As Rich as the King

AS RICH AS THE KING is coming-of-age love story set in Casablanca during the 90's that felt entirely raw and gritty. Reserved and wealthy Driss opens poor yet courageous Sarah up to his rich, luxurious life that Sarah so desires to live. Even though Driss and Sarah are together, in a way they have this star-crossed lovers feel to them, in which they come from two entirely different worlds and will Driss's family and society accept Sarah? I was surprised by how much I was affected by the emotional yet beautiful ending.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

As Rich as the King by Abigail Assor was an entertaining read. It was emotional, well written and done well. I think this will resonate with a lot of people and will definitely be recommending it.

Set in 1990's Casablanca, Abigail Assor's book,"As Rich As The King" tells the story of schoolgirl Sarah's longing for a rich husband to take her from the squalor of the shanty town she lives in with her mother to the life of luxury she thinks she deserves. Streetwise beyond her years and already used to bargaining with her body to get what she wants Sarah homes in on the unsuspecting Driss, a somewhat morose young man from a very rich family trying to prove to his father that he's also capable of pulling off big deals . While Driss and Sarah's relationship blooms they find themselves up against the rigid class and social barriers of 90's Morocco.

This is a great piece of writing and not least a fascinating insight into Casablancan society ,from the exclusive clubs where the rich young people hang out ,the slums,the strictness of the Islamic laws which those of other religions are not bound by during religious festivals, the beggars and pedlars and the very rich dynastic families.
It's a raw and gritty read ,there's much description of the dirt and squalor that Sarah wants to get away from,and despite her youth the men and boys she sleeps with in return for food or treats.

An involving ,and moving, story about an "odd couple" with big dreams. Already a prizewinning book in France I'm sure this translation will be equally successful with English-speaking readers.

This is a beautifully written story of young love in 90s Casablanca between a poor French girl and a rich Moroccan young man. While this match seems to be, on Sarah's part, one of ambition, we quickly see the genuine love that develops between the couple. The setting of the novel is detailed stunningly and Assor writes of the challenges the couple faces with class and money and culture in a poignant way, with the unadulterated naivety of these two teenagers. A lovely novel.

As Rich as the King is is somehow both subtle and brash, and like a little girl's daydream turned fever-dream. Sarah and Driss's worlds are inlaid over each other, where neither of them see the other's clearly. Sarah poises on the edge of "naive" when it comes to Driss's world (the one she hopes to join), but she sees all the horrors of her own world and has been so steeped in them that she moves with a kind of acceptance. A large theme of this novel is the idea of acceptance. She recognizes what life is for the people like her, but she doesn't accept that she belongs there. Driss is submerged entirely in his world, and he does belong there, but he doesn't understand the lives of people regular people -- not how they live, but why they MUST live that way. He questions the constructs of society, lost to the idea that 'that's just the way it is.'. It's not a self-centered or disconnected part of him -- he just can't understand why it's like that, why it HAS to be like that. He doesn't understand how people keep living and moving forward while being slowly crushed. For Sarah, she knows that people must just keep living, that 'that's the way it is'. For them, there's no other option, but for her, she sees a way out.

My favorite part of this novel is how quickly Driss really sees her. It starts with him "looking past girls," but when he finally sees Sarah, he really sees her. He sees past the facade instantly, and she's shocked by that, but shocked even more that he saw her circumstances the whole time and just accepted them. They have that moment of knowing each other, and they move forward. They move forward knowing each other's souls and truths in a way that's so intimate.

Driss is my favorite kind of character, and when combined with Driss, Sarah quickly grew on me. They're not foils of each other really, but they highlight how opposite they stand from each other, yet how much they understand each other, see each other, and need that time of being seen. This book is heartbreaking and written in italics rather than bold, but that emphasis is still there. You want them to win amidst the backdrop of control and domination. You get to know both of them so well as people, separate from the society and cultural demands, that it becomes obvious how close their are to each other, how connected. But Driss and Sarah can't exist separate from the laws and expectations of their shared world. That's the crux of the story. They are an entirely whole person together, but their worlds won't come together the same way.

