Maddie, a 25-year-old British born Ghanaian, has always been the responsible one in her family. With her mom in Ghana and her brother living his own life, she is the one who is living with and caring for her father who has Parkinson's disease. Her family situation has severely stunted her emotional and social growth so when her mom comes back from Ghana, she jumps at the opportunity to move out. Readers will laugh with her, be frustrated with some of her choices, cry with her, and cheer for her as she navigates family, loss, love, and adulthood.

A lovely debut about a young woman finding herself amidst the pressure of family, culture and society. So much of the writing made me pause and smile - a lovely balance of conveying unique, complex feelings with humor (aren’t the best writers able to do just that?). I loved the way the author described that fine line to walk on between assimilating with life in the world with your family culture. There’s a beauty in that fine line. A wonderful debut. Thanks to St Martin’s for the advanced copy. I’m grateful.

I so wanted to love this book... I did enjoy the first 25% or so, but as storylines start, then are quickly abandoned for other plot points, I got very frustrated.

The main character Maddie has a really tough life, however at 25 she has the naivety of an early teen, as well as zero backbone. I really struggled with how badly she was treated and how she did nothing to discourage it or give herself any respect at all. It really felt very YA-like throughout most of the book.

My biggest issue was how the story kept bringing up "big" issues/topics: relationships/online dating, caring for a sick parent, grief, mental health friendship issues, major work drama, etc- there are even MORE, then just abandoning the topic soon after. And the ending is FAR too neat and tidy, which made me mad as well.

This is not a BAD book, but definitely not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy!

This is one of those "quiet reads" of fiction narrated in the first person which connected with me as a reader. It centers around a young woman of twenty-five named Maddie who lives with her disabled father in London. Her mother mainly lives in her native Ghana running a hostel, only returning to London every other year. The Mom has been wont to call Maddie "Maame" since she was about twelve, a native Twi term for "woman". Maddie's brother James works in the entertainment industry and is a remote sibling- always too busy to help and underfunded to assist financially. Maddie works as an administrative assistant, dividing her time with being a caregiver at home to her father who has Parkinson's disease. There is also a professional carer who fills in the gaps while she's at work, but she's essentially grounded in an existence of responsibility. She hasn't dated in eight years, loves to read and write, and is still a virgin.

Suddenly Maddie's mother decides it's time again to live in London for a year, relieving Maddie from most of her duties for the time being. Mom urges Maddie to move out and get an apartment so that she can live a more normal and freeing life for a young woman her age. Maddie's been put in a position of being the point woman for all the work both financially and as a caregiver for a very long time, so she's a bit disoriented at the thought of changing her life to such a degree. It's like she's navigating uncharted waters with personal relationships such as living with other people as a roommate, dating, job advancement and intimacy. She often Googles questions on these topics to provide answers to these various situations.

In fact she has been taken advantage of by both her mother and brother for years and is also a "people pleaser", trying to make other people happy (because she wishes people would also try to make her happy). It was very interesting "watching" Maddie get her feet wet in new situations, adapting to what is thought to be the normal and correct way of doing things. She learned a lot along the way, but it was very difficult mentally and emotionally, especially when tragedy suddenly hit. I connected on several fronts with this vulnerable yet strong character, and enjoyed this thought-provoking story.

Thank you to the publisher St. Martin's Press for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

A poignant debut and a beautiful coming of age story. I identified and empathized with Maddie so much. Even though she is 25, and not a teenager like many coming of age stories, I found this story to more truly reflect a woman growing into her own. On top of that Maddie has to endure racism, cultural bias, and familial expectations. It’s no wonder that she is only just now trying to forge her own path and determine her identity. Women, young and old alike, will find it easy to identify with Maddie and root for her as she defines herself as a woman and what she desires in life. My favorite part was Maddie’s growth over the course of the novel and finally finding her voice and speaking up for herself. This should be on everyone’s must read list for 2023. I hope to see it picked up by book clubs for even wider exposure.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. An excellent story about Maddie (Maame) a young British woman, the daughter of Ghanian immigrant parents, trying to find her way and place in life. The novel unfolded through Maddie’s eyes which drew me in and made me feel like she was a friend telling me her story. The plot was well-paced, the writing flowed well, and the characters well developed.

Maddie’s story touched on many interesting issues - living with a chronically ill parent, grief, mental health, familial relationships, friendship, racism, straddling two cultures, and workplace politics. I was utterly absorbed by this novel and the pages just flew by. A wonderful way to have spent the past day in which it took me to read this very impressive debut. Highly recommend!

