A Misteriosa Padaria na Rue de Paris

by Evie Woods, Evie Gaughan

Aninhada no meio das ruas empedradas de Compiègne, havia uma padaria em nada igual às outras. Pela cidade corriam rumores de que os seus bolos tinham um sabor mágico capaz de expulsar até a mais sombria mágoa. Uma mera dentada num croissant poderia trazer sorte, desbloquear uma memória preciosa há muito esquecida ou revelar desejos ocultos…
Depois de uma importante perda, Edith Lane sente que a sua vida precisa de uma mudança. Ao ver um anúncio de emprego, candidata-se à vaga que a faz viajar da Irlanda para Paris, onde se encontra a encantadora padaria para a qual foi contratada. Porém, quando se trata de Edie, a receita para o desastre não precisa de muitos ingredientes: uma quantidade pouco saudável de ilusões e uma pitada de desespero são suficientes para gerar o caos. É o que acontece quando percebe que não irá trabalhar na cidade dos seus sonhos, e que a padaria fica a uma hora de comboio da capital. Ao chegar lá, são muitos os dias em que pensa ter feito a escolha errada, sem perceber os mistérios daquele estranho lugar e o encanto que exerce sobre todos os que provam as suas iguarias. Contudo, o tempo e um segredo escondido sob as tábuas do soalho revelam-lhe não apenas uma história antiga cuja pista vale a pena seguir, mas também o caminho para encontrar o lugar a que verdadeiramente pertence.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery, France

288 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

About the author

Evie Woods is the author of The Lost Bookshop, the #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon Kindle and Sunday Times bestseller, which has now sold over half a million copies. She is also the author of The Story Collector, The Heirloom and The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris under her real name, Evie Gaughan.

Living on the West Coast of Ireland, Evie escapes the inclement weather by writing her stories in a converted attic, where she dreams of underfloor heating. Her books tread the intriguing line between the everyday and the otherworldly, revealing the magic that exists in our ordinary lives.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 2 out of 5]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog

I wasn't impressed with this book, it was because of the way the main character was written. At first at first I thought she was much older as she was repeatedly called middle-aged and then I came to find out that she's only twenty-nine. If twenty-nine is middle age what does that make me at fifty-eight? Almost dead? After the whole age thing threw me off she started acting very immature…After two dates, she believes she's found her soulmate and is getting googly-eyed with him. Then she finds out he's not what she thought he was or who she thought he was, so typical.

This book was so slow and predictable. I got it from NetGalley thinking it was a new release and it isn't a new book it's a re-release of the author’s earlier work and you can tell from the writing style. I will say I like the new cover better. This has me second-guessing the author’s other book on my to-read pile, The Lost Bookshop. 

I wish there was more in the earlier timeline with Monsieur Moreau. I loved the few recipes that we got and again I wish there were more of them. I found that there were just too many plotlines and overall I felt the book missed many opportunities and I found it very cliched.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story... connects a bit of magic, family drama, delicious baked goods and beautiful scenery. I've come to expect this in a Gaughan / Woods novel, and she doesn't disappoint here. Would have loved to learn more about why the vanilla worked (won't reveal the secrets here!) but I am totally good just going with it. Solid characters. Lovely setting. I'm all caught up on the author's books now.

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evie Woods/Gaughan

3.5 stars
You’ll find this magical boulangerie et pâtissière tucked away on the cobbled streets of Compiègne, north of Paris, where just a single taste of the buttery croissants unlocks a precious memory and reveals a hidden longing. However, as World War Two looms, Pierre Moreau, its owner, knows that things will change.

In the present day, Edie (Edith) Lane has flown into Paris from Dublin to be the assistant manager at the quaint bakery but she’s currently stuck at the Gare du Nord in a bit of a predicament. She has expected the boulangerie to be in Paris itself as that’s her dream but clearly, it’s not. However, maybe the place will work its magic on her too.

One thing is for sure, the storyline makes for mouthwatering reading right from the start when Edie’s first task is to fill the window with baked goods. I’ll have a croque monsieur et une religieuse s’il vous plaît. Merci. I wish. It begins as a charming story sprinkled with magical fairy dust which does make me feel as if I’ve strayed into a sort of homage to Chocolat and Vianne by Joanne Harris. There’s even a Roma element which Chocolat has with the riverboat gypsies. The plot becomes infused with a bitter taste from the past as Compiègne has a fascinating history which I find so interesting. The atmosphere of the place is mostly delightful, matched by some lovely characters especially in the jazz club.

