Fiona Valpy has succeeded again in writing another brilliant historical fiction novel. The Storyteller of Casablanca was heartbreaking and captivating. It was written in a dual time period and the chapters alternated accordingly. Both of the female protagonists were admirable and quite likable. Fiona Davis was able to incorporate the sights and smells and unique qualities of Morocco so vividly into her book that I almost felt like I was there with the characters. Many of the people she mentioned in The Storyteller of Casablanca were real people that played important roles during that time. I adored the main characters of Josie and Zoe. Their stories and circumstances really tugged at my heart. The conception of The Storyteller was sparked by a request. Someone’s husband once mentioned to Fiona Valpy that he wished he had a granddaughter that could tell about his wife’s experience in Casablanca at the onset of World War II. From that simple request and impeccable research The Storyteller of Casablanca was formulated and written.

In 1941, Josie and her family fled from Nazi occupied France to Casablanca. Josie was just twelve years old at the time. Her family’s goal was to escape to America. They had distant family that lived there. However, securing all the required documents was not easy. Their stay in Casablanca kept getting extended. Patience was needed but was not always easy to practice. During her time in Casablanca, Josie recorded many of her thoughts, feeling and things that happened in a journal her father had given to her.

Seventy years later, in 2010, Zoe and her husband Tom arrived in Casablanca. Zoe and Tom were looking for a fresh start. Tom had secured a job there. Both Zoe and Tom were aware that their marriage was in jeopardy of failing. Along with their baby daughter, Grace, life as an expat in an unfamiliar place was not easy or comfortable for either Zoe or Tom. One day Zoe discovered a hidden wooden box with a diary from the 1940’s hidden beneath the floor boards in her baby daughter’s room. Zoe was soon transported back in time into Josie’s life. She became fascinated with Josie’s story and plight. Could these two strong women, one from the past and one from the present help each other to get past their suffering and hurt?

I loved everything about The Storyteller of Casablanca. The story drew me in right from the start and I learned a lot about the role Casablanca played during World War II especially for the escaping refugees trying to get to Britain or America. The ending was quite a surprise and not expected at all. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this advanced digital copy of The Storyteller of Casablanca through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Told in two alternating time lines spanning 70 years.

Morocco, 1941:
Josie is 12 years old, her family leaves their financially comfortable life in France to temporarily live in Casablanca. The plan is to wait in Casablanca for their immigration paper work to come through for their ultimate destination, America. Josie thrives in her new environment, makes great friends and is happy to be away from the difficulties and horrors of what is happening back in France.

Zoe relocates (2010) with her husband and baby daughter to Casablanca. Her husband is offered a career opportunity and they are both excited for the change and hoping it will be what they need to put their struggling marriage back on track. They inhabit the exact same apartment occupied by Josie and her family 70 years prior. Zoe discovers a box under a floorboard containing misc contents and a diary maintained by Josie. Zoe finds herself obsessed with Josie’s history and won’t rest until she discovers what happened to Josie and her family members.

I have visited Casablanca and really enjoyed the narrative descriptions of the foods, sounds, neighborhoods and culture. Loved learning and reading about the history of the local custom of storytelling done by homemade quilts. An Underground Railroad of sorts done by hanging quilts on railings or on clothes lines that told of routes, safe places, time lines, etc.

I can’t say enough positive things about this book. The characters had depth and pulled you into their circumstances. I was completely invested in the outcome.

Written in duel timeline, The Storyteller of Casablanca was a interesting yet somewhat predictable read.
The authors writing of the environment was captivating.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

A great story of two strong women battling their individual demons. I thought I had worked out the plot twist that was coming but I was completely wrong! This book finishes out in a way I did not see coming at all.

Zoe's marriage to Tom is on the rocks. When Tom is transferred to Casablanca, Zoe resolves to give their marriage a fresh start.

The house they are quartered in is old. Zoe stumbles upon an old diary written by Josie Duval in 1941. The book is written in these two timelines. Zoe's life alternates with Josie's. In many places, the 13-year-old Josie becomes a pillar of strength to the much older Zoe.

The book is brilliantly written. The sounds and sights of Casablanca in 1941 and 2010 are so vividly described it seems you can actually experience them. Zoe's difficulties with dermatitis, her excessive caution while she makes quilts, and her internal dilemma regarding her marriage and her husband tug at your heartstrings. Her baby Grace is the only ray of hope in her life.

Josie's various difficulties are also well-written. The constant fear of the Gestapo, the hope they have of leaving Africa and moving to America, and her friendships will strike a chord.

This is a moving saga of two women, separated by time, living their lives and trying to make the best of it.

5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

Told in dual timelines the story follows young Josie and her family as well as Zoe, oth living in Casablanca. Josie and her family are waiting to travel to America to avoid the Nazi's. Zoe is struggling with family and living in an unfamiliar city. When Zoe finds Josie's diary beneath the floor boards in her home she begins to view her new city through Josie's perspective.

