Sometimes a book is so good, I regret the other five-star reviews I've given because this novel is just SO much better than those other. Maame is one of those novels that I wish I could give six stars.

Is it fair to call a book a coming of age story if the main character is 25 years old? Late bloomer Maddy, raised in London by Ghanaian parents, is referred to in her family by the endearment Maame, which means woman in Twee, because she's "always been so mature and responsible." Maddy has delayed her launch into adulthood because she's stayed home to care for her father, who has Parkinson's. She has a degree in English Literature but hasn't been able to advance beyond administrative assistant roles at the publishing company where she works. She's a virgin, doesnt drink. and has few friends because she doesn't feel able to date or spend money, responsible as she is for helping to support her family. Her mother spends every other year in Ghana, and her older brother is moved out with his own life, leaving Maddy feeling solely responsible for her father's care. We meet Maddy just as she's beginning to spread her wings.

In a thoroughly modern treatment of how a young adult navigates the modern world, Maddy is constantly googling every question that pops into her head: how to help a roommate who's been dumped, how to ask for a raise, how to fill out a dating profile online, and so on. The results are hilarious and touching at once, relatable as we all do this nowadays and poignant in how they illustrate how alone Maddy is in finding her way in the world.

I love how particular and yet universal Maddy's story is. Obviously I am not a young, Black, English woman struggling to get a foothold in my career, dealing with a disabled father, dating for the first time-- yet I thoroughly related to Maddy's guilt, anxiety, inner critical voice, work frustrations, and sexual yearnings-- while at the same time feeling grateful I was being given a window into a life so different from my own. Maddy is a vulnerable human you cannot help but root for-- a bit like Bridget Jones but deeper and more thoughtful and lovable.

As an aside: I loved the sexual tension that builds as this 25-year-old character is just beginning to explore her sexuality. One of my secret fantasies involves an innocent girl, first times, deflowering, etc., but I suppress those fantasies because it seems wrong to fantasize about a sexualized young teen, even if the teen in the fantasy is me. How clever this writer was to put all of these experiences on a grown woman; this has opened up a whole new pantheon of fantasy possibilities for me! I also loved the realism of how unfortunate some of her early sexual experiences were.

I loved her friends and acquaintances, her co-workers, her family relationships, her career struggles, and her financial issues. I just loved everything about this fully rounded woman-- and watching her actually become one. I highly recommend this novel.

Ahhh, this book was a delight. The characters are very well done. I also loved the writing style. I really connected with Maddie and saw similarities between myself and her. It made the story flow quickly for me. I foresee great things for this author

While I didn’t always love the content on this book, I loved the main character and the writing was phenomenal. I loved following her journey and evolution through the book. Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to experience this audiobook.

Maame is a nickname for Maddie, whose parents are Ghanaian immigrants in London.

Her mother is MIA back in Ghana and Maddie is the sole caretaker of her father with Parkinson’s despite her broths living in close proximity.

Brutally taken advantage of to be caretaker, financial funder, life-giver-upper, Maddie struggles with building her own life in her mid-20s. Then her mother (who tells her to give everything to God constantly) comes whirl-winding back to London and Maddie has her chance .

This is a story of overcoming, of finding your own way, wrestling with guilt and finding the ties that will ultimately bind us.

This book made me feel-I really hated some of the characters-but that was ultimately ok.

Well done.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was so good. It was a story of family and grief. Maddie was such a compelling MC. I felt all her feelings with her and my heart just broke for all she had to go though. This was beautifully written.

I loved this book. I loved Maddie. I loved how unique her voice was, although a voice that we could all identify with in our own way - because aren't we all unique. Her growth is wonderful to witness. It highlights the joys and frustrations of life. The parts to celebrate and the difficult parts that you want to hide from. It was realistic, it was heartbreaking and it even made you laugh at times. A truly wonderful book. I loved Maddie's voice. Her perspective on her own life and her inner struggles. A must read!
Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

I really thought I would enjoy this more than I did. Don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy it. It was an emotional story about a 25 year old woman who found herself dealing with tragedy and finding her place in the world. The idea is great. It’s the execution I didn’t connect with.

I say this because it just felt too familiar. I found that I was reminded of too many other books I’ve read previously and that took away from my enjoyment of this one. I felt like I had read this before and knowing that I haven’t, that’s not a fun feeling to have with a book.

Now it definitely does bring in plenty of important topics from racism in the workplace, physical relationships, online dating, being a primary caregiver for a relative, dysfunctional families and the power of friendship. I can’t complain about that. It’s really just the vibes with this book - that feeling that I’ve read it before - I can’t get past it.

