George, J: Maame A Novel

"An utterly charming and deeply moving portrait of the joys--and the guilt--of trying to find your own way in life. At heart, Maame is about seeing life, your loved ones, and yourself in a new light, and Maddie's journey will resonate with anyone who's had to grow up-or who's still trying to."
--Celeste Ng, New York Times bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere

"George has fashioned an appealing hero here: You can't help but root for Maddie's emancipation. Funny, awkward, and sometimes painful, her blossoming is a real delight to witness. A fresh, often funny, always poignant take on the coming-of-age novel." --Kirkus (starred review)

"A pitch-perfect debut...The work's ample magnetism resides in the savvy portrayal of Maddie as a complicated, sharp, and vulnerable person who is trying to figure out adulthood. Readers will revel in this." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"George illustrates the complexities of navigating two cultures and rising from the pressure of other people's expectations beautifully. This is a clever and deeply moving debut." --Booklist

"A wry, compassionate debut novel...Full of dry humor and entirely relatable moments, Maame is a warmhearted, often hilarious account of one woman's journey through her awkward yet exciting 20s. Readers will root for Maddie to find self-confidence and happiness, both at work and in her personal life...George's narrative is a tribute to all women who make the effort--no matter how difficult or confusing--to take control of their own lives." --Shelf Awareness

"Meeting MAAME feels like falling in love for the first time: warm, awkward, joyous, a little bit heartbreaking and, most of all, unforgettable. Jessica George viscerally renders the exquisite pain and poignant hilarity of coming of age as a woman today while perfectly capturing the extra thickets of thorns that lay in the paths of women of color in all white spaces. Maame is so many women I have known and loved: experiencing firsts, coming to hard revelations and choosing to bite into life with with full, open hearts."
--Xochitl Gonzalez, New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming

"A poignant coming-of-age tale about finding strength, hope and courage when life gets too much and leaves you with more unanswered questions. Maame's quiet confidence is true to life and liberating." --Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband?

"Lively, funny, poignant . . . Prepare to fall in love with Maddie. I did!" --Bonnie Garmus, New York Times bestselling author of Lessons in Chemistry

"I inhaled MAAME, a brilliant coming-of-age story. Maddie is such a relatable heroine, her voice honest, warm, heart-breaking and heart-healing. It felt truly modern, yet somehow timeless. I adored it." --Nikki May, author of Wahala

"I loved every page of this beautiful, heartwarming, empowering book. The world is going to fall in love with Maddie-she stole quietly into my heart and made herself at home there. An exceptional debut from an incredibly exciting new talent."
--Beth O'Leary, bestselling author of The Flatshare

"A tender and absorbing novel." --Peace Adzo Medie, author of His Only Wife

"This is such a special book. Warm, beautifully drawn and instantly engaging, George tackles pain, loss and longing with the lightest of touches. I learned so much from Maddie, even as I was rooting for her to reclaim her power and jump-start her own life." --Lauren Bravo, author of The Second Chance Store

"This book is going to be EVERYWHERE next year. A truly sparkling coming of age tale. Vividly drawn, witty and heartbreaking." --Julie Owen Moylan, author of That Green-Eyed Girl

"Maame is a really special novel, at once sweet and sad and funny and so full of life. The sort of book that people are going to cherish, and with good reason" --Bobby Palmer, author of Isaac and the Egg