My Name Is Maame

By Jessica George

Jessica George’s My Name Is Maame is a radiant debut that captures the messy, beautiful journey of growing up, claiming space, and learning to breathe freely in a world that often feels too tight. Maddie Wright, a 25-year-old British Ghanaian woman, is stuck—trapped between cultural expectations, family duty, and the quiet ache of grief. She’s a carer for her father, a ghost in her own workplace, and a stranger to herself. But when life forces her out of her comfort zone, Maddie begins to unravel, rebuild, and redefine what it means to be Maame.

The novel is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Maddie’s Google searches—“Is it bad to cry at work?” “Back pain in your mid-20s normal?”—are painfully relatable and often laugh-out-loud funny. But beneath the humor lies a deep emotional core: the loss of her mother, the silence of her father, and the weight of being the “responsible one” in a family that rarely says thank you.

George’s writing is warm, sharp, and deeply empathetic. She explores casual racism, workplace microaggressions, and the cultural tension between independence and obligation with a light but firm touch.

Maddie’s voice is unfiltered and unforgettable, and her journey—from invisibility to self-acceptance—is one that will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like they were living someone else’s life.

My Name Is Maame is more than a coming-of-age story—it’s a coming-into-power story. It’s about choosing joy, setting boundaries, and daring to wear the bright yellow suit even when the world says no. Maddie doesn’t just grow—she glows.