Evie Woods' The Lost Bookstore is a touching exploration of self-discovery, love, and personal growth. From the opening pages, I felt a deep connection with Edith — a protagonist whose emotional journey unfolds with sincerity and warmth. Initially burdened by insecurity, she gradually finds the strength to embrace her true self, and witnessing her transformation was both uplifting and rewarding.While the story took a little time to build momentum, the pace soon quickened, drawing me in completely.

The romance between Edith and Hugo added a heartfelt dimension to the story. What stood out most was their mutual support; rather than trying to change one another, they inspired each other to grow into the best versions of themselves. Their relationship felt authentic, and their evolving bond brought a quiet sweetness to the narrative.

The novel's atmosphere is rich with historical charm, and the setting is so vividly described that it felt like stepping into another time. The supporting characters brought additional depth, each contributing their own stories to the tapestry of the plot. Genevieve, in particular, intrigued me — I would have loved to delve even deeper into her past with Pierre.


By the final pages, I felt more like a participant than a reader, experiencing the characters' joys, sorrows, and triumphs alongside them. The combination of mystery, romance, and self-reflection makes The Lost Bookstore a cozy and fulfilling read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The story is so unique and refreshing—it’s got romance, friendships, an adopted family, and, of course, magic.
Edith uproots her life and moves from Dublin to Paris (or at least she thinks she does) to take a job as a bakery manager. Turns out, she completely messed up the name and location. Instead of Paris, she finds herself an hour away, working at La Boulangerie on Rue de Paris in Compiègne.
From the start, things are weird. Madame Monroe, her boss, barely speaks English, the customers speak even less, and for some reason, Edith isn’t allowed in the bakery kitchen. She has no idea why she was even hired. But this move isn’t just about the job—it’s about Edith figuring out who she is after spending years as her mother’s caregiver, putting her own life on hold.
Then there’s Hugo—an artist at heart who lives for photography but is stuck working for his father at Chadwick Holdings. The company buys old buildings, strips them of their charm, and turns them into something new (which Hugo hates). After losing his brother—the golden child—Hugo is left filling his shoes, despite how much he resents it.
Moving to Compiègne turns out to be the change Edith needed. She finds an amazing friend in Nicole and her family—Geoff and Legrand. But the really strange part? She starts hearing noises at night, and Madame Monroe brushes it off as "just an old building." Then one night, Edith stumbles upon a diary hidden under the floorboards. Inside? Recipes. She makes hot chocolate from one of them, and suddenly, she unlocks a memory.
And then there's Hugo. Their first meeting? On a street outside a salon. The second? At a bar. That night, he walks her home, and they kiss. No plans, no commitments—just a "see you whenever I see you" kind of thing. But then, Hugo starts sending postcards (cue swooning), and honestly? I loved it.
Go pick up this book and take this magical journey to the most mysterious bakery. You won’t regret it!

4 French stars

I really enjoyed this one, and I realized that this is my third book by this author, she’s a winner for me! It’s fun to recall some of my French as I read these books.

After years of caring for her mother, Edie Lane has left Ireland for Paris and a job at a bakery. She discovers, though, that she’s made a mistake with the address; it’s on Rue de Paris in Compiegne, about an hour away from Paris itself.

As she settles into her attic room in the right town, she quickly gets to work selling delicious bread and pastries to the citizens of this small French town. The owner of the bakery is aloof, but perhaps that’s typical of French people. She really likes Manu, the young man who helps in the bakery.

But what are the odd noises she hears at night? And why hasn’t she met the baker or seen any deliveries coming to the basement area?

She starts to build a few friendships in town and even has the prospect of a romance, but then the bank comes to call, and everything is thrown into disarray. Edie cooks up a plan to save the bakery and realizes she’s in the right place after all. Will her efforts be enough, or will change hit the small town?

A charming and immersive read, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris blends warmth, mystery, and a touch of bittersweet emotion. With a beautifully crafted setting and engaging characters, the story pulls you in from the very beginning. The air of mystery keeps the pages turning, making it an enchanting read. A small note—if you don’t speak French, a dictionary might come in handy! Overall, a delightful and atmospheric novel that lingers long after the final page.

