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Julia: A Novel Inspired by the Extraordinary Life of Julia Child
Before she stepped into the spotlight as a master of French cooking, Julia Child navigated the shadows as a WWII intelligence officer.
On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage.
Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris.
In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: she refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion.
Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, Julia takes readers on an extraordinary journey.
On the sunny shores of California, Julia McWilliams is poised to embrace a life of comfort and financial security, with a marriage proposal from a wealthy man to consider. But as World War II erupts in the US, her patriotic fervor compels her to abandon her secure future. Trading country clubs for covert codes, Julia joins the Office of Strategic Services, where her sharp mind aids the Allied cause in the shadowy realm of espionage.
Amid strategic missions in Ceylon and China, Julia crosses paths with Paul Child, a fellow OSS officer whose delight in art, culture, and cuisine awakens a new hunger within her. Their chance meetings ignite a spark that blossoms into romance, leading to a proposal that Julia eagerly accepts. Together they embark on a new chapter in postwar Paris.
In the City of Light, Julia grapples with a different kind of challenge: she refuses to be confined by the societal expectations of a married woman. Drawn to the tantalizing world of French gastronomy—a pursuit her peers deem superfluous—she enrolls at the famed Le Cordon Bleu, and with Paul’s unwavering support, Julia immerses herself in her new passion.
Facing skepticism and prejudice in the male-dominated kitchens of Paris, Julia’s resolve never falters. Her relentless pursuit of culinary mastery not only transforms her own life but also introduces a revolutionary change in kitchens throughout America. From intelligence officer to beloved chef, Julia takes readers on an extraordinary journey.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published September 2, 2025
110 people are currently reading
4858 people want to read
About the author
Heather B. Moore
164 books1,595 followersHeather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications. Heather writes primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. Publishing in a breadth of genres, Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling.
Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.
Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.
Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
Her ancient era historicals and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes historical women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore, and . . . speculative fiction under Jane Redd. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English.
Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore
And yes, the Blog still lives: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Literary honors: 2020 Goodreads Choice Award Semi-Finalist, Foreword 2020 INDIES Finalist, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 2019 Maggie Award Winner, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner.
Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.
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March 16, 2025It was an honor to write about the vivacious Julia Child. This biographical novel covers 20 years of Julia's life, starting in 1941. Julia served during WWII in the OSS, which was the precursor to the CIA. Julia's assignment took her to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and there she met her future husband, Paul Child. No, Julia didn't take cooking seriously until she was married. After some cooking classes, and many trials and errors, she dedicated herself to perfecting recipes. Once she moved to Paris with her husband for his work assignment, she promptly fell in love with French cuisine. There was no turning back for her. It would take her nearly ten years to see her coauthored cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, on the shelves. Her personality was larger-than-life, and after a guest television spot to promote her new cookbook, she was offered a cooking show series at a public television station, which would be known as The French Chef.
From the Afterword:
The pilots of The French Chef ran in August 1962, and Julia watched them at home on her new television. She wasn’t overly impressed with her performance but felt determined to learn from them. Despite her self-criticism of how she looked too large on camera and how she appeared breathless, not to mention her habit of closing her eyes, the letters from the public poured in—delighted with her genuine personality.
With the pilots deemed successful, the production of The French Chef began in February 1963, recording at the breakneck speed of four shows each week. The debut day of the new television program was Monday, February 11, 1963, on Channel 2 at 8:00 p.m. (see this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JuliaChildonPBS). Julia cooked the “perfectly delicious dish” of boeuf bourguignon (Dearie by Bob Spitz, 341). Julia might have been fifty years old, but her career was just beginning.
It didn’t take long for Julia Child to become a household name, and by the fourth show, WGBH-TV was receiving hundreds of letters a day from viewers. Affiliates included “KQED in San Francisco, WQED in Pittsburgh, WPBT in South Florida, WHYY in Philadelphia . . .” were just a few to start (Spitz, 346).
The attention and acclaim overwhelmed Julia, especially when people stopped her in public to tell her how much they loved the show. This only made her more determined to prepare to the smallest detail and perfect each episode, with Paul as her right-hand assistant. Paul once said, “These evenings, when other folk are at the movies or the symphony or lectures, find Julie and me in our kitchen—me with a stopwatch in hand, and Julie at the stove—timing various sections of the next two shows” (Spitz, 347).
From the Afterword:
The pilots of The French Chef ran in August 1962, and Julia watched them at home on her new television. She wasn’t overly impressed with her performance but felt determined to learn from them. Despite her self-criticism of how she looked too large on camera and how she appeared breathless, not to mention her habit of closing her eyes, the letters from the public poured in—delighted with her genuine personality.
With the pilots deemed successful, the production of The French Chef began in February 1963, recording at the breakneck speed of four shows each week. The debut day of the new television program was Monday, February 11, 1963, on Channel 2 at 8:00 p.m. (see this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JuliaChildonPBS). Julia cooked the “perfectly delicious dish” of boeuf bourguignon (Dearie by Bob Spitz, 341). Julia might have been fifty years old, but her career was just beginning.
It didn’t take long for Julia Child to become a household name, and by the fourth show, WGBH-TV was receiving hundreds of letters a day from viewers. Affiliates included “KQED in San Francisco, WQED in Pittsburgh, WPBT in South Florida, WHYY in Philadelphia . . .” were just a few to start (Spitz, 346).
