To the Moon follows 3 friends who all work in low-ranking jobs at the same confectionary company. None of the women were friends before joining the company, so there is no complicated history between them. An opportunity presents itself in the form of investing in cryptocurrency which could allow the friends to lift themselves out of the drudgery of their everyday lives as long as they sell at the right time.

I enjoyed following Dahae, Eun-sang and Jisong as their friendship struggled through some ups and downs. I particularly identified with Dahae as she seemed to be the one struggling the most with what she wanted to do with her life, I felt very much the same in my late 20s. The character development for each of the women was quite impressive given the novel took place over a fairly short space of time but the life-altering sums of money quickly revealed each character's particular strengths and ambitions.

This was a feel-good novel which I could easily have gotten through in a single sitting had I not had to work in between! The end result of each of the women making a large sum of money felt unrealistic but I liked that only 1 of them had quit their job by the end of the novel and that Dahae was taking her time thinking about how to sensibly spend her money.

An easy to read, slice of life kind of book following Dahae, a young woman in her late twenties, attempting to survive the corporate office world of Seoul - working overtime to consistently be given middling performance reviews and no chances of raises or promotions. Dahae and her two friends Eun-sang and Jisong all dream of better opportunities and end up involved with cryptocurrency investment which could mean losing everything or shooting to the moon.

I quite enjoyed this book - as someone who has worked in corporate offices and also gone through the rigmarole of demoralising performance reviews that have less to do with your actual performance and more to do with what the company is unwilling to give to staff, I really resonated with a lot of the frustrations Dahae and her friends felt with their current work situation and I think anyone working and trying to just survive today can also resonate with the feeling of wanting more money, more opportunity, just something more. I know very little about investments and crypto so this part did go a little bit over my head but I was so tense for the girls as their investments rose and fell and I was just really hoping it would all go well for them.

I had some mixed feelings about the epilogue and wondered if we needed it but I also think it was a great opportunity for a full circle moment with Dahae and where she was, how she was feeling and what changed or didn't change with her from a year previously. I actually thought it was all very clever really - and really hammered home the point of the book and the characters. It's not necessarily that people want to be get rich and then do nothing, but just have that bit more so they don't have to struggle or worry quite so much or in Dahae's case, just get a nice apartment to live in!

I found this a tough read...the cliffhanger financial moments were such tough reading. A gambler, I won't make! The relationships and friendships, as well as the examination of the workplace, our roles, and balance was beautifully struck. A book that I need to re-read immediately.

To To Moon is a slice of life story set in 2017 right at the start of the Cryptocurrency phase. We follow the lives of 3 women - Dahae, Eun-sang and Jisong, desperate to escape their mediocre day to day lives, and striving for financial freedom. They work in the same office and quickly form a bond over being seen somewhat as outcasts within their teams. They're all fairly unhappy with their work lives. They feel underappreciated and underpaid for their work, but they're doing their best to make the most out of the situations they're in.

I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would and found myself getting well and truly sucked in and fully invested in the characters lives. The way it's written really feels like you're inside Dahae's head and you're hearing her unfiltered thoughts about every situation she comes across. At times I do feel like the inner monologues dragged on a bit in way too much details for things that weren't totally relevant, but at the same time it did feel like we were witnessing someone's full string of thoughts and that made Dahae feel so much more real.

Right off the bat we can tell Dahae is unhappy with where she is in her life at the moment. She's barely making ends meet with her salary and lives in a small studio apartment that's constantly at risk of flooding. To top it all off she's now also having to support her mother after an accident puts her out of work indefinitely. Safe to say she's stressed and she's constantly thinking of ways to improve her situation, sadly - like most things - this boils down to needing more money.

Eun-sang is notorious for her get rich quick schemes, and when she comes to Dahae and Jisong talking about Cryptocurrency this really piques their interest. Jisong is more sceptical about the whole thing and decides it's not worth the risk investing in it, but Dahae jumps at the chance to make more money than she's ever seen before!

Cryptocurrency does end up being something that causes some problems within the group as Eun-sang and Dahae become more and more obsessive over their investments, leaving Jisong out of the conversations. And I think this was quite a realistic and relatable depiction of how one person can often feel left out or pressured to join in on something when they see their friends taking part and talking about it all the time.

