I loved this book. The voice was so fresh and real. It was a hilarious, easy read for me and I enjoyed it tremendously. I see it as a coming of age novel that many of us raised in another culture can identify with. I also related to the introversion tendencies of the young female main character and her self imposed duty to a family that didn't particulary appreciate her. I see the yearning to belong as a huge theme. My only issue with this book was there was a bit of a preachy tone when it came to assimilation. Otherwise, very well done and I look forward to more from this talented new to me author. Thank you, Jessica George, Net Galley and St Martin's Press. We need more books like this!

This is more like 3.5 stars rounded down.

It took me a long time to get into it, but once i got through the first quarter i really got into the book (i stayed up too late to finish it even!). Still, though, i didn't like most of the characters very much and had a hard time understanding their motivations. This really improved in the last third of the book, but that feels a little late for me. This was a coming-of-age book but for someone in their 20s--i think part of what made it hard for me to relate to was how much of the truth of the book was ENTIRELY happening in Maddie's head, and all of her relationships, even with her very closest friends, were predicated on lies and silence. It was a challenge to connect to a lot of it as a result. But, as i said, it came together well in the end.

I received an advance copy from Net Galley, and let me tell you... I did not enjoy this book. I think the story line was one that I was just not that into. Honestly, it took me a long time to drudge my way through this. I kept asking ,myself, what is the story line here...why are we concerned with Maddie's life... I did not find anything that I enjoyed about this book, and was disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy of this book!

Maame (Maddie) is a young, black, professional who is mature beyond her years, and carries the weight of her family (and the world) on her shoulders. Besides normal stresses from trying to “begin her life”, he dad succumbs to Parkinson’s and she is dealing with early days of that.

This book is fantastic! So realistic, and so many storylines that accurately portrays the pulls on one’s life. Career, family relationships, friends, culture, racial boundaries, finances, love, our dreams and expectations from others, and ourselves, all have pressures - and we feel like we need to succeed in all. We can’t figure out why we are sad and lonely in life! Why do we feel this way? Our life is no worse than anyone else’s, others also have big problems. Yes, but no one person has the exact same combination of stresses, and outside factors affecting our ability to deal with it all at once, and in the time frame it all hits the fan.

My descriptions above makes this book sound depressing. It’s not. It’s real, it’s eye opening, and it has you nodding your head in agreement. You cheer for Maddie, you feel frustrated for her, and I was both relieved and sad to no longer be in my youth. You are grateful for her friends, but also another layer to wade through with that dynamic. Maddie is also dealing with extreme grief and guilt. I found her emotions accurate and real, as well as other’s advice valuable, and reactions to sympathy in her early days. I highlighted several passages that were good advice from friends, touching comments from those who could relate, and excellent comments from the therapist. This book shows how much we are all dealing with, and the need for more mental health services, and removing the shame and stigma of using those services.

I can’t not wait until this book is launched and on sale to the masses. It will be moving and force great discussions. I will recommend it to people in every stage of life, it can resonate with us all. I wish it so much success! 4.5 stars

Maame was a delightful book. It's the story of Madelaine/Maddie/Maame and her exploits with her father and her boyfriends. She is 25 years old and is of African decent. She is also a virgin. Her father has Parkinson's. She has a brother, James, who is no help at all. Her mother spends all her time in Ghana and is, of course, no help either. So all the responsibility for her father is on her shoulders, accept for the fact that he has a carer who is there part time. In the beginning of the book she is still living at home. But as her mother is preparing to come home, she decides to move out.

Not long after her departure, her new flatmates, Jo and Cam invite her out to a pub. After a while she wants to go home because she wants to prepare a cake for her father's birthday which is the next day. But Jo convinced her to stay. She has too much to drink and sleeps in the next day. Her phone wakes her up and it's her mother. She tells her that her father had died. Maddie takes the news badly and blames Jo that she didn't get home in time to see him before he died.

