5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/05/20/review-vianne-chocolat-0-by-joanne-harris/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Just the Most Delicious Book

I don’t think I can do this book justice in a review but I’ll give it a try. In a nutshell, I loved this book. Think of all the most lovely words you can imagine, delicious, scrumptious, whimsical, beautiful, delightful, a joy to read, and then times them by ten and that’s my experience reading this book.

This book actually brings to us Vianne’s story, long anticipated and now arrived to tantalise us with decadent chocolate, breathtaking recipes and a story of found family all embellished with a little magical realism. We learn about Vianne and her past and the time she spends in Marseille before finally opening her chocolaterie in Lansquenet.

Firstly, I would say that if you haven’t read any of the books from this series this book is the perfect start of the journey. You can certainly read this as a standalone and maybe if you pick this one up you’ll know whether or not you want to continue the rest of the journey.

Secondly Vianne is a wonderful character. She isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes but her heart is in the right place. She’s torn between following the path set by her mama and wanting to forge her own course. And, in this addition she is in the very early stages of pregnancy. Vianne has a way of bringing light into other’s lives – usually she doesn’t stay around long enough to affect such changes, usually eager to make an exit before she’s caught by darkness.

Thirdly, the writing is exquisite. It’s so evocative. You can smell the aromas, the descriptions of the places, the scents. But, I warn you, you may need cake, warm chocolate and other little delights because this book will surely test you and make you want to delve into hand made treats. I mean, quite literally, I’ve spent the last three days with a loudly grumbling stomach.

I loved the story. Vianne finds shelter at a jaded bistrot under the care of its owner Louis. Louis has been in mourning for many years since his pregnant wife passed away. His little kitchen and the book of recipes his wife annotated have remained the same since but he reluctantly allows Vianne into this little shrine to begin to learn how to cook. Vianne spends her first month in Marseille between the little bistrot that is slowly coming back to life with the delicious aromas on the wind tempting customers through the doors and with a couple of friends she has made who are endeavouring to open a chocolaterie, where Vianne discovers her love for chocolate and the magic it helps to achieve.

This is not an action packed read with adventure and disasters around every corner. It’s an exploration into, not only Vianne’s but, the lives of the people she encounters and the little changes that gradually come about to help them come alive again. There is sadness here. Both for Vianne and Louis. Vianne wants to stay true to her mother, to run before attachments are formed and roots pull her down but she wants to make a difference too. You can really see elements of the woman she is about to become and I really enjoyed reading her story.

In conclusion, if you haven’t read any of the Chocolat series this is a perfect place to start. If you’re already a fan then prepare to be happy because Vianne is an absolute delight.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 5 out of 5 deliciously sweet stars

I’m sharing my thoughts about a much anticipated read. Vianne is the prequel to the much beloved Chocolat series. It tells the story of Vianne before she lands up in Lansquenet.

Reading Joanne Harris’s writing is a very sensual experience and by that I mean appealing to all the senses. Whether that’s the feeling of thistledown on a summer breeze in Marseille, the smell of pretzels and beer in New York, the sights and sounds of a fish market or the taste and aroma of fresh herbs and garlic cooking, Harris creates a vivid picture that immerses her readers in Vianne’s world. Talking of food, there are the most delectable descriptions of cooking throughout the book which will have your mouth watering and may inspire you to cook some wonderful creations in your own kitchen.

I enjoyed reading about Vianne’s back story, knowing where life leads her. This book could be experienced in different ways by different readers. Some like me, will consider Vianne an old friend and recognise references to and elements of the future novels. Others will be meeting her for the first time and I’m almost jealous knowing they can follow her story from here for the first time.

There’s a mystical element running through the book with tarot cards, rituals and Vianne’s ability to see and read people’s ‘colours’, and understand them so clearly. Even making chocolate seems to be imbued with some kind of magic.

