This novel is perfect for those who love historical fiction with a dash of mystery. The Storyteller is considered a Young Adult novel as the main characters are in high school/early college, but honestly adults will enjoy this book as well.

When cleaning out her Great-Great Aunt's house Jess Morgan comes across a box of diaries. Intrigued after realizing they are written in Russian, she hires a college kid to translate them and together they slowly realize that the diaries could have belonged to Anastasia Romanov from the early 1900's. Was Great Aunt Anna really the missing Grand Duchess Anastasia or simply a very good storyteller?

From a historical perspective, Kathryn Williams' novel is a great way for younger students to learn about the Bolshevik revolution and the years following the First World War. Williams ability to illustrate the modern day teenage angst that Jess feels when she is pulled between her best friend and boyfriend, also provide context for the readers and allows the story to be modernized.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the opportunity to read this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley and the author for the copy in exchange for a review.

I loved the Romanovs when I was in High School and I was super excited o read this book when I got it on NetGalley. I loved reading Williams creative ideas and her use of the facts to create a story that was both entertaining and filled with knowledge about the history of the Romanovs. I really loved seeing the family's in this stories and how they were following how the main character's family was falling apart. I loved reading about a college age love interest because that is no t something that is seen a lot in YA and I thought it was an interesting way to bring college into a YA book. Overall I think I would recommend this for fans of the Romanov’s and history and fans of Anastasia (the movie and the musical, I know they are not the most accurate things but I love them.)

Note - this came out last year and I am getting caught up on reviews during the break.

I was given a NetGalley widget for this one a year ago and I just got around to reading it and dangit it was so good. I am so thankful for the opportunity to have consumed this wildly relevant fictional tale, which felt not at all fictional, more like historical fiction, due to the times. The cover initially was what drew me in, but I'm so thankful to have stuck with it because the outcome was magical. I tend to enjoy magical realism every now and then, and this one just hit at the right time.

I loved this story! It was so much fun. I've talked it up at my book club. It's told in the present and in the past through some old Russian diaries. It tells the story of two girls trying to find out who they are and is steeped in history.. but whose?

It was work to finish <i>The Storyteller</i>
The only part I enjoyed was Aunt Anna’s diary entries. That was an exciting story!
Jess’ story, on the other hand, was not.
<i>The Storyteller</i> is trying to be a coming of age, be true to yourself novel. Unfortunately, the main character is so bland and uninteresting that it loses meaning. Jess, who learns to be true to herself, has no real personality or interest. The only thing we know about her, truly, is that she wants to be a writer. I have no clue what she wants to write, though. Honestly, it felt a bit like reading Y/N fanfiction – the reader was given a blank page to more easily envision themselves as the MC.
The rest of the modern timeline was similarly vague and didn’t hold my interest. I did think the diary entries were well written and engaging, though!
Unless you have a massive obsession with Anastasia, I would skip <i>The Storyteller</i>.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

This was a strong read as an audio and as hard copy. I have been fascinated by the Romanovs since the 8th grade. Take that mysterious element and weave it into a contemporary YA text? I am here for it. I think my students will be too. The depth of the characters coupled with the historical component should make this a hit with my 9th grade readers.

Note that this is the same review that I posted for the audio version.

First of all, this book had me hooked with a shoutout to Athens Pizza!

But also, wow, I loved reading the diaries, and watching Jess reconcile so many different ideas on her path to growth. She tries to keep Evan at arm's length, and also has to consider that perhaps her ideas of who her family was were not entirely accurate. Above all, though, she needs to figure out who she wants to be.

Like history, at all? Read it.

I honestly went into The Storyteller blindly, not really knowing much about the story as I turned to the first page, but I loved it! The Storyteller is part Young Adult and part Historical Fiction revolving around a young woman, Jess and her quest to discover whether her Aunt Anna could possibly be Anastasia. Yes! That Anastasia! Both Jess and her Aunt Anna are storytellers and as Jess reads through her aunt's old journals she learns so much, but, could it really be possible? Could she really be who she's claiming to be? The author's writing drew me in instantly, and I just had to know, is she really Anastasia? I fully enjoyed this twist on a historical fiction read and couldn't put it down! Plus, that cover is just gorgeous!
Thank you NetGalley, HarperTeen and author Kathryn Williams for the advanced read copy in exchange for my honest review!

Review being posted to Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon* and B&N*.

*upon approval

This was cute. I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but I ended up liking how the story was framed and rooted in reality. The book was compelling enough even though I knew what turn it was going to take.

My biggest complaint is that some of the scenes just reminded me too much of the animated Anastasia film. I just would have liked a different take on the story.

This was a fun story of a high schooler navigating classic teenage woes while also uncovering a family story that she thinks may connect her to the Romanov dynasty. While I sometimes find jumps in time to be jarring or take me out of the story, I enjoyed both the present day narrative of the protagonist and the narrative that went back in time via her aunt's diaries. I also enjoyed the way this book captures the genuine desire folks have to believe in something. The book's protagonist wants to believe both in a glimmer of hope in an otherwise tragic and bloody history and in her connection to something bigger. That was really human and relatable.

