I fell in love with The Lost Bookshop and The Story Collector, so I was hoping for more of that. This book didn’t feel the same. The set up took a very long time and it was slow moving to actually get to the point. Then the conclusion was not as on the page as I would have liked it to be. I would have loved more flashbacks to the bakery in the 40s and 50s. It would have been great to see Hugo talk out his inner battles with his mother. There was just more that could have made the characters feel like real people instead of focusing on the setting in the city for so long.



Thank you One More Chapter and HarperCollins for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me a free e-arc. This was such a nice surprise. Historical fiction with just a little mystery and little magic. There’s new friends and new beginnings, lots of grief to get through and found family. There is also France, bakery, food, wine, and romance. Enjoyed this one very much.

I absolutely loved Evie Woods' book 'The Lost Bookstore'. When I was invited by publisher One More Chapter to grab a digital review copy for this book from Netgalley I therefore didn't hesitate. Since the release date is coming close, it was finally time to dive in.

This book was emotional in a perfect way. That's firstly because the heroine of the story is really relatable. Within a few chapters I already felt a connection with her and started rooting for her. It's amazing to see her grow throughout this book. She starts the book as rather insecure and with very low self esteem, but she ends the book with a completely different mindset and in a far better place and I couldn't be happier for her.

This book was also emotional because of the romance. I'm usually not much of a fan of books where the romance completely changes people. And although it might seem like these characters want each other to change, it never felt like that. These characters simply want the other to be the truest and happiest version of themselves. They don't want them to be something they're not. They want them to be something they're afraid to be right now.

I also loved the setting, the historical background of the story and all the side characters. The focus is clearly on the heroine and yet there are so many moments where the side characters get depth or a chance to shine and grow. When reading the last chapter I realised that while reading this book I wasn't just reading a story. I became part of it. I was there. With those people. Dancing. Crying. Hoping. Fighting and longing for some delicious pastries!

I already can't wait for Woods' next novel!

This was an enjoyable read.
Edith moves to France to manage a bakery.
We get to know a number of characters in both the present day and the past.
The descriptions of the food and pastries sounded delicious.
I hadn’t read a book by this author before and so wasn’t expecting a magic / ghostly element which did impact my opinion as I generally prefer realistic novels, but it wasn’t a large part of the plot and it wouldn’t put me off reading other books by her.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris was a delightful read that captured my attention from beginning to end.
The story combines tasty baked goods , drama, magic which allows the read to escape into a happy place. Full marks!

This is a cosy, magical read that follows Edith Lane, who moves to France for a bakery job—only to find it’s in a small town and not in Paris as she initially thought. As she settles in, she finds a hidden book and a long-held mystery about the bakery and its past.

Although this is not my favourite book by this author, it’s still a heartwarming read about friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

Evie Woods' books are full of magic and mystery and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris does not fail in either of those categories.
Edith Lane has answered an ad for a job and after a quick interview finds herself travelling to Paris from Dublin to be the assistant manager at a bakery in the City of Dreams. Upon arrival she determines that her new employment is not in Paris but in Compiegne. Once there she starts her new job and moves into her little apartment above the bakery where she finds a book hidden in the floorboards.
The history of Compiegne and it surrounding areas gets intertwined with the history of the bakery and Edith gets mixed up in trying to right a wrong that has occurred in this town. Along the way she makes friends with a variety of characters in the village that helps her solve the mystery as well as getting over the grief of her mother passing away and finding purpose and belonging in her own life.
Everything may end up just a little too perfect in the end but I am a sucker for happy endings and this surely was one! I am looking forward to her story.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this ARC in return for an honest review.

A sweet little story that was pleasant enough to read but I can’t say it completely grabbed my attention. I’m sure others will adore this book but even though it was set in gorgeous France, it was just too slow paced for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and the author for the chance to review.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is a delightful book. Edith Lane, and Irishwoman, recently lost her mother whom she had taken care of. In her process of grieving she finds her waitressing job is unfullfilling and uninteresting. She is stuck. She gets brave and responds to an advertisement for a manager at a little bakery in Paris. She is interviewed and is accepted. And her dreams of leaving Ireland and living in Paris take flight and win over her anxieties.

