Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Press,  January 23, 2023

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 320

Rating: 5/5 stars

Summary (From Goodreads):

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.

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.

My Review:

Read if you like: complex families, exploration of identity
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Maddie is a young woman living at home to take care of her ill father. When her mother returns from Ghana, Maddie decides it is time to move out and start her own life.
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This book was beautiful, heartbreaking and an excellent portrayal of a young woman trying to figure out who she is. The author did an excellent job of connecting the reader to Maddie, and I just wanted to root for her to succeed! The book also portrays grief quite well and I appreciated the complexities around grief that was presented. An excellent read!