When I think of Julia Child, I think of lightness. Cooking. A kind smile. I went into this book thinking that I was getting a light read that would be similar, and I was pleasantly surprised that that was not the case!

This book offers an in-depth look at the often-overlooked war in Southeast Asia, which was longer and more brutal than the conflict in Europe. The story is full of action, starting with Julia's journey to India alongside some OSS colleagues for her first overseas assignment. The vivid descriptions of the sights, sounds, and scents that overwhelm Julia are beautifully portrayed. Her journey continues to Ceylon, where espionage and betrayal simmer within the intelligence community, then on to Burma, and finally across the Himalayas into China. There, the complex politics of Chiang Kai Shek, Chairman Mao, and the local warlords challenge the Allies’ war efforts. The writing shines with its richly detailed depictions of each country’s stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, delicious food, and the local cultures. Julia embraced every moment, never settling for anything less than a life fully lived. Though the settings are captivating, this is ultimately a character-driven story about the remarkable men and women of the OSS stationed in remote parts of the world during World War II. The author’s meticulous research and exceptional storytelling made this book a joy to read. For me, as someone who grew up as a U.S. State Department Foreign Service child in India, it felt like a return home.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diane R. Chambers is based on years of researching and studying the woman who was Julia McWilliams during World War II. War changes people. Julia's desire to do her part caused her to bloom and discover her mettle. Her adventures along the way are detailed here. Chambers includes maps and WWII anacronyms and abbreviations as well.

Julia Child is known for her personality and cooking more than anything but what a privilege it was to get to know her as a fun and enterprising young woman in her thirties during the darkest time in history. As an Intelligence Officer with the Office of Strategic Services, Julia was privy to espionage and political intrigue. She endured difficult ocean travel, intense humidity in India, dengue fever, cultural differences, language challenges and insects. To a point I understand, living on two different continents myself.

Paul Child is a force to read about, too. The slow-burn love story is sweet. Sometimes I get nervous reading more about people I respect and like in case I discover something I'd rather not know. But my admiration for Julia just grew. The author makes it clear that though she researched, much of the story was her re-imagining. I simply enjoyed the story for what it was.

My sincere thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this captivating novel.

Julia Child is much more than a cooking expert. Much more.

In this historical fiction telling, Julia works for the government during the WW2. She was working in Asia where she met Paul Child. Was she really a spy? Read the book and form your own opinions. But she was there - Paul was there. A budding romance formed while working. Her adventures in the Far East are thrilling and terrifying.

I loved this telling of a well known person before they were well known. I really recommend this book even if you weren't already a Julia Child fan. It's just a good story with some historical perspective.

I was given this book by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Really interesting read about Julia Child! A lot of thoughtful insights into who she was before being famous. Well developed characters Really draw you in and won't let go. A must read for fans of Julia Child!

Those who only know Julia Child for her cooking will find that she was so much more thanks to this well researched and written historical fiction that illuminates her life before Paul. Chambers plays off her real contributions in the OSS to enrich your understanding of who Child was. And she was quite a dynamic and thoughtful woman. If you do know her story this won't add a lot (and know that some of the events are imagined) but it's still pleasant to spend time with Julia. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I had never read anything about Julia Child before and was excited to read this book. I was not disappointed! Even though this was a historical fiction vs actual historical book, it gave me a picture of this lady who we all think of with "that voice". The book is written in such a way that the reader is able to see the personality of Julia, which I loved.

The book takes the reader on a war-time adventure where Julia McWilliams takes a job working for America's first espionage. This then takes her to South Asia's remote front lines where she eventually meets her husband, mapmaker Paul Child.