On arrival in Paris, Edith realizes that she hasn’t done enough adequate research into the job description or location. The bakery where she has her new managerial position is in a small town called Compiègne, one hour away from Paris.

Mme Moreau is the owner of ‘La Boulangerie et Patisserie de Compiègne’ on Rue de Paris, selling all that is expected of a French bakery; with her assistant Manu. The bakery sells all kinds of breads, pastries, and croissants. Evie Woods does such a good job of describing the shop that you can smell all the delicious smells. Edith is hoping for a fresh start but her new boss is unfriendly, elusive and stern.

Edith gets off to a rocky start. Despite the cold reception she receives from her employer, she befriends a local French hairstylist, Nicole, and her singer husband Johnny. The three become tight friends and socialize in the evenings together. Edith also befriends a few English regulars at the bakery. She eventually meets Hugo Chadwick, an attractive man who leaves her insides fluttering.

Part of her employment includes a studio apartment on the third floor of the bakery. Edith lies in bed every night, listening to the strange noises the building produces. Further down that rabbit hole she goes and she begins to wonder who is producing all the tasty delicacies for the bakery. She has clear instructions to not visit the basement – and soon she begins to suspect all is not as it seems. What secret is Mme Moreau harbouring? What role does Manu have to play in it? Just as Edith feels like she’s settling in and making a life for herself, she has to deal with this new-found mystery while she is dealing with her new friendships and her ever increasing attraction to Hugo


Edith is on an adventure of rediscovery. She learns more about herself and how to deal with the sadness of losing her mother and the mysterious Hugo. Her personality and tenacity shine through in her quest for what she believes in.

The description of Compiègne was unbelievable. The reader can almost see the old, antique houses, cobblestone alleyways, pubs and the cozy cafés. This story is indeed an escape. One where good things happen. The mystery and magic of this tiny town uplifts all your senses.

This is a compact read that provides just the right amount of mystery, romance and sweetness. It is a story of family, friendship and dedication. There are parts where you will have to suspend your disbelief but it is a sweet story that ultimately did my heart good.

I would like to thank Evie Woods, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved *The Lost Bookshoop* and *The Story Collector* so I went into this one really looking forward to more magical realism in historical fiction.

Unfortunately, the best part of the book (for me) was the food descriptions.

I look forward to reading Ms Woods’s future works but this one wasn’t a favorite.



*Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the DRC

“The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris” by Evie Woods is a mix of historical fiction with romance and magical realism.
I received an advance reader copy from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter via Netgalley. The opinions from this review are completely my own.

I read “The Lost Bookshop” last year and was enchanted by the story. What I also liked in this book is the balance between the main story and romance and the magical parts.
Edith lives in Ireland and gets a job in a french bakery. Here she discovers at first an unwelcoming owner and have a hard time adjusting. But soon she makes friends and meets Hugo, a charming man.

I enjoyed the story about the bakery and its history, the twists with the characters and their past and the found family aspect.

Beautifully written, gently whimsical humor, appealing characters, a touch of magical realism, romance, a community coming together to save something precious from the past--this novel has it all. I love the characters, who all have flaws and insecurities, but manage to find their way with each other's help. The novel is not heavy or depressing even though it deals with present-day characters still dealing with the legacy of trauma from past events during the Holocaust and Second World War. The story has themes of identity, community, self-discovery, and finding the courage to take a stand against powerful opposition. The humor that comes through the eccentricities of the characters lightens the gravity of their situation, and readers will be cheering on Edith, Madame Moreau, Manu, and Hugo as they overcome the challenges and threats to their friendships, their compassion, and their belonging in their small neighborhood.

Edie Lane leaves her home in Ireland to start fresh at a bakery in Paris. Except, whoops. It's not in Paris, but rather a small town in France on Rue de Paris. As she tries to settle into this new realization, she also realizes the bakery she has come to work in has an air of mystery about it. Edie finds working at the bakery to be not what she signed on for, but instead exactly what she needs. I liked this later "coming of age" story where we follow someone who doesn't have it all together still as an adult, but comes into her own in due time and with the right life experiences.

