The Secret War of Julia Child is a fascinating, creative, historical fiction novel by Diana Chambers. Using real historical events and weaving the life of Julia Child, the author takes the reader on a fictionalized journey. I enjoyed how the story was crafted and the intriguing storyline. Definitely would recommend to any historical fiction fans.

This is a wonderful blend of fiction with historical foundation. I was intrigued by the fact that the charming persona I knew as a chef on tv had a more serious role during WWII. The prose took me back in time, and the Julia I thought I knew (and loved as a chef) became so much more! The author does a nice job of creating fiction around fact. To think of this larger than life good natured character as a spy for the U.S and it's allies during wartime would be a challenge for most storytellers, but this author has done so credibly making us admire Julia for her patriotism and the reality of wartime more palatable ; )

I grew up watching Julia Child cook on tv, still have some of her cookbooks, and I was aware that she was a spy during WW2. This historical fiction tells us all about her early life before and during the war. Julia McWilliams was raised in California, moved to New York for advertising and ended up in Washington DC working for the government.
She began working for the OSS- Office of Strategic Services in DC. She worked in the records office with other women, under the supervision of men in the military. We learn of Julia's wishes for her life- to be successful, to travel the world, to be recognized for her abilities, to fall in love.
Julia was sent to India, Burma and China during her tenure. This is where she eventually met her husband, Paul Child.
The descriptions of her accomplishments while stationed in Asia is where the 'fiction' comes in. The author, Diana Chambers, tells us that she spent years researching this book and much of Julia's work and accomplishments are confidential. She used the knowledge she gained researching to put her story together.
I enjoyed this narrative, exploring a part of WW2 that I wasn't familiar with. I pictured the places, food and people along the way. The book took longer to read than expected, parts were slow moving, but overall, it was a great read. Lots to learn about this period of our history!
Thank you to NetGalley. and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

An intense amount of research went into writing this story.

There are books and movies about Julia Child. Many of us fondly remember her famous cooking show. Some of us have heard that she was once a spy and that’s where she met her husband, Paul Child. But until now, little has been known about what actually happened before she wrote the French cookbook. This book takes the reader back to an unusual employment for a woman, Julia McWilliams, with the Intelligence Agency: OSS – Office of Strategic Services.

In the beginning, there is a map of India, China and several other countries in Asia. There is also a huge list of acronyms and abbreviations. Right away, I felt like I was headed for a difficult road ahead. And yes, there were a lot of characters and at times, it was information overload.

It starts strong; it made me curious. Julia, raised in LA, was ambitious and excited to explore life’s many options. After college, Julia worked in NYC for an upscale furniture store in the advertising department. She loved NYC but not the job; her ultimate goal was to write novels and she figured her best opportunity would be to work internationally for the government. However, Julia was too tall for two different women’s agencies.

Yet, Julia managed to get a job in DC that changed her life. She started as a typist for an intelligence officer and moved up to be a supervisor of the OSS Registry of documents and files. Her boss didn’t want to let her go but she talked her way into setting up a Registry in India and China. That’s where the real adventure started and that’s where she met Paul.

However, when Julia went overseas, it was not as exciting as I anticipated. It took me a long time to read this as it didn’t capture my attention like I thought it would with too many characters and details, slowing down the middle parts. And, there is the question of truth. The OSS reports are classified, so much of the story had to be invented detailing the war efforts involving Julia from 1943 to 1945.

I was imaging Meryl Streep as Julia and Stanley Tucci as Paul Child from the movie “Julie & Julia.” However, Julia didn’t seem as spunky in the book and Paul was distant until they finally ended up together. I’m surprised that Julia didn’t write a book about the foods from Asian countries. There was much to learn with picking up rice and chicken and many other delicacies with chopsticks.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of October 22, 2024.

This book was just a big disappointment to me. The author spent ten years researching Julia Child (nee McWilliams), and I guess I thought since that much work was done, a more interesting narrative would have formed. I give it a solid 3 stars just for the effort put into that work.

I kept waiting for something to happen in the first third of the book, all while trying to keep all the other servicewomen straight. And I must have read ½ dozen times in that span how tall Julia was! I get that there’s entire generations who don’t know who Julia Child is, but really, there was no need to mention that repeatedly, along with her dry, corkscrew hair.

Ultimately, I didn’t get past the 40% mark because I was not enjoying this book, which is a shame, because Julia’s outsized personality was lost in this historical fiction attempt to tell about her time during WWII. I normally give up at around 25 - 30 % on a book if it doesn't hook me, but I kept trudging on until I finally gave up.

I received a digital copy of The Secret War of Julia Child from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Secret War of Julia Child is a compelling read that will capture your attention from beginning to end.

Julia Child is best known for her television show, her recipes and her captivating personality that endeared her to so many.

Julia Child was eventually known for her contribution as a spy in WWII.

That I knew but I did not the story behind it.

Julia joins the OSS and is quickly recognized for her tenacity, her patriotism, her quick wit and her ability to think beyond the box and get things done efficiently

Julia is sent off to India where her adventures begin and while there she meets her future husband Paul.

Diana R Chambers has written a well researched book that is both suspenseful and informative.