Although I enjoyed the book I did find it a bit of a slow-burn read or perhaps I should call it a gently told story. Until the last quarter or so of the story, it’s an intense look at what makes Vianne who she is and how she came to learn about the skills of chocolate making. The last part of the book brings together the many strands which Joanne Harris has been winding subtly throughout the book in a satisfying way. There are still a few years between where we leave Vianne in this book and where we meet her in Chocolat. I wonder if the author has plans to fill in the gaps in another book. I’d be keen to read it if she does.

It was so easy to return to Vianne and the wonderful writing style of Joanne Harris.
Even though it has been several years since I read Chocolat, reading Vianne brought back so many memories; the wind, a little bit of magic and of course scenes from the film.
Beautiful prose took me straight back to France .
Loved it.

From the very start Joanne Harris's beautiful prose draws you in and enchants you. The characters are beautifully depicted and the descriptions of the food and the chocolate-making are mouth-watering. However, as the book progressed I felt that it needed a bit more story and a bit less description and I found myself yearning for a plot and some depth. We heard the history of chocolate mentioned so many times that it became a little wearing and I found myself really disliking Vianne's mother and her obsession of moving on when the wind changed or when there was any danger of putting down roots. Overall a good read but it dragged slightly towards the end.

Vianne by Joanne Harris is a prequel to her beloved Chocolat and gives the reader a look into Vianne's life before she came to Lansquenet and opened her chocolaterie. Pregnant and grieving the death of her mother, Vianne follows the wind and finds herself in Marseille where she charms her way into a job at the local bistro. For the first time her life is in her own hands, but now it is not just her life, it is also the baby she is carrying, the baby that she knows deep within is a daughter. Her new boss Louis is a man lost in grief of his own, still mourning the loss of his wife and child years before, and something about Vianne's plight makes him want to take her in and teach her. Slowly Vianne builds a life in Marseille, making friends including Guy and Mahmed, two men who are trying to open up a chocolaterie in Marseille, and teach Vianne all about chocolate and its magic. Of course Vianne is not without magic of her own, as reader of the previous books already know, but it is here in Marseilles that she really starts to find a way to use her abilities to help those around her. It is not all happiness and light however as Vianne begins to fear that the mysterious man in black who haunted her mother has now followed her here and out of fear of what that may mean for those she has come to love and cherish she reluctantly decides that she must leave them behind and follow the wind once again.
While this is a prequel to Chocolat, and many readers will already be familiar with Vianne and her story, this book could absolutely be read as a stand alone or by someone who has not read the other books. There is a wonderful seam of magic that flows through the story, and I loved learning more about Vianne, her mysterious past had always fascinated me and this book goes a long way to satisfying that curiosity without dampening any of the magic of the series. Once again the cast of supporting characters that surround Vianne in Marseille are wonderfully brought to life, it was so easy to picture them in my minds eye while reading and I was really invested in their journeys as the book unfolded.
When I picked up this book I was expecting descriptions of food that would make my mouth water and I was certainly not disappointed, this book is a love letter to food and the joy and healing that cooking for someone or being cooked for can bring., from simple peasant foods to exotic chocolate creations food is at the heart of this story.
This is a magical story and I loved every word, it made me so happy from beginning to end.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Set 6 years before Vianne and Anouk arrive in Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, it is July 1993 and 21-year-old Sylviane Rochas arrives in Marseille after her mother’s death.

Vianne has never known a traditional home or family, and we learn more about how her and her mother moved with the wind throughout her childhood, always running away from The Man in Black. Vianne’s struggles within herself are a continuing theme - should she continue her mother’s life of never settling and letting people in, or put down roots for her and her daughter?

When Vianne arrives in Marseille she is newly pregnant and has nowhere to go. She is soon befriended by Louis Martin, the kind owner of La Bonne Mere bistro. Still grieving for his wife, Louis begins teaching Vianne her family recipes and she finds comfort in learning to cook and feeling connected to Margot’s notes. She then meets Guy who teaches her all about chocolate making and we see how her skills in Chocolat originated as she creates unique treats and develops her skill for knowing which will be everyone’s favourites.