When Edie decides it’s time for a change, she takes the chance on responding to a job advertisement in France.
What follows is a tale of discovery, of finding yourself, of making new friends and taking risks. Of finding love, for yourself, your life, with others.
I really enjoyed this one. I didn’t realise when starting this that it has previously been published and is being released.
I was just captivated from the start, wondering about this mysterious bakery and the people within it. There was just something about this book that kept drawing me back in, wondering what secrets it was keeping.
The book is well written and the characters develop throughout the book.
All in all a lovely read, I will read more from this author.

This one wasn’t for me but I believe most people will love it. There were parts I enjoyed such as the dual timeline and the magical elements so I wish it would have focus more on those parts. The issue I had was the fact the main character felt childish but she wasn’t that young and her actions didn’t match her age. It also didn’t feel like you get an opportunity to really get to know the characters it feels very surface relationships and I wasn’t a fan of that either so overall just not a book for me personally, but I do feel that most people would probably enjoy it.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is the latest cozy novel from Evie Woods, now republished with a new cover, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Like her previous novels, this one also contains a touch of magical realism, which sets it apart from other books in the genre.

The story follows Edie, who moves to France to work as an assistant baker in a boulangerie. She initially believes the bakery is in Paris, only to discover that it is actually located on Rue de Paris in the small town of Compiègne. As she settles into her new job, she begins to sense that something is amiss with the bakery, and her grumpy boss seems determined to keep her from uncovering the truth.

This novel was a delight to read. I found the first half stronger than the second half. Edie is a compelling protagonist, and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold from her perspective. I also appreciated the occasional French phrases sprinkled throughout the book, they added authenticity and even reignited my interest in learning the language.

Evie Woods has become one of my auto read authors, so I was excited when given the opportunity to read this book.

I will say I didn't love this one as much as the other books I have read of hers. This was a cozy read, mixing magic and baking was a wonderful touch. I really enjoyed the descriptions of all the yummy treats, along with a glimpse of France. I thoroughly enjoyed the added bits of history included in this read.

I however, I was not a fan of the fmc, for someone in her thirties she seemed a tad juvenile. The relationship she had with her love interest seemed forced, something about the two of them together didn't seem natural.

Overall it was a cute read and I thank Netgalley and publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris follows a young woman who moves to Paris to work at a charming but struggling bakery. As she becomes entwined in the lives of the locals, she uncovers secrets hidden within the shop’s history—particularly those connected to Pierre, a former baker with ties to World War II.

What I enjoyed most about the book was its cozy, feel-good atmosphere. I liked how the story tied up neatly at the end, because yes I am a sucker for a happy ending. One of the most intriguing aspects was the historical connection with Pierre. His portions of the story were some of my favorites, and I wish the book had delved deeper into his backstory and mysterious vanillao he uses in his recipe.

However, there were a few aspects that didn’t quite work for me. The trope of the greedy businessman trying to take over the struggling bakery felt overused and predictable. It had all the characteristics of a Halmark movie right down the end, which I won't give away. Additionally, while the premise had a lot of potential, the characters could have been more developed. Some chapters also dragged a bit, making it slow at times.

Overall, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a sweet and enjoyable read, especially for those who love cozy stories with a little history and magical realism. When reading I did not realize it was an earlier book of the author's being republished. The Lost Bookshop is one of my favorite books and I could see her writing developing from this to that one. Overall would recommend would if you are looking for a book with a feel good happy ending.

This book requires a bit more suspension of belief than I'd like. My biggest complaint though is that it feels like the story is all told by the 70% mark, and there's no motivation to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

A delightful story with a magical twist. Edie goes to work as an assistant in a french bakery, but didn’t realise until she arrived it was not as she thought in Paris. Instead it was in a small town with what appeared to be a grumpy, hard employer. Even her accommodation was not as she expected which made Edie wonder had she made a mistake and should return home.