The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a heartwarming and magical tale about Edie Lane, who moves to France in search of a fresh start, only to stumble upon something far more extraordinary than she ever imagined.

Expecting to work as an assistant manager in a charming Parisian bakery, Edie is in for a surprise when the bakery is actually in Compiegne, not Paris. Instead of the picturesque experience she envisioned, she finds herself in a rundown apartment, working under a grumpy boss, and feeling more lost than ever.

As the story unfolds, we meet a cast of endearing characters, each with their own struggles and dreams. Through a touch of magic and unexpected friendships, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris beautifully illustrates how sometimes, with a little help, we can all find our way and how within each of us lies a seed of potential, just waiting for the right moment to bloom.

After doing a bit of research, I discovered that The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris was a self-published novel by Evie Gaughan in 2014. It’s slightly difficult to find but it IS possible. This book is now being published traditionally under the pen name Evie Woods, as she has found quite a bit of success with her 2023 novel The Lost Bookshop. As a reader who enjoys fantasy and magical realism, I enjoyed The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris.

Edith is making a fresh start after accepting a position in a Parisian bakery. Except after landing on French soil, Edith realizes that the bakery is actually quite a distance from the city of Paris. Settling into the idea that she will not be in Paris proper, Edith makes her home in an attic above the family-owned bakery in which she works. She gets to know the family who has owned the bakery for a few generations, as well as making friends in the little village. Through the process, Edith discovers a mystery.

If you enjoy reading the French language (there’s not really any translations when French is spoken in the book), a Parisian setting, and a bit of magical realism, this is great choice. Although the ending is a bit predictable and contrived, I found the story compelling and historically relevant, and the characters delightful.

www.wilsonhillworks.com/reviews/themysteriousbakery

Thank you to Evie Woods, Harper, and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris was a good book by Evie Woods. I have read Wood’s books in the past and this book reminds me a lot her previous works. It was full of magic and intrigue. The characters were complex and experience growth throughout. The story is told from multiple perspectives and multiple time periods. The description of food was great and the setting was charming. This book truly immerses the reader in French culture. I wish I spoke French so I could truly understand the French spoken throughout the book. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

I wanted to love this. My entire mom's side of the family is French and I speak it on a moderate level. I will say that understanding the language will make this more enjoyable for you. The author does do a good job of explaining it after the words are spoken but I think it broke up the flow a bit for me.

I do like the mystery of it and the setting is well described. The characters are good but I would have liked them to have a deeper layer to them.

I do like that the author played into some history and supernatural elements as well. It just didn't engage me like I had hoped and I found myself skimming over some scenes. A solid effort that just needs some polishing. The mystery of it is good but I think it just takes a long time to get into that piece of the story..

I really loved the storyline to this book, but felt the execution fell flat in some cases. For those reading it as a cozy mystery they will probably like it more than those who came for the magic. The one point that drove me nuts though was that the main character was only 29 years old. She uses TikTok, but kept portraying herself as a washed up spinster who wasted her life. When I first started reading I thought she must be around her early 40s, but when I found out her age it bugged me the rest of the book.

Lovely feel good story about a young woman who goes to work in a French bakery. She thought it was in Paris, but instead it was in the small historic town of Compiegne. There are secrets, history, romance and a bit of the mystical involved.

This story was a pleasant mixture of history, romance, finding oneself, and a little bit of whimsical fantasy. I personally just felt that the writing was a little choppy and under developed. I felt that many chapters lacked a smooth transition to the next and ended rather abruptly. The characters were a bit one-dimensional. Oh, and why are we acting like a 29 year old is soon to be an old spinster?

This was an enjoyable read, though I don't think it was entirely what I was looking for. The premise intrigued me, and the setting had a cozy, atmospheric charm that I appreciated. However, I struggled to fully connect with the characters, and the pacing felt uneven—some sections dragged while others moved too quickly without enough development. I also found certain plot elements a bit predictable, which lessened the impact for me. While I can see others enjoying it for its charm and warmth, it ultimately wasn’t quite my thing.

