Hwang Bo-reum

There was only one thing on her mind. 'I must start a bookshop.' Yeongju did everything she was supposed to, go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. Burned out, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop. In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster, and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju - they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live. A heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life – and the healing power of books. 'An incredibly exciting debut novel. At once gentle and invigorating. I devoured it' Sarah Crossan Reader Reviews: 'Love love love this book! Cosy, heart warming, wholesome...Will be recommending this to everyone. It makes me smile when I think about it!' 'Such a beautiful book, I adored the story and characters, The writing style was gorgeous. 100% recommend.' 'A love letter to books, bookshops and all who love them' 'Such a warm and cosy read! Was completely here for it...and the appreciation for books was magical' 'A heart-warming cosy read that makes you think about how important it is to be happy, and that we can all find a place to call 'home'.'

The heart-warming Korean sensation

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

어서 오세요, 휴남동 서점입니다

Signe

" A life surrounded by good people is a succesful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day."

Pau 

“That's why l hate how keeping up your fighting spirit even when you're unwell or on an IV drip has become so much of a thing that there's even a phrase for it.”

“You're right, we're allowing ourselves to be exploited,” 

blue

A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day. 

To achieve happiness at the end of life, you have to be miserable for a lifetime. When I think of it this way, happiness becomes horrible. It’s such an empty feeling, to stake everything on a single accomplishment in life.

When you have thoughts, just hold on to them, see where they take you, and as time passes, you’ll find out if you were right. Never decide right at the start if something is right or wrong.

lily

Yes, I wanted to say happiness is never beyond reach. It's not in the distant past, nor on the horizon of the future. It's right in front of me.  

but you know, when we feel like crying, we should let it all out. Forcing them back only makes the wounds heal slower. 

Lindy

A space we can escape to, a refuge from the intensity of daily life where we can't even pause to take a breather. A space to shelter us from the harsh criticisms whipping us to do more, to go faster. A space to snuggle comfortably for a day. A day without something siphoning our energy, a day to replenish what's lost. A day we begin with anticipation and end with satisfaction. A day where we grow, and from growth sprouts hope. A day spent having meaningful conversations with good people. Most importantly, a day where we feel good, and our heart beats strongly. I wanted to write about such a day, and the people within it.

I started to have an interest in other things besides myself and when I turned back to reflect, I realised that my life wasn't a failure after all. 

Seeing a person enjoying what they love to do warms your heart. And because that person was a friend, his heart was positively swelling with happiness. 

What is it about family that makes me lose control completely?

I don’t know why, but I’ve never aimed for a specific occupation. I was just not interested in becoming a doctor, or lawyer, or anything else. Neither did I want to be successful or famous. I just wanted a stable life. I mean, if I can be acknowledged for my skills in something, that’d be great, but that’s about it. I just wanted to be an independent person.

'I think life becomes easier knowing that happiness is not that far out of reach.' 

Even a disappointing human like myself can still be, occasionally, a good person. The idea gives me strength. And for the days ahead, hope. 

Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories. At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision.

soiled plants

‘Recently, I've been starting to think that we spent all our energies making the buttons, but there's something we forgot.’

'There were no holes in the first place. Imagine a shirt lined with expensive and beautiful buttons on one side. But there are no holes. Why? Because nobody cut them open for us.’

‘How silly. We could have just worn a buttonless shirt instead. But now, we’re stuck with a shirt fastened at the top and a trail of useless buttons. This is not a shirt, it's a joke. The shirt is a joke, and wearing it makes me a joke. Isn't it hilarious? I worked so hard only to look like a joke.

In the process of figuring out his preferences, he had a vague realisation that, perhaps, spending time on a single thing was like looking deep into himself.

There was only one thing on her mind.'I must start a bookshop.' Yeongju did everything she was supposed to, go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. Burned out, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop.In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster, and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju - they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live.A heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life - and the healing power of books.'An incredibly exciting debut novel. At once gentle and invigorating. I devoured it' Sarah CrossanReader Reviews:'Love love love this book! Cosy, heart warming, wholesome...Will be recommending this to everyone. It makes me smile when I think about it!' 'Such a beautiful book, I adored the story and characters, The writing style was gorgeous. 100% recommend.''A love letter to books, bookshops and all who love them''Such a warm and cosy read! Was completely here for it...and the appreciation for books was magical''A heart-warming cosy read that makes you think about how important it is to be happy, and that we can all find a place to call 'home'.'

Anna Stocker

Books are not meant to remain įn your mind, but in your heart.

there were a lot of good take aways from this book, living a life based on what pleases your soul rather than what society expects of you. i think a lot was lost in translation though as the english translation felt pretty robotic. it also dragged on a LOT, but the vibes were great.

cee 

There’s a lot of good lines in this book, but the story arc is just not holding my attention unfortunately. I may try to revisit this another time. 

Floofyflower

Such a cute and comforting read! It’s the best book to probably have chosen to get out of my reading slump recently. As a barista and book lover, this book really hit the mark on the coziness of the setting and pace of the book. Nothing too exciting happens and jumps around with characters but it’s honestly relatable in terms of the topic it focuses on. 

