What an incredible debut novel this was 👏🏻

I absolutely adore books following Black women who are trying to become their own person after growing up in a traditional family and culture. Maame was a really relatable read for me, despite not knowing the struggles of living as a Black woman. Maddie (Maame) was such a lovable character, and I laughed, cried and cringed with her the whole way through.

There were some amazing secondary characters in this book, and I loved that Nia and Shu were based on the author’s real-life friends. The differing levels of friendship and relationship in this novel were a really interesting observation on what friendship actually looks like.

I loved watching Maddie’s journey into romantic relationships, despite being served some utter dickheads in the process. I was really rooting for Maddie to succeed in her romantic, platonic and professional relationships!

I also loved the sort of Devil-Wears-Prada outlook on the publishing industry as Maddie tries to break her way in. I loved her efforts to assert herself and prove everyone wrong for underestimating her.

This was such a brilliantly written book and I’m so impressed that it’s a debut.

This book has to be one of my favourite debuts ever, it’s the most amazing coming-of-age story. It’s an emotional rollercoaster to read and I’ll admit I’m not sure what I was expecting when I requested this book, but I just knew it drew me in and I’m so glad it did, because this is fantastic. I love when a book educates at the Sam time as entertaining me, this taught me so many different aspects of Ghanaian life and culture, this is a fantastic debut and you owe it to yourself to read this


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This book surprised me – at first it seemed as though it was going to be quite a light coming-of-age story about a young woman moving out from the shadow of her parents, and being able to live her life on her own for the first time. But half-way through, it turned into an intense study of grief, and the guilt we feel about making the choice to put ourselves first, after being conditioned to always prioritise others.
There is quite a strong focus on the intersectionality between feminism and anti-racism, and the author manages to balance her characters talking about these topics in quite a no-holds-barred way, without breaking character, or sacrificing plot. I felt that, although his title is fictional, there was a strong element of autobiography to it, which helped to strengthen the realism throughout the story.
Lots to talk about with this one!

Maame is set in London, where Maame (Madeline) cares for her father who has Parkinson’s. Maame is very shy and introverted and only has a couple of friends she can rely on, and you root for her from the beginning to make her own way in life and get her own chance at happiness.

Maame's mum lives in Ghana most of the time, leaving the responsibility with her - but even so she is in her shadow. The name Maame has several meanings, including Woman, and was given to her by her mum. These are well rounded and very believable characters with humour, pathos and depth

I was trying to decide what to read next and clicked into this by mistake, and found myself compelled by the very first line:

“In African culture - Wait, no, I don’t want to be presumptuous or in any way nationalistic enough to assume Ghanaian customs run true in other African countries.”

I mean charming right? I swear from that line I was hooked and literally couldn’t put this book down till I finished it.

“I might in fact just be speaking of what passes as practice in my family, but regardless of who the mores belong to, I was raised to keep family matters private. So if my dad has his own bedroom or my mum goes abroad for inexplicable lengths of time, it’s common knowledge within our household that we keep that business, and all matters like it, to ourselves. ‘They just won’t understand, you know? We’re Ghanaian, so we do things differently.’”

Meet Maddie Wright otherwise known as Maame - who has had to group up fast due to an absent mother, a distant brother and has spent 8 years of her life caring for her father who has Parkinsons. It meant she has had to forsake experiencing the life of a young woman experiencing her 20s, exploring her sexuality, developing her career and navigating relationships with people in all kinds of settings. When her mother returns she has an opportunity to finally move out and truly discover herself.

I love this story so much. Maddie is relatable. It took me back to that time of navigating my 20s and working out who I truly was. The dynamics of African families with weight of duty and expectation are very understandable. As is the micro aggressions, racism and fetishism she faces at work and in relationships with flat mates and lovers. So to the grief and the underlying mental issues she’s been putting off for years due to the pressure of responsibility and being a people pleaser.

This book is amazing and I can’t recommend it enough. I loved the writing. I loved the character development and the journey we are taken on from the beginning to the very heart warming conclusion. Loved everything about it.

5 stars!

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Thank you @hodderstoughton, the wonderful author @jessicabgeorge and @netgalley for giving me this ARC ebook to read in exchange for an honest review.

Maddie is a beautiful 25 year old British- Ghanian woman, quiet, introverted and unassuming through years of being depended upon by her family. Known as Maame (Ma-meh) in Twi by her family, Maame has many meanings and Maddie believes her name is used as Woman in her case.

Maddie's Father has Parkinson's. Maddie's Mother spends most of the year in Ghana and her brother leads a life chasing an independent life of fame (something Maddie can only dream of). Caring for her father 24/7 has led Maddie to a reclusive life, struggling with a mundane job, bearing the brunt of her manager's mental health, something eventually has to give. Maddie dreams of making a name for herself in the world of publishing and editorial work and when sacked from her job, it ignites an internal flame to grab life and experience life to the full. She wants to try living on her own, get a boyfriend, smoke, chase that career and wear a bright yellow suit if she wants to.

