I love a book about a bookshop and this was the exact vibes I was looking for: lovely cosy backdrop, characters who grow around and with each other, a love of reading, an insight into bookshop owning, etc.

I especially liked how it starts with one characters and slowly the cast grows around them because of the bookshop. Very sweet way to build a community in a book.

I found it a bit obvious on the lessons it was trying to impart, but it was also very hopeful and positive. With a lovely note from the author at the end about her inspiration and what she was trying to achieve. I look forward to whatever she does next.

Tired of her busy city life, Yeongju leaves it all behind for a quiet suburb and opens a bookshop. Although it’s tough at first, with the help of her regular customers who become friends, Yeongju begins to learn what makes a good bookseller and how she can cultivate a thriving community of readers and writers in the little town of Hyunam-dong. This gentle story is ultimately about a deep love of books and what they can give us. It really doesn’t matter to me because I’m much more of a character-led reader but there is very little plot. The setting of the bookshop was so vivid and by the end of the book, I definitely knew my way around it! There is lots of reflection on life, society and capitalism as well as how popular beliefs about how we should live and work can be damaging. In some ways, it could be described as a handbook on how to run a bookshop but the eclectic cast of characters makes it much more readable and enjoyable than that!

Thank you SO MUCH to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Some books come into your life at the exact right moment, and Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop was one of those for me. It’s quiet, comforting, and thoughtful. The kind of story that doesn’t demand anything from you but gives so much in return.

The novel follows Yeongju, who leaves behind a corporate job to open a tiny bookshop in a tucked-away corner of Seoul. It’s about books, of course, but more than that, it’s about people, how they find each other, how they heal, and how even the smallest choices can lead to unexpected, beautiful change. The customers who walk into the shop bring their own stories, their own struggles, and I found myself rooting for every single one of them.

The translation feels effortless. It has that perfect balance of melancholy and hope — there’s loneliness here, but also quiet joy. If you love slow, character-driven books like this will be right up your alley.

It’s a book about loving books. I didn’t want to leave Hyunam-dong when I turned the last page.

Would absolutely recommend if you need a cozy, introspective read.

A sweet book on loving books and bookstores, also relevant to the present thinking and being. Books carry a lot of meaning to many people.

3.5/5 🌟

Appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book. This was my first time reading something by Hang Bo-reum, and I am a fan and will be picking up her next book for sure.

I really enjoyed the dynamics of each character that worked at / passed by the bookshop. I particularly liked when you figured out that two characters were quite similar in their experiences and their bonds. I found each story very heartwarming, especially Micheol the student. I there was a small section in the middle of the book which dragged a little for me, however the formatting for the arc was a little off-putting so this could have been the reason why.

I finished the book with a huge grin on my face and very happy for where the bookshop and staff all ended up.

Yeongju is a charming young woman, but is recently divorced and emotionally fragile as she pursues her dream of running a bookshops. She is passionate about books, and her love for the written word. Alongside her own reviews tucked into the front of the books on shelves, she slowly attracts a cast of characters into her new life. Each of them are troubled and dealing with their own personal issues, some running from their pasts, and their interactions with one another leads to a slow and gradual healing of self.

The book is very episodic in structure. There are time skips in parts, which in turn reveal the growth and changes in the bookshop as Yeongju works hard to make it sustainable. If you’re looking for something with a driving plot and lots of high stakes, this isn’t that book. But if what you’re looking for is insight into the world of bookselling and Korean culture, then perhaps this is the book for you. As I said, I think this book found me right when I need it, as I am going through a a lot of personal changes myself at the moment, so I found myself relating heavily to various characters feelings about the decisions they have made in how they live their lives.

Ultimately this debut is novel that highlights the power of books, community and connection in a very sweet, character-driven story. I can completely understand why Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop became a massive bestseller in Korea as it is beautifully told, like a comforting hug to a soul that needs a little love and tender care. With writing that is quirky and inviting this will be a book I come back to again and again for a little bit of joy and comfort.

