nikkideeley 's review for:

My Name is Maame by Jessica George

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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: Yes

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Book 7 of 2025: My Name is Maame - Jessica George

Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi, but in Maddie’s case, it means woman.

Maddie Wright is trapped in a life of heavy responsibility and taught to keep matters private at all times. When she finally gets a chance to leave home she wants to reinvent herself as a new person who stands up for herself and not Google every life choice, but when tragedy strikes how will she cope with heartbreak, grief and navigating a new life? 

Review:

⭐️ 5/5

Wow, this was such a powerful book and I adored it from start to finish. The story is incredibly emotional and heartbreaking, written with a rawness which makes it hard-hitting at a deeper level. I loved the depiction of grief, depression and heartbreak, they were so realistic and accurately written, it’s beautiful to see all of these themes handled so well within a story. I really liked learning more about Ghanaian culture and I felt highlighting micro aggressions in relationships and work was especially important. This book will stay with me in my heart, it made me laugh and cry and Maddie is one of my new favourite protagonists. 

Challenges:

📚Books in 2025:  7/100

📚2025 52 Book Club Challenge:  6/52

📚Prompt #25 of the 2025 52 Book Club Challenge: Breaks the Fourth Wall

📚 Nabi Book Club: January - Gabby’s Pick

Book Information:

📖 Pages: 391

📖 Format: Paperback

📖 Type: Fiction

📖 Genre: Contemporary, Literary

Favourite Quotes:

“Mercury is in retrograde? I don’t actually know what that means, but everyone’s saying it”

“It about what love is. Which is trust, commitment, empathy and respect. It means really giving a shit about the other person.”

“Comparison is no friend of mental health”