Then tragedy strikes and all that independence, self care and budding belief in herself crumbles away bit by bit. Her mental health deteriorates as Maddie's old world and new world combust around her.

I just loved this book from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I shouted (internally), I nodded as I felt so much for Maame and Maddie on her journey in her mid twenties. Exasperation and fury at how she was and is treated was buffered by many laugh out loud moments. This book highlights the power of the mind and mental health! The struggles of toxic relationships and the battle to stop being a people pleaser.

This was a fantastic debut book and easily gets a 5/5 for me. Though set around a twenty-somethings life, it is a joy to read at any age.

Maame is out for publication tomorrow, February 14th 2023

Maame follows Maddie who isn’t quite sure who she is or what she’s doing with her life right now.

She’s in a job she doesn’t like and spends all her free time caring for her dad at home who has Parkinson’s. When her mum returns back to the family home to take over caring for her dad, Maddie has the chance to move out and start really living her life.

This book really does pack a punch - Maddie is such a brilliant character, I really adored her and parts were so heartbreaking I found my heart actually hurting.

A really special book, I loved it.

This book has one of the best coming-of-age story that I have ever read. It goes from making you laugh to cry just in the span of a few pages, giving you a rollercoaster of emotions. I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but whatever I was expecting was definitely surpassed. I loved it!

Many people can see themselves in Maddie, and this book take us on her journey to find her voice and self-identity. Unfortunately, she had to go through a lot before she was able to find herself and what she wanted, but that just makes it even more realistic.

This book was phenomenal, showing the complex feelings and dynamics in a family during illness and grief I laughed and cried.

I loved seeing Maddie's growth throughout the novel in all areas of her life. I rooted for her from the first chapter and found myself cheering her on and trying to warn her as she navigated life away from the family home.

I think there is something in this book that will resonate with most readers. I would highly recommend this book.

A wonderful debut novel and fascinating insight of a young woman born to Ghanaian parents in the UK. It's both her coming of age and finding her place in the world and amongst her family and friends. Maddie's naivety is both endearing and frustrating but the reader can't help but love her and wish the best for her. Thanks to netgalley, the publishers and author for my arc

Brilliant debut book, heart breaking, emotive writing, great characters. I cant say anymore than that. I look forward to reading the next.

Maame is an interesting read. The protagonist Maddie is a carer for her father while her mother spends time in Ghana and Britain a year at a a time. She has no life apart from work. She has a few close friends so she's not completely alone in the world.
Then her mother tells Maddie that she is coming home so Maddie can go live her life. Given this freedom suddenly, she rushes out and rents a room ready to move out when her mum arrives... There are some major events that shock Maddie to the core. She has to navigate her feelings through all that has happened to her.
This was a steady book that plodded along, that I did enjoy, and I really liked Maddie and her family. There was a lot of issues to resolve but that's all I'm telling you!.
The hype about this book is true, this is worth a read!.
I was given a free ARC book for an honest review.
#Netgalley, #hodderbooks, #jessicabgeorge.

Maame
by Jessica George

Maame (Maa-may) is a 25 year old British Ghanaian woman, living in London and caring for her dad who has Parkinson's disease. Her mother lives in Ghana, running the family business and her brother James is always too busy, leaving Maame to manage on her own. At an age when life and career should be taking off, when socialising and romancing should be high on the agenda, Maame can't get out from under all the responsibilities her family have piled on top of her. However her mother's return now gives her an opportunity to move into a flat with some girls her own age and although her dating life can begin in earnest, she is woefully inexperienced and naïve. With nobody to turn to for advice, she turns to Google with questions like "How to be Happy", "What to do when you've been fired", "Should you knock on the door of a new flatmate?", "How to prepare for a first date".

There are so many things I love about this story; the London setting, Maame's social awkwardness and her journey, her bid to break into the world of publishing, her self talk throughout her stages of grief, the Ghanaian aunties and uncles and her mixed feelings towards her African culture. I love learning new things about different cultures and I was fascinated by the tradition of day names (Hi, I'm Abena).

Written in simple prose, interspersed with text messages and Google results, this has short chapters and propulsive pace. some romance and lots of life lessons. George writes with authenticity about the confusion and exhaustion of grief, the anxiety that can sometimes get overlooked, and the extremes of feelings that are overwhelming, contradictory and isolating.

In many ways this story of personal growth reminds me of "Queenie" by Candice Carty Williams but without the risk taking behaviour. A really engaging and emotive debut. Highly recommend.

