This book is written in dual timelines. I don't know why that is difficult for me. After I got to know the characters, I was all in. Kat Harris is a strong female. I'm sure there were many during that time but the history books don't talk about many. I liked the parts that included the Julia Child cooking classes. The narration was very good

This is a wonderful dual timeline story that takes place in 1943 towards the end of WWII, and in the early 1950s in France. It is a beautiful story full of espionage, bravery, love, and French cooking!

I learned from the book that I would make a terrible spy - it took me way too long in the book to be able to keep up with the characters and their different names and timelines! But with each chapter, the story unfolds - Just when I would think I had things figured out, a new plot twist would change my theories! I loved the little surprises along the way.

I also loved the parts with Julia Child. It was so interesting to learn about her wartime service!

The Narrator did an excellent job and this was enjoyable to listen to!

If you enjoy WWII fiction, then check this one out!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction, NetGalley, and Kristy Cambron for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

With each book of Kristy Cambron's I read, I am becoming more and more a fan. The French Kitchen added to my love for her books and was a story I didn't want to part ways with. I was so invested in the characters and the outcome, it made me really cherish the end. Cambron has this beautiful way of bringing history to life through her characters' lives and romances. I love the blend of facts and fiction and the appreciation for others her books leave me with, like with this one, I am grateful for those who worked in that ever precarious world of espionage and resistance during WWII.
I don't want to accidentally spoil any twists in this book, so I'll be somewhat brief. I will say that I liked how the characters all connected throughout the book and each time something was revealed my eyes went big and I thought "ooo, I like that", though it also had some "oh no" and "what!" moments too. The setting was really intriguing. I loved seeing Julia Child in this post WWII era moment while also getting a glimpse at the spy she was. The different POVs offered so much depth and layers to the story. The romances were good in the buildup and the extra measure of tension from the danger laying around every corner. It was realistic and informative.
I listened to the audiobook version and thought the narrator did a good job with the different voices and accents. I did have to listen at a slower speed than usual, but that was more to make sure I was catching the little details than because it was hard to listen at a higher speed. I recommend both the audiobook and the book overall.
I received an advance listening copy of this novel from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France–and the spy backstory of the world’s most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child–The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she’d planned for a perfect future.

This is a bit slow in spots. But the ending is so very good! I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the hunt for Kat’s brother. Add in the cameo appearances from Julia Child and you have a pretty good read!

I also enjoyed the “sort of” love story between Kat and her “sort of” husband. Yes! You need to read this to find out.

This story is a good mysterious tale with some twists and turns you will not see coming!

This is narrated by Saskia Maarleveld. Excellent job with all the French pronunciations!

Need a WWII spy novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.

Really enjoyable historical fiction set in WW2 France, and 1950s Paris, with a guest appearance by Julia Childs :) The cover of this book doesn't do justice to the depth of this story, which was perfectly narrated by Sakia Maarleveld. Set partly in occupied Northern France in WW2 we follow Manon, a female chef working for the French resistance whilst working for Nazi officials. We also follow Kat, or Celine, working undercover for the American Office of Strategic Services. Years later, in 1950s Paris, we follow Kat as she tries to come to terms with her own wartime experiences, whilst discovering her husband is not quite what he seems, and searching for her missing brother.
The story has great tension and is not without mild violence, and although there is plenty of talk of food and cooking, the story really centres on the actions of brave young women risking, and losing, everything to fight for freedom.

A big thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this audiobook.

Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of Paris wives learning to sauté in the French way, Kat Fontaine learns much more than she bargained for. Still haunted by the years she spent serving in the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII, Kat soon finds a simple cookery class unearths the tangle of gut-wrenching memories of war and questions about the high-ranking society husband whose past is as murky as her own. But when the puzzle pieces start to come together, Kat must confront her own secrets against the mounting suspicions of the husband she thought she knew.

