This book was such a treat—like a warm croissant wrapped in mystery, magic, and heartfelt emotion. Set in a charming French town, it weaves together threads of historical fact, family drama, and a touch of fantasy, all anchored by a mysterious magical bakery that holds more secrets than recipes (and there are plenty of recipes!).

With themes of love, sacrifice, second chances, and discovering your roots, it delivered both delicious baked goods and a deeply satisfying story. I especially loved the mix of romantic moments, enchanting realism, and the way everything came together in such a full-circle, feel-good way. If you love books that transport you and make you hungry, this one’s for you!

🥐✨Sweet, magical, and oh-so-Parisian—I truly enjoyed every bite!

THE MYSTERIOUS BAKERY ON RUE DE PARIS is an Enchanting story paved with mystery, history, romance, and heartbreak.
I absolutely loved all the French speaking as it was fun using my kindle translation which I don't often get to use.

This book has a lil something for everyone. I absolutely loved all the history within the book it added a special touch to the story.
Uncovering all the secrets and magic from the Café was such a joy.
Oh and don't get me started on the delicious baking, it was like I was right there.

I only hope there is a second installment as I loved Edie and Hugo's story and want more!

I loved this book. Set in the war, it was based a lot on fact and the fictional story underlying was well crafted with believable characters. I would definitely look for more by this author.

3.5 stars
The Mysterious Bakery On Rue de Paris is a sweet story centered on community, belonging, and a touch of magic. Edith (Edie) takes a job at what she believes is a Parisian bakery, only to find herself in the quaint town of Compiègne. Despite the unexpected setting, she quickly becomes part of the local community and teams up with her new employer in an effort to save the struggling bakery.

The story is primarily told from Edie’s perspective, but occasional chapters from other characters add depth. Though set in the present day, the novel weaves in elements of mystery, romance, magic, and even a bit of historical fiction. Several narrative threads run through the book and come together neatly by the end.

While some of the plot developments are predictable, the story remains engaging and easy to read—a cozy escape for fans of feel-good fiction with a sprinkle of enchantment.

In this fascinating and charming new historical fiction novel, readers follow Edie Lane as she uproots her life in Ireland for life at a Parisian bakery -- except the bakery isn’t in Paris but in Compiegne. As she adjusted to life at the bakery, Edie starts discovering secrets about the bakery’s owner and its history, and it turns out that Edie needs to be in the bakery and that the bakery needs her. Charming, fascinating, and full of unique elements, readers will love this beautiful novel set in a cozy French village at an incredible bakery. The characters are the stars of the novel, and Edie is an interesting and complex protagonist whose motivations and internal struggles are deeply relatable and entertaining. Her relationships to other characters in Compiegne and to the bakery really help build out her character arc and the story’s plot, and the world-building is incredibly well done. The bakery’s history and the attention to detail really pull readers into the story, and the setting of the bakery is a great backdrop for the characters and their relationships. Entertaining, immersive, and detailed, readers will love this unique take on the mysterious/magical shop and dual timeline historical fiction novel.

Very entertaining, would recommend The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. It was a magical read with a captivating story.

Last year I listened to The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods and I thought it was an okay read, a tad on the underwhelming side, but okay. That didn't stop my from jumping at the opportunity to read this book the second I saw it on Netgalley. A mysterious bakery in France - yes please. And I am so glad that I did as I really enjoyed this book!

When Irish woman Edie Lane sees an ad for a job in a bakery in Paris where the only requirements are that the person speaks English and has some experience working in the service industry, she knows this is the job for her! So what if she doesn't know anyone in Paris. It[s Paris, and it will help her get out of the rut she has been in for a while.

Things start to go wrong when she finds out that she isn't going to be working in a bakery on rue de Compiegne in Paris but rather she has accepted a role at the bakery on rue de Paris in Compiegne, about an hour north of Paris by train. So much for living the Paris dream.

When she finally arrives at her destination, she is given a less than warm welcome by the owner of the bakery, Madame Moreau. The one thing that was made very clear is that under no circumstances was Edie to mention the kitchen downstairs where all the baking happened. That area was very much out of bounds to everyone except Madame Moreau and the delivery boy Manu.

