Oxford Soju Club is a fast paced thriller with an unexpected open ended ending and follows the lives of spies (a US born Korean American whose parents run a bagel shop, a North Korean orphan whose spy master boss knew more about his origins than he did, & a South Korean civilian running a Soju bar in Oxford and his worker a South Korean spy, who it turns out is more involved that it first appears) exploring themes of culture, food, identity and nationality, and the relationships between not being as simple as it may seem at first glance, with each faction having their own motivations and desires for interacting with the other spies, with some reasons being more innocent and hopeful than others.

An interesting novel which is almost a character study on Korean diaspora as much as it is a spy thriller. Thank you netgalley and Dundurn Press for the e-ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for this Advence Reader’s Copy.

I was intrigued by the synopsis and the promise of reading about korean identity, and for this, i was not disappointed.
This books talks about the difficulties of knowing who you truly are when you are an immigrant, how you can be perceived by others for not being enough.

The main issue i had with this book was that the plot and multiple POV’s which made the story difficult to be understood. I think the time jump confused me quite a bit and it took me time to really understand what was really going on.

I still feel like it’s a good read for someone that likes spy and thriller stories and that likes Korea’s history!

For fans of Ava Glass spy thrillers and Grace D. Li's Portrait of a Thief, Jinwoo Park's debut novel weaves captivating characters with thrilling espionage. If you love spy drama but find offerings too white and too American or British, this book offers a fresh take through Korean and Korean diaspora points of view.

I received an ARC of Oxford Soju Club from Netgalley!

I haven't read a spy/thriller novel in what feels like forever and so Oxford Soju Club functioned as way for me to re-enter into that genre. I really liked the premise of the novel. I also liked how ideas about language, diaspora, identity, culture and food emerge as the novel unfolds. I also enjoyed how the author played around with titles and names in each chapter. The characters were intriguing and complex and I found myself getting attached to them.

It was also pretty fast-paced overall, like if real life had not got in the way, I think I could have easily sat down and devoured this novel in two days.

There was this theme of hope running through the novel that warmed my heart. Like this line made me tear up a bit: “...the world is not a place to fear and cower from. It is a place to discover who you are.” It may be simple but it's so effective and so true in it's simplicity. Definitely one of those lines that are going to remain with me.

May I say I really like the cover btw.
A spy thriller turned into cultural experience exploration? sign me up. I loved multiple povs, i loved there were many dialogues (after i read Paul Lynch's Prophet Song it was a blessing). i would love it to be adapted into a movie.
really appreciate all the hard work the author put into this novel. Great debut, 박진우 작가님! I hope to see more.

Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for this arc of Oxford Soju Club.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the advanced reader copy..

I was excited about the premise of this book--the mystery around the surprising death of a North Korean spymaster--but the structure of the writing made the story confusing to follow. I'm sure there will be people who enjoy this kind of structure, but it's not the kind of book for me.

I got an ARC of Oxford Soju Club from Netgalley so let's get into it!

I stumbled on one of the author's videos talking about his book and thought it sounded very intriguing so I requested an ARC.

This delivered on what it promised in the points about identity. I think this was very clear in one of the first notable moments where one of the character's, I believe it's Jihoon, talks about Doha referring to him as Im Jihoon instead of using Lim. There is always that moment of someone seeing or understanding your culture or allowing you to feel a connection to home without going there.

I loved that each of these characters had such a different relationship with where they came from and their ethnicity and how it defined them. This aspect created its own kind of tension between the characters. Ones longing for home, ones that will never see home again, and others that don't want to go back (and how some of these overlapped in some ways).

In terms of the structure of the story, with each perspective there are many flashbacks throughout the story. There were a few moments where it felt like some of the information came a little out of order. Like we get the information about Jihoon reading (I can picture the book, I work in a library, but the name is escaping me right now) and how he's read it so many times, but then in the flashback it goes back to talk about how his mom gave him the book and all this stuff. It felt like that information should have all been in the first part when we are introduced to him having the book and then the flashback we already know all that and can just slide right into that moment. I kind of wished that the end had played out more linearly and not done so many flashbacks to keep the tension up. I think I kept putting this book down and picking it back up because it would wane in tension, but I still needed to know what happened so I kept coming back.

With the spy stuff: were all the spies just spying on each other? Were any of them doing anything other than watching the other spies? Why were they there then? I got caught up in some of the flashbacks where they were in other countries so I was getting confused what their mission was in Oxford or was that just their base, more or less?

Also something occurred about 60% of the way through this book that...I had investments in that...and no one really seemed to care really. And then the thing was just there while people were having conversations and carrying on and my brain was just like the THING IN THE KITCHEN!!! I was literally going to rage for this moment but the ending made up for this moment. I didn't feel so bad, because it wasn't just this one. (I'm trying to say this without spoilers). I do really want bagels now though.

