Ever want to read a book but you’re a little reluctant to start it because you know it will be intense, and you don’t know if you’re in the headspace for that? That’s how I felt about Maame. But oh man, I’m so glad I opened the book and started it because once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Maddie is going through it all - family dysfunction, a sick father, the weight of family responsibility, a job that undervalues her, and a life unfulfilled or experienced. And when she finally gets that first breath of freedom, she experiences a few firsts until the unthinkable happens. Following along with Maddie as she tries to navigate her new life and emotions, you will be put through the wringer…but the ending is so worth it! Jessica George has a fresh voice and Maddie is a unique lead character that I found to be so refreshing. Run, don’t walk, to grab this book and read it for yourself. This book will be talked about in 2023.

This book follows Maame, a young American woman with Ghanaian roots who is learning (through much trial and error) what it means to be an adult. I loved how realistic her interactions were with other people- everyone felt real and fully developed. We get to see everyone's flaws- including her own- as she navigates work, dating, friendships, and family. Overall, a great read.

Maddie is twenty-five with no real life of her own. Her mother stays and works in Ghana, abandoning her ailing husband into the care of her daughter. Her brother shows no interest in either their father’s illness or helping the family. However when her mother finally comes home, Maddie seizes the opportunity to finally go out and live her life.

This is a beautiful late coming of age story. We go through every emotion as we deal with familial expectations, gender roles, cultural expectations, love, grief, and just everything you could expect. We watch as Maddie fights through the ups and downs of life, and her struggle to become the woman she wants to be.

This is definitely a book you should read especially if you love novels that touch your own emotions.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book transported me back in time to my first job after graduating college, navigating relationships with roommates and friends. The author does a great job of honing in on the insecurities and everyday realities of this time period in a young woman’s life. In Maame, our heroine is a young woman who is establishing her professional life specifically as a young black woman, while juggling family responsibilities including caring for her ailing father. Although I don’t identify as someone whose parents are estranged and whose mother lives most of year in another country, I could identify with Maddie wanting to keep family matters private, and the angst and anger she navigates when dealing with her immediate family members throughout the book. The author also well captures what it’s like to fall for someone the first time you leave home, and how fragile you feel sharing any of your new feelings with roommates who are basically strangers trying to be friends,

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read and review this lovely tale!

Wow. Just wow. Jessica George’s debut novel blew me away. From the exquisite writing, to the lessons we learn while trying to grow up, to the oldest child ‘syndrome;’ all of this felt so relatable to me. Despite not being a black Ghanaian, I completely connected to so much of this book. I won’t soon forget this incredible debut novel.

Maddie is a young woman referred to by her mother as Maame, meaning woman or “responsible one” and Maddie definitely fits this description, being her father’s primary caregiver while her mother lives in Ghana and her brother is absent. When Maddie’s mother returns to London, Maddie takes the opportunity to move out of her family home and face the challenges of growing up. With a coming of age theme, Maddie deals with conflicts with flatmates, dating and how to be assertive in her job. When tragedy strikes, she takes on more burdens placed on her by family and puts her own needs and feelings aside until she becomes overwhelmed.
This book almost has a YA theme as Maddie is coming of age as a 25 year old woman. At the same time, she takes on tremendous responsibility in her family and at her job, all of which is initially unappreciated. Maddie tends to make some poor decisions around relationships especially once she is overcome by grief. I liked Maddie’s character although it was difficult not to get frustrated with her at times. She makes some bad decisions and is treated like a doormat and as a reader, I wanted her to be stronger and more assertive but considering that she is only 25 and previously very sheltered, her actions make sense. Overall, I think the book is well written and entertaining.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader Copy.

When I began reading this book I didn't know much about Parkinson's disease. I loved that I learned something when reading this one, specifically that more often than not, Parkinson's is idiopathic and NOT inherited. I thought that was interesting.

Here are some quotes that I enjoyed:

"Somethings are not meant to be saved from, somethings are lessons."
"Brothers have a level of audacity sisters couldn't possibly reach or get away with, even if they tried."
"How someone shows you love has less to do with you and more to do with them."

This book is very relationship focused. It deals with heavy topics like sexuality, grief, racism and sexism. The way the author does this makes it a very compelling and interesting read. There was an element of enlightenment to the novel as well.

Maame's character has such depth. I liked how she talks about her anxieties and we get to tap into her inner monologue. Maame is naive from the outset but we get to see her learn and grown as she wades through life and truly finds her voice. Maame is an inquisitive person but not in an obnoxious way (as some other inquisitive characters in books tend to be).

I could not stand Maame's mother or brother, they just left her to care for her father and never had one thought about how much work and responsibility her father was. They were so unapologetic about it too, which really struck a nerve with me. It's a very real look at how family can sometimes behave during hard time and during the loss of a family member.

