A delightful and delicious read. Women’s fiction is not one of my usual genres yet I honestly can say I have not enjoyed a book this much since Crazy Rich Asians. Ranging from the hyper masculine and competitive Michelin kitchen in New York to a glorious French Chateau the setting is not only authentic but a role player in the drama. Sophie is the victim of a malicious and ruthless former lover who not only ruins her reputation in the food world but destroys her confidence in her craft. Her wallow is interrupted by a multi-generational family drama that reveals itself throughout the book. Her journey to France is ultimately her journey to redemption in love and in the kitchen. Conniving co-workers, brooding first loves and fully fleshed out side characters are all in mix. Sophie’s Grandmother and the Chateau drive the latter half and she has her own catharsis. The book is meticulously researched from the food prep and presentation to the nuances of running a Chateau. Thank you to author Samantha Verant and her publishers for an Advance Readers Copy, I highly recommend The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux, romance and redemption are on the menu.

This was a delightful and fun book with many fully fleshed out and likeable characters. The book centers on Sophie who returns to her ill grandmother in France after a devistating job loss, which has caused her to fall into a deep funk, loose her confidence and doubt her ability to do almost anything. She continues those feelings after arriving in France (there were several times I wanted to grab her shoulders, shake her & tell her to snap out of it) but continues on the track of finding; herself and what is really important in this life. As a Francofile and Foodie, I could see, smell and almost taste the food and see the scenery that was aptly described. I can't wait to try the recipes. A few of the plot lines are obvious but knowing what will probably happen doesn't detract from the book at all. In the end, Sophie discovers the true meaning of happiness; family food & love. We can all learn from her.

This book was sent to me as an Advance Reader Copy and I was hooked from Ms. Vérant's first line "A zucchini flew over my head, missing it by a few centimeters." It's a story about an up-and-coming chef who is super-focused on her career until she's sabotaged by co-workers and forced to find what is really important in her life. Her ruined career becomes more complicated when her French grandmother, who fostered her love of food and skills in the kitchen, becomes gravely ill. When Sofie arrives in France, she finds more than she bargained for personally and professionally, and must find a way and the strength to navigate both. If you love the Adrianna Trigiani and Frances Mayes stories that focus on food, and love, and family, you'll love this book. I also loved how the French language and lifestyle were infused with their meanings in English. The subtlety was perfect and varied so that it didn’t slow down the story. The internal transformation of each character was perfectly crafted and timed perfectly with what was going on externally in the story. Nothing moved too fast or too slow. The imagery was inspiring, too, and the perfect escape for a few hours in our quarantined new world. I love the recipes at the end and will be trying quite a few. This story will leave you warm and searching your cabinets for something wonderful to cook.

This book does a unique and very persuasive deep dive into the back-world of the high-stakes NYC culinary scene, while also providing a sensory escape to the countryside of France. I honestly cannot choose between either aspect of this book, as both gave me much-needed distraction and comfort during these difficult times. But this is also a story about mothers and daughters, young love, and second chances--and, above all, forgiveness. Forgiveness of oneself, and patience and understanding of our ambitions in life, our competing desires, and our mistakes. Samantha Verant can conjure an entire magical meal in just a few lines, and break your heart in even less. Highly recommend.

I loved this story so much. Whenever I read it, my mouth watered from the description of the food. It was so life like. This novel did terrible things for my diet though. Whenever I read it, I would go straight to the fridge and devoured everything. I’ll definitely need to try some of the recipes from this book.

I enjoyed Sophie’s character. All her reactions and feelings are realistic. I really felt for her especially with her ex Eric. I wanted to throttle him on behalf of her.

She’s determined and creative. The side romance with Remi was so sweet.

The setting in France was beautiful. I felt like I was actually there!

Hands down one of the best women’s fiction books I’ve ever read. Five stars.

After she’s sabotaged by a fellow chef, Sophie leaves her life as a top chef to fly to her beloved grandmother’s bedside in France after the woman has a stroke. To her surprise the home she remembers has been turned into a resort with two restaurants and a vineyard. Here she has the chance to achieve her dream of becoming the chef of a Michelin starred restaurant, if she can find the courage and stamina. Thank heavens grandma lived in France, not Scranton. The story just wouldn’t have been the same! Seriously, I loved this story with its beautiful setting and second chances theme

A sensory and envisioned delight, #TheSecretRecipesofSophieValroux# takes the reader on a deep dive into a soul searing failure and a hard won, soaring success. Layered like the ingredients of a Michelin feast, multiple story lines play out, some with vivid descriptions of ingredients, food and wine that bring the Author's words to life with visual imagery, transporting the reader to France and to table. Readers of Seven Letters to Paris will recognize parts of Samantha Verant's personal story. Her culinary skill and love of good food and wine are evident, If you have ever been curious about the kitchen hierarchy, pace and egos involved in a high powered Restaurant, you will learn a great deal. Aside from brilliant food, the characters are so engaging that It is a pleasure to read how their storylines play out. Since this is France, several types of love run throughout. Love of Country, family, friends, and a well constructed personal love story balance this book and make it great fun to read.
And yes Karma is an " ingredient". You will learn a lot about France, human nature and the power of redemption. There are many messages tucked inside the pages..#TheSecretRecipiesofSophieValroux# is the perfect read for the Francophile, the Foodie, the home chef, and most importantly, those who believe in the powers of true love.