”’Maame’ has many meanings in Twi, but in my case, it means ‘woman.’”

Maddie is 25, and has been raised in London by her parents, who are Ghanaian. Maddie has lived a somewhat sheltered life, and has been taught not to air the family’s personal business publicly. Maddie’s father is quite ill with Parkinson’s, and Maddie spends most of her time caring for her ailing father, as her mother and brother have shirked their responsibilities and made Maddie primary caregiver. Additionally, she works at a job she dislikes in a toxic work environment.

“Although I didn’t think I’d be rich I expected to be happy and the failure to do so has left me gasping for air most of the day.”

Maddie is given an unexpected chance to go out on her own and gain some independence. I absolutely loved going along with Maddie on the journey as she figured out what kind of person she wanted to become in terms of career, romance, family, and friendships. In addition, Jessica George does an excellent job highlighting some of the micro aggressions Maddie faces as a woman or color, both in the workplace and in romantic relationships. This book was incredibly well written with some parts heart wrenching and other parts equally heart warming. I love Maddie’s voice and there’s a sliver of humor woven through the writing, in addition to parts of profound grief and sadness.

This book absolutely blew me away. It was phenomenal, and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to read it. I predict that it will be a huge success, and I am looking forward to that. I’m excited to see what Jessica George writes next. A very sincere thank you to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an electronic arc of Maame in exchange for an honest review.

Maame is a heartbreaking, raw story about a young lady who has always lived her life taking care of others. While she is the youngest child and should probably be the one others take care of Maddie (aka Maame) seems to be the only one every one can count on. Her mother for years has been going back and forth between home and Ghana to help out with the family business, her brother left home the minute his mom did barely looking back, this leaves Maddie to take care of her father who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Maddie is so tired. She loves her father but living with him has not really allowed her to be able to live. She is stuck in a crappy job where there is not much movement for her and she hates being the only black person on staff. So, when her Mum says that she is finally coming home and that Maddie should get her own place she leaps at the chance. Freedom can have its cost though as Maddie tries to navigate a new world one filled with choices she never had the chance to make before.
I love how realistic this book is. Jessica George is not afraid to show the whole range of emotions that Maddie goes through. I think she did a lovely job showing also that mental illness such as depression while it is all called one thing it is going to look so different for each person suffering from it. Maddie’s character growth through this entire story is realistic and easy to relate to. It is nice to see that not everyone’s life is all pulled together neatly. I truly enjoyed this book and getting a glimpse into Maddie’s life.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Maddie is a 25 year old woman living in her childhood him caring for her father (who has Parkinson's) and receiving little to no help from her Mother, who lives in another country and yet still over-bearing, and an older brother who is never around. Maddie finds herself longing to leave home to really begin experiencing life, but tethered to her father who relies on her. Her mother comes back home unexpectedly, giving Maddie a chance to start living life. Maame takes the reader along for the ride with Maddie in this lovely yet heart-breaking coming of age story.

I loved this. I normally am not as drawn to character heavy novels, but this author does such a phenomenal job of carrying the reader along the story and keeping things interesting. I was such a huge cheerleader for Maddie and was rooting for her immensely. I loved experiencing her trials and tribulations and felt connected to her as someone who was a bit late to leave the nest myself. I'm shocked this was a debut and very much look forward to other works by this author. I highly recommend it, especially for readers who enjoy coming of age stories and overcoming grief.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book! Loved it!

The main character is in her late 20s and has led a very sheltered life. Once she got a chance to spread her wings, it was intriguing to read about her ups and downs. I especially enjoyed her “ups”.

I don’t think many people could read Maame and not fall in love with Maddie Wright. Maddie is a young woman who holds down a job and takes care of her father, who has Parkinson’s. Maddie has had much responsibility on her shoulders from a young age. Her mother has been mostly absent, as well as her older brother.

The synopsis of this story grabbed my attention initially because I am also caring for a father with Parkinson’s. I was interested to see how his illness progressed and how the family managed. Right away I learned that Maddie had almost no support and that she was struggling though each day.

Maddie was a pleaser, kind-hearted and an innocent. She was certainly a character I wanted to see succeed. I loved how she discovered her family background had meaning to the woman she was and will become. The story touched my heart in so many ways. This is an excellent debut novel that is sure to be a book club favorite, as there are so many relevant topics within the pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance review copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend this book to other readers.

