I loved this book. It was warm, captivating and poignant in all the best ways. Having a main female character who just up and left her home to move to Paris (or thereabouts) on basically a whim really spoke to me. I had a million day dreams about doing that exact thing when I was her age. The people that she met were an interesting and for the most part a perfect backdrop for her struggles and review of her past.

Evie Woods never disappoints. This is the third book I’ve read from her, and once again, she delivers that signature touch of magical realism. Although this is her most recently published book, it’s actually a republication—so be sure to manage your expectations accordingly.

I definitely enjoyed all the pastry talk, and the French lines were an adorable touch. The setting is marvellous, and the historical background adds depth to the story. That said, calling a twenty-nine-year-old “middle-aged” was a bit confusing.

Nevertheless, Evie Woods has a magical touch that keeps me wanting to read whatever she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for the ARC.

BOOK: THE MYSTERIOUS BAKERY ON RUE DE PARIS
AUTHOR: EVIE WOODS
PUB DATE: MARCH 2025
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REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I requested this book because I've read and loved books by Evie Woods. Unfortunately, I didn't really like this book, at least in the beginning. It started really, really slow, and it picked up halfway through the book, and I couldn't stop reading it after that. It was just too late for me.
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I liked the setting of the book and the bakery, but I didn't really like the MCs, too. I felt Edith had too much going in her life to have managed all she had, and both her and Hugo kept bringing up excuses to live their best lives. I liked the suspense about the bakery, and I was surprised at the twist present, the usual magical realism present in Evie Woods books. I just wished that element had come up sooner. In addition to this, I felt like the ending was rushed, and the author just tied it with a little bow. It was kinda disappointing.
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I wished that Edith had more stakes in the bakery than just being an employee. I wished the special 'recipe book' had been explored more in the book. I did like the dual povs, Romani characters, and snippets of World War 2. The ending though rushed, was a happy one and I liked it.
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I didn't really like this book, but I know Evie Woods is an amazing author, ivs read two of her books, and I'm definitely going to read more of them

Firstly, make sure you have lots of delicious pastries and a cup of indulgent hot chocolate when reading this fabulous book!

Set in the charming town of Compiègne, France, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods, is a wonderful read. It very cleverly combines historical fiction, romance and mystery, along with a touch of magic and wonder along the way. Such an enchanting book which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The central character is Edie. When Edie applies for a job at a bakery in Paris, she had lost her way in life. Edie was struggling with her grief and was looking for a fresh start so when she was offered the job, she was so pleased. You could sense from the book how much courage this took but Edie wanted to rediscover herself and her place in the world.

However, she soon felt disheartened when she found the bakery was in Compiègne, not Paris, and that her accommodation was a tiny cold room within the bakery itself. There was also one main rule – never ever enter the bakery basement. But despite these initial setbacks, Edie decided she was going to do her very best to embrace the opportunity.

Edie had no idea just how deeply she would find a sense of belonging in Compiègne. The bakery has been struggling for some time now and the bank was constantly on to the owner, Madame Moreau. But Edie wanted to do everything she possibly could to save the Bakery from being closed. So many questions are raised about the future of the bakery. It meant too much not only to Madame Moreau and her family but to Edie as well. She had grown to love the bakery and felt part of the family too.

There is so much detail into the mystery and the history of the bakery and also Madame Moreau and her family. We learn through a very poignant story about how she was rescued by a baker during World War II. Madame Moreau’s life story provides greater insight into her character and we learn so much about the bakery and its magic too. There is so much that you find out about the bakery and why it holds such a profound connection to the heart of the town. Everyone who visits the bakery, feels the magic in the air.

Madame Moreau’s son was such a huge help to Edie – he was so supportive and helpful. He was so loyal to his Mother and the bakery and helped Edie with her plans to try and make the bakery more successful, to try and save it from closing.

Hugo was a character I instantly liked at first, though I couldn’t shake off whether he was genuinely head over heels for Edie, or was there something else driving his actions? As the story unfolded, I found myself hoping he would rise above (just like the bread!) and make things right. I was rooting for them all the way!

