Maame

“Maame” by Jessica George is honestly a breath of fresh air when it comes to tackling some really tough topics like grief and mental health, all while keeping you hooked with its humor and super relatable POV. I mean, Maddie's story is one of those that you can't help but see a bit of yourself in, especially with the way she deals with being a young woman trying to find her place in the world. The book does a fantastic job of blending the serious with the lighthearted, making you laugh one moment and then hitting you right in the feels the next. And I've got to say, the way it handles mental health is something special, not shying away from it but facing it head-on, which I think is super important for everyone, especially women in their late teens and early twenties, to see. Plus, the perspective on being the only black woman in certain spaces adds another layer of depth to Maddie's character and opens up some really important conversations for all readers, not just those who can directly relate.

That being said, there were a few parts where my attention started to wander a bit, and I felt like the story could've been tightened up. Don't get me wrong, the book is definitely a solid read, but there were moments where I thought it dragged just a tad. Maybe it's just a sign I'm getting a bit older, but I reckon if I'd come across “Maame” a few years back, I would've been utterly obsessed. Regardless, it's still a 4/5 for me because of how well it speaks to so many aspects of the human experience, from the laughs and the grief to the struggle of finding where you fit. It's a must-read, especially if you're in that 18-25 age range, and honestly, it's just as important for readers outside of that demographic to give it a go, too.