The tone of Vianne’s voice is so ethereal and comforting, almost lyrical. And with all the gorgeous descriptions of the French cooking, and the chocolate making, it really sparks your senses as you’re reading, making you hungry and relaxed at the same time!

As always with Joanne there are some wonderful characters - Louis and Emile are both quite grumpy and stubborn, but slowly open up and move on from their past pain through Vianne’s magic and the temptation of the chocolate. And the mysterious Khamasseen - is she good at staying hidden when she wants to be or is she only in Vianne’s imagination? I was never sure!

A magical delight - which has made me want to go back and read all the others in the series!

I was late to discovering the Chocolat series, only reading the first one in 2021, but it's one of my favourite fictional worlds to spend time in.

Seeing a glimpse into Vianne's world before the events of the series enriches the series beautifully! But, it's also a fantastic story on its own. Young Vianne is a compelling and likeable character and I loved the supporting cast too (particularly Guy, Stéphan, Margot, Loïc). Harris has a phenomenal skill in bringing off-screen characters (Margot, Maman, Anouk) to life!

The story takes us from the Eastern Seaboard to France and follows Vianne's foray into cooking with food writing I could sink my teeth into. I loved the transition from the cooking Margot's savoury meals in the bistrot to the dessert course at the chocolaterie! As always, the writing was top-shelf with phrases and descriptions to savour and enjoy.

If you love the Chocolat series, check this out.
If you love food writing, particularly à la France, check this out.
If you love a great storytelling with characters you can cheer on, check this out.

I'm already looking forward to reading this again.

Joanne Harris wraps you up in the world of Vianne Rochas, with the warmth and smells and tastes of Marseille and other places in this long awaited prequel to Chocolat. I say long-awaited, but having not read the first I was merely fascinated by the ‘how did it start’ aspect of the story, since I’m mired in a prequel of my own at present.

What strikes me most is the descriptive style. Instead of sound and shape there is colour and smell. Vianne seems to navigate her world by smell. I soon found this book impossible to read without a morsel of chocolate melting in my mouth—which is exactly what chocolatier Guy encourages tasters to do. Let it melt. Experience the spices, the heat, the atmosphere of the exotic places where it grew, of the history it holds.

To balance things out, Vianne has fallen on her feet, working in the kitchen of a local lunchtime eaterie. More than a diner, less than a restaurant, a place where locals come for the plat du jour, and are allowed to criticise her efforts at producing the deceased wife’s genius cuisine. Soups, stews, pastries and breads of southern France…and the markets too. I’m now dying for a Marmande tomato for my pasta sauce.

I loved this book. It is warm and frosty at the same time, chilling is too strong. The frost gives it tension, the characters give it humanity in all its warped glory. It is a book worth taking time over, savouring it even though you are desperate for the next mouthful. If you are any sort of diet, furnish yourself with a large pot of healthy soul food, and lock the chocolates away. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

" We don't just travel on roads and seas.. We travel in stories and in dreams."

"There is no gift without a loss. The world demands its balance. Be careful what you dream of, Vianne"

Twenty five years ago Joanne Harris introduced us to the world of Vianne Rocher in the village of Lasquenet with her magical skills at creating chocolates and weaving herself into the lives of others by trying to bring harmony into their lives. Subsequently, three other books followed following Vianne's life and her preternatural talents.

Now in 2025 we have a "prequel" - the life of Vianne before Lasquenet. This is again is a hypnotically magical and a moving story about love, tragedy, friendship and the desire to live freely unencumbered by relationships that trap. A book about the stories of people but also hopes and dreams - but are they all that we wish for?

Vianne is now twenty and pregnant and finds herself in the city of Marseilles after scattering her mother's ashes on the Hudson Bay in New York. She finds work in a small cafe where she is taken in by Louis - a man haunted by grief. She is taught to cook following the recipes from his late wife's cookbook which exudes an enchantment and soon Vianne is putting the pieces together of Louis's life. She befriends the locals in the cafe and meets Guy and Mahmed- two chocolatiers - who recognising a lost soul take her under their wing teaching her their skills. But amidst these new environment, she feels haunted by her mother's voice and the mysterious Khamaseen.

