: February 7, 2023

What an incredible read. It was moving on so many levels, but ultimately uplifting. At the age of 25, Maddie is the primary caregiver for her father, who has advanced Parkinson’s. Her mother spends long periods of time in her native Ghana—and by long, I mean one year at a time. So life at home is a serious, sad affair. Things are unfortunately not better at work, where Maddie has to deal with a boss who has raging anxiety and depression, on top of always being the only Black person in the room. When her mom comes home from Ghana, she suggests that Maddie move out, so that she can spread her wings and hopefully find someone to marry. But moving out becomes an incredible opportunity for Maddie to explore all aspects of her life and make some drastic (yet realistic and relatable) changes. The journey is heavy at times to follow, as the author manages to make all of Maame’s emotions come through so clearly; but it is ultimately a fantastic opportunity to learn more about our own selves and to gain insight into what our friends in similar situation—being the main caregiver to an ailing parent and being the only Black person in the room, amongst others—might be going through.

This book has left me in a very fragile state of mind and I didn't even realize it was happening until it was over, but wow I really loved it. Maddie is such a relatable character for a number of reasons, and the way her story is portrayed absolutely floored me. I loved the combination of stream of consciousness and first person description, which made me feel like I was in Maddie's head and experiencing things right along with her. While this is a story of learning who you are, it's also a story of grief, acceptance, growth, love, and mental health.

I don't want to say too much, as I don't want to spoil a single moment, but I believe every woman who feels like a late bloomer or like she's stuck in a rut needs to read this to learn that you are not alone in your feelings, and you will find your way through (even though it may take twists and turns along the way).

Highly recommend and need this for my physical bookshelf.

Maame. Woman. But Madelyn (Maddie) Wright is so much more than that. She is a caretaker to her father who is battling Parkinson's disease and a mother who spends more time in Ghana than with her family and sick husband in England. She is a sister. She is a friend. She is a compassionate. She is funny. But she hasn't quite figured out what she wants to do with her life, as she is the sole caretaker for her father.

When her mother comes back to England for a year, Maddie is given an opportunity to move out & have a few normal 20-something life experiences. She makes a list of what the "new Maddie" should do. She meets a new man, gets a new job & things seem to look up. However, when tragedy strikes, she struggles with the guilt, grief and loss. There's no right way to grieve. She must look to her own mortality & decide what she wants to make of her life. Even as she stumbles along the way.

I really enjoyed this story! I loved her quirky family dynamic and her complex relationship with her mother. Her journey through her grief and self-awareness towards her mental health were a privilege to follow along with. Some great dialogue and fun characters, this book had equal amount of heavy discussion and fun energy. I especially enjoyed how much she Googled things - I completely related to that! Anyways, she was a great character & i loved her!

4.5/5 stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Maame in exchange for an honest review.

This is the kind of coming-of-age story that I love to read. Unconventional, with depth that you can relate to [actually, actually relate to] and with heart that just won't quit. I found myself wholeheartedly rooting for Maddie - I think every reader can find a bit of themselves in her. Whether it's that guilt that weighs on us as we think about our families or taking care of sick or aging parents or trying to balance and understand the line between becoming yourself and staying true to where you came from, I found this poignant and lovely. 4 stars for a lovely, lovely read despite being hard to get through at times [mostly from the relatability!!]. Loved.

I heard a lot about this book, and I looked forward to reading it. However, I found it to be lackluster, at best. I enjoyed the last part of the story, but I struggled to engage with the majority of the book. It was more depressing than I expected, and I found some plot points triggering. I wish I'd seen seen some trigger warnings in advance.