Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Maame by Jessica George

45 reviews

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

This book is a coming of age story of a young Ghanaian woman in her 20s living in London. Throughout the story she tackles work related race stressors, relationships, grief, family, moving out for the first time and finding a voice. 

I can hardly believe this is Jessica George’s debut novel. The way she was able to capture grief had me in tears (and I do not cry easy). After reading her forward I realized her dad is no longer with us. Which totally explains how she was able to have Maddie tap into that grief. 

I loved how she was able to explain complex topics like love and culture. It was very relatable and her characters felt so real. 

If you are looking for a realistic black woman version of a coming of age story, this is it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Infidelity, and Drug use

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-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

3.0

I'm on the fence if I loved this one. It told a realistic story, the responsibilities of caring for a sick parent and not getting to "grow  up" in time. I found the main character believable, but I struggled to connect with her. I found for broaching such a dense topic, this book just skimmed the surface level. I wanted more substance to it, and didn't feel I got what I wanted. Take my review with a grain of salt. It is still worth reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

mdavis26's review

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Abandonment, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Grief

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”.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Abandonment

cmhillner's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-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

4.0

An enjoyable read but found the tone uneven and odd. The main character is difficult too like at times but always relatable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abandonment, Death of parent, Racism, and Mental illness

michelles_books9's review

emotional reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Grief

aerialwhitney's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Racism, Abandonment, Gaslighting, and Grief

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

4.0

I did not enjoy reading this book, but when I was done, I felt full and satisfied. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Terminal illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Infidelity

sophs_mood_reading's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

Maame: Woman; the responsible one. 

When a nickname becomes a life burden. This is what life is for Maddie. The youngest child and only daughter of a family in London. Her mother flees to Ghana for years at a time, her brother is too busy and her father has Parkinson’s and relies on her for his care. 

But is this all life is for Maddie, can she change, does she want to change, she better google it. 

This novel is about the beautiful self discovery of a 25 year old woman who’s family put to much on her and others around her take advantage of her. 

I loved how her story unfolded, life forced her to change and question her life choices, her mental state and who she wants to be, all with the help of a google search. 

This was a beautiful insight into family dynamics, mental illness, discrimination and found family. 

At first I got annoyed by Maddie’s googling every question she had and talking out loud to herself but as the book continued I realised why she did it and why it was needed. 

Highly recommend this read but there are some triggers so be kind to yourself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Racism, and Sexual content

kimveach's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-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

4.0

This book started slowly, but it was worth reading until the end.  Watching Maddie come into her own was tremendous.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Racism, Bullying, Medical content, Sexual content, Alcohol, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Death of parent, Misogyny, Vomit, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Classism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Grief, and Death