Maddie has felt tied to home for a while now. Her mom heads off to Ghana, her brother is “just so busy,” and she is left to be the primary caretaker for her father who is in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s. Throw in her awful boss and Maddie is not living the life she dreamed. When her mom finally returns, Maddie jumps at the chance to finally get out there. She moves into a flat, says yes to evenings with friends, pushes her boss to recognize her, and of course jumps right into dating. When the world brings more tragedy, Maddie has to face the ice she left and the life she is living.

This was such a beautiful debut. Maddie really made me think about the fact that it is never too late to decide to change your life. I loved her relationship with her father, and how much love she gave to him while caring for him. Her mom however, whew. Her mom really ticked me off throughout the book. This one really takes you through all the emotions! One of my favorite things was Maddie randomly googling things throughout! It gave me a giggle even when it was a tense point in the book. This is a fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Thank you @stmartinspress , @macmillan.audio , and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC/audiobook of MAAME.

This book started out slow for me. Honestly I thought about DNF-ing it but it had so many amazing reviews that I decided to keep going, and I’m so glad I did. Maddie’s growth as a character is wonderful and while she is painfully awkward at times, you can’t help but root for her to find herself and her place in the world. I adored Maddie’s two best friends and how fiercely loyal they were. We all could use friends like them.

While I overall enjoyed MAAME, there were times during the first third of the book where I wanted to scream “show me, don’t tell me!” as Maddie walked us through what she was making for dinner, what she decided to wear, the whole process for hair wash day. But as Maddie’s confidence grew, her internal dialogue grew as well and the writing changed.

MAAME is smart, funny, insightful, charming and heartbreaking all in one. I tandem read MAAME with an e-galley and the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. I definitely would recommend the audio if you have a chance to read it in this format.

MAAME comes out on 1/31/23!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn4qJctp0s9/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5261098685

I never wanted this book to end.

Jessica George has a brilliant writing style that I could not get enough of. I adored the characters, the plot- everything.

It was an incredibly powerful, engaging novel that I will not forget for an every long time. Maddie’s character written in such a way that was entirely relatable, she was so vibrant and real that I found myself aching for her- as if she was a real friend of mine.

Maame is a coming-of-age story featuring a GenZ woman navigating a complicated family, chronic depression, early career struggles, dating, and navigating London as a Ghanaian immigrant. All of these plot elements integrate nicely into a compelling story. Maddie is a very likable character - I was rooting for her for my entire reading time. Women interested in complicated family dramas, especially involving immigrants, will like the book.

The writing is generally excellent, but one aspect didn't work for me. Maddie frequently turns to Google to answer questions, so there are sections with the question posed and a list of random people answering (sort of like Quora). I found these interludes distracting and didn't contribute much to the story. They weren't distracting enough to downgrade my rating, and some readers may enjoy these asides.

I look forward to reading future works by this author.

I received an electronic ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

▫️REVIEW▫️

Maame ~ Jessica George

QUICK TAKE:
* Genre: contemporary fiction
* Pub Date: January 31, 2023
* Pages: 320
* Gist: “the responsible one” comes of age

Maddie’s life is a far cry from what other twenty-somethings in London are living. She is primary caretaker for her father who is suffering from Parkinson’s, while her mother and brother are seemingly absent. When she finally gets the opportunity to move out on her own, she decides this is her chance to finally live - roommates, after work cocktails, and internet dating. But Maddie, or Maame (“woman” or “responsible one) realizes that responsibility means not only taking care of others, but also taking care of oneself.

Sincere, insightful, relatable, and endearing - I absolutely loved this book! This is Jessica George’s debut novel and I truly believe she is one to watch. Her portrayal of Maddie as a character who desperately wants to know more about herself pulls every emotion out of the reader. She’s the girl you were friends with in college, or your first roommate, or your favorite colleague or she’s you - I wanted to root for Maddie, cry for Maddie, and learn from Maddie. It’s a must get - out January 31!

Maame is a beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel by Jessica George. The story follows the life of a young Ghanaian girl named Maddie (also called Maame by her family), who is forced to navigate the complexities of her heritage and identity as she grows up in the United States. The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants settled in London, Maddie, working a dead-end administrative job is responsible for the care of her father, whose Parkinson's Disease is now at an advanced stage. Her mother, who alternates between Ghana and London, is constantly critical of Maddie, asking Maddie for monetary help and asking her to send money to her in Ghana where she runs a hostel with her brother. Maddie’s brother who lives separately is self-absorbed and never seems to be around.