The narrator took this to another level. You can feel the emotion through the voice of the narrator and it’s amazing. It’s clear the narrator connects with the story and it’s amazing to listen to.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audio version!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Maame by Jessica George, is a coming of age novel. It is pronounced ma-meh. I thought the narrator did an excellent job. Her voice was authentic, clear and engaging. This book is about Maddie, who is 25-years old and a late bloomer. Maddie lives in London and her mother spends most of the year in Ghana. Maddie is the main care-taker of her father, who has advanced Parkinson's disease. She has a brother that does not help her at all. I felt that Maddie's mom was very critical of her and was using her for her money. Maddie is definitely a people pleaser. Maddie decides to move out of her parents house and begin a lot of "firsts." You will see how she navigates life, grief, love and family. You will see her growth by the end of the book. I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged from the very first page. I was really invested in Maddie's journey. I laughed and I cried. I will definitely be recommending this book to my book club. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the audiobook.

“Maame” is a novel set in London about a young woman Maddie who has spent much of her early adulthood as the sole caregiver for her ill father. The rest of her family is largely absent, her mom taking care of a family business in Ghana and her brother trying to make his own way in London. Maddie has shouldered a lot of responsibility and has missed out on a lot of life experiences typical of those in their twenties. Having realized this, her mother comes back to London and Maddie decides it’s time to take this opportunity to make her way out for the first time by finding an apartment and roommates, learning to date, and taking her career more seriously. “Maame” is well written and really engages the reader. The audiobook and narrator were wonderful and it was hard to step away from listening. Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press.

Maddie [or “Maame” (Ma-Meh)] is a mid-twenties British Ghanaian woman who lives at home, limiting her growth and opportunities to care for her father, who has Parkinson’s disease. Despite living in Ghana for long stretches of time, her mother manages to be overbearing and directive. Maddie just wants to catch up to where she “should” be at her age but depends mainly on Google for advice.

MAAME s a painfully emotional book, but worthwhile as it deals with grief, race, sexuality, and familial guilt. I was uncomfortable reading it - I had so much sympathy for Maddie, but her poor/uninformed decisions (fueled by her isolation) hurt my heart. Maybe I’m too old for “coming of age” stories. Or at least for this age: a woman in her 20s navigating the minefield of modern dating and expectations. I cringed and ached for Maddie but remained hopeful her resilience, wit, and intelligence would see her through.

As a narrator, Agyepong adds to the story immensely. Her voice and accent were instrumental to the character development.

Thanks, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, MacMillan Audio, and Jessica George, for the Digital Review Copy and Advanced Listening copy of MAAME. US Pub Date: 31 Jan 2023

I liked this book overall, but did not finish it. I found that it was a little slow in the pace of the book and I didn't connect to the main character. I did appreciate the storytelling regarding Maggie's father and her burden of taking care of everything at home. Her mother was an annoying character, but that seemed intentional. I liked Maggie googling a lot of things to learn more about how to "adult".

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio for the ARC of this book!

I loved this book. The narration was great, it was laugh out loud funny at times and so enjoyable to listen to.

Maame, is in her mid 20's and a virgin. Her mother is very demanding and is always right, but left for Ghana years ago because even though she isnt divorced, Maame's father wasnt the greatest father or husband. He thought being a father was having a roof over his family's head and food, so her mom who wanted more left for Ghana. Soon after Maame's father developed Parkinson's Disease, and even though Maame had a brother, he moved out and mostly stayed away, so Maame's life was basically, school, work, and taking care of her father, who just kept getting worse. So that meant no fun, friends, and her social life was next to nothing..

Finally, her mom decides to come back for a year and Maame's lifechanges. For the better. She finds a flat with 2 other girls, who are the closest to having friends she's ever had, and she starts to live her life. She meets an older man, Ben, who is incredibly rich and he is so nice to her. They date and Maade really likes him but shes so inexperienced it's funny, laugh out loud funny, especiallyon audio because Maade uses Google for EVERYTHING.. And sometimes using Google to navigate everything is very funny. I think this book is great for anyone is looking for a funny, cultural book and it was a pleasure to listen to. 5 stars

I absolutely loved this multi-cultural, coming of age story that tackles some tough issues with wit and charm. Maddie faces aging/ill parents, online dating, mental health and a variety of other issues facing almost every millennial but also through the lens of a woman of color. This story held my interest and will be one that stays with me for a while.

