Maddie is a 25-year-old Londoner of Ghanaian descent. The novel opens with Maddie caring for her father, whose health has declined from Parkinson’s disease. Maddie’s brother and mother and not helping Maddie care for her father. At the beginning of the novel, Maddie has never lived on her own as an adult and hasn’t dated at all.

Maddie’s story is a coming-of-age story, as she attempts to step away from her obligations to her family and live a more typical life of a twenty-something. I appreciated her unique perspective as a daughter of immigrants and her point of view as the only person of color in the room at her places of employment and among her flatmates. Maddie shares her experiences dating and working in office spaces as a Black woman.

I also liked how Maddie googles so many of her questions as she attempts life as an independent adult. She is very naïve about dating and sex in the beginning of the novel. Maddie also experiences immense grief and a mental health crisis in the novel, and she was not raised openly discussing mental health, so she doesn’t reach out for help.

Maddie’s story is very character-driven. She is finding herself and learning to accept her flawed parents in this novel. While I was engaged in her story at times, it felt too long. The story could have been edited down. Personally, some of the detailed internal dialogue, conversations, lists, narration, and therapy sessions made the book drag on.

TW: Loss, grief, depression

At 25 years old, Maddie the daughter of two Ghanaian immigrants, has yet to really set out and live her life. Her father suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s, and with her mother mostly in Ghana and her older brother mainly keeping to himself, Maddie is the primary caretaker of her father in their small London home. With her mother set to return from Ghana for a year, an opportunity arises for Maddie to finally set out and see what the world has to offer. Recently and unfairly let go from her nightmare PA job, she finds a new job at a small publishing company and finds a flat that she shared with two roommates. As a late-bloomer, Maddie sets out experience a whole list of firsts. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is hit with an overwhelming number of emotions: anger, fear, guilt, depression. This story is of Maddie’s journey through love and loss and the struggles of truly finding oneself.

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My first 5 star read of 2023!! This book tackled SO many important themes in the span of Maddie’s journey to find herself. She is split between two homes and two lives as tries to find the perfect balance and discover what she truly wants in life. My heart broke for Maddie as she faces heartbreak, loss, racism, and the reality of a world that can be beautiful but also harsh and cruel. All her life Maddie has taken the responsibility of others but not really being able to live for herself. The title itself holds so much power: “Maame” which is Twi for woman, a nickname that Maddie’s mother gave her that eventually came to define her life. I was so angry with Maddie’s mother and brother and how they pushed so much responsibility on Maddie and never acknowledging her struggles. This book was beautifully written and while reading it I felt so many emotions as Maddie experiences grief and the effect and toll it takes on her. The author approaches the topic of Mental Health in such a raw and powerful way. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. this title is available now for purchase!

This book will leave you with all the feels!! Maddie the main character is faced with some really tough choices at a young age. She never really gets to go through childhood/teen years. She spends a lot of her time caring for her sick dad with Parkinson’s. Her mother splits her time between London and Ghana. She is very hard and critical of Maddie. She calls her Maame which has several meanings in Twi but mostly means woman- the responsible one. The connection between her daughter and mom is hard one to listen too. She is very critical of Maddie and it is heartbreaking. Her brother does not have time for anyone else. Maddie spends all her time caring for others and less on herself. After 8 years of helping her father her mother returns and Maddie now can go out on her own. She creates a life goals list to start to begin her life. She moves into a new apartment with some flat mates and starts a new job at a publishing company. There’s friendships, dating, relationships, jobs, roommates, and many more life’s ups and downs Maddie explores her new life’s goals. Such an emotional coming of age story. It’s beautifully written and will stick with me for a long time. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

aame by Jessica George is a coming-of-age novel with a female protagonist who grapples with her station in life. Maddie is a young 20-something living in London, but her life is far from glamorous. Her father has late-stage Parkinson's and she lives at home with him to be his main caretaker. Her brother is off living his best life, while her mother is gone for a year at a time to Ghana, living her own life. Maddie holds an assistant role at a publishing firm where she feels like the token Black person with a dispensable job. While her needs are pushed to the bottom of her list, she cares for everyone to the point of utter exhaustion. When her father passes away, Maddie grapples with crippling guilt and grief, while trying to establish her life outside of her family.

One thing that made Maame unique is that Maddie's story is told almost from her perspective, including her internal dialogue, text messages with friends, and random life questions she searches on Google. It made it fun to read because you feel like you are inside Maddie's head and you are feeling all the emotions along with her.