Overall I thought the book moved a little too slowly or dragged on in some parts which is why I haven't given it a hiring rating, but for folks who want an endearing story of a teenager trying to figure things out while also trying to learn about her family's story, this is a good one. It's also satisfying in that every thread is tied up by the end of the book, and all questions are answered.

The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams

If you like books about secret diaries and romance.

I felt like I already read this book many times before. The parts when Jess was hanging out with Ryan and his friends were exactly like other books I’ve read before.
What I disliked about the book was that:
One: like so many other YA books the author has teens drink alcohol. As a teen myself I cringe at party scenes in books and times when teens are drinking. I hate that adult authors think that they need to write about underage drinking. This makes me feel so uncomfortable. I did like that Jess didn’t want to drink.
Two: I was uncomfortable with parts of the book. In one part in particular. In one part a guy mentions they saw a teacher buying condoms at the store and Jess makes a joke saying “He did talk a lot about the Battle of the Bulge”. There was another part when Doug pretends he is masturbating. There was another part when Doug walks in on Jess and Ryan and he tells them to get a room.
Three: One of Jess's friends was gay. I felt like the author only made him gay so she could have a gay character in her book. There wasn’t really a reason to mention this guy because he wasn’t really in the book.
The main character wasn’t very likable she was really annoying in some parts of the book. There was a part that really annoyed me. Evan works at the Shoe store and Ryan makes fun of him. Instead of telling her boyfriend how she knew Evan in the book, she says that Evan is a nobody. Her boyfriend Ryan was so annoying as well. Most of the characters I didn’t like. I only kept reading this book so I could figure out who Anna really was. I liked reading about her diary. I gave this book two stars. If this book was just about the journal I definitely would have given it more than two stars but the rest of the story was kind of boring.

If there is one historical mystery that has deeply captivated me my entire life, it has been the mystery surrounding the Grand Duchess Anastasia. I have read every book about her and her family that I can get my hands on. When I saw a new book describing a new take on Anastasia's life, I couldn't wait to read it.

I wish I had had this book as a teen. I would have loved every word of it. Jess, a 17 year old, is helping her mom go through her great-aunt's things and discovers several diaries written in Russian. Wanting more information about these diaries, she enlists the help of a local Russian college student, Evan, to translate them. What he finds in these diaries, however, stops both of them in their tracks.

These diaries seem to be an account of a young Anastasia's life--her early childhood, her family, their capture, her escape, and her new life in America. The diary entries are beautifully written and I found myself getting lost in the world that Kathryn Williams has created, and I was often looking things up while I was reading.

Alongside the diary entries, we get to know Jess. Jess's life seems to be perfect--she has perfect friends, a perfect boyfriend, big plans to attend Harvard, but none of that is what she actually wants to do. She is living the life that she believes others want her to live. Like her great-aunt, she is living a lie. And as Jess gets to know her great-aunt through her diaries, Jess comes to realize that being the person she wants to be is so much better than being the false version of herself. I loved getting to know these two young women together and I think the way it was done was effective. I know teens will love it too.

All in all, a great read for teens interested in Anastasia or the Romanovs. It was a fascinating contemporary look at one of history's greatest mysteries.

Who else was a fan of Disney’s Anastasia growing up, or was heavily interested in the story revolving around the Romanov family? If this was you, then Kathryn Williams’ novel The Storyteller introduces an intriguing rendition of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikoleavna of Russia’s story that is worth reading.

Jess Morgan feels like she is an imposter in her own life. From her boyfriend to her own family, she feels like her whole life has been about pleasing other people.

So when Jess helps her mother clean out her late Aunt Anne’s house, she does not anticipate finding a truck full of her aunt’s old diaries. She certainly does not anticipate upon reading them that her Aunt Anne was hiding her own self as well. Was her Aunt Anne truly Anastasia, a Romanov princess?

While solving this mystery with the help of cute and nerdy Evan, Jess Morgan must also solve the mystery of herself, and figure out how to be who she really is.

One of this novel’s best messages is the importance of telling one’s story and how staying true to one’s self is a key to acceptance. This is primarily explored with Jess and how she molds herself to fit what others want from her: a prospective Harvard student for her mom, a laid back, beer-drinking girl for her boyfriend, and other personalities that she adopts for the sake of others.

Watching Jess slowly unravel under the weight of all her personalities was disheartening, but seeing her true self emerge once she finally decided to just be herself without adhering to others’ expectations was inspiring.

Aunt Anne was also someone that struggled with her own story. While Anne’s story was tragic in its own right, the fact that she felt like she had to hide herself in the story of Anastasia was incredibly sad. I felt turmoil as to whether to feel frustration or sympathy for Anne’s reasons for why she sunk into her false identity. Yet, she was a masterful storyteller in her diary entries as “Anastasia” and it definitely drew me in.