Whether you are a fan of Julia Child or not, I highly recommend you grab a copy of The Secret War of Julia Child and settle in for a captivating read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Landmark for the privilege of reading and reviewing this interesting and informative book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️From Sourcebooks Publishing: Single, 6 foot 2, and thirty years old, Julia McWilliams took a job working for America's first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. The Secret War of Julia Child traces Julia's transformation from ambitious Pasadena blue blood to Washington, DC file clerk, to head of General "Wild Bill" Donovan's secret File Registry as part of the Office of Strategic Services. 
The wartime journey takes her to the Far East, to Asia's remote front lines of then-Ceylon, India, and China, where she finds purpose, adventure, self-knowledge – and love with mapmaker Paul Child. The spotlight has rarely shone on this fascinating period of time in the life of ("I'm not a spy") Julia Child, and this lyrical story allows us to explore the unlikely world of a woman in a World War II spy station who has no idea of the impact she'll eventually impart.
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My review: This book was much less historical fiction and more a historical person (Julia) put into fictional happenings. Yes, Julia Child worked intelligence during the war. But much of this book was fiction, the author discusses that in the end notes. I was aware of this as I read and was able to push through without feeling "cheated" as other readers complained. That being said, much of the intelligence and spy talk was confusing. I skimmed some because it was difficult to follow, so I can't say it completely held my attention.

Julia Child, in real or fictional settings, was fascinating, strong, and brave. I enjoyed the more personal parts of the story...meeting Paul, her friendships with the other women in Asia, and her family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️. 2.5 rounded up to 3 because obviously the author put a lot of work into her research. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for my review.

****Publishing October 22, 2024****

Did you know Julia Child was a spy in WWII? This book details Julia Child’s experiences during the war. Julia Child was a supervisor of the OSS Registry of documents and files. She often overstepped her boundaries, which didn’t make her boss happy, but she earned respect and led her to be successful on the job. Julia met her husband on assignment in Asia.

A fascinating read that provides a comprehensive account of Julia Child’s
service in the war. Diana Chambers took 10 years to research Julia’s Child’s OSS Service in WWII. This author took her interpretation and research in order to create this story. If you love history and are a fan of Julia Child, then this is a must-read! A perfect book for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions!

Thanks to Sourcebooks (Sourcebooks Landmark), I was provided an ARC of The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Some of my favorite historical fiction books have sparked interest in a topic I hadn’t thought of before. This is one of those titles. I did not know of Julia Child’s involvement in Intelligence before her fame as a chef.
Chambers did a wonderful job of making this story memorable. I was intrigued from the first page, and I did not lose curiosity or interest through the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my copy of The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers in exchange for an honest review. It publishes October 22, 2024.
This was a fantastically written WWII novel that felt fresh and different from others on the subject. I loved the fact that different areas in Asia were covered, to bring awareness of the history that was happening in various parts of Asia during WWII, which is just as important to learn about as what was going on in Europe at the time. I loved Julia as the main character, and although it was technically fiction, I felt like her character shone throughout this book. I just loved her in this book, as I have loved learning about her and watching her show previously.
The espionage and all the back and forth stuff was very interesting, and made it more accessible than other spy-heavy books that I've read in the past. This book is totally worth the read!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱
𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗥.𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀
October 22,2024

I first heard about the infamous TV chef from my grandmother who loved to watch The French Chef show. Then, a few years ago, I watched Meryl Streep in the movie Julia and Julia and loved. So, I was excited to get the historical fiction .

Sadly, I found it disappointing. The opening paragraph instantly had my attention, and I was thoroughly enjoying the story.. it then began to drag, and I found myself skimming. It continued like this for 45 chapters with irregular pacing, and I kept losing interest..

The huge cast of characters was difficult to keep track of, although some side characters had interesting stories.

I did love how Paul Child showed his wife how to feel beautiful and, through his eyes, began to have more confidence.
I also loved the vivid imagery of China and other surroundings.

Overall, I think this could have been an exceptional book had there been more factual accounts of her life included..

Thank you to Netgally and the publishers for my copy. My review was voluntary.

Julia Child has been having a fictional moment. She has been a detective in Paris in the new series by Colleen Cambridge and has been in a TV series as well. In The Secret War of Julia Child, Diana R. Chambers nimbly lets readers into Julia’s world.

In these pages, readers get a sense of how Julia felt about herself (too tall, for one), her parents, her hopes to do something with her life, her wishes for a relationship and more. Readers also find out about Julia’s experiences in WW II. She worked for “Wild” Bill Donovan and was stationed in India and Ceylon, among other places. Some of her work was clandestine. Some of it led to her meeting Paul Child-of course, Julia McWilliams became Julia Child in time.

This story is about much that happened before Child became known for her cooking. It offers an immersive look at her life and WWII. I recommend it highly to fans of Child and historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks-Landmark for this title. All opinions are my own.

This book is Historical Romance. Although the romance didn't start half-way, the historical part is something to look forward to. I also like the small mystery part. :) I love the description of the sights, local words used appropriately, and the "tastes" of food. I love asian foods and I feel that I'm eating it as I'm reading it.