I loved 'Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop' it was uplifting and lovely. It was everything I was expecting it to be, I am very happy to have read it. I have since purchased a physical copy from my local bookstore.

This is a lovely cosy Korean novel that I devoured in one sitting back in 2023! It's perfect for book lovers, you feel a real connection with the characters with the pages.
I'll definitely be rereading this in the future!
Thank you for the eARC

A woman burnt out with her high flying career that opens a bookshop; yes please!
This was a slow paced but character driven novel that was gentle and charming. A very healing and mindful reminder that we can all take a step back in order to enjoy the little things.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

If you're looking for a cozy and charming read that celebrates the power of books and the beauty of human connection, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is a good fit.

I absolutely loved this book. It was the perfect gentle and cosy read I needed at the time. It is a read I know I’ll come back to and recommend to every book lover out there. For anyone who has ever dreamed of running their own book shop/cafe, this book proves to you that your dreams are possible and how bookshops are the hub of every community.

Gosh, I read this book at a time when I needed a real tonic, and it certainly provided me with a hug in a book. Loved it, thanks for the reading copy.

This book was quite a peaceful read - didn’t rush anywhere and let the stories develop. At first I found it frustrating but once I accepted it for that, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a warm hug of a book. It's a slow down and enjoy a sip of coffee feeling. Peruse a bookshop and get to know the characters that come and go. You'll not find a dramatic narrative and fast moving plot line. But you will find characters who you feel you know, or want to hang out with. It's gentle, insightful, philosophical and the words flow beautifully. A nice place to escape.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop - Hwang Bo-reum, translated by Shanna Tan

I found the flow of this book very enjoyable and thought it was a peaceful read. I found the story was almost told to me through a series of episodes and not a full flowing combination, but this made it great book to pick up and put down, not to be read all in one sitting. I did find the overall story did not really have a plot as such which some people may not appeal to. Thanks so much Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for this e-arc in return for my honest thoughts and opinions.

This is a beautifully translated story of finding oneself and the importance of happiness over material and financial wealth. A cast of loveable and complex characters, each with their own stories and problems, populate this warm and cosy tale of friendship and following dreams. I savoured this novel, from the mouth-watering coffee and insightful book discussions, I fell in love with the Hyunam-dong bookshop and wish I could visit for real. A stellar read!

Absolutely fantastic read, I fell in love with this bookand its characters, this just made me feel good about life and just everything. This is a must read and I recommend to everyone

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book revolves around a bookshop set in Korea, who's owner Yeong-ju sets it up after her perfect, ideal life (good job and husband) falls apart. The book focuses on the first few years of the shop's opening, from Yeong-ju hiring a barista to all the characters who become part of the bookshop's life. From unhappy housewives and lost teenagers, burnt out workers and successful writers, everyone in the bookshop's orbit has a story to tell and past disappointments to heal from.

In theory, this book sounds right up my alley. A gentle story, a cast of characters who've lives overlap and get slowly entangled with each other, a building of community. All with a tiny pinch of social commentary on things like working, capitalism and feminism. Ultimately it fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure why, I think there were possibly too many characters. Or maybe it's because we delve into the background of too many of these characters, I think maybe focussing on fewer people would have moved this along better. As I felt the pacing was off, it seemed to drag at times. It's a pity as I think this has a lot of potential to be charming but it wasn't my cup of tea. I can see why it might have resonated better with others though, it's not bad but wasn't a favourite of mine.

Evocative and deeply heart-warming, this cosy novel was a great refuge (much like the shop in the novel itself). It felt like a Matt Haig book.

I did find this story quite slow and I wasn’t as invested in the characters as I thought I would be. I did love the bookshop vibes and all the coffee! Any book about bookshops is a winner for me. I just wish the pace wasn’t as slow as I kept putting it down and wasn’t rushing to pick it back up.