The romance between Jess and Evan was a great addition to this story. Evan was the first person - outside of her best friend - who Jess could be herself around. Their relationship did not feel like Evan fixed Jess, but rather that he allowed her to be comfortable enough with herself to not hide who she was.

It was a slow-burn romance as well, so the payoff of them getting together in the end was so sweet and satisfying!

The Storyteller was a captivating blend of mystery and romance with a historical retelling. It was a well-written and thought-provoking tale of self-discovery and the importance of telling one’s story.

Perfect mix of mystery, historical fiction, light romance and coming of age story. Jess hides her true self from her family and her boyfriend. When she uncovers her aunt Anna’s diaries, uncovering her aunt’s stories pushes Jess to find her own story. I didn’t love the angst of the relationship with stereotypical high school jock. Understood what the author wanted to accomplish but I disliked the boyfriend and the stereotype as not all athletes are like that. Her relationship with him impacted her friendship with her best friend which was the impetus for the deep dive into her aunt’s diaries. I loved the diaries and the historical piece of this. Rich and vivid descriptions. I wanted this to end a bit differently but overall enjoyed this book. Solid entertaining read with a light mystery that kept me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, thank you to Harper Collins/Harper Teen and NetGalley for access to the ARC for this novel in exchange for my honest review.

It's the summer before Jess Morgan starts her senior year and she's still not entirely sure where she fits. Her parents are arguing, her brother avoids her at all costs, her best friends are tied up in theatre and a new boyfriend, and her long-distance boyfriend is going back to school in a few weeks. She's being pulled in many directions, but is unsure which direction she truly wants to go in.

When Jess's realtor mom asks her to help her clean out her Great Great Aunt Anna's house, Jess stumbles upon an old steamer trunk filled with hand written diaries in a language she can't read. After a little bit of detective work, she discovers the diaries are written in Russian and enlists a local college student, Evan, to help her decipher them. What unfolds is a whirlwind jaunt through history - could Great Great Aunt Anna be the Grand Duchess Anastasia? Or are these journals an elaborate hoax?

While I had some mixed feelings overall about the novel, it was enjoyable! The tween inside me is always drawn to anything involving Anastasia, so I was excited to give this a whirl.

I enjoyed a lot about this novel. One of the main things I enjoyed was the approach the author took towards the story in general. A lot of retellings and novels centered on the Romanov family come off as highly glamorized or cold and insensitive. There is very few middle ground, but I think that this novel sat in that middle ground fairly well. The author was respectful in her approach, and kept in mind that this was a real family and a real event that had real ramifications on a huge group of people.

The author kept me on my toes after the first bit, leaving me unsure of where exactly the story would wind up. I'm pleased to say I didn't see how it ended up coming initially, but it was revealed and unraveled very well as the story progressed. The author also did a fantastic job of staying as historically accurate as a fictionalized novel can be. She was, again, sensitive to the content and the importance of the story. She provided a lot of great historical context around the time of the execution/murders that painted a much more vivid picture than I was used to.

There was also a LOT of great character growth in this story. My biggest complaint lay with the main character, Jess. She felt very flat, very impressionable and not her own person. She was fitting the mold of literally what everyone else wanted from her and didn't seem to have any sort of personality of her own. Eventually, she grew and started to pushback on those expectations, which was satisfying.

Thank you for the review copy. The premise sounded good, but this was unfortunately not for me. I didn’t like the characters and had to suspend too much disbelief in the plot.

First let me say received this as an advanced copy from NetGalley.

Holy smokes I am glad this book came into my life. It is a story of finding oneself while exploring the life of another. Speckled with romance and a huge mystery I could not stop reading! I laughed, I cried, I cringed, but most importantly I fell in love. Well written and a good blend of characters with dilemmas and resolutions. AND THE ENDING!! No spoilers so read for yourself!

Wow! I picked this book on just the cover (which is amazing!) and didn’t know anything about it. So glad I picked it up. The first 25% is character building which is okay but when you get into the “mystery” portion, I couldn’t put it down! I’m a sucker for both journal style writing and a book with dual timelines so this was a major win for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

Title: The Storyteller
Author: Kathryn Williams
Genre: Historical fiction, YA, mystery/thriller
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

It’s not every day you discover you might be related to Anastasia…or that the tragic princess actually survived her assassination attempt and has been living as the woman you know as Aunt Anna.

For Jess Morgan, who is growing tired of living her life to please everyone else, discovering her late aunt’s diaries shows her she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. But was her aunt truly a Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax?

With the help of a supremely dorky, but undeniably cute, local college student named Evan, Jess digs into the century-old mystery.

But soon Jess realizes there’s another, bigger truth waiting to be revealed: Jess Morgan. Because if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.

I enjoyed this read! It was sweet and fun and I was completely engrossed in the mystery—and both Jess’s story and Aunt Anna’s kept me intrigued. I liked Jess’s friends…but I couldn’t stand her boyfriend. Evan was a lot more relatable and fun. This makes a good weekend binge-read.

Kathryn Williams lives in Maine. The Storyteller is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen in exchange for an honest review.)