I don't quite know what to make of this book. Some bits had me gripped, other bits left me thinking 'this is dull'. There aren't many likeable characters. Whilst I understand a fulfilling relationship makes a happy ever after scenario, there was another aspect barely touched upon that would've put a smile on my face.

Maddie Wright is stuck at home, looking after her dad, who lives with Parkinson’s and has a carer but relies on her, too – her mum lives in Ghana for a year at a time (because she “has” to look after a hostel she inherited with her brother, who she doesn’t trust, really for other reasons) and her brother got away as soon as he could. They call her “Maame”, the person who looks after the family. Should she be called that? Should she be looking after the family? She has an annoying admin job full of micro-aggressions and bad management, a couple of good friends but no particular fun in her life.

All at once, the inevitable happens and she’s suddenly free. Will a house-share with two White women and a slightly creepy new boyfriend as well as a job in a start-up that needs her appearance to help them seem diverse help her to gain her self-respect and sense of fun, or will she need to do the work herself?

We see Maddie grow and develop, being kicked in the teeth a number of times and falling out with people, but always believable and with her two brilliant best friends to see her through and actually a decent workplace with mental health support.

I liked this book a lot. I loved Maddie’s friends, who stick by her no matter what, but have their own lives and selves, and I liked that she attends church and this is natural and accepted and not mocked or undermined . It's a a funny book, too, even though there are sad and serious themes. White, liberal millennials are gently skewered but there are characters who are perhaps surprisingly up on Ghanaian customs and culture and help things along, and the book is never cruel.

’Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.’

It’s also the name that Maddie’s mother has called her from an early age. Now, in her mid-twenties, Maddie is ready to become someone new. This is a sweet coming-of-age story, the debut by its Ghanian-British author, Jessica George. Maddie lives at home, the sole carer for her father - he is ill with Parkinson’s disease. She lives a quiet life, going to her job as an admin assistant, seeing her few friends on rare occasions, no boyfriend and no real plan. Meanwhile her brother, James, travels the world, and her mother builds a life back in Ghana. But when Maddie is given the opportunity to move out of the family home, she jumps into the unknown and learns to be herself.

I really liked this! I thought it was a fresh and thoroughly entertaining take on the “young woman becomes herself” genre, due to Maddie’s charming naivety. I’ve had enough of world-weary Millenials - give me a 25 year old who hasn’t a notion! Bless her wee heart! She writes lists detailing the “New Maddie”, Googles anything she doesn’t understand, and makes a serious number of faux pas in the process. As a character, she’s a breath of fresh air, vibrant and real. Her voice is charming and carries the story, even when it sags a little
Maame is a long one, at just under 400 pages.

I loved the commentary on messy families and how to navigate through them - it’s by far the strongest thread in the story. Maddie’s family would drive anybody up the wall and George does a brilliant job of making them equal parts loveable and frustrating. Maddie’s mam’s text messages had me quietly yelling “throw your phone in the RIVER, girl”. By contrast, I liked Maddie’s friends a lot but wish they had been a little more fleshed out, especially next to our protagonist herself. Cam, in particular, her more sympathetic housemate, could have used a deeper story, serving largely as a foil to Jo, Maddie’s annoying, kinda-racist housemate.

The author also does a fascinating thing, which I’ve never seen a writer do before - peppering the text with microaggressions perpetuated upon Black women. It’s subtle and fantastic, reminding the (white) reader of the constant nature of this behaviour by white people.


Overall, Maame is a fun and engaging read that I imagine lots of people will devour in hot parks or by the pool this summer. I can’t wait to read more of Jessica George in the future.

Maame by Jessica George is a powerful novel that tells the story of Maddie, a young woman who is struggling to make her way in the world of work while burdened with the responsibility of looking after her sick father and dealing with abandonment by her mother and brother. From the first page, I was drawn into Maddie's world, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.

One of the things I loved most about this novel was the character of Maddie herself. She is a complex and multifaceted character, and I couldn't help but become invested in her life. She is portrayed as a young woman who is naive and sheltered, but also resilient and determined to find her place in the world. Her struggles with work, love, and family are all too familiar for many of us, and the way the author writes about them is incredibly moving.

The story is written in first person narrative and at certain points the protagonists addresses us readers directly, this and her constant use of google to find answers to some of the questions she has, be it about men, relationships, or illnesses make the narrative incredibly compelling. Maddie is a funny, lovable, and yet vulnerable character that is so easy to empathise with. Her character is an amalgamation of so many females' struggles, and I found myself relating to her story in so many ways. The fact that she lingered in my thoughts long after I finished reading the book is a testament to the strength and likability of the character.

The relationships between Maddie and her friends are beautifully drawn, as are her interactions with her flatmates and work colleagues. These characters are not just background players in Maddie's story; they are integral to her journey. I particularly loved the way the author explores the theme of female friendship in this book. Maddie's friends Nia and Shu are fiercely loyal and supportive, and their relationships with each other are nuanced and authentic.