However, as it progresses it becomes a bit predictable and several narratives make it feel a bit disjointed. The problem that hangs over the boulangerie is wrapped up rather quickly and somewhat fortuitously too.

Overall, it’s an easy read for a rainy or chilly day when pâtisserie and hot chocolate are required.

Ps. A smattering of French would be most helpful!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Elizabeth Larson · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing

It's a Hallmark movie in book form. I had such high hopes when I started it, but it devolved into the old formula we all joke about. You know, woman falls for man, but he turns out to be the big-city developer responsible for the family losing the Christmas tree farm - or in this case the bakery - but then he has a change of heart and proves to be a good guy after all. So trite! The magical realism can't save it.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Although I couldn’t identify with Edith Lane, I felt for her and her predicament. I couldn’t imagine being her age, dealing with grief, and starting over in a new country, especially when roadblocks threatened to derail her journey. When she made her discovery surrounding Pierre Moreau, the story picked up and held my attention. I loved the exploration of our journey taking us where we need to be rather than where we intended.

This is a sweet story about a secret ingredient - the enduring power of love.

Don’t start this one on an empty stomach!

I need to go back and read The Lost Bookshop.

Congratulations on a fantastic cover.

I was gifted this copy by Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

==========================
post review:

I went back and read The Lost Bookshop and enjoyed it.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris, by Evie Woods, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Edie leaves Ireland to work at a bakery in France. I thought this was an ok read, I thought Edie was naive an immature though.

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 French stars

I really enjoyed this one, and I realized that this is my third book by this author, she’s a winner for me! It’s fun to recall some of my French as I read these books.

After years of caring for her mother, Edie Lane has left Ireland for Paris and a job at a bakery. She discovers, though, that she’s made a mistake with the address; it’s on Rue de Paris in Compiegne, about an hour away from Paris itself.

As she settles into her attic room in the right town, she quickly gets to work selling delicious bread and pastries to the citizens of this small French town. The owner of the bakery is aloof, but perhaps that’s typical of French people. She really likes Manu, the young man who helps in the bakery.

But what are the odd noises she hears at night? And why hasn’t she met the baker or seen any deliveries coming to the basement area?

She starts to build a few friendships in town and even has the prospect of a romance, but then the bank comes to call, and everything is thrown into disarray. Edie cooks up a plan to save the bakery and realizes she’s in the right place after all. Will her efforts be enough, or will change hit the small town?

My thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 3.27.25

[Stacey B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touch of magical realism allowed me to chill with this book.
A bit of mystery, hot chocolate, and a hero made for perfect entertainment. I had a feeling the ending would happen the way it did.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won in the First Reads giveaways.

A sweet little book that cozy mystery fans might like. Although the mystery is solved a little too early perhaps. I liked that it was light on the romance and heavy on the baked goods.

[Furrawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is what we need. Community is what we need. Caring about each other. Making money but not at the expense of others or at the behest of extreme greed. Decent good humans. This book has all of that plus: A dash of magic. France. Reinventing ourselves. Learning to be brave. Macaron cupcakes. Hot chocolate. Proust. Jazz.

Lovely lovely book….

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[MimSy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Много харесвам стила на Иви Удс изпълнен с реалните проблеми на хората с щипка магия. Книгата се чете страшно бързо и е много приятна... Начина по който авторката преплита съдбите на героите си, маниера ѝ да прескача от настоящето в миналото и обратно. Историята ми донесе наслада и дори да се впусна в кухнята.

[Charlotte Rebecca Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely little book 🥰🥰

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.


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.

 
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, and its author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Maryam · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 60%

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mysterious Bakery On Rue De Paris is the first novel by Irish author, Evie Woods/Gaughan. After eighteen months of painful memories and heartache at the loss of her mother, twenty-seven-year-old Irish waitress, Edith Lane decides the job as a bakery assistant manager, advertised online, will lift her from her slump. It comes with accommodation, perfect.

Except, in Paris, she discovers she didn’t read the ad properly: the bakery is on the Rue de Paris in Compiegne, not in Paris proper. And Madame Moreau isn’t exactly welcoming. And she’s forbidden from entering the kitchen. And the attic bedroom is cold and bare. What has she done?

And yet, Compiegne is home to quite a few ex-pats who are friendly, and on her day off, she takes up the invitation to hear Nicole’s husband play in a gypsy jazz band at Club Nostalgie. It’s there she meets Hugo Chadwick, and they are instantly mutually attracted: they really connect. Hugo loves to photograph old buildings, but works in the family business in Paris.

In her attic room, Edie discovers a hidden notebook: a diary and recipes written by a P. Moreau, written over a century earlier, things she tries out when the bakery is closed. And on a sleepless night, she hears activity in the basement kitchen, something very puzzling and mysterious going on.

This is a heart-warming tale of romance and betrayal, of a failing business that mobilises the townspeople to act, of love and loyalty and redemption.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter.

[Denise Ruttan · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I was charmed by this book because I loved the descriptions of baked goods, the idea of living in an attic above a haunted or possibly magical bakery, there was a dash of cheesy, forgettable romance, and there was some expat culture from the point of view of a young Irishwoman living in France.

But, first: I am really annoyed by this marketing habit of publishers hiding that a book is an old book repackaged as a new edition as if it is a never-before-published book. This book was originally published 9 years ago as a self-published title, then re-published a few years later by an indie press, until this release by a major publisher. It has a better cover but it doesn't appear to have been rewritten much.

For starters, I was completely confused by Edie's age. She acts like she's 19 and finding herself in a gap year before college. I'm okay with a little failure to launch and anxiety, but she acted so emotionally immature. But she's 30! And she says that she's having a midlife crisis at 30! Excuse me, 30 is not midlife, and having an existential crisis and not knowing what career you want to do isn't a midlife crisis.

Then there was the background behind the haunting. I was intrigued by this idea of a bakery that could magically transport its patrons to happier memories through its baked goods. But only a special hot chocolate recipe could do that and the bakery was just a normal bakery with the ghost of the original owner living in the basement.

This is tied to the family's Romani past, but I felt like the author only stole from surface level details about Romani culture to lend credibility to the magical realism, but it didn't feel like she'd done her research at all. Romanis hiding a magical ghost baker is kind of cheapening the culture and history. She only makes one off hand comment about Romani stereotypes and discrimination. But the story would have been way better if the bakery family was not Romani at all.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a uplifting story!! Eddie and how she came to know this bake shop. This was so cool have they added the world war references and the history behind it. Madame was such a fun character to understand and sympathize with her bake shop. Loved how they all banded together in the end and saved the shop for the madam

[Kathy Maresca]

Beautiful. What I loved about this book? So much! Great characters and descriptions, true literary fiction. It's reference to Proust. I love how the author surprises the reader with a rich of history of a French village, something I wasn't expecting. As fresh as the bakery, this is a tantalizing read. What I didn't love was quite a bit of French language, which I do not read. I got bogged down in trying to read, pronounce, and translate it. For readers who know a little or a lot of the language, though, this could only enhance the story. So it's not a bad thing, but I would have preferred less of the French language. Even so, it gave the story authenticity.

[Sava Mihaela Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

O lectură plăcută, cu savoare, dar care nu m-a cucerit la fel de tare precum alte cărți pe care le-am citit de la autoare.

O avem pe Edith Lane care tocmai a trecut printr-un moment foarte greu în viața, iar acum caută un nou început. Ajunge să accepte un job ca asistentă la o brutărie care pare a fi — surpriză — undeva lângă Paris, dar se dovedește a fi într-un orășel pitoresc, Compiègne.

Principala temă a cărții - tema vindecării. Brutăria și munca acolo devin pentru Edith o şansă de a renaște, de a se regăsi, de a-și redescoperi visurile (inclusiv visul de a cânta). Esecul inițial, dezamăgirile, dar și curajul de a se reinventa rezonează mult.

Mi-a plăcut atmosfera— descrierea brutăriei, mirosul pâinii calde, străduțele pietruite, nostalgia, dorința de “reparare sufletească” — totul m-a teleportat într-un orășel franțuzesc cu șarm, plin de secrete și speranță.

Mi s-a părut foarte interesantă ideea cum că produsele brutăriei au „ingrediente secrete” — pâinea și prăjiturile ar avea proprietăți de a aduce alinare, amintiri, vindecare sufletească.