Thrown straight into work in the bakery, Edie realises that is going to take some work to get her French up to scratch enough to understanding most of her customers. But while the cafe is busy, there is also a black cloud hanging over it's futures. Developers are buying up all the buildings on the street and they want the bakery too. Maybe this is why Madame Moreau is always so surly, except for when she is serving the customers. Then she is very friendly with everyone except Edie..

As Edie's time in Compiegne continues she gradually begins to make some friends who slowly help bring the charms of the town to the fore. There is Geoff who gives tours of the area, Nicole the hairdresser whose boyfriend is in a band, and then there is Hugo who keeps on turning up. Hugo loves taking photos of old buildings and he and Edie just click straight away, All the while, Edie senses that there is something strange going on in the bakery, a touch of other worldliness, and she needs to work out what it is.

Sprinkled throughout the story there are small sections which tell the story of Pierre Moreau, who originally founded the bakery, including some of the events in the town during WWII. Some of the actions taken at that time continue to shape the town and relationships even now.

This is a book that you don't want to read when you are hungry. There are so many delicious sounding foods mentioned that you can almost smell them as you read. And there was a passage that just made me crave a proper French hot chocolate. Or Dutch. Something from that Northern part of Europe. I wouldn't be that fussy.

Inspired by a recipe book that she found in her room, Edie begins to cook some of the recipes, but also to make some of her own concoctions, a mixture of French and Irish flavours, to sell to the locals and tourists alike.

Music is also very important in this book, often being used as a tool to change the moods of the characters, to inspire memories and to draw people together.

The town of Compiegne has an important place in 20th century history. In a train carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, the Germans signed the armistice which ended WWI. Years later, Hitler made the French sign their own surrender in the same train carriage in the same location. There is also a chateau nearby with links to Napoleon. I am always drawing a mental map of what our next trip to France might look like, and Compiegne is definitely on the route I have in my head after reading this book.

It turns out that this isn't a new book. It was originally released around 10 years ago and has been revised and rereleased this year. Either way, I am so glad that I found this book as it brought me a lot of joy as i read it!

I am sharing this review as part of Paris in July, with Foodies Read hosted at Based on a True Story and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge that I host.

Rating 4.5/5

I have to admit I was a little wary to read this because as much as I enjoyed Evie Woods’ first book The Lost Bookshop, I didn’t like her second book, The Story Collector. I decided to take a chance on this one and I’m glad I did!
Edith Lane spent the entirety of her life with her sick mother and while she never minded, she now finds herself with no life at all. One night she applies for a job in a little patisserie in Paris, which has always been a dream in her Irish heart. After getting the job, she finds out the bakery is actually an hour outside of Paris. Disappointed at first, she quickly discovered the charm and magic of the bakery and village.
As with her other books Ms. Woods has filled this book with wonderful Irish charm, a bit of magic, and a bit of historical fiction. This actually reminded me of Sarah Addison Allen’s books with the magical food aspect.
While this covers a serious topic the tone is actually much more lighthearted than Ms. Wood’s previous books. The writing style is just as enjoyable and it makes me excited to see what she writes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK- One More Chapter for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris hit the shelves on March 27, 2025.

A magical realism book with a touch of history and romance. The title seemed not to quite fit--I expected it to mean everyone thought something mysterious was happening here, but only the main character seemed to notice. It was overall an fun, heartwarming read. Predictable and shallow and easy.

I spent two weeks in Ireland last year and it changed my entire personality (for real). Ever since, I've been desperate to find anything that can supplement the magic I felt during trip. (Part of which included Galway – Evie, I know you understand!!) I was absolutely sated through immersing myself in The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.

This story follows Edie Lane, who is frankly a woman also on a mission to be swept away into magic through travel (but for her, it's to Paris). Unfortunately, there's a misunderstanding and she ends up at a very different pâtissière... This cozy story is filled with delicious food (seriously, make sure you have sweets nearby), navigating grief, the resilience of starting over, and the enduring power of love.

This was an easy five star read, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Evie's books!