Thanks to St, Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Maame is out on January 31, 2023.

My Review ✨

Wow this was a beautiful debut. It was a work of literary fiction that, while not perfect, was great.
Jessica George amazingly encapsulated grief and all it’s aspects so we’ll, I truly felt for Maddie. I have yet to lose a parent but I feel like when I do lose a parent I will feel exactly how Madi did, the raw grief was written so well.
The book wasnt all sad don’t think that, it was a coming of age story with laughable moments, tear jerking moments and moments that made me angry.
I love how it felt like we grew with Madi and I really knew who Madi was as a person deep inside. I loved watching Madi grow and become the best person she could be.
I loved how she reacted to obstacles and just kept fighting. She is an extremely strong person.
just like with grief Jessica George did such an amazing job with encapsulating depression as well.
This was such a thought-provoking Raw book I absolutely loved it - there were some quirky moments and I genuinely enjoyed how Madi would Google everything because I do that too.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This book was enjoyable but overall felt very much like a debut - the writing was somewhat unsophisticated, and several of the characters felt flat and underbaked. That said, it was clearly very heartfelt and I’m sure that it would resonate for the right reader - Maddie is easy to root for. On my end, I didn’t love it but will definitely keep an eye on this author.

Jessica George's Maame is a truly captivating read. With its emotionally-driven characters and storyline, you are taken on a journey with Maddie as she struggles to maintain her relationships and balance her life. The love and loyalty she has for her family is palpable, and I was hooked from the very beginning. This book is a definite must-read.

Excellent debut novel from Jessica George. Maddie Wright has been dealing with being left by her mother and brother to care for her father battling late stage Parkinsons along with handling an unreasonable boss at a dead end job. When her mother finally returns to take over her father's care, Maddie is able to begin to explore the parts of being a young adult that she hasn't been able to thus far - dating, living on her own. Just when she's getting started, she gets fired and has to find a new job. After landing a new job that may or may not have a future and discovering just how difficult dating can be, another heartbreak occurs, sending Maddie into a tailspin. This book deals with many tough subjects - grief, family relationships, dating, job stress, racism - and does so well. I look forward to what George writes next!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Maame, in Ghanian, is given as a nickname to ne who is responsible for others like a mother,. In this story Maddie is Maame. Living in London and solely taking care of her father who has Parkinson’s Disease while her older brother makes every excuse to not be present and while her mother lives back in the home country, Maddie has so many expectations placed upon her at a young age. Not only at home but at work, she is a doormat. She doubts herself often and seeks answers how to navigate real life by “googling” for answers. At age 25, she has few friends and no love life. When Maddie’s mother comes back to live at the family home, Maddie rebels and decides to move out to finally live her life, if only for a year. Maddie discovers that trying to create a new life while not being true to yourself can be devastating. Through the ups and downs, Maddie does discover that she has true friends, what is truly important, and finds her inner strength. Walking with Maddie on her journey with her family, I felt a kinship with her and was so glad she had the true friends Shu and Nia to always believe in her. Having lost my own father to Parkinson’s, parts were very hard to read as memories flooded back but I appreciated the author’s authenticity to highlight this disease and its effect on loved ones. This is a beautifully written story showing familial/cultural connections with some sarcastic humor although there were some awkward moments. However, once I staring reading, it kept me engaged and I couldn’t put it down. I so wanted to see Maame (Maddie) embrace herself and find happiness. This is a story of hope and finding your inner strength.

Many thanks to #netgalley #maame #jessicageorge #st.martinspress for the opportunity to read and review this book.

“Comparison is no friend of mental health”

This debut thriller will tug at your heartstrings and have you rooting for 25 year old Maddie. She’s had to mature much faster than kids are supposed to as she plays head of household while her mother tends to their hostel in Ghana. Since she was 17 she is the sole caretaker of her father who has Parkinson’s. Depriving Maddie of maturing into adulthood, experiences, friendships, and relationships.

When her mother comes back for a year she makes the decision to set out on her own to finally live life. While Maddie has to endure death, friendship, dating, virginity, racism, cultural bias, and mental health you can’t do anything else but root for her and her happiness. A poignant story with bits of humor sprinkled in make this debut novel a compelling must read.

Maame is a coming of age story about Maddie. It show her path in becoming the primary caretaker of her dad who has Parkinsons. For me it was a slow paced read but was very witty!