Publication date: 14th February 2023
Thanks to #netgalley and #hodderandstoughton for the eGalley

I loved this book so much, I have the physical copy on pre-order. Some of the conversations on grief resonated with me. Can't wait to reread!

Such a lovely, sometimes funny, sometimes sad story of Maame/Maddie trying to find her true identity.

Touches on themes of cultural differences, racism, grief and the world of dating in modern life.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I’m SO grateful to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me access to the ARC of this absolute beauty of a book 🤩

Maame, or Maddie, has grown up in London with Ghanaian parents. Her dad has Parkinson’s and her mum flits off back to Ghana for months at a time. Maddie is trying to find her way around life, love, friends, mental health, work, and the rest and honestly what a character, I was just rooting for Maddie every step of the way!

I love reading books about different cultures too. The more we read, the more we know, the more we learn 💚

Out on 14th February in the UK, I’ll be recommend this to everyone! ✨

Yep. Just as incredible as the pre-release hype is saying. It definitely deserves to be on all the 'Most Anticipated Releases of 2023' lists. Will definitely be looking forwarding to reading more from Jessica George.

Maame 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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

Meet Maddie Wright.

All her life, she's been told who she is. To her Ghanaian parents, she's Maame: the one who takes care of the family. Her mum's stand-in. The primary carer for her father, who suffers from Parkinson's. The one who keeps the peace - and the secrets.

What a beautifully complex debut, about family, friendships and a late coming of age.

I was immediately drawn in by Maddie, our mid-twenties protagonist, living in London looking after her ill father, working a job she doesn't like. Maddie's Mum has spent years shuttling between her native Ghana and London. Maddie's mum decides its time to come home and for Maddie to move out, that's exactly what Maddie does.
We are with Maddie through some of her firsts and through this expressional and emotive novel we see Maddie trying to navigate her way through her firsts in life, while dealing with tragedy, family pressures, depression and guilt.
We watch Maddie grow and become her own woman while dealing with all these issues.
I found it a wonderful journey that encapsulated so many raw and emotional themes that so many young people have gone through in their own life's. I laughed, I cried and I didn't want this one to end. This one will stay with me and I hope everyone gets the chance to read this beautiful book.

This was an amazing debut and I can not wait to see what Jessica George has to offer in the future.
Thank-you to Netgalley, Jessica George, Hodder and Stoughton, for the ARC in return for an honest review.

"ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴀꜱꜱᴜᴍᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛꜰᴏʀᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪɴɢꜱ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴀ ᴘʀᴇꜰᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ᴡᴀʏ, ꜰᴏʀ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ɪɴᴅɪᴠɪᴅᴜᴀʟ, ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʙʏ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ—ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴀʏ. ɪ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰɪᴄᴜʟᴛʏ ᴏꜰ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍꜱᴇʟᴠᴇꜱ. ɪᴛ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ʙᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴜʀᴅᴇɴ, ᴛᴏ ʀᴇꜱʜᴀᴘᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʏᴏᴜ’ᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ. ᴜʟᴛɪᴍᴀᴛᴇʟʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʀᴇ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʙᴇʜᴀᴠᴇ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴇᴍꜱᴇʟᴠᴇꜱ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ᴡᴀʏ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇᴍ, ᴏʀ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇʟʏ. ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀʏ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ʀᴇʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱɪʙɪʟɪᴛʏ"

What a charrrrming book this was!
I devoured it!

I know you guys saw me posting funny bits to my stories over the weekend but this book is so much more than that! It carries moments of absolute heartbreak at the sheer unravelling of life and beautifully encapsulates what it is to be in mourning for a life you felt you deserved, for relationships and job opportunities you have missed out on and for a softer approach than people have been willing to grant you.

Maddie Wright, our MC is so freaking loveable and the first person narrative sucked me in immediately. She has a way of telling her story so truthfully and completely, that you have no choice but to learn life lessons through her experiences and also forgive the things that you allowed in the past. I celebrated her wins and felt angry on her behalf (multiple times)...I also laughed a lot.

This story is witty and complex without dragging or rushing and I adored how tender it was!
That being said- there is a deeper message that runs through it- a quiet reminder to take care of yourself too. To do for yourself what you have always done for others.

It was so refreshing to read a true coming of age story where the MC is in her mid twenties, rather than still a teen and the raw honesty was a delight to experience.

Wonderfully written and incredibly thought provoking. Maame was a beautiful read. You can’t help but feel for Maddie, and how he navigates work life, independence and loss along with family struggles. She was incredibly relatable and made me think about my own situation (which I usually try to escape from whilst reading but it was warmly welcomed). A wonderful writing style and I very much enjoyed this debut novel. Looking forward to reading more from Jessica George.