The attention and acclaim overwhelmed Julia, especially when people stopped her in public to tell her how much they loved the show. This only made her more determined to prepare to the smallest detail and perfect each episode, with Paul as her right-hand assistant. Paul once said, “These evenings, when other folk are at the movies or the symphony or lectures, find Julie and me in our kitchen—me with a stopwatch in hand, and Julie at the stove—timing various sections of the next two shows” (Spitz, 347).
June 9, 2025
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!!!
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!!!
September 3, 2025
•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•
{𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂}
🍽️ Release Date: September 2, 2025 🍽️
.
.
.
This book surprised me: my initial thoughts about it weren’t great, to be honest, but it did redeem itself in the end. I was really looking forward to this story, because I absolutely adore a good historical fiction novel, but sadly, this book wasn’t quite all that I was hoping it would be. My main complaint is the fact that it read too much like a biography, and not a lot like an actual immersive story. I felt like most of the facts were being told to me, rather than allowing the story play out in full and letting me experience the details of Julia’s life for myself. But I found that the more I read, the more the story pulled me in. I found Julia’s journey to becoming a great cook, and working on a cookbook with her friends, to be extremely fascinating.
If you’re a reader looking for a well-written biographical account of Julia Child’s life, then this book is perfect for you! It was definitely rich in detail and facts pertaining to Julia’s life during and after WWII, spanning twenty years. This book is marketed as one of the most comprehensive novels on Julia Child’s life, and I feel that’s a very accurate representation of it, though I was hoping for more of a story aspect than I was given.
Julia’s relationship with Paul Child definitely sparked my interest and kept me reading. It was enjoyable watching her fall in love, but I felt like emotions were a bit absent in some areas of their relationship—and every other area in the story—because of the biography aspect. This book had a certain detached feel to it that kept me from being able to fully immerse myself in the story.
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc from Shadow Mountain Publishing. All opinions listed are purely my own.
{𝑱𝒖𝒍𝒊𝒂}
🍽️ Release Date: September 2, 2025 🍽️
.
.
.
This book surprised me: my initial thoughts about it weren’t great, to be honest, but it did redeem itself in the end. I was really looking forward to this story, because I absolutely adore a good historical fiction novel, but sadly, this book wasn’t quite all that I was hoping it would be. My main complaint is the fact that it read too much like a biography, and not a lot like an actual immersive story. I felt like most of the facts were being told to me, rather than allowing the story play out in full and letting me experience the details of Julia’s life for myself. But I found that the more I read, the more the story pulled me in. I found Julia’s journey to becoming a great cook, and working on a cookbook with her friends, to be extremely fascinating.
If you’re a reader looking for a well-written biographical account of Julia Child’s life, then this book is perfect for you! It was definitely rich in detail and facts pertaining to Julia’s life during and after WWII, spanning twenty years. This book is marketed as one of the most comprehensive novels on Julia Child’s life, and I feel that’s a very accurate representation of it, though I was hoping for more of a story aspect than I was given.
Julia’s relationship with Paul Child definitely sparked my interest and kept me reading. It was enjoyable watching her fall in love, but I felt like emotions were a bit absent in some areas of their relationship—and every other area in the story—because of the biography aspect. This book had a certain detached feel to it that kept me from being able to fully immerse myself in the story.
.
.
.
I received a complimentary arc from Shadow Mountain Publishing. All opinions listed are purely my own.
August 1, 2025
From spy games to soufflés—this book slays.
Before she became America’s favorite French chef, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 was cracking codes, crossing continents, and saying non merci to a cushy life of leisure. In 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙖, Heather B. Moore whisks us through twenty pivotal years of Julia McWilliams’s life—from the sun-soaked coast of California to the shadowy world of wartime espionage, to the butter-scented kitchens of postwar Paris.
And reader? It is 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹.
This fictionalized biography serves up espionage and elegance in equal measure—and yes, the meet-cute with Paul Child is chef’s kiss. (Spoiler: he is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 the rich guy her parents wanted her to marry—true Julia style.)
Whether you’re here for the globe-trotting OSS missions, the slow-burn romance, or the stubborn defiance of every 1950s housewife stereotype, this novel will have you rooting for Julia long before she picks up a whisk.
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗜 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 ✅
🕵️♀️ Secret Agent Julia? Yes, chef. Before the soufflés came the spy missions—WWII intel in Ceylon and China.
💘 A Love Story with Flavor – Julia + Paul = art, wit, and a shared obsession with good food. Swoon.
🍳 From Clueless to Cordon Bleu – She couldn’t boil an egg… then took Paris by storm. Icon status: earned.
🎓 Cordon Bleu + Courage – Mansplaining? Please. Julia diced through gender bias with a whisk and a grin.
📺 Before She Was “The French Chef” – Nerves, trial runs, and Paul timing her like a stopwatch. Pure gold.
📚 Historical notes in the back — The kind of bonus content we love
𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
This book is a love letter to ambition, transformation, and one fiercely determined woman who defied expectations—both in the war office and in the kitchen. Moore’s writing is rich with historical detail and as satisfying as a perfectly crisp croissant.
If you’re craving a story about a woman who found her voice, her passion, and her place in the world 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 most said it was too late… bon appétit.
⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬
🤬 Language: Clean—no profanity, harsh or crude language.
🛁 Sexual Content: Gentle, closed-door romance with kissing and playful innuendo; no graphic or explicit scenes.
🥊 Violence: Non‑graphic wartime references; occasional mention of danger or injuries but no gore or brutality.
⚠️ Triggers & Themes: Includes wartime loss, grief, parental expectations/resistance—but handled with emotional tact, not sensationalized.
🚫 Substance Use & Prejudice: None noted—no overt drug/alcohol use or prejudiced language.
