Review of The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

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), 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.

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