Maame got tired of picking up the pieces, tired of being overlooked and not considered. The moment she found her voice was such a pivotal point in the story and I was really rooting for her. That naive girl we see at the beginning transforms into a woman who can stand tall and hold her head high and advocate for herself. .

For anyone else who has found the last year or so trying....this book is for you.

Maame is the coming of age story of a young black woman in London. Maddie has been stifled her whole life with an unfulfilling job, an overbearing mother and the responsibility of caring for her sick father who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease while her mother is out of country. Maddie is 25 years old and hasn’t had the chance to spread her wings. She finally realizes that it’s time to start living. She moves out and begins to focus on her own personal growth and fulfillment. Her journey is difficult yet beautiful as she learns about herself. I was rooting for the person that Maddie was becoming and the fact that she was able to overcome so many obstacles. If you enjoy coming of age novels with a slower pace and deep character development then this is the book for you.

At times I felt the book was slow moving. There were so many issues that Maddie had to tackle all at once and it felt unrealistic at times.

Thank you to St. Martin’s press and Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm going to be honest - coming-of-age stories are not my vibe. They often feel redundant and self-serving. Maame is the exception to the rule. This was a 100 fresh take on the coming-of-age story as we follow our lead through the trials of learning how to "adult" after years of being forced to put everyone else's needs above her own. It was a joy to watch Maddie come into her own, though, truthfully again, the process was not without some seriously hard-to-watch pain. Her battles are somewhat predictable, but that does not make you root for her victories any less. Jessica George is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye out for. Anyone who can make my cynical self cheer for the underdog is a master in her craft.

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC**

Maame is a coming of age story that explores grief, mental health, family expectations, racial tension, and what it means to love and be loved.

Maddie has the weight of the world on her shoulders. At 25, she is in a job that undervalues and overworks her, is the sole caretaker for her ailing father, gets little support from her mom and brother, and has no time to spend with her friends much less date. Is it any wonder that she suffers from depression and panic attacks (not that she realizes it)?

Maddie is one of those characters that I just want to hug and protect at all costs. She is vulnerable, whip-smart, caring, hilarious, and unfailingly generous to a fault. As a fellow people pleaser, I related to her feelings of guilt whenever she chose to do something for herself for a change. My heart broke whenever hers did, and I cheered every time she stood up for herself. Maddie goes through so much in this book and you cannot help but root for her.

Though it explores some heavy topics, George's writing style lightens the load at key moments through Maddie's incessant Google searching for answers to her every question about life, her internal conversations with "subconscious Maddie," and her texts and phone calls with friends Nia and Shu.

I was so lucky to receive an early review copy of this book from Netgalley. Highly, highly recommended!

Maddie, nicknamed "Maame" (meaning 'woman'), has always shouldered the brunt of her family's needs. Suddenly at age 25, her life situation changes, and she is nudged out into the world to learn what being a woman in the 21st century is really about. This coming-of-age story, and its main character, were incredibly charming; at times I had to remind myself that these 'characters' were not real people. A solid debut coming to bookstores in 2023.

Maddie is a young British-Ghanaian woman whose life has been put on hold to care for her father, who has severe Parkinson's. George does a great job of putting the reader in Maddie's head, and strong emotions run through this lovely coming-of-age story. Maddie is excruciatingly naive at times, and I wasn't crazy about the device George used of having Maddie google all her angsty life questions. When Maddie joins the dating world, the story felt a little more contrived. The writing and dialogue were a little awkward and stilted at times, but overall this is a promising debut. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital review copy.

Pub date: 1/31/23
Genre: coming of age, own voices
Short summary: Maddie is stuck - stuck caring for her ailing father, stuck dealing with her mother and brother's drama, stuck working under a nightmare boss - what will happen when she decides to live life on her own terms?

I love coming of age novels, and I read a lot of them, so I was excited to give MAAME a try. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority in not loving this book. I think it may have been too dark for me at the time I read it - Maddie dealt with so much prejudice and negativity from the outside world, and I had trouble getting through the text. As a former people pleaser, it was hard for me to see Maddie repeatedly taken advantage of and used as a doormat. The ending did bring some resolution and growth for her character, so I can see why others loved it, and I think this will be a popular read in 2023!

TW: sexual assault; there are some very dark relationship scenes that I was uncomfortable reading.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maame is a debut novel set in London.
A coming of age story where you will be rooting for this girl from the start.
Maame (Madeline) takes care of her father who has Parkinson’s for much of the year while her mother is away in Ghana.
She is quite reclusive and awkward around people, has just two gal pals that she doesn’t see often. Googles all her questions about life, she’s awkward and sad a lot of the time. has a very overbearing mother.. even from afar!
I loved Maame, I laughed quite a bit and also felt so bad for her at times as she comes into her own and navigates relationships.
Good ending.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for the Arc!