I love historical fiction. I love that the author's extensive research results in a fictional story about real events. My only criticism of this book was that things seemed to wrap up too nicely at the end. I understand coincidences but this one had quite a few that took away from the believability a little bit. Otherwise it was a wonderful story.

I love historical fiction, and in that sense this book didn’t disappoint. I learned about the country of Morocco both during WWII and in the current times, it’s geography, people and customs. I also learned about the North African theater of WWII.
Unfortunately, beyond that I didn’t enjoy the dual time story, most of Josie’s story was not believable to me, Zoe’s was a little strange but more realistic. The reason for her obsession to wash her hands constantly is not revealed until the very end and for me it took away empathy I might have felt for her. I thought the ending was too contrite! Overall, three stars.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.

Another STUNNING book from one of my go-to authors!

Set in Morocco and telling the story of Zoe, a young wife and mother hoping that the move to Cassablanca for her husband's job will give them a fresh start and save their marriage, Struggling to settle and find her feet in a strange country she discovers the hidden wartime diary of Josie a 12 year old Jewish girl whose family had fled Paris to await papers for their planned resettlement in America.

This is a meticulously researched and beautifully told story, with wonderfully vivid descriptions of the city, the food , the overwhelming bustle and heat, and the culture past and present, wonderful characters and a truly gripping storyline expertly woven between past and present .

One of my favourites of 2021 - I can't actually recommend it enough

This is a thoroughly engaging story that goes back and forth between 2010 and 1941. Zoe is our primary character in 2010. She moved to Casablanca with her husband as a result of a transfer. Their relationship is on shaky grounds which is why they thought the move would be good for them. The reason for their unstable relationship is not immediately revealed. Zoe has a tremendous amount of anxiety, which is portrayed through her obsessive hand washing.

Our 1941 part of the story takes place during the war. Josie and her family are refugees in Casablanca. They left France because of the German take over. Josie’s mother comes from a Jewish family which is why they felt they had to leave.

In the house where Zoe is living, she finds the diary that belonged to Josie and becomes intrigued by her story. She also meets some very interesting people who help her tremendously to come to terms with what happened in her own life.

The story works extremely well weaving back and forth between Josie’s life through the diary, and Zoe’s life. The diary gives many insights into the Duval family’s life, trials, and their disappointments. You are anxious to find out what happens to them. On the other side of the story, you are learning from Zoe about living in a different place, the country’s culture, and it’s customs. Here you are anxious to find out what happened to Zoe and how she heals.

The sights, sounds and smells in the book make you feel as if you are there.. the description of the food makes your mouth water. I was thoroughly absorbed with the book and could not put it down. Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read the unedited edition..

This truly is a hauntingly evocative. story, with two time lines set in Casablanca,Morocco.
Josie and her family are refugees in 1940,, Zoe is a lonely expat wife in 2010. Both are new to Morocco, both have stories to tell and after Zoe comes across Josie’s journal their two lives become interwoven .
Beautifully written with strong female characters and well researched , this novel has introduced me to a new author, whom other novels I will be seeking out.

I enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the descriptions of Casablanca were rich and transported me to the city. Dual timelines between 12 yr old Josie in the 1940’s through her diary and new mother and expat, Zoe in 2010. A beautiful story of hope and loss with a surprising ending.

I did enjoy this book and it taught me things about Casablanca during that war that I was completely ignorant of.
I was not entirely convinced by the two main characters though. Josie's story appealed to me much more than Zoe's but I found some of her journal a little too mature for her initial age. That said, her story was heartbreaking and is comparable to many situations today, not least the 2010 refugees portrayed in the book, which is clearly what the author wanted to convey. Josie's journal gives a real feel for life as a family fleeing the nazis and you really want things to turn out well.
Zoe's story unfolds very slowly and you are aware that something catastrophic has occurred before the story begins but I have to admit that I didn't guess exactly what that was before the final reveal. The expat community seemed almost like a throwback to the 1950's or 60's or even earlier. I have no idea if this is what it is really like in places like Casablanca but for me it just didn't really ring true for 2010. Maybe I'm wrong though.
The 2nd half of the book is far more engaging in my opinion. Zoe seems to be there just as a vehicle for Josie's journal entries but she comes into her own more after about halfway.
The description of Casablanca is brought to life very well and you can really imagine the sights and smells, so alien to the two main characters.

I like books with two or more timelines but in this instance I'm not sure it quite worked.

This is the third book by the author that I have read, and this certainly did not disappoint. I love how Fiona takes this well known period of history (WWII) and provides the reader into an insight into the lesser known aspects of that period. In the case of the storyteller of Casablanca it's the refugee situation for those escaping occupied France hoping to eventually reach America. In this story, young Josie is a child refugee along with her family and her story is mostly told through a diary that is found 70years later. By means of her diary, Josie helps newcomer Zoe to find her place in Casablanca. thanks to #FionaValpy #netgalley and the publisher for my arc.

