Edie's looking for something different. A new chance at life. Which is why she jumps at the chance to move to Paris for a job at a bakery.

Leaving her life in Ireland behind, she's excited for this grand adventure in Paris. Only, it's not in Paris or anything she was expecting.

Edie quickly learns even though she didn't mean to be in this small town bakery, it's exactly where she is supposed to be.

I absolutely struggled with this book. Paris, a bakery and a little magic ... what could go wrong?

Like the previous Evie Woods book I read, this book was written with a juvenile-forward prose as well. I'm confused how old the main character is. She feels 17, but has middle aged problems? Yet, the story is so focused on YA issues.

In reality, there are so many good storylines the author could have pulled out. It's sad we didn't learn more about the ghost, the history of the bakery or what the heck was the point of the vanilla.Give me more Evie!

I'm not really sure what else to say ... I didn't really like the book. Felt as if I were reading a children's book, which is not what I was looking for.

Also, P.S., I heard this is a re-release of the authors work? If true, makes sense why it's not as tidied up as 'The Lost Bookshop'. Could she not produce more after 'The Lost Bookshop' hit a bit of fame? An odd choice for publisher. This could be off-putting for a lot of readers to read the rest of her work.

Amazon Link - The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris By: Evie Woods

Stats: 352 pages - Published April 8, 2025

**Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! A little history mixed with a little fantasy and it gives a great story about a young girl who just wants to learn.

This was a great book! I loved it. The story and the writing style were amazing. I liked it way more than I thought I would

A cozy mystery staring an Irish expat working in a french bakery should have been a home run for me. I never quite got my footing here and found the story very slow, predictable, and a little boring. From the first time Eddie referred to herself as middle-aged, at the whopping age of 29, I was put off. The writing isn't horrible and the story has some sweet elements. I liked that it involved mystery, romance, and recipes, but I didn't enjoy the MC so I struggled to be fully engaged. Not for me, but not terrible.

This was cute and enjoyable, but rather predictable. Still, good for escape and a taste of France. Round up to 3.5

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is cozy, hearwarming, romantic, and with a touch of magic and the unexpected. This is the second book I've read by this author.

Edie Lane leaves her native Ireland after caring for her mother during her last illness. The young woman has put her dreams on hold to care for her mother, and now she sets out on an adventure. She has accepted a job as a baker in Paris. But strange turns cause her to end up an hour north of Paris in the small village of Compiegne at a bakery on the Rue de Paris. She finds not her dream job but a lonely bedroom, a cold boss, and a bakery where she isn't expected to bake. Nothing is as she'd planned.

But, a mystery is awaiting her in the basement, romance shows up in the form of an interesting man named Hugo, and a friend takes her hand and shows her the town. Twists, turns, conflicts, and the history of the world wars are all wrapped up in the plot, which never sags.

I enjoyed this light-hearted novel with magic, romance, unexpected twists, and a mystery to solve. The characters were interesting, the setting was magical, and the plot never lagged. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a light story that will keep them interested.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper 360 for the advanced reader's copy of The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods.

This was a delightful read that managed to blend a little bit of magic, romance, and personal growth. I do wish though it had explored the historical context and complexities a bit more. It was however a delightful escape into the French countryside. Though I will say that if I was tired while reading I found it hard to pick up context clues surrounding the french vocabulary in the novel. I found myself relying on my rusty high school french from memory.

This story did a great job of reminding readers of the importance of community and how sometimes we find ourselves in unexpected places that are where we're meant to be.

This book was such a charming escape! The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris felt like wrapping yourself up in a cozy blanket full of warmth, delicious descriptions, and just the right sprinkle of magic. I loved the small town vibes and the way the characters’ stories slowly unfolded. It was a little predictable at times, but honestly, I didn’t mind because it made the whole thing even more comforting. Perfect for when you want something feel-good and heartwarming!

I read Evie Gaughan aka Evie Woods “The Story Collector” and came away with mixed feelings. I liked her writing and concept but had difficulty with her characters. When I had the opportunity to read her latest novel I loved the title and hoped I would feel the same about the book. Lots of delicious things being made within these pages, but not all completely digestible. The storyline of girl goes of to Paris to find or become herself was heroic, the romance - not so much. A little too simplistic although the humor helped as did the reminiscence of loved ones lost. Reminded repeatedly that the protagonist is chasing her heart’s desire and missing it until at last, voila, she picks ups the gauntlet and charges back to recapture her dreams.