🎦 Movie/TV Rating Equivalency: PG/TV‑PG—appropriate for teens and up; heartfelt, romantic, historically engaging but tame.
✨ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 — 4.5/5 for style, heart, and historical depth
Before she became America’s favorite French chef, 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 was cracking codes, crossing continents, and saying non merci to a cushy life of leisure. In 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙖, Heather B. Moore whisks us through twenty pivotal years of Julia McWilliams’s life—from the sun-soaked coast of California to the shadowy world of wartime espionage, to the butter-scented kitchens of postwar Paris.
And reader? It is 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹.
This fictionalized biography serves up espionage and elegance in equal measure—and yes, the meet-cute with Paul Child is chef’s kiss. (Spoiler: he is 𝘯𝘰𝘵 the rich guy her parents wanted her to marry—true Julia style.)
Whether you’re here for the globe-trotting OSS missions, the slow-burn romance, or the stubborn defiance of every 1950s housewife stereotype, this novel will have you rooting for Julia long before she picks up a whisk.
𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗠𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗜 𝗗𝗘𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 ✅
🕵️♀️ Secret Agent Julia? Yes, chef. Before the soufflés came the spy missions—WWII intel in Ceylon and China.
💘 A Love Story with Flavor – Julia + Paul = art, wit, and a shared obsession with good food. Swoon.
🍳 From Clueless to Cordon Bleu – She couldn’t boil an egg… then took Paris by storm. Icon status: earned.
🎓 Cordon Bleu + Courage – Mansplaining? Please. Julia diced through gender bias with a whisk and a grin.
📺 Before She Was “The French Chef” – Nerves, trial runs, and Paul timing her like a stopwatch. Pure gold.
📚 Historical notes in the back — The kind of bonus content we love
𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦
This book is a love letter to ambition, transformation, and one fiercely determined woman who defied expectations—both in the war office and in the kitchen. Moore’s writing is rich with historical detail and as satisfying as a perfectly crisp croissant.
If you’re craving a story about a woman who found her voice, her passion, and her place in the world 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 most said it was too late… bon appétit.
⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬
🤬 Language: Clean—no profanity, harsh or crude language.
🛁 Sexual Content: Gentle, closed-door romance with kissing and playful innuendo; no graphic or explicit scenes.
🥊 Violence: Non‑graphic wartime references; occasional mention of danger or injuries but no gore or brutality.
⚠️ Triggers & Themes: Includes wartime loss, grief, parental expectations/resistance—but handled with emotional tact, not sensationalized.
🚫 Substance Use & Prejudice: None noted—no overt drug/alcohol use or prejudiced language.
🎦 Movie/TV Rating Equivalency: PG/TV‑PG—appropriate for teens and up; heartfelt, romantic, historically engaging but tame.
✨ 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 — 4.5/5 for style, heart, and historical depth
May 21, 2025
This is a wonderful and loving look into the life of the celebrated Julia Child. I was fascinated by all she accomplished throughout her life, from working overseas with the OSS during World War Two, then co-authoring the classic cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking”, and other books, then mastering her own cooking shows, she was a force of nature.
September 1, 2025
I didn’t know I’d love a book about Julia Child. I’ve of course heard of her, but didn’t know much about her.
I loved learning about her family of origin and her efforts during WW2. She was an extraordinary person who saw and served in the capacity she was allowed during the war. While working in intelligence she met her husband. I loved their love story. They were older and had a mature and very equal relationship. I loved how she supported him and he supported her. I loved their adventures abroad and how her husband Paul always encouraged her to learn and grow when she had an interest. He was her greatest champion and it was so wonderful to read about such a healthy marriage.
I also loved Julia’s growth. She did not know how to cook much of anything when she got married. I loved that she didn’t let her failures classify her as someone who couldn’t cook, but rather let it motivate her to learn more. She was truly an admirable woman and I loved this book. I’m grateful for the chance to read an early copy.
I loved learning about her family of origin and her efforts during WW2. She was an extraordinary person who saw and served in the capacity she was allowed during the war. While working in intelligence she met her husband. I loved their love story. They were older and had a mature and very equal relationship. I loved how she supported him and he supported her. I loved their adventures abroad and how her husband Paul always encouraged her to learn and grow when she had an interest. He was her greatest champion and it was so wonderful to read about such a healthy marriage.
I also loved Julia’s growth. She did not know how to cook much of anything when she got married. I loved that she didn’t let her failures classify her as someone who couldn’t cook, but rather let it motivate her to learn more. She was truly an admirable woman and I loved this book. I’m grateful for the chance to read an early copy.
September 11, 2025
What an incredible book! Heather Moore has a talent for sharing the history of people in a captivating story. I learned so much about Julia Child from this book. From her time in the OSS, to her love story, her family, and her journey of learning to cook and cookbook author.
This book is for you if you love:
👩🍳 French cooking
🧑🍳 International travel
👩🍳 spies
👩🍳 World War 2 and post war stories
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.
This book is for you if you love:
👩🍳 French cooking
🧑🍳 International travel
👩🍳 spies
👩🍳 World War 2 and post war stories
Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.
September 7, 2025
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook-try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!”
Julia Child. Cooking. Who hasn’t heard of her and her famous French cuisine recipes? Yes, I’ve heard of her, I watched her, but I had no idea who Julia really was. Heather B Moore is a master at bringing historical figures to life and their stories plant themselves deep into my heart and soul. There is so much to love and admire about this woman.
Things I learned:
👩🏻🍳Julia was really tall–over 6 feet tall
👩🏻🍳Julia didn’t know how to cook and messed up over and over and over again as she learned
👩🏻🍳Julia joined as the OSS in WWII
👩🏻🍳Julia lived all over the world, and particularly loved France
👩🏻🍳Julia’s first cookbook was a collaborative effort that took almost a decade to come to print
👩🏻🍳Julia wasn’t ever able to have children
I was enamored by the deep and respectable relationship between Julia and her husband, Paul. They were such a good team, best friends, and a good match–the perfect support for one another.
This woman is such a beautiful, fearless, and incredible inspiration in many, many aspects of life, and especially for women. I was immediately captivated by her and grew to love her as a dear friend. This story will be percolating through my mind for a long time to come.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
Julia Child. Cooking. Who hasn’t heard of her and her famous French cuisine recipes? Yes, I’ve heard of her, I watched her, but I had no idea who Julia really was. Heather B Moore is a master at bringing historical figures to life and their stories plant themselves deep into my heart and soul. There is so much to love and admire about this woman.
Things I learned:
👩🏻🍳Julia was really tall–over 6 feet tall
👩🏻🍳Julia didn’t know how to cook and messed up over and over and over again as she learned
👩🏻🍳Julia joined as the OSS in WWII
👩🏻🍳Julia lived all over the world, and particularly loved France
👩🏻🍳Julia’s first cookbook was a collaborative effort that took almost a decade to come to print
👩🏻🍳Julia wasn’t ever able to have children
I was enamored by the deep and respectable relationship between Julia and her husband, Paul. They were such a good team, best friends, and a good match–the perfect support for one another.
This woman is such a beautiful, fearless, and incredible inspiration in many, many aspects of life, and especially for women. I was immediately captivated by her and grew to love her as a dear friend. This story will be percolating through my mind for a long time to come.
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
November 1, 2025
If you are a fan of Julia Child you will love this book. It's fiction but reads like a biography . Very interesting and historical.
July 17, 2025
“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.
September 3, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Heather’s writing was spectacular, and you can tell she did a lot of research about Julia Child’s life. I especially liked the parts about Julia’s love story with Paul, her interesting spy work during World War II, and the many years she spent making French cooking approachable for Americans. Her journey to becoming a great cook and sharing her love for food was very inspiring.
This is one of the most detailed books about Julia Child's life that I've ever read. If you like true stories about real people, this is a good book to read. I even looked for Julia’s cookbook right away because I wanted to try her recipes!
That said, while I knew the book would mix facts with fiction, sometimes the facts felt a bit heavy and slowed down the story a but. This made it read more like a biography at times, which meant it wasn’t always as immersive as I hoped. But overall, it was still an enjoyable read.
I’m excited to read more books by Heather!
I received a free copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
This is one of the most detailed books about Julia Child's life that I've ever read. If you like true stories about real people, this is a good book to read. I even looked for Julia’s cookbook right away because I wanted to try her recipes!
That said, while I knew the book would mix facts with fiction, sometimes the facts felt a bit heavy and slowed down the story a but. This made it read more like a biography at times, which meant it wasn’t always as immersive as I hoped. But overall, it was still an enjoyable read.
I’m excited to read more books by Heather!
I received a free copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion.
September 1, 2025
Ever heard of Julia Child? Well this story is all about her. Done in a fiction style but still full of facts. The author basically narrates her story. I loved it so much, and found her life completely fascinating. This story includes her time in the OSS, meeting her husband, starting off as a terrible cook and how she became the chef we all know. The writing is done so well and smoothly. I really liked how the author tells her story. Julia was quite the woman and she is very inspiring. I honestly didn’t know much about her before reading this story. I just loved it. I definitely recommend! Especially to Julia Child fans!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author and netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
September 16, 2025
This novelization of Julia Child's life begins right before the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and finishes after the debut of her PBS cooking show, with an included afterword detailing briefly the remainder of her life. I had read in a previous novel that Julia Child lived in France, but I was unaware that she was part of the early form of the CIA, which was the OSS (Office of Strategic Service) during World War II because she just couldn't sit around and do nothing and had a great knack for organization and helped with a lot of the sorting/office side of the intelligence information gathering. Author Heather Moore does a great job in her novels based on the lives of real people and other real historical events. I do struggle with the flow of each of these historically inspired books (and this one is the same) because, for me, they tend to be a bit choppy and not as smooth to feel seamless between each chapter and events described. This book also did seem to drag a bit towards the end when it is very repetitive about how long it took Julia and Simca to publish the first French cooking cookbook. I enjoyed reading many of the instances that showcased Julia's personality and her family life, as well as her CIA/OSS experiences and how those shaped her future and meeting her husband, Paul. Each chapter has an epigraph which is aThe book has chapter notes which explain some of the factual events more clearly. However, as I read a digital copy of this book, I didn't realize they were an included part of the book until I had finished reading. Personally, with a physical copy, I would have read these at the end of each chapter, but on their own, they were still very informative and interesting. Overall, this is a great insight into Julia Child's life and what drove her as a woman, a patriot, in her love life, and to ultimately become the TV cooking personality we all know.
Content: Clean. Some mentions of World War II locations, camps, and other war scenarios, but nothing graphic.
***I received a digital copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.***
Content: Clean. Some mentions of World War II locations, camps, and other war scenarios, but nothing graphic.
***I received a digital copy of this book from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.***
August 19, 2025
Julia by Heather B Moore
Ever since seeing Julia & Julia, I've had a bad taste in my mouth. People who are rude to thier fans really bug me. Apparently, it went right over my head that she use to work for the government.
However, this book has redeemed Julia Child's character for me and brought her humanity to the forefront.
Moore's writing has a way of transporting you directly into the story and making you want to root for the characters.
This story takes you through 20 years of Julia's life. From falling in love, to spy work, to becoming a famous chef, we get it all.
I really enjoyed this fictionalized version of her life. While staying true to events, Moore gives us a depth you can't get from regular biography.
And that cover is *chef's kiss* no pun intended.
Ever since seeing Julia & Julia, I've had a bad taste in my mouth. People who are rude to thier fans really bug me. Apparently, it went right over my head that she use to work for the government.
However, this book has redeemed Julia Child's character for me and brought her humanity to the forefront.
Moore's writing has a way of transporting you directly into the story and making you want to root for the characters.
This story takes you through 20 years of Julia's life. From falling in love, to spy work, to becoming a famous chef, we get it all.
I really enjoyed this fictionalized version of her life. While staying true to events, Moore gives us a depth you can't get from regular biography.
And that cover is *chef's kiss* no pun intended.
August 23, 2025
Who would have guessed that The French Chef lived such an exciting and adventurous life? I remember my granny watching Julia Child on TV when I was little, her distinctive voice floating through the house as something delicious sizzled on the screen. Over the years, I’ve read bits and pieces about her, but this book painted a much fuller—and even more fascinating—picture of all she accomplished.
The author takes readers on a captivating journey through Julia’s life, beginning around the start of World War II and carrying us all the way to the launch of her iconic cooking show. It’s thoroughly researched and wonderfully detailed without ever feeling dull or bogged down. Nor does it fall into the trap of overly romanticizing its subject. Instead, it’s the story of a woman from fairly ordinary beginnings (though a wealthy family) who served her country, fell deeply in love, and shared her passion for French cooking with the world.
The book whisks readers across the globe—from Ceylon to France, Germany, and Norway—as Julia and Paul’s life together unfolds. Their marriage is portrayed as both tender and enduring, making it a joy to read.
While I truly loved this biography, I did have a few small disappointments. For a book of this length, it occasionally glosses over events I wished had more detail—like a house fire that’s mentioned almost in passing, or why Paul disliked a certain person and how that affected them. And while the author doesn’t shy away from Julia’s disagreements with her father, her other flaws or conflicts are largely left untouched.
Even so, these omissions didn’t diminish my enjoyment. If anything, they left me wishing for more time in Julia’s world. This is a richly told, inspiring account of an extraordinary woman, her remarkable love story, and her lasting influence on the way we cook today.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The author takes readers on a captivating journey through Julia’s life, beginning around the start of World War II and carrying us all the way to the launch of her iconic cooking show. It’s thoroughly researched and wonderfully detailed without ever feeling dull or bogged down. Nor does it fall into the trap of overly romanticizing its subject. Instead, it’s the story of a woman from fairly ordinary beginnings (though a wealthy family) who served her country, fell deeply in love, and shared her passion for French cooking with the world.
The book whisks readers across the globe—from Ceylon to France, Germany, and Norway—as Julia and Paul’s life together unfolds. Their marriage is portrayed as both tender and enduring, making it a joy to read.
While I truly loved this biography, I did have a few small disappointments. For a book of this length, it occasionally glosses over events I wished had more detail—like a house fire that’s mentioned almost in passing, or why Paul disliked a certain person and how that affected them. And while the author doesn’t shy away from Julia’s disagreements with her father, her other flaws or conflicts are largely left untouched.
Even so, these omissions didn’t diminish my enjoyment. If anything, they left me wishing for more time in Julia’s world. This is a richly told, inspiring account of an extraordinary woman, her remarkable love story, and her lasting influence on the way we cook today.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 9, 2025
If all you know about Julia Child is that she loved French food, wrote multiple cookbooks, and had a long-running cooking show on PBS, you need to read this book! She was so much more than the woman you saw on TV demonstrating cooking techniques—she travelled to the other side of the world as an intelligence officer during WWII. (I had no idea!)
The book spans 20 years and opens with Julia McWilliams in California. When the U.S. is pulled into World War II, Julia’s sense of duty and curiosity push her in a very different direction than most women her age. Rejected by the WAVES and WAC because she was over 6 ft. tall, Julia ended up working in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—think CIA before the CIA existed. That alone was fascinating, because it’s a side of Julia Child most of us know nothing about.
The wartime chapters are filled with intrigue and travel to far-off places like Ceylon and China, and we see Julia's intelligence, her drive, and willingness to take risks. This is where she meets Paul Child, who becomes not only her husband but her greatest partner. Their friends-to-lovers romance is one of the most charming parts of the book. Julia and Paul's marriage was a true partnership in every sense of the word.
The Paris chapters capture her delight at discovering French cooking and her determination to master it, overcoming obstacles she faced at Le Cordon Bleu and beyond. They show her refusal to be limited by what women at that time were “supposed” to do. Getting her first cookbook published was truly a labor of love, and of course, her beloved Paul was by her side supporting her every step of the way.
It's clear the author did extensive research. She also included some discussion questions in the back, which are perfect for book clubs. I loved learning about this fascinating woman, and highly recommend this book to everyone.
I received a copy from the author and a NetGalley link from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
The book spans 20 years and opens with Julia McWilliams in California. When the U.S. is pulled into World War II, Julia’s sense of duty and curiosity push her in a very different direction than most women her age. Rejected by the WAVES and WAC because she was over 6 ft. tall, Julia ended up working in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)—think CIA before the CIA existed. That alone was fascinating, because it’s a side of Julia Child most of us know nothing about.
