I liked the premise of the story, but unfortunately, it fell flat. I didn't find it interesting and had to fight my way through to the end of the book. Despite how dull and slow the book was, the ending seemed to be very rushed. ( )

Wow! So glad I read this book and am sorry it took so long. This ARC has been on my digital TBR shelf since September 2021, and I had every intention of reading it sooner. But what finally propelled me to open the book and begin reading was when Val chose it for our Buddy Read in April 2023.

And we were both surprised at how much we liked this dual timeline novel that takes place in Casablanca. It’s the story of two women who both come from afar to the strange new city of Casablanca and must adjust to a different climate, culture, and people. Fourteen-year-old Josie, spunky and clever, chronicles her experiences in a journal during 1941-42. Thirty-something Zoe discovers the journal hidden in a house she and her husband rent in Casablanca in 2010. Josie’s story is influenced by the Second World War. Refugees from France, the family is expecting that this will be a brief stay before moving to the safety of America. Seventy years later Zoe arrives with her husband, who has taken a new job and works long hours. She explores the city on her own, cautiously making friends and embarking on a quilting project.

As Zoe reads Josie’s journal and becomes engaged in her story, so did I. Will their papers be approved so that they can travel to America? Is Josie’s father a spy? Is the family in danger? While Zoe’s story is not dangerous, it is moving and personal. I found myself caught up in both narratives and kept telling myself I would read “just one more chapter.”

Author Fiona Valpy describes how the novel “explores the legacy of loss and grief and how the power of love can help the most impossible wounds to heal.” I appreciated how Valpy weaves historic events and actual people into an unforgettable tale of hope, friendship, and second chances. I highly recommend this moving and memorable story ( )

interesting story

Like The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy, The Storyteller of Casablanca tells two stories in two timelines, and one is a story of World War II. As with most books using this approach, one story can be more powerful than the other. In this case, it is Josie's story of the war. Overall, the history is interesting, and the location is fascinating. However, the emotion of the book is not what I expected.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2022/12/the-storyteller-of-casablanca.html

Reviewed for NetGalley. ( )

It took me a while to get into "The Storyteller of Casablanca" but in the end, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in Morocco, the novel has dual timelines, seventy years apart. I loved young Josie's story which was told through her diary that modern-day Zoe found. Like Zoe, I soon became fascinated with Josie's plight.

Despite hardships and heartbreak, Zoe and Josie were brave, sensitive people who cared so much for those they loved. I thought the author did a wonderful job of weaving the two stories together and I loved how the novel ended.

I also adored the vivid descriptions of Casablanca. I could easily imagine the heat, smells and noises of the city, and I thought the use of quilting to tell one's story was a lovely inclusion. A great read. ( )