The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, I loved the journey Edith goes on from having a sheltered, geographically limited life to moving to a different country. The back story of Compiegne, its bakery, the war story the bakery's past, a love story for Edith with Hugo all of it touched with a hint of mystery, ghosts and the magic of human connections, loved it all.

I enjoyed this more than the author’s most famous novel, The Lost Bookshop. In many ways, both novels are similar – they feature a protagonist searching for herself, and escaping a difficult past, an idealized romantic storyline, and paranormal elements. However, Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris feels much more sincere, and because of that, despite its relatively simple plot, it provides good entertainment.

Aside from the idealized yet definitely charming portrayal of the French town of Compiègne, I most appreciate this book for the fact that the characters, particularly FMC Edith and MMC Hugo, actually communicate with each other – even when they are in conflict. There is no frustrating miscommunication trope, which is a huge plus. The book also features very enjoyable found family elements, which is something that’s simply impossible not to like. The 'mystery' in the title isn’t really that mysterious, to be honest, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the novel.

What possibly irritated me the most in this book was the fact that there are quite a few clunky expositions, particularly when the FMC asks random questions about the history of Compiègne, which, to be honest, make her seem like an extremely ignorant person. For instance, she asks how Joan of Arc died. Which European doesn't know that?

In the end, I believe it’s the perfect book for those seeking light entertainment – it may not be a life-changing novel, but it will certainly bring a few hours of smiles and leave you craving croissants and coffee.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is a reworking of one of her older books and again has a touch of magical realism. The book follows Edie, a young woman who moves to France in search of a new life and a sense of purpose following the death of her mother. Due to a little miscommunication, instead of finding herself working in the chic Paris bakery that she imagined she winds up in the small town of Compiègne, and while she is working in a bakery it is a little more run down that she imagined and is clearly struggling financially. There is also the small matter of the secretive natures of the other staff members and the fact that the kitchen is strictly off limits to Edie. Something strange is going on and Edie is determined to get to the bottom of it, not even the arrival of Hugo, a handsome and wealthy photographer who is clearly taken by her is enough to distract her from her mission for very long.
This was a quick and easy read, it does not require much effort or concentration from the reader. It is not the strongest of Evie Wood's books by any means, but it was still a pleasant way to while away a few hours on a cold Winter's evening. I think the author did a very good job when it came to setting the scene, not just in her physical descriptions of the bakery or the town of Compiègne, but also the effort she made to include the historical context and importance of the town. The hint of magical realism is nicely incorporated and works well in the context of the bakery but I thought the decision to use Romani culture was a little off the mark even if it made sense in a historical context. The romance also felt a little cliched but to be fair it's hard to be truly original when you are creating a book with a happy ever after ending.
This is a nice bit of escapism and a book that many readers will enjoy at least as much as I did if not even more.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was a little stereotypical and was not very interesting. You have a "lost" heroine going to a foreign land to work in a bakery, throw in some romance, some side characters and magic and you get this book. It was really just okay.


#netgalley #

It was ok for me. This is the first time I read a book from this author and towards the end of the book I did enjoy it but I have to say the beginning half just kind of dragged on for me and made it difficult to get into.

Edie Lane needs a new start in life. Her beloved mother has died after a long illness, and it’s time for Edie to start afresh. She impetuously answers an ad for a bilingual assistant bakery manager in Paris. After a shaky trip from her home in Ireland, she realizes the bakery is in a small town an hour from Paris. The owner, Madame Moreau, gives her a frosty reception and a small attic apartment above the bakery. As Edie grows to like her customers, the townspeople , and even Madame Moreau, she is determined to uncover the mysterious baker who works with Madame every night in the locked basement which houses the bakery’s oven.

The recipe for this lovely concoction of a tale is : a pinch of fantasy, a touch of salt for bitterness, and a cup of sugar for love, Whip all together to create a charming story by one of my favorite authors.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris
by Evie Woods
Pub Date: March 27, 2025
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Beautiful cover!
I wasn't impressed with the book however.
This book was so slow and predictable. I got it from NetGalley thinking it was a new release and it isn't a new book it's a re-release of the author’s earlier wok
The several narratives make it feel a bit disjointed. The problem that hangs over the boulangerie is wrapped up rather quickly and somewhat fortuitously too.

Overall, it’s an easy read for a rainy or chilly day when pâtisserie and hot chocolate are required.

Perhaps it has to do with this book being written before the other Evie Woods books I have read, this one felt like a basic / cliché rom-com with its cozy bakery vibes, a woman randomly landing in a foreign land and finding her soulmate with a conflict between them that gets neatly resolved at the end. The subplots about the mystery of the bakery, other characters’ journeys, the history lessons sprinkled in - all felt very superficial and disjointed. A quick read, nevertheless. Have enjoyed her other books more.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

A really lovely and heart warming story with interesting and relatable characters and a pinch of Je ne sais quoi. A great weekend or holiday read.

ANOTHER GREAT READ BY EVIE WOOD. GREAT STORY, EASY TO FOLLOW. LOVE THE HISTORY INVOLVED IN THIS STORY AND THE ALL THE CHARACTERS. LOVE, FAMILY. HISTORY, SADNESS, HOPEFULLY, HAPPY ALL WORDS THAT COME TO MIND..

I love a story with a little magic to it! This was a fantastic read that also make me really hungry!! 😂

I mainly enjoyed this book although I did become morw than exasperated with the main female character, Edith. Set in northern France in the town of Compiegne famous for the signing of the Armistice at the end of the First World War. Heartwarming story about saving a small traditional bakery run by grumpy Madame Moreau and her grandson, Manu. Edith from Ireland takes up a job in the bakery to try and escape her past but she seemed rather immature most of the time especially not listening and bulldozing her way in situations trying to be 'helpful'. A love interest in Hugo and a touch of magic with a resident ghost. Light read with tempting descriptions of those wonderful French bakery products, one can almost smell the bakes.