The wartime chapters are filled with intrigue and travel to far-off places like Ceylon and China, and we see Julia's intelligence, her drive, and willingness to take risks. This is where she meets Paul Child, who becomes not only her husband but her greatest partner. Their friends-to-lovers romance is one of the most charming parts of the book. Julia and Paul's marriage was a true partnership in every sense of the word.
The Paris chapters capture her delight at discovering French cooking and her determination to master it, overcoming obstacles she faced at Le Cordon Bleu and beyond. They show her refusal to be limited by what women at that time were “supposed” to do. Getting her first cookbook published was truly a labor of love, and of course, her beloved Paul was by her side supporting her every step of the way.
It's clear the author did extensive research. She also included some discussion questions in the back, which are perfect for book clubs. I loved learning about this fascinating woman, and highly recommend this book to everyone.
I received a copy from the author and a NetGalley link from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
August 24, 2025
Julia gives you a peak into Julia Child’s life before she became the famous television chef we all remember. We learn about Julia’s work in the OSS and how she came to meet her husband, Paul Child. The reader is also gets to observe Julia fall in love with cooking and perfect her craft. This novel gives you the feel of sitting down for tea with an old friend. It isn’t necessarily a page turner but definitely a great way to relax at the end of a full day.
August 25, 2025
Did you know that before she became a world-renowned chef, Julia Child was an adventurous intelligence officer during World War II? It’s truly remarkable to delve into her thrilling journey with the OSS—what would eventually become the CIA. Who could have imagined that the beloved host of "The French Chef" had such a captivating past?
The book “Julia” by Heather B. Moore takes us on an exhilarating ride through Julia’s life, starting from the tumultuous days of World War II and culminating in the debut of her iconic cooking show. It’s a meticulously researched narrative filled with rich details and vivid descriptions that bring her story to life. With fascinating quotes from Julia’s own life and heartfelt journal entries, readers are transported around the globe—from the charming streets of France to the historic landscapes of Germany and Norway, all while journeying alongside Julia and her husband, Paul.
This biographical novel isn’t just for foodies; it’s a treasure trove for history buffs, offering a seamless blend of storytelling and factual depth. Moore expertly crafts a tale that reads like a captivating novel, yet is infused with the kind of historical accuracy that leaves you both entertained and enlightened. By presenting Julia Child’s inspiring life story in such an engaging format, the author invites readers to explore even more about this extraordinary American icon and her contributions to French cuisine.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
The book “Julia” by Heather B. Moore takes us on an exhilarating ride through Julia’s life, starting from the tumultuous days of World War II and culminating in the debut of her iconic cooking show. It’s a meticulously researched narrative filled with rich details and vivid descriptions that bring her story to life. With fascinating quotes from Julia’s own life and heartfelt journal entries, readers are transported around the globe—from the charming streets of France to the historic landscapes of Germany and Norway, all while journeying alongside Julia and her husband, Paul.
This biographical novel isn’t just for foodies; it’s a treasure trove for history buffs, offering a seamless blend of storytelling and factual depth. Moore expertly crafts a tale that reads like a captivating novel, yet is infused with the kind of historical accuracy that leaves you both entertained and enlightened. By presenting Julia Child’s inspiring life story in such an engaging format, the author invites readers to explore even more about this extraordinary American icon and her contributions to French cuisine.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
August 17, 2025
Wow! There were so many things I didn't know about Julia Child! What an interesting life she led, and how hard she worked to get to where she got!
I loved learning about her wartime service and her romance with her to be husband. The memories from so many different Pacific locations.
And then her time in France! She had a very kind husband when you think of all the kitchen gadgets she bought! I love his support of her "hobby" and his caring.
This is well written and full of great quotes from both Julia and Paul!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy to review.
I loved learning about her wartime service and her romance with her to be husband. The memories from so many different Pacific locations.
And then her time in France! She had a very kind husband when you think of all the kitchen gadgets she bought! I love his support of her "hobby" and his caring.
This is well written and full of great quotes from both Julia and Paul!
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy to review.
October 9, 2025
This book was an absolute delight to read! I knew of Julia Childs, but I had no idea how incredibly amazing she and her life were!
She is someone worth learning about! Her example of resilience, kindness, determination, and forward-thinking is something our world could use more of.
Heather did a stunning job of capturing Julia! She included all aspects of her, not shying away from hard topics.
If you have any inclination to pick up this book, do it! Don’t wait! You won’t be sorry!
Read this book if you like:
🍳 Playing Golf
🍳 Politics
🍳 Serving Your Country
🍳 Traveling the World
🍳 Filing
🍳 Trying New Foods
🍳 Cooking School
🍳 Talking to Anyone and Everyone
🍳 Following Your Dreams
🍳 Love and Support
Content: Strained family relationships, moments of danger, references to war-time experiences and danger, infertility, romance- kisses only.
Thank you to Heather B Moore and Shadow Mountain for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
She is someone worth learning about! Her example of resilience, kindness, determination, and forward-thinking is something our world could use more of.
Heather did a stunning job of capturing Julia! She included all aspects of her, not shying away from hard topics.
If you have any inclination to pick up this book, do it! Don’t wait! You won’t be sorry!
Read this book if you like:
🍳 Playing Golf
🍳 Politics
🍳 Serving Your Country
🍳 Traveling the World
🍳 Filing
🍳 Trying New Foods
🍳 Cooking School
🍳 Talking to Anyone and Everyone
🍳 Following Your Dreams
🍳 Love and Support
Content: Strained family relationships, moments of danger, references to war-time experiences and danger, infertility, romance- kisses only.
