A well-written poignant tale of what it means to grow up while living under the pressure of family dynamics. Maddie (Maame) is the main caretaker for her father with Parkinson’s. Her mother is distant and often not around as is her brother. Left to care for her father, Maddie navigates adulthood simultaneously.

The story was dynamic, multicultural, confronts themes of racism, and the characters are rich with detail. Highly recommend this novel as a to-read for 2023.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

Maame suffers a bit because I’ve read a several similar books over the past few years, each about women emerging from the pressures and stifling cloister of their family lives to become a fully actualized person. This novel offers a couple of new twists, but the author’s voice isn't especially distinctive. Still, there are some observations here that make it a perfectly worthwhile read.

Twentysomething British Maddie – known as Maame - lives a life circumscribed by her place in her family. Her father has late-stage Parkinson’s’ disease, and she often only gets time away from taking care of him when his hired caretaker, Dawoud, comes over. That time away often involves her acting as a cog in a corporate machine at her day job, where she works as a personal assistant. Her mother, meanwhile, has been in Ghana since Maddie’s grandfather passed away a year earlier. She runs a hostel with her brother, and calls in to push Maame to go to church and find a husband. Thus does all of the household’s responsibility fall on Maame’s shoulders. And she’s sick of it.

When her mother tells her she’s going to come home after so long, Maame decides to take a big step into adulthood. She agrees to flat share with two other people – Jo and Cam – and then begins to cast about for dates. Unfortunately, she’s also been fired from her job for blatantly racist reasons, and her co-workers urge her to speak out about the situation. She gets a new job at Orange Tree Publishing working for a woman named Penny, again as a PA. Thanks to this job and her newfound circle of friends, Maame truly begins to come into her own, and even goes out on her first date in eight years with a guy named Ben. Because she’s lived so close to home for such a long time, she has a lot of firsts to get through, including losing her virginity and experiencing her first major heartbreak. Family secrets and work rivalries also complicate her life. Will she be able to stay independent?

Maame hit me in a lot of personal places. If you’ve ever put your own life on hold to help care for a parent, you’ll understand Maddie’s guilt and frustration. She constantly consults Google because she doesn’t have an internal compass and doesn’t know a lot about the business of sex, due to a mother who is often absent and leans heavily upon God while ignoring matters of biology. Her brother has long ago left the family nest and expects Maame to take on all of his duties. Everything has fallen on her. Ergo, I understood why she lied so often about her life and circumstances.

I must add that the romantic quotient here is pretty low – this is a coming-of-age story about a woman who embraces her singleness and finally learns about the joys of sex. There isn’t even a happily ever after to be had here.

While I didn’t consider that a problem, I did take issue with the book’s very slow pacing. There are long, dry stretches in the beginning of the novel that cause it to go by far too slowly. Just before the midpoint a major event occurs and everything starts to spring to life and go faster, which is what earns the book its B grade. Maame will be a wonderful ride for anyone who’s ever bloomed late, and thrived.

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I throughly enjoyed this novel. In fact, it’s one of the few lately that has held my attention throughout the entire story. While I could see a few things coming, I never felt like rushing though it. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

I absolutely adore books about growth and confidence and community care, and all those elements in this book were so beautifully portrayed. I really resonated with a lot of Maddie’s experiences, from the guilt she felt for caring for herself rather than others for once to the journey of finding community in the people around her and learning to trust and open up to them.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and netgalley for this ARC!!

This is a beautiful and moving book, both funny and emotional. I think if you liked Olga Dies Dreaming you would appreciate this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A coming of age story about a 25 year old, Maddie, known as Maame--translates to woman but means matriarch. Maddie is the primary caretaker for her ailing father; her mother has moved back to Ghana and rarely visits, and her brother, James, is never around. She has been the primary caretaker since childhood. Her mother returns--her phone is "Mother LONDON" as mother is usually in Ghana, and never emotionally available. Maddie moves into a flat and tries to live an age appropriate life. She encounters racism, job discrimination, feckless boyfriends, selfish flatmates and a family who insists that she contribute the most to everything. The death of her father is a turning point. An engaging read. While I didn't enjoy the google searches--I understand how a young woman of limited experience would turn to the internet to learn what is "normal". Maddie grows into "Maame" as she experiences young adulthood after years of premature responsibility that rob her of her true voice.

THIS REVIEW IS NOT SPOILER FREE:

First I would like to say thank you to St. Martins Press for the physical ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a 25-year-old woman of Ghanaian descent, who was a late bloomer at 21, loves to read and has one dead parent, I was immediately drawn to Maame. But after reading just a few pages, I quickly realized the representation I thought I would be getting was not going to happen.

