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.

A modern day Fairy-tale, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a truly magical read.
I adored the storyline, and the characters in which we got to know throughout the book.
A beautifully written story which I am certain others will love too!

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a modern fairytale. Evie Woods has written a magical story that will help readers forget the painful news going on in the world around us. Readers can escape into a small bakery just outside Paris, where delicious French baked goods make readers dream of wonderful pastries, where history happens, where mysteries have occurred, and where love can once again bloom. No way am I going to spoil this beautifully written fairytale with plot details. Escape from the world and read The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. Obviously I cam recommending The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. I loved this novel.

3.5 stars
You’ll find this magical boulangerie et pâtissière tucked away on the cobbled streets of Compiègne, north of Paris, where just a single taste of the buttery croissants unlocks a precious memory and reveals a hidden longing. However, as World War Two looms, Pierre Moreau, its owner, knows that things will change.

In the present day, Edie (Edith) Lane has flown into Paris from Dublin to be the assistant manager at the quaint bakery but she’s currently stuck at the Gare du Nord in a bit of a predicament. She has expected the boulangerie to be in Paris itself as that’s her dream but clearly, it’s not. However, maybe the place will work its magic on her too.

One thing is for sure, the storyline makes for mouthwatering reading right from the start when Edie’s first task is to fill the window with baked goods. I’ll have a croque monsieur et une religieuse s’il vous plaît. Merci. I wish. It begins as a charming story sprinkled with magical fairy dust which does make me feel as if I’ve strayed into a sort of homage to Chocolat and Vianne by Joanne Harris. There’s even a Roma element which Chocolat has with the riverboat gypsies. The plot becomes infused with a bitter taste from the past as Compiègne has a fascinating history which I find so interesting. The atmosphere of the place is mostly delightful, matched by some lovely characters especially in the jazz club.

However, as it progresses it becomes a bit predictable and 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.

Ps. A smattering of French would be most helpful!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

What a fantastic read by an author I am quickly feeling the need to devour her whole catalog. I truly enjoyed the historical nuances as I got to watch the development of both Hugo and Edith as they discovered who they are today through a journey of discovering the past. The beautiful details, cleverly woven plot, and comfortable banter was exactly the book that keeps readers turning pages and enjoying the journey. I would have liked a little more on Manu as his role in supporting the journey I feel could have been more flushed out.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

I just read the best book. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods was a five star read!

A magical story that will leave you with a happy feeling.
There is a bakery on the Rue de Paris in Compiègne that Edith Lane from Ireland is going to be the Assistant Manager of. Edith had put her life on hold while her mother was dying but now it is time to live life and move to Paris to start a new job. The bakery however is not in Paris it is an hours train ride away so the start to Edith’s adventure doesn’t go well.
The bakery is owned and run by Genevieve Moreau an old grumpy French lady and her grandson, Manu. There is a sad story waiting to be told about her life dating back to WWII with the original baker Pierre Moureau and his kindness in taking in a Roma mother and daughter.
There is mystery, magic love, loyalty and friendship.
A lovely weekend read

“Life in Rue de Paris changed for everyone who opened their hearts……the magic ingredient was the enduring power of love”