Edie made some lovely friends in Compiègne – from Nicole & Johnny who made me laugh, to the wonderful tour guide and they all made Edie feel welcome and help her to not only settle in but help the bakery too.

It is not just the magical pastries, the enchanting cupcakes and the magical hot chocolate that makes the bakery special – it is the history, the mystery and the extraordinary people behind it – from Edie, to Madame Moreau, her family and all the community.

This book demonstrates the profound impact that community, friendships, and connections can have on shaping our lives. This is an incredible book about healing, friendships, love and hope and I recommend everyone to read this book!

Evie Woods is an exceptional writer - The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris has all the perfect ingredients for a magical and poignant story.

Thank you very much HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is another great story from Evie Woods. Having read her other books, I was excited to start reading this one. Edge is dealing with grief at her mother’s death and decides to try to rebuild her life in Paris. She was offered a job in a bakery in Paris - only it wasn’t in Paris, it was in Compiégne. She wondered if she should just go back home and give up the bakery when she found the owner was a crotchety old lady. However she perseveres and the story unfolds with lots of exciting details. Magic, romance, paranormal behaviour, Second World War events and even the historical facts about Joan of Arc, all appear in the story. This was an enjoyable read and I would like to thank NetGalley and One More Chapter Books for an arc of this lovely story.

I always like Evie Woods’ books and this is no exception. It is a wonderful story of Evie, who goes to France to work in a bakery in Paris. However, the job she has applied for is not in Paris and she finds herself in a small town with a lot of history. Great characters and a mysterious secret makes this a must read book.

This is such a lovely and heartwarming story.

This is my first Evie book, and I absolutely loved this story!

The story follows Evie (primary story), Hugo, Pierre and revolves around a bakery in trouble on the Rue du Paris.

I loved Evie and how we find her applying for a job in the bakery, packing up and heading over to France to start her new life. Hugo offered an alternative view in the bakery situation, and I have severe mixed feelings about him!

Pierre's story is based in the past, and it was fantastic to see how the bakery came about and the actions that led to the present.

There is a bit of everything in this story - love, suspense, mystery...

I love how Evie weaves this magical story, tying all the POVs together and crafting a beautiful story.

If you love a heartwarming story that draws you in, this is for you!

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Evie Woods.
What a delightful read, loved the characters, the magic, the small-town vibes.
People change for the right people at the right time.
Recommend
4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #themysteriousbakeryonruedeparis #netgalley

Edith has recently lost her mum to cystic fibrosis and is now trying to run away from her old life to one that she can’t begin to imagine what it will look like without her mum! She sees an advert for a bakery manager in Paris with the request that the candidates first language must be English. Follow Edith as she moves countries and embarks on many a mystery!

After reading “The lost Bookshop” I was eager to read Evie’s other work and when her publisher put out the opportunity to join an ARC read along I knew I couldn’t miss it.

This book covers some very emotional topics which are essential to be spoken about and brought into British, French and Irish history. It really turns traditions, old beliefs and values on their head and shows how many atrocities where covered up and those effected forgotten by the next generations. These topics cover death, marginalised groups, stereotypes, world wars, concentration camps, single parenthood, illegal adoption as well as many other topics . All of these topics are delicately written to show how life has its challenges and secrets in a way that bridges the gap between history, romance and mystery to provide historical romantasy.

However at times this book felt a bit chaotic. With many different topics and changes in scene within a few pages. Due to the sudden change in scenes it often made me feel like certain story lines were under developed and also this meant that there were aspects in the book that lacked the mystery that I felt I was looking for. This may be due to how much mystery and suspense Evie had in her previous book I read and maybe she wasn’t looking to add it to this one. My example of this would be how cold an exterior Madame Moreau had with Edith, how she made her opinions known in few words but then when she found out Edith been spying at the place she’d told her definitively not to look - Madame Moreau didn’t have much to say about this.

What a darling read, j'ai adoré!

Edie is looking for a fresh start and has set her sights on moving from Ireland to the City of Light when she stumbles upon a job posting at a petite pâtisserie in Compiègne, a tiny cobblestoned town further afield from Paris. When she arrives, she discovers a swirl of mystery and secrecy surrounding her new boss and the history of this beloved neighborhood bakery. Pour yourself a cafe and sink your teeth into this tasty little treat.

This story strays from my usual go-to, but I am so glad that I took a chance on this beautifully written novel! This novel is the perfect combination of baked goods, magic, drama, and community. Thank you, NetGalley!

Another excellent book by Evie Woods, her stories never disappoint and keep you turning the pages. Her characters feel so real and are well written. Really enjoyed this book and again my thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the excellent read

First, a thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins/One More Chapter and the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

A little while ago I read ‘the lost bookshop’ from Evie Woods and absolutely adored it. When I saw the chance to read another one of her books, I grabbed it. And it did not disappoint! ‘The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris’ gets 4 stars from me!

The book was very well written in a way that it made me feel for the characters. Very soon, I rooted for the main character and hoped for the best for her. But I didn't only feel this empathy for the main character; the historical aspect of the book is written in a way that makes you feel the pain of the characters and the things they are going through. Almost all characters I felt for and rooted for.

The setting and atmosphere of the book were amazing. I loved learning about the city Compiègne and her history, as I had never heard of it before. The way Rue de Paris is described in the book makes it feel like you’re walking there yourself. The book certainly made me long for a holiday to France with lots of delicious pastries and hot chocolate.

Another charming book by this author.
It was exactly the type of cosy, comfortable read I needed. The book transports you away from your daily troubles to charming town of Compiegne in France.
The story flows well and main character is likeable. There is enough mystery so that you don't want to put it down until you figure it out.
I really liked and and will certainly read more books by Evie Woods.

I have enjoyed Evies’ other books and knew that I would enjoy this one too – The Mysterious Bakery is a heartwarming joy of a book to read. It is set in a small town in France where Edith has answered an advertisement to work in a bakery in Paris or so she thought! In fact it is a small town a hour away from Paris – however she throws herself into her new life and makes new friends. It’s a beautiful story with grief and happiness throughout . The back stories of some of the characters really tug at your heartstrings!
A warm, moving and romantic story. I loved it !

I love Evie Wood's books and feel this one is the best I have read. Wonderful narratives and descriptions. Highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this book, I have fallen for Evie’s writing style and cannot wait to delve into her catalogue. This read was entirely compelling, I was permanently fixed on needing to know the mysterious actions in the bakery and I loved seeing each characters journey in the book. Thank you for having me on the readalong

magic as you might expect from evie woods. this is an old book in that she wrote it some ten years ago but its still good. I think she's even better now so get this and enjoy it and then buy all her recent ones too.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me a copy of this book for my opinion. Full of magic and mystery,this is a delightfully enchanting, charming and quirky story. Definitely worth reading.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this eCopy to review

I recently finished reading The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods, and I found it to be a delightful and enchanting read. The story follows Edie Lane, who leaves Ireland for what she believes is a dream job at a bakery in Paris. However, due to a mistranslation, she ends up in the small town of Compiègne instead. Despite the initial mix-up, Edie quickly discovers that this quaint town and its mysterious bakery hold more charm and magic than she could have ever imagined.

The bakery on Rue de Paris is not just a place of work for Edie; it becomes a haven where she uncovers secrets, forms new friendships, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The enchanting descriptions of Compiègne and the cosy, slightly mysterious bakery create a sense of warmth and nostalgia. There's an underlying sense of wonder, a feeling that something special and perhaps even magical is at play.

Edie's character is relatable and sympathetic. Initially somewhat adrift after a difficult time, she possesses an inner strength and a quiet determination that shine through as she navigates her unexpected new life. Her natural curiosity and willingness to embrace the unexpected allow her to uncover the bakery’s secrets and, in turn, discover more about herself.

The themes of love, loss, and new beginnings are poignantly explored throughout the novel. Edie’s journey is a powerful exploration of self-discovery, as she learns to embrace her past while opening herself up to new possibilities. The subtle thread of magic woven throughout the story serves not just as enchantment, but also as a catalyst for healing and connection.

Overall, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a charming and heart warming tale that lingers in the heart long after the final page. If you enjoy stories with a blend of magical realism, historical elements, and sweet romance, this book is definitely worth a read.