I enjoyed the development of the groups friendship overtime. It was such a relatable thing to have these 3 office friends, who mainly only chat in work time, or about work. They never really hang out together outside of work, until they start investing together and have something to bond over that isn't work related at all! Their friendship gradually grows and develops and we see them supporting each other and becoming a closer knit group than they were before.

Overall I'd say this was a really easy read and something that was a total change of pace than what I would normally read. I enjoyed the characters, the plot was easy to follow along with and a lot of points were very relatable, and I think the ending was very satisfying.

Thank you for allowing me to read the arc in return for my honest review!

Wasn't really for me this one, which is disappointing as I really wanted to love it. It just felt a bit ploddy and I don;t know if this was down to the translating or the storytelling.

In an ordinary office for a large snack corporation, three workers bond over the mundanity of their lives. They each feel stuck in their dead-end jobs, never quite escaping their working-class backgrounds, dreaming of something more. Dahae is obsessed with the idea of renting a bigger apartment, while also making sure her mother is looked after. Jisong spends all her spare money on trips to Taipei to see her boyfriend. And Eun-sang is always looking for new ways to make money, even selling everyday essentials from her desk.

So when Eun-sang comes to the group with the idea of investing in cryptocurrency, it seems like just another one of her get-rich-quick schemes…until they decide to dabble. The trio soon gets sucked into the turbulent world of crypto markets and become obsessed with watching the prices skyrocket—to the moon. Can their investments lead them to financial freedom?

To the Moon is an interesting examination of the ways capitalism works to keep the average person tied to it, and how moving outside of its confines can be exciting but risky. While this novel is told in a slice-of-life style, it can grow quite tense when the crypto prices fluctuate and add pressure to the characters; you’ll be waiting for the crash, or willing the group to get out before it does. But the crypto aspect is merely a narrative device to highlight the ways in which the characters are looking for something, anything, to break up the monotony of their lives.

The bonds of friendship in this story fluctuate much like their investments; the characters are flawed and sometimes unlikeable, willing to turn on one another when it suits them, while simultaneously worrying about how each other’s actions will affect them. It makes it harder to connect with the characters emotionally, but you’ll still find yourself rooting for their risks to pay off; after all, don’t we all dream of financial freedom? Experiencing their dynamic shift and crack under pressure is where the story shines and gives way to some of the characters’ standout revelations.

The writing is clean and flows well, and always has a little bite to it; told from Dahae’s perspective, her thoughts and feelings color her narration and lean into her general cynicism and apathy. Through her, we also see how often women are expected to hold their tongue and hide their emotions, particularly in the workplace—and ooh, it’ll bring you a sense of camaraderie when Dahae tells us how she really feels. I also appreciated the insight into certain Korean traditions and structures, including the workplace hierarchy and the renting differences that Western readers may be new to.

Crypto is still very much a grey area that many of us don’t understand or don’t understand the appeal; To the Moon flits in and out of the unease around the subject to open up the conversation. In doing so, it tells a compelling story that might not grab your heart, but it will tickle your brain and make you wonder if you can start your own journey to the moon, too.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

This book explores the lives of three office friends as they try to improve their lives through buying cryptocurrency. It’s about relationships and hope and trying to improve your life. While it’s called to the moon, there’s nothing sci-fi or fantasy in this, it’s literary fiction that explores human life.

Our main character is stuck in a difficult position, she works harder than she should but can’t get the ratings she needs for more money. In real terms her low pay rises means she loses money each year. She’s sick of her tiny apartment which floods when she showers. She dreams of having a separate sleeping space from her main living area but doesn’t have the money to make this happen. However her life changes when one of her friends convinces her to invest in cryptocurrency. Suddenly she’s taking big risks, investing all her savings, taking out loans to invest more so she can have some hope of getting what she wants. This stems from desperation and a feeling that the, quite reasonable, things she wants are out of reach. The tension is severe throughout the book as we see her crypto addiction growing, see the highs and lows as the price changes, see the way it becomes all she talks about and her constant monitoring of the price.

What’s interesting here is how this story does, and doesn’t, change the main character. When she starts to have a bit of money she stops worrying so much about things she would have never have done before. Buying coffees, getting dry cleaning don’t seem so extravagant. She starts to want more, she starts to want finer things and expensive holidays and cars ensue.