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

Three stars. I enjoyed Maddie and her journey. I almost walked away at one point because it does move slowly and the Google inserts make it slower. HOWEVER, George created a character I was invested in and the characters weren’t flat. A good time was had by me and will be had by anyone who reads this.
Now I can also see this being adapted to a mini series.

In Maame, debut novelist Jessica George tells the story of Maddie, a self-described late bloomer who at the age of 25 is trying to juggle caring of her ill father (with no help from her mom or brother), moving out of the house, dealing with the microaggressions casually thrown at her by colleagues and roommates, and dating for the first time. With a mom who isn't exactly motherly and few close friends, Maddie looks for the answers to all her questions on Google. Readers are also given access to her inner thoughts, which reveal a woman who is deeply unsure of herself but also maybe stronger than she realizes. She's a character you want to root for and it was so satisfying to see her growth throughout the book. I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Heather Agyepong, who made the character of Maddie come alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for the advanced copy of the book.

“Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, 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. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.”

This book covers A LOT. Leaving home, racism, dating, friendship, self-doubt, sex, duty, illness, family, career, and and and.

It somehow manages, however, to not feel too heavy. Mainly, I think this is due to the main character’s weird mixture of maturity in some things (taking care of her ailing father) and immaturity in others (stunted, socially). One second, she’s talking about feeding her father, the next, she’s Googling about how to lose her virginity at 25.

I’m not sure if YA was the vibe I was looking for, but it toned down what could have been a tragic slog of a book.

This book has a lot going for it.

The stunning cover.
The growth Maddie undergoes as she explores herself.
The personalities of her friends and family.
Did I mention the constant GAD Googling?

I read this one with both my eyeballs and my earholes, and the narrator was A GIFT.

The plot was slow going, but I think it allowed the characters to cook a bit more than they normally might.

8/10

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Hodder and Stoughton Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for this steeped ARC.

MAAME is an absolutely incredible debut novel by Jessica George. You know the writing is masterful when you connect with characters and situations that are unfamiliar to you. This book will be on my mind for a long time!
In some ways, 25-year-old Maddie was forced to grow up early. She takes care of her sick father and the household as her brother is rarely home and her mother’s presence is basically non-existent. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie moves out, ready to start a new chapter and experience some ‘firsts’, but it’s definitely not a smooth road. I would describe MAAME as kind of a coming of age story, as Maddie deals with familial, dating, roommate, cultural and work related challenges and milestones, all the while figuring out who she is as an individual.
George’s writing style had me fully invested in Maddie’s journey. This book deals with tough topics, but the humour and wit helped carry the weight. It just felt so real and authentic. The pacing was perfect and this story didn’t lose me for a second.
I highly recommend, and can’t wait for its release so I can get it into the hands of everyone I know.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the absolute perfect coming-of-age story. The writing is vibrant, the MC is relatable and authentic, and the plot sucks you in. The author’s voice is completely new and fresh - totally unlike anything I’ve ever read before. This book hits on so many themes I love - cultural influence, self discovery, mental health, grief, friendships, sexuality, and so much more. This book will sneak up on you - it hits you with the snarky witty humor but then takes you by surprise with the emotional impact you feel by the end. 100% recommend this to everyone!

Maame is a coming of age story about Maddie. She finds herself becoming the primary caretaker of her dad who has Parkinsons.

She has the opportunity to move out and find herself. I loved the the story of Maddie discovering who she is and how to navigate her life.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Maame is a beautiful, tender story of a young woman fighting through unrecognized depression, abandonment issues, grief and guilt to learn who she is and what she wants, and blossoming into fullness. Maddie, a young British-Ghanian woman, has been the rock of her family for as long as she can remember. As sole caregiver for her father who has Parkinson's, she leads a quiet life of drudgery at home and at her low-paying admin assistant job where she is frequently the only Black person in the room, while her mother stays in Ghana (and regularly demands Maddie's meager savings to augment her own life) and her older brother flits around the world as part of a musician's entourage. When Maddie's mother returns to England for a year, Maddie takes the opportunity to move out of the family home and build a life for herself. Although there are setbacks and tragedies, Maddie must learn to cope with it all and integrate the "new Maddie" with the old.

Despite the somewhat heavy subject matter, this book is a joy. Maddie is brilliant and hilarious, and watching her grow into herself and find the strength to advocate for herself and untangle her messy family relationships was so rewarding. I can't wait to make everyone I know read this gem, and I'm excited for future stories from Jessica George. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book!