Her first boyfriend,Ben, is the one who takes her virginity, 2hich she shares with her two closest friends, Shu and Tia. With him she comes to realize that she doesn't like sex. It's just too painful. In the course of their dating he invited her to a birthday celebration at work. Apparently, he has forgotten that he invited her, because when she arrives she sees him with another woman. She thinks nothing of it. He goes to her and asks her what she's doing there. She reminds him that he invited her. He then is called on to give a speech. The other woman descends upon her and tells her that she and Ben are dating and that he has taken her to meet his family. This unhinges Maddie and she leaves, and as a result breaks up with him.

Enter Alex. She meets him on-line and learns that he's bisexual. At first she doesn't know what to make of it but decides to go with it. She has sex with him and doesn't like it a any better than she did with Ben. She decides to be honest with him and tells him. This is a non-starter with him. He tells her that sex is very important to him, so that ends that relationship.

Jo is white and she breaks up with her on again off again African boyfriend, Sam. At Jo's birthday party, Maddie and Sam have a conversation that leads to them dating. He takes it slow with her. Eventually they have sex and it's more than she could have imagined.

In the end we find her at her father's graveside having a conversation with him, where she tells him about Sam.

Early on, she had submitted an unfinished manuscript for possible publication which is rejected. At the end of the book she receives correspondence asking her to rework it and submit it again. It is a fictionalized story about her and her father.

I definitely enjoyed this book and will read it again. And I would absolutely recommend it for book club. I give it five stars.

Maame...family caregiver, friend to some, anxious employee, struggling millennial, unsure of herself and others. Once tragedy strikes, Maame allows herself to grow into the woman she was always destined to be--strong, respected, and loved by many. This is a beautiful coming-of-age story full of heart and soul. You will truly find yourself cheering for Maame, grieving with her and hoping her tragic story blossoms into her happily ever after.

In Jessica George's debut novel, 25-year-old Maddie has put aside her dreams to take care of her disabled father, while working in a thankless job as personal assistant to an impossible boss. Her mother spends a year at a time in her homeland of Ghana, working in a family business, and provides little financial or emotional support to her daughter. And her older brother begs off when asked to help out. Maddie has a couple of supportive friends, but her dating life and her personal life have taken a huge hit for eight years.

I was interested in the story at first, and it's an easy book to read, but Maddie's never-ending complaints and failure to take action to improve her life soon wore me down. The problem for me was with Maddie's first-person narration. The way she expresses herself seems flat and didn't allow me to form any kind of bond with her. It's true that Maddie's life is often frustrating and disappointing, but she never seems to demonstrate much personal warmth or engaging personality. In addition, there is not as much about Ghanaian customs and culture I had hoped for. Maddie lives and works in London, doesn't speak the Twi language, and feels out of place and unwelcome when she visits Ghana, so it's up to her relatives to remind her of her heritage. There are also infrequent details about the characters that are fun but never followed up.

The story does lighten up in the latter part of the book, which I appreciated. I believe that the author is quite talented, and I am confident that her style will mature as she continues to write.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Maame is one of those books that will stick with you for a long time. It’s about grief, growing up, depression, honesty, and those days in your twenties when you don’t know which way is up.

Maddie has a job she hates, a dad she loves and cares for, and not much social life. Her mom is non-existent in her life along with her barely there older brother. She gets fired from her job, and makes several changes in her life quickly. Her dad passed away about halfway through the book and we see her growth and journey after he dies.

As someone who lost their dad very young, I can relate to the grief and helplessness. I really loved when Maddie went off on her family. The pressure she was feeling was so evident and they took advantage of her people pleasing.

I felt a lot of parallels to my own life with this book, including with men, dating apps, and sex.

I’d fully recommend this novel. I’ll be thinking about this one for awhile.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this novel got me. Maddie’s was such a charming and specific character and she kept off the page. I loved her journey and personal arc as a young woman trying to find her place in the world while effectively tied to home due to her sense of responsibility (and the rest of her family’s lack of it). I adored her use of Google and her internal thoughts.

It’s the kind of story where you know she’s going to face many personal and profession challenges, but I just hunkered down with my fingers crossed that she’d come out of top. I think there are many elements to the story that readers will relate too and the writing itself was engaging and wry.

I think a lot of reader are going to be bowled over by this book.