Representation is not a requirement for a good book. I’ve read all kinds of books I don’t have representation in and loved them for different reasons. My struggle with Maame is that the writing felt flat and the overall story was not engaging.

From the beginning, the author makes it clear that Maddie is uncultured in several ways with no social life. There is a lot of inner dialogue and no conversation because of this and for a reader that can get dull really fast. I didn’t find it funny or witty, most times I found myself cringing from the secondhand embarrassment and the constant lies.

At 25, Maddie’s late coming of age makes her experiences feel almost unrealistic at times. If she were 18-21 her lack of knowledge about life, and constant need to Google EVERYTHING, like what DTF means, would be more understandable.

I won’t even start on the romance subplot because some of the stuff that happened was so jarring I couldn’t believe I was reading it.

The book finally gets interesting once her dad dies. She stops living in her head and finally says her thoughts out loud. Her mother and her good-for-nothing brother get a long overdue cussing out that they rightfully deserve. She’s a mess and she’s spiralling but at least the story finally has a pulse.

Overall I was really disappointed by this book as it had so much promise to be a great story of what it means to become your own woman. This brings me to my main and final letdown. Maame is a Twi word with many meanings. In the book, the author opts to use the “woman” translation.

For Ghanaian girls who have been dubbed Maame in their adolescence, reclaiming their identities as young women is a powerful story worth being told. About 78% into the book, Maddie experiences that and though I’m happy she does, I have conflicted feelings about the reckoning moment. Up until this point, nothing Maddie has mentioned about Ghana or Ghanaian culture was positive. So for the book to be named a Twi word with a kente cover for the U.S edition, but the character has a negative relationship with her Ghanaian culture felt extremely disconnected to me.

Ghanaian readers have very little representation in mainstream fiction and I do believe there is always room for critiquing tradition and culture. For example, her Mom said the kids have to pay for their Dad’s funeral expenses because it’s culture. This is extremely unfair as she was the primary caregiver before he passed and had done more than enough. I was happy she stood up for herself and set a boundary in that regard.

No one has to love every aspect of their culture, but profiting off of it while backhanding it at the same time seems unfair. It's in the epilogue that Maddie finally decides to visit Ghana again to understand her parents more but it just feels way too late.

I understand this is the author’s specific experience, but it can be seen as misleading to Ghanaian readers in and out of the continent, who are most likely picking up the book because of the title and/or cover, looking for that positive representation.

3.5 stars

In Maame, Maddie is a 25-year-old woman who is the primary caregiver for her father, who is suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Though she has a demanding home life due to her father’s illness, she feels that she has missed out on many of the experiences that her peers take for granted, such as moving out of her family home and dating.

Throughout the book, Maddie grows as a character as she explores intimate relationships and work situations. She also examines her complex relationship with her mother, who has been periodically absent as she spends extended periods of time in her native Ghana.

There were some decisions that Maddie made that didn’t make sense to me, but that is all part of growing as a person. I appreciated the discussions of mental health and how historically, many people were raised to just “get over it” instead of seeking help.

Maddie’s quirky and introverted nature makes her an interesting protagonist. George’s writing is strong with well-developed characters, and she touches on a lot of important issues without getting too heavy-handed.

What an incredible debut novel! This hits all family issues straight on with well written characters and a rollercoaster of emotions. You want to cheer on and support Maddie the entire way through this book!

A very emotionally read that will have you crying, laughing, feeling joy and loss. Truly a moving debut!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Note: I received a review copy of this from the wonderful NetGalley. Still and all, the opinions here are mine, and nobody else's.

With one small caveat, I loved Maame, Jessica George's debut novel (and I look forward to seeing a lot more of her work).

To get the small caveat out of the way, I have been noticing a trend among younger writers that I dislike very much. Now, this may just be because I'm a tail-end Boomer, but it still bothers me. When faced with problems that most adults face in life, many younger writers have other protagonists turn to the hive mind of the "Interwebs" or they have the protagonists discuss the issue with everyone except the other person(s) involved. To me, this often seems like a retreat from actually tackling the problem, whatever it is, and either failing or succeeding but growing either way. Maddie does it here a lot, which takes away (for me, anyway) from the idea that Maddie is an actual adult.

Other than that, this is a lovely book. Maddie's turn as caretaker for her dad, and actual truly responsible caretaker for her widely scattered family strikes true (my sister and I have each had to assume that role in real life). The representations of how much of her life has been eaten by this role, and by her family's expectations that she will always fill these set, specific roles is heart-breaking. Maddie's saving grace, however, is that she really is a survivor, with the core of steel she does not see in herself but recognizes in her mother and aunt. She spends the time we are with here growing -- sometimes willingly, sometimes unwillingly -- with great hopes that things will turn out for the best, even while she acknowledges the possibility they won't. It's also interesting to see how the values she has learned in her country of birth mix and blend with the Ghanaian values her parents spent a great deal of time installing, and where those mixed values both propel her forward and hold her back.

