I loved both listening to and hearing Maddie's story. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming all at the same time.

Read/listen if you like:
🖤 Fictional Stories that feel like Memoirs
🖤 Emotional Coming of Age Stories
🖤 Family Dynamics tied in
🖤 Stories with Character Growth
🖤 Tough Topics Covered

This book was so beautifully put together and told by the author, The way the story was told it truly felt like reading a memoir as we followed our main character through pivotal moments in her life and finding herself and her voice. The narrator completely captivated me with her work with this book and I am absolutely recommending the audiobook to everyone I talk to!

The beauty in finding herself in the midst of a horrible loss of her father was so well done. This one truly covers all of the difficulty topics of family, friendships, work, career, job loss, roommates, sexuality, racism and sexism.

I highly encourage everyone to get a copy of this one and experience the journey along with our main character and the understanding of the depth of the impact a nickname like Maame can have on an individual and their relationships.

Thank you to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

4.5 stars! What a fabulous debut novel by Jessica George!

Maame tells the story of Maddie, a young Ghanaian woman living in Britain, who comes from a dysfunctional family and serves as the caretaker for her ailing father with Parkinson’s Disease. Maddie learns and grows so much through the course of the book. This is the story of a young woman who experiences events that allow her to find herself and her place in this world. It is a wonderful work of contemporary fiction filled with hope, friendship, love, and forgiveness.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Maame. The narrator was fabulous, and the pacing could not have been better.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley, for the audio version of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

Maame by Jessica George was a deeply moving, coming of age debut novel. I don’t usually gravitate towards coming of age novels but this one resonated with me right from the start. I listened to the audiobook of Maame that was extremely well narrated by Heather Agyepong. Maame was told in the first person narrative which worked extremely well for this novel in my opinion.

Family and the dynamics of her family was not something Maddie Wright, the twenty-five year old black Ghanaian/Londoner protagonist, got to choose for herself. Her family dynamics, though, very much shaped and influenced both her personal life, her social life and her life at her job. At the time when a girl really needed her mother the most, Maddie’s mother took the liberty to be absent from Maddie’s life. She was often gone for a complete year before she came back home. Maddie lived at home with her father. Her mother claimed that it was essential for her to be in Ghana to run the hostile she had inherited from her father, Maddie’s grandfather. When Maddie’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Maddie became his caretaker. Maddie loved her father very much and was very devoted to him. That was a lot of responsibility, though, that was thrown on Maddie’s shoulders. Her older brother was wrapped up in his own life and seldom if ever offered Maddie support or help. Maddie took care of the bills, the upkeep and cleaning of the house and the care of her father. She was forced to grow up fast in some aspects but was also quite naive about most things girls her own age should have been experiencing. Maddie had never dated anyone or had much of a social life. Her father’s Parkinson’s kept advancing, so Maddie made excuses of why she couldn’t socialize with her friends. Then her mother came home and Maddie’s life changed. She promised herself that she would become the “new Maddie”. Maddie all of a sudden had flatmates, a social life and boyfriends. She was so clueless and naive about so many things but she was finally living the life she thought she wanted. Then tragedy struck and Maddie’s life shattered.

Maame by Jessica George was so well written. I loved how Jessica George addressed the topics of racism, family, love, loss, grief, guilt, mental health, naïveté, insecurities and self-confidence as Maddie navigated her way through her life. Maddie’s life was confusing and difficult at best. It was hard for Maddie to have to deal with such an overbearing mother and the pressures so many others placed on her in various situations. With time, patience and help in discovering who she was, Maddie was able to become a stronger and happier woman. One of the things I also liked was how often Maddie consulted Google to help her clarify perplexing questions or situations she found herself in . There was not a moment when I was not rooting for Maddie. I really enjoyed everything about this fabulous debut novel by Jessica George and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Publication is set for January 31, 2023.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Maame by Jessica George through Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Maddie is struggling to find her place as a young Black woman in London; she is the primary carer for her father, who is ill with Parkinson's, her mother is away in Ghana, and her work is leaving her (at best) unfulfilled. Her life is less than ideal, but she hopes to stretch her wings and find the "new Maddie" after being fired unfairly from her job at a theatre.