This book is a reminder to myself that it’s ok to be where I’m at as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing, regardless of how much society tries to push goals onto you. Everyone navigates life differently, just like these characters, and each person has their goals on how they want to live the rest of their lives and that’s OK. 

Each character got to reach an understanding on where they wanted to go next in their lives and just shows that change and figuring out yourself isn’t a thing that happens overnight or even in a week. I think if you’re feeling a bit lost or just need a reminder on why you’re taking the path you are, this book will definitely help! 

Such a cute and comforting read! It’s the best book to probably have chosen to get out of my reading slump recently. As a barista and book lover, this book really hit the mark on the coziness of the setting and pace of the book. Nothing too exciting happens and jumps around with characters but it’s honestly relatable in terms of the topic it focuses on. 

This book is a reminder to myself that it’s ok to be where I’m at as long as I’m enjoying what I’m doing, regardless of how much society tries to push goals onto you. Everyone navigates life differently, just like these characters, and each person has their goals on how they want to live the rest of their lives and that’s OK. 

Each character got to reach an understanding on where they wanted to go next in their lives and just shows that change and figuring out yourself isn’t a thing that happens overnight or even in a week. I think if you’re feeling a bit lost or just need a reminder on why you’re taking the path you are, this book will definitely help! 

A heartwarming story about a neighbourhood bookshop and the community built within it. 

In the Author's Notes, Hwang tells us that through this book she wanted to create a safe place where people could come and rest, where they felt accepted and understood wherever they were in life. Seeing this group of people, each exhausted and burdened by the post-capitalistic society that constantly pushes us to strive for more ambition, more hard work, find themselves in this space of mutual care and slow, intentional living, felt like the exact remedy my soul was craving. They each go their own way in their own pace, but they certainly blossom, and create their own meaning of intentional living, treating themselves and in turn the world around them kindly. A cozy read for everyone who feels tired and a little bit lost (just like the rest of us).

deniz

I've been dreaming of own a bookshop since I was a kid. I know very well it's not an easy dream job to pursue, BUT... "Running a bookshop is no romantic dream. But if you're determined to start one, I'd say: do it! You need to do it so that you have no regrets in the future." well said!

This book has the same vibe with "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig, but more realistic version. I feel like it's "close" to me since I could relate to every issues they brought up and the crucial issues we face as we're growing up. So, when I read this book, I could sense that I'm not alone in this journey because I think everyone experiences the same things; adulting, school, career, family, to love life problems, while still put the power of book and bookshops as their main focus.

However, this book seems too "optimistic" for me. I mean how they managed to run a bookshop for such a long time, in midst of these hostile business environment? I'm dying to know!!

Despite of how heartwarming and comforting this book is, I can't deny the fact that it's a slow-paced book and have no particular plot or story, so I understand if some of the readers might be bored. But, it's one of my best read in 2024!

I've been dreaming of own a bookshop since I was a kid. I know very well it's not an easy dream job to pursue, BUT... "Running a bookshop is no romantic dream. But if you're determined to start one, I'd say: do it! You need to do it so that you have no regrets in the future." well said!

This book has the same vibe with "The Midnight Library" by Matt Haig, but more realistic version. I feel like it's "close" to me since I could relate to every issues they brought up and the crucial issues we face as we're growing up. So, when I read this book, I could sense that I'm not alone in this journey because I think everyone experiences the same things; adulting, school, career, family, to love life problems, while still put the power of book and bookshops as their main focus.

However, this book seems too "optimistic" for me. I mean how they managed to run a bookshop for such a long time, in midst of these hostile business environment? I'm dying to know!!

Despite of how heartwarming and comforting this book is, I can't deny the fact that it's a slow-paced book and have no particular plot or story, so I understand if some of the readers might be bored. But, it's one of my best read in 2024!

A Novel

will revisit in a couple of months maybe - a little too existentialist / didactic / doesnt go anywhere for my current state of mind.

diya

DNF at 22%

will revisit in a couple of months maybe - a little too existentialist / didactic / doesnt go anywhere for my current state of mind.

I wish this had managed to enchant me a little more, is all. I was impressed with how many relevant to the day topics the novel discussed, which helped it feel a lot less like a publishing trend, but at the same time, the topic of everything made it feel really lacking in focus. This makes sense, given the author's note on her process at the end, and it is fine - there is place for books like this one. But a cosy book is all it will ever remain to me.

it was a cute book but fell into a preachy book about life

kezzie

Very heartwarming and connected to the echoing desires of many amidst a capitalistic and "grind set" world. As the author hoped for, this book was a fresh breath of air and left me with a sense of hope and connection. I was reminded that my path in life is one that at foremost, be one that I happy and content in.

Roseanne

This is a beautifully written slice of life book. It’s a heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life, and the healing power of books. It seems like the author very gently compiled her thoughts and feelings, and offered them up for the world to read. This book nudges the reader to think about happiness and success, and what those words mean to them within and outside of societal expectations, in the gentlest of ways.

Some of the quotes from the book that gave me pause:

Have you read this book? If yes, did you like it? What are your thoughts?

