What a wonderful story of growth and family. Gabby doesn't have it easy as her father's caretaker as her brother waltzes around the world and her mother spends a year at a time in Ghana. When she finally has a chance to branch out, she is enthusiastic about experiencing life, but definitely has a lot to learn. (Which she Googles as she goes, often without finding a helpful answer.)

I adored Gabby. She is a classic people-pleaser and her journey to finding a way to prioritize herself and speak her mind to those that seem to take advantage of her is so fun to watch. I was enthusiastically cheering her, especially when she was ready to stop putting up with everyone's nonsense with a take-no-shit attitude!

The story isn't always easy with some challenging topics. Jessica George included each of them for a true purpose and handles them delicately.

I enjoyed this book, but it won't stay with me forever. Gabby is a lovely character and I can see how others have connected with her story so wholeheartedly. That said, for me it is one of those books that I'll talk about fondly and recommend, but probably won't be thinking about until the end of time.

Maame is a beautifully written story about a woman discovering herself amidst family, conflict, and struggles. The story and especially the character of Maame are well written and developed. This book was an enjoyable read despite the situations that Maame finds herself.

Maame is a solid debut novel that tackles themes of grief, growing up, and constantly feeling "behind" in life. Our main character Maddie is described as a bit of a "late bloomer;" she's 25 and still lives at home as the primary caretaker of her sick father. She doesn't mind this role at all, but it also means she hasn't experienced a lot of life up until this point. The story's catalyst is Maddie finally moving out and learning how to live on her own for the first time. It's very slice of life as we follow Maddie through soul-crushing entry-level publishing jobs, dating disasters, her first time living with roommates, and all of the everyday racism, sexism, and microagressions you'd expect along the way.

I enjoyed my time with this book for the most part. The audiobook narration is fantastic, the conversations on Ghanaian culture were fascinating, and the writing is so natural, accessible, and easy to fly through. I also thought the author did a really great job of immersing us in Maddie's inner-most thoughts and anxieties, which were refreshingly honest in their naive confusion. (Ex: Should you knock on the door of your new roommate? Can you get pregnant if you're on the pill? What's it like dating someone bisexual? How long until I start feeling better after losing a loved one?) Whether or not you admit it, I think we've all Googled our fair share of silly shit like that.

That said, I do agree with other reviews that Maddie did get a bit frustrating at times given how juvenile her character was written. But if you personally relate to Maddie, this probably won't bother you as much. (Or at all?) I also felt like this book was just a bit *too* slice of life for my taste. There's very little plot and mostly just vibes and things that happen *to* Maddie. That's not necessarily a bad thing, it just didn't quite click with me. I wish there was a little bit more pushing the story forward than just following a character through a few months; I enjoyed the writing, just never felt quite invested in what was happening either way.

If you have any sensitivities, I'd recommend checking out the content warnings for this one as it does get pretty heavy. But overall I think this is a good book, just not a new favorite for me personally.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy through Netgalley!

I just loved the fresh writing, and the rawness of Maddie’s world lens. The way her mental health is portrayed feels especially significant, and the first scene with a therapist is so emotional and impactful. I have experienced a lot of bereavement (to put a fine point on it) and I sympathize with Maddie but also want to reach through the page and shake her and give her all of my sage wisdom. That’s the mark of a great novel, you become invested in the characters. Loved it.

This was such an enjoyable and highly entertaining debut novel. The beginning starts out a bit slow-paced but soon picks up after a few chapters. The author covered so many themes from finding yourself, belonging, finding love, the importance of friendships, racism, family roles, grief, and dating.

I really liked Maddie’s character. In a lot of ways I think people will find her very relatable. She did overly use Google for everything which I found questionable but also hilarious because there are people who do this regularly. But that alone showed how unprepared for life Maddie was and because of that she can be viewed as very naive and gullible.

When she lost her father not only did that break her but it opened her eyes to see the world and people in it for what they truly are. She was ready to experience life outside of caring for her father but she wasn’t ready. Nobody prepared Maddie for the things she was going to endure once she was on her own.