Rue, 1943 -- Deep in the heart of Nazi-controlled northern France, Manon Altier shifts between working for the enemy by day--as a French chef at the famous Château du Broutel, where names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels frequent the guest list--and running with underground networks against the Vichy regime at night. Working undercover with the OSS, Manon digs deep into the Nazi stronghold that has her teetering on the edge of being discovered at any turn. But when an intriguing stranger appears at the chateau claiming to work with the French Resistance, Manon must lean on her instincts to judge whether to run and hide or stand firm.

From the heights of culinary cuisine in 1950s Paris society to the underbelly of a WWII spy network embedded deep within Nazi-controlled Vichy France--and the spy backstory of the world's most famous would-be French chef, Julia Child--The French Kitchen turns up the heat on the pasts of women whose worlds collide, and forces each to question what she thought she'd planned for a perfect future.

I absolutely loved this book! I don't often read historical fiction, but I found myself thrown deep into the secret history of WWII. Kat was such an endearing character. I loved her resolve to find her brother and the journey she was willing to go on to find him after he went missing. The transformation of her character through her years in the OSS was really immense. I also really loved the story of Manon and the strength it took for her to run a kitchen at that time as a woman...especially since she was secretly assisting the French resistance. The way these two stories moved along really kept me interested--and wondering how they intertwined. I was so happy to finally see them mingle with each other. After this, I fell so much in love with the story and characters. I was so shocked by the ending! The narrator for this audiobook was absolutely perfect! My only wish was that I had a physical copy to follow along with. At times, I found myself very confused with the different characters, especially with so many people having multiple aliases. I would highly recommend this book. It reads very similar to Kristin Hannah and Kristin Harmel, both of which I love. I think I have now found a new favorite author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to @kristycambron @tnzfiction and @thomasnelson for the #gifted book and accompanying audiobook.

Prepare to be captivated by a gripping historical fiction novel that weaves together intrigue, espionage, and romance against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath.

Kat, a fiercely determined woman whose relentless pursuit to find her missing brother propels the story and keeps readers deeply engaged with her emotional struggles and triumphant victories. What begins as a simple cooking class in postwar Paris transforms into a profound journey, rich with mystery and poignant themes of identity, memory, and resilience.

With multiple timelines that converge, the story reveals intricate clues about Kat's life, her brother's fate, her husband's secrets, and the other spies she collaborated with during the war. A delightful surprise is the inclusion of Julia Child, who adds a charming layer to the narrative. The romance is beautifully crafted, touching and heartwarming, yet laced with suspense and intrigue. Each character is a joy to meet, their stories intertwining in unexpected ways.

The narrator's exceptional performance elevates the experience, bringing the characters to life with a stunning range of accents that draw you into their world.

If you have a passion for historical fiction infused with espionage, romance, and mystery, this book is a must-read. Mark your calendars for August 5, 2025; you won’t want to miss it!

How do you know the good guys from the bad guys when they are all friends or fellow villagers. Kristy Cambron makes you wade through this question while reading her newest book, The French Kitchen. I completely enjoyed this book, as I have all of Cambron's books. She gives a very different perspective of history than what is taught in history books. The women she includes are examples we all strive to be, strong, intelligent, and loving.
Manon is working for the resistance while being head chef at the Chateau du Broutel, headquarters for the Nazis. With names like Himmler, Rommel, and Goebbels visiting, working for the enemy is not only dangerous, but also quite often a hair's breadth away from death.
Kat joins the Office of Strategic Services to find her brother, who has disappeared after heading out to war. Years after the war she is still trying to find answers, when a cryptic letter arrives with just the note - G is alive.
A dual time story that will leave you flipping pages as fast as you can to discover what happen to everyone. Working as a spy or a resistance anywhere during WWII meant your life expectancy was short. History has proven that, so every time I read a book with main characters that are part of either or both groups I worry which ones will be gone before the end of the story. It does make for great reading and Cambron makes you care for all of her characters.
The French Kitchen is a beautiful piece of writing. One where you are sure to learn something new about what it is like to stand up against a wrong.

