Maame by Jessica George
Synopsis
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.
Maame (ma-meh) has many meanings in Twi, but in my case, it means woman.
Meet Maddie Wright. All her life, she's been told who she is. To her Ghanaian parents, she's Maame: the one who takes care of the family. Her mum's stand-in. The primary carer for her father, who suffers from Parkinson's. The one who keeps the peace - and the secrets. It's time for her to speak up.
When she finally gets the chance to leave home, Maddie is determined to become the kind of woman she wants to be. One who wears a bright yellow suit, dates men who definitely aren't on her mum's list of prospective husbands, and stands up to her boss's microaggressions. Someone who doesn't have to google all her life choices. But when tragedy strikes, Maddie is forced to face the risks - and rewards - of putting her heart on the line. But will it take losing everything to find her voice?
As blisteringly funny and achingly relatable as its heroine, MAAME is an unforgettable coming-of-age story about finally becoming the heroine of your own life.
Reviews
Hilarious, honest and heartbreaking, MAAME is the most moving debut of 2023 - and a heroine you'll never forget.
'Lively, funny, poignant . . . Prepare to fall in love with Maddie. I did!' BONNIE GARMUS, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry
'Utterly charming and deeply moving . . . Maddie's journey will resonate with anyone who's had to grow up - or who's still trying to' CELESTE NG, New York Times bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere
'I loved every page of this beautiful, heartwarming, empowering book. An exceptional debut from an incredibly exciting new talent' BETH O'LEARY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flatshare
'A touching coming-of-age story about finding your inner strength' RED
'Maame is a really special novel, at once sweet and sad and funny and so full of life. The sort of book that people are going to cherish, and with good reason' BOBBY PALMER, author of Isaac and the Egg
'This book is going to be EVERYWHERE next year. A truly sparkling coming of age tale. Vividly drawn, witty and heartbreaking' JULIE OWEN MOYLAN, author of That Green Eyed Girl
'Honest, warm, heart-breaking and heart-healing. It felt truly modern, yet somehow timeless. I adored it' NIKKI MAY, author of Wahala
'A poignant coming-of-age tale about finding strength, hope and courage . . . Maame 's quiet confidence is true to life and liberating' LIZZIE DAMILOLA BLACKBURN, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?
'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
'Maame is uniquely gorgeous, and beautifully written, with such compelling characters and story. I'm officially obsessed' LUCY VINE, eBook bestselling author of Bad Choices
'Absolutely incredible - poignant and heartwarming and so funny, all at once' SOPHIE IRWIN, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting
'A tender and absorbing novel' PEACE ADZO MEDIE, author of Reese's Bookclub Pick His Only Wife
' One of the must-reads of the year' SUNDAY TIMES
'Tender and compelling from the word go, Maame is one of the year's most anticipated books' STYLIST
'A poignant and heart-warming coming of age story' RED
'George's novel is a deeply moving one, packed with heart and sparkling prose' HARPER'S BAZAAR
'Moving, funny, poignant and completely unforgettable, you'll love this beautiful coming of age tale' MY WEEKLY
'Funny, resonating and uplifting, Maame is going to be big in 2023' EVENING STANDARD
About the Author
Jessica George was born and raised in London to Ghanaian parents and studied English Literature at the University of Sheffield. After working at a literary agency and a theatre, she landed a job in the editorial department of a publishing house. She now lives in North London with an incontrovertible sweet tooth and the knowledge that she can consume half a cake by herself if left to her own devices.