The Pearl and the Onion

by Brittany K. Allen, Anna Chlumsky (Narrator), Jasmine Cephas-Jones (Narrator)

This daring historical drama imagines what would have happened if real-life World War II Allied operatives Julia Child and Josephine Baker had teamed up in their fight to take down the Nazis.

When our story begins, Julia Child is an eager but inexperienced codebreaker longing to prove herself in the male-dominated world of intelligence, and Josephine Baker is, well, Josephine Baker—a world-famous entertainer who is now leading a double life as a spy for the French Resistance.

When a golden opportunity arises to infiltrate a high-stakes Nazi gala in Vichy France, Julia must put aside her by-the-book mentality to assist her unorthodox new partner. What begins as a rookie assignment becomes a dangerous game of deception and intrigue, thrusting the duo into the dark underworld of collaborators and double agents.

Blending rich historical details with crackling dialogue, The Pearl and the Onion is an unmissable portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable spirit of resistance in the face of evil. Its inspiring heroes, thrilling missions, and immersive soundscapes will transport you to the heart of the international struggle for freedom in 1940s Europe, painting a vital portrait of how the iconic chef and the international entertainer risked everything in service of a better world. Starring Anna Chlumsky and Jasmine Cephas Jones. Directed by Kimberly Senior.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published March 20, 2025

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio. It started rocky as we, the listeners, were introduced to the story but then it jumped in and took off. This high-flying, train-catching, historical novel was fast paced and entertaining. Unnecessary bad language sprinkled throughout.. almost as though the author was afraid the story would veer off course without it. It wouldn’t have.

[Alyssa Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was just okay for me. I love the graphic audio. But I found the voice for Julia child really irritating personally and I had a hard time paying attention because there was just too much moving through the story at not the correct pace for me.

[Sophie smith]

Not good. Only listened for Jasmine cephas jones.

[Anastasiya M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one swept me right into the heart of 1940s Europe with a mix of style, grit, and unexpected charm. Set against the grim backdrop of World War II, it somehow managed to be both tense and oddly delightful, thanks to its two wildly different leads—an ambitious, awkward Julia Child still finding her feet, and the ever-glamorous, fiercely bold Josephine Baker. The pairing was genius, and watching them navigate a world of espionage, deception, and danger made for an absolutely addictive listen.

The setting was immersive in the best way—shadowy alleys of Vichy France, lavish Nazi galas dripping with danger, secret coded messages passed under everyone’s noses. It felt cinematic, and the audio format brought that to life beautifully. Every moment crackled with energy, especially the scenes that leaned into the tension of not knowing who to trust. But what gave the story real weight were the quieter moments, the glimpses into what both women were risking—and why.

Thematically, it balanced the brutality of war with the resilience of women who refused to be sidelined. There was so much to love in how it explored identity, courage, and the ways in which history often tries to minimize the contributions of women, especially women of color. Josephine was magnetic—her duality as both performer and spy was powerful to witness—and Julia’s growth from hesitant rule-follower to someone willing to trust her instincts made for a satisfying arc.

The writing was sharp and often witty, with dialogue that popped and pacing that rarely lagged. I did think a couple of moments leaned a little too hard into dramatization, and at times I wanted even more emotional depth—more time to sit with the weight of certain decisions. But the tension and tone were balanced well overall, keeping the story grounded even as it danced through elaborate plots and close calls.

There was something really refreshing about hearing such iconic figures in a completely different light—before the cookbooks, before the fame, just two women trying to change the course of a war in their own unconventional ways. It was equal parts thrilling and inspiring, and it stayed with me long after the final chapter ended.

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[Eileen Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great listening experience. I feel this was what it was like when listening to stories on the radio back in the day. There was espionage love mystery . It certainly was interesting to say the least

[LaLa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not even really sure what I listened to, but this was a huge miss for me. I feel like the way that this was written versus the way that it was narrated were kind of on two different wavelengths. The full cast works in a lot of situations, but I don’t know if it really hit with this in which the tones they were doing it. I found some of the characters to be really annoying.

Like I can understand that some parts are supposed to be funny, but they turned out to almost be like a cringe, and I was just not a fan.

I really sat and debated if this was gonna be my first one star review because it was as bad.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every other WWII story, fiction or not, are horrific and dark or at least sad and morose. This fun adventure story was a tad oversimplified and perhaps too light and almost juvenile for the main subject of the time. The characters were endearing in a childish way. I did, however, appreciate the woman-empowerment aspect.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
It was a fun listen as the audiobook version.

[Stephanie Borges Folarin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too dramatic for me 😂

[Amanda Clemens · Rating 1 out of 5]

aweful, confusing and hard to follow

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the voices annoying, which really got in the way of me enjoying the story.

[Lynette Ott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this audio book, the characters were great, the actors really did a great job .

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75

[Meisha Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short performance was an enjoyable and captivating historical fiction about two great women in history. Loved It!

[Janis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the audio, but what a ridiculous plot. Nobody would ever believe Julia Child was French with the accent she’s using. By the end of the book, it was really getting on my nerves.

[Ellisha M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mind blown! Josephine Baker and Julie Childs once worked together and were war heros?!