Half Truth

by Nadia Mahjouri

Khadija is packing up her home of fifty years. In her box of special things are the last reminders she has of her son, Ahmed, missing for more than twenty years. Her belongings take her back to her village childhood, her marriage and move to Marrakech.
In Tasmania, Zahra is in the throes of new motherhood and desperate for answers about her own identity. She decides to take her baby to Morocco and search for the father she has never known. There she finds an extensive loving family and a culture ready to embrace her, but no father.

Zahra and Khadija’s stories collide – giving Khadija the power to move on, and Zahra the courage to embrace her identity as a mother and a mixed-race woman, ready to create a fulfilling life for her son and herself.

A moving drama charting families, motherhood and loss, identity and belonging.

Genres: Contemporary, Australia, Fiction, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Africa, Family

323 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

Reviews

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

💼Firstly, how amazing is it when you get to buddy read a book, but also embark on the BEST page based armchair travel experience with your fave @coffeeandpages2021
What an absolute blast we had together on our bookish flight and travel adventure to Morocco!🇲🇦🇲🇦

💼Half Truth is the debut novel from podcast host of The Whole Truth: Motherhood and the writing Life Nadia Mahjouri. A story of family, travel, love, cultural fabrics and the female experience, this is a beautiful novel from Tasmanian based Nadia Mahjouri.

💼Back in May I was lucky to attend my first ever readers retreat in my home state of WA. One of the authors in the Rachel Johns Readers Retreat line up was the captivating Nadia Mahjouri, a Moroccan Australian writer. I was captivated by Nadia Mahjouri as she spoke with such pure honesty and passion about her book journey. That same day, I bought a copy of Half Truth, and I’m so glad I did. Even better, this became a buddy read with my much-loved and dear friend Lisa @coffeeandpages2021, which made the experience even more special.

💼From the first page, Half Truth felt like a love letter to Morocco. Mahjouri’s storytelling is ingrained in the soul of the country. Once you crack open this book you are gifted with multiple scenes of breathtaking landscapes, intricate architecture, significant political and historical touchpoints and you are made to feel a central part of the people fabric of Morocco. There are touching episodes that introduce us to the language of the country, its local cuisine, its unique set customs, its sacred religious practices, the fashion expectations for women and men, the animals that move alongside the people and the daily hustle and bustle of life in Morocco. Mahjouri has included every detail of her world building which added extra texture to her first book by including a sensory dimension that lit up all five of my senses.

Half Truth is a reminder of our continual search for identity. It is a story that looks closely at our roots. It considers the weight of our heritage, our need to establish a sense of homeland grounding and the spiritual connections we hold to people and places. Half Truth swept me away on an armchair travel adventure to an unforgettable land and one I’ve not travelled to before, with the BEST travel companion. This book also managed to hold my hand through themes that resonate universally, such as family, secrets, relationships, love, loss, hurt, life, death, birth and renewal. At its heart, this tale examines the power of truth and shame, forgiveness and longing, searching and belonging, and finding the courage to make your own home.

Half Truth is transitional, it manages to cross time and generations, weaving in childhood and motherhood, abandonment and realisations, travel and memory. With every page, Mahjouri had me acknowledging that our lives are threaded together by history, culture and connection. I especially enjoyed the final third of the book where Zahra makes an important discovery in terms of her own life and heritage.

Half Truth is a well written and heartfelt read, and I feel fortunate to have shared this beautiful book tribute to Morocco with a treasured friend. 4.5 stars

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful debut novel, from Moroccan Australian author, mother and therapist, Nadia Mahjouri. This story is inspired by the authors own journey to discover her father, following the birth of her first child.

Zahra is in the throes of new motherhood and is questioning her personhood and identity. She travels to Morocco with her son, in search of her absent father. She is soon embraced by her extended family and explores her cultural heritage, although her father remains elusive.

Khadija is packing up her home of over fifty years. Within her special box are the last reminders of her son, who has been missing for over twenty years. These memories take her back to her village childhood and her move to Marrakesh.

I enjoyed the alternate perspectives in this intergenerational story, and the beautiful depiction of feminine strength and wisdom, alongside the exploration of belonging, families, identity, absence and parenthood.

