Julia: A Novel Inspired by the Extraordinary Life of Julia Child

By Heather B. Moore

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1639934251
• ISBN13: 9781639934256
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Shadow Mountain
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A remarkable book about a remarkable lady!!

This is one of my favorite books that I have read this year!  I didn't know a lot about Julia Child, but I had seen some of her cooking shows on PBS, so when I was offered an ARC of this book by NetGalley in return for my honest opinion, I decided to give it a go, and I am so glad I did!  Julia Child was so much more than a cook, she was a brilliant, funny, incredibly charming lady that pioneered a love for French cooking that has been making it's way into kitchens since the 1950's.  But Julia had an exciting life, a true California gal, who was 6'2, and who was a valuable asset, and true patriot of our country during WWII, and a gift to cooks all around the world since she started cooking in her early 50's, which led her to the Le Cordon Bleu school, and that launched her into her career of teaching people to cook by producing many cookbooks and a series on PBS!  Reading her story was truly exciting, interesting, and just great to read. Her life was so interesting, and was this book was easy to read, realistic, captivating, and overall great story that I couldn't put down!  I admired Julia the most because she was a friendly person, very loyal to those she loved, hard-working, and no matter how many times she failed, which was many, she never gave up. She gave 100% to her tasks whether working for the OSS during WWII, being married to her beloved "Paulski", being a good friend to fellow cooks Simone and Lissete amongst others, and cooking each recipe until she could be proud serving it to those she invited to her table.  She never wanted to spotlight on her, but her passion was to bring the joy of cooking French food that she loved into normal everyday kitchens. She even went as far as converting French recipes so they would work in the American kitchen, and then co-wrote a cookbook with her cooking friend Simone, and her French friend Lisette.  It was a labor of love for 8 years, that at first was rejected because it was 750 pages, but she didn't give up! They wanted to include the all the details that were needed to make authentic French food! They eventually found a publisher that said it was perfect, and in January, 1961 their cookbook " Mastering the Art of French Cooking" hit the shelves, and became a best seller! This led to interviews, and then eventually to Julia's first cooking show The French Chef on PBS, and to several other cooking shows and more cookbooks. Her husband Paul retired from government work, and he became Julia's partner on and off screen, supporting her, loving her, and helping her fine tune all the recipes. His love and support was beautiful to read!!  I actually have that very large cookbook too, and love it! So this book gets a 5 star rating as I believe Heather Moore has really captured the story of Julia Child, and after I read it, I started watching Julia's old cooking show The French Chef. As I watched it, it felt like I was watching a friend, and it made me really love and respect Julia Child so much more than I ever did!  I highly recommend this book!!!!