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lydiamcleod's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
One of my favorite books of 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
mollyb13'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
4.5
Really great novel delving into grief, caring for an ill parent, moving out on your own for the first time, navigating relationships & friendships. A strong coming of age story - and while mostly heavy, there are some lighter moments to laugh at. I enjoyed learning a little bit about Ghanaian culture and how that impacted Maddie in her life in London. I just wish we had gotten more time with Sam because he was such a well-rounded character, even for the short time we had with him . Glad I finally got around to this one as it had been on my TBR since it released!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Racism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Suicide
martapsalvado's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Took me more than a month to read and several in-between books because it's so sad and intense and I'm not in the right headspace 🥲
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Medical content, Death, Racism, Death of parent, Sexual content, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Alcohol
clpaige's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide
sandysmith's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.5
A great book, the central character Maddie, has Ghanaian heritage. It is a coming of age story, and her development is funny and sad. She's caught between cultures. She is called Maame, meaning woman which she is from an early age. She is selfless caring for her dad, with little to no help, and he has deteriorating Parkinsons. Her mother is absent in Ghana for a great part of childhood and her brother who rarely sees her or his dad. Her mother returns back to the UK, so Maddie leaves home for the first time. Google is her trusted friend. It's about relationships, friendships, family, and deals with all sorts of differing issues, racism, sexuality, grief, and social commentary. It is beautifully written, sad, funny, awkward, painful, poignant, heartwarming, moving cracker of a read. I cant believe its a debut book. Love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content
jourdanicus's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
While not a perfect five-star read for me, this book still touched on a lot of my "catnip" topics and I really enjoyed it.
Maddie as a character is naive in a way that toed the line of believability for me sometimes, esp cially for a gen Z/millennial with the lived experience of being Black in a colonial country. However, the way the themes of racism, misogyny, and sexuality were included is perfect for readers who might be newer to those topics and interested in diversifying their reading.
I did find Maddie relatable in a lot of ways too. The characters and the story were sweet without being saccharine. The plot was a little slow to build, but the second half/third was worth it.
For better or worse, the real life experiences of the author really came through in the story, and I think this book is a well-executed answer to the prompt of "write what you know."
Maddie as a character is naive in a way that toed the line of believability for me sometimes, esp cially for a gen Z/millennial with the lived experience of being Black in a colonial country. However, the way the themes of racism, misogyny, and sexuality were included is perfect for readers who might be newer to those topics and interested in diversifying their reading.
I did find Maddie relatable in a lot of ways too. The characters and the story were sweet without being saccharine. The plot was a little slow to build, but the second half/third was worth it.
For better or worse, the real life experiences of the author really came through in the story, and I think this book is a well-executed answer to the prompt of "write what you know."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Dementia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Medical content, Misogyny, Suicide, Drug use, Racism, Alcohol, Biphobia, and Eating disorder
nanirump's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Medical content, Sexual content, Drug use, Gaslighting, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Chronic illness, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Homophobia, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Death of parent
wellreadmegs's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a beautiful and real coming-of-age story about grief. Maddie is so new at discovering herself and it's lovely to see things from her perspective. There's something so innocent about it all. But I also feel for her and how hard this world must be to navigate by yourself - without the help of friends or family.
I read & listened along to the audiobook which were both great. Short chapters helped me get through the book quickly & especially enjoyed the Google searches Maddie had throughout the book. I thought the author did a really great job of tackling a lot of tough subjects and navigating them as a 25-year-old. Your 20s are messy & going through traumatic experiences doesn't help that.
I absolutely HATED Maddie's mom. There was one chapter the author tried to redeem her and I have empathy but overall I don't think she changed much.
I read & listened along to the audiobook which were both great. Short chapters helped me get through the book quickly & especially enjoyed the Google searches Maddie had throughout the book. I thought the author did a really great job of tackling a lot of tough subjects and navigating them as a 25-year-old. Your 20s are messy & going through traumatic experiences doesn't help that.
I absolutely HATED Maddie's mom. There was one chapter the author tried to redeem her and I have empathy but overall I don't think she changed much.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
theliteraryloot's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Racism, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content
alybarnett02's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
See trigger warnings! The “Tragedy strikes” was really heavy for me. But so so good, I cried and reflected on my own similar experience. And how those hard things we go through shapes us. Shows such personal growth. I could definitely relate to Maddie when I was that age. Being in London as a black woman, along with her challenges in dating white men. Whew!! Say it for the people in the back! Such good topics!
This was hard to read after Maddie’s dad died. Mostly the process of her grief, and talking to him at her nightly prayer. Wow. I cried. I lost my mother in law and slowly coming on her birthday while reading this. I felt Maddie’s pain. Most people around that age don’t understand what it’s like. But, everything from her talking to her dad, knowing he isn’t in pain, and can be free was so beautiful. And so true for all of our loved ones. It was the reminder I needed. And ending that part with her dad responding? My heart yall. Whatever your religion is, it’s insane, and it might not seem real. But your loved ones can tell you, “its okay”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment