Traditional format 📕 (digital). Release date: April 8, 2025 (reviewed Feb 2025)

This book is was a warm and cosy mix of historical fiction, romance with a little touch of magical realism. The story follows Edith, an Irish woman, who gives up her life to work at a bakery outside of Paris. There is a back story and secrets about the bakery and its owner (which I don’t want to share to spoil the plot).

Overall I really enjoyed this cozy read. It has little bit of something for everyone in terms of gendre. I give this book a 4/5 cupcakes.

A few comments on what would have made this a five star read:
🧁 I was expecting more magical realism in this book. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment but some of the elements intended for this in the book just fell flat
🧁 I would have loved more backstory - there was a little there but I felt it could have given more to add to the current day plot

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter | One More Chapter for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

This book was enjoyable but it was a little like reading magical realism/historical fiction/romance-light. All of the pieces were there but they just weren't fully developed. That being said, I did enjoy the story and wanted to keep reading to find out about the magic of the bakery. I also enjoyed the chapters from different character's perspectives that were sprinkled in; most of the chapters are from Edith's POV but the occasional chapters that showed backstory or the historical aspect were enjoyable, I wish there had been more of that in the book.

I also thought this was a new book but apparently it's a re-release of a book that was published in 2014.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Evie Wood rights superbly entertaining stories with a magical twist. She’s done it again. This one is quaint, heart breaking and heart warming too. Edie Lane is searching for something, and Paris is calling! Well, not quite - read and see what life changing adventure she falls into. I think your day will be better for it. Thank you to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.

It took me a while to get into this book but once I did, I really enjoyed it.
Edit moves to Paris from her home in Ireland to work in a bakery. When she arrives in Paris she is totally lost and can't find the bakery anywhere. After a phone call to the owner she realises the bakery is not actually in Paris but outside of it.
Very disappointed Edi eventually gets to the bakery and is not made welcome at all by the owner. Her room is not what she expected either and she just wants to return home.

When strange noises occur in the bakery at night edi decides to stay even just to getting the bottom of it all and find out why the owner seems to dislike her so much.
An enjoyable read but you have to suspend some of your beliefs and just go with the flow.

A quirky fun read. Quite enjoyed it! Evie Woods never disappoints! Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley!

I thought that this book was a bit 'young' for an adult audience. Edith was a bit of a wishy washy character despite the things she got involved with. I liked the sense of place with the old boulangerie and the history of Compiegne. But I wasn't as enthralled as I was with Evie Woods's previous books. And that title - way too clunky.

This book just confirms to me the master storyteller that is Evie Woods! With multiple POVs and jumping between WW2 and present day, there’s many characters and storylines to take into consideration but Evie manages to weave them together to create a spellbinding story that had me smiling, and crying tears of joy (and a little sadness). I don’t often get emotional with books but there’s just something about the writing that speaks to you as a reader.

At its core, this book was about Edie finding herself and finding that confidence to grow into that person that she truly wants to be. Tackling grief whilst standing up for what she believes in too.

The romance element at the beginning seemed full on and more like a cringey romance novel but it transpired into a real life story with the ups and downs that are innately tied to relationships.

The historical element highlighted the hardship of Romana gypsies, especially during WW2. It was nice to learn about forgotten history and the hardships they faced and still do. Bringing this rich culture alive was special amongst the pages.

The main storyline to save the bakery was unlike something I’ve read. I don’t want to give anything away as it’s a truly magical reading experience.

Just like, The Lost Bookshop, this book is up there with my favourites of all time!

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris brings a beautiful story of magic, family, love, humanity, and sacrifice, among so many others.

Grieving her mom, Edie needs a fresh start away from her Irish home. Where better than a job in Paris as assistant manager of a bakery? She can put her baking skills to work and find a new life as a Parisian. Only she discovers the bakery isn’t in Paris. She finds herself in the small town of Compiègne, in a cramped attic apartment, and working for a woman who doesn’t seem to want her there (despite hiring her). Did she make the right decision? Right away, she realizes this isn’t just any bakery; there’s something strange going on and Edie’s determined to figure it out.

The Mysterious Bakery beautifully weaves a story of family, magic, love, history, and community. The bakery’s owners and their family history, sacrifices made, the Compiègne and French World War II history, and the sense of community in the town create such a warm feeling. There was just the right amount of magic--present and significant, but doesn't overwhelm the rest of the story. Plus, I loved the little romance and its ups and downs. Edie grew and developed a lot of strength throughout the book, standing up for what she believed in and doing everything she could to help her friends and fight the good fight.

Overall, this book really kept me interested and wanting more, wanting to put all the pieces together, wanting Edie to succeed and the magic of the bakery to continue. And I REALLY want some of those pastries and hot chocolate!!!

A really lovely book. I was engrossed from the beginning. Very well written with great characters. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. However, I’m still trying to understand the aspect of the ghost. It wasn’t really necessary other than it was the reason for the continued success of the recipes- I guess. It felt out of place for such a well written, enjoyable book. I loved the characters, and even found myself cheering on Edith as she found her footing in the French world.

3,75 stars rounded up..

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue the Paris follows Edith. She has found an opportunity to start over, to begin anew and fresh and is following her dream to go to Paris and make a living there.
Things don't go as planned and she ends up in a provincial town near Paris in a small bakery.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I don't know how she does it, but I feel so drawn into the story. It feels cozy, with a hint of magic and a touch of mystery. Add a splash of romance and a dash of history and there we are.
This book was such an easy read and I wanted to continue reading it. Finding out why the bakery was mysterious, what happened to Edith, but also the small flashbacks and the peeks into another characters life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I was invested in solving the mystery. It was wholesome and emotional.

Thank you Netgalley and OneMoreChapter for providing me with this e-arc. All opinions are my own.

Edith Lane always dreamed of moving to Paris and a job posting of a bakery manager in a French bakery seems like the perfect opportunity. Edi leaves Ireland for Paris and soon enough discovers that her new job is not in the city of love but in an antique town of Compiègne. The bakery and its owner have a mystery that sparks Edi's interest and she's determined to solve it.

I'm starting off by saying that this story has a lot of potential, it's good but could have been better. I feel like the romance sub-plot wasn't necessary or could have been better incorporated into the story. The ending felt rushed
This story has a lot of potential that it wasn't fulfilled. There's a point in the book where the story focuses more on Edi and her past than in the mystery of the bakery which is the main plot. As much as I like a romance sub-plot and I liked Hugo, the romance felt out of place and it seems like his only purpose in the story was to be the hero at the end.
I loved the descriptions of the baked goods and the hot chocolate and the french scenery. There's even a recipe for hot chocolate in one of the chapters that sounds so good you better believe that I will try to make it.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It touches on a very important topic of grief and losing a loved one which I think many readers could relate to.

Trigger warning: this book touches very delicate topics like grief, loss of a parent, holocaust and war.

A really lovely story from the very beginning, full of mystery - a delightful storyline. Very well written with great characters

I picked this up after I read The Lost Bookshop. I absolutely loved that book and wanted more! The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris definitively gave similar vibes. While The Lost Bookshop features an old, whimsical bookshop that might or might not exist, this book features a mysterious bakery with a ghostly secret!

As for the story itself, I did enjoy the book a lot. It was a nice story to wind down with so if you are in for a cozy, relaxing book night I think you would quite enjoy this. The book is about an Irish woman seeking a new start in Paris, but little does she realize that the Bakery on Rue de Paris is actually NOT in Paris but, in fact, in Compiègne. Finding herself in a small, historical town, Edith makes new friends and falls in love all the while trying to solve the mystery of the bakery she is working in.