Edie moved from Ireland to work at a bakery she thought was in Paris. It turns out the bakery isn't exactly in Paris and the bakery is anything but typical.

Like The Lost Bookshop and The Story Collector, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris contains a sprinkle of mystery and magic. I thoroughly enjoyed Evie’s first two books but just couldn't get into this one. I did finish it though, and it made me crave a cozy bakery and a delicious cup of hot chocolate 🧁

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins360 for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think I'd have enjoyed this one more, if the historical part was played up and fleshed out a bit more. That part was really interesting, but took so long into the story before it really came to life.

Evie leaves Dublin for a job in a bakery she expected was in Paris - but she didn't read the advertisement correctly, and it's not actually in Paris but a small, quaint town. When she arrives, she finds it's not what she expected and it takes her a while to adjust. There is a bit of magic sprinkled throughout the story - that brings in the historical part. It's an entertaining book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

have no words to describe this book. It will probably be one of the best books of 2025. It’s simply magical. It hooks you from the start and you can’t put it down until you’re forced because you’ve reached the last page.

Edith is quite funny, smart, and determined. Hugo is smart and a bear. They’re both dreamers in their own way. I just love the way their relationship develops and how intertwined it becomes with Madame Moreau’s bakery and the story behind it. The supporting characters are the best. I loved Manu, he’s such a sweetheart and Nicole, is a friend any girl should have. Last but not least, is the touch of magic in the story. My heart felt for Pierre and what he did taking care of Genevieve and her mom and how he kept to his promise even in spirit. That was amazing.

Seriously, add this book to your auto buy. You won’t want to miss it!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a charming and cozy read. While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the setting and bit of mystery make it a nice little escape. Also, some of the supporting characters could have been more developed. 3.75⭐ rounded up

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from this type of book. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this world. Evie Woods wrote this strongly and was glad I got to read this.

Enjoyable story centered around saving a bakery in a quaint French town. Some history, found family, and a little bit of mystery. Without this being set in France, I would not have enjoyed as much. A quick, easy read to escape to France!

While the book started off very well and it did caught my attention. There were some moments where I felt as if it was a language and grammar barrier so it made it kind of hard to stay reading the book. I did unfortunately soft DNF this book. I didn’t get the feeling of wanting to return to the book and continue on reading. I honestly think I just read it at a bad time so I’m willing to give this book another chance at a different time because I enjoyed how the FMC was on a journey of finding herself and being on her own.

This was a beautifully written heartwarming story. I felt like I could totally escape in this. The only thing I did not enjoy was just that there was so much French language. As someone who does not understand French, I found it distracting. I will read more by this author.

I definitely didn't want this lovely gem to end! One of the best stories I've read for this year!
Lots of twists and turns and yes even a bit of romance. Most enjoyable was the bit of magic that was added.
I really enjoyed the Paris setting for this novel. The way the author described this beautiful book, I felt like I was there!
I couldn't put the book down it was so good!
Told from the protagonists point of view is what I enjoyed even more. I felt that I could connect to her so much better.
I hated to see this story end. This is one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time to come.
5 stars for the excellent writing and the entertainment and for keeping me engaged all the way through.
I highly recommend.
May I say that the cover makes me want to pop right into the picture Mary Poppins style? It's that inviting.
My thanks for a copy of this book I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I first discovered Evie Woods in late July of 2024 and she has immediately become an auto-buy author for me. This book was EXACTLY what I needed to soothe my soul coming off the busyness of the holidays. It’s that perfect blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and sweet romance. I was so moved by the plucky determination of the FMC, Edith, and the back story of Madame Moreau was heartbreakingly beautiful. Even our MMC Hugo was on a journey of self-discovery. Thank you to NetGalley and to Harper 360 for the opportunity to review this advanced copy.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/01/11/book-review-the-mysterious-bakery-on-rue-de-paris-by-evie-woods-a-k-a-evie-gaughan/

Edie travels from Ireland to Paris after she accepts a job at a bakery. All doesn’t go according to plan, and Edie isn’t quite sure what she’s getting herself into. Follow her adventure as she uncovers a mystery and people who just might change her life.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.