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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
evawhite's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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: Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide and Terminal illness
lottiebrooks's review against another edition
emotional
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
“I’m sure there was a time when I was happy,” I say to the boiling pot of pasta. “But how do you measure that? How do you know if you’re genuinely happy or if you’re just mostly all right with sprinkles of laughter and occasional shit storms of sadness? Maybe I’ve only ever been all right.”
This one got me in my feels ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Racism and Sexual content
abbie_'s review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Thanks to Libro.fm for my free ALC of Maame! I loved Maddie and this audiobook had such a perfect narrator (Heather Agyepong - I’m gutted she hasn’t narrated anything else yet?!) that I felt so sad to finish it! Both the narration and style of writing made Maame feel like talking with a close friend. Maddie’s experiences with depression closely mirrored my own at times, which was both a gut wrench and a comfort. We both google the most inane things that a lot of people would just grasp through intuition, so I loved that as well. I loved watching Maddie grow as a woman throughout the book, come into herself and stand up for what she deserves.
I wish we had seen more from the side characters, especially her two best friends as they had potential to be incredible but more felt like they were just there to prop Maddie up at times. But at the end of the day, it is Maddie’s story. This book delves into Ghanaian culture & family dynamics, and I loved that towards the end Maddie started to lean more into learning Twi and exploring her heritage. I’m not a religious person at all, but I even appreciated Maddie’s evolving relationship with God. Oh, and I didn’t even mention her work yet - Maame encompasses so much, but to me it never felt forced.
Overall just a bloody good book tackling depression, grief, complicated family relationships, micro-aggressions experienced by Black women in the publishing industry, sex, faith, and so much more. Maddie is very much muddling through her 20s, and it was comforting to be along for the ride!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
melodyseestrees'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
4.25
This book catches each and every bitter, poignant moment. There is a lot of guilt on Maddie's shoulders and familial rooted pain. She is the oldest daughter and also a younger sibling so much of the care work for her father falls on her alone, besides the relief worker they have come by occasionally.
The realistic way her grief flows and changes her was refreshing and emotional for the reader. There is a line referencing that how she is now is her normal after her father's passing and it is something that can't just change without hard, intentional self work.
The distance from the other characters makes them feel way more one dimensional but this may be intentional to reflect the distance Maddie has put or maintained between herself and most of the other people in her life. We, as readers, don't get to know much about any of the other characters because Maddie doesn't really know them. This is revealed within the funeral preparations when she is struggling to type up the eulogy.
For me the hardest hitting aspects were the impulse to support everyone else regardless of how the self is doing, the guilt over family connection, the hurt over feeling stuck having to support everyone else, and the isolation one in that situation learns to be okay with- even though it may not be their preferred state otherwise.
The realistic way her grief flows and changes her was refreshing and emotional for the reader. There is a line referencing that how she is now is her normal after her father's passing and it is something that can't just change without hard, intentional self work.
The distance from the other characters makes them feel way more one dimensional but this may be intentional to reflect the distance Maddie has put or maintained between herself and most of the other people in her life. We, as readers, don't get to know much about any of the other characters because Maddie doesn't really know them. This is revealed within the funeral preparations when she is struggling to type up the eulogy.
For me the hardest hitting aspects were the impulse to support everyone else regardless of how the self is doing, the guilt over family connection, the hurt over feeling stuck having to support everyone else, and the isolation one in that situation learns to be okay with- even though it may not be their preferred state otherwise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
kaligray's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
bonnie9595's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.0
I found the cast of supporting characters a bit one dimensional at times, and the main character so multi dimensional as to be inconsistent. Some of her ignorance grated, and seemed unbelievable for a young woman in the modern day. The plot took a significant turn after the death of the dad, and ended up not being the book I thought it was going to be. It seemed like it was marketed as a woman finding her power and wearing a yellow suit, whereas it was more about her struggle with depression and finding a boyfriend, and as far as I know she didn't ever put the suit on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Racism, and Death of parent
poenaestante's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.5
This book tore me to pieces. It was like looking at a younger version of myself. So much in common. Really a beautiful (if occasionally trite) read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent
awhitson's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, and Sexual content
marissa_roo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
Believable in a way only lived experience can be, this goes beyond chick lit and into deep cultural poignancy. Old and young at the same time, the characters all have heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent