This was a quick read! You get a little bit of romance, history, and magical realism!

Thank you for NetGalley and HarperCollins OMC for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/ One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have truly loved Evie Woods’ first two books so was immensely excited to be able to read the Mysterious Bakery. While this one feels just a touch lighter and more magical/less magical realism than the first two, I still adore her ability to weave multiple timelines into something cozy and comforting. I love Edith’s journey and while it’s a bit superficial and trope-y (more so than her other books), I understood and felt connected and enjoyed seeing her journey through. While I think it’s safe to say it wasn’t my favorite of Woods’ books so far, it was still a beautiful story I couldn’t put down and felt so comforted reading. I recommend it to anyone with a love of France, pastries, and watching a character find their voice.

I've read previous books by this author and I enjoyed this just as much. Such a great escape read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author

This was a quick, easy, predictable sort of read which was sort of enjoyable but nothing sparkling. I suppose ‘just OK’ covers it for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy and sorry I can’t be more positive!

Following the passing of her mother after a long-term illness, Edie Lane is ready to find her own adventures and start living her fullest life. She makes the big decision to move from Ireland to France after answering an ad for a bakery manager. But when she gets there she starts to doubt herself as she struggles with the language, her boss, and unmet expectations.

With the help of friendly locals and a resolve to succeed, Edie starts to find her place in Compiegne. She meets a nice man and improves her French speaking. What mystifies her is the source of the bakery’s goods – who is the baker and why is she not allowed in the basement where the ovens are? What she learns will connect her to her employer, her new community, and help her reconcile with the pains of her past.

This was a lovely story of love, loss, and the difference that reaching out and helping someone can make. The characters were well written, and their personalities really blossomed throughout the book.

A wonderful recipe for a good book – plenty of heart, a dash of disaster, and a pinch of magic.

From the opening pages, I instinctively knew that this would be a rather special story. When reviewing, I always aim to remain within the confines of the synopsis to avoid revealing any spoilers and ruining the book for future readers. Of course, that’s assuming people actually read my posts, but the synopsis above is rather restrictive.

The story begins with Edie packing her bags and heading to France to assume her new role at a bakery in Paris. Leaving her father behind in their home in Ireland, Edie flies from Dublin, landing in France to meet her first shock, discovering that she won’t be living in the centre of Paris but in a village on the far outskirts of the French Capital.

Deciding to brave these slightly changed circumstances, she takes a train from Gare du Nord and locates the bakery on Compiègne’s Rue de Paris. She meets Madame Moreau and her assistant, Manu, who offer her a lukewarm reception and show her to her modest accommodation. Aware that her father did not fully support or understand her decision to move to France, Edie chooses to gloss over her misgivings about the move and wax lyrical about her new situation.

Of course, there is a handsome stranger for Evie to be drawn to, but as I already said, there will be no spoilers from me.

The mystery comes in the form of the baker and the strange draw that their baked goods have over so many people who flock to the bakery on a daily basis. Evie even joins in and creates her own range of delicate confections with sublime fillings that soon become a hit.

As the story builds, there is a definite jeopardy of how the tiny bakery will survive the hostility of a bank takeover. Perhaps it’s time for the bakery to prove that there is magic in mixes.

I wholeheartedly recommend that you take a leap of faith and read this gorgeous book.

I was entranced by this histfic tale set in a magical French village with delicious pastries, intriguing history, romance, and a lovely community. A delightful way to get lost for hours!

I instantly fell in love with this book. From the very first chapter, I knew I was going to enjoy the read. Edith, the main character, is someone I really connected with—her desire to make a change in her life and her decision to move to Paris resonated deeply with me. While this is an easy read, I recognize it may not be for everyone. However, it's the type of story that will leave you smiling, which, for me, is something truly important. As a French person, I also thoroughly enjoyed the charming Parisian clichés woven throughout the book—it added a special touch that made the setting feel even more authentic.

