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!
25-year-old Maddie was forced to grow up early, taking care of her sick father while her mother is in Ghana and her brother is rarely home. When her mother returns, Maddie moves out, ready to start a new chapter and experience some ‘firsts’, but road is definitely not easy.
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.
Heather Agyepong did a fantastic job narrating MAAME, and I highly recommend.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Maame, meaning woman, has been both a prize and a cumbersome title for Maddie to bear.

She was proud to be seen as grown up when young, but once saddled with all the familial responsibilities it became burdensome.

Maddie is trying to care for her ailing father while her brother chase his dreams and her mother is absent.

When she’s finally given the chance to explore who she is and what she wants everything seems to go wrong. Can she find her own path?

This book has left me in a very fragile state of mind and I didn't even realize it was happening until it was over, but wow I really loved it. Maddie is such a relatable character for a number of reasons, and the way her story is portrayed absolutely floored me. I loved the combination of stream of consciousness and first person description, which made me feel like I was in Maddie's head and experiencing things right along with her. While this is a story of learning who you are, it's also a story of grief, acceptance, growth, love, and mental health.

I don't want to say too much, as I don't want to spoil a single moment, but I believe every woman who feels like a late bloomer or like she's stuck in a rut needs to read this to learn that you are not alone in your feelings, and you will find your way through (even though it may take twists and turns along the way).

Highly recommend and need this for my physical bookshelf.

This is the author’s debut novel. Wow! Maddie is the primary caregiver of her dad who has Parkinson’s. They live in London, however her mother spends her time in Ghana, and his care falls on Maddie. She tries to juggle her work life and home life. Her mother wants her to meet someone and marry.

In her mid twenties she finally moves out of their home and starts her life. She navigates dating, a job, friends and it’s an interesting journey.

The subject is difficult, but the author mixed some humor which helped get through the hard parts.

This novel deals with mental health, racism, traditions, and relationships.

Thank you MacMillion Audio, St. Martins Press, NetGalley and author Jessica George for this advanced audio and book. This book is available January 31, 2023.

Maame by Jessica George

This was a powerful story that shows you the struggles of families plus how to find your place in the world. It is a story that will make you cry as well as make you laugh. I had to laugh at myself because when Maddie uses google to ask questions about sleep and other things I had to laugh at that cause I have been that person. Maddie is a twenty-five year old who is struggling. Her mother was non existent when growing up she spent most of her time in Ghana away from her children. So Maddie doesn't have the skills that a mother would teach her daughter all she taught Maddie was to obey her and the family. Maddie has so much pressure on her from her family, she is a virgin, and just learning the ropes of the world around her. She has a job in the publishing business and now living with two flatmates in London.

The guilt her family puts on her and their dependency on her is heartbreaking. The first few men she dated just where not what she needed but one in particular took her virginity with false pretenses that they are a couple. He was terrible human being. Maddie just breaks your heart what she goes through.

This is not your run of the mill books it really dove into some serious topics how family can keep you stunted, grief in how it hurts bad, guilt how families manipulate, starting over, regret and most importantly growth into a women.

I liked how moving the story is and watching Maddie grow as the story goes on she endures so much while figuring out the world. You laugh like I said when she is googling simple things. I laughed hard at that. One more important thing about this book it is an immigrant story. How different immigrants do different things in families. The children are responsible for a lot of things with their parents. The pressure on Maddie was horrible from her family. Her brother was no better he was just not their at all. Her mother was a piece of work as well.

This is a five star read for me. This story is still sitting with me because I can see some of myself through Maddie. I recommend this book for anyone who loves books around immigrant family life. I want to give a shout out to the beautiful cover for the book. Narrated by Heather Agyepong this book it was enjoyable to listen too.

Thank you to Netgalley and Mamillan for a free audio copy of Maame for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

4 stars

This is an outstanding debut. Jessica George is now on my immediate you-write-I-read list!

Maddie, the m.c., has been called "Maame" her whole life, and there's a lot of meaning behind the titular word. This word connects her to her roots, but her mother also uses it to refer to Maddie as "woman." The struggle here is that way too much responsibility has been foisted on Maddie her whole life under the guise of her being a "woman" and not a girl or young woman. An added implication is that while Maddie has been handling everyone else's dramas, she hasn't had enough time to focus on developing herself, understanding important aspects of her identity, or engaging in pivotal life experiences. Many readers will relate to the kind of isolation Maddie feels for different reasons and in distinct situations; truly, it's impossible not to root for her.

I really enjoyed having a window into different elements of Maddie's life and getting to see her struggle but especially triumph in specific situations. This is a wonderful meditation on grief, family, and especially coming of age, even when it happens a little later than others' timelines might suggest is typical.

The narrator of the audiobook adds so much to an already compelling character, so I not only recommend the read but also the listen when and where accessible. I'm looking forward to much more from this author!

Maame, at its core, is a coming of age story about 25-year-old Maddie Wright. At the start of the book, her life in London is far from ideal. She lives at home, is her father’s primary caregiver, and has tension with her mother. When she finally gets the opportunity to to move out, Maddie takes the chance and with that, has to learn how to navigate the “real world” on her own. What follows is a journey about self-discovery as Maddie explores dating, a new job and life living with friends while also being faced with the unexpected.

This novel deals with very important topics like mental health, racism, identity and family relationships. Maddie was a character I instantly liked and while her journey is different from my own experiences, there are pieces of her the are so relatable. I listened to the audiobook and thought the narration was extremely well done and engaging.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the ALC! Pub 1/31

4.5 stars.

Synopsis: 25 year old Maddie's life is far from ideal. She is the primary caretaker to her father who has Parkinson's, while her overbearing mother spends most of her time in Ghana. Needless to say, Maddie has not had much opportunity to really *live* her life. When her mother returns to London from her latest trip, Maddie decides to move out and begins making decisions for herself. Soon, she is going on dates, meeting coworkers for after work drinks, and advocating for more recognition at work. When tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to confront her family dynamics and navigate grief, while also welcoming opportunities to build the life she desires and deserves.

Thoughts: This was a beautiful and raw coming of age story. It also tackles familial responsibility, racism, female pleasure, the magic of friendship, and the woes of dating. Maddie is a protagonist you cannot help root for, and you want to give her a hug as as grief takes its toll on her mental health. There are so many relatable elements to her story that I am confident every person will find something that will resonate with them.

The audio was fantastic! I really loved listening to it!