Maame, by Jessica George
challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0 stars

Jessica George does a great job telling Maame/Maddie's story - eliciting the complexities of trying to find who you are as you enter adulthood - professionally, socially, romantically. Maame (meaning "woman" in Twi) also has the weight of her family on her shoulders as she cares for her father in England which she has since she was a pre-teen and her mother began spending time in her home country of Ghana for months at a time. She doesn't have close friends because her mother has told her she can't share about what goes on in the family home. Maddie's interactions are also through the lens of a young Black woman navigating predominantly White spaces.

Maddie's story of growth and self development is told through narrative, Google searches, and the voice of "new Maddie's" subconscious. In many ways, the style of writing and plot reminded me of Bridget Jones' Diary.

So much of her experience resonated with me and I found myself laughing out loud as she explores a night of fun, groaning as she makes choices that seem questionable, and weeping for her as she experiences grief. The author takes care in exploring the nuanced and challenging relationships in Maame/Maddie's life. As someone who is the age of Maame's mother in the book, it brought back a lot of the intense emotion of that season in my life and an appreciation for how those experiences shaped me into who I am today.

#Netgalley

This book is super dusty. It's just be treating along and bam, dust in my eyes. Clearly there are parts that are meant to be this way, but the raw feelings that Maddie shares really hit hard. I loved the role technology plays in the story, It really is one of the characters and the way those passages are woven into the story is so natural. I also enjoyed how much I laughed, which was surprising for a book about loss and grief and mental health. And finally, I really enjoyed the peek into Ghanaian culture. Even though her background set Maddie apart from so many of her peers, her family & cultural challenges were super relatable.
I'm looking forward to recommending this one to friends and reading more from Jessica.

With a mother who spends part of the year in Ghana, Maddie has been her father's primary caretaker. At the age of twenty-five, Maddie feels it is time to move out and experience more of life. As her mother is due back, she feels this is he perfect time to spread her wings and start standing up for herself. Not an easy thing to do when she's always been a people pleaser and not one to rock the boat. Enjoyed reading Maddie's journey of self discovery and growth and the culture and traditions of Ghana.
#St. Martin's Publishing Group #NetGalley

maybe more than any book i've read, the main character of maddie really spoke to me: her thoughts, insecurities, naïveté, and relationship with her family and ghanian culture. i saw myself in her-- the way she bears responsibility, feels intimidated by others in the workplace, struggles to ask for a seat at the table, and most of all, how she views herself. maddie is called "maame," a twi word basically meaning "woman," by her distant mother, and this book unpacks her complicated relationship to that term of endearment as someone who, at 24, is still growing up, experiencing "firsts," figuring out what it means to be loved, and learning what the world expects from her and when to fight back.

i feel like a lot of fiction books and popular culture idealize the idea of one's "twenties" but this one offered a refreshing, witty, and real take. though the circumstances of her life may have been different, maddie's inner state of mind and how she processed grief and just life in general felt so familiar--like i was reading my own thoughts back to myself. this work is clearly very personal to the author for many reasons.

4.5 stars!! thank you to netgalley, jessica george, and st. martin's press for the arc in exchange for an honest review :D

Maddie, a young Ghanaian woman is the caretaker for her father, suffering from Parkinson's, working a thankless job and living a lonely life in London. Her mother is absent but controlling. When the opportunity for independence arises, Maddie goes for it. The story focuses on Maddie as she navigates through young adulthood. She uses Google searches to get advice with friends, dating, work and family as she finds her way. I found myself loving this couragous, heartbrakingly honest and authentic character. Jessica George created Maddie brilliantly. Maddie's growth and coming of age, mistakes and all, are relatable, painful, joyous and very real. I laughed, cried and didn't want to finish this unforgettable book.

Maame by Jessica George tells the story of Maddie (Maame) and her late coming-of-age. Maddie lives with her father, who has Parkinson's disease, as his primary caretaker. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana and her brother, James, is usually out of town or unavailable. Maddie feels incredible responsibility for her father's care and has basically put her own life on hold. She is stuck living at home at 25 years old, has a job where she is treated poorly, doesn't date and has few friends. She realizes that she is unhappy but doesn't think she can do anything to change her situation.

