Evie Woods’ latest novel, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, serves readers a delectable slice of magical realism, folded into layers of historical fiction and dusted with the sweet powder of romance. Like the tantalizing treats featured in its pages, this book offers a reading experience that is both comforting and surprising, leaving you with a lingering taste that’s hard to forget.
When I first opened this book, I expected a conventional fish-out-of-water story—an Irish woman mistakenly arriving in a small French town instead of Paris. What I found instead was a nuanced exploration of grief, identity, and the invisible threads that bind generations together, all wrapped in the warm, crusty exterior of a French boulangerie with more than one secret hiding in its basement.
Plot: A Recipe for Transformation
At its heart, the story follows Edith Lane, a thirty-year-old Irish woman who, following her mother’s death, answers an advertisement for an assistant manager position at a bakery in Paris. Due to a translation error, she ends up not in the glamorous French capital but in the provincial town of Compiègne, working at La Boulangerie et Pâtisserie de Compiègne on the Rue de Paris.
Woods crafts a narrative that skillfully balances several elements:
- Edith’s personal journey of self-discovery after years of putting her life on hold
- The mysterious ghost of Pierre Moreau, the original baker, who still appears in the basement at night
- The historical backdrop of World War II and its impact on the Moreau family
- A romance between Edith and Hugo Chadwick, whose connection to the bakery is more complicated than it initially appears
- The imminent threat of the bakery’s closure due to financial difficulties
The plot progresses at a steady pace, though I found the first third of the book somewhat predictable in its setup. However, once the supernatural elements are introduced and the historical layers begin to unfold, the story gains a compelling momentum that carries through to a satisfying conclusion.
Characters: A Diverse Ensemble
Woods has created a cast of characters that feel authentic and multidimensional:
- Edith Lane – Our protagonist begins as somewhat timid and adrift, having spent years caring for her ill mother. Her growth throughout the novel is believable and engaging, as she gradually finds her voice (literally, as she rediscovers her passion for singing) and purpose. Her internal struggles with grief and identity make her relatable despite her sometimes frustrating indecisiveness.
- Madame Moreau (Genevi̬ve) РInitially presented as a stereotypical grumpy old Frenchwoman, she evolves into one of the most complex characters in the book. Her backstory as a Roma child rescued during WWII adds historical depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.
- Hugo Chadwick – The love interest whose external success masks internal conflict. His character sometimes veers toward the brooding-rich-man trope common in romance novels, but Woods gives him enough personal history and moral complexity to make him interesting.
- Manu – Madame Moreau’s teenage grandson brings youthful energy to the story and serves as a bridge between the past and future of the bakery. His relationship with the ghostly Monsieur Moreau adds poignancy to the supernatural elements.
- Pierre Moreau – Though mainly present as a ghost, his backstory chapters are among the most touching in the book, exploring themes of chosen family, selflessness, and the power of love to transcend conventional boundaries.
The supporting cast of townsfolk adds color and community to the setting, though some (like Nicole and Johnny) occasionally feel like convenient plot devices rather than fully realized characters.
Setting: A Town Steeped in History
Compiègne itself emerges as a character in the novel. Woods does an excellent job of creating a sense of place, from the cobblestone streets and timber-framed buildings to the historical significance of the town during both World Wars. The descriptions of the bakery are particularly evocative, with readers able to almost smell the freshly baked bread and feel the heat from the old wood-burning ovens.
The choice to set a story about finding one’s place in a town with such a rich, complex history was inspired. Compiègne’s role in both World Wars parallels the themes of loss, resilience, and rebuilding that run throughout the novel.
Strengths: What Rose to the Occasion
Sensory Descriptions
Woods excels at food writing, with descriptions of baking that engage all the senses:
“The smell was intoxicating. The warm loaves filled the air with a slightly sweet and robustly fragrant scent, like a warm, doughy hug.”
These moments aren’t just ornamental—they’re integral to the story, as food becomes a vehicle for memory, connection, and healing.
Historical Integration
The chapters focused on Pierre Moreau’s experiences during WWII are well-researched and movingly written. The integration of historical elements—from the Nazi occupation to Django Reinhardt’s music—adds depth without overwhelming the contemporary storyline.
The Supernatural Element
The ghostly presence of Pierre Moreau is handled with surprising subtlety. Rather than leaning into horror tropes, Woods uses the supernatural element to explore how the past continues to influence the present and how unresolved trauma can linger across generations.
Areas for Improvement: What Needed More Proofing
Pacing Issues
The novel takes time to find its rhythm. The first third establishes Edith’s fish-out-of-water experience but doesn’t fully hint at the more complex story to come. Some readers might put the book down before reaching the more compelling supernatural and historical elements.
Convenience in Plot Resolution
The resolution of the bakery’s financial troubles comes somewhat too neatly through Hugo’s intervention. While emotionally satisfying, it relies on a “rich person solves everything” solution that undercuts some of the community-building themes established earlier.
Romance Development
While the chemistry between Edith and Hugo is well-written in their scenes together, their relationship suffers from the common romance novel problem of manufactured obstacles. Their miscommunications sometimes feel contrived to extend tension rather than arising naturally from their characters.
Themes: The Heart of the Loaf
Woods explores several interconnected themes with sensitivity:
- Grief and Healing – Through Edith’s journey, we see how grief can both paralyze and eventually propel us forward. The novel acknowledges that healing isn’t linear but comes in unexpected moments and places.
- Identity and Self-Discovery – Both Edith and Hugo grapple with questions of who they are versus who they’ve been expected to be. The bakery becomes a place where both can reconnect with more authentic versions of themselves.
- History’s Long Shadow – The novel thoughtfully examines how historical events continue to influence the present, both in personal family histories and in broader societal contexts.
- Community and Belonging – Perhaps the most heartwarming element is watching Edith find her place in a community she never planned to join, highlighting how “home” is more about connections than geography.
Writing Style: Warm and Comforting
Woods writes with warmth and accessibility, creating prose that feels like a conversation with a friend. The dialogue is natural and often witty, particularly in exchanges between Edith and Nicole or Hugo.
The inclusion of French phrases adds authenticity without becoming overwhelming for non-French speakers. The occasional flashback chapters to Pierre’s time are distinguished by a slightly more formal tone that effectively signals the shift in time period.
Comparisons to Other Works
Readers who enjoyed Evie Woods’ previous bestseller The Lost Bookshop and The Story Collector will recognize her signature blend of contemporary storytelling with magical elements and historical depth. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris shares the same warmth and emphasis on finding oneself through unexpected circumstances, though it delves more deeply into historical elements.
Fans of Sarah Addison Allen’s magical food-centered fiction like Garden Spells or Jenny Colgan’s bakery-themed novels will find much to love here, though Woods adds a unique historical dimension that sets her work apart.
Final Verdict: A Sweet Success with a Few Crumbs
The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a heartwarming novel that successfully blends elements of magical realism, historical fiction, and romance. While not without its flaws—particularly in pacing and certain plot resolutions—it offers a reading experience that is ultimately satisfying and emotionally resonant.
Like the special hot chocolate that features prominently in its pages, this novel has a mysterious quality that lingers after the last page is turned. It reminds us that sometimes the wrong turn can lead us exactly where we need to be, and that the past—whether personal or historical—never truly leaves us but can be transformed into something that nourishes rather than haunts.
For readers seeking a story about finding oneself in unexpected places, with a dash of history, a sprinkle of the supernatural, and the warm embrace of freshly baked bread, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a treat worth savoring.