How many of us grew up with a weekly dose of Julia Child quavering at us with unquestioned authority as to how to sling a meal together, how to sear meat, cut squash, stuff a turkey or sent us off with ironclad life lessons from her kitchen on public television? Not just a few of us. . .oh no, there are millions of us who have some version of Julia Child in our heads chortling, encouraging, moving us on when we are stuck (WWJCD?).

What The Secret War of Julia Child brought to me was Julia's life BEFORE all of that, before she put on her business apron and turned to all things culinary. She had a couple of entire lives before we knew her - for me it felt rather like the amazing moment I realized my own mother had a life before I landed in her lap. Who knew?!?

Diane Chambers book provided this reader (through both eyes and ears) an interesting and enjoyable fictional reimagining and fleshing out the bare facts of Julia's undercover years - where she did meet and work in service with Paul Child who changed her from a McWilliams to a Child by way of matrimonial vows. Bonus: The audiobook is narrated by Candace Joice who aces it with Julia's unique voice, Mack's Irish, and many other dialects.

*A sincere thank you to Diana R. Chambers, Sourcebooks, Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheSecretWarofJuliaChild #NetGalley

Pros: well-researched, interesting take on the well-known Julia Child before she became famous, engaging descriptions of missions and Julia's wartime work
Cons: uneven pacing (some major events are glossed over, while other, minor, moments are dragged out), while the book is well-researched, parts of Julia's personal narrative are made up and it struggles with crafting a compelling fiction narrative while using a real life figure whose story is well-known

I am a big fan of Julia Child, and I really enjoy books set in WW2. The Secret War of Julia Child was right up my alley. I found it entertaining, although I did find the cast of characters to be a bit overwhelming at times. The story was enjoyable, and I think most fans of Mrs. Child would enjoy it.

I had high hopes for this book. I haven't read much HF about WWII in the Pacific, plus I had heard that Julia Child had a fascinating backstory.

However, there were a LOT of characters in the book and that, along with all the rapidly changing locations, resulting in my having a very hard time following the story. I almost didn't finish--rare for me.

Maybe it was just this book. I would like to read other books by this author to see if they're more readable.

An illuminating and captivating glimpse into Julia Child’s wartime years.

Before she became a culinary icon, Julia McWilliams was a 6’2” thirty-year-old working for the OSS, America’s first espionage agency. The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers traces Julia’s remarkable transformation from Pasadena socialite to an invaluable member of General Donovan’s intelligence team during WWII.

The novel brings to life Julia’s diverse roles in the OSS, from managing top-secret documents in Washington, D.C., to working on classified projects overseas. It highlights her fascinating work in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and China, where she supported Allied intelligence operations against the Japanese.
Chambers captures Julia’s adventurous spirit as she navigates the challenges of wartime work and adapts to new cultures in Asia. The novel also delves into her personal growth and the blossoming of her relationship with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer who would later become her husband and introduce her to the world of fine cuisine.

The book is meticulously researched, shedding light on a little-explored chapter of Julia’s life. While some details had to be fictionalized due to classified OSS files, Chambers weaves a plausible and engaging narrative that feels authentic.

As someone who shares Julia’s height of 6’2”, I deeply connected with her experiences of self-consciousness, making her story even more resonant. The audiobook narration by Candace Joice was outstanding, perfectly capturing Julia’s distinctive voice and vibrant personality.

For fans of history, espionage, and strong female leads, The Secret War of Julia Child is a richly detailed and thoroughly enjoyable read that reveals a lesser-known side of an American legend.

Julia Child had her pop culture moment a few years back with Julie and Julia, but I truly wish I had the world had the opportunity to read this book back then. After finishing the book, I felt as though I understood Julia - and in particular, her relationship with Paul - so much better. The Secret War of Julia Child is well researched historical fiction-esque. Given the nature of Julia's work, we'll likely never know exactly what she encountered during her time in WWII in India and China, but Chambers does an excellent job of piecing things together and filling in the blanks with well researched supposition. One of my favorite historical fiction romances of 2024 - even purchased a copy for my Mother in Law for Christmas! Highly recommend!

5 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow this book was so neat! Most people know the name Julia Child and associate it with the chef part of her life. But wow she was so much more! I enjoyed this fictional take on her time with the OSS office. I absolutely loved this one

The Secret War of Julia Child chronicles Julia McWilliams' life before becoming the famous chef Julia Child.

I had a difficult time sticking with this novel. Though it was clearly thoroughly researched, it lacked excitement for me. I felt as though the book got bogged down with technical jargon, and I found myself skimming large parts of the novel. It needs a great deal of editing. I do not recommend this book.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an advance e-reader copy of this book!

I was very excited for this book, because I am a big fan of Julia Child but didn’t know much about her prior to her work as a chef. Unfortunately, I felt like the novel wasn’t sure if it wanted to be a romance, a spy thriller, or a character study, and in the quest to do all three ended up with some odd pacing. Things that seemed unimportant would take up entire chapters while big developments would happen in the course of a paragraph.
Perhaps readers who enjoy a more reserved style would connect to this book more than I did, but for me I felt that the characters almost universally lacked a feeling of heart and Julia in particular just didn’t feel dynamic enough for me. The setting was clearly well researched, and especially given that this is all speculation, perhaps it would have worked better as a story about a less well known figure.

