There are lots of books about twenty-somethings finding their way in the world, carving out their adult identity, learning through heartbreak, understanding their mental health and navigating the reality of their jobs in comparison to their dreams. I hit a bit of a slump with this premise and got a bit annoyed with how self-indulgent some of them were... NOT THE CASE WITH MAAME. Yeah, it could fit into that genre, but it's so much more and so much better written than many of the "bestsellers" and "Tiktok sensations" that tackle these topics. This book is 100% worth the hype.

It's poignant, heartbreaking and funny. Maddie is a fully developed character who comes off the page and leads you into her world, in an utterly compelling way. She is dealing with so much - too much for a 25 year old - and there is so much to relate to as she googles her way through big questions, navigates her grief, works out how to push back against her mum, and leans on her loyal and steadfast friends.

So many facets of life - race, class, death, loss of a parent, anxiety, religion, sex, love, professional ambition, vulnerability - are tackled with both humour and sensitivity.

What a debut! Such a moving story. I especially loved it because there was so much I could relate to as a (youngish) Black-British woman living in South London trying to find my way in within life's struggles.

I really appreciated that though heavy topics are explored, humour also has a place in the narrative and the balance was done well.

The narration for this is excellent! It felt real and honest and Maame was really brought to life.

I'm excited for this book to be released and hope it receives all the hype and recognition I believe it deserves.