"As Rich as the King" is a captivating blend of nostalgia, romance, and intrigue that transports readers to the vibrant streets of 1990s Casablanca. Set against the backdrop of its beaches and opulent mansions , the story follows the journey of its young protagonist as she navigates the complexities of coming of age and getting what she wants in life. The author skillfully weaves together rich descriptions of the city's landscapes with the protagonist's internal struggles, creating a compelling narrative that keeps readers hooked until the very end. With its vivid imagery and evocative storytelling, "As Rich as the King" is a must-read for anyone seeking an immersive literary experience.

Beautiful writing and scene setting. A poor and beautiful teenager in Casablanca sets her sights on a quiet, green-eyed wealthy young man. We follow Sarah as she strives to have the life she imagines for herself.

I enjoyed the pace of the story and found Sarah to be a compelling character. Though this is marketed as a romance, it didn’t really feel romantic as Sarah feels all she needs is someone wealthy to pull her out of her circumstances. Still, I believe she was drawn to Driss’s persona (and eyes). The conclusion was lovely.

Thank you to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

As Rich as the King is a coming-of-age tale set in 1990's Casablanca. The story follows Sarah who attends an elite school for the wealthy because despite being poor, at least she's French. Unfortunately for her, the elevated status her birthplace provides does not extend beyond her school.

Living with her mother in the slums of Casablanca, Sarah is revolted by the concept of poverty. Despite being amongst the poorest in her community, "she at least still had enough pride to keep protesting this reality". I really enjoyed how Assor developed Sarah's character. Initially, she appeared arrogant and superior but as the story progressed and we learned more about her and her experiences, my perspective completely switched. I saw her as a character who was doing everything in her power to claw back what little control she has in her world, a world where Sarah knew a boy to be "someone who never stops staring...casting their eyes all over girls' bodies, approving, disciplining, monitoring, as if they belonged to them" and "even the prostitutes said I love you when they got pregnant...so they didn't end up in prison". Sarah decided if she is destined for a life "in chains, they may as well be gold-plated chains winding around your wrist" and personally, I found that incredibly empowering.

I also really enjoyed the writing style, the dialogue was slightly stunted at times with a few minor grammatical errors, but the imagery in particular made for a gorgeous read. I especially liked the symbolism of thyme as wealth.

An overall enjoyable read with themes of class division, gender and religion. Absolutely recommend.

<b>Unlike the blurb, As Rich As The King by Abigail Assor was less of a sexy beach romance.. more of a culturally enriched & emotionally complex journey to me. Set in the city of Casablanca in Morocco in 90's and told through a teenager's eyes, the author paints a vivid and colorful picture of the nature, of the diverse groups living there with the class struggles, of the distinct culture and obviously...of an uneven love story.</b>


Sarah lives in the poorest part of Casablanca. She is part French and that's why she is allowed to attend the school of rich kids. She is just 16. She has only one dream. To get out of this poor life. And for that she has to find a rich guy. Driss comes from the richest family. Not only rich..The most aristocratic, powerful and influential family. He may not be good looking but Sarah doesn't care. But she has to reach him by crossing the huge divide. So starts a reckless, heartaching and sexy quest that may or may not have a happy ending.

<b>I haven't read any story set in Morocco so it was an exhilarating experience. Though this is a translation from original prize winning French one, you can still feel the author's powerful ability to transport you to another place. It's amazing that it's her debut book. Sarah knows her beauty is her power and she was not reluctant to use it. The society she lived in is a very conservative one but survival is most important. It was fascinating to see someone so young like Sarah doing so many daredevil things for her ultimate desire...to become rich. To leave behind this dreadful life of a poor girl. She pretended. She manipulated. She learnt tricks. She is observant and smart and persistent. She is coveted by rich boys and she used them as stepping stone. She used their money to make her life a bit bearable. A society that discriminates hard isn't for faint hearted. Driss is rich but he is also not arrogant and cruel like other rich boys. He is almost awkward and shy and Sarah had to work hard to get close to her heart. You have this little adventure with her. With her vivacious much older friends, the parties, the beach days, the feast, the sadness, the happiness, the pain, the loss...it's something beautiful. But at the end..you will wonder if Sarah's adventure was worth it. Was it just a foolish dream? Is there a way out of the division? I loved Sarah as much as I loved spending time with her friends. Casablanca came alive through the author's words. Even though I haven't ever visited Morocco, I feel like I know the beach, the streets, the shops, the people..so well. And isn't that the ultimate destination of a book?</b>

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily