Our remarkable hostess, Jan Mannarino, transformed The Quarry Club into a cozy little Parisian café where calories, carbs, and the general concept of reality simply did not exist. 

Inspired by The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods, Jan created an atmosphere so convincingly French that some of us showed up in our straw hats with Prosecco in hand. So Parisian.

Jan opened the evening by sharing why this book touched her so deeply — and before a single word of discussion began, she did something that quietly stopped the room: she played Michael Jackson’s “Smile.”

Why “Smile”? Because the book told her to.

In one of the story’s most tender moments, the little girl in the novel remembers her mother singing “Smile” — and that single memory becomes a luminous thread woven through the entire story, connecting love, loss, and the quiet magic of a song that lingers long after the person who sang it is gone. Jan chose it not simply as an opening, but as a gift — a beautiful, heartfelt reminder that one smile truly can change a moment, a mood, or a memory you’ve been holding onto for years.

It was also deeply personal. Jan shared how the story’s gentle grandfather character reminded her so much of her own beloved late husband, Jerry. One of those quiet, tender moments that reminds you why this little group of ours is so much more than books and snacks. (Though, to be fair, the snacks are extraordinary.)

Sacrebleu.  

The spread was so authentically French that several of us briefly reconsidered our career paths toward pastry criticism. Flaky croissants — especially those ham and cheese ones that melted with every buttery bite — gorgeous cheeses, crusty baguettes, exquisite French pastries, and those dangerously addictive macarons that had no business being that good. At a certain point, conversation stopped entirely. There was just… nodding. Reverent, butter-crumbed nodding. Very elegant. Very Parisian.

When we eventually surfaced from the food coma long enough to discuss the actual book, the verdict was unanimous: this is basically a Hallmark movie in book form. And we meant that as the highest possible compliment. The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris is the perfect summer read — warm, mysterious, comforting, and the kind of story you get happily lost in without realizing how many pages have gone by. Just the right balance of heart, intrigue, a whisper of magic, and the sort of charm that makes you want to book a flight to France and eat your feelings in a patisserie. Much like the evening itself, there was genuinely something for everyone.

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A very warm and très magnifique merci to Jan for giving us a night full of friendship, laughter, beautiful memories, and enough French flair to make Hidden Lake feel like the Left Bank for one glorious Wednesday. The only thing missing was someone bicycling past with a baguette tucked under one arm and absolutely no sense of urgency — which, honestly, sounds like the ideal life goal.

Gone Before Goodbye

Maggie McCabe, a brilliant Army combat surgeon, watches her perfectly constructed life unravel at the absolute worst possible moment — because timing, apparently, is not her strong suit right now. Twists. Turns. 

Reese Witherspoon narrating the audiobook herself — because if you enjoy staying up until 2 a.m. whispering “just one more chapter,” this one was written specifically for you. Fair warning: don’t start it the night before an early morning.