One thing I would have loved is if the mystery behind the bakery had been revealed a bit later in the story. I think a little more suspense and anticipation would have made the reveal even more impactful. Overall, it’s a book I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a cozy mystery.

This was sadly not for me. I found the characters rather boring and the story not that exciting. I had a hard time wanting to pick up the story. I found the writing a bit juvenile and a bit YA.

I appreciate receiving this ARC copy, but sadly it just wasn't for me.

Edith Lane had spent her teenage years and beyond looking after her mother. After her mother's passing Edith came to the conclusion that her life had been uneventful and going nowhere. Escaping her grief and leaving everything behind she grabbed a once-ij-a-lifetime opportunity, a job at a bakery in Paris. A chance to start over.

It's not Paris.. she finds her job is actually in Compiegne a small town outside Paris. The Boulangerie et Patisserie de Compiegne is a magical place. Hidden amongst the cobblestone streets it has a storied past and secrets. However, her French adventure was turning out to be a huge mistake but then what? She wanted the drifting to stop, fulfill a dream. Wake up one morning and finding out who she was and what she really wanted to do.
"Her heart was holding out for something amazing to happen."

This is an absolutely delicious and very endearing. A beautiful story of self-discovery. I loved the bakery atmosphere it was very quaint. Edith as a character was spot on as was the setting of this book. What I really loved was the historical content about Compiegne I had no idea so that was fabulous. For me it was a believable scenario. How many of us have packed up and left something behind to look for a better place a better mind set and hope for something amazing to happen. I get it !!!! I hope you read this book and enjoy it. It is hopeful and uplifting.

"Abandon your dreams is like abandoning a part of yourself"

Thank you @ netgalley for this e-arc for an honest review.

@sunflowerbooknook

Evie Woods has once again written a heart warming story that immerses you in small town life in France. I feel like I just had one of Edith’s famous hot chocolates and am at peace. There’s something so comforting about a book that makes you feel inspired and genuinely happy.

I fell in love with Edith and her tenacity and willingness to try something new. The supporting cast of characters left nothing to be desired. Manu is a genuinely good kid, who’s had a tough few years. Mme Moreau, with her cantankerous exterior, reminds you that everyone has dealt with struggles, and sometimes you just need to be patient, but ultimately, winning their friendship will be worth it.

The setting was also inspired. I had no about about the town or its history and its impact on Europe, but I’m definitely doing more research now.

Thank you Evie Woods for another spectacular book, reading your work feels like coming home. Thank you to Evie Woods, NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

As a pastry chef, I really enjoyed The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris. The mystery wasn’t exactly mind-blowing, but that didn’t bother me. The real magic is in the cozy French village atmosphere, mouthwatering pastries, and the sense of community.

I loved how it blended love, history, and baking into a story that felt like sinking into a warm, buttery croissant. The characters are endearing, and it’s more about soaking up the vibe than chasing plot twists.

If you’re looking for something heartwarming and sweet, this one’s a treat!

A story about following your dreams to move to France by taking a cashier job at a bakery? Sign me up! While Edie thought she took a job that was bringing her to Paris... turns out it was a job that was bringing her to a smaller town, just on the Rue de Paris. When Edie arrives, the shop owner Madame Moreau is not super friendly. She's starting to doubt her choices when she meets Nicole at the hair salon and then meets the mysterious and handsome Hugo. Multiple storylines unweave from here including the history of the bakery, of Madame Moreau, Hugo, and a variety of customers.

Honestly, this was... fine. I didn't feel really connected to any of the characters and I have to say that making friends so quickly as an adult is almost as unbelievable as what's happening in the basement of the bakery. I feel like there was a desire to make this place magical and it just fell a little short. The historical elements were probably one of the more interesting parts of the book. This was a quick read so I don't have regrets about finishing it, but I can't think of a specific person I'd recommend this to - maybe if you're a huge Francophile?

