The Secret French Recipes of Sophie Valroux

By: Samantha Vérant

Narrated by: Imani Jade Powers

A disgraced chef rediscovers her passion for food and her roots in this stunning novel rich in culture and full of delectable recipes.

French-born American chef Sophie Valroux had one dream: to be part of the 1% of female chefs running a Michelin-starred restaurant. From spending summers with her grandmother, who taught her the power of cooking and food, to attending the Culinary Institute of America, Sophie finds herself on the cusp of getting everything she's dreamed of.

Until her career goes up in flames.

Sabotaged by a fellow chef, Sophie is fired, leaving her reputation ruined and confidence shaken. To add fuel to the fire, Sophie learns that her grandmother has suffered a stroke and takes the red-eye to France. There, Sophie discovers the simple home she remembers from her childhood is now a luxurious château, complete with two restaurants and a vineyard. As Sophie tries to reestablish herself in the kitchen, she comes to understand the lengths people will go to for success and love, and how dreams can change.

*Includes a PDF of Chef Sophie's recipes from the book.

Schmaltzy in a good way

It was a sweet read. I don’t usually listen to romances but i needed something not stressful and this fit the bill.

A convincing French accent!

As a student of the French language, I appreciate the proper accent and the inclusion of many common idioms which are seamlessly and immediately explained without interrupting the narrative flow - no small task!

Any Francophile or lover of French cuisine and cooking will be enchanted by this despite the predictable “mandatory “ romance.

If you are an enthusiastic cook/chef, the included recipes in PDF format are a significant bonus.

The lady doth protest too much

This story was way too slow. The world is at the protagonist's feet and she still painfully hesitates and pines for something that is not even on the same level as the alternative.

J’adore!!!!

J’adore!!! What a wonderful tale and I loved all the French! Sophie was infuriatingly self sabotaging sometimes and her self doubt was ridiculous but I’m glad she got herself together. And what a name for love, Remi?! Oh, I’ll be thinking about this story for awhile. And I’ll be dusting off my French dictionary also!

Family, food, love.

An enchanting story of dreams, history, family, love, and a chef; the reality of life’s ordinary challenges, and the importance of family, both biological and extended. A great listen. 💛