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.

When I saw this book by Evie Woods, I was excited to read it since I have enjoyed her other books. However, this book was very slow moving and I had a hard time pushing myself through it. It took me quite a while to finish.

I typically love magical realism, so a mysterious haunted bakery sounds right up my alley. I was left disappointed though, because the ghost aspect of the story is only a very minor part. The romance also felt very superficial and rushed. I didn’t feel connections to the characters either, and Edith had some very odd reactions to Hugo.

In all, I think the premise of this story had a lot of potential, but it never really reached it. The end of the book was better than the beginning, but if a friend of mine was interested in reading this, I would likely advise them to skip it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

I am a fan of cozy mysteries that incorporate history and fantasy elements. A magical cup of hot chocolate helps unlock memories of the past. The descriptions of the charming little homes and the wood sprite keep me engaged. The narration sets this story up to be a winner. Describing the fun little abodes and a wood sprite keeps you drawn in. The narration set this up to be a winner.

Thank you Audible Audio and NetGalley for an amazing ARC,

Having loved The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods I was excited to get my hands on The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris and I wasn’t disappointed. Edie Lane has decided that she needs to take control of her life after helping her father look after her mother until she died. She takes up a job working in a bakery in France however whilst she believes that she will be working in Paris it turns out the bakery is on the Rue de Paris in the small town of Compiegne. At first, she thinks she has made a big mistake as she is not sure that the bakery really needs her and the owner is a little prickly and secretive. As she starts to make friends with some of the locals and settles into her new life it is not long before Edie is determined to find out what secret is being protected and why she has never met the baker who is responsible for all the treats she sells.
I really like Edie, despite what life has thrown at her, she has not lost the willingness to try something new or the need to help those who look like they are struggling. Her boss is a bit distant, but it turns out there is a very good reason for this, one that is not evident to begin with.
The book has a dual timeline that goes between present day and France during the war when being different was not a good thing. Through this we learn about the origins of the bakery and its original owner, giving the story a heartbreaking and magical twist that ripples through to the present day and threatens not only the bakery but Edie’s new life.
Evie Woods has once again managed to transport her readers to a different time and place with descriptions and images that have you wanting to be a part of the story. Her characters are charming and relatable and the mysterious elements that she weaves seamlessly into her books just add that something extra. This is the perfect book for those that love a cosy and heartwarming read and for me Evie Woods is fast becoming an author I will turn to when I need a change of pace and a bit of a feel-good factor.

“The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris” is a heartwarming and gently magical read that wraps you in the comfort of pastries, small town charm, and second chances.

The French town of Compiègne comes to life with rich descriptions and a hint of magic that lingers like the scent of freshly baked bread. Edith’s journey of healing and self discovery is touching, and the bakery itself with its ghostly baker and secret recipes adds just the right amount of mystery and whimsy.

While I wished the magical elements had been explored a bit more deeply, the blend of historical intrigue, lovable characters, and emotional depth made this a thoroughly enjoyable read. This book is a cozy escape with heart and soul.

This was a cute, cozy book! I found this to be a pretty easy read, perfect for cuddling up on the couch with a cup of tea. The mystery was pretty easy to solve, but that isn’t always a bad thing.

For an easy, light-hearted read with a hint of mystery and magical realism, you can't go wrong with Evie Woods.

I was a big fan of The Lost Bookshop and although the plot of The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris are a little more predictable and the characters slightly less well-rounded, it's still a great summer read that will leave you dreaming of quaint French bakeries and escaping to a new life abroad.

It's got romance, humour, a little hint of mystery and a whole lot of delectable pastries - and sometimes that's exactly what you're looking for!

A mostly lighthearted read, with some serious parts about Northern France in WW2 . Edie moves to France to work in a bakery. There are reasons for her wanting to start afresh in a new place. She thinks she is going to Paris, but her new workplace is in Compiègne. After a shaky start, she gradually settles into life in the town and gets to know her employer and the mystery of the bakery. She also makes friends in the town and there is a love interest. The plot follows a fairly predictable pattern, but is entertaining.
I read this quite quickly, I didn't have to think about it too much. I like the descriptions of the buildings and the historical aspect (not normally my thing) . The descriptions of relationships were a little too shallow in my view. But it was an enjoyable read on the whole
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

I’d like to first thank Author Evie Woods and Harper Collins for a copy of this eARC.

Overall I enjoyed the journey Edie went on, though unexpected and challenging, her discoveries within herself were very enlightening. Evie Woods has a spectacular talent for drawing you into her stories and immersing yourself in the lives of her characters.

3.5 stars. An "Emily in Paris" type of story that's easy to read, fun, and lighthearted. Yes, there's a bit of mystery but nothing heavy. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. The perfect summer read. And it will leave you hankering for a trip to France! Reading this book allowed me to live vicariously through the main character, Edie, as she travels from her homeland Ireland to France for a job in a bakery. Little does she know that it will change her life forever. Thank you to NetGalley.com, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the Advanced Readers Copy.

Evie Woods does it again in this new novel! You will find yourself transported into another time and will have a hard time putting this one down. The characters stay with you long after you finish it. Highly recommend!

First my thanks to Harper Collin’s UK and NetGalley for the opportunity for an ARC copy of this book 🫶

I am a HUGE fan of Evie Woods and when I saw she had another book coming out that I hadn’t read I knew I had to get my hands on it!

This book was actually written a few years ago but it now being published in the US. I will say, you can tell this is some of her older writing. Her writing in this is much more simplistic with more cliches than in the story collector and the lost bookshop. You can tell her writing has grown since this novel.

The premise of the story is sweet- a young woman is trying to get out and live her life and is pulled into the ups and downs of the small town and bakery she finds herself living and working in.

France. Music. Romance. Friendship. Ghosts? History. This book is an easy read, you’ll want to finish it all in one go!

I began reading The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods and I got a sense of deja vu. It turns out that this book is a rerelease with a new cover and not a new release. I continued to read since it has been a while since the original release (I was tempted to DNF, but I kept at it). I was not a fan of the main character, Edie Lane. I was baffled as to why Edie is referred to as middle aged when she is only thirty years old. Of course, when it comes to romance, Edie acts immature. She is googly eyed about the man right away and believes he is the one. The romance follows a predictable path (I could have told you how it would play out from the moment they met). The story moved at a glacial pace with repetitive details. There were sections that read like a cookbook (instead of a woman creating a magical recipe). The story was uneventful (it desperately needed action). The author should have switched out the word “gypsy” for Romani when speaking about Romani jazz guitarist Jean "Django" Reinhardt. The ending felt rushed (which was odd after the snail’s pace). My favorite part of the story are the delectable descriptions of the baked goods (made me wish I could reach in and grab one of the finished pastries). I wish there had been more elements that I liked about The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. While The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris did not appeal to me that will not keep me from checking out future books by Evie Woods.

Edie ends up in a small French town with secrets,mysterious bakery, intrigue and strange workers..
A good story and interesting characters.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I absolutely adored this book, Evie Woods is fast becoming a favourite of mine and a go to when looking for something really wholesome and enjoyable. I find Evie stories to be such palate cleaners and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is no exception!