Thank you NetGalley for early free download of this book for a review consideration.
I own this short review.

#TheSecretWarofJuliaChild #NetGalley

Thank you for providing me with an e copy of The Secret War of Julia Child. Being a fan of Julia's I was anxious to read a different perspective about the infamous cook. This book takes place during WWII when she meets her future husband, Paul Child.

However this is a work of pure fiction - not historical fiction. In the author's notes at the end of the book she lists events that never happened in India during WWII. Hence, this book was a big let down.

Julia Child's life during WWII makes for an exciting premise for a book. Her secret missions and meeting her future husband also would seem like the opening for perhaps a series of books because of elements of suspense, intrigue, adventure and romance. There is adventure, and lots of intrigue as Julia goes on her wartime missions, but she doesn't come across as a self-assured woman of her time. Diana R. Chambers draws a Julia who is obssessed with her size, age, average looks and her lack of male companionship to the point of being desperately man hungry. I have no idea if that's how Julia perceived herself or not, but it doesn't make for good reading. In this novel she needed to get over herself and get the job done. Paul Child is described in unglowing terms too: unattractive, bald, old with an aggravating hautuer that renders his character unlikable, which you really don't want to as he is Julia's "hero." The only redeeming aspect to this novel are the secret missions.

I have always loved Julia Child. I learned how to cook from her TV programs on public television. When I saw this ARC on Net Galley, I immediately requested it. The book did not disappoint. It was fantastic. The book will be published next month.

Before starting my read, I was aware of Julia's WWII work for the OSS. This part of her life was included in a biography, Appetite for Life. I was interested in finding out if this historical fiction account of her life had more information. It didn't. The author stated on her website that she spent months doing research but many details could not be confirmed. If you have never heard of Julia Child that should not affect your enjoyment of the novel. It reads like any good spy novel with some romance thrown in.

As the grand-daughter of a railroad tycoon, Julia grew up wealthy in Sacramento, CA. When WWII broke out many kids from wealthy families were able to obtain these plush jobs with the OSS. Julia was one of them. She wanted some adventure before marrying and bearing children. She initially traveled to India but was soon sent to nearby Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. It was here where she met her future husband Paul Child. After a tumultuous six months, Julia was reassigned to China where she worked under Louis Mountbatten. You can't make this stuff up! While not hired to be a spy, it was soon evident to her bosses that she had talents and she managed to ferret out a double spy. While in China Julia found that two compatriots were double spies also. One was executed for treason and the other spent the rest of her life in prison. It is around these facts that the author spun her tale. The story ends with the conclusion of the war in Japan when she and Paul become engaged.

When I saw the title of this book, I was intrigued because I have always loved Julia Child, the French chef. I never knew about her involvement as a spy in the OSS (Office of Strategic Services). Author, Diana Chambers, did a wonderful job researching to write this fiction novel. I loved the adventure and suspense of all the spy missions mainly during the Forgotten War in Southeast Asia.

Julia McWilliams is described as a very intelligent woman who has a superb attention to detail. She was described physically as very tall and not as feminine as other women, but this did not stand in the way for Julia. She starts out as a file secretary for her boss, Bill Donovan. She persuades Bill to send her off to assignments overseas which take her to India, Burma, and then China. She encounters lots of drama within her circle of coworkers that served with her. It is during this time that she meets her future husband, Paul Child. At first, his arrogant personality did not even appeal to Julia, but eventually they develop a fond relationship that turns into serious love for one another.

I enjoyed the book because of the fact that it gave me another view of the life of Julia Child that I never knew. Chambers brings out her personality and fun spirit. I know this book was about her life as a spy, but I wish at least some of the story led up to how she became a chef. I did enjoy this historical fiction story and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you, NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, for the copy of The Secret War of Julia Child. I love Julia Child and had heard about her wartime exploits, so I’m not sure why this book wasn’t very interesting to me. There was no tension or intrigue, even during the espionage parts or the other (spoiler-free) part that should have been super suspenseful. While I liked the fictional account of Julia’s life, I would have preferred to have some reality woven in, too, so it was about Julia Child and not a fictional character. Because it was supposed to be Julia Child, I was kind of disappointed. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

After learning that Julia Child actually did work in intelligence as a spy, I was SO EXCITED to read The Secret War of Julia Child. It was super dense and dragged in parts, but it was cool to read a different "take"/POV of one of the most famous ladies ever.

In THE SECRET WAR OF JULIA CHILD, an historical fiction novel written by Diana R. Chambers, Julia begins her adventure as a clerical supervisor for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in Washington, D.C. when she sees a Final Solution cable and answers a phone call from a Secret Intelligence agent in need of help. What follows is an historical fiction exploration of one portion of Julia’s life, including her relationship with her husband, Paul.

I have always admired Julia Child, the chef. Now, I also admire Julia McWilliams and her work with the OSS. Her wonderful spirit and achievements are as memorable as her growing admiration and love for Paul Child. This book is an amazing portrayal of Julia Child’s pre-chef days. Thank you, Sourcebooks and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review and advance reader copy of THE SECRET WAR OF JULIA CHILD.