I was so excited about this one but it just didn’t work for me . I even tried on audio and it was even worse . I got thru about half of it and then just gave up

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was very enjoyable! I would have found this book entertaining no matter who the female main character was, so the fact that it was Julia child was even more fascinating. Her early life was so interesting and I love reading historical fiction books like this that teach me new things. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review

In this incredible new World War II historical fiction novel, Diana Chambers brings Julia Child’s military service in the OSS to life. Following her from a Washington, D.C., office to India, China, and Thailand, readers explore what working for the OSS might have entailed and how her time during the war led her to mapmaker Paul Child, another member of the OSS. By focusing on Julia’s life before she was a household name for her French cooking, readers get a chance to explore her life before that point and uncover the USA’s espionage efforts in the Asian theater of World War II. Drawing on historical records (and adding some embellishment with authorial license), Chambers’ new book is brilliantly written and a fantastic character study of Julia Child and the OSS with its emphasis on her working relationship with General “Wild Bill” Donovan. With its incredibly lifelike characters and the vibrant descriptions of the OSS File Registry and of the wartime environment across Asia, the book’s details and settings really add to the incredible atmosphere of this immersive and exciting read. Perfect for historical fiction lovers of all kinds, this is a definite must-read for World War II historical fiction fans.

This is a story of Julia reimagined, set in the perilous frontlines of WW2 and prior to her life as the legendary French chef we have come to know and love. It is a four part read with a rather large casts, many of them supporting, and includes remarkable key players namely historical and fictional. There was so much to unpack here with the schematics of war and the romances that bloomed in its wake. I came across many memorable scenes and unforgettable quotes echoing the painful battles being fought inside one’s heart and on the forefront, all worthy of highlighting. I would not recommend rushing through this considering its rich detailing of strategic plans and numerous places covered. It is evident the author has taken great lengths to paint a mural of the countless lives and countries affected by warfare.

Julia McWilliams has to deal with the arrogant Paul Child and she is not happy. As the two work together during WWII Paul introduces Julia to many tastes and experiences as they become closer and Julia will eventually become the infamous Julia Child. This fictionalized account of Julia Child's years as a spy is extremely interesting and a great read.

I went into The Secret War of Julia Child expecting a story based on real events, so I was a bit disappointed to find out it’s purely fiction. This book imagines what Julia Child's life might have been like during World War II, taking readers on a fictional journey of her adventures working for the OSS in Asia. It follows her growth from a file clerk to playing a more prominent role in the war effort.

The story captures her self-discovery, excitement, and romance, particularly her relationship with Paul Child, which adds a charming touch. While I was initially let down by the fictional nature, the book is still an engaging read for fans of historical fiction and offers a unique perspective on Julia’s early years.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Really enjoyed this book, which begins with a rising crescendo of intrigue and only gets more interesting. I rarely categorize a book as "un-put-down-able" but this one certainly fits that description. The author imagines a young Julia - before she was surnamed Child - at work during the second world war, employed as a security analyst. Julia is swept up into international relations made real when she is tapped to travel overseas on a special security mission. She is further pulled into the task in a life-changing way through certain people that she meets in this capacity. The reader is definitely right alongside our heroine by inclusions of some of the smallest, but materially significant details. Truly a memorable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed learning so much about a less publicized part of Julia Child’s life, when she worked as a spy in WWII and met her husband, Paul Child. It’s a great adventure and I was so impressed by Julia’s bravery during tough times. But at the very end of the book is an author’s note that says the book is fiction. Is some of it true? Probably. But I have no idea how much, and that’s really disappointing. Nothing in the blurb makes it clear that this is historical fiction and the author cited no sources and has no footnotes. I gave it three stars for being a good story but I’m really disappointed to know that what I read may or may not be true and I don’t know which!

I received an eARC of this book for free courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

This book was an interesting look at Julia Child before she became the French chef that we all watched on television. She was 30 years old, 6'2" , unmarried and from a well to do family when she decided that she wanted to do her part to help America win the war. She became part of General "Wild Bill" Donovan's secret File Registry that was part of the Office of Strategic Services. She was a vital member of the team in Washington but when there was a job in the Far East, in Asia's remote frontlines of then-Ceylon, India, and China, she begged for the transfer. Her boss finally relented and authorized the move but told Julia that he expected her to keep him informed at what was going on and be a spy for the US. She made several friends on the long voyage to the Far East and the ship came close to being destroyed. She soon settled into her job and made a lot of new friends. One of the people she met that she didn't really like was Paul Child but time soon changed their feelings for each other. Julia thrived on the adventure of being in a new location that at times was very dangerous. She was brave and tenacious and strived to do her best to help her country. It was very interesting to see the person she was and the difference she made before she became known as a French chef. I'll never think of her the same again. The author did extensive research on Julia's war years. At times the story moved much too slow but overall it was a great read!

I love Julia Child, but this book was a DNF for me. I may come back to it at another time, but it was a lot of detail and hard for me to get into. However, that's totally personal preference! This book was well-written and well-researched!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Secret War of Julia Child. I have always been a fan of Julia Child and found her time during WWII interesting. Overall, I found the book hard to get into. I found the narrative moved at a very slow pace, it’s very easy to lose interest in the novel and despite being about a wonderful and inspirational woman like Julia McWilliams Child. The first parts were slow. Part 3 and 4 with more action and her falling in love with Paul Child were more enjoyable. Perhaps I have trouble with the technical descriptions of units, cities and missions. My book club chose this book for our December choice and I am looking forward to discussing and hopefully I will see this book in a different light. Thank you again!!