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nicolereader's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
magsville's review against another edition
3.0
A fresh, unique voice. I felt whiplash as I wasn't sure what to expect with this novel. All the characters surprised me, which I think is actually brilliant. But it was so deeply affecting that it didn't really match the escape I was looking for.
mkzumbrun's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
2_legit_2_knit's review against another edition
I didn't realize this was a St. Martin's Press book when it came through my Libby app so I am withholding my review in solidarity with the St. Martin's Press boycott.
tamarasbooknook's review against another edition
5.0
Engaging, fresh, heartwarming and poignant coming of age story of 25 year old people pleaser Maddie who lives with her family in London, which offers intimate insights into Ghanaian culture.
Her mother's pet name for her is Maame, meaning woman, and this proves to be pivotal in cementing Maddie's feelings that she has to put everyone else's needs before her own.
Maddie has grown up feeling the weight of responsibility from a young age. She is a carer for her dad who has Parkinson's, her mother regularly goes back to Ghana for a year at a time, and her brother is too busy leading a jet-setting, unencumbered lifestyle to offer any support. She regularly has to dip into her meagre funds to pay family bills and puts her life on hold to care for her father because that is what she is expected to do and she doesn't feel she has a choice, or very much support.
When her overbearing mother finally returns, Maddie feels able to spread her wings and move out. Before she can even move in she is unfairly fired by her dreadful boss after enduring her mood swings and erratic behaviour without complaint in exchange for the steady pay cheque, but now has to find a new job urgently.
Managing to find an admin role in publishing which is much better suited to her degree and her love of writing, once again the only Black woman, she still feels pressure to behave a certain way and not rock the boat. This becomes even more difficult when she realises her ideas are being used without her getting any credit.
Dating her first proper boyfriend and thinking she is finally starting to fit in, Maddie has a nasty surprise when discovers her new boyfriend treats his white girlfriends very differently.
Her mother's pet name for her is Maame, meaning woman, and this proves to be pivotal in cementing Maddie's feelings that she has to put everyone else's needs before her own.
Maddie has grown up feeling the weight of responsibility from a young age. She is a carer for her dad who has Parkinson's, her mother regularly goes back to Ghana for a year at a time, and her brother is too busy leading a jet-setting, unencumbered lifestyle to offer any support. She regularly has to dip into her meagre funds to pay family bills and puts her life on hold to care for her father because that is what she is expected to do and she doesn't feel she has a choice, or very much support.
When her overbearing mother finally returns, Maddie feels able to spread her wings and move out. Before she can even move in she is unfairly fired by her dreadful boss after enduring her mood swings and erratic behaviour without complaint in exchange for the steady pay cheque, but now has to find a new job urgently.
Managing to find an admin role in publishing which is much better suited to her degree and her love of writing, once again the only Black woman, she still feels pressure to behave a certain way and not rock the boat. This becomes even more difficult when she realises her ideas are being used without her getting any credit.
Dating her first proper boyfriend and thinking she is finally starting to fit in, Maddie has a nasty surprise when discovers her new boyfriend treats his white girlfriends very differently.
emmalyn_kay's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
đť—šđť—Ľđť—Ľđť—´đť—ąđť—˛: What do I do when I love a book so much
I can't recommend this book enough. It's relatable, insightful, and a poignant reminder that life is complex no matter who you are, where you live, or how old you are.
One of the most underrated components of this book, IMO, is the way the novel was formatted. Told in first person, you're able to place yourself directly in Maddie's head. Down to the Google searches! Those Google searches were exactly what a 20-something getting rocked by life would be searching. And the results were too accurate!
From a personal standpoint, anyone who belongs to the Dead Dad Club has been exactly where Maddie has been. The layered grief Maddie felt mirrors my own, especially the "why wasn't I there" guilt. Because of the first-person POV, you're feeling Maddie's waves of grief exactly as she feels them. You feel her pain, rage, and glimmers of hope just the same.
Loved this book as both a coming-of-age story and an autobigraphical-ish account of a young woman coming to grips with her culture, family, and faith, while simultaneously building a life for herself outside of those responsibilities. It's something everyone, everywhere can find meaning in.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's relatable, insightful, and a poignant reminder that life is complex no matter who you are, where you live, or how old you are.
One of the most underrated components of this book, IMO, is the way the novel was formatted. Told in first person, you're able to place yourself directly in Maddie's head. Down to the Google searches! Those Google searches were exactly what a 20-something getting rocked by life would be searching. And the results were too accurate!
From a personal standpoint, anyone who belongs to the Dead Dad Club has been exactly where Maddie has been. The layered grief Maddie felt mirrors my own, especially the "why wasn't I there" guilt. Because of the first-person POV, you're feeling Maddie's waves of grief exactly as she feels them. You feel her pain, rage, and glimmers of hope just the same.
Loved this book as both a coming-of-age story and an autobigraphical-ish account of a young woman coming to grips with her culture, family, and faith, while simultaneously building a life for herself outside of those responsibilities. It's something everyone, everywhere can find meaning in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
choco_cat's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
theone_gingerella's review against another edition
5.0
I didn’t know whether I would like this when I started. If you are looking for a lot of action, this isn’t for you. It’s about life. Big things. It’s relatable even though the MC is Ghanaian. She talks about her culture specifically…but aren’t all Moms kind of the same. Annoying. lol. (I say this as a Mom.)
It’s about dating (online and otherwise). It’s about virginity, sex, friends, our parents, our relationship with our siblings, and death. There is a lot of life in it. It’s also about being Black and African and relating to your culture as a recent immigrant (one generation). It’s about working in a mostly white office setting. It’s set in England. It’s also about religion. I especially like the intersection between cultural traditions and spiritual ones. They collide and mesh. It’s very good. I am left feeling hopeful, pure, and informed.
It’s about dating (online and otherwise). It’s about virginity, sex, friends, our parents, our relationship with our siblings, and death. There is a lot of life in it. It’s also about being Black and African and relating to your culture as a recent immigrant (one generation). It’s about working in a mostly white office setting. It’s set in England. It’s also about religion. I especially like the intersection between cultural traditions and spiritual ones. They collide and mesh. It’s very good. I am left feeling hopeful, pure, and informed.