A Bakery on Paris is a lovely story of how hard women must work to find a role and happiness, whether in 1870 or 1945. This dual timeline novel works well in presenting two strong motivated women,you learn how to make their own way. Aimee Runyan creates characters who come alive in this novel. She also captures the reality of loss and how difficult it is to start over in the midst of grief.

Thank you to the author and William Morrow for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I appreciate that NetGalley has introduced my to so many wonderful authors.

Reading this book was a triple delight...my palate, my brain, and my heart. The story is set in Paris, shifting between 1870 and 1946, with Lisette & Micheline as the heroines. Both women are made stronger by the terrible times in which they live. I knew nothing about the Franco-Prussian War, the siege of Paris, or the rebellion by the Paris Communes in 1870. Micheline learns firsthand the sacrifices made by French women during WWII. The secondary female characters of Nanette and Mrs. Dupuis gave so much heart to the story that I wish I knew them personally. And then there is the theme of food as primal comfort and the bonus of Lisette's recipes too. For me, it was a validation of what I've always felt. I even made LIsette's sables and they were magnifique.

In many ways, this story felt very current. There is a terrible gap between the wealthy and the workers in Lisette's Paris with many of the same struggles we're facing now. The choices & consequences for women both in 1870 and 1946, mirror our lives now. I highly recommend this well-written, deeply researched book that will touch your soul and make your mouth water.

I'm grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the ARC.

A Bakery in Paris
By Aimee K. Runyan
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
William Morrow
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This captivating tale hit me in the right spot! Delightful to the senses historically and a culinary masterpiece.
I loved the dual timeline linking two woman to the bakery.
Read this book!
4 stars

A BAKERY IN PARIS is a thoroughly enjoyable dual timeline historical novel. It's interesting because the stories of Lisette and Micheline are pretty different. The time periods are distinct, and each character is facing a different sort of life challenge. Lisette is in the throes of war and her life is in danger. Micheline is trying to become a baker in a post-war Paris. At times, I felt Micheline was more relatable simply because her sphere was domestic and her concerns were less frantic and life threatening. There was a lovely calmness that pervaded her chapters, whereas Lisette's chapters almost screeched in comparison due to her fear and desperation. The differences between the points of view mean the characters are easy to keep straight and tell apart. However, at times, the pacing feels a bit uneven. Ultimately, I'm glad the author included both perspectives. As I kept reading, I appreciated both characters more.

The setting is evocative and the plotting, despite my minor quibble regarding pacing, definitely kept me turning the pages.

The author writes with a sure hand. I look forward to more from her and will definitely be digging into her backlist.

Thanks for the complimentary copy!

Received e-galley from publisher; all opinions are my own.

RTC closer to publication. Loved this foodie-oriented novel so much—it was such a great comfort read.

in 1870, paris is under siege by the prussians. lisette, born to a rich family, is promised to be married to a man she does not love. however, she does love the rebellion of poor french people fighting for equal rights, better pay, and to not starve to death.

in 1946, world war ii is drawing to a close and micheline is holding out hope that her mother will return after disappearing under suspicious circumstances. micheline attends pastry school and learns how to bake, facing scrutiny from her teachers.

this novel was well written, but i definitely preferred lisette’s story to micheline’s. this is perfect novel for someone who enjoys the art of baking, but for someone like me who knows nothing of these traditional fancy french pastries, i did not get that allure. i did not feel the sense of urgency in micheline’s story, and it felt very passive compared to lisette and her active participating in revolt. still, it was an enjoyable read.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Taking place across two different periods in time in Paris, "A Bakery in Paris" lays out the stories of two women and their separate paths during wartime.

In 1870, Paris is under siege by the Prussian Army, and its citizens are struggling with the lack of supplies and food. Young Lisette Vigneau, however, comes from a family of wealth and has lived most of her life sheltered from the day-to-day of most Parisians. At 21 years of age, her family decides it's time for her to get married and despite what would be a life of comfort, Lisette wants more from her life. She's grown up spending time in the kitchens, despite her parents' protests, growing her passion and knowledge of baking. She makes a radical choice to forgo her marriage elope with Theodore Fournier, a revolutionary who serves as a National Guardsman, and influences her in his beliefs that Paris should belong to the people.

Decades later in 1946, Micheline Chartier is dealing with her own difficulties as World War II comes to an end. At 19 years of age, she's the sole provider for her two younger sisters as her father passed in the previous war and her mother mysteriously disappeared years earlier. Despite the passage of time, Micheline continues to hold out hope for her mother's return and thanks to a generous neighbor, is able to attend culinary school to train as a baker in the hopes of re-opening her family's bistro. As Micheline struggles to learn the challenging pastries, she's comforted and aided by an old notebook with recipes written by her great-grandmother, and finds a companion and supporter in Laurent Tenant, a fellow student. In order to move forward, though, Micheline is forced to confront the truth and her fears head-on.

This is my first encounter with Runyan's writing, and it's clear that she's an experienced author. I enjoyed her prose and how she was able to craft each chapter with a different voice and perspective as she laid out Lisette's and Micheline's stories. Each character felt distinct and unique, and as a reader, I really empathized with both of their situations and struggles. I appreciated as well the choice of using the Franco-Prussian war as the backdrop for Lisette's story, as it's not a frequently used event in most wartime novels. And although I'm not much of a baker, I loved how she interspersed different recipes between chapters and included personal notes from both of the protagonists.

Very much a recommended read for when "A Bakery in Paris" is published in August 2023!