Her mother decides that she will return from Ghana for a year and that Maddie should move out. Maddie agrees, finds a flat and starts to go out and meet people. She finally finds a guy she likes. They date and she starts to check things off her personal bucket list. Without revealing too much of the story, suffice it to say that we see Maddie make changes to her life and her outlook. We also see her make some stupid decisions and deal with the consequences. In effect, we watch Maddie grow up and learn to take up space in the world.

George's writing engages the reader quickly. I found myself rapidly ensconced in Maddie's life and her trials. I did find part of the story slow-going and I wanted to yell at Maddie to open her eyes. Or actually her mouth to communicate her feelings. Much of the story felt somewhat predictable, but I did enjoy watching Maddie realize that she can do great things.

Maame is a Twi word for "woman/mother" and is Maddie's nickname, bestowed upon her by her family. Although she is the youngest, she has the most responsibility for her family's well-being, physically, financially and emotionally. It's a lot to put on a 25 year old first-generation English-Ghanaian woman. Maddie's growth throughout the story and her rebellion to the box "Maame" puts her in is inspiring to all who have felt pushed into a box by their family and situation.

Thank you to #StMartinsPress, #JessicaGeorge and #NetGalley for an #ARC of #Maame

What beautiful coming to age story! Maddie the main character had me crying, cheering and celebrating the beautiful women she aspires to be. I felt this kindred spirit to her as a people pleaser and missing out childhood because you have taken on the adult responsibilities in your family.

This story is for every mother, family traditions, and all daughters wanting to be their own person.

Maddie’s life is not what she thought it would be, taking care of her sick father, a mother who is rarely home and a brother she almost never sees.

She is given this moment where she can do something for herself a whole new Maddie. But then tragedy happens, she blames herself. Can she move forward and forgive herself?

Can’t wait for what is next from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for copy of this book for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was particularly moved by Maddie's relationship with and love for her father. Although she is the youngest in her family, Maddie has assumed all the responsibilities with little if no help from her mother and brother. She moves out for the first time when her mother returns from Ghana for the year. This becomes a coming of age novel as Maddie tries to check off the experiences all of her peers already have had. Many of the new situations she finds herself in are presented with a touch of humor. She is navigating roommates, career, dating and yes, still trying to hold her family together. I enjoyed the writing style and Maddie's internal conversations and expressions of self doubt. I was always rooting for her and on her side.

Maame is the beautiful story of a young Ghanaian woman living in London. She's 25 and has been the sole caretaker of her infirm father. Her mom lives in Ghana half the time, and she's quite estranged from her brother, James. When her mom makes a visit home, she insists that Maame move out and make a life for herself, which Maame, or Maddie as she is known socially, does. She moves in with some girls, and begins dating. Maddie's life goes from mediocre to awful, and major depression sets in. With the help of her sweet girlfriends, and a little professional help, Maddie lets herself be known, and healing begins to set in.

This book is well written. I feel like I really know Maddie, and that made this reading experience a little depressing. The ending is beautiful and redeems some of the sadness.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Maame.

Maddie is from Ghana but now living in London. As a young woman, she should be going out with friends, dating, and growing into the woman she was meant to be. Instead, she lives at home taking care of an aging father who is homebound, suffering from dementia, while her mother is supposedly running a business in Ghana. Her mother continually asks Maddie to send her money while she lives a secret life. Though Maddie's father has a man who helps four days a week, she is still ultimately responsible.

This is a familiar story of the child caring for the parent but with the twists of multiple cultures. As a child and caregiver should Maddie bend to her Ghanan culture, or with her new life of London culture? Which direction is best for her and is that the one best for her father? When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie finds that nothing is the way she imagined it to be.

A fascinating read and look into other cultures. An eye opener when Maddie finds out her parents aren't who she thought or expected them to be.

The new novel Maame by Jessica George marks a solid, interesting debut by the author.
The story tells of a Ghanaian young woman, Maddie, and her fair share of struggles trying to establish her independence in London while living with her father, who has Parkinson's, and taking care of him while her mother spends months at a time in their native country.

When Maddie learns her mom will finally be coming home, she decides to move out on her own for the first time at age 25. The book was enjoyable but I did not care of the main character who lets people walk all over her and tells constant lies. She was not very likable to this reader, but I did like the story as a whole.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my review.