This is a heartwarming story which follows Edie as she starts a new life in France.
She hopes her new job in the bakery will give her a sense of purpose but doesn't quite expect what she finds here.
It takes her a while to settle but she soon realises the baked pastries and other delicious goods hold a little bit of magic.
Evie knows she needs to help when the bakery is threatened as it's a special place to so many people.
This is a good cosy read with a little bit of history, romance and magic.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to read this book.

Book Review: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)



Evie Woods’ The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a delightful blend of magical realism, romance, and self-discovery. The story follows Edith “Edie” Browne, an Irish woman seeking a fresh start as she takes a job at an old, enigmatic bakery in a small French town. However, as she settles in, she realizes that the bakery holds secrets far beyond the perfect pastries and warm, buttery scents—it may even be haunted.



Woods’ writing is charming and evocative, bringing the setting to life with lush descriptions of the bakery, the town, and the mouthwatering food. The novel offers an engaging mix of mystery, history, and romance, making it an enchanting read for those who love cozy stories with a hint of the supernatural.



While the novel is beautifully atmospheric, the pacing sometimes lags, and a few plot points could have been more deeply developed. However, Edie’s journey of self-discovery and the warmth of the bakery’s inhabitants make up for any shortcomings.



Overall, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a heartwarming and whimsical read, perfect for fans of Joanne Harris’s Chocolat or Sarah Addison Allen’s novels. A deliciously sweet escape!

Edie leaves everything behind in Ireland to accept a job in a bakery in Paris... only to discover the bakery isn't in Paris after all, but rather nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, This might not be where she planned to end up, but this turns out to be exactly where she needed to be. Rumours are whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings. Edie experiences some of these magical moments herself. Then she discovered the secret the bakery has been harboring, and when she finds out the bakery is in danger of closing, she takes it upon herself to make sure that the bakery will remain for generations to come.

I love this author's books. They blend a compelling story with magic and a bit of romance and wind up with something truly delightful. Edie was a force to be reckoned with. She came to Compiègne, broken, but then she settled in and made friends, started seeing someone, became invested in saving the bakery, and just made a full life for herself over there. I did wish that I knew French, since there was a lot of French dialogue in the book, but I was able to get the gist of what was being said without it. This is perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen, Heather Webber, and Chocolat by Joanne Harris.

Edith decides to apply for a job position in Paris.
The decision has been made to turn her life around and find herself.
The job is to be a manager of a historic boulangerie in Compiègne, rue de Paris.
The boulangerie is run by an 80-year-old lady, Madame Moreau, and her teenage nephew Manu.
Madame Moreau also offers lodging in a floor above the boulangerie itself.
This book has, more or less, the same structure as the other books I have read by the same author, “The Lost Bookshop” and “The Story Collector” (this one is really good!), with a couple of characters in the present and a character from the past; however, with variations. The main character is Edith with her personal issues, her work, and the mysteries of the boulangerie; her outings with the people of Compiègne; and she has most of the story. The second character of the "present" is Hugo Chadwick; he meets Edith during an outing in a Compiègne club, a few chapters with his story. The character from the past is Pierre Moreau, Madame Moreau's father and the boulangerie's founder, a few chapters with his story.
Since the main story is Edith's, this made the narrative a bit slow, in my opinion: Edith is stubborn; she likes to have fun; however, she is also hasty, and also she does not always leave room for others. I also found it odd that, for instance, other characters like Hugo or Nicole were better than her.
Also, the story is set in France; on one hand, this allowed the author to talk about the Holocaust suffered by nomadic peoples; however, on the other hand, there are too many common logos...
In my opinion, it is not a bad story, but it is not the best by this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Wow!! She’s done it again - a captivating and magical read🩵

I will never tire of Evie Woods’ writing style, it is really accessible but conveys a story so well - I am always moved by her stories.

This book tells the story of young Edith who upends her life in Ireland for the bright lights of France. Her journey is a complete rollercoaster and we go along the ride with her, I felt a real connection to Edith and her dreams! I also did not expect this book to be as heart wrenching as it is - personal stories from the wars really tug on your heartstrings and give a real backstory to some main characters. Madam Moreau’s story is heart breaking and this book shines a light on the injustice to a population that is not often covered in popular history - wow! Through this narrative, I also learnt a lot of new facts about both world wars which was fascinating but also heart breaking.

