Book Review: The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron




The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron 
3.5 Stars

Read if you love:
- Historical Fiction
- Undercover Operations
- Julia Child 
- Hidden Identities 
- Dual Timeline
- WWII Fiction
- Paris/France Settings
- French Language 
- Kitchens and Cooking in Books

Kristy Cambron really has the attention to detail in her books and this one was really interesting! We follow Kat, who is recruited by the OSS as an agent in 1943. She is hoping to find her missing brother and agrees to go to France as a spy. Years later in 1952, she is still searching for her brother and becomes acquainted with others she knew during the war time. We see different timelines here for the same characters, with multiple identities and plans. 

I really liked Kat's character, she is very sharp and in her undercover operations she is working in a kitchen that caters to the Nazi elite. She is tied in with the resistance and there is a lot of suspicion. 

In 1952, we see her marriage to Gerard, a man she married for several reasons...but not love. Kat does not truly trust him and their marriage is very unique in tension, small bits of affection but not a huge romantic one. 

As others have mentioned, this book takes a lot of brain power to keep up. We have many timelines, different POVs and code names that took me out of the story at times. I loved the writing style, the characters and food/kitchen bits, but I did struggle to keep up with what was going on. If I am honest, I believe I missed several pieces and this book deserves more of a deep dive, re-read from me one day. 

The ending was great to see so much resolved and the bit of romance development that occurred. 

Regardless of those things, this is a very immersive story that you should take time to sit with and anyone who enjoys a good WWII fiction story will like it. I think the added layer of Julia Child was also nice because so many know of her from her cooking/kitchen days. 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and Kristy Cambron for a complimentary copy of the audiobook and ebook to read and review. I have this one pre-ordered as well and look forward to meeting her at our local bookstore on her book tour! All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7569676359
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/619927
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Uy94Oi

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

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