Aspects of mental health, specifically depression and grief, are highlighted in Maame in such a supportive way. I love that authors are incorporating aspects of mental health into their characters because it makes them relatable and three dimensional. Maddie's struggles with grief are all too familiar with many of us, as well as some of the major life events she experiences when it comes to friendship, family dynamics, dating and navigating sexual experiences.

⚠️ Content warning: racism/microaggressions, death of parent, grief, depression, coerced sexual encounter

This story follows Maddie and her life in London as she navigates through different occupations, love, loss, and life. Maddie is such a relatable and awkward character and I enjoyed every minute of her journey. She has a lovely coming of age story that reminds me a lot of Bridget Jone's Diary. This is easily my favorite book I've read so far this year!

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

I can easily see this being one of my favourite reads this year! I went into MAAME with 0 expectations, and was rewarded with an intimate, important look at grief & identity through the lens of a young Nigerian-British woman.

This is a character driven novel, with some light plot points that help steer the MC, Maddie's, development. Maddie is a twenty-something woman living in Britain, working in publishing, dealing with her absent mother (who splits her time between Britain & Nigeria), her ailing father, and her beloved brother. When her mother returns unexpectedly, Maddie grabs a hold of a life of freedom - moving out, finding a new job, new friends & new relationships. When grief strikes, Maddie's world shifts in an entirely new direction.

Admittedly, it took me a little while to get into this one, but I absolutely adored Maddie - her inner dialogue, introspection, observances of the world around her, friendships, relationships, and feelings all felt SO REAL. I send HUGE kudos to Jessica George, whose written a wonderful read that gives an unflinching glimpse into grief, which left me in tears and deeply reflective.

I loved this one & highly recommend it!

Wow! What a debut novel. This is easily my favorite book so far this year.

Maddie "Maame" Wright is a 25-year-old woman living in London who is the daughter of Ghanian immigrants. Accommodating, unassuming, and self-deprecating, she lives up to the traditional African name her mother calls her: "Maame." Meaning "the mother" or "the responsible one," this name has become Maddie's whole identity. She's so responsible and so used to taking on the duties of others that she's been living at home taking care of her father who has Parkinson's and paying for much of her family's bills--all while her mother lives in Ghana every other year and her brother lives his life, not helping at all.

The story follows Maddie's coming-of-age as she deals with family and work struggles, her first real foray into dating and sex, surviving the guilt of tragedy, and the ups and downs of finding her true self and voice--outside of the personality pressed upon her by her nickname. Author George switches easily between deep, emotionally resonant scenes and humor as Maddie relies on "Google" to give her help with everything from "What is it like to date a bisexual?" to "How do you know if you're depressed?" There are a few key scenes, too, that deal with Maddie finally recognizing and speaking out against the racial microaggressions she experiences--I really loved her friends' frank discussion about why some white men really date Black women.

Although I'm a middle-aged white woman, I loved this book. It's relatable, beautiful, funny, and heartwarming. You will cheer (I literally did numerous fist-bumps) as Maddie sheds her nickname, speaks up for herself, and starts to live life on her terms. READ THIS BOOK!

Much thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy in exchange for a review. This one is out TODAY (and might a @bookofthemonth choice, from the clue I'm seeing one my app!). It would be a great choice. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I really enjoyed this one! This story follows a young adult named Maddie, who has always been the dependable one in the family, despite being the youngest, as she takes care of her ailing father and works at a job where she is treated poorly. Her character shows so much growth over the course of the story and I loved seeing her learn how to speak up and stand up for herself. I am so glad that I decided to read this fantastic novel.

Maddie goes through so much over the course of this story. I hated the way that her family treated her at the beginning of this story. They didn’t worry about how her father would be cared for or how the bills would get paid because they knew that Maddie would handle it. When Maddie finally does something for herself and moves out on her own, tragedy strikes. She has to deal with family issues, and dating problems while learning to experience life as an independent young woman.

I listened to the audiobook and Heather Agyepong did an amazing job with this story. She did such a great job in bringing Maddie to life which pulled me into the story completely. This is my first experience listening to this narrator’s work but I would not hesitate to listen to her work again. I found her voice to fit this story perfectly and believe that her performance added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very thought-provoking story that packed a big emotional punch. I am so glad that I was able to take this journey with Maddie and would love to read more of this author’s work in the future.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio.

