First published 2023
Maddie lives in London, trapped between two worlds. Her mother spends months in Ghana while Maddie handles the daily care of her father, who has advanced Parkinson's disease. At her job, she sits as the sole Black person in meeting after meeting, dealing with a terrible boss who refuses to recognize her contributions. When her mother finally returns from Ghana, Maddie seizes her chance to escape the family home and start her own life. She moves into a shared flat and begins exploring experiences she has never had. She accepts invitations for drinks after work, pushes for career advancement, and enters the confusing realm of online dating. But family tragedy pulls her back, forcing her to confront the complicated dynamics of her unconventional household. As Maddie navigates between her Ghanaian heritage and London reality, she discovers the challenges and joys of opening her heart to new relationships and possibilities.
Genres: literary-fiction, african-american, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Ghana, London
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press