I loved how the author addressed a real family situation. How when a parent becomes sick and taking care of them becomes the sole responsibility of one person. Then once the person passes away everybody so hurt yet none of them were around. Maddie didn’t deserve the treatment she received from her family especially her mother.

She had amazingly supportive friends. When Nia told her “Not everyone is capable of dating a black woman” I felt that and Maddie needed to hear it. With her not having much experience with dating or sex Alex was not the right choice for her. That’s why loved her friend Shu. We all need a Shu in our circle cause she did not play about Maddie.

I died laughing at her snarky remarks toward Alex after he showed up on Maddie’s doorstep. He was a loser and took advantage of Maddie especially when she had sex with him for the first time. Sam on the other hand was definitely a better pick even though them getting together was a bit shady.

The best part was the author addressing the reason behind Maddie being called “Maame” and its meaning in the book. Maddie didn’t like the reference nor what being referred to as Maame had done to her. She felt it made her grow up when she should’ve had more time. It caused her to be overlooked by her father as a child, her mother to leave her behind, and her brother to do the bare minimum.

Overall, this book was great and I do recommend you guys give it a read!!! Special thanks to the author, @stmartinspress, & @netgalley for my advanced readers copy.

All the love for this debut novel! Absolutely fell in love with Maddie and her irresistible charm, wit and honesty. The book has a delectable sense of humor while tackling subjects of culture, race, mental health, new relationships, responsibilities and finding happiness and purpose. It is so well written but also so easy to read. The cover is beautiful and colorful, just like the story.

Highly recommend! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. This book is available now!

This was Jenna’s Today Book Club pick for February, so I was thrilled to find this on my NetGalley shelf. I really enjoyed this book, the story of 25-year old Maddie who lives in London and takes care of her father who has Parkinson’s and also has a full-time job that she doesn’t really enjoy. Her mother lives every other year in Ghana and her older brother is never around, but she doesn’t complain about being in charge of her father and having no social life. Then her mother comes back and Maddie takes the opportunity to get her own flat, but tragedy strikes and the story goes from there. I laughed, I cried, I loved Maddie and how she grew throughout the story. I couldn’t put it down and read it in only 3 days so that’s a good indication of how much I liked it. Highly recommend it. ThNks to ;etgalley and he publisher for this advance copy; all opinions are my own.

A touching and dynamic exploration into all the ways that families are complex and complicated. Maddie was a soft but tough protagonist who was rendered with such nuance and care. I really felt what she was feeling and was with her every step of the way.

Maame is fantastic! It's unlike anything I have read, and I truly connected with and enjoyed this one. It's poignant and unique and just all of the great things I can think of.

Twenty-five year old Maddie (Madeleine Wright) has a lot of weight on her shoulders. She has a mostly absent and neglectful mother living most of her time in Ghana, who, when she calls, manages to be overbearing and demanding. Maddie’s older brother James?? doesn’t often return her calls, is chronically running low on cash, but has the money to travel and dress well. Maddie’s father, on the other hand, lives at home with Maddie. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease years earlier, and Maddie has been his sole caregiver since her teens, as well as solely responsible for keeping up to date on house and other critical payments.

Maddie works as an assistant for a mercurial and anxious boss. Maddie is constantly under fire from this woman, who expects Maddy to manage her schedule amidst all her other duties, while constantly sabotaging Maddie’s efforts. Maddy also finds that when she provides ideas, she’s not credited for them, and finds she really hates her work. She has also managed, with a lot of effort, to build herself a small savings, which Maddie has a hard time maintaining as her life radically changes when her mother returns from Ghana, saying Maddy has to begin living her life.

Maddie goes for it, renting out a flat with two other young women, and making a list of goals she intends to fulfil now that her mother is taking on her dad’s care. She goes on dates, goes out clubbing, and all seems great, then she’s fired without cause, and her relationship with one of her flat mates falls apart. And then the worst thing happens: her dad dies. It’s all too much, and Maddie, who already displays numerous signs of depression, begins falling apart.