But Vianne feels trapped .. her life has been one of movement and with a baby due in a few months , should she make a home with this community or leave- forever on the move and wary The Man in Black. and follow the wind.

Joanne Harris' prose is pitch perfect- its does feel like being transported back twenty five years- the writing is hypnotic. Vianne is a truly unique creation- her synaesthesia of seeing the moods of people through colours around them and knowing what foods and spices could enhance their lives is as enchanting as ever. The voice of Vianne is distinct and is instantly captured from the first page for those familiar with the other books.

This is a wonderful read- escapism and bewitching. The smells and tastes exude off the page. A brilliant prequel- but there are more stories to tell- especially about Vianne's mother and her choices to take Vianne on this never ending journey through her childhood.

Dive in to the world of chocolate and food and rediscover Vianne.

Joanne Harris has such a distinctive voice for Vianne Rocher, protagonist of Chocolat and its sequels.

Here we get to meet Vianne before she even had her name: a young woman who finds herself in France following the loss of her mother.

The story woven here makes complete sense for fans of the Chocolat series and brings depth to the character who brings her magic to life through chocolate. Surrounded by a cast of characters, who each make their mark on young, pregnant, but very knowing Vianne, we become immersed in plotlines that navigate loss, identity and survival. 'Vianne' is a book which centres around what makes us who we are, the complexity of humans and ultimately, the strength of adaptability. Is it better to follow the changing wind, or your listen to your heart?

It was a pleasure to read this novel and to walk through the places of Vianne's formative experiences. Harris has a way of bringing a vivacity to her settings- they feel entirely believable and every day, yet full of backstory. Reading this feels like sitting alongside Vianne in the kitchens of Marseille, or the streets of her childhood. The writing style feels inimitable and this story works well as a stand alone, or read after the original series. It could be read as an introduction into the original timeline, for those who are unfamiliar.

As with most of the series, things sometimes fall in a way that may not feel completely realistic. That can be the magic of the writing though and ultimately the plotlines pull together and we feel the realism in the real depth of character that is built. In Harris' tales, there doesn't feel a tribe of 'good' and 'bad' people, but humans, who each have their own pasts and act in understandable ways according to this. Redemption is often a theme here and we see growth in the people surrounding Vianne, as well as within her.

I really enjoyed meeting the younger version of this familiar character and am giving this 5 stars due to the excellent writing style and the fact it feels exactly what could be imagined as Vianne's past. It was clearly well thought through and executed and I was hooked into it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

4+ ⭐


This really brought home what a distinctive voice Vianne has, I think from the opening chapter I'd have recognised it even without an author name.
It's great to fill in some back story of who she is, and how she came to be the person we know.
There is as always that little touch of magic to her.
The writing is so vivid I swear I could smell the chocolate at times.
Some genuinely great characters that I could happily read further books on.
It was an absolute delight.

The prequel to Chocolat

Sylviane (Viane) Rochas scatters her mother’s ashes in New York and decides to head to France travelling with few possessions, including Maman’s Tarot cards. She lands in Marseille three days later. Where will the wind take her? Bordeaux or Montpelier, perhaps? She studies a map whose pages reveal part of the river Baise with its bastides*. There, to her surprise is one called Vianne. It’s a sign. Perhaps she’ll head there and maybe find herself along the way? There are omens and signs everywhere but first, food and a bowl of bouillabaisse hits the spot. She chats to the bistrot owner, Louis Martin, who is concerned she has nowhere to sleep and he offers a reasonably priced room for a night or two. In need of a job as funds are low, she persuades Louis to give her a go in his kitchen and he agrees. She needs some security as it’s not just herself she now needs to consider…