I found I had to reread certain sections from time to time as there is so much detail included I didn't want to miss any of the historical facts. This did slow me down a bit in my reading of this book. I did, however, thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this inspiring book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary copy of this novel.
You may know Julia Child best from her cookbooks and tv series, The French Chef. But not much has been mentioned regarding her spy work for America during WW2. The Secret War of Julia Child is a historical fiction book based off real historical events. The author details Julia’s work for the OSS in Ceylon, India, and China; and how she met her future husband, Paul Child (a mapmaker). It is a fictionalized account of the events that may have happened during Julia’s time in the Far East! Julia Child was looking for adventure and to discover more of herself. Her work as an OSS field operator provided her with that sense of adventure and opened up her tastebuds to a whole new world of flavors!!! I truly enjoyed this thrilling and adventurous novel and the chance to see a part of Julia Child I was not aware of. I look forward to more works from this author!
AVAILABLE October 22, 2024

Such a good and insightful book about Julia Child’s life. I didn’t know this information about her life before becoming Julia Child the master chef on TV. Thankful for the opportunity to learn more about her life during the war and about her life with Paul.
Thanks for the advanced copy.

I am so embarrassed. I had no idea that the lady whose cooking show I used to watch was such tough lady. I sit here in awe of such a brave, strong woman. Thank you Diana R. Chambers for shedding light on Julia Child's wartime efforts. Thank you Diana R. Chambers for giving me a direction to learn more, study more.

The story is filled with drama and the slowest slow build romance I have ever read. I knew Julia Child was married to Paul Child, but as I read the story I had my doubts they would ever get together, but when they did--steam rose of the pages.

The story takes the reader through Julia's life with the OSS. She may have started as a clerk but she was one amazing spy. The things she uncovered were totally mind blowing. The risks she took, the support she had from others was impressive.

The reader is transported to so many different locations. The descriptions made me feel like I was there. I heard those birds. I smelled the rot. I felt the humidity and the rain. It just made me respect her even more. I am so happy that I got to take part of the journey with Julia thanks to the book. I will never look at Julia Child in the same way.

'The men had always had a chance to serve, but now the women did, too.'

Before the Julia Child became the original master chef that we all know, she was employed by the OSS office during the final years of WW2. During that time, she was transferred to the Pacific theatre of the war - first to Ceylon and then on to India. She also met her husband, Paul Child, while posted overseas.

'The Secret War of Julia Child' is an imagining of what Julia's work and life might have been like during these key years, at the closing of WW2. The book is very well-researched and descriptive over the sites, sounds and landscape of the exotic environment in which she finds herself. However, I found some of the pacing slow at times and the continued vacillation of her feelings over Paul Child (who clearly became her husband eventually) frustrating. Although all historical fiction is imagined to some extent, I was personally disappointed to learn some of the biggest events in this book were entirely made up. Despite the author being at pains to highlight this is a work of fiction, some might believe Julia Child’s experiences to be more than what they may have.

All in all though, this is a good read. Julia Child was a unique lady with a zest for life and I enjoyed getting to know her beyond her chef capabilities. I also enjoyed learning more about the war fought over the Pacific. I just wish I hadn’t tried to reconcile it with what may have been Julia’s life.

'I guess that's what war is - countless human stories, of which we can never know'.

Very engaging and full of lefts and rights. The Julia in this book led a very interesting and varied life. She has so many interests, skills and adventures. Discovering herself in a time of war while acting as a spy for the government she takes us on a whirlwind of travels and self exploration..

"The Secret War of Julia Child is an homage to Julia McWilliams Child, her great spirit and achievements. I must emphasize that it is a work of fiction, a product of creative imagination, based on ten years of deep and wide-ranging research, as well as a lifetime of Asia study and travel."

I love historical fiction set during WWII. As I read this "merging of fact and imagination" based on Julia Child's wartime experience, I realized that most - if not all - of the WWII stories I've read have been set in Europe. Time for me to expand my horizons!

This is just one of my biographical/historical fiction reads this year - each focused on a strong, independent woman. Each has left me wanting to dig deeper. I'm always eager to read the Author's Notes to learn more about the author's interest in their subject and how they approach their storytelling.

I enjoyed the will they or won't they between Julia and Paul . . . even though we all know they will!

I recommend this book to readers who love historical fiction, a WWII setting, wartime intrigue, and Julia Child.

I thought this book was a fascinating imagining of what Julia Child’s life was like during World War II as she served her country as an OSS operative. Most of us know her as the TV personality famous for bringing French cuisine into the homes of everyday people, so I was pleased to have the chance to read a story that explores this more important and influential part of her life.

