Review of The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux

 

Verant, Samantha.  The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux.  Berkley, 2020.

Sophie Valroux has worked at Cendrillon NYC for five years and is currently serving as chef de partie.  She dreams of one day being one of the few female chefs who run Michelin-starred restaurants.  Unfortunately, her dream takes a downturn when her chef ex-boyfriend, Eric, sabotages her food while a food critic is in the restaurant.  Not only is Sophie fired, but her reputation is ruined, as the news spreads throughout newspapers and the Internet.

 

Devasted and humiliated, Sophie goes through depression and loses interest in her love of cooking.  Sadly, she discovers that her beloved Grand-Mere’ Odette, who lives in France, has suffered a stroke.  Sophie flees New York and arrives in Champvert, in southwest France, where her grandmother lives.  The luxury Chateaux de Champvert, which her grandmother owns, is much larger than she remembers as a little girl.  The estate boasts two restaurants, a vineyard and winery, and a staff that is nearly all women.

 

While working at the chateaux, Sophie rediscovers her love of food and cooking.  She reconnects with a childhood friend, Remi Dupont, who becomes much more than a friend.  When her grandmother has a relapse, she tells Sophie that she wants her to run the chateaux and that it is her birthright.  Sophie must now decide if she will carry out her grandmother’s wishes or take a coveted job offered to her in New York City.

 

Samantha Verant’s debut novel is an ode to family, friendship, food, and second chances.  Because the author lives where her novel mostly takes place, she has drawn on her background to include lush descriptions of France and its culture and food.

 

The reader can see Sophie growing as the book progresses, from her downfall until she begins to love food, creativity, and cooking once again.  She becomes more and more confident in herself, both as a person and as a chef, and proves just how resilient she really is.  This plot resonates because, even today, it seems that women chefs have to work harder than men to make a name for themselves in the culinary world.

 

There are French words and phrases sprinkled throughout the novel.  As an added bonus, the author has included recipes in the back of the book for readers to try.  And there is a sequel in the works!  Sophie Valroux’s Paris Stars is slated to be published on October 19, 2021!

 

The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux is a delightful foray into culinary fiction.  Hand it to readers who enjoy romance, travel novels, and watching The Food Network.  I recommend it for public libraries, and I give it four out of five fleur delis!

 

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for allowing me to read and review this book.