Pe alocuri, povestea mi s-a părut lentă și oarecum previzibilă. Ritmul crește abia când elementele misterioase apar. Dacă aveai nevoie de ceva cu acțiune rapidă, s-ar putea să dureze până ajungi la partea „bună”.🤭

Dacă ai nevoie de o carte ca un ceai fierbinte + pâine caldă + puțină magie… Misterioasa brutărie de pe Rue de Paris e fix ce-ți trebuie. 🥖

[Deepak · Rating 4 out of 5]

“ I had believed that I hadn’t found the right bakery in Paris. When in truth, the bakery on Rue de Paris had found me. “

A wholesome read to the max. All with Parisian flair where French soaked culinary decadence, is the backdrop. Bakeries and all.

Fragile and humanized cliches unfolding themselves in these life lessons that are oddly simple but heavy in substance.

An FMC + MMC suffering from loss and sensing soothing balms in each other that remedy the hurt, even by a little through the unexpected. Happen stance events.

Not merely a heavy love tale but this heart felt humor blending story of relaxing and loving yourself for moving on from sadness itself.

Short, and sweet, pun intended 🇫🇷.

[Mairead Hearne (swirlandthread.com) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Final call for passenger Edith Lane travelling to Paris on flight E1754 please proceed to gate 9 immediately, as the gate is now closing, thank you.’

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is a book written by Irish writer Evie Gaughan.

Published last year, it is a book I have been looking forward to reading.

A little escapism to a world where good things happen, I felt now was a good time to sit down, have a coffee and a croissant and let myself relax into a world of mysticism & joie de vivre.

Please join me…

Edith Lane makes a decision that will change the course of her life.

One day, sitting at the local bus stop, whilst offering a mint to a little girl ‘with all the vintage charm of a fifties housewife,’ Edith decides to pack her bags and start a new life for herself.

Grieving for her mother who passed away the previous year, Edith makes the very brave decision to leave her father and all that is familiar to her, to take up a position managing a small bakery in Paris.

On arrival in Paris, Edith soon realises that she may have been a little impetuous in her move as all is not as she had imagined.

Edith finds herself working for the very elusive and stern Madame Moreau.

M.Moreau is the owner of ‘La Boulangerie et Patisserie de Compiegne’, selling all the produce expected of a French bakery. Edith is in awe of the breads, the pastries and the beautiful smells of the shop.

Part of her job package includes accommodation within the premises and Edith begins to question where all the produce comes from. Under strict instruction from M Moreau to remain out of the kitchen, Edith begins to suspect all is not as it seems.

It’s not long before Edith finds friends within the community and starts to adapt to the French ways. As her confidence increases she starts to question herself and how she has unwittingly stopped herself from living the life she was given.

She discovers that she has a very tenacious personality as she finds herself embroiled in a story that she least expected. As the history of M. Moreau and the town of Campiegne is slowly unveiled to Edith, she is both shocked and intrigued with what she discovers.

Reminiscent of Joanne Harris’, Chocolat, Evie Gaughan has written a novella about the magic & mystery of a small French town on the outskirts of Paris. We travel on a journey with Edith as she discovers herself and learns to deal with her grief.

Evie Gaughan has written a very compact book that provides just the right amount of sweetness and romance.

It’s the perfect escapism for a rainy afternoon and as Evie herself says ‘I was really able to indulge my love of magical realism in this story. Finding magic in the everyday is a very strong theme for me and one which I always return to.’

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edith has spent most of her twenties taking care of her dying mother. Now that her mom has passed, she and her Dad are trying to find themselves. Looking for a new start and chasing the memories of baking with her mother, Edith applies for a job in Paris at the Bakery on Rue de Paris. She is shocked and excited when, after one interview; she gets the job.

The story begins as Edith leaves Ireland and her Dad behind traveling by train to Paris. Only to discover that the bakery is not in Paris, but in a vintage bakery in Compiègne. She is met at the station by a young boy who takes her to the Bakery on Rue de Paris where she meets the owner, a stern woman named Madame Moreau.

The story that unfolds is a coming of age tale for a later bloomer as Edith navigates, working in the bakery, making friends and falling in love for the first time. The story unfolds slowly with the smells of bread, the cobble streets and the history of Compiègne.

Edith is curious how all the bread is baked, as there is no kitchen on the first floor or door to the basement. She slowly unlocks the secrets of the bakery after discovering an old recipe book. Along the way, she meets a young man who isn’t quite who he seems, or is he?

