Straight from the Horse's Mouth (A Novel) - Meryem Alaoui

Like many of the women in her working-class Casablanca neighbourhood, Jmiaa struggles to earn enough money through sex work to support herself and her family -- often including the deadbeat husband who walked out on her and their daughter. This daily grind is interrupted by the arrival of an aspiring young director, Chadlia. Chadlia enlists Jmiaa''s help on a film project, initially just to make sure the plot and dialogue are authentic. But when she''s unable to find an actress who''s right for the starring role, she turns again to Jmiaa, giving the latter an incredible opportunity for a better life.