I received this book as an ARC a while back and finally got to read it and honestly I have to say that I am disappointed that I haven‘t read it before now. I loved the way the story was told a lot, the writing perfectly fit to the story and how the main character Maddie tells it is just perfect. 

This story is about a black woman finding herself, in the work world as well as in her personal life. It talks about culture, family, friendships, mental health, grief, relationships, as well as about racism and micro aggressions. I feel like this book is so important to read. It educated me as a white person, that‘s for sure. Also Maddie is such a likeable character and the topics she mentioned as well as the feelings she felt were so relatable (other than the racial issues because as a white woman I will never experience how these feel like and I can only do my best to educate myself). It sure also has a romance aspect to it, but I love that this wasn‘t the main focus of the book at all. This book was so much more than that.

Description:

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.

When her mum returns from her latest trip to Ghana, Maddie leaps at the chance to get 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 it's not long before tragedy strikes, forcing Maddie to face the true nature of her unconventional family, and the perils―and rewards―of putting her heart on the line.

Smart, funny, and deeply 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