Maddie is a very responsible person, but naïve and lacking in self esteem when she starts on her journey. She's too trusting in some cases, and gets burned for it, but she's also learning and maturing, examining how her mother's calling her "Maame" has shaped who she is and what she has allowed herself to expect from others.

Author Jessica George has created a sympathetic character in Maddie, who has so many losses but also awakenings over the course of this totally enjoyable book. I loved watching as Maddie dissects her familial, cultural, gender and professional expectations, and grows so much as she discovers who she wants to be. I totally loved Maddie and this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

In Maame, Maddie is a 25-year-old woman who is the primary caregiver for her father, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. It's amazing how you can feel a strong connection to a character even if you don't necessarily have a lot in common.

I loved loved this book so much! What a debut! What a voice! Maddie/Maame captured so much emotion and rawness, and vulnerability. I loved her, and felt like I could relate to her. I also really liked learning about Ghanaian culture. Some of my students are from there so it was really interesting to read about it. This story is unique, you will feel all the emotions when reading it. I love a good coming of age story and this one did not disappoint! I need to get my hands on a physical copy, this is one I will definitely be recommending!

This was an intense and moving read. Maddie struggles with caring for her sick dad while her mother is in Ghana working at her family's store most of the year and her brother travels the world for work. She feels responsible and stuck because no one else is helping. She suffers from depression, but due to cultural and societal norms, her concerns are dismissed when she tells her mother. When Maddie's mom returns from Ghana for a year, she offers to take care of her husband so that Maddie can move out and get on with her life. Not soon after, her father passes away and Maddie feels guilt for not being there since he died alone. Maddie goes through a myriad of emotions, from guilt, grieving and dealing with her depression, there is a lot to unpack. It's a moving story and tackles many interesting views on how religion, society and culture influence how we act and think.

Very well written story.
The story is about a 25 year old Maddie who is taking care of her father who has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. Her mom goes back and forth each year to Ghana, and her brother James doesn’t seem to be around much leaving all of the responsibility on Maddie. Her mom shares that she is coming home and able to move out, which Maddie does and the unthinkable happens.
The story of Maddie’s thoughts and feelings and going through trials and tribulations and her perseverance.

Let me start by saying that I don't think I have ever added so many tabs to any book before now. However, Maame is not just any book. This book was laugh out loud funny, absolutely heartbreaking, and incredibly relatable. I loved Maddie and her journey throughout this book. There were so many thoughts and actions of hers that I could relate to when trying to navigate life on your own. I was surprised to have enjoyed the stream of consciousness writing style as typically this is not a narrative style I gravitate towards. However, Jessica George's writing lured me in and left me in a puddle of my own tears!

Besides Maddie, we meet a relatively large cast of characters including friends, coworkers, and family members. I felt like every character received so much development and I had strong emotions about the characters I loved as much as the ones I would personally like to tell-off! I also really loved Maddie's friends Nia and Shu and how strong their friendships felt. As someone who has frequently lived away from some of my nearest and dearest friends, I found this dynamic so relatable! In fact, there were many aspects of this novel that were relatable - the struggles of dating, the pressures put on daughters to be caregivers, and the many ways that Maddie struggles to set boundaries with her family. In the Acknowledgments, Jessica George discusses how parts of the book are semi-autobiographical and while of course I have no way of knowing for sure which parts she is referring to.....there are so many parts that reflected experiences I've had with navigating complicated family dynamics and grieving. For that alone, I am incredibly thankful that this book exists!