We also explore female friendship here and the bonds these co-workers build to give them support and encouragement as they face the same challenges.

This book does revel in the mundane but I liked that. I liked that it didn’t lean in to shock value or drama. The tension all comes from a concern for these characters and an understanding of why they are making these choices rather than twists. I appreciated that and thought it made for a better book.

Three friends that try to escape the 9-5 work life. This book shows how a decision can change the trajectory of someone's life and how having a strong relationship with friends can bring you to the moon.

What I liked most in this book was the fact that these friends could lean and count on each other for advice and honesty. They might have quarreled in some parts but they had each others best interest in mind. It did not feel forced this friendship but it felt very much like a comradery against having to only live off the bare minimum but to also take risks and strive for the moon

This book takes you on the highs and lows of these women and their struggles of money, life, relationships and helps you realize that not all stories need to end with a backlash of a rash decision but that it can also end on a positive note with a good shared experience

Thank you NetGalley for your approval to let me read this book!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars


To the Moon is a novel set in Seoul, South Korea and follows the lives of three young women working in the corporate offices of a fictional confectionery company. The protagonist, Dahae despairs at her long term and ongoing financial struggles and seeks to improve her living conditions by increasing her income. She is quickly becoming disillusioned at the opportunities for advancement within the organisation when her friend, Eun-kang, begins to share her newfound interest in cryptocurrency and its investment opportunities.

As an individual with no prior knowledge of cryptocurrency or blockchain, I did not find the technical information hard to understand which was a relief. The various discussions on investment throughout the book were very accessible and I began to feel as though I had invested my money the way I was intently reading about Ethereum! In addition, I found Danae’s revelations on class equalities and the hierarchy within large corporations under capitalism to be astute and upsetting. I felt the author perfectly captured how many aspects of a contented life can feel out of reach solely due to your place on the socioeconomic ladder. Overall, this book was quite an enjoyable read.

‘To the Moon’ follows three women in their late 20s and early 30s working at a Seoul-based confectionary company, where they are overworked, underappreciated, and—most importantly—underpaid. It is this lack of money and the dissatisfaction it generates in their lives that leads them to take a risk by investing in a new cryptocurrency. This investment decision tests not only their nerve—Diamond hands!—but also their friendship. Will they achieve their dream of financial freedom? Will the experience change them? And how much money, exactly, is enough?

‘To the Moon’ was an absolute joy to read. It is well-written and engaging, with strong pacing; the characters are relatable, in terms of what they think and feel, and so are their situations; and—delightfully—the author swerves the expected progression of the plot and comes up with something that is refreshingly novel. I enjoyed every second of it, and every time I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to get back to it.

The portrayal of female friendships is particularly well-handled, and the emotional ups and downs of trading are true to my own experience. I don’t know how well people who have no experience of trading will be able to relate, but it definitely spoke to me. I also liked the reflections on what it means not to have money and what it means when you finally have money—the idea that money allows one to afford to be a consumer with a conscience particularly struck a chord with me.

Dahae’s repeated musings on how much she hates her apartment did slow the pace at times, but at the end, I felt this emphasis on her feelings about her living situation was justified. In fact, it was integral to her story and to the novel’s meaning.

Overall, this is a fun book that one can blaze through, but it has some deeper ideas to contemplate if one is so inclined. It’s a great choice for anyone looking for a compelling yet cosy read. Fingers crossed there will be more to read from Jang Ryujin in the future!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jang Ryujin and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for the ARC. My review will be posted on Instagram, Amazon UK, Goodreads and The StoryGraph near to the publishing date.

To The Moon follows our FMC, Dahae, and her two friends Eun-sang and Jisong, as they attempt to improve their lives and financial situation through investing in cryptocurrency.

I adored this book. It is far from my usual reading scope but I'm so glad this is the book I decided to branch out for. I loved Dahae as the FMC and narrator - the whole book felt like I was having a conversation with a friend which is a credit to the author's writing style. Dahae's witty and dry humour made her down to earth and relatable.

The friendship between the three women is lovely - work colleagues who have become close friends who share a disdain for where they work. I think most people can relate to that trope! Eun-sang is such a hustler and someone we could all do with in our lives to give us the confidence and motivation to drive ourselves forward, and Jisong is the more cautious friend. Together, the three of them make the perfect friendship group.