Devika M

This is a beautifully written slice of life book. It’s a heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life, and the healing power of books. It seems like the author very gently compiled her thoughts and feelings, and offered them up for the world to read. This book nudges the reader to think about happiness and success, and what those words mean to them within and outside of societal expectations, in the gentlest of ways.

Some of the quotes from the book that gave me pause:

“A life surrounded by good people is a successful life. It might not be success as defined by society, but thanks to the people around you, each day is a successful day.”

“I don’t think much of dreams that are stripped bare of pleasure. Dreams, or pleasure? If I have to choose one, I’ll take the latter. That said, my heart still flutters at the word dream. A life without dreams is as dry as a life without tears. There’s a line in Herman Hesse’s Demian that goes: “But no dream lasts forever, each dream is followed by another, and one should not cling to any particular dream.””

“Books are not meant to remain in your mind, but in your heart. Maybe they exist in your mind too, but as something more than memories. At a crossroads in life, a forgotten sentence or a story from years ago can come back to offer an invisible hand and guide you to a decision.”

“Reading makes you deviate further from the textbook definition of success because books don’t make us go ahead of or above anyone else; they guide us to stand alongside others.”

Have you read this book? If yes, did you like it? What are your thoughts?

A charming slice of life book about good people finding each-other and encouraging each other during their respective tough times. This book is like a warm hug, a warm cup of coffee on a winter’s day and a cold sweet lemonade on a hot summer day. 

AnjB

this is so lovely! felt like a conversation with a sister who i look up to so much. let us learn how to live slowly and without regrets. 

開花

Gelaine Trinidad

3.5/5

wise and wholesome.
includes lessons on mindfulness and how to harmonize happiness with life's challenges. 
& of course talks a lot about books/bookclubs/bookshops, coffee, and even literary & film references. 
recommend for those who enjoy quiet books and movies such as  After the Storm  directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda and  Little Forest  directed by Yim Soon-rye. ~

This is a sweet book about charming characters and the charming bookstore they frequent.  It is a sweet story that is perfect for when you are in the mood to relax and read about people you would like to have as friends.  I wish I had a bookstore like this in my neighborhood.

shellybn

This book was highly recommended. It's a cosy read but didn't quite made me want to keep on reading more. Probably the English translation did not quite capture the essence well enough?

Natasha Mok

Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is an honest story about regular people and their lives all converging in this bookshop. Yeongjun was perfectly and imperfectly human. The writing wasn’t too complex nor too casual, the pacing wasn’t slow nor fast. I can imagine myself stumbling upon this bookshop in Seoul and feeling invited into its warm embrace. Hwang Bo-Reum makes you feel like you’re also in this bookshop with the cast of characters. I loved the lessons and takeaways from this book, and I feel many people would benefit from hearing them. Bo-Reum has outdone herself.

Charlotte Squire

ineke

I’m not quite sure if the purpose of this book was to bring the realities of owning a bookshop to those who romanticise it (me) and discourage or encourage them. Honestly, maybe it was both maybe it was neither. Either way I enjoyed it deeply and felt connected to the characters in all their different walks of life. The gentle development seen throughout the story and their decisions was subtle but heartwarming and left me invested in characters in a way books can never accomplish. 

I must admit I love books that don’t have a true ‘event’ or climax to them, but are rather books that follow a narrator through mundane aspects of their life. For me, this has to be done well though, and the narrator has to be either endearing, familiar to myself, or somewhat deranged. This book has characters and narrators that very neatly fall into the first two categories. 

This book was a christmas present and one I will definitely be calling the gift giver up about asap. I doubt I would’ve found this book on my own and because of that I am so thankful it was found for me instead.

Heartwarming and healing. Have many characters that overcoming their own struggles, searching a way to make up from pasts. Relatable moments and quotes especially when it comes to reader and books appreciation. Would love to reread again when I'm down.

Lili Airen

A charming soft book with elegant messages about life, different ways to consider work, living well and the people in it.

Giulia

This book is so cozy and warm. And my eyes are Misty because I somehow feel calm and loved and seen while reading this book. This book feels like the warmth of the sun during cold winters. And I absolutely loved it. 

Teeeeeesha

I absolutely enjoyed every bit of this book! It's the epitome of warmth and coziness—the perfect companion to a relaxing Sunday afternoon. I love that even though it's a slice of life, I never once felt bored reading it. HIGHLY recommended for people like me who always dreamt of opening their own bookshop and cafe.

it’s like a warm hug every time i read this. every page reassures me to slowly take time to figure out what i want to make myself out of in this world. it stresses on the idea that everyone has their own pace and own’s definition of success. teaches me to be present always and be good at whatever i’m doing at the moment, even at the simplest little thing like breathing.

if you’re happy with your decisions and your peace of mind is well taken care of, isn’t that a life well lived?

izzah

it’s like a warm hug every time i read this. every page reassures me to slowly take time to figure out what i want to make myself out of in this world. it stresses on the idea that everyone has their own pace and own’s definition of success. teaches me to be present always and be good at whatever i’m doing at the moment, even at the simplest little thing like breathing.

if you’re happy with your decisions and your peace of mind is well taken care of, isn’t that a life well lived?

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop The heart-warming Korean sensation

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