The novel tackles some heavy themes, including love, relationships, grief, depression, and parental expectations. But despite these weighty topics, the book is a page-turner that had me in tears one minute and in stitches the next. I really liked the way in which the author weaves together Maddie's struggles with moments of levity and humour. The result is a book that is engaging, emotional, and thought-provoking. The plot moves quickly, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.

In Maame, Jessica George has written a poignant tale of a sheltered girl coming to terms with the realities of life. Through the help of supportive friends, Maddie finds the strength to overcome her struggles and learn to embrace who she is. The novel is a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you feeling like you've been on a journey with Maddie, rooting for her every step of the way. Maame is a fantastic novel that I can't recommend enough. If you are looking for a powerful, character-driven story that tackles heavy themes in a relatable way this is the book for you. Maddie is a character that will stay with you long after you finish the book, and the themes of the novel are incredibly relevant in today's world. I can't wait to see what Jessica George writes next.

Its a definte five stars for me!

This was a highly anticipated debut of mine, as I had heard quite a lot of talk about it, and all of it was glowing, and for the most part it really didn't disappoint! I love discovering books concerning family dynamics, and although this one was fraught with tension, I found Maddie's role as 'Maame' within her family very interesting, especially getting to understand how it fundamentally shaped her sense of self for so long. George depicts Maddie's navigation through indpendent adult life in such a raw way, not shying away from the reality of awkwardness at times, and I honestly just wanted to reach out and give Maddie a hug and tell her it was all going to be alright. It felt like a privilege getting to witness such a formative time in a character's life, particularly learning who her lifelong friends were and how she deserved to be treated. A real gem of a debut.

Sometimes you read a new release and you immediately know it’s going to be one of the books of the year. Maame is one of those books and I fully anticipate seeing it on many lists and bookseller’s tables for the foreseeable. I will certainly be recommending it to anyone that will listen.

Meet Maddie, who carries the nickname Maame in her Ghanaian family. A term of endearment and love, but also of huge responsibility. Maddie carries so much at such a young age - physically, financially, emotionally. The book tells of her breaking free of some of these responsibilities - an action that is liberating but also carries guilt and a good degree of loss and confusion as she tries to figure out who she is on her own. It’s heartbreaking in places but utterly stunning to follow. Go buy.

Maame is a name, a term of endearment, but also a responsibility. Maddie has always been the responsible one, and it has stunted her ability to discover who she is and what she wants. The characterisation and voice in this pacey, engrossing novel is wonderful, and George excels at small heart-breaking details and nuances. One to move to the top of your TBR pile.

I really enjoyed this, which felt like a story of belated coming of age. I loved Maame and seeing her grow independent. The story brings together so many elements, learning to live on your own, dealing with family, with grief and with mental health, with differing family traditions. I'd definitely recommend it.

This book follows the protagonist Maddie Wright (known as Maame) as she navigates her way through life. It is an inspiring and authentic story about struggling to find your place while dealing with the responsibilities and obligations of family. Maddie simply doesn’t yet know who she is outside her familial duties. A relatable portrayal of grief and mental health struggles highlighting the complexities of balancing expectations with reality. A truly contemporary ‘coming of age’ story about seeking and securing identity.
Thanks to Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this heartwarming and empowering book.

This character, her voice and her experiences are relatable for anyone feeling lost in their twenties, but there is also something that feels special about this novel. It deals with big emotions and difficult subjects in a way that is balanced, reflective and in the end hopeful. It is my favourite read of 2023 so far, and I highly recommend it.

I had the privilege of getting an ARC of both the ebook and the audiobook. After starting both, I ended up sticking with the audiobook and thought it was a great story.

I feel like I have made a new friend after hearing Maddie's story. I would definitely recommend listening to this story as the narrator really brings it alive and makes it feel authentic and like it could be the girl next door telling her story. We get a good look inside the life of Maddie, raised in London but still with her Ghanaian roots playing a huge role in her life and relationships, both with her family and when it comes to dating. Maddie was a realitic, qwerky, awkward and very loveable main character. I was rooting for her and felt her emotions, the good, the sad and the bad when she shared her story. At 25 she finally gets to discover who Maddie is!

Maame has always been the responsible one, living at home and looking after her dad, who has Parkinson. Her mom would do back and forth from Ghana, her brother hardly ever visit or help financially. Her mom tells her she is moving back to London for a year, so Maddie can move out and start living her life. She finds a flat, a new job after being fired from her previous one, which was making her miserable, a boyfriend.

Maddie soon finds out that she has a lot to learn about herself and starts discovering who she really is, until the day of her dad's birthday where her life is about to change forever.