Anyway, the names Yunah and Yohan were sometimes too close looking for my brain. I kept reading them wrong. And then when they were in the same section. oh boy.

Overall, this was a good read, though slow paced. I was thinking that our one book club would have fun with this one. There's so much I want to talk about with someone else who's read it.

(Also, that cover! I really love it!)

This book was just okay for me. The concept of the book was good, but overall I feel like there were too many competing themes going on. The characters were really hard for me to keep track of, especially since there were so many different points of view/narrators. I also don’t know much about Korean history and I feel like that would have been helpful going in. It is a relatively short read for someone wanting a quick book, but it wasn’t for me.

Jinwoo Park's debut novel, "Oxford Soju Club," was an incredibly gripping read right from the outset. I was immediately pulled into this intricate web of espionage set, fascinatingly, against the unique backdrop of Oxford's only Korean restaurant amidst international tensions following Kim Jong-Il's death. Park masterfully weaves together a high-stakes spy thriller – complete with shifting alliances, hidden motives, and deadly consequences involving North Korean, South Korean, and American agents – with what felt like a really poignant exploration of the Korean diaspora experience.

I found the way the novel delves into themes of identity, belonging, and the 'masks' immigrants often feel forced to create to navigate different worlds particularly insightful and moving. It added a layer of depth beyond the typical genre fare. The pacing felt relentless in the best way, keeping the tension consistently high as different characters and factions converged with their own dangerous agendas. I also thought the writing was sharp and intelligent, handling the complex plot points and multiple viewpoints quite deftly. Even amidst the espionage, the characters felt like fully realized people caught in incredibly difficult circumstances, making their choices and struggles feel authentic.

Overall, "Oxford Soju Club" struck me as a remarkably accomplished debut. It delivers all the twists, tension, and intrigue one hopes for in a smart spy novel but elevates it considerably with its thoughtful character work and resonant exploration of cultural identity and survival. It felt both exciting and profound – a really standout contemporary thriller that lingered with me.

First and foremost, I'm incredibly grateful to have received this book firsthand. I truly enjoyed the concept. It's a completely new experience for me, as I’ve never read a book in the spy genre before. The story is both thrilling and exhilarating.

Set at Oxford University, it follows a main character from North Korea who struggles to survive among Americans and South Koreans, highlighting how survival isn't always a given. The writing style is engaging and easy to follow. However, the setting and point of view can be quite confusing—at times, I wasn’t even sure whose perspective I was reading from.

Is it fast-paced? Absolutely. Intriguing? To an extent.
This book makes you reflect on life and how something as simple as freedom, which we often take for granted, can be the hardest thing to attain for others.

As someone who’s read a few books by Korean authors, watched my fair share of k-dramas, and visited South Korea before, I absolutely loved the subtle nods to life in Korea and occasional Korean words. What a way to bring a little bit of Korean culture and history into the reader’s minds.

The characters were so well written, with multiple identities overlapping and we really got to know them so well by the end of the book. I was completely gripped by the storyline and the setting of the book, would 100% go to Soju Club if it was a real place. Would have loved to see just a hint more about what happened after it all ended though. Will there be a second book?

Ostensibly a spy thriller but delivered an in-depth character review of North and South Korean diaspora and the relations between North Korea, South Korea and America.

Challenging and thought-provoking representation of racial stereotyping a fascinating glimpse into the world and struggles for this (white British) untargeted audience. I don't know how the author made me feel a connection, made me feel sympathy, for a deliberately nebulous character. His depth is hidden in layers of shallow nonentity and through that skimming over I found a place where I felt I knew him enough to see what it was he truly wanted - and hoped he'd get it.

I wasn't expecting to be as moved as I was; again, I was expecting a spy thriller but the author deftly plumbed the depths of his characters trials in a successfully sympathy-inducing manner. A Shakespearean tragedy dressed as a thriller.

thank you to netgalley and the author for providing me with an eArc in exchange for my honest thoughts. Oxford Soju Club follows a few different people as they navigate the world of spies/espionage, life/loss, identities and belonging. On the surface it reads like a typical spy book, lots of vague personas, carefully put together plans/thwarting the opposing side, etc. But at its heart it provides a deeper look at getting to know oneself outside of where youve always been told you belong, learning to think for oneself and the relationships that bind us. I enjoyed the storyline and the underlying message. My only issues would be my issue with most spy stories, sometimes its a little hard to feel connected to the characters when they are not who they say they are/have intricate stories about themselves that are not true. overall i rated it 3.5 (4 rounded up).

