I expected to like this one more than I did, but it just never really gelled for me. The plot was complex, but the unraveling of the mystery was difficult to follow. I listened to the audio version, and the narrator was excellent, but I had a hard time keeping track of which timeline I was in and what was going on with all these characters, particularly with all the name changes for espionage reasons... The chapters with Julia Child were my favorite.

This audiobook felt like wrapping yourself in a warm scarf and stepping into a sun-dappled Parisian kitchen. The French Kitchen is a gentle, heartwarming blend of food, faith, family, and finding your way again after everything falls apart.

The story unfolds with a dual timeline—rich with emotion, subtle romance, and the kind of personal growth that sneaks up on you. Kristy Cambron knows how to write with soul, and the backdrop of French cuisine adds such a delicious, cozy layer to the narrative. You can almost smell the pastries and hear the clink of coffee cups as you listen.

Narration by Barrie Kreinik? Absolutely lovely.
Her voice captures the warmth and quiet strength of the main character so well, adding depth and emotion that made the story feel even more intimate.

Listen if you love:
🥐 second chances + soul-healing stories
☕ cozy European settings
📖 character-driven narratives with faith and heart
🎙️ thoughtful narration that feels like a gentle conversation

Perfect for a peaceful weekend listen, paired with a cup of tea and something warm from the oven. This one fed my heart and my spirit.

ARC received via NetGalley—huge thanks to the author and publishing team for letting me read this early! 💛

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this audiobook. I enjoyed the book and I love a WWII story. This was appealing because it also depicted Paris in the 50’s post war, and any book with a Julia Child cameo is for me. There are parts that fell a bit flat for me, and I honestly just wanted a bit more. But if you like WWII historical fiction, women’s involvement in the war, and French food I’d recommend.

Title: The French Kitchen
Author: Kristy Cambron
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Saskia Maarleveld
Publication Date: 5 August 2025
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction

**Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Tis was my first Kristy Cambron novel, and I don't think it will be my last. From the moment I started it, I could feel the quiet strength behind her storytelling, and The French Kitchen delivered a layered, emotionally resonant reading experience that quietly nestled its way into my heart.

We follow Kat Harris, a woman of grit, heart, and unapologetic independence, as she transitions to a covert OSS operative in occupied France during WWII. The novel unfolds across a dual timeline between 1943 and 1952, gradually revealing her role in the Resistance, the people who shaped her path (from Manon to Dominique to Gérard), and the personal reckoning she faces nearly a decade later.

Cambron masterfully crafts both timelines with emotional clarity and immersive detail. The wartime narrative pulses with espionage, danger, and loss, while the post-war setting aches with memory, nostalgia, and quiet revelation. The use of food—both as a literal and metaphorical thread—was handled beautifully, showcasing how cuisine can become a source of connection, identity, and even resistance. The writing is rich with atmospheric and heart, and I was especially moved by the way Cambron captured resilience in its many forms.

That said, a few small things kept this from being a full 5-star read for me. The pacing occasionally faltered with certain moments being drawn out, while other, particularly key reveals, felt a bit rushed. Julia Child's fictional cameo, while enjoyable, was also given more emphasis than necessary for her limited role in the actual plot. Readers unfamiliar with multi-timeline narratives may also take time to settle into the structure, thought, I found the payoff worth it.

I listened to the aduiobook format and found the narration well-paced, clear, and engaging. As always, Saskia (who just so happens to be my favourite narrator), was perfect in her role of bringing this story to an audio version. The experience was just as rich and rewarding in audio as it would be on the page,

Overall, The French Kitchen is a quiet triumph. A wonderful story about memory, identity, and the women whose strength often goes unseen in history books. It is deeply emotional, quietly powerful, and steeped in the lingering flavour of sacrifice, love, and survival. A perfect recommendation for fan os historical fiction, stories of female resilience, and narrative that remind us of the power in small acts of courage.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I find myself always trying to find books written during WWII. This book hit the spot. Kat, basically a tomboy, gets recruited as an OSS member, due to her love and knowledge of many languages. So she goes undercover while also trying to find her missing brother, who had joined the war effort. This book is told in a dual timeline, but during the war and after the war. I thought I would get confused, but the way the author tied everything together, I had no problem at all. I was on the edge of my seat many times throughout the book. I would recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction. Plus, a fun little bonus, is the mention of Julia Child, who was known to be involved with the OSS.

This is a very interesting read. It was a bit slow and confusing at first but was well worth continuing listening. The reader did an amazing job. The story is mixed with clues throughout and with secrets thrown in. While reading it one feels like
there in the war with the characters. I loved having Julia Child interwove in the story. Recommend this read.

This dual timeline historical fiction was fairly easy to follow with a decent storyline. There are alot of layers to this novel.

Paris, 1952 -- An ex-pat wife living in Paris signs up for a cookery class taught by an American chef with an indomitable wit and decidedly French airs--an instructor by name of Julia Child. Amongst classes of the L'Ecole des Trois Gourmandes, with pots and pans and prim 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--and her carefully crafted Paris world begins to fall apart--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 to filter information to agents within the burgeoning OSS, Manon digs deep into the glitz and glamour of a 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--even as a terrifying discovery tests her resolve to continue the fight.

This was my first time reading a Kristy Cambron book, but so many of my library patrons have bragged on her work that I just had to find out once and for all if the rave reviews were true. Well…I'm happy to report they are. Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I adore stories set during World War II, and the historical detail Kristy put unto this book is incredible. I also loved getting to “meet” Julia Child. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and I never knew what to expect. I will say there were moments the different timelines became a bit confusing, and I had to go back and re-listen to certain parts, but that wouldn’t stop me from recommending this book. It’s a truly beautiful story. And what can I say about my favorite narrator, Saskia Maarleveld? She is absolutely amazing - once again. I could listen to her read Old McDonald Had a Farm and I’d be perfectly content. I look forward to reading more of Kristy’s work. In the very near future.

I wanted to like this book but in the end, it just wasn't for me. The story as a whole was interesting enough to keep me listening but I found the dual timelines difficult to follow. Maybe it's because I was listening to the audiobook instead of an ebook where I could flip back to see what year we were in. I enjoyed the spy stuff, having chef's and kitchen workers as spies is a clever idea! I enjoyed the romance, and of course the appearances of Julia Child.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC audiobook.

The first I was able to read by this author and I was impressed. The amount of detail, the flow and uniqueness of the story. This story is mainly set during the World War II time period and revolves around the lives of spies working for the French resistance. There are multiple storylines and a dual timeline which all tie together nicely for a satisfying conclusion. As the author weaves the two parts of the story together the reader is left with both an aching sense of the losses caused by war and the victories that come from never looking back. I enjoyed the setting, the addition of Jujlia Child's and the twists in the story. If you are a fan of any of these you need to pick up this book it will not disappoint. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the opportunity.