While it is all very comme-ci, come ca - the romance, the politics, the businessmen versus the small shop owners, it is a good story for a rainy day. Thanks to One More Chapter/Harper Collins and NetGalley for a copy.

I enjoyed The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, focusing on Edith (aka Edie), who takes a job at a bakery, but not in Paris, as she originally thought! She works hard and builds relationships with those she encounters, even becoming friends with a few people, but when she received a call from the bank, she finds that her happiness is in jeopardy. Overall, this was a cute read and I would recommend to those looking for a quick read.

Evie Woods knows how to suck you into her stories. The characters, the places, the events, they are all so good. This book took me a bit longer to get into but once I did, I had to finish it as quickly as possible. Following Edith from Ireland to France to work at a bakery comes a story of ghosts, love, the past and friendships.
This was such a pleasure to read

Courtesy of Netgalley, I received the ARC of The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods. I loved this well written story of old traditions and new beginnings, relationships, and self searching. Coupled with engaging characters, WWII history, and descriptions of delicious pastries, along with a unique mystery, this novel was a joy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley, I received an ARC in exchange for my review of this novel.

I desperately wanted to adore this book. Who hasn’t been lost in their younger years. Edie is mourning the loss of her mom and not knowing where she is headed in life. She has the opportunity to escape to Paris and work in the bakery in Paris, where she can explore the city of lights and find herself in the process.
Sadly, she didn’t really look in to her job description as much as she had thought and she’s actually in a suburb or Paris and the bakery is on Rue de Paris. Deciding she will make a go of it she embarks on some changes to life that she normally wouldn’t do, gets a hair cut, befriends the hair dresser and heads out for a night of jazz with these new friends.
I was all up for Edie’s adventures until the ghosts of the bakery started and then the story began to devolve for me from a journey of a young person to a fantasy novel.
Her relationship with her potential love, Hugo that changes in to one of a business person and an activist was a struggle, as I just can’t imagine people who are digging each other as they were suddenly allowing their outside lives to interfere with their hormones and enjoyment of each other (young people have blinders on in love).
It was a sweet book but nothing I adored.

This was a cozy mystery featuring a magical bakery in Paris, which is just a wonderful combination. It is charming, sweet, and full of secrets. Wood’s writing is wonderful to read and she does a phenomenal job of weaving bits of history throughout the narrative. It is heartwarming and full of magical realism. The kind of book that you want to just curl up with and get lost in. At some points the plot felt a bit predictable, but that didn’t detract from the story or the book at all. It’s a wonderful, cozy, heartwarming mystery that is easy to read and easy to love.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is an intriguing tale of a woman’s transformative journey at a Parisian bakery. However, it lacks originality. The predictable plot and love-hate relationship between Cricket and Sloan, who eventually end up together, were disappointing.

This was a great book that I read in less than a day. This book had a little bit of everything. It had small community vibes in a quaint little community in France, starting over and finding yourself, a little historical fiction and romance. It was a lovely escape not too deep or dark but with real emotions and some great characters.

A super cozy read about a historical bakery in France!

I loved the WW2 tie-ins, the bit of magical realism & a small romance subplot, this was such a fun & easy book! It did take me a little bit to get into the story & the characters, but once I did, I really enjoyed it!

Also, if you speak or understand French this would probably be a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley & publisher for the ARC (even tho I’m a bit delayed 🤪)

This writer is becoming one of my favorites as her charming stories are easy reading and light. In this novel, a young woman takes a job in what she believes to be a Paris bakery, intending to work on her French and live in the famed city seemed like an an answer for her troubles. But the bakery turns out to be a hole in the wall in a tiny town on a street called Rue de Paris. The grouchy woman who owns the shop is difficult, but the job comes with a tiny studio apartment over the bakery. Edith decides to stay anyway, at least for a while. She settles into the routine, with the admonition to never go into the basement. You can guess what is next, she just has to find out the secret, and when she does, the urgency to save this tiny establishment from the greedy corporation wanting to turn it into condos takes her in a whole new direction. Of course, there is a bit of magic in the secret. And I’m not going to spoil it.

If a producer sought a book that could be a Hallmark movie, this would certainly fit the bill. There’s a touch of whimsy in this girl-goes-to-France-to-find-herself-but-falls-in-love-instead novel. I enjoyed the French interspersed throughout the novel, but I also speak French. At times, the translations weren’t necessarily clear for non-Francophone readers. The main plot is cute, but I felt the simplicity was overshadowed by one too many tangential story arcs. Two stars is probably too low, but three would be generous on my scale. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this copy. This review is my own opinion.