What a beautiful debut from Jessica George! I was lucky enough to receive a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for a review, thank's to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton.

Maame is a coming of age story although our main character may be a bit of a late bloomer. At 25 she feels very behind, having never had a serious relationship, nor a job she really likes. She is tied down by her family obligations, caring for her sick father, making up for the absence of her mother and brother at home.

There is much to relate about in this book, every twenty something will experience loss of some kind as well as feeling overwhelmed from life expectations that start to crumble in front of you. We all feel inadequate, "not enough" at times and Maddie is going THROUGH IT!
Our main character isn't only relatable but good natured and the kind of friend anyone would be lucky to have. I really enjoyed spending time with her and her family even when her grief touched my soul.

The cultural elements and age of the MC made this a refreshing story and the writer effortlessly touches on so many modern topics. Not to mention that we love to see a diverse cast of characters!
I hope this book will receive the acclaim it deserves!

I also recommend the audio format for this one, it can't be anything but a joy to listen to audiobooks when the narration is this impeccable!

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.