To say I loved this book is an understatement, so many topics are touched on, I personally related a lot to Maddie's grieving, having lost my mom recently. But also her constant Googling made me laugh, as I ask Google most things too, A fantastic debut, a must read.
Thanks Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for my ARC.

I received this book as an ARC a while back and finally got to read it and honestly I have to say that I am disappointed that I haven‘t read it before now. I loved the way the story was told a lot, the writing perfectly fit to the story and how the main character Maddie tells it is just perfect.
This story is about a black woman finding herself, in the work world as well as in her personal life. It talks about culture, family, friendships, mental health, grief, relationships, as well as about racism and micro aggressions. I feel like this book is so important to read. It educated me as a white person, that‘s for sure. Also Maddie is such a likeable character and the topics she mentioned as well as the feelings she felt were so relatable (other than the racial issues because as a white woman I will never experience how these feel like and I can only do my best to educate myself). It sure also has a romance aspect to it, but I love that this wasn‘t the main focus of the book at all. This book was so much more than that.

Description:

It’s fair to say that 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. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she’s ready to experience some important “firsts”: She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils―and rewards―of putting her heart on the line.

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. 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

It's heartwarming, funny but it also made me cry buckets as I felt for this young woman who's wise beyond her age.
The part about her father was well written and moved me as some friends of my family suffer from advanced Parkinson.
The part about the-only-one-in-a-meeting talked to me as I know what it means being the only-womena/nationality etc in a meeting.
An excellent mix of emotions, humour and a great heroine.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A wonderful debut novel by Jessica George, this is sure to be a hit of 2023. This is a heart warming, emotion filled, coming of age story. Maddie or Maame to her family has had a lot on her shoulders at her young age and we get to follow her spread her wings and flourish on her own, exploring independence and freedom along with all the up's and down's that come's with it. This is a powerful story with so much covered, growing up in a religious, immigrant family, navigating and struggling with life as a Black woman and suffering through the journey of grief to mention a few.

Jessica George's writing style pulls you right in the story and you won't want to put this down.

Talk about one hell of debut,

This is such a brilliant debut novel. The story follows Maddie in this beautiful coming of age story. Maddie is 25 but has put her own life on hold to be the main caregiver for her father and has been providing for her family for many years. When her mother returns home from Ghana she is given the opportunity to move away from home for the first time and start living her own live. This book is beautifully written and excellently covers topics such as friendship, family, responsibility, grief, work dynamics, anxiety and depression. I found myself going through a wide range of emotions as I consumed this story and was really rooting for Maddie to find her way in life. Highly recommend!

I LOVED this. There were so many layers to it - grief was a big one but also friendship, dating / relationships, family ties, racism, class, trying to find out who you are etc etc - and all were handled so graciously and in a way that made them feel very relatable. There were moments I gasped, others when I laughed out loud, others that make me go awwwww and others that made me cry actual tears I had to take a break from reading. The ending was maybe a bit too nice and tidy for me but that's just personal taste, I haven't stopped thinking about Maddie and I can't reccomend this enough.

Simply amazing. This book is really something special and is Jessica George is deserving of all the praise she is receiving. Maame is a story about family, fitting in and so much more. There were moments of real humour, of sadness and parts where I could relate truly to Maddie and her thoughts. It is clear to see this book will be a clear success.

I really enjoyed this book throughout. Very impressive for a debut novel. I found the main storyline plot & exploration of mental health to be dealt with sensitively. Also being a single 30-something, I found the dating bits to be realistic. I don't want to say much more, but definitely give this a read if you enjoy books by Dolly Alderton and Coco Mellors.

3.5 ⭐️

If you enjoy coming of age novels with a certain charm, an interesting and loveable protagonist, a sprinkle of social commentary and a dollop of warmth, then Maame is a book you will love.

Maame, or Maddie, is 25 and British, living in London, born to Ghanaian parents, and working in admin. With her older brother off gallivanting, and her mother back in Ghana for much of the year, Maddie is left to fend for herself and look after her father, who has Parkinson’s Disease and requires round the clock care.

Maddie is struggling to make a life for herself when everyone else expects her to carry the load. What will happen when Maddie breaks free of expectations, and can she live with the guilt that comes hand in hand with striving for independence? Is she destined always to be a people pleaser?

Maddie is such a gorgeous character - kind, bright and charming but also vulnerable and fragile. While I found the pacing of the story a bit off at times, I loved Maddie so stuck with her and was glad I did.

Maame is a debut novel reminiscent of another debut I read last year called All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews. Both were coming of age novels featuring a young woman born to immigrant parents, and both contained sharp social commentary as well as quiet charm. A memorable novel and a grower that is sure to be popular. 3.5/5 ⭐️

*Many thanks to the author and to @hodderbooks for the arc via @netgalley. Maame will be published on 14 February. As always, this is an honest review.*