Maame is a touching, relatable, and, at times, raw narrative of searching for identity in one's mid-twenties. George portrays Maddie with such love and fierceness; her voice speaks to you from the page as if she is a close friend letting you in on all the secrets her mother tells her to hide. This is a beautiful debut novel that explores culture, family, loss, sexuality, womanhood, friendship, mental health, and the often baffling arena that is the Internet.

Much thanks to the publisher for this ARC-- I absolutely loved it!

Thank you @stmartinspress , @macmillan.audio , and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC/audiobook of MAAME.

This book started out slow for me. Honestly I thought about DNF-ing it but it had so many amazing reviews that I decided to keep going, and I’m so glad I did. Maddie’s growth as a character is wonderful and while she is painfully awkward at times, you can’t help but root for her to find herself and her place in the world. I adored Maddie’s two best friends and how fiercely loyal they were. We all could use friends like them.

While I overall enjoyed MAAME, there were times during the first third of the book where I wanted to scream “show me, don’t tell me!” as Maddie walked us through what she was making for dinner, what she decided to wear, the whole process for hair wash day. But as Maddie’s confidence grew, her internal dialogue grew as well and the writing changed.

MAAME is smart, funny, insightful, charming and heartbreaking all in one. I tandem read MAAME with an e-galley and the audiobook and the narrator was fantastic. I definitely would recommend the audio if you have a chance to read it in this format.

MAAME comes out on 1/31/23!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn4qJctp0s9/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5261098685

The story of a young British Ghanaian woman, Maddie, living in London who has dedicated her life to taking care of her father who has Parkinson’s and her tough job. She finally moves out on her own when her mother moves back from Ghana and is pushed out of her element. Maddie is almost forced to have “normal” experiences as a girl her own age. This is a shock to her. I really enjoyed this coming-of-age story of identity and following Maddie’s journey of finding out who she truly is. The writing was fantastic. The characters were so incredibly well developed that I could see myself in a room with each one of them. The entire story is narrated by Maddie in first person and I think that made it very effective. This was a marvelous debut and I cannot wait to see what George comes up with next!

Maame is a beautifully written and emotionally powerful novel by Jessica George. The story follows the life of a young Ghanaian girl named Maddie (also called Maame by her family), who is forced to navigate the complexities of her heritage and identity as she grows up in the United States. The daughter of Ghanaian immigrants settled in London, Maddie, working a dead-end administrative job is responsible for the care of her father, whose Parkinson's Disease is now at an advanced stage. Her mother, who alternates between Ghana and London, is constantly critical of Maddie, asking Maddie for monetary help and asking her to send money to her in Ghana where she runs a hostel with her brother. Maddie’s brother who lives separately is self-absorbed and never seems to be around.

When her mother comes back to London Maddie decides to move out and hence starts Maddie's journey as she navigates her way through professional ups and downs, old and new friendships and romantic relationships.

The author does a fantastic job of exploring the cultural and personal struggles that Maddie faces, and the novel is both deeply moving and thought-provoking. Maddie is such a well-developed and relatable character, and the writing is both poetic and evocative.
The novel is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of race, identity and belonging. Overall, it's a powerful, thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I would rate it a 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars. Kudos to the author for writing such a compelling debut novel.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I do not know how to adequately put into words how much I loved Maame by Jessica George.

This story handles some heavy topics in such a beautiful way. As soon as I finished this book I was so sad to be leaving Maddie and her journey behind. This is a story of self discovery, grief, family, and mental health. Maame handles the issue of racism in the workplace and dating world in an eye opening way. We also join Maddie as she navigates dating for the first time, and figuring out sex and all that comes with it.

There are so many topics that Maame tackles, but Jessica George handled all of these with care and believability. She painted an accurate picture of life in your 20's, what it's like to try to figure out what you are doing, what you want to be doing, and what everyone expects of you.

