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.

Excellent! This interesting and beautifully written novel chronicles "French Chef" Julia's time working for the OSS during World War II. Much of the novel is set in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) as Julia is tasked by Wild Bill Donovan to keep an eye on the British and on Mountbatten himself. She meets Paul Child there, but they can't stand each other when they first meet. The reader is left wondering how in the heck these two will ever get together.

Hints of the famous foodie Julia Child will become are in this book, but they are only delicious glimmers of a future the reader knows but the main character is completely oblivious to. This Julia Child is still uncertain, insecure, and dedicated solely to doing her part to win the war. This is a marvelous "prequel" to the life of a beloved figure in American culture that most of us would never imagine.

Highly recommended.

Review Score: 3 1/2 Stars

Yall. I went into this book with high hopes. It seemed like something that was right up my alley. Unfortunately, I really struggled to stay engaged. I also felt constantly frustrated by Julia and her lack of communication with Paul. Maybe this is just a true character trait of the actual Julia Child, but man, it drove me crazy.

I love the narrator for this book, but I felt that the book proceeded too slow slowly for my liking..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

I loved everything about this book. The narrator did a fantastic job of sounding like Julia Child & kept the perfect pace of reading. This was my first Diana R. Chambers read & am glad for it. I looked into her other books & can't wait to begin reading those. I am also hoping that Chambers will continue with this idea of writing. I'd love for her to write a fiction story about Amelia Earhart, or Ursula K Le Guin, I have already recommended this book to a few friends.

Although I picked up this book with Meryl Streep's memorable cinematic portrayal of Julia Child in my head, I found the first 20% of the book decidedly less than exciting. I had begun to worry about whether I would enjoy it at all, when things started to improve.

As it turned out, I need not have worried.
As soon as Julia McWilliams begins her journey out into the wider world, the book picks up the pace and holds the reader's attention throughout until the very end.

Julia's experiences as a spy in a man's world, her struggles with being so tall and ungainly, the roller coaster relationship that ultimately let her to marry Paul Child, and her excitement in encountering different cultures and individuals is both richly imagined and brought vividly to life in this story.

The narrator does wonderful justice to the words of the author, and Julia's (quite literally) somewhat unusual voice comes through loud and clear. But the book is very much about her life before she became a world famous cookbook writer, and therefore provides many insights into other aspects of her personality.

This book will be a great hit with admirers of Julia Child, as well as those interested in the relatively lesser known Asian war theatre of the Second World War. Recommended reading for those whose interests lead them towards such books. I enjoyed it very much. It gets 3.5 stars.

As a fan of Julia Child the culinary icon, I was very excited to explore what her life may have been like before the cookbooks. This novel painted a vivid picture for me thanks to impeccable research, highlighting the role of women working abroad during WWII.

The audiobook narrator, Candace Joice, did an excellent job bringing Julia’s trademark voice and courageous spirit to life. That coupled with the detailed descriptions of various South Asian countries, made the audiobook experience very enjoyable.

I did find myself getting through this story at a slower pace, though. It packs a lot of content into 400 pages, with a large amount of time dedicated to conversations about war strategies and espionage. For WWII fans, this may be a win! I, however, found it tedious at times.

And never fear…Paul Child is a featured character! I enjoyed his and Julia’s slight enemies-to-lovers romance and felt their plot line helped bring balance to the WWII-centric narrative.

If you’re a fan of Julia Child, I definitely recommend this book. It was so much fun spending time with her in another era!

I had absolute no inkling that Julia Child was a spy for the US Government during WW2. This fact alone immediately drew me in to the audiobook.

This is a work of fiction that was based on many years of research by the author. I found it amazing how many close calls Julia escaped. She is quite lucky to have survived so much.

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I sadly wish that the editor and publisher would have done some more work to help Chambers because I feel this had the potential to be a 5 star bestseller. There were gaps in the story that made me wonder if I had missed something. It was also sometimes hard to follow so many characters which some were coming and fading and they easily got turned around in my mind.

But despite this lack of editing and shaping, I really found this book entertaining and enlightening. I will definitely think of Julia Child in a different light when I hear her name.