At first I was charmed by this book because I loved the descriptions of baked goods, the idea of living in an attic above a haunted or possibly magical bakery, there was a dash of cheesy, forgettable romance, and there was some expat culture from the point of view of a young Irishwoman living in France.

But, first: I am really annoyed by this marketing habit of publishers hiding that a book is an old book repackaged as a new edition as if it is a never-before-published book. This book was originally published 9 years ago as a self-published title, then re-published a few years later by an indie press, until this release by a major publisher. It has a better cover but it doesn't appear to have been rewritten much.

For starters, I was completely confused by Edie's age. She acts like she's 19 and finding herself in a gap year before college. I'm okay with a little failure to launch and anxiety, but she acted so emotionally immature. But she's 30! And she says that she's having a midlife crisis at 30! Excuse me, 30 is not midlife, and having an existential crisis and not knowing what career you want to do isn't a midlife crisis.

Then there was the background behind the haunting. I was intrigued by this idea of a bakery that could magically transport its patrons to happier memories through its baked goods. But only a special hot chocolate recipe could do that and the bakery was just a normal bakery with the ghost of the original owner living in the basement.

This is tied to the family's Romani past, but I felt like the author only stole from surface level details about Romani culture to lend credibility to the magical realism, but it didn't feel like she'd done her research at all. Romanis hiding a magical ghost baker is kind of cheapening the culture and history. She only makes one off hand comment about Romani stereotypes and discrimination. But the story would have been way better if the bakery family was not Romani at all.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a book I loved reading. Having absolutely loved The Lost Bookshop, I was intrigued by this new title. It was just as enchanting and enjoyable to read. Edie, from Ireland, wishing to spread her wings after the death of her dear mother, finds herself in a small rural village in France, working at a village bakery with a very irascible and difficult to please owner. She had thought she was going to work in the bright lights of Paris, but had made a huge mistake with the actual address.
Edie discovers that the bakery harbours secrets, and it becomes ever more mysterious as Edie tries to find out what is going on. The more she discovers, the more intriguing the mystery becomes.
The romantic element wasn’t quite convincing for me, but the community spirit present in the small village was heartwarming, with many interesting and quirky characters amongst the friends that Edie made locally.
A very enjoyable tale, escapism at its best on a cold winter afternoon. I look forward to the next book from this author.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Highly recommended.

Leaving Ireland to work in a bakery on the rue de Paris is a new start for Edie.
Not getting off to a fantastic start with incorrect addresses and a tactium boss.
Slowly adapting and making friends, Edie starts to blossom.
A new romance starts then stops dramatically when secrets come to light.
A wonderful light hearted story that covers two timelines.
Make friends with the characters as I did and cheer them on.

In theory, this book had all the elements of a story I’d love: a mysteriously haunted bakery, a cozy French village, and an Irish woman searching for her calling in life. However, the execution fell incredibly flat for me.

First, this book is a republication of an old work of the author’s, and it kind of shows. Offensive terminology is consistently used to refer to the Romani people in the book, which I just couldn’t overlook. I also found the storyline to be very cliched and I really disliked the centering of the romance, particularly because the pairing felt off. Finally, the primary conflict of the story is very quickly and magically resolved, which made the story feel rushed in the end. While I absolutely loved Evie Woods’ The Lost Bookshop, I’m afraid my love does not extend to this particular work of hers.

I received this ARC from NetGalley, One More Chapter, and Evie Woods in exchange for my honest opinion. This edition will be published on March 26, 2025.

A lovely historical fiction with a little bit of magic. We follow Edith Lane as she moves to France for a change in pace. Her adventure starts as fate brings her exactly where she needs to be.

The characters are well developed and very likeable. This story deals with some heavy topics like grief but it’s also inspiring and hopeful as Edith slowly begins to find herself again. The warm and cosy atmosphere that Woods created is enchanting.

My only criticism is that some parts felt a bit cliché and there could have been a little more magic and mystery.

Overall, a very cosy read and heartwarming story.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc.

Each book I read by Evie Woods just gets better and better! The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is one you won’t want to put down! It brings its reader into a quiet town outside of Paris. There inside a quaint bakery we see strangers brought together over delicious breads and pastries, music, and a magical ingredient that was discovered by a baker decades ago. Edie is trying to find herself in Paris, ending up in this quaint village instead. A mystery begins to unfold in front of Edie. While she is trying to figure it all out, she ends up learning about the history of the small town and the connection to her mystery. The past and the present combine for this delectable story!

#NetGalley

Our dear Edie Lane is embracing change and decides to accept a job at a bakery in Paris and move from Ireland to France. But wait! The bakery is on Rue de Paris in a charming small town about an hour from Paris. But as Edie settles in at the bakery she begins to find herself and reignite her passion for life. She meets the most charming cast of friends who all find a way to meet her where she is emotionally. She even finds a beau, named Hugo. But of course, nothing is easy. When Hugo’s family company wants to buy the bakery and turn it into a boutique hotel, Edie has had enough! This small bakery with all its history and mystery has become a second home and the people around it, a second family.

Evie Woods crafts a beautiful story that takes you deep into a quaint French town with all its sweet and quirky residents. The mystery is not like a thriller mystery but a history to be discovered and wrongs to be righted.

My main note - I need recipes! For a book so focused on the art and taste of the bakery, I need to be able to make them myself, especially the hot chocolate.

Edith goes to France almost by mistake, getting an old-style bakery in Compegne and learning about all the traditional breads and cakes. Something suspicious is going on in the basement, but what? She also finds a sexy boyfriend called Hugo.