The book includes a lot of detail, much of which depicts the complicated settings of the geography and the realities of war. I did find that a number of details bogged the narrative down, some things I even skimmed because while they were descriptive I didn’t find them relevant to the parts of the story I wanted to learn more about. It was a hard and delicate balance, and I do applaud the author’s efforts to capture as much of the time period and the characters’ lives as possible.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars
STRONG recommend

Wow, I had no idea Julia Child was such a varied and deep individual. I mainly thought of her as a Pasadena native whose childhood home I drive by occasionally and who brought French cooking to Americans.

I enjoyed learning about the OSS (US Office of Strategic Services) in Asia during WWII. I knew very little about it, but the contribution of this group of heroes/heroines was very impactful to the end of the war. This was the backdrop to Paul and Julia Child's love story and it was wonderful. These stories of the OSS have most likely been lost to time. Even though it was historical fiction, I thought that the author was true to the story to the best of her ability with all of the intense research that she did!

If you like Julia Child, want to learn about the OSS, or enjoy historical fiction like I do, read this book!!

• Goodreads review published on 09/29/2024
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6491917445
• Books by Dorothea blog review on 09/29/2024
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2024/09/review-secret-war-of-julia-child-ebook.html

Everyone knows Julia Child as a famous chef, but I was intrigued to learn she was a spy in WW2 as Julia (or Julie) McWilliams. I enjoyed this story of how she joined up to help the war effort and spent a lot of time in Southeast Asia running a few ops to ferret out spies in the midst of war. Initially she signed up to be a file clerk for the OSS, but was smart and ambitious to be recognized as a potentially great undercover agent. Julia overcame many fears as she was on a ship that was sunk, had to run for her life in the jungles when her plane when down traveling from India to China, and dealing with very primitive lodgings. During her posting in Asia, she met and fell in love with Paul Child, a talented mapmaker, her future husband to give her the infamous last name.
I really loved learning more about Julia, but at times, it was a challenge because of the number of people mentioned and involved in the story. I would recommend you making a list of characters to help you keep everyone straight as they reappear in the book. The author has detailed notes to explain choices in the story and more about her very detailed research.
If you are a fan of Julia Child or want a WW2 from a very different setting, I recommend this book.
#TheSecretWarofJuliaChild #NetGalley #historicalfiction
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader version of this book in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.
This was an enlightening book on one of America's gems - Julia Child - and her life before becoming a celebrated chef. It was very interesting to read her back-story and how she came to fall in love with her husband while serving overseas. The author explains that a lot of it is surmised (you can't find a lot of written records of spies), but interesting none the less. It lost my attention about 2/3 through but I was brought back in toward the end.
A sold read. Good for book clubs. Clean language and nothing terribly graphic.

Diane Chambers offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of the iconic chef before she became a household name. This insightful biography explores Julia's early years, her wartime experiences as a codebreaker for the OSS, and her budding passion for French cuisine.

Far from a superficial celebrity biography, this book delves into Julia's personal struggles, her hopes and dreams, and her transformative experiences abroad. Readers gain a deeper understanding of the woman behind the culinary legend, discovering her insecurities, her resilience, and her unwavering determination to make her mark on the world.

Whether you're a dedicated Julia Child fan or simply curious about the woman who revolutionized American cooking, this book offers a captivating and enlightening journey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for Diane Chambers book about Julia Child before she became known for her cooking.

The Secret War of Julia Child is a beautifully imagined historical fiction account of her time in the OSS. Dramatic and intense in the war scenes and romantically frustrating as the love between Julia and Paul Child develops, the book is difficult to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you @netgalley and @SourceBooks for this ARC. Julia McWilliams worked for the war effort in the Records office in DC. After a strange turn of events, she finds out crucial information for the war effort. Realizing her value, her boss moves her to do the same job in India to back the British in their effort to defeat Japan. She continues to use her intelligence and fortitude to help win the war and meet her future husband Paul Child at the same time. What a fascinating life she led! #TheSecretWarofJuliaChild #DianaRChambers #SourceBooks #Oct2024