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hollymecher's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
4.75
This book made me laugh out loud and cry real tears. Written by a British-Ghanaian first time author. A book she thought wasn’t going anywhere earned her over $1M and a new TV series. PLUS: the audiobook is a banger.
I love a good coming of age story. This book follows the story of Maddie Wright, a 25 year old girl living in London born to Ghanaian immigrants and she goes though the motions of 20-something life.
Bonus: It reads like a memoir. 👏👏👏
I love a good coming of age story. This book follows the story of Maddie Wright, a 25 year old girl living in London born to Ghanaian immigrants and she goes though the motions of 20-something life.
Bonus: It reads like a memoir. 👏👏👏
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Sexual content
Minor: Racism
booksoverbreakfast's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
cdzapata's review
emotional
funny
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Grief, Racism, and Infidelity
larkspurlane's review against another edition
emotional
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: Mental illness, Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
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
rosiebethreads's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Biphobia
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 mentionedhappyladyjadereads's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Devoured in just under 24 hours - truly heartbreaking in places with laugh out loud moments, Maddie's warm and real character voice pulled me in and I felt so very deeply how conflicted she felt with all the pressures on her, plus the insight into her experience as a young British Black woman. In a league with Queenie, the more reserved Maddie has my heart and this is the first time in a while I have been bereft at finishing a book. Beautiful work Jessica George.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Grief
Moderate: Racism
jen_nej's review
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This book had one of the most likable narrators I’ve read. Such a great take on a coming-of-age novel. I laughed, I cried. There were times when I was frustrated or proud of the main character and it all felt very real. The pacing was a little slow for me but overall a great read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Suicide
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