I was lucky enough to access a copy of this emotionally moving, character-driven story via audiobook and it was beautifully narrated by Violette Ayad.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

An illusive man is being sought after by his mother and his long lost daughter. His disappearance leaving a hole in his mother’s heart as she can only think the worst.
A long journey, the bonds of blood ties and hope as the truth is set free ensue in this family saga.
Zahra has recently become a mother which in turn has accelerated the desire to know more about her Moroccan heritage.
With scant information she heads to the other side of the world and through luck and determination finds her relatives.
Her grandmother is frail and clings to the hope she will reunite with her son.
Khadija was married off as a child to a much older man.
Surviving the initial horrors she managed to make a good life.
The birth of her son changed the family dynamic and he was apple of her eye. Turbulent political times and a head strong attitude caused her son to disappear.
A powerful story of reconnecting with heritage and joining the dots that lead to the truth.
Everyone has a story and this one is captivating and heartfelt.
Meeting Nadia and hearing many anecdotes made me want to read and enjoy her journey.

[Olivia Topham · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely gorgeous book about family, belonging, and motherhood. Though the tale of Ahmed was crucial (and well woven in) I appreciated the focus on Zahra and Khadija. It allowed the generational links and themes of motherhood to shine. The intertwined POVs from both women were equally engaging and the focus on feminine strength and motherhood was gorgeous.

I learnt a lot about Morocco and Moroccan culture while reading this but its strength was really in the characters and the care with which the story was delivered. The writing style was beautiful and I flew through the pages. Truly I couldn’t put it down. An incredible debut!

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! I am so so glad that I picked this up. One copy came into my work at the bookshop & I thought it was perfect timing because I am going to Morocco soon! A great, fast-paced story that flipped between two timelines in Morocco and Australia. Really loveable characters and great character development. Loved reading a historical fiction that isn't about the same couple of times/places/events.

[Rina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daughter searches for her father; a mother for her son. Khadija is packing up her home of fifty years. In her box of special things are the last reminders she has of her son, Ahmed, missing for more than twenty years. In Tasmania, Zahra is in the throes of new motherhood and desperate for answers about her own identity. She decides to take her baby to Morocco and search for the father she has never known.

What a beautiful story! I wasn’t sure how the two stories would connect initially, and when they did, it was amazing.

Zahra’s story really touched my heart. It was heart-wrenching to see her struggling with her identity, as a woman, partner, mother - with a newborn too, when her hormones were raging, her body exhausted and her mental health low. I loved her journey to Morocco to find a sense of belonging which was missing from her life.

While Zahra’s storyline captivated me more early in the book, once I realised what Khadija’s story was about - as a mother and protector of her family - I was fully hooked by her chapters too.

Both women’s stories were powerful and epic, and this was such a wonderful debut. I can’t wait to read more from the author!

(Thanks to Penguin Australia for a gifted review copy)

See my bookstagram review.

[Alicia Feeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My friend Thomas said “I think you’ll like the voices in this book” and they certainly delivered. A journey across time and continents, this is a haunting ode to the joy and sorrow of motherhood, and the rawness and beauty of womanhood. Infused with Moroccan history, culture, ritual and politics, this novel gently charts what is gained and what is lost in searching for truth.

[Alice Riseley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

[Lauren Keegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful debut novel that spans generations and continents; part-autobiographical and part fiction, I devoured this story!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a debut! Nadia Mahjouri has written a beautiful, powerful, honest and heartfelt novel of family and culture that I was unable to put down. It’s an absolute stunner!

Told through the eyes of two women, new mother Zahra, who is searching for her father and Khadija who is seeking her son. As Khadija packs up her home of fifty years she finds items that remind her of him as well as her village childhood and her move to Marrakech. At the same time, Zahra decides to take her newborn son from their home in Tasmania to Morocco to search for the father she has never met.

“Being a mother rips you apart. It takes the world as you know it and %#*^€s it up, squeezes it, tears at the fabric of your existence and leaves you thinking, Where the hell am I? And what the hell just happened?”

Nadia writes about the rawness and reality of new motherhood with such authenticity. I was gripped by her descriptions and by all the emotions that Zahra was experiencing. I also understood and empathised with her need to find her identity and her roots now that she had her own child.

I adored being transported to Morocco, both in the present seen through Zahra’s eyes as well as historically from Khadija’s POV. Nadia’s descriptions of Marrakech were so evocative and vibrant, I could actually feel the heat and smell the spices in the air.

I learnt so much about Moroccan history and culture and also about the role of women and their lives. One of my highlights was the beautiful friendship between Khadija and Leila, as well as the experience of the Hammam (public steam bathing).

Half Truth was an unputdownable five star read filled with family, friendship, culture and identity. I absolutely recommend that you read it and be prepared to want to book a trip to Morocco as soon as you finish.

