Maame by Jessica George is a tender coming of age late story. Faced with living in two worlds, that of her Ghanaian relatives expectations and her own desires, the protagonist has to carve her own way. Plenty of first, albeit later than most. You'll cheer for her as she finds her way.

A charming story that I enjoyed reading very much. At first I was a bit frustrated with the main character, as she came across as such a doormat. But as the story progressed Maddie came out of her shell, so to speak and really grew into herself. It was a very realistic story and wonderfully written. I highly recommend.

I received an ARC of Maame, by Jessica George. Maddie has a lot on her plate. Being caregiver to her dad with Parkinsons,. her mother back in Ghana, and being the only black person in her office. Something has to change for Maddie, she can't go on like this anymore.

Maame was so busy raising herself,taking care of her ailing father, getting her college education, and then working a demanding job with a boss who requires a minder, that she didn't get around to dating or having much of a social life. She loses her father, and her job before she finds what kind of career and man she really wants and sees the tree value of her Ghanaian background.

This book was far from my comfort zone, it’s not usually a genre I gravitate toward, but I’m so glad I read it! It was captivating.

A beautiful and realistic coming of age story that is heartwarming, heartbreaking, witty, stylish, and necessary.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60784605

Maame tells the story of Maddie, a young woman who has shouldered the responsibility of taking care of her father who has Parkinson’s while her mother and brother are self involved and unsupportive.. As if that isn’t enough Maddie has a difficult boss and when she moves out of her parent’s home adds roommate problems to her burdens. The author handles the issues of guilt, innocence, discrimination, and mental instability with humor and sensitivity. This was a. Impelling and engaging read.

What a book! I loved it so so much! Maddie (also called Maame) is such an interesting character. She is relatable, even though her experience is far from what I have lived. Her emotional development throughout this story is incredible and the book is filled with many amazing insights into dating, family, and emotional balance. Some unexpected turn of events were in there as well which made me cheer even more for the authors brilliance.

This will hands down be one of the best books I’ve read this year! Such a sad, powerful coming of age story for those in their 20s still trying to find their way.

I enjoyed the representation of mental health within the black community as well as the realities of micro-aggressions and working in predominantly white work spaces. This was a laugh out loud touching story of family and culture.

This is for all the women who had to grow up too fast. That didn’t get the family they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins’ Press for another amazing read. I look forward to what this author has coming in the future. My full review will be posted on my Instagram @readwithgen

I enjoyed this book. Maddie is an earnest, funny narrator (we're not supposed to quote from ARCs, but there are many examples I could cite - you'll know what I mean if you read it!). She struck me as both younger and older than 25 at different moments during the story: she's fairly guileless and naive, but shouldering some serious responsibility.

While she loves her dad, who is sick with Parkinson's, she's increasingly tired of being the only one living at home and contributing to his care.

Many of Maddie's early actions are (IMO) frustratingly passive to the point that they strained credulity, but Maame is a story of her growth and evolution. While I do think this book is predictable, I don't think that's necessarily the point - to paraphrase a cliche, it's all about the journey, not so much the destination.

Overall, I think this is a solid debut, and I look forward to reading more by Jessica George.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC.

Let's talk about Jessica George's debut novel Maame. I received a digital ARC to read and review via NetGalley and I am so incredibly grateful.

Protagonist Maddie Wright has left home for the first time and needs to figure out how to experience life and who she wants to be in that life. Though I often felt like she was a passive observer in her own life, the more I read, the more I realized that that was exactly who I was when I first starting living life on my own terms. Following Maddie's story felt like going back in time and reliving that journey into adulthood.

Jessica's writing felt raw and honest, like it came from personal experience (and I have no reason to believe it didn't - my own life experiences feel very similar to Maddie's). Each new character that was introduced reminded me of various people I have met in my own life over the years, grounding the story in deeply into my own reality.

Were there parts that felt a bit predictable?
Yes, but I also read a lot of books and watch a lot of television.

Did that take away from my enjoyment of the book as a whole?
Absolutely not.

Maame is the story that we all need right now. It reminds us of the naivety we have all dealt with at one point in our lives and that we all experience life differently, everyone is dealing with their own unique set of problems, and you can never truly know what someone else is going through.

My only complaint about this novel is how much I cried while reading it. Jessica's portrayal of grief and the grieving process was spot on, bringing me back to recent losses in my own life that had me incapacitated in much the same way. But never fear! This story also has healthy doses of humor sprinkled in amongst the heartache.

Love and loss, family and culture, laughter and tears, and a tiny hint of some spice thrown in made this novel a joy to read from beginning to end.

Maame by Jessica George releases February 7, 2023 and is available to preorder now wherever books are sold.

Overall, enjoyed Maame. However, after awhile the day to day break down of the main character 's emotions and tasks became tedious.

