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.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a digital and audio ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Jessica George, beautifully narrated by Heather Agyepong - 5 stars!

Maddie is known as Maame to her family, which in Twi means woman. Maddie's place in her family is underlined by that meaning because she's had to take charge of her father, disabled by Parkinson's disease, both physically and financially. Her older brother, James, is too busy living his own life, and their mother mostly lives in Ghana. So while Maddie went to university, she has always lived at home taking care of everyone. When her mother moves back home, Maddie finally gets the courage to move out. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is left trying to pick up all the pieces of her life.

This was a fabulous novel, made more wonderful by the beautiful narration. I could not stop listening to the narrator's beautiful voice! There is so much here to love - Maddie is a wonderful, naive character trying to do right by her family, feeling guilty yet trying to come into her own life a little as well. It's a story of grief, trust, family dynamics, mental health, racism, navigating love and friendship. One of my absolute favorite parts is that Maddie consults google as she tries to learn how to be in this world and stand up for herself. There are serious subjects here but they are dealt with humor and truth. This would be a great book club selection. I fell in love with Maddie and this book - can't wait to read more from this author! A must read!

This was a delightful coming of age book about a 25-year-old Ghanaian woman, Maddie, who has spent much of her young adult life caring for her father who has Parkinson Disease. Her overbearing, absent most of the time mother is of little help and her older brother is no help at all to her either.

One day to her mother decides to return home to London from the Hostel she has been running in Ghana in order to look after Maddie's father. Maddie takes this opportunity to rent an apartment with two other young women. Lots of funny things happen as Maddie learns how to navigate the dating scene with clubbing and online dating. Mattie is very unsure of herself and asks Google tons of questions. I enjoyed this book but I did find that the second half slowed down somewhat, but overall it is a good book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this very delightful, witty, book.

I really enjoyed this poignant, moving family drama. On the surface, Maame is about a 25-year-old London woman who has been the primary caretaker for her father with Parkinson’s for the past several years. She is finally moving out of the house and experiencing city life and young adulthood in a more “normal” way, but also dealing with guilt over leaving her dad’s side and family issues like clashing with her mother who escapes by spending most of her time in Ghana. While very funny at parts, this book was also totally heartbreaking in a way I wasn’t prepared for. I noticed another reviewer compare it to Eleanor Olliphant is Completely Fine, and I definitely think it has a similar vibe if you enjoyed that one (which I did). Check this one out on January 31, 2023!

Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the early read!

There's a piece of Maddie - Maame - that will speak to almost every reader, especially those in younger generations. This debut novel is essentially a coming-of-age novel, more YA than fully adult, including some of the grammar (there's a tendency to use "with [name] and I,' a convention that's become a pet peeve). Although 25 when the novel opens, Maddie still lives at home, is loathe to take chances, and provides most of the care needed by her father, who struggles with Parkinsons Disease. Gradually, she finds her true strengths and her true self. I found the Google searches that Maddie uses throughout the book to be an uncomfortable and sometimes jarring convention, although I think that the younger audience to whom the book will appeal, will find them more natural. There is no doubt that Jessica George can write. I look forward to seeing in what direction she takes her next efforts. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

5 rising stars
“Maame: the responsible one. The woman. The mother….It made me responsible and guilty.”
“Google: Symptoms of depression”

From the publisher: Maddie’s life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson’s. Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship.”

In a world of cliched characters, Maame, aka Maddie, is fresh, honest, real, kind, generous, vulnerable, and she later adds, “cool, audacious, and carefree.” Subtle humor abounds and the contrasting emotions of hope, sadness and anger ring true, without ever being sappy or sentimental. Dialog flows in a natural way. I enjoy getting to know this complex young woman. I’d have coffee or green tea with her.

So many books just end. Jessica George gently and wisely folds this book up, and now… I must wait for more from the author. “It was so different from all the other bestsellers we’ve been reading recently. It was beautiful and raw.”

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Maddie is such a strong bibacious character. A courageous Black woman living in London. I fell in love with across the pages of this endearing and engrossing novel.

Maame should absolutely be high school required reading. What an amazing coming-of-age story, infused with moments of self-doubt, anxiety, and awakening sexuality. The cultural aspects of Madeline's life add depth and relevance. With this debut, Jessica George will surely put herself on the radar of readers looking for depth and substance.

I really enjoyed this story. One of my favorite parts was when Maddy realized that she was talking to her mother as the daughter of her grandpa, not just her mom. I think this was an important story to shine a light on the ways our parents' upbringing affects how they parent us, and how they see and view the world. I enjoyed watching Maddy "grow up" and loved the justice at the end with her father's will.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Maame is a sweet coming of age story of Maddie, a 25-year-old used to bearing the weight of the world (mostly her family) on her shoulders. As a first generation Brit (her parents are Ghanaian), she has a strong allegiance to her ailing father while her mother works for months at a time back in Ghana and her big brother James is MIA. When Maddie finally has the chance to move out and make some changes in her life, things don’t turn out as perfectly as she anticipated.