[Angela Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half Truth is a deeply moving story about connection, identity, and the ties that bind us across generations. Nadia Mahjouri has crafted a powerful, heartfelt novel that explores motherhood, grief, cultural belonging, and the secrets that shape our lives. Drawing from her own experience of searching for her father after the birth of her first child, and her desire to document her grandmother’s story, Mahjouri weaves personal truth into every page.

At the center is Zahra, a young Moroccan-Australian woman and new mother to baby Amir. Struggling with questions about her identity, Zahra travels across the world to Morocco in search of her father. Though she doesn’t find him, she discovers a large extended family and a culture that welcomes her with open arms. Her journey is mirrored by Khadija, an elderly woman in Marrakech, who has been grieving the loss of her son Ahmed for over 20 years. As Khadija revisits her memories—of family, politics, and social change—we’re transported through the intimate and turbulent moments of her life.

What begins as two distinct stories slowly and beautifully converges, as the connection between Zahra and Khadija deepens. I loved the way their narratives gradually intertwined, enriching both characters in quiet, powerful ways.

The sensory details of Morocco are captivating—the sounds, the scents, the bustle of streets and markets, the warmth of family gatherings, and the softness of shared memories. These elements are more than just a backdrop—they create a vivid world that embraces Zahra like a long-lost home. It felt as though Morocco became a nurturing presence, almost like a mother itself, wrapping Zahra in a sense of belonging and peace.

The historical and political context is also delicately woven into the story, grounding it in a real-world complexity that enhances the personal journeys at its heart.

By the time Zahra prepares to return to Australia, she has not only discovered where she comes from, but also who she is—and who she wants to be. This is a beautifully written, soulful novel that invites you to reflect, feel, and immerse yourself completely. I highly recommend this book.

[Lilaaaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

2 stories in 1 book full of cultural, historical and political aspects, which makes the plot so rich and deep. I’ve been to Morocco and this book felt like a time machine in which I could see myself again eating tagine, pastilla, visiting the souks and hanging out at Jemaa el-Fna square.

Like Zahra, I am also an immigrant who has been living overseas for 6 years and I could totally relate the feeling of not belonging and having to explain and make yourself fit all the time.

I was going to give 5 stars, but got a bit frustrated with some unnecessary things and gaps in the end of the book:

1. It was quite predictable that Jacob and Zahra would eventually split

2. The kiss between Zahra and Bilal sounded forced. Unnecessary

3. What exactly happened to Youseff? He was disappeared and maybe at those prisons on the desert forever? Because how Laila could simply talk back to Khadija after years, if she was previously mad at Ahmid/Khadija and stopped talking? This part deserved more clarification

4. Ahmed is a horrible person, but I think he could be explored a bit more in the present time. It felt like the end of the book was on a rush to end. His meeting with Zahra was embarrassing and frustrating to read. I was honestly expecting a serious conversation between them, to discuss what happened, things from his perspective etc. And Zahra basically kept her mixed feelings to herself, instead of exposing them to him, how she felt during most of her life etc. And same with her mom. In the beginning of the book, her mom did not say anything and how come out of the blue she says everything Zahra wants to hear? Zahra was also too easy on her mom. I think conflict wasn’t well developed with these characters and it was what pissed me off the most.


Despite the remarks above, it’s still one of the best books I’ve read in 2025 and would definitely recommend.

[Ike Levick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months ago, at Liz Gilbert’s weekend workshop, @rachaeljohnsisanauthor pointed out Nadia Mahjouri: wild hair, big smile, holding a copy of her book Half Truth.
The moment I heard it was set in Morocco, I Googled her and found out she was doing an author talk at @betterreadbookshop . Of course I went. And was intrigued. Bought the book. Took notes. Lost them. Found them again (phew!) — and here’s what stuck with me:

🌀 Nadia grew up in ‘very white’ Launceston, always feeling different.
📚 Her librarian mum encouraged her to write, and in 2019 she dove into her book with ‘no regrets’.
💥 Then COVID hit…
📝 “This story has been burning in me… my father left when I was young. I wanted to account for how I came to be — for my kids.”
⏳ She wrote in fits and starts. A manuscript assessor told her no one would publish it. She spent 3 years improving her work.
✈️ In Morocco, she nearly missed meeting her extended family due to a simple misunderstanding — but fate stepped in.
👵 She found her Moroccan family, including her grandmother — a tiny village woman with facial tattoos — who hadn’t heard from her son (Nadia’s father) in 25 years.
💔 “We were all living in the absence of this man,” Nadia said, “but I didn’t want my father to be the centre.”