Despite the above caveat, I think you will enjoy spending time with Maddie, her family, and the other people in her life. The writing is excellent, which is always a plus for me.

I loved this book! Maddie was my
Favorite character of the year. How she grew from the beginning of the book to the end, was remarkable. I felt for her throughout her story. I loved the relationship she had with her father. My heart broke for her but also I had so much respect for how she cared for him. I appreciated learning about Maddie’s culture, the relationships in their family, the pressure Maddie felt to take care of everything when her mother was in Ghana and her brother was never around. Her mother and brother drove me crazy throughout the book but I appreciated how Maddie was able to stand up to them eventually.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy of this book!

In this stunning coming of age story we meet the bright, vivacious Maddie who is struggling to make her own way in the world. With her mother constantly away in Ghana and her brother doing his own thing, it is up to her to care for her father who is in the advanced stages of Parkinson’s. When her mother returns from her latest trip though Maddie sees this as her chance to branch out, move away from home and start experiencing life. Heartbreak, racism, grief and love, Maddie quickly learns some of the biggest lessons but most importantly she learns where she truly belongs.

Compassionate, empowering, tender and engaging. I was mesmerized by Maddie’s story from the start and know it is one that will resonate with so many people. @jessicageorges style of writing is captivating and made for such a resounding read. This book touches on many tough subjects in a way that is utterly moving yet you can’t help to feel charmed while reading about Maddie. I urge everyone to read this powerful masterpiece when it’s out in January!

Read if you:
- Want a beautiful coming of age story.
- Ever had to find your true self.
- Have a complex relationship with your family.

Maame is a beautifully written, emotionally charged debut novel. It's a compelling coming of age story exploring grief, depression, and racism. The book is moving and relatable on so many levels. Highly recommended!

4.5 stars

A beautiful, moving debut, this novel tackles grief, guilt, coming of age, friendship, romance and complicated family dynamics with nuance and grace through the lens of a twenty-five year old Ghanaian British woman named Maddie (whose often irresponsible mother calls her by the nickname Maame, which signifies Maddie as the responsible one, an identity that has become unbearable for her to sustain). If I've maybe read similar stories of a daughter cracking under the pressure of intense responsibility while still forming her own identity separate from her family, I've never read it with this fresh and touching perspective.

Maame is an excellent book. The writing is clear and moving. I enjoyed Maddie and getting to see the world through her. This book covered a lot (grief, family/friend/romantic relationships, racism, work) without feeling overwhelming. I look forward to seeing what Jessica George comes out with next.

A couple formatting notes:
- It was sometimes hard to distinguish text messages and articles from other parts of the story. Italicizing, indenting, etc. to differentiate would be useful.
- There were a few letters mistakenly left in Chapter 11 - "our first catch-up lastedha much longer"
- In Chapter 33, I think there was a missing quotation mark before "on my first day back"
- In Chapter 36, I think there was a missing quotation mark in this part:"...if you feel guilty," she says quietly, "for missing one birthday"

I did not enjoy this book. I think the story
Was flat I wasn't interested in Maddie's life. Thank you netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for a review.

An easy read that kept me engaged with thoughtful characters and storyline - I’ll keep an eye for this author, no doubt!
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC opportunity!

Nicely written portrayal of a girl juggling life, between newly found happiness and the depressing feelings of guilt. Sometimes happy yet sometimes sad, but I was always rooting for her!

5 stars- this is a book I definitely will read again. thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

A touching debut novel about a young woman struggling to figure out who she is and where she belongs in the world. Maddie (known as Maame to her family) is a 25 year-old Ghanaian-British woman who is still living at home in London and working at a job where she's not valued. Maddie is far from being a carefree young adult. Her life is dominated by responsibilities as she's the primary caregiver for her father who has Parkinson's Disease since her mother spends more time in Ghana than London and her older brother is unreliable. When her mother unexpectedly announces that she's returning to London for at least a year, Maddie has an opportunity to move out and prioritize herself for the first time since she was a young teenager.

Maddie is a naive but relatable character learning to navigate young adulthood (with the help of friends and Google). Like any young person, Maddie is dealing with friendships, flatmates, dating/relationships, and finding the right career path, however, she also deals with racism and microagressions at work, mental health issues, loss and grief and balancing her family's Ghanaian traditions with her life as a Londoner. Maame is a well-written, enjoyable read about a young adult coming of age and "finding herself" - a story as beautiful as the book's cover!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.