Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

Maame by Jessica George

50 reviews

kelsylee's review against another edition

emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Infidelity and Racism

Minor: Drug use and Alcohol

smkelly1997's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Maddie has been the Maame (translation: woman) of her family as long as she can remember. She has taken on the role of caring for her dying father, paid for the family’s bills, and single handily run her household for as long as she can remember. That is until her mother returns home allowing Maddie to finally leave home at 25 years of age and discover who she is and not who her family wants her to be.
Maame is central themes of love and loss, complex family dynamics, mental health, race, and the dynamics of a first generation Ghanaian are prevalent through the book. Maddie character provides a charming yet relatable moments as she googles her way through life, overshares with those around her, and obsesses over a yellow pant suit. These themes along with Maddie’s relatability culminate in a refreshing take on a coming of age story following a 25 year old young woman as she navigates a whole new world. 
I would highly recommend the audiobook version read by Heather Agyepong. Her voice acting not only brings the accidents to life but places you inside of Maddie’s head. Experiencing the world as she does.   (I think had a read the book it would have been a 4.25. The voice acting put it over the top)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Dementia, and Death of parent

irenelpynn's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Suicide

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is a coming of age story of a young Ghanaian woman in her 20s living in London. Throughout the story she tackles work related race stressors, relationships, grief, family, moving out for the first time and finding a voice. 

I can hardly believe this is Jessica George’s debut novel. The way she was able to capture grief had me in tears (and I do not cry easy). After reading her forward I realized her dad is no longer with us. Which totally explains how she was able to have Maddie tap into that grief. 

I loved how she was able to explain complex topics like love and culture. It was very relatable and her characters felt so real. 

If you are looking for a realistic black woman version of a coming of age story, this is it! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol

martapsalvado's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Took me more than a month to read and several in-between books because it's so sad and intense and I'm not in the right headspace 🥲 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use, Suicide, and Alcohol

teacupsandfirereads's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I'm on the fence if I loved this one. It told a realistic story, the responsibilities of caring for a sick parent and not getting to "grow  up" in time. I found the main character believable, but I struggled to connect with her. I found for broaching such a dense topic, this book just skimmed the surface level. I wanted more substance to it, and didn't feel I got what I wanted. Take my review with a grain of salt. It is still worth reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Racism, Death of parent, and Abandonment

Minor: Infidelity, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Toxic relationship

nanirump's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Classism

holy_moly_colee's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

rshearon's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

this was a tough read. although i obviously can’t personally relate to the cultural or racial aspects of the MC’s journey, her role as the over-achieving, under appreciated, people-pleasing younger daughter keeping the family together is TOO relatable. her story was incredibly moving and heartbreaking not only because i could relate too deeply but also because she was just so lovable and such a complex, well-written character. this isn’t the usual genre i go for, but i had to pick this up based on the hype and i’m really glad i did. it felt cathartic and like i hurt and healed a little bit alongside Maddie. this one will definitely stick with me for a while!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Infidelity and Sexual content

kristenbynoe's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Alcohol