Another important aspect of this story is Maddie's family being Ghanaian immigrants to the UK. We see Maddie grapple with her family's culture and how she feels like she missed out on some aspects - especially the language of her parents. But we also see how her mom's cultural beliefs surrounding the roles of women have affected her life. One important example is the term "Maame" which is a term of endearment in Twi for the responsible one, little mother, or a woman who became one before her time. The name becomes symbolic of Maddie's entire life. Outside of her family we see how in her chosen career fields she is often the only person of color in certain rooms, but more specifically the only Black person in these spaces. She also struggles to date as a Black woman on dating apps where she is treated in an overly-sexualized manner. In both instances she encounters micro-aggressions and discriminatory behavior. We follow Maddie as she finds ways to stick up for herself and learns that there was never anything wrong with her, but rather there was something incredibly wrong with the people who were treating her differently.

Overall, this book was an emotional rollercoaster, but in the best of ways! I was hesitant to believe the hype surrounding this book, but am happy to report it has found a home on my favorites shelf. Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Maame is one of those books you don’t want to end. A gorgeous, poignant story that deals with dating, sex, friendships, family, and grief. Maddie lives with her Parkinson’s stricken father while her mother splits her time between her native Ghana and their home in London. Maddie is in her mid-twenties at a job she loathes and having never really lived for herself. As her life appears to fall apart in more ways than one, she is forced to figure out who she is and how the relationships she has impact her psyche and well-being. Maddie is the sort of character you want to make your little sister so you can help her navigate dating and friendships and to just tell her it will all be ok.

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

A deep emotional story about Maddie (Maame) who is 25 years old but is the primary caregiver for her sick father. Soon, she finds freedom with her Mum back in town. She’s experiencing new things (drinking, flatmates, and sex) but still is not feeling fulfilled. Not too long after she has moved out a tragedy strikes which brings her through a whole different set of emotions she is not prepared for. A rollercoaster of a story with deep sadness and depression to happiness and everything in-between.

Maame has a slow build up (imo) but it leads to a great story that can be sad but also feels comforting. I received an eARC and I was just reading a little at a time until I was about 30% in and then I was trying to get as much reading in before my phone reminder told me to go to sleep. Maddie’s character goes through so much in such a short time and it all flows together which takes great writing skills. I really enjoyed sinking into this one, thank you NetGalley!

This debut novel from Jessica George, blew me away and had me devouring every page. A charming yet deep, coming of age story about Maddie who is trying to break out of her shell as the caregiver of her family. This story packs so much depth, but will also having you laughing out loud as awkward and shy Maddie moves out of her childhood home, starts dating, tackles a new job and searches for acceptance, love, and independence. I loved Maddie's inner dialogue and her google searches. There is also themes of grief, loss, love, family drama and friendship. Maddie's personal struggles with caring for her sick father and her mostly absentee mother were raw, heartbreaking, and emotional. Furthermore, this story highlights the struggles of a black woman and how she must deal with micro aggressions and racism. I could not put this book down and I highly recommend this book!

Maame (pronounced ma-meh) was such an interesting exploration of grief (most specifically the effects of generational grief), friendship, dating, social cues, work changes, and ever-present moments of racism and sexism. The novel tackles the gambit. I think this would be perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine since we deal with a MC that struggles with fitting in, understanding how to interact in various social settings, is dealing with depression in a visceral way and the themes of grief. TW for death of a parent. I knew it was coming but it really hit hard in an unexpected way and the aftermath of picking up the pieces, with a rather estranged family and an outpouring of those claiming relation -since our MC is Ghanaian- is a lot. Our MC is also only 25 years old but has spent her entire life acting in the best interest of her family, to the detriment of her own wants or needs, due to how she was raised and familial circumstances. It's really an interesting view into what happens, with nature vs nurture, when the nurturing is not quite beneficial. This one is honestly difficult to describe in a succinct way because so much ground is covered. However, this would be a perfect read if you're looking for something hard hitting (in the feelings department), an exploration of life, love, and relationships, and dealing with mental health issues through it all.

I love this book. I wish everyone I knew would read it too.
I don't typically love character-driven books but I absolutely adored George's writing. Maddie is SUCH a relatable character, I found myself highlighting passages more than any other book.
Thank you so much for this copy to review! I will definitely be reading more of George's works in the future.