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing this copy to me in exchange for my honest review!

Among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there is a bakery like no other. Everyone loves the cakes and pastries but it seems there is more to them than just being eaten.
However, the war is on the horizon and who knows what will happen.
Many years later, Edie applies for a job in the bakery. She is at a crossroads in her life in Ireland and wants a challenge and a challenge is what she gets.
Soon she is part of the bakery family and the shop is fighting closure which is not part of her plan.

This is clearly the day I set aside time to review the books I DNF. The concept of this book sounded so good, but it was falling so flat for me.
Girl, you set out on an adventure and proceeded to have the worst attitude in the world! She’s grumbling under her breath about her brand new boss within seconds of meeting her. She really needed to claim her own choices here: she got a job over the phone, sight unseen. That’s a recipe for disaster. The mystery and the magic were intriguing to me and I wanted to know Edie’s backstory, but I could not force myself to keep reading.
Maybe this is a sweet book and I’ve missed an opportunity, but I wanted to like Edie and I just did not.

In this book, we follow 29-year-old Edie as she moves from Ireland to France to work in a bakery.

This is a light read with some magic realism, romance and cookery. I gather it is an expanded version of a story the author wrote several years ago. It provides some escapism although readers should be aware that there are many grammatical issues with the French used in the ARC (hopefully this will have been corrected at proof stage!).

A recommended read for fans of The Lost Bookshop, Joanne Harris's Chocolat, and stories set in France.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Mysterious Bakery on the Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is a mystery novel.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Harper Collins/One More Chapter, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Edie Lane left Ireland for a dream job in a Paris bakery.  Landing in Paris, she quickly realizes not everything is as it seems.  Her job is not in Paris, but an hour north in Compiègne.  Her French is also not as good as she thought.

The bakery's owner doesn't seem to like her, and she isn't allowed in the basement - which is where the ovens are located. Apparently her job is to sell the product, and keep the bakery clean.  She thought the job was for an Assistant Manager.  Oh well, her pride will not allow her to return home.  She is going to enjoy the sort-of Paris life, and she soon discovers she may be exactly where she needs to be.

But she is still determined to find out what is in the basement.

 

My Opinions:
Rather disappointed, as this turned up more to be a romance novel than a mystery.  Also a little too historical for my taste, and parts read a little too much like a cookbook.  I was expecting more of a "ghost" story than I was given.  Then there was this 29-year old woman, whose lack of confidence and feelings of being "old" were very disheartening.

It was slow moving, but basically nothing much happened throughout the book.  It was very predictable.

So, I have a lot of complaints about the book, but perhaps that was just me.

This was not like the last couple of books I have read by this author, and I just realized she originally published this 10 years ago, so perhaps that is the reason I like her newer stuff, but not this.  I hate when authors try to re-published their old stuff.  Anyway, this one was just not for me.  If you like historical romance, this is definitely for you.

Edie decides to have a fresh start after the death of her mother and accepts a job in a bakery in Paris as assistant manager. When she arrives she finds that the job isn't actually in Paris, rather in a suburb outside the city. She arrives to a very cool reception, but gradually finds herself settling in an enjoying the job. She does find that there is a secret centred around the shop basement, which she is not allowed to go into. In the meantime she meets Hugo and starts a relationship, however finds that all is not what it seems there either.
I must admit that I found this book a frustrating read, it's very slow and didn't really grab my attention - but found that I couldn't just leave it and kept going back to it to find out about the mystery in the basement. There are flashbacks to the German occupation during the second World War and how badly people were treated, plus corporate greed and its affect on small businesses. Well worth reading with its touch of the supernatural, but not for those who prefer faster paced books.

What a fantastic, magical story, truly enjoyable. I will return soon with a more detailed review.
Four and a half stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the chance to read in exchange for an honest review.

A romantic historical novel set over two timelines. Unfortunately, the narrative pace and the characters were inconsistent and I failed to finish