Joanne Harris is a sublime writer who creates magic with her words and in her stories. This is a prequel I never knew I needed but realise I/we so did. I love the character of Vianne, her strength, resilience, her magic and sometimes her vulnerability. She’s quick to learn and very resourceful as here she not only learns to cook but this is where the story of chocolat begins and I love how that plays out and can almost smell the aroma in the air. There are other terrific characters too, Louis, gruff, grieving, sometimes angry but he and his late wife (I’ll say no more) teach her a lot. There’s a very good story there, which Vianne follows with her heart. Then there’s Guy and Mahmed who introduce her to the historic world of cacao and finally there’s Stéphane who she meets when down on her luck. Perhaps I should mention Emile? Maybe not!

This is a novel about transformations and there are numerous examples of that. It’s also about identity, control and destiny, which way will the wind blow Vianne? It’s rich in atmosphere with the sights and sounds of Marseille springing vividly to life, the markets, the bistrot and the backstreets. It’s mouthwatering too at times with magical recipes learned and created. I love too how everyday objects have tales to tell. Sylviane gains control of her life and becomes Vianne and glimpses her future by assigns, colours, omens, rituals, stories especially of chocolate and of course, the other present wind. At times it’s emotional and moving, the sadness and grief but also joy and hopeful optimism.

It’s safe to say, I love every word of it. Fantastique, merveilleuse Vianne et chocolat - who can resist?

With thanks to NetGalley and particularly to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated early copy of the book.

•bastides are medieval fortified towns particularly found in SW France.

It’s here – a prequel to Chocolat! To anyone who devoured Joanne’s book as easily as a Twix, you’ll be delighted with the return of Vianne, based six years before she opens her chocolaterie. In it, we learn how life brought her from New York to Marseille, to a group of people who change her life in myriad ways (and of course, she changes theirs too). Pregnant with her daughter – she’s convinced she’s having a girl – Vianne knows that she must leave the bistrot in which she works, and where she’s found comfort, but that doesn’t stop her bewitching locals with her cooking – in part thanks to chocolate spices that add a zing to every dish and drink. There’s magic to be found, if only her new friends will be open… I read this in one sitting and was so comforted to be back in her world, understanding a little more why she later opened the chocolaterie in Joanne’s much-acclaimed novel. For those who believe in stardust and magic, like I do, this will feel like coming home.

Vianne by Joanne Harris takes us through a journey filled with magic, emotion and transformation, all set in the picturesque coastal city of Marseille.

Our main character, Sylviane Rochas, adopts the name Vianne as she tries to make a fresh start after her mother’s death. Pregnant and discovering her passion for cooking, she finds herself at a local bistrot where bittersweet chocolate spices become her trademark. She begins to build relationships and uncover secrets, yet struggles with her past and newfound independence.

She is torn between the past and the future. Let her follow the wind or settle somewhere forever.

Vianne is a strong yet vulnerable protagonist, mirroring her internal struggle of reconciling motherhood and her magical abilities. Characters like Louis, the bistrot owner, and Margot, who shares her emotional recipes, bring their own struggles with grief and longing, weaving depth into Vianne’s story.

The story explores important themes of autonomy, identity, self-determination, creativity and trust. Harris’s descriptive writing transports us to the sights and smells of Marseille—chocolate blending with the sea breeze, the bustling activity in the winding alleyways. This blend of captivating storytelling and evocative language keeps us invested in Vianne’s journey of self-discovery.

Reading Vianne was a moving experience for me. The book delivers its messages about resilience and change genuinely, prompting me to think about the impact of our choices and how small actions can make a big difference.

What sets Vianne apart from other works by Joanne Harris is its focus on the main character's journey while still incorporating the magical elements in her other books. Compared to Chocolat, this novel feels more introspective and may appeal to those who enjoy delving into characters' inner worlds.

Secondary characters could have been explored more, and certain plot points could have been resolved better.

Despite these minor issues, Vianne is a memorable read that leaves a lasting impression. It offers both an engaging story and valuable insights, making it a great addition to Harris's collection of works.