Maame

I read this book during the first part of our Bahamas trip and it was such a treat. Protagonist Maddie (AKA Maame) lives in London with her dad, who is ill. Maddie's mother spends most of her time in Ghana, yet is still overbearing, and Maddie's brother is missing in action. Maddie is trying to care for her father while figuring out her own path as a twenty-something late bloomer.

Author Jessica George does an excellent job of portraying Maddie's experience navigating young adulthood and all of its facets, complicated by family dynamics and much more. The storyline is engrossing and feels raw and real. In fact, George's acknowledgements allude to much of the plot being based on real life experiences. The book is well-written and captivating.

As writer Xochitl Gonzalez says, "Meeting Maame feels like falling in love for the first time: warm, awkward, joyous, a little bit heartbreaking, and, most of all, unforgettable."

AES