This is a re-release of this book from 2014 and is under the author’s other pen name, Evie Woods. I love the new cover and think it matches the author’s more recent releases nicely. As much as I enjoyed the story, I will say that it is clear that this is an earlier work by the author. Coming from her most recent release, The Lost Bookshop, there was a stark difference in the depth of the two stories. The plot twists were a bit predictable and the unraveling of the “mystery” of the bakery felt slightly too-straightforward. Regardless, I enjoyed reading The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris and I am looking forward to reading other titles by this author! Next on my TBR is The Story Collector!

Thank you to One More Chapter for providing this book for review via NetGalley!

I read The Lost Bookshop by the same author last year, and while it wasn’t one of my top reads, it was worth giving the author another chance. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris follows Edith and she leaves her home in Ireland for a chance to find herself, adventure, and love in France.

The book employs a dash of magical realism, but in a way that added to the story instead of distracted from it. While I was rooting for Edith and Hugo’s romance, I also found myself rolling my eyes at the predictable way the tropes played. It also dives into WWII history more than I was expecting, crossing over into historical fiction. There are quite a few French phrases through out the book and I preferred to read on my Kindle so I could quickly translate them.

The Mysterious Bakery is an easy read for lovers of romance (no spice) and historical fiction, and I’ll continue to keep an eye out for new books by Evie Woods. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for this ARC!

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is a magical story that weaves together 3 different character's stories about a small but impactful bakery outside of Paris France. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the tale and how they explained the unforgettable tragedy of Nazi Germany. When a gay man stepped up to care for a gypsy woman and her child it created a magic that burned brightly over the centuries.

Another atmospheric and magical book from Evie Woods. This time we are in a bakery in a town just outside Paris. Edie a troubled Irish woman takes a job in what she thinks is a bakery in Paris on a whim to find herself where she needs to be, in our bakery..........and the story begins. It is written beautifully. It is a gentle romance but not soppy. It is magical but not silly or over the top. It has characters that are in a way caricatures of people we all may recognise but who are still very believable. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a real feel good book to curl up with and lose yourself in. Recommended wholeheartedly to anyone who needs a good cuddle in a book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

This a heartwarming gentle read. The main character Edie has spent years looking after her mother and having suffered the heartache of losing her, she decides to apply for a job in a bakery in Paris, hoping to start a new chapter in her life.

What Edie doesn’t realise is the bakery is not in Paris, but in a nearby small historical town . She finds the owner of the bakery offhand and as she struggles with a new country and language the feelings of ease begin to grow. Strange noises at night add to her anxiety leaving her wondering if she has made a huge mistake leaving her homeland.

She becomes friends with some locals and meets the charming Hugo which helps her to feel more settled but soon buried secrets emerge that change her perception and make her question everything around her.

I loved the setting of the book. I holiday in France a lot and the descriptions of the boulangerie transported me to one of my favourite places. The book is full of magic, friendship, self discovery and romance. I did find it a bit predictable at times but that adds to its charm . If you’re looking for a gentle read with a sprinkle of magic you will enjoy this book.

Edith is brokenhearted following the death of her mum and decides she needs a new start. She applies for the job of assistant manager at a bakery in Paris, and heads off for a new life.

Once arriving in Paris, she quickly establishes that the job isn’t in Paris, it’s about an hour away by train in Compiègne!

When she arrives, she finds her boss is quite a sharp elderly lady, and wonders if she has done the right thing.

As the days go by, Edith settles into her job and soon realises that all is not as it seems in the bakery.

Slowly making friends, she meets Hugo on a night out, and there is definitely an attraction there. Is Hugo all he seems?

I loved this story, it’s a quaint tale and told over two timelines, taking us back to World War Two.

There is lots to be learnt in the story, I especially enjoyed the references to events that took place in Compiègne.

The descriptive writing of the hot chocolate recipe and the recipes for macarons and cupcakes left my stomach rumbling a lot!

There is a bit of everything in this story: mystery, romance and history.

My thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Heart-warming story that takes place in a French bakery in the small historic town of Compiegne. Edie thought she was taking a job in a Paris bakery, but it was actually not in Paris. A lovely story with a touch of romance and a bit of magic and a lot of characters trying to help each other.. a feel good book.