When her mother comes back to London Maddie decides to move out and hence starts Maddie's journey as she navigates her way through professional ups and downs, old and new friendships and romantic relationships.

The author does a fantastic job of exploring the cultural and personal struggles that Maddie faces, and the novel is both deeply moving and thought-provoking. Maddie is such a well-developed and relatable character, and the writing is both poetic and evocative.
The novel is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race, identity and belonging. Overall, it's a powerful, thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I would rate it a 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Kudos to the author for writing such a compelling debut novel.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jessica George's debut, Maame, brings to life the struggles and triumphs of moving out of your parents' home and living life as an independent adult for the first time. Maddie is a lovable, sweet and somewhat awkward heroine whose inner conflict over leaving her role as her father's caretaker to become the 'new Maddie' will resonate with readers of any age.

I especially enjoyed the resolution of Maddie's relationship with her mother and how she came to terms with the nickname she had live with for most of her life. Most readers will recognize aspects of themselves in the characters and their relationships.

This book is a strong debut, and I predict that it will become quite popular, particularly with fans of Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine and similar novels. I look forwarded to reading future books by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy of Maame by Jessica George. The opinions in this review are my own.

Maame is a beautifully unique and powerful coming-of-age story.  Nicknamed Maame (which means "woman," "responsible" in Twi) by her Ghanaian family, Maddie was simultaneously forced to group up too soon and a late bloomer. Now in her mid-twenties, living in London and feeling stuck and overburdened in life, she is questioning who she is and who she is meant to be.

Maame is about relationships, the ties that bind us to family and friends, grief and love. I loved the format of Maddie's POV, she has an amazing narrative voice that drew me in, sprinkled with emails and her all-too-innocent-for-her-age Google searches. 

Ordinarily, I strongly dislike books with heavy topics and sad plots. I just don't like to feel overwhelmingly sad or have my heart broken watching a protagonist go through the wringer. However, Maame is the exception to my rule. Jessica George artfully and adeptly weaves a tale of illness, loss, grief, loneliness, depression, racism and even the "bread and butter" life challenges such as career, love and friendship struggles. Yes, this is quite the list of heavy topics...and yet, I loved this book. There is truly something special about Maddie, she's one of the best characters I've ever read. I couldn't help but love and root for her.

George's writing is exceptional. Mid-story I realized that although I was reading quickly (because I was so enthralled), I still absorbed and felt the power of every single word. The books that have accomplished this are few and far between for me.

I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC. Maame will be out this Tuesday, January 31!

*This review will be posted to my Bookstagram account @theonewhereaimeereads.

Maame by Jessica George

Published: January 31, 2023
St. Martin’s Press
Pages: 314
Genre: Women’s Fiction
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Jessica George was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. After working at a literary agency and a theatre, she landed a job in the editorial department of Bloomsbury, UK. Maame is her first novel.

“They just won’t understand, you know? We’re Ghanaian, so we do things differently.”

Maddie is a doting daughter. She does everything to care for her ailing father since her mother spends every other year in Ghana, and her brother is busy living his life. When her mother comes home, Maddie moves out and decides to start living. When her dad dies unexpectedly, everything changes, and now Maddie feels like she is drowning. She’s angry but can’t express that; she’s anxious and told to pray. Secrets and expectations are tearing her apart.

This novel was beautiful. I wish I had more eloquent words, but this was a work of art.

I loved Maddie and her journey of self-discovery. She has such a beautiful heart and has spent so much time worrying about others she hasn’t allowed herself to worry.

I found the discussion and processing of grief in this book relatable, and when Maddie found out her dad died, it immediately punched me in the heart.

I loved Nia and Shu. They were the best friends and support system Maddie could have, and their love for her was pure. I loved their protective, honest way of caring for her.

I loved how culture and race were discussed in this novel. And the conversation about “playing devil’s advocate” was perfect and true.

This was a powerful book and a beautiful read. I am happy to recommend this stunning debut.

So much more than a coming-of-age novel following Maddie, a 25 year old living in London but pulled by her Ghanaian descent. Maddie faces typical challenges for her age, but also some extremely unique ones. And though the reader (this reader at least) may not alway agree with her choices, I think most will unite in their support of her. Navigating familial duty as caretaker for her ailing father, a nagging yet absent mother, her first attempts at online dating, moving out of her childhood home, and a difficult job market, Maddie remains relatable and wholly human. An excellent debut from the author.

