Plot Summary
Vianne is a beautifully immersive prequel to Joanne Harris’s Chocolat, which is one of my all-time favourite books. It felt like coming home for me. The story follows a younger Vianne Rocher, who is pregnant and grieving the death of her mother. She drifts into Marseille, as she always does, guided by the wind and her instincts. She works in a local bistrot owned by Louis, a man who is quietly haunted by his own grief. Vianne starts to build a life slowly. She learns to cook from Margot’s recipes, makes friends with sweet-hearted Mahmed and mysterious Guy, and discovers the sensual, life-changing magic of chocolate.
But this isn’t just a simple story about learning to cook. There is mystery, memory, and a dark figure from her past who threatens the peace she has found. Vianne starts to understand her own gifts, like her ability to read people’s colours and her intuitive magic. She also starts to realise that staying still might cost her something. And so, when the wind calls again, she has to choose whether to stay or go.
Themes
Themes- Fate vs. Choice: Vianne’s journey is shaped by both patterns she got from her family and the choices she makes.
- Grief and Memory: The story is gentle in how it shows loss and how memory can both anchor and unsettle.
- The Feminine Gaze: Vianne’s quiet power comes from how she watches Louis, Guy, and Mahmed, the men around her, as they try to love and heal in their own imperfect ways.
- Found Family: The people in Vianne’s life in Marseille become her chosen family.
- The Magic of Food: Food can be both comforting and exciting, from simple peasant meals to high-end chocolate.
What Worked For Me:
- Vianne’s Backstory It was very satisfying to see how she became the woman we meet in Chocolat. It’s all here: her growth, her doubts, and her quiet strength.
- Sensory Writing: Joanne Harris is the best at writing magic realism. Her writing is rich, evocative, and appeals to all of the senses. I could smell the garlic, feel the summer breeze, and taste the chocolate.
- The supporting cast includes Guy, Mahmed, Louis, and Pomponette (yes, the cat!). Each character is well-drawn and adds depth to the story.
- Magical Realism: Tarot cards, rituals, and colour-reading are all woven in so softly that you don’t even realise you’ve entered a magical world until it’s wrapped around your heart.
- Food Descriptions: I really did read a lot of chapters with a mug of dark hot chocolate in my hand. The scenes of cooking are so much fun.
Who Might Like This
Who Might Like This- Fans of Chocolat will love this deeper look at Vianne’s past.
- People who love writing about food, especially with a French twist.
- People who like stories that take their time to develop characters and have a hint of mystery and magic.
- Anyone who likes emotional depth, found family, and lyrical writing.
- If you’re new to the series, this works great on its own, but it might make you want to read Chocolat next.
Final Thoughts
Vianne is a book that warms the heart and makes you want to read more. It’s a story about how grief, love, food, and magic change a person. I didn’t want to leave Marseille, Vianne, or the warm swirl of chocolate and secrets. Joanne Harris has once again reminded me why I read her books over and over again. I’ll be the first to buy her book if she ever writes about the years that are missing between this and Chocolat.
Until then, I’ll be reading Chocolat again with new eyes, and I’ll probably have a tray of homemade truffles with me.
Thank you to Exclusive Books for the opportunity to read this book!
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