I found the book a little slow at the start, but then it piqued my interest.
I would have preferred less of the French grammar, as I had to keep working out what it meant in translation. I know I could have read on and got the gist of it, but I’m a bit of a stickler for the details.
I felt the book had an olde worlde feel about it, and sometimes it seemed that it was set in an earlier time than it actually was.
Reading about the Boulangerie and Patisserie goodies made me so want to be there.
The book had a sprinkling of magic to it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an advanced e-book copy. Opinions about the book are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this, different point of views, a captivating story, one of my favourite reads so far this year

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a charming and cozy read that combines a touch of mystery with delightful baking scenes. Woods creates a warm, inviting atmosphere, and the characters are likable and relatable. The storyline is light hearted but sprinkled with engaging twists that keep things interesting. Sometimes, the pace slowed a bit in the middle, which is why I rated it four stars instead of five. Still, it’s a perfect escape for anyone who enjoys delightful mysteries set in picturesque small-town settings, with plenty of treats and sweet surprises along the way.

A really magical book, set in a small town in France. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the bakery, the historical aspects and meeting a range of different characters over the course of the book. I was gripped with this one and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Publishing’s One More Chapter for an advanced read copy of Evie Woods’s newest book, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.
After the death of her mother, Edie takes a position at what she thinks is a Parisian bakery only to discover it is not located in Paris, but in an outside town rich in history and holding magical secrets.  Ready for a fresh start and to discover who she is, Edie forms friendships with locals and warms her way into the bakery's owner's heart only to discover a deep, haunting mystery surrounding the family and bakery.  As Edie seeks out her life's purpose, she delves into the historical mystery surrounding the bakery while trying to preserve its rich heritage and future stability.  With a handsome love interest complicating everything, will Edie find what she was hoping for in France?  
Like the common threads of all Evie Woods’s books, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, exudes warmth and hope with the perfect hints of history, fantasy and romance.

A magical story about finding yourself in unexpected places.

This was my first book by this author, and I can see why her books are so beloved. The writing is so compelling, and it's super easy to read this on a rainy day and forget everything for a little while.

Plot-wise, I struggled a bit to feel for the main character, who is such a clichéd, "I'm going to start over in magical Paris and then everything will just fall into place" naive, she honestly didn't feel like someone nearing 30. She of course falls madly in love and finds her soulmate in the first man she meets and the road to the magical happily ever after is of course lined with miscommunication and misunderstandings.

My point being, in my opinion, you have to be in the mood for something as sweet as this. On a rainy day, curled up with a blanket, drinking hot cocoa, this is the perfect book.

Definitely not my last book by this author!

Meh. You can really see how the author has grown in her writing in the years since she wrote this. It has none of the charm of her more recent Lost Bookshop. One can clearly see the seeds of her storytelling style which have been planted here and have grown into something beautiful, but unfortunately, there is no beauty here, only boredom.

I devoured this gorgeous book, that combines a deeply romantic story, and enticing descriptions of baked goods - both equally delicious.

Edie is 29 and feels that she hasn't lived much of a life of note. Her beloved Mum knew she wasn't going to live into old age, and so Edie spent as much time as possible with her and her father, putting her life on hold somewhat In the process.

In the midst of her grief she impulsively applies for an assistant manager role in what she believed to be Paris. But which actually turns out to be a small bakery in Compiègne owned by the taciturn Genevieve Moreau.

As Edie finds her feet and a delicious secret ingredient, she begins to find self-confidence and joy. But there is a mystery to the bakery. A mystery Edie is determined to solve.

She also meets the handsome Hugo who fills her heart with glee with his old-fashioned charm. But Hugo may not be quite what he seems. And of course true love often comes with bumps in the road.

This book is comfort from start to finish. Beautiful writing, interesting characters and history, and joy spills out from every page. There is sadness too, but more than anything there's a message of hope. Even from the darkest of times, happiness can return if you listen to your heart and dare to follow your dreams.

4.5 stars!

I’m so glad I found another author among the ranks of MIA Sheridan & Jenny Colgan. This book gave Hallmark movie vibes but with a bit more substance. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I really wanted to like this, but... I just can't. It's not the book (mostly), it's me. This is a cute, lighthearted romance/fantasy, and if you aren't french, you'll probably enjoy it. But reading this as a French person is... an experience. No, all french people don't religiously read Proust in the evening, sitting on public benches with a baguette under their arm. Also, not to judge, but this author has never eaten a Pain aux raisins in her life. Yeah, it's called pain. No, it's NOT a type of bread. Give a french person a pain aux raisins that has a "thick dark crust" and is shaped like a loaf, they'll run away screaming.
Overall, this was entertaining and light - just not realistically french enough for this french person.