“Julia” by Heather B. Moore is a biographical novel worthy of any lover of history, cooking, or both. The tale reads just like a novel, but it is so packed full of accurate and well-researched historical facts, that it is also very informative and educational. The author brings the story of Julia Child’s adult life into the hands of history-loving fiction readers, which then inspires those readers to learn more about this amazing American woman and French cuisine. I also appreciated the author including significant notes at the end of the story to convey more exact details or additional historic information to the reader. The attention to research and detail is so evident, that it really makes this book shine. I had only recently learned that before Julia Child became a household name in all things French cooking, she worked for the American government overseas during WWII. Her talents and skills at being detailed and orderly are an inspiration. Another great feature of this book, is the highly excellent content, which thereby makes this book appropriate for even younger readers (no foul language or explicit content). I hope to find more biographical novels to read by Heather B. Moore, because this book is highly recommendable.

“Julia” by Heather B. Moore is a historical fiction chronicling the life of Julia McWilliams as a young woman before she became Julia Child, and as she begins her life in espionage during WWII. The second part of the novel chronicles her romance and marriage to Paul Child and describes their lifelong shared passion for culture, art and food. The book beautifully describes her refusal to conform to the societal pressures of the time which was to be totally satisfied as “married woman”. She is unrelenting as she paves the way for groundbreaking changes in Americas kitchens as she studies haute cuisine in Paris attending Le Cordon Bleu, meeting other chefs and working on her cookbook. She truly was an inspiration to so many!
I enjoyed this book and learning about her life, but wished the writing style was a bit more exciting.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful story about Julia Child. I didn’t realize her WWII connections. This is a well researched, fantastic story. I highly suggest it.

This was an information-packed fiction story that recapped Julia Child's life - with great emphasis on her early life and work. It was a little tedious at times because it was so dense with detail. I did not realize that she spent nine years on the first volume of the book and had some squabbles with one of the co-authors; that was interesting new information for me.

Overall, the details on her work in various foreign countries and her delightful relationship with Paul were highlights for me. Her fearless and charismatic personality was well represented and brought depth to the familiar face!

From spy games to soufflés—this book serves.

Before Julia Child was the queen of French cooking, she was decoding messages, chasing secrets across Asia, and absolutely not settling down with the rich guy her parents had in mind. (Iconic behavior, honestly.)

This novel gives us a bold, brilliant look at the real woman behind the apron—starting with her WWII espionage work (yes, really), her slow-burn romance with Paul Child (dreamy), and the wild ride from code-cracking to croissant-flipping in postwar Paris.

🍷 Intelligence officer turned culinary queen
🥐 Feminist fire before it had a name
🎓 Le Cordon Bleu drama? Delicious.
❤️ For fans of The Paris Library, Lessons in Chemistry, and fierce women rewriting the rules

It’s inspiring, sharp, and full of charm—just like Julia herself. If you’ve ever felt too loud, too ambitious, or like your dreams were “unrealistic”… this is your sign to keep going.

Having never actually watched Julia Child or so much as peeked inside any of her cookbooks, the WWII tie in was the biggest draw for me going into this book. I really liked learning about Julia's war work ad well as her blossoming romance with Paul Child. I really liked how she and Paul supported each other. It was also interesting to see all of the work that went into her first cookbook--all the cooking and revising and changing things to work for American cooks with different ingredients and resources available. Although I went into this book knowing very little about Julia Child, I was quite impressed with her and how her determination and optimism shone through the pages.

I read a DRC provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#julia #netgalley
Set against the vibrant backdrop of California and later, Paris, this narrative beautifully chronicles the life of Julia McWilliams. As she navigates the turbulence of World War II, Julia's journey from a comfortable existence to a life of espionage is both compelling and inspiring. Her decision to join the Office of Strategic Services showcases her patriotic spirit and determination.
The romance between Julia and Paul Child adds a delightful layer to the story. Their shared passion for culture, art, and food leads to a heartfelt proposal and a new beginning in postwar Paris. Julia's refusal to conform to societal expectations of a married woman is a powerful testament to her character. Her enrollment at Le Cordon Bleu, despite skepticism from those around her, illustrates her commitment to her culinary dreams.
The narrative shines in its portrayal of Julia's challenges in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris. Her resilience not only transforms her own life but also paves the way for groundbreaking changes in American kitchens. This story is an engaging blend of history, romance, and personal growth, making it a must-read for those who appreciate strong female protagonists and culinary passion.

#Julia #NetGalley

Before she was known as Julia Child, she was Julia McWilliams, who has friends and is dating a wealthy man. All of that changes when Pearl Harbor is hit and WWII erupts in the United States. Julia wants to do more for her country. She becomes an OSS officer and heads overseas and becomes involved in missions that allow her to meet Paul Child a man ten years older than her. who encourages her to learn and study what she is passionate about. Julia's love of French food leads her to what she becomes known for her love of cooking and being in front of an audience. The book has many characters that sometimes make it hard to keep track of but doesn't take away from learning about the life of Julia Child.

Growing up, every Saturday morning, my sister and I would sit in front of our television and turn to the PBS station. We would watch Julia Child and be in awe at her creations in the kitchen. She was enigmatic and vivacious and funny. She felt like she was easy to relate to and was someone I wanted to meet. Even to this day I still feel like she is a kindred spirit even though I never met her. Watching her on her cooking show, The French Chef, I felt like I came to know her and that she was just such a down to earth and incredible woman. My sister and I laughed and giggled with Julia while she laughed over her mistakes and was just so encouraging. I've loved learning more about her over the years.

Reading this novel by Heather B. Moore about Julia's life, I learned even more about her. I didn't realize (or maybe didn't remember) what she did during WWII. She seemed like a fearless person who wanted to do her part and help those around her, and help those she didn't know. She truly was incredible! I love her and Paul's love story as well. It was fun to see that throughout this book. He was so supportive of her and her dreams. They were a good team together and supportive of each other.

The book covers a 20 year time span that shows her time during WWII, her meeting and marrying Paul, their time in France and other countries, and her time in Paris and going to Le Cordon Bleu, meeting fellow chefs and working on her cookbook. It was so incredible to read and think about her determination and desire to help teach many women, who like her didn't know about cooking, to cook and enjoy food. She truly was and is an inspiration to so many!

Whether you know who Julia Child is or not, and whether you enjoy cooking or not, I highly recommend you read this book!

Content: Clean.

I received a copy from the author, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

I reviewed this book for the August edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. Per their policy, I cannot put a review online until after it is published on August 1st. I will update the review then.

I read this ARC in exchange for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is a new author to me and I was intrigued by the write up
I thoroughly enjoyed this read



Highly recommended read for summer