Half truth reads like part memoir, part historical fiction. I read it just before heading to Morocco — and it gave me such a vivid taste of the place: the culture, the people, the complexity. I love how storied it is, and really enjoyed this special story.

Isn’t it cool how a passing comment at a workshop led to meeting a big-hearted author, discovering a powerful family story, and adding extra flavour - and bright colour - to my own Morocco experience.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐

To begin with this is a very well written book for a debut and that the theme of the book is based on the author's life itself. It's about a 21 year old girl Zahara from Australia who along with her son Amir who's just a couple of months old sets on a journey to Morocco in search of her family which she always had but never knew of.

This book takes you to the warm, dusty roads of Morocco in the 50's when it used to be a french occupation, still thriving on its rich culture and heritage. The book is set in different timelines, to speak about the narrative of two women in search of the same man Ahmed, a son to Khadija and a father to Zahara.

The story goes back and forth in time and the readers get to know Morocco then and Morocco in the year 1999 & 2000. It sheds the light upon the rich history, geography and culture of Morocco, the political turmoil the country was going through, the rise of a rebellion and what not.

The book is about finding one's roots, one's own identity, you'd witness Zahara's beautiful transformation when she'd own her new identity with pride. It's also about generational transcendence, loss, grief, friendship, complex familial relationships and finally closure. The prose is written beautifully and there are so many legends as stories of djinns you'd come across as we often used to hear from our grandmothers.

This book made me feel warm, cosy, and transported me to the time when I was able to put my head in my grandmother's lap when she used to narrate stories.

I loved this book. If you're looking for something fictional but also something hitting home then please pick this book.

[Marles Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so lucky to have received a #gified copy of this book from #penguinaus to read. This is one of the highlights of 2025 for me. Such a moving story about connection, finding families and uncovering secrets, motherhood, grief and loss and the power of belonging. @nadiamahjouri has created a masterful story here, one that speaks from her heart, her own family and culture – based on her own journey to discover her own father when her first child was born, and document the life of her grandmother.
Zahra has questions about her identity and as a new mother to baby Amir. Searching for her father, she discovers a large family and a culture with arms open when she flies across the world with her baby son, Amir to immerse herself back into the truths, but not her father. Zhadija is reminiscing about her son, Ahmed, massing for over 20 years. These memories transport us in time through Khadija’s life in Marrakech, including the political and social events that may have taken her some from her. Zahra and Khadija’s lives intersect, and as the memories are explored, their connections become more important. I loved the way in which Zahra’s story, and that of Khadija’s seemed very separate and slowly grew closer together.
The sights and sounds and scents of Morocco and surrounding villages were tantalising. These are not just the sounds of marketplaces and the comings and goings along streets but the sounds of family welcoming Zahra, and the sounds of memories being spoken and shared. I also felt that the historical context of Morocco it was done quite well, and it really gave a sense of what was happening on the streets I'm within the families as the political unrest was growing.
Zahra finds herself in Morocco in a life that seemed so familiar. My heart was full as I read this; so many things seemed like home for Zahra when she arrived in Morocco, lie she had known these places before. It was like Morocco became a mother to her, bringing her close and keeping her safe while on her quest to understand her family’s stories. Zahra knew that’s where she was from and belonged, and gave her the strength to know who she would be when she returned to Australia. A highly recommended story to read and immerse yourself within.

[SS · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Listened as an audiobook

Lost family, absent father, inter-racial relationships, re-kindled family relations, with a small dabbling of Moroccoan modern history is how I would describe the key elements of this book.

Zarah and Josh are setting out on their lives, settling on a small patch of land with a cottage in Tasmania, just as they are about to birth their first child. Sarah is considered by many an early Mum, at just age 22, but this motherhood is deep in her bones and desires. Soon after birthing Amhir she falls into a deep longing to find her Moroccan father, who she has heard little of as she grew up in Australia. With a small baby in tow, Sarah heads off to Morocco with th intention of finding her father, based on her Mum's recollection of a neighbourhood and potentially an old address.

At this point the book splits into two stories, one being Zarah's Moroccan adventures in search of family and the other following Zarah's Moroccan grandmother's life from being married off before she was a teenager, birthing her first child, Zarah's Dad at 13, through to times when Zarah's parents meet in Morocco.

Engaging story.