Maame by Jessica George was a 5 star read for me. This debut novel was really good and I hope the author writes another. It’s about family, self discovery, betrayal and acceptance. I really can’t give this the praise it deserves. My words fail me to explain how good I thought it was.
The audiobook version was narrated by Heather Agyepong and she was perfect. I highly recommend this one.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

4.5 stars
I loved this! I thought it explored a wide range of themes while still following a good through line. I thought the narrator was well chosen and conveyed the story beautifully. I think the difficulties and complexities of parentification, and the naïveté to adult life that can result were really poignantly written here. Maddie as a character was very compelling and felt realistic. Her anxieties felt like a displaced adolescence and I’ve known people who went through similar in their adulthoods for various reasons. I also appreciated the frank approach to sex, and the difficulties of female pleasure in a world that focuses on the man—but I also liked that this subplot ended on a more hopeful note. Overall, delighted to have received a ARC of this audiobook! I’ll be reviewing on TikTok and Instagram in the coming days

Thank you to the author, Jessica George, publisher MacMillan Audio, and as always, NetGalley, for providing me an advanced audio copy of MAAME in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Maddie has, since her childhood, been called by every person in her family <i>Maame</i>. In Twi, her family's native tongue, this word means many things, but most prominantly it means "woman." It means "mother." Perhaps unsurprisingly, Maddie grows into a woman who embraces her role as a giver to her own detriment, perhaps without even realizing how her own choices and actions play in to her circumstances. But life has a way of showing a subservient woman what she's really made of, and that she's not as invisible as she suspects she is. As she encounters the difficulties and disappointments existence has in store for her, she discovers unexpected opportunity to challenge everything she ever believed. About herself, and about life and death.

MAAME is a story about identity, intimacy and relationships, and grief, and how these things intersect to change the parts of us that we might believe are indelible. I love how George works important themes into this story. She includes a subplot about professional confidence and intellectual property conflicts, about which I would love to see fiction address more. She also includes a subplot about Maddie's trouble with painful intercourse and her struggle to make her intimate partners consider this issue; such a common problem for women that never arises in fiction; I was engrossed and completely invested in Maddie's search for satisfying intimacy.

MAAME's form is lovely. George writes the book in chronological order, but composes the novel of small bits of story that all relate to the central conflict from a different angle. Some bits had to do with Maddie and her dad, some with her mom and brother, some with the rest of her rather large family, her career, her efforts to find a romantic relationship, her pursuit of help with her mental health crises. These ropes of story start out as individuals, but they push up against each other, lean against and support one another as the story progresses. The effect is not as fierce as a traditional narrative arc. It's understated, and beautiful.

Rating 🤰🏾🤰🏾🤰🏾🤰🏾🤰🏾 / 5 "Mother" nicknames
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: January 10 2023
Read this if you like:
👩🏾‍🦱 Women's fiction
✒️ Literary fiction
😥 Stories about loss and grief
👤 Stories about identity and psychology
💁🏽‍♀️ Coming-of-age-only-in-adulthood

What an absolutely incredible read! Maame is an amazing, well-balanced, and incredibly relatable coming-of-age about becoming the woman you want to be. It follows Maddie, a mid-twenties young woman who never puts herself first, and covers family expectations, mental health, caregiving, and learning to navigate life. If you've ever felt lost in life, Maame is the perfect read for you!

I adore Maddie and her story. I loved going along on her journey of growth. This made me cry and laugh. I think the narrator is awesome and added so much personality to the character and story.

My review from reading the e-book last year:
I loved this book. It covers so much from mental health topics, race, women's sexual pleasure (or lack thereof?), family dynamics & issues, death, dating, etc. Maddie is such a likeable character and I found myself rooting for her success and happiness. Also, Maddie mentions both Lizzie McGuire and tamagotchi so that earns her even more likability points from me, lol.

Maddie lives with her father who suffers from Parkinson's Disease. She is in her late 20s and has never lived on her own. We follow along on her journey of moving out of her father's home, internet dating and getting fired. I feel this was well-written for the reader to experience along with Maddie her hesitancy, excitement, boredom, grief, heartbreak, and growth in so many aspects of her life.

4+ stars for Maddie and her journey of learning.

Thank you to the publisher via netgalley for the early copy to read and review.

This narrator was lovely and so multi-dimensional. Her acting -specifically grief scenes with Maddie’s mother - was gut-wrenching in the best way. Had to stifle a sob.

I was considering DNF-ing this one around the 60% mark - it is not exactly a “light” read - but I’m so glad I didn’t. I was plugging along and all of a sudden I realize I’m crying, because Maddie is so ME in so many social and mental health aspects.

In discussing how “fine” she is, and not depressed, and some many people have it worse than she, Maddie’s therapist drops this pearl in:

“A person’s troubles are not measured by the size of those troubles, but by how much they weigh on the individual carrying them.”

Read this. All generations will identify with these characters. Even in the midst of wanting to throttle Maddie’s mother, I found myself putting myself in her shoes.

Fantastic narrator for the audiobook. Great characters and a fascinating story about a young woman who goes on a journey of finding out who she is. Explores family relationships and how cultural customs impact one’s way of thinking. This was a book that left me wishing there were more chapters. I wanted to know what happens next in her life! This is a character I want to follow through her journeys.