
Member Reviews

Boring! I thought it would be intriguing and much more interesting than it was I narrowly finished the book, I felt I owed it to her to read this story. In reality I wish it was an autobiography rather than fiction. My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

I had a hard time getting into this book. Though the history and Julia Child's story are fascinating this book didn't engage me as I would have hoped.

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 really enjoyed The Secret Life of Julia Child!
Having seen a museum exhibit on her wartime work, I was even more intrigued by this fascinating look at her early years—long before she became the iconic chef we know today. This book sheds light on a lesser-known chapter of Julia’s life, filled with espionage, adventure, and personal discovery. Her journey from privileged Pasadena socialite to a key figure in the OSS is both inspiring and eye-opening, offering a glimpse into the experiences that shaped her into the bold, fearless woman she became. A must-read for history lovers and Julia Child fans.
Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for an arc. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book.
This book was very well-researched and I very much enjoyed reading about Julia Childs and her life before becoming a famous chef. For those that enjoy historical fiction, I will recommend this novel. There were aspects of Julia's life that had to be imagined by the author, which I respect to give us an understanding of a woman's mindset for that time period.

I love biographical fiction and WWII fiction. I love it even more when I get to read about events and people I haven't read about before. This book ticked those boxes and more for me.
I remember watching Julia Child's cooking show on PBS when I was a little girl but I never thought about her life before that. I became intrigued when I read a cozy mystery series where she is a secondary character and I learned that she worked with the OSE during WWII.
Julia was stationed in India and China - two places I have read little about in all the WWII fiction I've read. So it was really interesting to get to see the Pacific Theater and learn about some of the views of Japan and China at the time.
Then there are the things Julia was involved in - almost unbelievable and Chambers did take a few creative licenses as she had to fill in gaps in the historical record.
Because of the cozy mystery series (and because her last name is Child), I knew that she would eventually marry Paul, but it was still fun to see their love story unfold.
I didn't want to put this book down. Chambers writing is so engaging that I often felt like I was there with the characters.
If you haven't picked up this book yet, don't wait any longer.
My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/01/catching-up-on-novels-i-missed.html

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

Pros: well-researched, interesting take on the well-known Julia Child before she became famous, engaging descriptions of missions and Julia's wartime work
Cons: uneven pacing (some major events are glossed over, while other, minor, moments are dragged out), while the book is well-researched, parts of Julia's personal narrative are made up and it struggles with crafting a compelling fiction narrative while using a real life figure whose story is well-known

I am a big fan of Julia Child, and I really enjoy books set in WW2. The Secret War of Julia Child was right up my alley. I found it entertaining, although I did find the cast of characters to be a bit overwhelming at times. The story was enjoyable, and I think most fans of Mrs. Child would enjoy it.

I had high hopes for this book. I haven't read much HF about WWII in the Pacific, plus I had heard that Julia Child had a fascinating backstory.
However, there were a LOT of characters in the book and that, along with all the rapidly changing locations, resulting in my having a very hard time following the story. I almost didn't finish--rare for me.
Maybe it was just this book. I would like to read other books by this author to see if they're more readable.

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.
The 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.

Julia Child had her pop culture moment a few years back with Julie and Julia, but I truly wish I had the world had the opportunity to read this book back then. After finishing the book, I felt as though I understood Julia - and in particular, her relationship with Paul - so much better. The Secret War of Julia Child is well researched historical fiction-esque. Given the nature of Julia's work, we'll likely never know exactly what she encountered during her time in WWII in India and China, but Chambers does an excellent job of piecing things together and filling in the blanks with well researched supposition. One of my favorite historical fiction romances of 2024 - even purchased a copy for my Mother in Law for Christmas! Highly recommend!
5 🌟
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Wow this book was so neat! Most people know the name Julia Child and associate it with the chef part of her life. But wow she was so much more! I enjoyed this fictional take on her time with the OSS office. I absolutely loved this one

The Secret War of Julia Child chronicles Julia McWilliams' life before becoming the famous chef Julia Child.
I had a difficult time sticking with this novel. Though it was clearly thoroughly researched, it lacked excitement for me. I felt as though the book got bogged down with technical jargon, and I found myself skimming large parts of the novel. It needs a great deal of editing. I do not recommend this book.
Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and the author for an advance e-reader copy of this book!

I was very excited for this book, because I am a big fan of Julia Child but didn’t know much about her prior to her work as a chef. Unfortunately, I felt like the novel wasn’t sure if it wanted to be a romance, a spy thriller, or a character study, and in the quest to do all three ended up with some odd pacing. Things that seemed unimportant would take up entire chapters while big developments would happen in the course of a paragraph.
Perhaps readers who enjoy a more reserved style would connect to this book more than I did, but for me I felt that the characters almost universally lacked a feeling of heart and Julia in particular just didn’t feel dynamic enough for me. The setting was clearly well researched, and especially given that this is all speculation, perhaps it would have worked better as a story about a less well known figure.

I was so excited about this one but it just didn’t work for me . I even tried on audio and it was even worse . I got thru about half of it and then just gave up
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

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

In this incredible new World War II historical fiction novel, Diana Chambers brings Julia Child’s military service in the OSS to life. Following her from a Washington, D.C., office to India, China, and Thailand, readers explore what working for the OSS might have entailed and how her time during the war led her to mapmaker Paul Child, another member of the OSS. By focusing on Julia’s life before she was a household name for her French cooking, readers get a chance to explore her life before that point and uncover the USA’s espionage efforts in the Asian theater of World War II. Drawing on historical records (and adding some embellishment with authorial license), Chambers’ new book is brilliantly written and a fantastic character study of Julia Child and the OSS with its emphasis on her working relationship with General “Wild Bill” Donovan. With its incredibly lifelike characters and the vibrant descriptions of the OSS File Registry and of the wartime environment across Asia, the book’s details and settings really add to the incredible atmosphere of this immersive and exciting read. Perfect for historical fiction lovers of all kinds, this is a definite must-read for World War II historical fiction fans.

This is a story of Julia reimagined, set in the perilous frontlines of WW2 and prior to her life as the legendary French chef we have come to know and love. It is a four part read with a rather large casts, many of them supporting, and includes remarkable key players namely historical and fictional. There was so much to unpack here with the schematics of war and the romances that bloomed in its wake. I came across many memorable scenes and unforgettable quotes echoing the painful battles being fought inside one’s heart and on the forefront, all worthy of highlighting. I would not recommend rushing through this considering its rich detailing of strategic plans and numerous places covered. It is evident the author has taken great lengths to paint a mural of the countless lives and countries affected by warfare.

Julia McWilliams has to deal with the arrogant Paul Child and she is not happy. As the two work together during WWII Paul introduces Julia to many tastes and experiences as they become closer and Julia will eventually become the infamous Julia Child. This fictionalized account of Julia Child's years as a spy is extremely interesting and a great read.