I absolutely loved how Maddie Googled absolutely everything that popped into her head. I know we've all googled things that seem so obvious, and it made me smile everytime she did. I also loved how Maddie had to say "I love you" after every conversation with her loved ones. I grew up in a household where we never ended a conversation without saying I love you, and it's a tradition carried into my own family now. It was nice seeing that in a character.

It's only January and I already know that Maame will be on my best of 2023 list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an early audiobook for review purposes. My opinions are all my own.

Maame is a debut novel written by Jessica George, to be published on January 31, 2023.
From the cover and the title, I imagined this book would be a contemporary fiction with female protagonist with an African background. The publisher is spot-on for picking the cover, because it is all of these things.

The story centers Maddie, who in mid-20s female living in London. Her parents are from Ghana, but Maddie was raised in England. She is the main caretaker of her father who has developed serious illness because her mother had returned to Ghana, and her younger brother is often missing in action, as typical of many young boys in a similar situation. Maddie faces many challenges, including cultural, racial, and societal - she is a bit naive but very likable and relatable. I couldn't help wanting to be on her side and cheer for her and wish a happy ending for her. It was a very easy read and the audiobook narration was well done.

Overall, I would give it 4.2 stars out of 5 stars - It's not quite perfect because I felt there were a bit too many serious issues being packed in a book and the ending felt a bit rushed in my opinion. Nevertheless, I felt the book was a pleasure to read and I will look forward to reading her next title.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an early audiobook for review purposes. My opinions stated here are my own.

Jessica George’s debut novel Maame is a must read. If you are a fan of Bridget Jones Diary, you will enjoy this book as it has the private thoughts only a diary would know and silly habits that we are all guilty of. However, towards the middle you see Maddie start to navigate an awareness of her mental health. She is a developed character that you are rooting for because she is relatable even if her specific situation is different. I have found myself asking the same questions, ‘what will I do to start living my own life?’. The audio narrator was amazing and full of emotion! I definitely encourage a listen.

“… I wake up everyday and I smile when I need to, and talk when I have to but I’m in constant pain and I have been for to long.”

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #Maame

Maame by Jessica George handles some heavy themes including the loss of a parent and racism, to name a couple, but does so beautifully and with so much heart. It's the story of 20-something Maddie, who lives in London and has largely been left to care for her father, who suffers from Parkinson's. Her mother is taking care of a family business in Ghana and doesn't come home very often, while her brother is living his own life. Maddie has put her own social life on hold for this labor of love, and when her mother finally returns from her latest trip, Maddie finally moves out on her own. She starts to date (she describes herself as a "late bloomer"), gets new roommates, and takes on a new career path. She's making up for lost time, until a family tragedy forces her to deal with issues years in the making. I listened to the audiobook, and LOVED the narration by Heather Agyepong. It was a perfect marriage of author and narrator, and I will seek out more of their work in the future.

I adore this book, reading the journey of Maddie as she navigates her family, friends and mental health. The portrayal of the strong one and what people can damage is the person who can handle it all, Who is helping the strong one.

Maddie loves her father and is taking care of him during his Parkinson's disease. Her mother is gone for years at a time but doesn't forget to call and give unsolicited advice

Her brother is unapologetically not around to help her with the bills and cares for their father. She is all alone and she is supposed to be able to handle it.

when she gets the opportunity to leave home and finally explore herself and have a social life - things go array.

The reason why I loved this book so much - is because as a descendant of Caribbean parents, I understand the burden of being charged with a lot and the toll that can take. We do this to our children and have them take care of grown-up things early in life. The is damaging and dangerous but so commonplace

I enjoyed the journey of discovery to health for Maddie because mental health can be brushed aside in our community and I love the story that highlights this issue

Lastly, I would ultimately call this a romance with Maddie and herself and the inspected love interest.

I adore this book -Highly recommend it - chefs kiss*

Narrator Heather Agyepong does an awesome job getting the accents and the emotions of all the characters - this brought the story and Maddie to life for me.

