Maame by Jessica George

Maame

by Jessica George

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.
Hilarious, honest and heartbreaking, MAAME is the most moving debut of 2023 - and a heroine you'll never forget.
*Read with Jenna Today Book Club Pick*
*Apple Book of the Month*
*A 2023 Debut of the Year as chosen by:

SUNDAY TIMES, STYLIST, VOGUE, RED MAGAZINE, INDEPENDENT, BELFAST TELEGRAPH, HUFFINGTON POST UK, POP SUGAR, HARPERS BAZAAR, MY WEEKLY, EVENING STANDARD, COSMOPOLITAN, BUSTLE*
___________________________________________________________________________

'Lively, funny, poignant . . . Prepare to fall in love with Maddie. I did!'
BONNIE GARMUS, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

'Utterly charming and deeply moving . . . Maddie's journey will resonate with anyone who's had to grow up - or who's still trying to'
CELESTE NG, New York Times bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere

'I loved every page of this beautiful, heartwarming, empowering book. An exceptional debut from an incredibly exciting new talent'
BETH O'LEARY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flatshare

'One of the must-reads of the year' SUNDAY TIMES
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Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi, but in my case, it means woman.

What to say on a first date?
Back pain in your mid-20s normal?
Is it bad to cry at work?
% of young people who are also carers?

Meet Maddie Wright.
She wants to wear a bright yellow suit.
She wants to date men who her mother wouldn't like.
She wants to stand up to her boss - once and for all.
She wants to know why her father can't tell her he loves her.
She wants to stop Googling every life choice she makes.

But will the world let her?
This is a story of heartbreak, friendship, and breaking the rules - it's a book that will leave you feeling braver than you were when you started.
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EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT MAAME:
'Tender and compelling from the word go, Maame is one of the year's most anticipated books' STYLIST
'A poignant and heart-warming coming of age story' RED
'George's novel is a deeply moving one, packed with heart and sparkling prose' HARPER'S BAZAAR
'Moving, funny, poignant and completely unforgettable, you'll love this beautiful coming of age tale' MY WEEKLY
'Funny, resonating and uplifting, Maame is going to be big in 2023' EVENING STANDARD
'An accomplished debut from a talented writer' PRIMA

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

4 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Maddie's life in London has been less than glamorous, to say the least. She works hard during the day, only to come home and continue working hard. Being the primary caregiver for your ailing father is far from easy, and that's before taking the emotional toll into account.

When her mom is finally home for a time, it's decided that Maddie should move out and make an actual attempt at living her life. What follows is an emotional adventure with a strong coming-of-age vibe.

My Review:

Oh wow. I grabbed Maame because I'm trying to be better about diversifying my reading, and boy, was I not prepared for this book's emotional roller coaster. To be clear, it's a fantastic roller coaster, but a coaster nonetheless.

The highlight of this novel is absolutely the main character. Her journey (coming-of-age story) is not unique – she's trying to find her place in the world while coping with guilt and grief. The latter two bits hit me particularly hard as somebody who also grew up with an ill father.

Maame does a great job of making readers root for Maddie. You'll feel a range of emotions on her account, including indignation and joy. As I said, emotional roller coaster. It's very much worth the read, so you should check it out!

Highlights:
Coming of Age
Contemporary Fiction
Debut Novel
Strong Lead

Trigger Warnings:
Racism
Familial Trauma
Death in the Family

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 7 April, 2023: Finished reading
  • 7 April, 2023: Reviewed