This is the story of what may have been. Little is known about Julia Child's wartime service with the OSS in China. Diana Chambers makes it clear from the start that while she spent 10 years researching Julia Child's life, much of the book is speculation about what might've/could've happened during her wartime service, based on the areas where she'd spent time. It's a story about a woman finding herself, sure in her intellect and her ability to do her work, yet finding herself in her personal life, a 6'2" woman who didn't quite fit in with her height and her distinctive voice. She finds herself exposed to new ideas, new experiences and new and exotic foods - and to the man who would become her husband and partner in work and life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and the narration by Candace Joice is excellent, not only with her voice for Julia Child (which is recognizable without becoming a cariacature) and her voices and accents for other characters in the book.
Thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Tantor Audio for providing copies for an unbiased review.

I'm literally obsessed with anything about Julia Child. She was such a fascinating woman. I really enjoyed this book and the fictionalized although somewhat true version of her younger days before she became a chef. What a courageous and kind and intelligent woman she was. I think she would have been an extraordinary friend. The author created fabulous, detailed characters and the plot was wonderful. I highly recommend this book.

I absolutely enjoyed this one so much. I listened to the audio book version, and I thought it added to the depth of the book. I have always been fascinated with Julia Child story, and I thought the author did an amazing job bringing it out. I can't wait to read more from this author. I highly recommend this to the history/historical fiction readers.

Thank you Net Galley ARC, Tantor Audio and Diana R. Chambers

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review

This was a charming audiobook that showcases a little known talked about part of Julia Child's life. I thought it was fascinating. Definitely recommend this book to diehard Julia fans!!!

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

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.

This character driven 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.

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

As a Julia Child lover, this was an interesting look into her life before becoming the chef we love. I knew she had done things during WWII so this was intriguing to get some insight into that time. It did have some parts that were overly descriptive that made the book drag a bit, but overall a very interesting listen into that period and Julia's part in it. The narrator really brought that Julia voice as well, which I loved.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook for review.

What an intriguing story!! Never knew this about Julia Child - it was well told and just a really great listening experience!!

Thank You for the opportunity to listen to The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers.

I was really interested in this book and in learning more about Julia Child.

I felt there was something lacking in the narrative, the heart or maybe the glue was missing.

I really tried to like it but it was slow or disconnected for my taste.

Or maybe I was expecting a little too much.

What can I say?

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!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
I love historical fiction and this was super fun. I had no idea about Julia Child's wartime service and adventures and I feel this does a good job blending research and fleshing out details to paint a picture of Julia Child before she was Julia Child.

The narrator, Candace Joice, did a spectacular job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, with what expression/intension, and the appropriate accent, especially Julia's.

Thank you to TantorAudio, NetGalley, and author Diana R. Chambers for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Secret War of Julia Child is out October 22, 2024.

The only facts that I ever knew about Julia Child was that she was known for her talent as a masterful chef. That was before I listened to the audiobook of The Secret War of Julia Child by Dian R. Chambers. Little did I realize, that in her thirties, Julia made contributions to the United States as a codebreaker for the OSS during World War II. Diana R. Chambers delved into her service years, into the insecurities she had with her height and her unmarried status when she served her country in both the Pacific and in India. I enjoyed the romance that eventually embraced both Julia and Paul Child, the mapmaker, who had also been commissioned by the OSS and served along side Julia and others. I found this newly found information about Julia’s service years, her family, her goals and desires very inspiring and informative. I enjoyed learning all these new things about a woman who I thought of only as a master chef. If you would enjoy learning new aspects about the woman called Julia Child then I recommend this book/audiobook to you highly.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Long before she became the beloved culinary icon, Julia Child lived a life steeped in espionage, adventure, and unexpected romance. The Secret War of Julia Child offers a fascinating glimpse into her wartime service in the Far East and her budding relationship with Paul Child, a love story forged in the midst of global conflict.

While the premise is captivating and Julia’s journey is undeniably compelling, the novel’s slow pacing made it challenging to stay fully engaged. Despite the rich historical setting and the extraordinary figure at its center, the story felt like it lacked the dynamic spark and emotional resonance I had hoped for. For a woman as vibrant and larger-than-life as Julia, I was left wanting a narrative with more intensity and depth.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

3.5 Stars

I think for the right person this could be a wonderful book. If you love a historical fiction that really digs in and goes into a lot of details this is for you. For me it fell a little flat and was kinda boring. I can tell the author did a lot of research which was appreciated. The narrator was so good at doing Julia's voice. I give her 5 stars!

Thank you to Tantor audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book.

This book imagines Julia Child's(nee. McWilliams) life as an OSS research assistant during WWII, including the time she met her future husband Paul Child. I love the premise! I found the background information interesting and very well researched. I enjoy that the author thought to delve into the detail of senses Julia experienced in her travels (particularly the food!) as an allusion to he future career in the culinary arts.

There were a few things that pulled me out of the story. First, Julia found herself in too many fantastical close calls. Even if she had several "missions" beyond her normal duties, I can't see her avoiding certain death so many times. It seemed too much like an action movie or like the stories of several WWII spies strung together.

I couldn't stand how Paul Child is portrayed. He is simultaneously insensitive and a womanizer. He is somehow conventionally unattractive, yet attractive to most of the women he meets. He sometimes acts like he likes her and other times is ambivalent towards her. It makes Julia, an otherwise strong character, seem weak and easily manipulated when she continues to pursue him. I really wanted to see her as a stronger more feminist character in this.

The Secret War of Julia Child is everything we love about historical fiction. While Diana Chambers takes some liberties with facts, she paints an immersive world around one of America’s most beloved public figures. Long before she was a household name, Julia McWilliams was a patriot, determined to serve and support the war effort. Although her height kept her from enlisting, her work ethic and meticulousness, put her at the heart of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).

Scene after harrowing scene we accompany Julia and her most inner thoughts as she serves in the war office, fights for an overseas post, works as a clandestine operative and falls in love with Paul Child.
Enthusiasts of WWII historical fiction will enjoy this story that focuses on the war efforts in India, Burma and China - places that don’t get nearly as much attention as the European front.

Candace Joice does an excellent narration, even capturing Julia’s unique, signature sound.

You can’t help but fall in love with Julia’s humility, determination and adventurous spirit. I highly recommend this novel - great for young adult readers too.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It was an interesting story, got me pretty emotional at times, I just think it was a bit political for me but I mean spy’s during the war should’ve told me that. At some points I just couldn’t understand what exactly was happening and I was sad that the parts I enjoyed most were most likely or were not real, when I heard that in the authors note I was like noooo hahaha. Though I actually hadn’t heard about Julia child before and I asked my family who all knew who she was so it really was great to learn a few things too! Just a very sad book as well.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 7th December and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of January

I rarely listen to audiobooks. I’m a visual learner and sometimes my attention wanders away from the spoken word (don’t tell my pastor). But, I decided my walks needed a little jazzing up. I was podcasted out. Bring on Julia Child, who—and I may be the only one who didn’t know this—was a spy during WWII. She was one tough lady! But tender, too. And I thought the voice actress did a wonderful job with a variety of accents. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This was an interesting listen for sure. I think it would be better if read instead of listened to only because of the many characters and locations. It’s important to note and keep in the back of your mind that this is not fully based on the facts of Julia’s involvement in WWII, but an enhanced or dramatized possibility of what her life and work were like. Despite this, I found this to be enjoyable! I would recommend this to others for the drama, slight romance, and for the sheer bit of Julia Child working undercover in the midst of WWII.