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sarahmcg's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a stunning debut. The writing was wonderful and I was engaged throughout, wondering what our FMC, Maddie, would do next. I appreciated how many themes the author explored, and how they intersected: grief and guilt, identity, relationships (including female friendships, intimate partnerships, and complex family dynamics), and mental health.
It was interesting to hear how being a daughter of Ghanaian immigrants in Britain affected her sense of identity, especially her relationship with her dad who has Parkinson’s disease who she is a primary caregiver for (from the author’s bio and an interview I read, these are parts of her own experience that she pulled from while writing this book). These parts of Maddie’s life deeply affect how she shows up in work and friendships, and her hesitation to get help for her depression.
Although Maddie is 25, the story is very much a coming-of-age tale, and I really enjoyed reading a story like this that was not YA. It just reminds me that none of us are truly “grown up” and we’re all still figuring things out! I loved all of her googling throughout the book as she tried to navigate so many “firsts.”
⚠️ CW/TW: racism, familial trauma, death in the family, grief, panic attacks/anxiety, mention of suicide.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
lawbooks600's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Representation: Black, Asian and biracial (half Asian and half white) characters
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Maame should have won Best Fiction instead of Yellowface; the former is far better. I saw this book at a library, and after noticing it was a nominee for Best Fiction, I wanted this one, so I had to pick it up and read it. Did I mention that if Maame won, a Black author would win a Choice Award? When I finished Maame, it was enjoyable and an impressive debut from Jessica George.
It starts with the first character I see, Maddie Wright, living with her father, who has Parkinson's disease, while her mother is in Ghana. Here's the catch: Maddie's central attributes are that she is naïve and never fully experienced life, even though she's in her twenties. Which is why Maame starts living her life to the fullest after her mother travels to London instead of staying at home all day caring for her father. Maame's first half goes smoothly as Maddie got the life she deserves, but I noticed Maddie saying that sometimes she's the only Black person in the room (there might be other minorities but not people like Maddie) which must make her feel isolated. However, I struggle to comprehend why Maddie's mother left Maddie alone to experience adulthood alone. Maame shines in its characters and pacing, as they are respectively relatable and engaging. Maddie develops a relationship with another person for the first time, but that didn't pan out as well as she expected. Maame said that person was racist since his new (white) partner received better treatment than Maddie. That sounds more like preferential treatment, but I can understand. Maddie, after losing her father, has had enough of her mother, calling her out for her absence in her life, occurring in Maame's latter half. The mood also changed from exciting to sombre, and later on, bittersweet, as Maddie finds a new person to start a relationship, and this time, it goes well. What a story.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
Maame should have won Best Fiction instead of Yellowface; the former is far better. I saw this book at a library, and after noticing it was a nominee for Best Fiction, I wanted this one, so I had to pick it up and read it. Did I mention that if Maame won, a Black author would win a Choice Award? When I finished Maame, it was enjoyable and an impressive debut from Jessica George.
It starts with the first character I see, Maddie Wright, living with her father, who has Parkinson's disease, while her mother is in Ghana. Here's the catch: Maddie's central attributes are that she is naïve and never fully experienced life, even though she's in her twenties. Which is why Maame starts living her life to the fullest after her mother travels to London instead of staying at home all day caring for her father. Maame's first half goes smoothly as Maddie got the life she deserves, but I noticed Maddie saying that sometimes she's the only Black person in the room (there might be other minorities but not people like Maddie) which must make her feel isolated. However, I struggle to comprehend why Maddie's mother left Maddie alone to experience adulthood alone. Maame shines in its characters and pacing, as they are respectively relatable and engaging. Maddie develops a relationship with another person for the first time, but that didn't pan out as well as she expected. Maame said that person was racist since his new (white) partner received better treatment than Maddie. That sounds more like preferential treatment, but I can understand. Maddie, after losing her father, has had enough of her mother, calling her out for her absence in her life, occurring in Maame's latter half. The mood also changed from exciting to sombre, and later on, bittersweet, as Maddie finds a new person to start a relationship, and this time, it goes well. What a story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, Death, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Full trigger warnings: Racism, cheating, death of a father, grief and loss depiction, panic attacks, depression mentionedbribaxa's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Infidelity
cari_mac's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual content, and Panic attacks/disorders
enlamont's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Grief, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Xenophobia, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcohol, Drug abuse, Suicide, and Mental illness
neruss8's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, and Racism
lkjones19's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Chronic illness, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Terminal illness
savheath's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Suicide, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual content, Death, and Toxic friendship
kay_reads9's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Infidelity
madelinedalton's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really, really enjoyed this novel! It didn’t have that secret sauce that makes a five-star read, but otherwise, I don’t have any criticisms.
I typically pick up books like this so that I can relate to the protagonist and gain more insight on my own life as a twenty-something. Maame was an interesting reading experience because, while I am also 25 like Maddie, I felt like I was reading about an 18-year-old due to her naïveté. This book reminded me that everyone is on a different timeline and being 25 means something different for everyone.
I typically pick up books like this so that I can relate to the protagonist and gain more insight on my own life as a twenty-something. Maame was an interesting reading experience because, while I am also 25 like Maddie, I felt like I was reading about an 18-year-old due to her naïveté. This book reminded me that everyone is on a different timeline and being 25 means something different for everyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Racism