Thank you to Heather B Moore and Shadow Mountain for the #gifted copy; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 13, 2025
I’ve love hearing people’s stories, and Julia Child’s is fascinating. I remember watching her on PBS in the ’70s, but learning about her time in the OSS in WWII, her love of food and culinary, and the nearly decade-long effort behind Mastering the Art of French Cooking made me appreciate her even more. Bon Appetit!
August 25, 2025
DNF- I really tried to like this book but it felt more like reading a textbook rather than historical fiction. It felt more factual and I didn't feel the emotions come through the pages. Like bullet points instead of a story.
It made me gloss over the story and I couldn't remember the details, especially when the war was talked about for most of the first half of the book. I was a little interested in the relationship between Paul and Julia, but I would've liked more descriptions of key points in their time together. For example, a house fire was mentioned in a couple sentences. I would've liked to hear more about that and how she felt in the moment. How did they escape, etc? Surely that would've been a traumatic experience. I felt like that deserved its own chapter even.
The timeline moved very fast but again, the details weren't filled with emotion. And the times that things were detailed, they didn't matter much to the overall story.
I thought her cooking would make me feel more interested, but instead I ended up skimming through the times she would describe her cooking or her favorite meals.
So because of those reasons, I had to dnf at 50% into the book. I really tried but unfortunately this didn't deliver in the way I was hoping for.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc copy, all opinions are my own.
It made me gloss over the story and I couldn't remember the details, especially when the war was talked about for most of the first half of the book. I was a little interested in the relationship between Paul and Julia, but I would've liked more descriptions of key points in their time together. For example, a house fire was mentioned in a couple sentences. I would've liked to hear more about that and how she felt in the moment. How did they escape, etc? Surely that would've been a traumatic experience. I felt like that deserved its own chapter even.
The timeline moved very fast but again, the details weren't filled with emotion. And the times that things were detailed, they didn't matter much to the overall story.
I thought her cooking would make me feel more interested, but instead I ended up skimming through the times she would describe her cooking or her favorite meals.
So because of those reasons, I had to dnf at 50% into the book. I really tried but unfortunately this didn't deliver in the way I was hoping for.
Thank you Netgalley for an arc copy, all opinions are my own.
October 1, 2025
This was a really intriguing read! I am not much of a cook (at all!) but it was interesting to see how Julia went from a really rotten cook to one of the most well known chefs ever. I also loved getting a glimpse in to her life working in Intelligence during World War 2 as well as meeting Paul and their eventual life together. A wonderful read!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
September 24, 2025
I don’t think I could possible say enough good things about this book. It was wonderful! I feel so inspired after reading it. Yes, to cook more and learn more about cooking, but more from the way that Julia worked and lived. She served in WWII and then didn’t even start to cook until she was in her 30s and was terrible at it. Then she didn’t begin work on that first cookbook until age 40 (my current age!) and it wasn’t published until she was 49! I loved the way the book was written, how the story was told, the descriptions of the settings and foods, and how the characters were portrayed. I loved Paul!! The audio was fantastic. I procrastinated listening to the last hour because I didn’t want it to be over. 😭😭😭 One of my favorite books of the year.
Content warnings: none
Content warnings: none
September 24, 2025
I don't usually appreciate too many biographical details but I found the life of Julia Child fascinating, especially her OSS service (where she basically was like a librarian with super secrets) and the process of the cookbook. It was much more intense than I imagined. I was inspired to seek out more due to the French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron and I'm glad I picked up this one.
August 27, 2025
Julia McWilliams trades a life of comfort for wartime service in the OSS, where she meets Paul Child and discovers both love and a deeper sense of purpose. Their postwar life in Paris sparks Julia’s passion for French cuisine, leading her to Le Cordon Bleu and ultimately to transforming how Americans cook.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’ve always enjoyed reading about Julia Child ever since I watched her on PBS as a kid, and as a fan of historical fiction, I was excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. The story read more like a timeline of events than a novel, and it lacked the emotional depth that makes historical fiction so engaging. I didn’t feel much of a connection to Julia as a character, except that some of the food descriptions sounded appealing. The narrative focused heavily on Julia’s longing for Paul, to the point where it became repetitive and distracting.
For me, it was a reminder that great historical fiction isn’t just about covering events… it’s about making readers feel something and helping us connect with the people behind the history. This book never quite achieved that, and I was honestly bored. It was chore to finish because I never felt compelled to pick it back up. Readers who enjoy straightforward historical timelines might still find value in it, but I can’t recommend it as an engaging or entertaining read.
I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’ve always enjoyed reading about Julia Child ever since I watched her on PBS as a kid, and as a fan of historical fiction, I was excited to pick this one up. Unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. The story read more like a timeline of events than a novel, and it lacked the emotional depth that makes historical fiction so engaging. I didn’t feel much of a connection to Julia as a character, except that some of the food descriptions sounded appealing. The narrative focused heavily on Julia’s longing for Paul, to the point where it became repetitive and distracting.
For me, it was a reminder that great historical fiction isn’t just about covering events… it’s about making readers feel something and helping us connect with the people behind the history. This book never quite achieved that, and I was honestly bored. It was chore to finish because I never felt compelled to pick it back up. Readers who enjoy straightforward historical timelines might still find value in it, but I can’t recommend it as an engaging or entertaining read.