I always love the stories where young girls find themselves. This coming-of-age story was right up my alley. Maddie also known as "Maame" meaning woman, was given to her as a child along with those expectations to act more mature instead of being a child. This caused more issues for her as she tries to find herself after being a people pleaser most of her life. Her mom was away in Ghana, and Maddie was left to care for her ailing father. When mom decides to return, Maddie decides to venture out on her own. Like most of us these days, she looks to Google to answer some of the questions she has with her new life experiences, dating (online), career (in a mostly white office), or life in general that she finds herself dealing with.

I enjoyed this one and loved reading how Maddie handled her new experiences. There were some funny moments, but also sad moments as well because, of course, she had to deal with struggles along the way.

This was a solid debut and I look forward to seeing her future works!

This story was good, writing was good, character development good. At times I was annoyed with how immature the mc was coming across, but I realize it was a coming of age story... despite her being in her mid-twenties. The story beautifully conveyed the nuances of family dynamics, especially non-American.

Overall 4 stars. A lovely debut novel. Excited to read more from this author!

Maame by Jessica George
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Maddie is a 25 year old woman who lives at home and takes care of her dad, who has Parkinsons. After her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie moves out on her own for the first time where she is forced to aak herself who she is, and who she wants to be.
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This was fantastic and such a stunning debut.
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I really struggled at first with Maddie’s mom and brother. I had some STRONG FEELINGS about them. But I love how the author made me feel what Maddie felt, and see things from her perspective. The responsibility and then guilt that sometimes parents can put on us.
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I loved, loved, loved how it ended. I teared up several times reading this, and felt all the feelings.
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I just absolutely LOVE this book cover! I also knew I had to request this book after reading the description.

Maame was very emotional. Maddie was such a well-developed, heart-warming character. Through Jessica George's writing, I felt as though I could feel everything Maddie was feeling. This book covers so many topics: familial duty, cultural expectations, friendship, grief, and finding your purpose in life. Jessica George's writing was excellent, kept my attention the entire time, and the story moved at such a quick pace for me.

I highly recommend!

Wow, I can’t believe this is a debut novel! I laughed, cried, and rooted for Maddie the entire novel. The character development is perfect with Maddie, but also with her mom and brother as well. I especially loved the Lizzie McGuire reference thrown in there!

A touching story about a young woman, trying to navigate her world with familial and social pressures. I loved her continuous use of Google. I really liked Maame’s character. She was an interesting person and a people pleaser. I admired her dedication to her dad and also when she decided it was time to let herself experience life on her own. Parts were heavy but they added to the story’s depth.

I wanted to give this book a try although I wasn't necessarily in a place for a literary fiction novel. I found the main character's daily life a bit too strained to continue past the 15% mark.

What a fantastic book to end the month on!

This book takes you on such a wave of emotions. You love some characters and hate others *cough BEN*, and the writing was so powerful, I had so many highlights in my ebook.

Maddie is a responsible, independent young woman, because she has to be, with her mother constantly leaving and her brother disappearing, and she remains to take care of her father. Despite having to grow up too fast, she has this innocence about her, because she missed out on so much.

Maddie navigates trying to discover who she is when she is finally allowed, standing up for herself while managing guilt, grief, and depression, and finally acknowledging her mental health struggles. In the end while working with a therapist, she comes to the realization that she has people who love her and who are there for her, and she is worthy of that love.

This book is beautifully written, and you go through this journey with Maddie wanting the best for her the entire time, because she deserves it.

I want to note that Maddie references her subconscious Maddie, described as how Lizzie McGuire had a cartoon Lizzie, and it’s SUCH a great thread throughout the story. I loved it so much.

Loved this book! This is out tomorrow, January 31. 📚

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Maddie has always been the one to hold everything together, evidenced by her family nickname, Maame. For years she has been in London taking care of her Dad who has advanced stages Parkinson's while her Mom spends most of her time in Ghana. At work, she is feeling unfulfilled and being blamed for everything! When her Mom decides to make a trip back to London, Maddie jumps at the chance to finally break away and live her own life. She moves into a flatshare, goes out for drinks with friends, and even meets a guy. However, the feelings of being responsible for everything don't fall away that easily, and she will have to learn to do things for herself and let others take care of themselves!
This was a really good story! It was funny and sad, hopeful and encouraging, and all around very real! Maddie is naive in her experiences, but we learn along with her the importance of taking care of your own needs first! I appreciated the author not shying away from some tough topics and dealing with them honestly and providing hope for those readers who may deal with similar things.
This story comes out tomorrow (31 Jan), so definitely add it to your list and get a copy!
#NetGalley #Maame

"I was raised to be a daughter, sister, caregiver. Maame. Now I want to be me."

