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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
***3.5 stars rounded up***
I’ve seen this book everywhere for months so I knew it might be challenging to live up to my pre-conceived notions. I really liked and sympathized with the main character, Maddie, whose heart of gold and naivety lead her to allow others to take advantage of her kindness (weakness?) much too easily. As a coming of age story, I enjoyed seeing her grow in maturity and independence while wrestling with her grief over the loss of her father. The strongest parts of the novel definitely centered on this idea as well as her complicated relationships with her mother and brother, which were in direct contrast to her two true friendships. However, this book lacked the same power in the parts focused on her relationships with her flat mates and “romantic” partners. Overall, the plot was a bit slow, but the character arc of Maddie made up for it.
I’ve seen this book everywhere for months so I knew it might be challenging to live up to my pre-conceived notions. I really liked and sympathized with the main character, Maddie, whose heart of gold and naivety lead her to allow others to take advantage of her kindness (weakness?) much too easily. As a coming of age story, I enjoyed seeing her grow in maturity and independence while wrestling with her grief over the loss of her father. The strongest parts of the novel definitely centered on this idea as well as her complicated relationships with her mother and brother, which were in direct contrast to her two true friendships. However, this book lacked the same power in the parts focused on her relationships with her flat mates and “romantic” partners. Overall, the plot was a bit slow, but the character arc of Maddie made up for it.
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Complicated
Meh. There’s a point in the book when Maddie talks about “blending in” being a skill and that’s what this book does. While I always appreciate reading books from authors whose lived and cultural experiences differ vastly from mine to offer new perspectives, I feel like if Maddie didn’t have her Ghanaian culture and family to include in this book, this would have been another boring late bloomer, coming-of-age book.
The only parts I found interesting were the breakdowns of antiracism/racism and dating, working in corporate offices while being a minority, and finding out if that company actually exists because getting extended family bereavement right after starting a job AND your boss caring enough to PAY AND MAKE TIME FOR therapy?!?! Steal all my ideas, I do not care. Maddie will never find another company with benefits like that (or maybe this is a depressing difference between UK/USA workplaces)!
The only parts I found interesting were the breakdowns of antiracism/racism and dating, working in corporate offices while being a minority, and finding out if that company actually exists because getting extended family bereavement right after starting a job AND your boss caring enough to PAY AND MAKE TIME FOR therapy?!?! Steal all my ideas, I do not care. Maddie will never find another company with benefits like that (or maybe this is a depressing difference between UK/USA workplaces)!
A recommendation from Rena (:
There was so much of Maddie that is relatable, in her guilt and growth. I felt her frustrations and worries of being a 20-something year old trying to find her way.
“My parents are not special people, they’re ordinary, and one of my problems is that I’m expecting perfection from ordinary people. They’re not saints or masters of knowledge just people, people who have children, which, last time I checked, required no proficiency test. People who continue to make mistakes, attempt to learn from them and repeat, until death.”
There was so much of Maddie that is relatable, in her guilt and growth. I felt her frustrations and worries of being a 20-something year old trying to find her way.
“My parents are not special people, they’re ordinary, and one of my problems is that I’m expecting perfection from ordinary people. They’re not saints or masters of knowledge just people, people who have children, which, last time I checked, required no proficiency test. People who continue to make mistakes, attempt to learn from them and repeat, until death.”
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
That my first read of 2025 was a five star read is very apt.
This book took me through all kinds of emotions. I once in a while get teary while reading a book but this one had me all out bawling because of all Maame was going through.
Needless to say I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to everyone! Jessica George definitely knows how to translate emotions into the pages of this book and makes you feel like you were right there with Maame going through all that she was going through and feeling all that she was feeling.
Run! don't walk and get this book!
This book took me through all kinds of emotions. I once in a while get teary while reading a book but this one had me all out bawling because of all Maame was going through.
Needless to say I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to everyone! Jessica George definitely knows how to translate emotions into the pages of this book and makes you feel like you were right there with Maame going through all that she was going through and feeling all that she was feeling.
Run! don't walk and get this book!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
This one was a difficult read for me. It brought up a lot of emotions that I had after the death of my father and the grief I am still trying to process. That being said … this was a well written coming of age story that hits on hard, deep, and sensitive topics. I felt an array of emotions on behalf of Maddie as she tried to navigate the need to become her own person, while still holding onto her family’s Ghanaian heritage traditions and beliefs, and navigating the grief of losing her father.
Probably one of the most beautiful character arcs I’ve read
challenging
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:
Yes
Excellent story. A book that could easily remain on my bookshelf to be reread again some day.
This book was read for the 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt "A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary".
This book was read for the 2024 Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt "A book with a one-word title you had to look up in a dictionary".