September 4, 2025
Until recently, the only thing I knew about Julia Child was that she was a famous cook and had a tv show. This wonderful book helped me see she was much more than that, and it really brought her to life.
Julia grew up in a wealthy family, but wanted more than a comfortable and pampered life; she wanted to feel like she was making a difference. During WWII, she applied to work with the OSS (precursor to the CIA), and was sent to India and China where she worked for the government helping with intelligence collecting
While serving overseas, she met Paul Childs. The description of their friendship, that eventually blossomed into a delightful romance, was a highlight of the book for me. The love and support they had for each other was truly lovely.
After the war, Paul and Julia moved to Paris. As he was busy with work, she got more and more interested in cooking. I loved the fact that when they first got married she could hardly cook anything, and had many disasters in the kitchen. But there was something about French food and cooking that lit a fire in her, and she became very passionate and tenacious about mastering it. I loved that she didn’t give up when things didn’t go smoothly, and she went from those beginnings to a world famous cook and culinary educator.
The book does a beautiful job of capturing Julia’s warmth, vibrance, curiosity, sense of humor, and intelligence. She seems much more accessible and down to earth to me now, and someone I would have loved to have met in person.
This is a charming, heartwarming story, and was obviously well researched. Highly recommended for fans of Julia Child, strong women, and historical fiction.
Julia grew up in a wealthy family, but wanted more than a comfortable and pampered life; she wanted to feel like she was making a difference. During WWII, she applied to work with the OSS (precursor to the CIA), and was sent to India and China where she worked for the government helping with intelligence collecting
While serving overseas, she met Paul Childs. The description of their friendship, that eventually blossomed into a delightful romance, was a highlight of the book for me. The love and support they had for each other was truly lovely.
After the war, Paul and Julia moved to Paris. As he was busy with work, she got more and more interested in cooking. I loved the fact that when they first got married she could hardly cook anything, and had many disasters in the kitchen. But there was something about French food and cooking that lit a fire in her, and she became very passionate and tenacious about mastering it. I loved that she didn’t give up when things didn’t go smoothly, and she went from those beginnings to a world famous cook and culinary educator.
The book does a beautiful job of capturing Julia’s warmth, vibrance, curiosity, sense of humor, and intelligence. She seems much more accessible and down to earth to me now, and someone I would have loved to have met in person.
This is a charming, heartwarming story, and was obviously well researched. Highly recommended for fans of Julia Child, strong women, and historical fiction.
August 30, 2025
Ms. Moore has written an expertly researched novel about Julia Childs. She brought to life little known facts about the famous chef's life I had been unaware. Growing up in a privileged home, Julia felt the desire to be more than a pampered socialite. She signed up to work with the American intelligence department to aid the Allied forces during WWII. While she is a household name in the world of cooking, most of the world is unaware of her past service gathering intelligence, decoding messages and aiding in the WWII arena.
The book describes her time overseas as well as her romance with Paul Childs. Following the war, it describes her growing love for French food and eventually sharing her knowledge with an American audience. While I missed the shows on PBS, I was still aware of her legacy.
I absolutely loved Ms. Moore's voice as she told Julia's story. It did not quite read as a novel, but not as a 'dry' biography either. It was a mixture of all the resources used. The author prints extensive author notes at the end.
Julia comes across as a vibrant, passionate woman. One who opened her heart and home to people from all different cultures and walks of life. While she never became a mother, she had a nurturing soul from which others benefited. She had an incredible drive and passion to produce her first cookbook, one that took almost a decade to see published. yet through it all, she saw her readers and fans as individuals with which she wanted to share her love of cooking.
I just might need to get my own copy of one of her cookbooks.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The book describes her time overseas as well as her romance with Paul Childs. Following the war, it describes her growing love for French food and eventually sharing her knowledge with an American audience. While I missed the shows on PBS, I was still aware of her legacy.
I absolutely loved Ms. Moore's voice as she told Julia's story. It did not quite read as a novel, but not as a 'dry' biography either. It was a mixture of all the resources used. The author prints extensive author notes at the end.
Julia comes across as a vibrant, passionate woman. One who opened her heart and home to people from all different cultures and walks of life. While she never became a mother, she had a nurturing soul from which others benefited. She had an incredible drive and passion to produce her first cookbook, one that took almost a decade to see published. yet through it all, she saw her readers and fans as individuals with which she wanted to share her love of cooking.
I just might need to get my own copy of one of her cookbooks.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 15, 2025
I have a deep nostalgia for anything Julia Child related, so I had to give it a go.
This historical fiction didn’t reveal anything I didn’t already know- but it was a fun and rather light hearted historical fiction telling of her early life.
This historical fiction didn’t reveal anything I didn’t already know- but it was a fun and rather light hearted historical fiction telling of her early life.
August 31, 2025
I found this book to be fascinating! It is a novel but it was so well researched it felt like a biography in information about Julia's life but also felt like a novel in which the reader cares about the characters. Everything I liked about them was made all the sweeter by the knowledge that the Julia & Paul Child were real people. I loved that Paul was so supportive of Julia as she tried to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. He never had expectations that she should be a certain way. I loved that much of their love story is built around their love of food. Paul had experienced so much more variety in food and enjoyed showing Julia what was waiting for her. And she was game to experience it with him. And Julia was very patient waiting for Paul to be ready to try love again as he was still grieving a loss. Their romance and love for each other was wonderful. The historical elements were interesting. When I think about WWII I don't think about Americans being sent to China and other countries which until reading this book I don't think I'd ever heard of. I think about Japan and Europe. (I was not a history major, obviously). I was fascinated by it all. Loved the book.
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