I received an audio version of "The French Kitchen" in advance from Netgalley and Kristy Cambron, thank you. This is my opinion.

I feel that I would have appreciated this story more in reading format. As an audible version, I did find the story to be a bit confusing with the different points of view from characters and keeping them straight.

This is a story of two brave women. Kat, a former OSS employee who is trying to find her brother after WWII in Paris. Her brother has been missing for years and she is trying to find and reunite with him. She is now married, a marriage of convenience, and isn't 100% sure she can trust her husband but is falling for him regardless. She must face her past to move forward. Manon, who is a chef for the Nazi's but moonlighting as an informant for the OSS on the side. As these two women's life intersect, they must face their future and what they really want.

I love stories featuring strong, indomitable women and Kristy Cambron has done it once again! This dual timeline, dual POV story follows Kat Fontaine, an ex-pat's wife living in Paris in the early 1950s as she takes cooking lessons from Julia Child by day and searches for her missing brother who never came home from the war.

It's also a story about life under occupation in France and the life of Manon Altier, a French chef working at the famous Chateau du Broutel where many famous Nazis stay as 'guests.' As the story progresses we slowly come to learn how these two women's lives are connected to each other and the men they both love.

Both a love story, a WWII story of espionage and secrets, a love letter to French cooking and a story of one sister's undying love for her brother. Kat was an unforgettable protagonist who never lets her limited hearing set her back and who defies her mother's wishes for her to lead a society life, preferring instead to get her hands dirty working on cars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio and #gifted finished copy in exchange for my honest review. Saskia Maarleveld does an excellent job voicing the full cast of characters as only she can bringing her trademark atmospheric nuances to the story.

Spies! France! Mystery! We got it all!
Despite the title there's not a lot of cooking happening though, and Julia Childs is barely more than a cameo (am I the only one noticing an influx of historical fiction with Julia Childs involved? What is this) The story itself was interesting and well-written, but, as often happens when there's more than one timeline, it all got kinda muddled kinda fast. Possibly that was because the two mains had essentially the same voice? The audio was well-narrated (you can never go wrong with Saskia Maarleveld, she's brilliant), but I think it would have worked better with two narrators to help separate the timelines better when it's harder to flip back and forth. The sameness of the main characters voices probably contributed to me struggling with feeling particularly invested until about the halfway mark, but by then it picked up and the story was set up and ready to tee off.
All in all a good read, despite my small grievances; I might re-read it in a while.

A beautifully layered historical romance that transports you to WWII France and post-war Paris, The French Kitchen is filled with secrets, betrayal, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers story that unfolds across dual timelines.

Spanning the chaos of the 1940s to the complexities of 1952, the story blends espionage, deception, and redemption with rich atmospheric detail. Multiple POVs and timelines add depth, though at times made it a bit tricky to follow. The beginning was slow for me, but that ending? Totally worth it.

Julia Child fans will enjoy her charming (though brief) appearance, adding a splash of flavor to an already emotionally satisfying story. If you’re in the mood for a historical fiction read that rewards your attention, this is it!

🥖🖤🕵🏻‍♀️

"War was not for lovers, nor courage for fools."

Umm..wow! This was my first book by Kristy Cambron, and certainly not my last. I knew next to nothing about Julia Childs, other than the fact that she was a chef/famous cook. It was so interesting to get glimpse into her life during World War 2.

I was fascinated by this story from beginning to end, with so many twists and turns in the plot.

I loved the rich culinary setting with spies, world war 2 France, and stunning romance.
There are some very sad parts, but I loved the ending and watching all of the loose ends get properly tied up.

Kat signs up to help the OSS so that she can search for her brother who went missing during the war.

This book has a dual timeline--1943 and 1952.

I definitely recommend this fabulous historical romance! The audio was so well done!