I was drawn to this book for both its mystery/thriller vibes, but also because tackles something that all immigrants deal with - identity, and being a part of the diaspora when you live outside of your home country. While short, I think this book dealt with both in each storyline where spies and normal restaurant owners were reconciling their past and their present. While some of it was a bit cliche, it worked as a whole to highlight that being an immigrant is not one size fits all. I did struggle a bit at the beginning to parse out the different points of view, and then the switch to first person, but overall a cohesive read. 3.75 stars.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

When I first saw the cover, I was intrigued by the title. Based on the synopsis, I knew this book was going to be different from the ones I've read before and I was not mistaken. Initially, I was expecting an action-packed spy novel, but what I found was much more interesting. While there are elements of secret missions, cover stories, and deceit, the book was more about the internal struggles of the characters. Their backgrounds, how they shaped who they are, their moral compass, and how the line between what's right and wrong can get really blurry. It's an interesting exploration of the concept of identity and belonging. Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot and read it very quickly, despite the fact that I found some moments slightly confusing. Nevertheless, I recommend this read to anyone who's interested in Korean culture and it's aspects and I'm looking forward to Jinwoo Park's next book.

A spy thriller set in Oxford, the story follows:
- Yohan, a North Korean spy, after his handler has been killed
- Jihoon, a South Korean running Oxford’s only Korean restaurant (the eponymous Soju Club)
- Yunah, a Korean-American CIA agent tasked with keeping tabs on the North Korean presence in Oxford.

While it’s a spy novel on the outside the book really shines in its portrayal of identity, immigration experiences, and being a part of a diaspora. Particularly interesting in reference to hyo (孝 filial piety) - which was probably why I enjoyed Jihoon’s storyline the most.

A satisfying plot, if slightly cliché in places. But these clichés exist for a reason and they’re well executed.

Initially I found the timeline a little confusing. In the first half the chapters are divided into sub chapters: The Northerner, The Southerner, The American. With the former two further divided into present and flashback sequences. Then in the second half the sub chapters become: The Exiled, The Rejected, The Nameless (with The Exiled switching to first person). It took a while to get a grip on but once I did I thought the structure was great!

I was really intrigued by this book's premise and how the author was going to integrate the lives of spies into their story. However, while I was expecting a thrilling and action filled story, it surprised me by being more restrained and calm in it's telling. This in itself isn't bad, just not what I expected. I really loved the references to the cultures and upbringings of the various characters, but all in all it was just a bit too boring for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with this ARC.

After I finished Oxford Soju Club, I knew I had to write this review, but I found that I was dumbfounded with a lack of words to describe this beautiful emotional roller coaster of a book. Reminiscent of Babel, Oxford Soju Club details
the lives of a north Korean spy and his handlers, a south Korean restaurateur, and a Korean-American CIA agent. I was hooked to read this book because of its spy thriller at oxford theme, but I have come out the other end awestruck at this intense narrative or Korean identity and espionage. You cannot help but love the main characters as they struggle in their quest to find themselves. Filled with mouthwatering culinary dishes, academia, and turns at every corner, Oxford Soju Club is an incredible novel. My only complaint is that there was not more of it to read, and I also need to go google translate some funny anecdotes! This book talks about murder and suicide so be prepared if you read it.

I read this book in a day. I could not put it down. When I started reading the book, I thought it was going to be a spy thriller type of book. I was not ready for what came next. This book gave me a lot to think about. It’s a book about duty, about doing what we’re taught to believe is the right thing, about survival, about love that we share with the people in our lives, but above all, it is about finding who we truly are - beneath the layers of different identities and selves that we accumulate over the years. Maybe it just feels that much more impactful for me as someone who is far from home and is at times thrown into an identity crisis. What do we live for? Are we all just trying to go home at the end of it all? Whatever home means to us all.
My two favourite snippets from the book:
- No place can be paradise. There’s something wrong with every place. People are just trading one kind of misery for another.
- The world is not a place to fear and cower from. It is a place to discover who you are. Time is of no importance. No one ever has enough time. You simply stumble forward, with each stride carrying its own special mistake.
I’m so glad I got to read this book and I cannot wait for it to be released so that other people can read it too. This is definitely one of those books that stays with you long after you have finished reading it.

Interestingly different spy story, set in Oxford. A North Korean spy and his young protegee are based there and carry out missions across Europe. The older spy is killed and Yohan the younger, has only his dying words to guide him - that he should look for their boss in Oxford's only Soju bar. Teams of American and South Korean spies are also at work, trying to find out what the Northerners are up to, and who their boss is. Yohan will have to live on his wits to avoid capture or death. Full of action and intrigue, its a terrific story.