While the story is centered around our characters investing in (a fiction) cryptocurrency, you don't actually have to have any knowledge of cryptocurrency to enjoy the story. I went into this having no real knowledge at all and, thankfully, neither does Dahae so I felt as though I was learning alongside her.

This really was such a heartwarming, lovely story and an easy read, and would happily recommend this book.

I loved this book! Whizzed through it in just one evening - I really enjoyed story of 3 office workers and finding joy in their everyday monotonous lives by investing in Ethereum (a bitcoin type currency). I have previously lived in Korea whilst teaching and loved the references to 'Coffee Bean' & places I had been before e.g. 'Jeju Island'. The writers conversational, easy writing style made reading this gentle book a breeze. I particularly enjoyed learning more about the everyday of Korean office culture.

Thank you to Bloomsbury & Netgalley for giving me a copy of 'To the Moon' in exchange for a honest review!

I really enjoyed this book about three Korean girls who became involved in the ups and downs cyber currency. It was interesting to follow their fortunes and the way it changed each of them. It was a bit of a roller coaster as their money rose and dropped which I guess is what it is like. The girls all had low paid, mundane jobs with little chance of promotion. It was interesting to see how their relationships changed with each other as two of them became involved before the third and also how things changed in their work place. Definitely an interesting novel. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I find it hard to rate this one. it wasn’t bad, though I definitely didn’t expect it to go the way that it did. I kept waiting for the coin to drop and for things to go downhill, but that point never came (maybe it's my bad for not realizing it was a slice-of-life genre).

I guess it’s simply a story of three young women dabbling in crypto and their ups and downs in life, along with the rising and falling of the coin. it was interesting, and I suppose this story would be a best-case scenario type of situation. though it felt a little lukewarm, I still enjoyed reading the story.

thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC!

To the Moon by Jang Ryujin is a very good book about three women who are friends and face many challenges in their lives. The story feels real and easy to connect with. The author writes in a way that makes you care about the characters and their dreams. It shows how hard life can be, but also how friendship can help us through tough times.

The book is well-written and easy to read. I liked how it shows everyday life in Seoul and the characters' hopes and fears. It made me think about money, work, and what people want from life. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes stories about friendship and life struggles.

I found myself hooked from the first chapter and read it on my way back to the UK from South Korea on a 14-hour flight, I started it and finished it. This is how good this book is.

This novel provides an insight into the lives of three women who meet at a workplace where they find themselves bonding over their aspirations for more than the mundane jobs and career opportunities that are within their reach.

When one of the trio persuades the other two to consider a venture into cryptocurrency investment, things don't quite go as planned...

The story shines a light on the ingrained misogyny of South Korea, a country so technologically and financially advanced that it is difficult to understand how gender inequalities have been allowed to persist relatively unchallenged for so long. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

The book centres around 3 people in very mundane jobs who get involved in crypto currency. You need to be interested in dealing and the suspense and anxiety of the highs and lows in trading. The women thought they knew what would make them happy. Did they achieve their dreams. It was also a good insight into how other countries employment works. Thanks to Net Galley.

I really like reading novels in an office setting and following the characters mindless hours filling in spreadsheets and ordering stationary, so weirdly this is something that I liked about this novel where we follow three young women trying to make it at a confectionery company. I didn't love that their big idea is crypto and that the book ends up being a cryptocurrency diary of sorts, it felt a bit boring and repetitive at times. It wasn't an unpleasant read but I won't call it memorable.

It took me a litte while to get into this one, but once I did I flew through it. I loved the ending... i was expecting something different to happen and I'm so glad it didn't. Lots of layers to this - work, money, capitalism. Loved it!

To the Moon is a slice-of-life book following three women at a dead-end job who get into crypto. That's it.

I enjoyed reading it, but this was just three girls buying Ethereum and retelling their anxieties about holding/selling while surviving their office jobs. The book interestingly begins with a disclaimer that this book is fiction and not financial advice, which confused me, but the whole idea here was that the girls waited for Ethereum to increase its value 'to the moon!' and then sell.

I rounded up 2.5 stars because I did enjoy it. But I do want to stress that the message of this book is that the only way to triumph in life if you aren't born rich is to buy crypto when it's low and sell when it's (very) high. This is not my favorite type of message. I am wondering why this book got published at all.