Content Guide:
Language: none
Romance Content: Closed-door: Passionate kissing (not descriptive), implied intimacy between married couple
Violence/gore: Moderate: People are shot in the head several times, murder, some wounds, bloody descriptions
Substance Use: Mild-Wine is drunk by characters throughout the book
Prejudices: none
Religious Themes: none
Other: Loss of loved ones, missing family member, death

Book Info:
Series: Standalone
Genre: Historical Fiction with Romance; World War 2
Romance Level: Closed-door
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 5, 2025
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
POV: Multiple POV Third Person

Thank you to the author and publisher for the review audio copy on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Saskia Maarleveld does an okay job narrating this story. Her voice is fine but I had a hard time telling the characters apart. WIth these many characters, another 1-2 narrators would have really helped.

This is a dual timeline story of love, war, espionage and french cooking. Honestly, I struggled to get invested in the story until more than 50% of the way through. Some of the writing felt disjointed and there were too many characters to keep up with. I did love the focus on French cooking and the women learning the recipes was a nice touch. Just an okay read for me.

This book is SO complicated- note taking is a must. A physical book would be helpful for note taking & flipping around to help keep track of whoxs who. There are aliases for aliases and the same character may have 3 or 4 names in the various timelines. There's are two Celenes (both are aliases)- the original Celene who disappeared and her replacement. The audio is good but many of the voices are too similar and it's already hard to keep characters straight. Overall it's a good book but best to be aware that it's one you need to work at. Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas Nelson, and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing an e-arc and an audio arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Love a great WW2 book where we get strong females who are fighting with the resistance. Whenever we go back and shine a light on incredible women who also fought for our country during some of the darkest days of humanity, I can’t help but gobble it all up. This book did not disappoint. Before listening, I did some cursory research and this storyline is completely valid. Resistance to the Nazi regime really did reach everywhere, including food!

Being desperate to find answers during this time is a theme that is so real, and likely haunts people to this day. I also appreciated that this book didn’t touch on the horrors that were occurring during this time. It wouldn’t have brought anything to the book if those horrors were mentioned, so I think it was a good call they were out.

My only negative was it was a bit long. There were things that felt as if they were dragging, and maybe some parts really weren’t needed. Regardless, it was a great book.

100% listen/read until the end. I knew Julia Child really did enlist and fight during WW2, but the idea that maybe she may have done a tiny bit more…is epic.

The narrator was listed as Saskia Maarleveld. Excellent pick. Her accents were awesome, and switching back and forth from male/female as well as throwing in accents was flawless. Also, Julia Child’s cadence and tone are so distinctive, and the narrator nailed it.

The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron is a gentle, heartwarming read with a charming backdrop and plenty of culinary flair. Cambron’s love for France and food clearly comes through, and the setting adds a romantic, comforting tone to the story. If you enjoy stories about second chances, healing, and the connections formed around food, this book has a lot to offer.
That said, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and while the characters were likable, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested in them as I wanted to be. The plot unfolds predictably, and I occasionally found myself wanting more tension or depth in the storyline to keep me engaged.

This contains an audiobook review.

This is a kisses only historical book set around World War II and after. The title on Amazon lists is as a romance. My advice is to not read this thinking of it as a romance story. It is a complex story that does take work to follow. You have to actively listen.

I did not read the blurb first, and I started off very confused. After I read the book, I read the blurb, and I that is not how I would have described the book. I'm at a loss as to how to describe it. My biggest suggestion is to pay close attention to the time and place at the beginning of each chapter.

It is a dual time line story, but the events in one timeline happen in different places. I was not prepared for that and it is hard to keep those things straight when listening, especially if you are doing something else while listening. If you miss that important detail, you can get lost easily.

There are spies, and the romance is not a main plot line. I know this review makes it sound like I didn't like the book. But I DID! I really liked it, but I had to work for it. The writing is wonderful. And the way the stories of different characters are intertwined is fascinating. So, stick with it.