I received an Advanced Copy of the Audiobook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Julia McWilliams grew up in Pasadena, California (home of the Rose Parade where pretty young girls were marveled and idolized). As a tall tomboyish girl who loved sports, she was always considered the “pal” but never the girlfriend. At 6’2” this lead to insecurities with her large feet, athletic body and competitive spirit. Thankfully, her dear mother Caro always made sure to affirm these traits as positive attributes that would eventually, given time and patience, land her the “right man” and a happy, independent life.
After college Julia lands a job in New York for a furniture store in advertising. Not satisfied there and wanting to become a writer, she applies to multiple government jobs but isn’t considered qualified due to her height. She knows she is meant for something bigger in life and wants to serve her country. Eventually landing a job as a file clerk in Washington, D.C. With determination and hard work she proves herself as detail oriented and a skilled organizer. Working her way up to General William Donovan’s Office of Strategic Services (OSS Special Ops) as head of the secret file registry. Backed with the highest security clearance she convinces General “Wild Bill” she is needed in Asia in setting up the registries needed in the war effort with their allies against Japan. She can also be his eyes and ears reporting back to him (was she a spy? Who really knows). Thus begins Julia’s harrowing journey to Bombay, India, then to Kandy, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), being passed off from one local to another finally ending up in China. While conducting her clandestine operations and stumbling upon acts of espionage and smuggling, she questions who to trust all the while building bonds and relationships with the people she works and lives with. One of the men she meets is an arrogant but skilled map maker. An interesting relationship develops into more. Yes, it’s Paul Child.
To let off steam and the tensions surrounding the large cast of characters you meet, a lot of gin and tonics are consumed along with celebratory glasses of champagne. Julia goes from growing up eating meat and potatoes (not being able to even boil water) to expanding her sense of taste by consuming curries, exotic spices, rice balls and hand pulled noodles.
The author’s research shows in the details and descriptions of the WWII events, terrain, climate and the network between the warlords. She captured Julia’s intelligence, feisty spirit, fearlessness, determination and love of adventure and especially her loyalty to country. By the end of the book she had grown as a person and became less self-conscious and stands taller, proud of her accomplishments.
Remembering this book was historical fiction I appreciated learning about the countries local people, their life’s hardships and tragedies while trying to fight off the Japanese invasions in Asia. It was interesting to learn of our allies mistrust as well as ours. Although not all of Julia’s experiences were factual to her, the events did occur at some point in history and proved to be very interesting.

Although a work of fiction, this story is based on Julia Child’s time during and involvement with World War ll. It showcases her strength and determination…and the backbone and backstory to her successful cooking career. It hints at her bourgeoning romance with Paul Childs and her resilience in finding her purpose in life. It was an enjoyable historical fiction that sheds light on a strong, female icon. I was able to tandem read and listen. As the story is told from Julia’s PoV in third person, the narrator did a great job with emotions, replicating Julia’s unique accent, and helped with some pronunciations.

I didn't know what i was expecting when I requested this book, but for some reasons i thought this was going to be a fast historical fiction action-packed book. Instead it was really slow for me and i had some problems finishing it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This was a bit of a slow going book for me that I struggled with staying interested in. It wasn’t a bad book but just wasn’t what I was expecting.
Decent narration.

Julia McWilliams took a job working for America’s first espionage agency, years before cooking or Paris entered the picture. The wartime journey takes her to South Asia’s remote front lines of then-Ceylon, India, and China, where she finds purpose, adventure, self-knowledge-and love with mapmaker Paul Child.

I never knew this about Julia Child. She was a strong, amazing woman! Julia’s life was truly an adventure. There were quite a few places that she got herself in a mess. But she definitely was a trailblazer! The historical research that went into this read is superb.

That being said, I did zone out a time or two during this audiobook. It has some slow spots. So, this is more of a 3.5 star read. You got to round up right??

The narrator, Candace Joice, did a really good job, especially with Julia’s voice.

Need a good tale about a real person…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thank you to #NetGalley for a free copy of this audio book in exchange for an honest review.

My Interest
Julia Child!! That’s my interest! I loved her old shows–I’ve watched all that are on You Tube and remember watching some of the early ones with my Mom and the later ones in my own living room. Southeast Asia was commanded by the then Lord Louis Mountbatten (“Uncle Dickie” of The Crown) so that added interest. While this book is historical fiction, and while I admire Julia still, I don’t know so much about her that I’d be disappointed in a fictionalized version of her.

The Story
Julia McWilliams, daughter of a prosperour Pasedena, California family has finished the fabled Smith College (one of the “Seven Sisters” colleges that allied with the then all male Ivy League Colleges) and has tried her hand at working in New York writing advertising copy. Wanting to play a part in the War, Julia volunteered but was deemed too tall for the women’s armed forces. Instead she went into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and was eventually sent to Southeast Asia where Britain’s [as he was then] Lord Louis Mountbatten was in command. OSS was “covert” operations–spies to the layman. Julia maintained with a wink and a nod until she died that she’d just been a simple file clerk. This book, however, imagines what might have been with Julia as an operative in the field as well as doing file clerk duty. Along the way (in the story) she meets James Bond’s Uncle–i.e. Peter Fleming, brother of Bond’s creater, Ian Fleming. And, of course, she meets the love of her life–Paul Child.