With romantic elements, this book is magical and moving - everything I always imagine an Evie Woods book to be💗

My second book by Evie Woods and it was just a perfect read . I was so absorbed by this wonderful story that I read it in two sittings . Sometimes a book can lose my interest for a bit but this wasn’t the case with this magical
read . From the start right up to the final chapter I was totally captivated .

I do love an Evie Woods novel. This one is magical and paints a beautiful story of love, life, ghosts in a French Bakery. Very atmospheric, easy to read, and satisfying. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary digital ARC. This review is my own words and opinion.

3.75/5

Although not my favourite book by this author, it was still an entertaining read. The bakery descriptions had me salivating and I had to Google all the beautiful places they referenced in France.

I found the mysterious/supernatural elements a bit unnecessary and it took me some time to warm to both th MFC & MMC.

The detail about the war packed an emotional punch.

All in all an enjoyable read.

Fantastic! I loved this new novel by Evie Woods! Beautifully written (similar to her other novel The Lost Bookshop), with the perfect ingredients to take the reader on a magical journey. I love this author’s writing style and ability to weave the story to keep the reader engaged.

5-⭐️

I will recommend this book to anybody who asks me for recs!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced reader copy of this beautiful novel in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

Absolutely adored this latest from Evie Woods. I love her style of writing , attention to detail, and such great characters. The historical element surrounding Compiegne during WWII was sensitively written about and I simply loved it all. The storyline & the storytelling were wonderful & I have no hesitation in highly recommending this wonderful book.

I absolutely love Evie Wood's novels, they are written so well and have a magical element to them that you just get swept away with them. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is no exception, I loved getting swept away in this beautiful written novel. I loved Edith, she took a rest and was courageous, I loved how she developed and how she shone as a person. Her ability to forge friendships in unexpected places was a marvel.
I loved how this novel played out, I don't know what I was expecting but I loved it. I loved the mixture of the past being relevant in the present and how it all entwined.
There was moments of sadness, of shock and of joy. This novel like Evie Wood's other novels took me on a rollercoaster of emotions and gave me an ending that was fulfilling and satisfying.
I really look forward to reading more from Evie Woods. Definitely an automatic buy author!

This was a quick read! You get a little bit of romance, history, and magical realism!

Thank you for NetGalley and HarperCollins OMC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have truly loved Evie Woods’ first two books so was immensely excited to be able to read the Mysterious Bakery. While this one feels just a touch lighter and more magical/less magical realism than the first two, I still adore her ability to weave multiple timelines into something cozy and comforting. I love Edith’s journey and while it’s a bit superficial and trope-y (more so than her other books), I understood and felt connected and enjoyed seeing her journey through. While I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t my favorite of Woods’ books so far, it was still a beautiful story I couldn’t put down and felt so comforted reading. I recommend it to anyone with a love of France, pastries, and watching a character find their voice.

I've read previous books by this author and I enjoyed this just as much. Such a great escape read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author

This was a quick, easy, predictable sort of read which was sort of enjoyable but nothing sparkling. I suppose ‘just OK’ covers it for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy and sorry I can’t be more positive!

Following the passing of her mother after a long-term illness, Edie Lane is ready to find her own adventures and start living her fullest life. She makes the big decision to move from Ireland to France after answering an ad for a bakery manager. But when she gets there she starts to doubt herself as she struggles with the language, her boss, and unmet expectations.

With the help of friendly locals and a resolve to succeed, Edie starts to find her place in Compiegne. She meets a nice man and improves her French speaking. What mystifies her is the source of the bakery’s goods – who is the baker and why is she not allowed in the basement where the ovens are? What she learns will connect her to her employer, her new community, and help her reconcile with the pains of her past.

This was a lovely story of love, loss, and the difference that reaching out and helping someone can make. The characters were well written, and their personalities really blossomed throughout the book.

A wonderful recipe for a good book – plenty of heart, a dash of disaster, and a pinch of magic.