This book is read by a female narrator. She does a great job. My only problem was that she did such a good job with the French names and accents that sometimes I confused characters because they sounded so similar. Once I got in a groove and adjusted to the accent and learned names, it was much easier. But there are two women in two different times with similar sounding names and for awhile I couldn't figure out what was going on. It was worth it in the end to have put in the effort to pay more attention that maybe I usually do to a book.

I was given the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio. I am leaving an honest review.

“What would a French glamour girl wear to stash weapons in the dead of winter besides a haute couture gown? Kat Harris wished she knew.”

With that, Kristy Cambron (The Paris Dressmaker) launches the reader out of the plane into Nazi-occupied France in 1943. The rest of the dual-timeline story recounts Kat’s wartime experiences leading to that pivotal night and haute couture gown and her later attempt, in 1952 Paris, to reckon with that night and find some degree of resolution—with a little help from Julia Child—regarding what came afterward. Kat has spent most of her life stuck in the heartaches of past loss; the reader journeys with her in discovering whether she can learn to move forward with hands outstretched into a hopeful future that is shaped but no longer shackled by the past. This novel of Allied espionage behind enemy lines serves up a rich treat as layered, coiled, and delectable as a croissant, with l’amour as the molten chocolate heart at the center of it all.

Cambron has done her homework and paints a vivid picture of France during occupation and in the post-war recovery attempts. Details of mouthwatering food, mid-century fashion, place, historical figures, and the various official and secret groups operating in wartime France add depth. Fans of classic Hollywood movies will enjoy the detailed fashion references and name drops. The detail struck me as cinematic, with serious potential for adaption as a movie or limited series.

This is a fast-paced listen I didn’t want to pause. Because of the dual timelines and numerous code names, aliases, and groups, I recommend immersive listening, such as on holiday or during a rainy long weekend. This isn’t the best book to listen to two minutes at a time in the school pickup line or falling asleep at night; it is easier to keep track of the characters when listening in bigger chunks.

The audiobook benefits from interpretation by top-flight narrator Saskia Maarleveld. I enjoyed her performance and found her French and German accents convincing on the whole. One name tended to receive an American rather than French pronunciation, but that will likely pass unnoticed for most listeners.

The religious/faith references are few and not at the heart of this story. On the whole, I would class this as clean inspirational historical fiction more than explicitly Christian historical fiction.

The French Kitchen serves up a feast of delights for fans of World War II history and clean historical fiction. Fans of Julia Child may glimpse a side of her previously unknown. Readers who enjoyed Cambron’s previous war books like The Paris Dressmaker, Kristen Harmel’s Book of Lost Names, Kristen Hannah’s The Nightingale, Ariel Lawhon’s Code Name Helene, and Diana R. Chambers’s The Secret War of Julia Child are likely to enjoy this book as well.

As one character says:
“…the most important thing I was once told about French cooking is that a chef ought to choose a meal where she must be required to add copious amounts of butter. And no matter what you’d set out to make in the beginning, in the end it will turn out all right.”

Kristy Cambron’s latest does include copious amounts of butter, and for this reader it turned out very well indeed. My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson fiction for early access to the audiobook for review purposes.

Bon appetit!

This is a complex historical fiction that has multiple POV and times. You bounce back and forth from the war in 1940s and “current time” of 1952.

When I first started the audiobook my initial thought was wow women of the 1940s were so strong, so brave and resilient, I don’t know if I could do what they did. It is hard to fathom enlisting and playing your role through espionage/spy duties.

The FMC, Kat, enlists in search of her brother Gavin. Every choice she makes is to find her missing brother who had secretly enlisted behind her parents’ backs.

I love the introduction of Julia Childs, she is not the focus, but it gives you insight to her time in France and her behind the scenes contributions to the military. This is expanded in the author notes which was fascinating, it was history I had never heard before. Loved how this was woven into the story.

I was shocked by the final reveal!

This book commands your attention to details, you have the characters that a well developed but then you have their code names and you have double agents so that was a challenge for audiobook listeners. The narrator has a great voice and tries to shift her tones for the primary characters but it is a lot to keep straight with the alternating time periods and characters speaking.