Given adult responsibilities at an early age, Maddie has always been the caretaker of her family. Her mother even gave her the nickname Maame, the Twi word for woman, as a child. So, it’s no surprise that she is the primary caregiver to her father, who has Parkinson’s disease. While her mother and brother could and should help, they don't. Her mother spends most of her time in Ghana, and her brother prioritizes everything else over family. Freed of her family responsibilities, twenty-five-year-old Maddie is finally starting to live her own life.

Maddie is such an authentic and lovable character. You can't help but root for her to find her voice and put herself first. Her transition into the “new Maddie” has its ups and downs. She deals with challenges around friendships, dating, career, race, life-changing events, straddling two cultures, and family duty. I appreciated that the author weaved in some much-needed humor and levity throughout the book. Maddie’s Googgle searches to help her navigate uncharted waters were a personal favorite. I loved seeing Maddie grow stronger throughout this emotional journey. Most importantly, she learns how to protect her peace.

While this coming-of-age story is heavy and focuses on character development over plot, this impressive debut is full of insights as an endearing character comes into her own.

I received an early copy from St. Martin’s Press.

You know what this book is?
Utterly charming.
It’s also an honest book about the difficulties in putting others before yourself, even and especially when you want to. Maddie’s love for her family knows no bounds, but she is put in a situation where she can finally move out and start to live her own life. She learns a lot of lessons along the way about compassion and self-respect and I adored her for her mistakes as much as for her dreams and successes.
Maddie is the well-meaning daughter in all of us who just needs a break. And while this book can feel slow, I think it’s important so we remember the details in our own lives by watching hers; so we remember to slow down and experience the moment when she does. This book is simply about life, as complicated and uncomplicated as that can be, and it sure was heartfelt, honest, and very hopeful.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jessica George for an ARC of this book!**

"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves."-Henry David Thoreau

In the English-Twi dictionary, "maame" means mother, and can also mean to bring "to bring up a child with love and care." And although Maddie has had this nickname for many years, the role of caretaker isn't necessarily one she feels born to fulfill...but she does so anyway. Maddie's father has late stage Parkinson's, and with her mother traipsing back and forth between London and Ghana (where mom runs a hostel), Maddie has been the steadfast, reliable daughter who puts her own aspirations on the back burner more often than not to be the rock her father needs to get from day to day.

When Maddie's mother finally decides to return for more than a fleeting moment and put down some sort of roots, it feels like a sign, and Maddie is ready to break free. Free of what, though, she isn't sure. She starts with embarking on a new career and moves into her own place with two roommates. But grappling with a new career as an admin at a publishing company isn't quite the drastic switch she was hoping for...and when romance taps her on the shoulder, Maddie isn't exactly sure she's ready for that either. And when a tragic situation shakes up Maddie's world for good, she begins to question EVERY choice she's made in this new life. Will Maddie's 'failure to launch', coupled with the timing of this tragic incident, keep her mired in depression and paralyzed by fear? Or can this instead become the true watershed moment she has been so desperately seeking?

I'll admit that I knew very little about this book going in and wasn't exactly sold by the cover, but I have to say by about 10%, I KNEW this was going to be on my 2023 favorites list. George's writing is smooth and effortless, and with the way this book is narrated, I felt like I truly UNDERSTOOD Maddie as a character almost immediately. Her style of first person narration is simultaneously charming and conflicted, and I was invested in her journey immediately. I think part of the reason I grew to care for Maddie so quickly was that I saw so much of my younger (and to some extent, current) self in her and above all, I just wanted to see her THRIVE!

Though somewhat misguided and a bit too reliant on Google, Maddie has a pure and loving heart and a selfless nature, and it's no wonder that even in her mid-20s she is struggling to find her voice and her place in the world. So much of her past is heartbreaking, her relationship with her family members is as twisted and convoluted as most, and yet...even in the wake of her worst decisions, I just wanted to reach out and reassure her that the answers DO come...at least, for the most part.

People often say to "be the person you needed when you were younger"...but in terms of this book, this felt like the READ I needed when I was younger, but I am still so grateful to get it now. George has just the right balance of silly moments and humor (at times Maddie's inner dialogue and angel on her shoulder reminded me of Zach Braff a la Scrubs and his 'daydreams', which was always delightful) and yet, she handles heavy topics like depression and finding personal fulfillment, what it means to be family and what you can (or can't) expect from those you love, and the joy AND pain that can come from navigating through your first real relationship.

This is bildungsroman the way it was meant to be written: moving, impactful, thoughtful, emotional, and as ever-evolving as life itself. A truly effortless and beautiful debut!

4.5 stars