It's only January 25 and I already know Maame is going to be one of the best books I've read this year.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was an excellent exploration of grief and mental health, especially for those navigating these things in their 20s/30s. I thought it also handled the issue of micro-aggressions, in the workplace and beyond, in a really excellent way. It also had important things to say about toxic relationships vs. healthy relationships. I loved the audio and did a mix of audio and e-arc. I thought the narrator of the audio was fantastic. I will not be adopting this into my curriculum, as I don't think its a good fit for my students age-wise, but I will be posting a review on my bookstagram account (@books.can.save.the.world) and it will be a positive review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review. This book had so much it was about: family, mental health, grief from death, finding yourself. Parts were more enjoyable than others. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

Maame is Jessica George's debut novel set in London. In this coming-of-age story, women will be able to connect with the inner thoughts, fears, & frustrations of Madeline.

Maame (Madeline) takes care of her father who has Parkinson's, while her mother is living in Ghana most of the time. Maame (meaning women in Twi) has so much responsibility thrust on her at such a young age that she is not able to develop socially in the ways most of her peers and colleagues have....leaving her awkward and uncomfortable in many social settings, googling answers to all her life's questions.

When her father passes away unexpectedly, Madeline fully spirals into depression and must take steps for healing and understanding, even if it is not in the tradition of her overbearing mother.

This is not a light-hearted book, however it resonated with me as there were several similarities that I could connect with. Sometimes when we read heavy stories, like Madeline's, we come to greater understanding in our own lives.

This was a really touching coming of age story and I enjoyed the narration. Maddie, despite being the youngest in her family, has far too many responsibilities. While taking care of her sick father, she is also learning how to become more independent and move out on her own. I thought the author depicted complicated family relationships really well.

At turns poignant and witty, this is a coming of age novel that will likely appeal to intellectually curious readers living through their own “new adult” experiences. Maddie, a young Ghanian-British woman, is the primary caregiver for her beloved father while her mother spends months at a time in Ghana.

A hardworking daughter of hardworking parents, Maddie wants to explore life outside the circle of home, family, and expectations. She’s gentle, smart, and a bit lonely. Although it pains her, she grabs an opportunity to move out of the family home. Maddie learns about her own personality, sexuality, and how to stand up for herself at work. Difficulties with friendship, relationships, and how others expect her to behave as a daughter and a Black woman ensue.

Anyone with parents from a traditional culture (whether you are first-gen or second-gen) will empathize with the paradoxical identity that somehow clings to girl children. Like Maddie, one is supposed to remain virginal in thought, word, and deed, yet take on responsibilities of managing a household, sometimes right down to the finances. Maddie’s mother questions Maddie about the lack of a boyfriend while expecting her daughter to stay at home to do the domestic and emotional labor needed for caregiving. Jessica George’s style is very engaging; she makes emotions and characters feel familiar and real with elegantly spare description. This novel would transfer well to film. I’d like to read more by Jessica George. As a Librarian, I recommend Maame to readers 18-25 who feel that they often move between cultures. The audiobook narrator is excellent.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Maame by Jessica George.

Maddie's doing her best to find happiness in her life despite all of it's difficulties. While her mother and brother pursue their own lives, she is an adult woman still living at home taking care of her sick father. She is working a job that is unfulfilling, her dating life is abysmal and she is tired of always being the only black woman in the room.

But even though her mom's return brings a lot of Maddie's issues to the surface, it also gives her a chance to flee her parent's house and forge her own life. She makes friends, tries foreign substances, and even begins dating. But everything comes with a price, and after a tragedy in her family, Maddie is going to have to take a long hard look at her mental health, as well as boundaries she can set to take care of herself.

SUUUUCH a good representation of the cringiest decade of one's life, the twenties! Add to that a heaping spoonful of multicultural experience, sexuality, and family issues, and you have yourself a very rich and well fleshed story. I could feel so much of what Maddie was going through and how hard it is to break that bonds that are cast as a child.