A touch of mystery and magical realism wrapped in history made for a compelling story. While the storyline was predictable, the characters and discovering the why of it made for a heartwarming tale that offered the perfect escape. I loved the historical aspects that the author wove throughout the story regarding the WWII.

This story will leave you craving hot chocolate and bike rides in France… This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Wendy Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels incredibly simplistic and predictable in its plot, characterization, mystery, approach to food and relationships, writing depth and technique, and world view.

DNF about a third of the way through.

[simona.citeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi-a plăcut!! știam deja la ce să mă aștept pentru că am citit și celelalte cărți ale autoarei.

Avem o tânără irlandeză care pleacă în Franța, crezând că are un job la o brutărie din Paris dar drumurile o duc într-o altă locație.

Mi-a plăcut atmosfera, mi-au plăcut bunătatea și simplitatea personajelor, dăruirea lor și speranța.

Totul a fost împletit foarte frumos.
E puțin previzibilă ca și direcție și final dar mi-a plăcut călătoria și cum fiecare a învățat câte ceva.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I added spoiler tags: so no worries if you haven't read the book yet.

I do love a good story that involves french phrases, and the bakery setting was an added bonus. The premise of the book is interesting enough: Girl in her 30's moves to France to take a job in a bakery and to rediscover herself and her passions.

The quality of the writing was somewhat distracting, as was the punctuation and grammar. The first few chapters are mildly intriguing, though predictable, in that everything comes all too easily for the befuddled Edith. She is lonely, she meets a friend and then a love-interest in one week. The man is basically 'perfect', until she realizes that his presence in the town is as part of a real-estate conglomerate bent on buying the ailing bakery.

You can easily guess the author's intention of tracing a flimsy outline of a Bridget Jones-type character and putting her through the whole,"He's perfect, but we are star-crossed" scenario. Then, the story completely "jumps the shark", suddenly there is an apparition in the bakery - without much buildup the story takes a strange turn. Hardly magical, the story seemed to move in many directions, none of them very satisfying. The bakery is going bankrupt, the ghost is teaching Manu to bake bread, Edith is coming unglued because she never intended to come to France to help a failing bakery, this was supposed to be a vacation! And where has her charming suitor disappeared to, he who sends her romantic postcards?

At this point there are no more mysteries, the story is completely predictable. The editing seems to completely fall apart towards the middle of the story. Question marks and articles are missing from sentences. Thoughts seem to be left unfinished. What happened to Edith's dad and aunt who were setting off to visit her? The author wrote about the plans a few times, tickets were purchased and then Dad and Auntie are never mentioned again.

The story reminded me of A-Z mysteries that my 3rd grade class read last year (minus the kissing and the mystery). It wrapped up pretty much how most of those chapter books do: a happy ending where everyone gets their wishes. Unbelievably her 'Mr. Darcy' our cliche hero, not only saves the bakery, but builds a nightclub for her to realize her dreams of being a singer. Why a singer? She came to manage a bakery, and suddenly she's a singer?

While I enjoy a light read, and love magical storylines, this one fell apart very quickly. The author forgot to let the story and mystery build, instead she just launched into the events and the ghost, as though having a ghost was a routine set of affairs. Overall, I found this book disappointing. I gave it 2 stars for an attempt at an interesting story and nice description of baked goods.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5.

After finally devouring The Lost Bookshop last week, I couldn’t wait to get straight into this one - and it was absolutely gorgeous!

I must admit the covers put me off a little initially - whilst they are beautiful they do seem aimed at a slightly older crowd, which is why I hadn’t picked these books up sooner. But the story inside is so magical and beautifully written, and I loved all the characters we met at this special bakery! I especially love the mixture of historical fiction thrown in with contemporary storytelling, and am now firmly sold on this author! Also loved the audio narration.

[Rachel Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨️Very sweet comfy story, but it's a bit predictable at times. You just know it has to be a happy ending! The writing felt a little bit YA/simplistic in places, and some of the characters' speech I did think was a bit cringe worthy now and again. I enjoyed the bits throughout the book going back to WW2 and the history behind the bakery and the town it was in.

Also, after reading this, i desperately need a French bakery to open up next door to me !

🇫🇷🥖🧁☕️👻

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 5%

The punctuation is dire. Learn how to punctuate direct speech!! It’s incredibly irritating to have so many basic errors and its not as if there are only a couple of minor typos.