*I was honored to read an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.*

Whew! So much going on in this book. A mash-up of coming of age, family dynamics, grief/depression, friendship, romantic relationships, and Ghanaian culture.

This book had my emotions all over the place. I found myself relating to Maddie a bunch after dealing with a recent elder family member illness/loss. I wanted to be mad for her for her mom not stepping up and being absent. The struggle is definitely real when it came to new romantic relationships/heartbreak and trying to be proven worthy in a career.

I knew very little about the culture and customs in Ghana going into this book. I found that some of the little culture aspects and customs made this book feel more real. The fingernail/toenail custom was interesting to say the least.

The only thing that seemed a bit awkward was the ending, well at least the romance portion. It didn't give me that warm fuzzy wrap up I wanted more of and more like a misplaced piece of plot.

I enjoyed the variety and emotions this book brings to the table. Maddie is one tough cookie for hanging in there through all of life's unexpected moments.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Maddie’s life in London is not as exciting as you would think a single, 25 year old woman’s would be. Maddie has had to grow up pretty quickly…her mom lives in Ghana a year at a time, her father has advanced stage Parkinson’s disease, and her brother James just isn’t any help at all.

Then Maddie’s mother comes home. Maddie takes this opportunity to move out and find out who she is. Maddie starts a new job, moves out and even starts dating….not all of her experiences have been great but she’s certainly learned a lot.

Then tragedy happens and Maddie’s world is turned upside down. Through the pain that she endures, she finds the strength ton finally come into her own…to have real conversations with her friends and family. She still has a long way to go but at 25, I think Maddie’s finally started living her life for her.

I LOVED this story. Maame(Maddie) was just such a sweat and relatable character. Always there to do whatever she can to help her family and friends only to realize that somewhere along the way…she lost who she was.

Will definitely pick up more from this author.

I laughed. I cried. I sobbed. I smiled. So many heartwarming and heartbreaking moments in this one. This is a beautiful coming-of-age story about love, loss, hope, and finding your way in the world.
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Maddie has been her father’s caretaker ever since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. She was forced to grow up and take on a lot of responsibility at a young age. Maddie may be 25, but she hasn’t had the same experiences as many of her peers. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie decides it’s finally time to move out and start living her own adult life. She moves into a flat with roommates, tries online dating, pushes for more in her career, and agrees to go out for drinks with new friends. But when tragedy strikes, her new life and next steps are thrown into question.
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Maddie is a relatable MC who you can’t help but root for. Her best friend, Shu, is a bad a*s feminist who had me cackling 😁. Maame deals with themes of cultural identity, racism, and workplace discrimination. She also deals with loss. Anyone who’s ever dealt with grief will recognize George’s words.
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Y’ALL, this is now one of my all-time favorite books ❤️. You need to read it!
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I read and listened to this one. The narration by Heather Agyepong amazing and mesmerizing. Thank you to @librofm @macmillan.audio @netgalley and @stmartinspress for these digital ARCs in exchange for an honest review.
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Maame - Jessica George
5/5⭐️
Pub Date: 🎉January 31, 2023🎉

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's funny how the books I put off reading are often the ones that I enjoy the most. The book stays true to the synopsis, but it offers so much more. I felt like we really got to know Maddie and it was so rewarding watching her come of age and truly start to find herself. A lot of serious topics are covered, but it all flowed and felt relevant. This debut novel is honest, raw, humorous and just an excellent read. Jessica George is so talented and is off to an incredible start!

3.5ish?/5 -- I am struggling to rate this book. Coming of age stories are usually a hit for me; I am sad I can't proclaim this as a new favorite. Maame is a character driven story where we follow 25-year old Maddie's road to self-discovery after spending years of putting others first. I personally felt like this book jumped all over the place in a chaotic way. There were some really emotionally intense scenes followed by playful inner dialogues and Google searches that didn't seem realistic for someone in their mid twenties. If Maddie was even 20 years old I think it would've been more believable. I understand that in a way she had to "grow up" fast to care for her sick father, but she felt too naive and sheltered.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely shining moments in this book. I appreciated Maddie's journey and there were some laugh-out-loud moments that helped lighten the mood. The themes around the Ghanaian culture, grief, family and mental health were presented in a tasteful way. It just didn't "click" for me and that's okay. I've seen many glowing reviews for this one, especially for the audiobook. I do think it's worth the read!