Maame is Jessica George’s debut novel. With an anticipated release date of January 31, 2023, by St. Martin’s Press, Maame takes readers to London, England. What is in a family nickname? Does it truly have the power to control your life from an early age?
I want to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Maame. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
CW/TW: depression, long-term illness, death, toxic relationships
Synopsis from Goodreads
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.
Positives
- An insightful look at family dynamics.
- Maddie’s growth by the end of the book.
Negatives
- The tragedy mentioned in the synopsis doesn’t happen until over 50% of the way into the book.
My Thoughts
At 25, Maddie finds herself the loan family member caring for her ill father. Her brother is living his life, traveling the world. Her mother is living in Ghana, as she had for most of Maddie’s life. Maddie feels the weight of the world on her shoulders and feels she has nowhere to turn. Maddie is told to pray harder when she asks her mom for help. Suddenly her mom returns to England and encourages Maddie to get out of the house and live her life. How else is she going to find a husband?
While reading Maame, I found the beginning to be a bit slow. But I pushed on, and I am glad that I did. In the beginning, Maddie seems shy, meek, and willing to do whatever anyone asks without asking anything in return. By the end, she has started standing up for herself and finding her voice.
When Maddie was a small child, she was given the family pet name Maame. The name means woman and carer. She finds herself as more the mother of the family than as the daughter. It is a toxic family dynamic, but sadly one that is more common than many people realize. After a significant family shake-up, Maddie stands up for herself and makes the nickname her own.
When I first read the synopsis for Maame, I bypassed it because it seemed too serious of a book for me to want to read at the time. The second time the book presented itself to me, I decided to give it a chance. Boy, am I glad that I did! You will be surprised to realize this is George’s debut novel, and I look forward to reading more by her.
Looking for some more books to read? Check out my bookish lists, book reviews, and monthly reading wrap-ups.
Great review! This sounds like a good read and I’ve not seen a lot about it on the blogosphere but the things I’ve seen have been pretty positive. It’s always nice to feel the payoff of sticking with a read after a slow beginning 🙂
I loved this one too. Such a powerful book.