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Maame: A Today Show Read With Jenna Book Club Pick
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! • A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick
"Sparkling." ―The New York Times
"An utterly charming and deeply moving portrait of the joys―and the guilt―of trying to find your own way in life." ―Celeste Ng, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Our Missing Hearts
"Lively, funny, poignant . . . Prepare to fall in love with Maddie. I did!" ―Bonnie Garmus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.
It's fair to say that Maddie's life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson's. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.
When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she's ready to experience some important "firsts": She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils―and rewards―of putting her heart on the line.
Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.
"Meeting Maame feels like falling in love for the first time: warm, awkward, joyous, a little bit heartbreaking and, most of all, unforgettable." ―Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming
"Sparkling." ―The New York Times
"An utterly charming and deeply moving portrait of the joys―and the guilt―of trying to find your own way in life." ―Celeste Ng, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Our Missing Hearts
"Lively, funny, poignant . . . Prepare to fall in love with Maddie. I did!" ―Bonnie Garmus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi but in my case, it means woman.
It's fair to say that Maddie's life in London is far from rewarding. With a mother who spends most of her time in Ghana (yet still somehow manages to be overbearing), Maddie is the primary caretaker for her father, who suffers from advanced stage Parkinson's. At work, her boss is a nightmare and Maddie is tired of always being the only Black person in every meeting.
When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get out of the family home and finally start living. A self-acknowledged late bloomer, she's ready to experience some important "firsts": She finds a flat share, says yes to after-work drinks, pushes for more recognition in her career, and throws herself into the bewildering world of internet dating. But it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils―and rewards―of putting her heart on the line.
Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George's Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures―and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.
"Meeting Maame feels like falling in love for the first time: warm, awkward, joyous, a little bit heartbreaking and, most of all, unforgettable." ―Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming
Editorial Reviews
A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick
A February Indie Next Pick
"George paints in bold, bright strokes [and] lets dark moments commingle with light ones…George shows the details and scope of life with such confidence and joie de vivre, it's easy to forget she's a first-time novelist. By the end of Maame, Maddie still has questions and she's still curious, but she knows how to find what she needs in the real world. If that's not a modern hero's journey, I don't know what is." ―The New York Times
"The voice of Maame is singular and interesting―raw and new. On one page I was crying, yet on another page, I laughed hysterically." ―Jenna Bush Hager, Today
"Refreshing, irresistible." ―Reader's Digest
"By turns tender and comic, this portrait of a young woman's journey to self-understanding is triumphant." ―People
"Her fresh, vulnerable voice speaks directly to readers, without hiding behind glibness or easy self-assurance. George writes with a natural cadence that keeps the story engaging, her characters multidimensional, each of them deeply believable....Readers will be drawn into the peaks and troughs with this intrepid protagonist, feeling a sense of connection to and trust in her character. Maame isn't always an easy story to read, but it is always told with grace and compassion. As Maddie breaks through layers of family secrecy, it's a pleasure to watch her navigate the challenges of growth and growing up, to address what it means to be an adult and to live a full life." ―The Washington Post
"George has fashioned an appealing hero here: You can't help but root for Maddie's emancipation. Funny, awkward, and sometimes painful, her blossoming is a real delight to witness. A fresh, often funny, always poignant take on the coming-of-age novel." ―Kirkus (starred review)
"A pitch-perfect debut…The work's ample magnetism resi...
A February Indie Next Pick
"George paints in bold, bright strokes [and] lets dark moments commingle with light ones…George shows the details and scope of life with such confidence and joie de vivre, it's easy to forget she's a first-time novelist. By the end of Maame, Maddie still has questions and she's still curious, but she knows how to find what she needs in the real world. If that's not a modern hero's journey, I don't know what is." ―The New York Times
"The voice of Maame is singular and interesting―raw and new. On one page I was crying, yet on another page, I laughed hysterically." ―Jenna Bush Hager, Today
"Refreshing, irresistible." ―Reader's Digest
"By turns tender and comic, this portrait of a young woman's journey to self-understanding is triumphant." ―People
"Her fresh, vulnerable voice speaks directly to readers, without hiding behind glibness or easy self-assurance. George writes with a natural cadence that keeps the story engaging, her characters multidimensional, each of them deeply believable....Readers will be drawn into the peaks and troughs with this intrepid protagonist, feeling a sense of connection to and trust in her character. Maame isn't always an easy story to read, but it is always told with grace and compassion. As Maddie breaks through layers of family secrecy, it's a pleasure to watch her navigate the challenges of growth and growing up, to address what it means to be an adult and to live a full life." ―The Washington Post
"George has fashioned an appealing hero here: You can't help but root for Maddie's emancipation. Funny, awkward, and sometimes painful, her blossoming is a real delight to witness. A fresh, often funny, always poignant take on the coming-of-age novel." ―Kirkus (starred review)
"A pitch-perfect debut…The work's ample magnetism resi...
Readers Top Reviews
AllyConnie M Blow
This is the best thing I’ve heard in a in a long while. I love Maddie and I loved her adventures. She’s got a great voice and I wanted to hear more from her. I really enjoyed this book.
Jessie AcostaAlly
I lost my dad in 2021. The story of Maddie and her father spoke to me … in so many ways my loss is reflected in this tale. Grief doesn’t really ever go away, but it changes and it can soften. Thank you, Ms George.
Chrisdee24Jessie
Absolutely could not put down! I was completely invested from page 1. Maddie has to grow up fast, taking care of her father who has Parkinson's - but in most other aspects of her life is quite naive because of that. The bits where she Google's questions constantly were funny to me but also a real insight to not only her generation but also her naivety. From the often frustrating family dynamics to mental health struggles and race/racism - you are left rooting for Maddie throughout the whole book. I cannot believe this is a debut book for this author, it was amazing!
LamaChrisdee24Jes
To begin, I am so impressed with the writing. The author can go from different perspectives to different characters so seamlessly and it is easy to follow. Maddie is going through so much change in her life but I appreciate the raw reality of this story. There is not many books talking about different cultures and complex family issues. Along with racism but not “in your face” racism, subtle racism that is very present in our society. I really appreciate Maddie going through the different stages of life during a difficult time period because it feels like something any reader can go through. Such a great book and a quick read for me. I definitely recommend.
CWCWLamaChrisdee2
Purchased this book for my work book club, it just arrived six days ago and I’m already on page 224! (while working 10 hours/ day + team practices. so you can see I’m squeezing it into every spare moment, because I can’t stop!) I earlier today I was trying to find the Netflix show I’ve been watching and couldn’t remember the name of… Only to realize the “show” I was thinking of was no show at all, but instead this book ;D it’s that lifelike! What makes it this way though is not some wild intricate story but instead it’s a very “day in the life” story with realistic daily events and thought patterns that take place. I love that the main character’s thoughts are so genuine and down to earth, but also so culturally relevant to right now. Also, her naivety is not a result of her being conservative but to her genuinely not having exposure or opportunity to certain things, but her thoughts are not judgmental (even when she feels certain way about her mom, etc, she feels the guilt, which makes her so human and so relatable. It’s also interesting to hear her own internal dialogue to herself, that voice in her head we all can unfortunately recognize in ourselves. In a nutshell, not one gigantic jaw-dropping drama that would never happen in real life but instead the daily struggles of a Ghanaian/born young adult facing the daily struggles that come with being 25, having immigrant parents, being black in a white-dominant country, etc. Reads like a TV show. Loving it! Also, cover is soooo pretty! for all you book shelf aesthetic people. ;)