Maame's main character is Maddie, a twenty-five year old woman living in London. Her parents are originally from Ghana and have raised her with their traditional values. Her older brother James is off pursuing his own interests and her mother spends most of the year managing a hostel in Ghana. But Maddie is who holds the family together to the detriment of her own life. She has been lovingly called "Maame" by her family her whole life. But the affection of the name is fraught with a deeper meaning: the one responsible to make sure the family is cared for emotionally and financially.

Her father is in the final stages of Parkinson's, she is fired from her job, her mother asks for money and James steers clear of any family involvement. When Maddie's mother finally returns to London to help care for her disabled husband, Maddie has the freedom to move to an apartment, try dating, make new friends and pursue a new career at long last

The story may sound dire but there is humor and tenderness as Maddie navigates adulthood. She constantly Googles for advice about things most women her age understand. She has a special relationship with her ill father and learns about her mother's past which explains why she is far from a typical, caring mother. Maddie and her brother also come to terms with their relationship as well. Friendships, love and career are areas where Maddie grows and matures as well.

This book provided an enjoyable escape. The writing and story line kept me turning pages. I look forward to more from this author. This is a wonderful, if delayed, coming of age filled with interesting characters and heartfelt family ties. You will be cheering Maddie on as I did and wish the story did not end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this uncorrected digital copy.

This book is slow going. On chapter 7 I am wondering why I am still trying to read it. The book was given to me as a free copy to review. So I keep reading.... Maddie has moved out maybe now it will get more interesting. I read other reviews and some say this is a coming of age novel. Maybe since it has been so long since I "came of age" I cannot relate. I tried and I feel bad, however, I stopped about 75% through. I did rate this as a 3 star as it would not be fair to give it a one star for my preferences. I'm sure there are a lot of readers out there that just love this book. I am just not one of them.

This was a wonderful, emotional book that is heartwarming, heartbreaking, uplifting, hopeful and sometime humorous all at once! Jessica George has created, in Maddie, a wonderful, strong character who struggles to discover who she is and what she wants in life, while caring for her ill father, and working full time. At 25, she is hoping for a real career, to be on her own, and perhaps find love. The author's writing style is unique, modern and very refreshing, as Maddie turns to Google for the answers to many of her life questions, since both her mother and brother are largely absent from her life. Maddie is a character I instantly liked, because she was so honest and real! I loved this book! I did receive an advanced copy from the publisher, author and Netgalley and I am glad I did. Will be looking forward to more books by Jessica George!

Maame. Brilliantly written by Jessica George. A very moving, charming and joyful book. A coming of age story that will hold your attention from beginning to end. I truly enjoyed reading it and it’s a Definite summer pic.k. Thank you to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Maame is a beautiful story of a young woman struggling to find her place in life amidst the demands of her sometimes selfish family. She struggles to demand more for herself from her job, her family and her friends. She slowly learns that she must become her own strongest advocate and value herself. It is a strongly moving story of a young woman finding her voice.

Maame is an utterly beautiful story of a woman finding her way with her family, with her career, with her relationships, but most of all with herself. Maddie is so relatable as a young woman who has always been the dependable one in the family. She cares for her ailing father, while her mother and brother are basically missing in action. As a self-proclaimed “people pleaser,” Maddie takes on a lot; her journey of self-discovery is honest and poignant. This book is both funny and heartbreaking (I laughed out loud and shed tears while reading). The themes of racism, family dynamics, sexuality, depression and friendship are handled with so much sensitivity. The character of Maddie will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me feeling all the things. It is a coming of age story and the author is not afraid to handle difficult topics. Maddie is the main character and her self-discovery is beautiful, heart breaking, and still relatable. I can tell this book will quickly be a best seller. Thank you for the opportunity to read this, I can’t wait to get my hands on a hard copy!

"When people are ill to the point of no return to full health, to the person they used to be, some don’t have the stomach to stick around. We don’t appreciate being reminded of our own body’s weaknesses, our lack of control and inevitable mortality."

This is the story of Maddie who's been spending her twenties taking care of her dad who has Parkinson's while her mom is helping with the family business in Ghana and her brother is living his own life instead of helping out. When her mom comes back for a year, Maddie finally moves out and starts living the life she's been missing out on.

I fell in love with Maddie's voice almost immediately. She's struggling yes, and there are cases where she makes choices that absolutely drive you mad and there are situations that make you so sad for her but you also know she's resilient and strong and you can't help but root for her.

"It’s an ordinary week within the most extraordinary circumstances because apparently—and this is what everyone fails to mention about the grieving process—I still have to live."

There are several other topics explored in this story with the central one being around grief, family, racism and friendship. It's a really beautiful novel that I read in one sitting. Can't wait to read more of this author.

with gratitude to netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.