Review of 'The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris' by Evie Woods
Release date: March 27th, 2024
Publisher: One More Chapter
🥐
REVIEW
I adored this delightful novel that truly warmed my heart. It is a heavenly mix of romance, adventure, mystery and magic. A savory pinch of paranormal activity runs in the background adding mystique and awe. I love stories that showcase Parisian cooking and bakeries; along with discoveries of lost books or pieces of other memorabilia from the past. And this one, being centred around a bakery, includes recipes. Ones that have a special connection to the past owner but is utilised to rescue the current one in the present.
The Prologue provides a mysterious caption of a baker whose bakery is ‘nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiegne… whose pastries offered a taste of magic that could chase away even the darkest of sorrows.’ I was captivated from the first page! Also, the author’s descriptions were vivid and powerful from the start and continued throughout making me feel part of the setting and drama that unfolded.
Food can be magical in the way it conjures wonderful memories. It can invoke passion, satisfaction, excitement and courage, too. It might even inspire you to do things you had not thought of before. So, yes, it can be a tool for convincing one to change their mind, attitude or mood. And this happens in The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris but I am not about to give away the ‘who’.
I was swiftly transported to the bakery setting in France with Edie Lane who has left Ireland motivated by the sadness of loss in her heart. This is her chance to recover and find a new path: a job offer as an Assistant Manager in a bakery in Paris, the city of dreams. But what she encounters is very different from what she expected and things don’t go so well at first: starting with the location. It is not in Paris but in a city further north. (One with an interesting history that includes Joan of Arc.) The adjustments will challenge her in ways she never expected. It is a steep learning curve, starting with communicating in the French language. I must note here: I found reading the phrases fun as I have not spoken or read French in a long time so I was amazed how much came back to me reading this novel. Evie Woods weaves the French phrases well throughout the English text, translating or inferring so the reader never gets lost.
Edie, with her struggles and aspirations, is superbly authentic. The author presents accurately how most would react in a totally new culture and environment, learning a new language and trying to make friends. Despite the bumpy road on her path to self-discovery, her journey is an exciting one and I loved every turn, twist and victory in her personal development.
Besides our brave Edie in the present, this novel has an endearing cast of characters that work together like a symphony of scents and tastes. And even when friction rises between them, it brings about positive results—eventually.
I enjoyed the present timeline but the past is tenderly presented, too. What I loved about Monsieur Moreau is how he used food to express his love— a love he could not share with another due to circumstances. So he poured that love into his baking and many people experienced that wellspring bubbling at his core by tasting and eating his food! It is true that we put a lot of our emotions in the dishes we prepare and this story highlights that. Cooking can lift your spirits as it is a type of creativity which sets the soul free to explore. It can even release a pent up heart. This is one of the messages that comes through loud and clear from the past character but this beautiful truth flows into the present timeline when necessary. There is also a WW2 theme and that part of the past thread is quite moving and adds another texture to the story’s canvas.
This is a story about second chances, love in its many forms, the magic of food, the power of community, the bonds of friendship, hidden secrets, unlikely romances, finding bravery, learning a new culture and more. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods is a beautiful heart-soaked tale with depth, sparkle and charm that I loved immensely. I highly recommend it! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for the review copy.