While this one moved slowly for me at the beginning, once all the plot points began to connect I was really invested. I loved the characters and was especially drawn to Maddie and her mother.

As a therapist, I loved the depiction of therapy in the novel and the support mental health professionals provided for several of the main characters. The stigma of seeking out mental health therapy was also well-represented. There are some difficult scenes to read but also some touching moments interwoven into the story. The importance of connections with family and chosen family is a lovely underlying theme.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Maame in exchange for my unbiased review.

Jessica George’s debut novel MAAME is a vivid and emotional journey through a young girl’s life. From an early age, Maddie is called Maame, a native name that means woman, and throughout her life, she bears the burden and responsibility of that name. Maddie is the primary care giver for her father who suffers from Parkinson’s, while her mother spends most of the time in Ghana, and her brother James seems to feel no responsibility to help. Maddie’s job is as unfulfilling as her love life.

Her dominating Mother is quick to criticize or quote a Bible verse but is absent when Maddie needs her most. The major portion of the book describes Maddie’s experiences with roommates, with men she dates, and with her workmates. In her relationships, references are made to race and sexual orientation. Maddie was an interesting character, and it was rewarding to see her become her own woman.

This story was described as humorous, but I did not find it to be funny at all. Maame is a serious, coming-of-age work, a story of the responsibility of family and the high cost of love.

Pros: I enjoyed this own-voices book. This book examines the main character’s (an introverted woman in her mid-20s) relationships—with her Ghanian immigrant parents, her irresponsible brother, her best friend, her new roommates, her sort-of boyfriend, and her workmates. It also examines her personal growth, which begins with a sheltered woman who needs to consult google for all social interactions and who neglects her goals to be a dutiful daughter. I am curious if portions of this book are autobiographical because the author shares biographical similarities with the main character.

I listened to this book and really enjoyed the audiobook because, as it is told in first person, it seemed like the main character is telling the reader about herself and her life.

Cons: The only thing I can think of is that this book might not be for every reader. I can see how some readers will not understand the naïve/sheltered/introverted main character, but at the same time I think many readers will relate to her and very much enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read to this book.

⭐️: 4.5/5

Maddie has spent half of her 20s living at home, unhappy in her job, taking care of her father who is suffering from Parkinsons, while her mother spend a lot of time back in Ghana running the hostel that was left to her by her father. When her mother comes back home and is able to take over the care of her father, Maddie takes the opportunity to leave home for the first time and embark on all the things she has never had the opportunity or courage to do before, including living in a shared flat, dating, and being social, all in an effort to find happiness and her place in the world.

I was about 10% into this book and I thought I had already made up my mind about it. The tone is unusual and a little hard to get used to, due to the main character being so sheltered and in her head, and I was concerned the whole book would sound as annoyingly juvenile as the start. However, by the end, I found my self incredibly moved and deeply invested in Maddie’s story and development as a character. This book truly sneaks up on you, and I applaud the author for being so deliberate in the progression of Maddie’s voice as she grows as person and becomes less naïve to the world. This was partially a coming of age book, partially a hard look at the realities of being a person of color in spaces that are primarily white, and partially a picture of grief and the different ways people manage the loss of a loved one. Maddie was a really unique and memorable narrator, even if I’m not the biggest fan of books breaking the fourth wall by inserting quips like “my friend, more on her a little later, and prepare yourself” or “now that you’ve briefly met my mother, you will understand…”, but the Lizzie McGuire reference was 100% on point and appreciated. I could definitely see this being one of the big books of 2023, so I definitely recommend getting your hands on it when it comes out!!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

There's a point in the story where Maddie self-referentially mentions she's been told that she writes like she speaks, like she's in the room. That definitely holds true for the book itself as well. The plot was driven and compelling, conveyed with expansive compassion, but the YA-like writing style (the Google searches always threw me off) kept ejecting me from staying immersed in the story.

What a beautiful coming of age story ❤️ Maddie is the caretaker of her father, who has Parkinson’s, and honestly has been the caretaker of her entire family for most of her life. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie (at 25) finally moves out and starts to experience life as a young single woman.

After moving out, Maddie experiences so much fun and joy as well as profound guilt, confusion, and sadness. This story deals with many important topics: familial duty, finding independence, racism, cultural responsibilities, grief, and sexuality as a woman.

Maddie and I are so different in our backgrounds but I found myself relating to a lot of her story. I know all of you “responsible daughters” can identify at least part of this story. The parts about Maddie being a caretaker really spoke to me.

I listened to this one on audio and I would 100% recommend it. I think it made Maddie come to life. She has such a unique, smart, funny voice and I didn’t want to leave her when the story ended.