The Storyteller of Casablanca, by Fiona Valpy is a wonderful story revolving around a young girl in the 1940s during WWII and an unhappy young woman in 2010. The characters are so well developed that you know exactly what they are feeling and thinking. It is one of those books that you have a hard time putting down and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Zoe, her husband and their baby, have come to Casablanca due to her husband’s work. Zoe finds it hard to be in a city/country where she is unfamiliar of her surroundings and without many close friends. She discovers a journal with a small box hidden under some floorboards in their baby’s room. The journal was written by 13-year-old Josie in the 1940s during the war. Her parents have come to Casablanca to wait for travel papers to go to America. When Zoe is reading Josie’s journal, she discovers so much about her life and extraordinary experiences in Casablanca. Josie is such an eloquent writer that Zoe can’t put the journal down and it consumes her, but it also will help her to get through her difficult life.
The book was historically correct with many details about the refugees in Casablanca that I was not familiar with. I strongly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical novels and heart-warming characters with an ending that you will not expect. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the advanced copy of this book.

The Storyteller of Casablanca

Fiona Valpy is a master writer of historical fiction. Her newest book is set in Casablanca the largest city in Morocco. In 1941, Josie is 12 when her family escapes from France during WWII, hoping to immigrate to America. Her mother is Jewish, her father becomes a member of the Resistance.
In 2010, Zoe and her husband move to Casablanca as ex-pats, living in the same house that Josie did nearly 70 years before.

When Zoe finds the well-hidden journal and keepsake box of treasures of Josie’s she starts following Josie’s story. Dreams, sorrows, stories all woven beautifully.
References to the 1942 Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman film and this story have me wanting to watch it again.
This is another amazing book from Fiona Valpy. I’m sure you will shed a few tears and also see the joy of changes.

Many thanks to Fiona Valpy, NetGalley, and Amazon Publishing U.K. for allowing me to read an advance copy of this marvelous story!!

I loved this truly evocative tale of two women - Zoe - the present day occupant and Josie - who occupied the same home during the Second World War. We hear from both women - Josie through her diary found by Zoe who is hoping that Casablanca will offer her a new start and fresh hope.

I was fascinated by the historical context - war in a part of the world which is totally unfamiliar. I enjoyed the local detail - the smells, food and architecture - all brought the city to life.

I loved both characters and felt for both as they faced their individual challenges - the book felt very real.

A book of grief but ending in hope. A delight to read.

I simply adore Fiona Valpy's novels. Each one is better than the last. This novel, focused on Casablanca in WWII, is a wonder. Although there are two narrators, one - Josie - a girl from 1940's Casablanca and another older woman - Zoe - from 2010 Casablanca; both have secrets and are damaged in some way. Finding out the links between the two and the fortuitous happenstance that allows Zoe to "interact" with Josie are skillfully and evocatively handled. Even if you feel tired of WWII stories, this is so much more and I encourage you to get a copy and read it! Valpy, as I said earlier, only gets better at storytelling! Thanks for the ARC from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers. All opinions are my own.

Told in a dual time line of 1941 and 2011, this story takes us to the city of Casablanca. It is a story of two woman trying to find a foothold in a world they wish was better.

Josie and her family fled to Casablanca hoping for a brief interlude away from the treachery of Nazi Germany. They escape to a world that excites the twelve year old Josie while the family awaits their clearance to come to America. Josie decided to write a journal describing her feelings and the love for the city of Morocco. Its smells, its exotic nature are an allure to her senses. It is a world she falls in love with.

Seventy years later in a place where Josie resided, Zoe with her family arrives and she is having a difficult time. Her marriage is failing and she has a new baby daughter. It's a trying time for her in a city that is so foreign to her. It's not really the new beginning she was hoping for. Then she discovers a hidden diary, one that belonged to Josie, and she sees the city as once a young twelve year old viewed it. Will this new yet old perspective be enough to create a new feeling in Zoe or is her life with a husband doomed to failure?

I enjoyed this story with its lovely writing and caution that things can be awful for many and yet happiness can be found.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this story recently published.

This is a wonderfully written tale set in Morocco, with a dual timeframe centred around the lives of Josie during 1940s and Zoe in present day.

The chapters covering Josie’s story were captivating as we follow her family’s time in Casablanca where they await a safe passage to a new life in America after fleeing from France to escape German persecution.

The story of Zoe was intriguing right from the start – she has recently moved to Casablanca with her husband, Tom. As she begins this new life, in a strange country, she is struggling with both the move and her marriage. When she finds a journal, written by Josie, her focus changes as she begins to follow Josie’s tale.

The amount of research that has gone into the storyline is phenomenal and with it Valpy has created an extremely well written book, with excellent characters, which I am certain will be a bestseller. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Fiona Valpy, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the review copy.

An excellent book by this author who never fails to deliver.
I loved the premise of the story and the geographical location was brought to life throughout the book by exceptionally descriptive writing.
The characters of Josephine and Zoe could not be more different in the face of it but upon inspection there are high links between them.
A perfect 5*