[Marion Taffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, loved this book. What a fabulous debut!
The story spans from 1949 to 2000 with the central thread following new mum Zahra in late 1990s Tasmania (adored the nostalgia!). Having her own baby inspires Zahra to leave her comfort zone and go in search of her paternal family in Morocco.
Mahjouri's complex interweaving of women's lives, her depictions of motherhood and the exploration of identity and belonging, are all done with rare insight, strength and tenderness.
The settings are vivid and visceral. The yearning is compelling. Half Truth is an incredible story, beautifully told, full of love and hope.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of this book attracted me, and I am glad to have read it. Inspired by the author's own search for family, it is a really good debut novel.
In 1949 Khadja is 11yo and of age to become a wife and mother. In 1999 Zahra leaves her Tasmanian home with her new son seeking the family she's never known in Morrocco.
Both stories collide in this fascinating tale about motherhood, family and cultures.
I found the history and politics of Morocco particularly fascinating. Recommended.

[Meg Dunley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much. The messiness of becoming a mother, of trying to understand who you are in the world, the needing to know your roots.
I met Nadia at the Historical Novel Society of Australasia conference and I mentioned that a friend of mine would love her book as she’s an Australian married to a Moroccan. Nadia pressed the book into my hands with a note for my friend and I devoured it before passing it on.
This book is one of those books that kept me up late, hungrily reading.

[Anne Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literary bulletproof glass—transparent yet unbreakable.

​H​ALF TRUTH by Nadia Mahjouri is a gripping novel that follows young mother Zahra as she travels to Morocco with her baby, searching for her father and a deeper connection to her heritage.

I've had the privilege of being a guest on Nadia's podcast, The Whole Truth: Motherhood and the Writing Life, so I wasn’t the least bit surprised that her work is as fierce, expansive, and intelligent as she is.

I deeply related to the displacement that comes with mixed heritage and admired the grit of the protagonist as she searches for identity—a journey Nadia herself undertook in the early stages of motherhood.

Women's wisdom, strength, and endurance run through this story like a fault line—primal, deep, and powerful. Feminine strength rages from the page like a battle cry—rousing and challenging—and I felt compelled to answer the call.

This is women's fiction at its finest.

[Bec · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting insight into a young woman trying to find her family heritage. A big like when I’ve read one of Shankari Chandran’s book I came away feeling like I had learnt a lot about a history I’ve heard nothing about. The narration of this book beautifully brought the language alive in a way that reading it myself wouldn’t have alone.

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of family, woven around the politics of life in 1960s and 1970s Morocco, and of current migration and dispersal. Mahjouri keeps a tight focus on her two main protagonists, and the story carries interest through the novel, even as the writing has some uneven patches. In many ways, this is a coming of age story, and it is strong in evoking place and time.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is wonderful debut by a Morrocan Australian. It's loosely based on her own experiences travelling to Morroco to find her father but it is entirely fiction, wonderfully written. Weaving Morrocan history with Zahra's search in 1999 and early 2000, this story is evocative and engaging. I really enjoyed it and will look out for this author's next work.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich family story telling with heart and insight into a part of the world I had little awareness of the depth of impact on generations of trauma. And, yet, through it all, this was to me a story of the power and love of motherhood, of women, and what it is to have family, . This book and these characters were so strong and so evocative.
absolutely gorgeous reading!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Nadia Mahjouri on a panel at the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Writer's Festival and just had to buy her book (and get it signed!). It was every bit as good as I had hoped and I stayed up too late several nights reading it. Moving but enjoyable, foreign but relatable and it flowed between Zahra's present to Khadija's past beautifully. Definitely recommend!

[Steve MinOn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few weeks back and the characters are still with me. Such a personal story but an honest one of a young mother of half Moroccan heritage who is motivated to find her estranged Moroccan father. Lovely writing and a sharp observation of the complexities of parenthood.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I stumbled across recently while browsing the library shelves at my local library. I was drawn to the stunning cover! I’m so glad I picked up this debut novel from Tasmanian author Nadia Mahjouri.

Spanning from Tasmania to Morocco, two women are drawn together by their search for the same man - one is a daughter hoping to find her father, while the other is a mother in pursuit of her missing son.

The book is inspired by the author’s own life experience of travelling to Morocco to find her father.

This narrative intertwines two distinct cultures, exploring themes of motherhood, belonging, and identity. Mahjouri’s writing effectively transports readers to Morocco, vividly conveying its atmosphere through detailed descriptions of the environment, food, culture, and family life.

Mahjouri provides an in-depth exploration of the emotional experiences encountered by new mothers, as well as the dynamics of mother-child relationships.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

[Susan Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The audiobook version was narrated wonderfully by Violette Ayad. I enjoyed the story and the immersion in Moroccan culture, past and more recent. Sometimes I wished for a bit more variety in the writing style - there were a few stretches of 'I do this, I do that', but overall it was great.