AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! • A Today Show #ReadWithJenna Book Club Pick • A February 2023 Indie Next Pick

"
Sparkling." —The New York Times

"An utterly charming and deeply moving portrait of the joys
and the guiltof 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.

So when her mum returns from her latest trip, Maddie seizes the chance to move 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 when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils—and rewards—of putting her heart on the line.

Smart, funny, and 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

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Published Feb 6, 2024

336 pages

Average rating: 7.57

568 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

jess.withbooks
Jun 05, 2025
10/10 stars
“Move out, Maddie. Live a little, Maddie. I never wanted to admit it, but I'm so glad to be out of the house and living my life. I hope that doesn't make me a bad person. I almost can't blame James for abandoning me, because there's just so much our there, you know? I have a boyfriend, a better job, and I'm going on holiday with new friends. I don't cry at night anymore…I'm free.”
CazzaT
Jan 27, 2023
each member can rate and review a book here and share with the club and the greater bookclubs community if they want
Ava Robbins
Sep 14, 2025
4/10 stars
DNF 40%

I was going to DNF sooner because at the beginning of the story we see how trapped the main character's parents make the main character feel (too relatable)- her mother is sooo overbearing and makes her take care of her sick father. I stuck it out because the summary of the book says she leaves this situation to grow into her own person, and I was looking forward to reading about the struggles the main character overcomes. However, seeing how naïve she is about the world and the traumatic experiences she endures as a result of her sheltered life was too triggering for me. To my surprise, this book has SA in it, and I honestly feel pretty gross after reading it, so I don't anticipate picking up this book again. The character's inner dialogue and anxiety felt real to me, and I enjoyed relating to her in that way, so I'm giving this a 2 star rating. I recommend reading trigger warnings and making an informed decision, one that I was not fortunate enough to have
louislabelle
Jun 14, 2025
10/10 stars
Talks about the reality of being a girl in her 20s a first generation daughter.
JennyRose22
Jun 07, 2025
2/10 stars
DNF

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