The story is peopled with characters both real (Julia, Paul, the briefly mentioned Peter Fleming, “Wild” Bill Donovan–founder of OSS and, Dickie Mountbatten) and imagined. The author’s note at the end separates fact from fiction.

My Thoughts
This was an exciting story well told. Julia as written by Chambers was believable–as was Paul. The author’s research gave her insight into their character, manners, and speech that carried over into the writing. Julia’s life in Southeast Asia sometimes stretched my ability to believe it, but it was well written and compelling regardless.

I did struggle though to feel any real chemistry between Julia and Paul. Liking, mutual interests, caring–yes, those came through. But the passion to spend a life together was not really there to me. Yes, Paul’s poem, but… but….

I did like the way the author sneaked Mountbatten’s “secret” into the story. Stephen Warick [I may have that spelled wrong–I listened to the audio] had no money–it was all his wife’s and the estates were hers, too. Edwina Mountbatten was a rare English heiress–the wealthiest of her generation according to many reports.

I really liked the story and recommend the book, but I took it down just a little for not feeling the chemistry between Julia and Paul.

[See below for errors in the book]

My Verdict
3.75
The Secret War of Julia Child: A Novel by Diana R. Chambers

Mistakes
Antibiotic cream wasn’t available at the time of the story.

The part of the telephone that one talked into in that era was known as “the receiver” not the “hand-set” which came about 50 later.

Oh those pesky titles! At the time of the story, Mountbatten was only Lord Louis Mountbatten–the younger son of a Marquess [albeit one who was born a Serene Highness and Prince]. He did not become “Lord Mountbatten” until after the war when he was made Viscount Mountbatten of Burma and then elevated further after being Viceroy of India when he became Earl Mountbatten of Burma.

Being an American the audio performer mispronounced Mountbatten’s name as “Lewis” since Americans habitually pronounce Lewis and Louis in that way. (Like the British pronounce Houston, Texas as “Who-ston” instead of “Hugh-ston.” She also mispronounced Marelene Dietrch’s name and a few other words I’ve forgotten.

Real editors and fact checkers would solve these problems.

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If you ever wanted to dive into the intriguing world of Julia Child, complete with espionage and exotic locales, "The Secret War of Julia Childs" has got you covered! Picture this: a charming culinary icon turned wartime spy—what's not to love?

However, buckle up because this audiobook feels like a slow simmer rather than a sizzling sauté. Even at 1.75 speed, I found myself drifting off during some of the lengthy historical tidbits and vivid descriptions of India and China. The author clearly adores these places, but let’s just say, I didn’t need a travel brochure in the middle of a spy story!

With a bit of tightening and some judicious editing, this book could have transformed into a delightful romp through history. Instead, it left me feeling like I had waded through molasses—sticky and a little tedious.

So, while it’s an average listen for those eager to learn about Julia's life, I think I’ll save my culinary espionage dreams for a more spirited read!

Never knew this fact of Julia Child. Enjoyed this fictionalization of her life during WWII. Makes me want to do more factual reading about her.

Thanks to NetGally and the publisher for the ARC of this audiobook to review.

Everyone knows Julia Child, the chef and tv personality. But do you know who she was before then? I had read bits and pieces that she was a spy prior to her fame, but this historical novel had us experience Julia's life during those days when she was still Julia McWilliams.

Julia was in Asia to support General Donovan as a file clerk in the espionage office of the OSI. In that role she had opportunity to be "on the inside" and knew of critical information to be passed on to the General. The story had her breaking codes and uncovering covert operations and spies as a result of her role. How much of this is true is questionable, due to it be top secret information, but she was there at those times and my have contributed to these findings, and it made for a good story. She was not enamored with Paul Child, the brilliant mapmaker that she met while overseas, but in time (as we know) they fell in love.

I enjoyed the author's ability to create an intriguing story about the efforts made in wartime by the women in the OSI. Her portrayal of Julia seemed right, showing both insecurities and grit. The story was not too heavy but had warmth and personality. I loved how food wove it's way into the storyline, introducing Julia to new cuisines.

The narrator did a great job imitating Julia's well known voice, as well as sufficiently differentiating the various characters in order to easily follow the story.

I am a big fan of historical novels, and this one hit the mark for me. I recommend it.