A coming of age story that tells the tale of pain, longing, and loss. Maddie is a wonderfully written character and she’s a character that the reader will want to root for. An impressive debut novel and the author is a talented author, an author that will definitely be on my must read pile.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

“..the importance of names in our culture. In many ways, they’re given to us in an attempt to speak to our future.

We could apply that thinking to the name Maame: the responsible one. The woman. The mother. Often before her time.”

In essence, this is a character-driven novel focusing on a 25 year-old Black woman Londoner, Madeline aka Maddy and Maame (Twi for “woman”) as she navigates her complicated life and unknowingly overcomes depression. She is inherently a non-confrontational introvert steeped in mediocrity at multiple levels - stuck in an unfulfilling, thankless “career/job” where it seems as if her boss is taking credit for her ideas/suggestions, has a controlling mother, a wayward brother, few friends, and struggles with dating. Her mother and brother abandon her to care for her father who suffered from and succumbs to Parkinson’s Disease; and both leave large financial burdens upon her shoulders.

The entire story is the trials and events that push Maddy into therapy and steps toward the agency of independence; to finally advocate for herself and determine her own path forward. This was an arduous process – a great deal of the novel’s episodes is Maddy being a “pushover” (of sorts) – a consummate victim of guilt and manipulation which leads to her repeatedly being taken advantage of – which at times were very laborious to read through (for me). The parts of the story I found most insightful were those that addressed the office politics, her internal monologues, and the cultural aspects: Maddy is a first-generation Londoner with Ghanaian parents, so those complex dynamics of tradition, identity, and assimilation are explored in her everyday adventures with roommates, co-workers, and clash against parental expectations. The meditations on grief and longing are touching; while the googling for advice (she seriously used google as a life coach) and online dating episodes were hilarious.

I see fans of Queenie (Candice Carty-Williams) and Such a Fun Age (Kiley Reid) enjoying Maame’s quirky adventures, layered paths toward self-discovery, and her rocky road to healing.

Thanks to the publisher, St.Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

Maddie lives in London. Her mother is overbearing and spends most of her time in Ghana. Her brother is busy and leaves little time for family. That leaves Maddie as the sole caregiver for her ailing father who has late stage Parkingsons. She is the only black person in her office job and her boss is terrible. When her mother returns Maddie takes it as an opportunity to spread her wings and move out.

Wow! This novel was stunning. I loved it from start to finish. It's a story about family, guilt, regret, grief and personal growth. The storytelling is superb. The story is raw and emotional. It also made me laugh out loud at times. Maddie's constant google searches... well I think we can all relate to that. The story covered realistic experiences in such a genuine way. Being a minority in the office, microaggressions, exploring sexual relationships, roommate conflicts and so much more. It left me feeling sad in a good way. I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters. This was one of my favorite reads this year and I think it will top charts in 2023.

4.5 ⭐️

This debut novel surprised me. It covers a range of topics, including belonging, friendship, mental health, grief, and others. But somehow, I didn’t feel like the story got lost in the author trying to do “too much.” It felt almost like reading the diary of a 20-something trying to find her way in the world. Maddie, the main character, felt so real and authentic, and even though she makes some choices that are painful to read about, you can’t help but root for her. Trigger warnings abound, but overall, this is a story that celebrates resilience and fighting for one’s place in the world. Really enjoyed!

What I loved:
-the charming google search entries
-learning from mistakes
-families are complicated
-mental health representation
-coming-of-age
-female friendship

What didn’t work for me:
-some sexual details I ended up skimming

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced review copy.

An extremely insightful and thought provoking book from the black female point of view. Not only does this novel touch on the day struggles society and family brings on Maddie, her mental health and perception of herself is everything I needed to see represented in a novel. The writing touched my heart and soul and I didn't want it to ever end, I kept wanting to see Maddie succeed on her own. I have so much respect for the author and writing this to remind each other to be kind, there are people who need to be reminded that they are enough and can continue to work on themselves daily.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who needs to feel seen or has ever wanted to support their allies.

Maddie's life has been devoted to her family, including taking care of her sick father. However, when her mom announces she is coming back from Ghana, Maddie takes the opportunity to move out and start living her life. However, that is not the brunt of the book. Most of the book focuses on what happens after her dad dies unexpectedly. She must cope with that grief as well as claiming her life for her own.

I liked this book more post-tragedy because it felt more authentic to the protagonist. However, it overall wasn't my favorite because it felt more like slice of life, which just isn't my favorite style of book. I think it took a while to get to the dealing with grief and acceptance of oneself part, which I think was the most successful part.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.