Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I really loved this story with its magic, historical elements, and familial drama. It was a very heart warming read that transported me to Paris alongside the characters!

Was this review helpful?

With it's charming characters and impeccable sense of place, readers will surely fall hard for Woods most recent offering.

We follow the grieving Edith Lane as she is called to move from her Irish home, impulsively taking a job in the bustling and romantic patisseries of Paris. Fate has other plans, and much to her dismay, our lost heroine finds herself in a town and bakery immensely different than her brain had conjured. As Edith navigates her unlikely new life, she is met with heartwarming characters and unsettling mysteries!

I truly adored this story. It's sweet and light with just enough depth to make it meaningful. It's got some heart-wrenching historical elements that drive the mystery but the characters and ultimate outcome balance the hard human truths nicely.

This will be a sweet little treat for those looking for a heartwarming tale with some depth.

Was this review helpful?

Loved the story... connects a bit of magic, family drama, delicious baked goods and beautiful scenery. I've come to expect this in a Gaughan / Woods novel, and she doesn't disappoint here. Would have loved to learn more about why the vanilla worked (won't reveal the secrets here!) but I am totally good just going with it. Solid characters. Lovely setting. I'm all caught up on the author's books now.

Was this review helpful?

Having put her own plans on hold to care for her dying mother, Edith (Edie) is seeking a fresh start in Paris by accepting a management position in a bakery. Much to her dismay, she discovers she misunderstood the location. In fact, the bakery is located on the Rue de Paris in Compiegne, a village about one hour north of her dream destination. Edie is determined to stay despite the aloof owner, the shabby apartment, and the mysterious activity in the basement that produces abundant, delicious breads and pastries. As the story unfolds, Edie begins to heal her grief over the loss of her mother, gaining some clarity about what she genuinely wants in life.

Some of the most interesting aspects of the novel involve the history of Compiegne. especially its role in World Wars I and II. This thread was unexpected and provided richness and depth to the storyline.

Overall, this is a heart-warming book that embraces the magical realism genre that the author is known for. I found it enjoyable, entertaining, and informative.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Was this review helpful?

Edith is ready for a change at 29. Her mom died and she was her carer during that time period. She put her life on hold and feels a bit lost. She's accepted a job as an assistant manager at a bakery in Paris. So she's going to move from Ireland and leave her father behind.

She gets to Paris and realizes she's made a mistake. The bakery is actually on the Rue de Paris in a town about an hour north of Paris. She starts work and things look bleak, as her provided apartment is a small cold attic, her boss is cold, and it feels like the whole place is haunted. However, she meets a man named Hugo, makes a friend named Nicole, and finds a mysterious recipe book in the floorboards of her apartment.

A light heart-warming read!

Was this review helpful?

A sweet cozy mystery. Edith goes out on her own at 29 to start a new life working in a Paris bakery. Madame Moreau says she's not to go to the ovens even though she works there as a clerk. Magic at work at the bakery. I did find the French phrases a bit daunting, and took me out of the story as I struggled to know what was said.

Was this review helpful?

Fairly predictable but an enjoyable read.. Well written, great characters and well told. hanks for the opportunity to read this and much luck on publication.

Was this review helpful?

My favorite parts of "The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris" are those that involve the history of Compiègne, France during World War II. Descriptions of the people targeted by the Nazis and what life was like in a small village not too far from Paris, these are strengths of Evie Woods. She is an Irish author and though her main character was from Ireland, I was surprised at how "American" she felt to me. I was a little disappointed by the need to throw a love story into the more complicated themes tackled by this novel, especially since the descriptions (in the first person) felt more like they were told by a 19-year-old instead of a 29-year-old. The amazing talents of most of the characters in this book didn't ring true for me, either. Being successful at not one but two possible occupations stretched my imagination. In spite of this reader's criticisms, a part of me did enjoy young love mixed with a bit of a ghost story.

Was this review helpful?

3.75⭐️. This started off feeling like a book solely based on grief and making decisions based on grief; but what I soon realized, it was about living your life in spite of your grief and coming to terms with how life can change immediately. This felt like a really beautiful history lesson, on top of a magical romance, and clandestine journey of self discovery.

Was this review helpful?

Evie Woods has done it again!

She sweeps readers into the magical surrealism that marries the past and present into a thought-provoking tale.

An easygoing read that provides warmth and heart reminding us all that the past is an integral part of ourselves. Edie searches for a new life, unknowing that the seeds of it are already inside her, waiting for her to nurture them.

Set in a small providential Persian village, the characters come to life while welcoming you into their hearts

Was this review helpful?

3.5 🥐 🥐🥐 Edith’s journey of self-discovery after losing her mother leads her to a charming bakery ran by Madame Moreau. There, she uncovers a touch of magic as a spirit guides them in the art of baking. The added romance with Hugo brings an extra layer of warmth to her story. With its mix of history, magic, and fate, tale is a heartwarming treat!

Was this review helpful?

Edith's lack of fluency in French leads to a different adventure than she had planned. When Edith Lane answers and ad for a "Native English Speaker" to work in bakery in France, she is really trying to find herself. But during the phone interview she misunderstands a finer point of the address and heads for what she thinks will be a new life in Paris. Instead she ends up in a quaint little town called Compiègne. But, at least she has a job and a place to stay, if she can just manage to get along with the employer.
In a short time, as Edith discovers that there are mysterious goings on in the bakery; she also finds friendship with some of the locals. As she unravels the mystery of the bakery, she begins to unravel her own mystery.

My only "complaint" with the story is the French phrases which are not always translated for the reader. The book did challenge me to remember bits of my woefully inadequate high school French.

The characters were certainly believable. The story progressed at a nice rate without dragging at any point. If I could give half stars for the rating, I would give this one 4 1/2 stars.

Was this review helpful?

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is an enchanting story set in the cobblestoned streets of Compiegne. It follows Edie Lane, who leaves behind her life in Ireland while chasing a dream that doesn’t go as planned. Edie finds herself in a charming town with a bakery rumored to serve more than just baked goods. This book is full of heartfelt emotion, while finding magic in unexpected places. I absolutely adored this cozy read!

Was this review helpful?