A beautiful capturing of the 'slow living' lifestyle! Description throughout the book was so impressive and immersive!

Thank you to Net Galley & Random House UK, Vintage for a free E-ARC in exchange for an honest review

📚 Soyangri Book Kitchen
📖 Translated Fiction
📖 208 pages
📖 7 chapters
✅ I adored the characters – it felt like spending time with friends
❌ I only wish it had been longer so I could stay with them a little more
✅ Would recommend
✅ Would read it again
⭐ Rating: 4.5

I had been looking forward to this one ever since it was announced, so I was thrilled when I got approved for the E-ARC. A story about a woman leaving behind a busy job in Seoul to open a book café in the countryside? Absolutely my kind of book.

This is the perfect choice if you're after a gentle, reflective read with characters you'll instantly connect with. Everyone in the book feels real, and the only disappointment is that the Book Kitchen isn’t a place we can visit in real life.

This novel falls into the category of healing fiction. The pace is slow and soothing, yet it doesn’t shy away from the harder parts of life. Those moments help ground both the characters and the story. It’s the kind of book that feels like a quiet glimpse into everyday lives, where not much may happen on the surface, but the emotional connection builds quietly. You’re left feeling as though you’ve caught up with an old friend.

If you enjoyed Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, A Day at the Marosaki Bookshop, Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat, this one will be right up your street.

This very much reminded me of ‘Before the Coffee Gets Cold’ by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, with its interconnected stories based around a cafe or, in this case, a bookshop. I found the style quite whimsical and feel I was the wrong audience for it, as I prefer stories with stronger narratives.
There was also the fact it had lots of Korean words in this translation, which put me off, as I had to keep coming out of the story to translate them, therefore being distracted. E.g. jondaemal, ajusshi, sunbae

A heartwarming book set in South Korea, where a lady buys some land and sets up a place where people can visit and have a reading retreat. There’s food, books, activities to do… and I’m thinking “where can I sign up?” 😂

The visitors to the Book Kitchen all have various things going on in their life which has prompted the escape to the Book Kitchen, which then helps heal them or give them the mental and emotional reset to help them when they return. My only quibble was that while each chapter features a different visitor (with some returning for cameos in later chapters), we don’t always get much of a closure to some people’s visits. But that aside, I really enjoyed this book and would happily go and visit the Soyangri Book Kitchen myself!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

Another fun translated fiction, I enjoyed this one and loved the concept of the staycations I would love this to be a possibility where I live. Definitely one I’d recommend to friends who are wanting to join the healing fiction readers.

Soyangri Book Kitchen is another translated Korean healing fiction novel and one that I was very happy to win an eARC of on NetGalley. Set in a quaint village outside of the bustling capital city of Seoul, the book-filled Soyangri Book Kitchen is a book-stay haven owned by Yoojin, a woman desperate to leave her busy lifestyle behind. Through the book-stay, we meet seven individuals at crossroads in their lives, including a K-pop idol, a lawyer and a music director.

Once again, this book doesn’t reinvent the wheel and even I must admit I’ve been burned out by this genre before. But I completely loved the sentimentality behind this book, especially since I read it on my train to Busan, whipping past such small South Korean villages. The translation was great and it’s imbued with tidbits of South Korean culture as well as the kindness of other people when you may need it the most.

I was so excited about this book - the concept, the cover, the title - all perfect. I was definitely the target audience, with its focus on books, a bookshop/hotel, and quiet stories of people who visit.

The story follows a remote bookshop and guesthouse in South Korea, with little glimpses into the lives of those who pass through. It’s a very quiet, meditative book, and for the first half, I was quite charmed. The reflective tone, small moments, and insights into the characters drew me in.

But then I found myself losing interest. The second half didn’t hold me in the same way, and I ended up procrastinating on finishing it.

If you love gentle, introspective reads that don’t focus on plot but more on atmosphere and reflection, like "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" or other similar style and tone books, this might be one for you. Sadly, it wasn’t quite the fit for me, but I can see its appeal.
3/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Yoojin's book kitchen is a sanctuary from the pressures of modern life, located far away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul in peaceful Soyangri.

The world weary individuals who come there seeking comfort get far more than delicious food and good book recommendations. They get an opportunity to revitalise their very soul.

This sweet and uplifting novel follows some of those tired travellers' tales, renewing and recharging the reader's energy in the process. It gets 3.5 stars

This was a really lovely, calming read. The kind of book that feels like a warm hug on a gloomy day.

Yoojin, one of our protagonists, decides to leave her hectic life in Seoul, South Korea, and move to the countryside to open the ‘Soyangri Book Kitchen’. Her dream was to open a place where people from all walks of life could come and rest, reset and enjoy her thoughtfully curated ‘book stays’.

The story takes place over the course of a year, during which quite a few characters end up at the Soyangri Book Kitchen. They’re all looking for something in their lives - whether it’s clarity, comfort, reassurance, a new job, a new life, to move on from a loss - and through their visits to the Book Kitchen we learn about them, the Soyangri Book Kitchen staff and how each visit impacts the characters.

It’s wonderfully written, especially for a debut novel, and I think Shanna Tan has translated it beautifully as well. The only thing missing is a character list - this would make it a bit easier to follow.

An inspiring story of overcoming life's struggles and finding peace and happiness through the love of books. The concept of the book kitchen is new and enticing, the stories that come together are easy to resonate with, this is a definite go to book for anyone who has ever felt lost in life. It was easy to connect with the characters and feel gripped to their lives. a cosy loveable read.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book that I absolutely enjoyed reading. I have attached my review below.

Soyangri Book Kitchen is a comforting read – an ode to the healing power of quiet spaces, good food, fascinating books and human connection. Perfect for anyone looking for a soulful escape that gently reminds you that's it’s okay to pause or take a break.

The author, Kim Jee Hye, crafts a gentle, heartwarming narrative centered around a unique retreat nestled in the beautiful countryside of Soyangri, where we also experience the beauty and comfort of each passing season. It is run by Yoojin, who escapes her stressful city life in Seoul and opens a book kitchen for tired weary souls like herself. With the help of her staff she lovingly prepares delicious meals, gives thoughtful book recommendations and offers a stay full of warmth and solace to her guests.

We come across various relatable characters dealing with grief, burnout, illness, stress, heartbreak, loss of loved ones or loss of direction in their lives. Their stories weave through the novel like the turning pages of our favorite book – some stay for just a few chapters, others linger for a whole season, but each one departs from Soyangri changed in a quiet way.

There’s no melodrama here, no grand resolutions or sweeping climaxes. Instead, Soyangri Book Kitchen offers a slow, healing pace – much like the place it describes. It is a book about presence, about noticing and about the small acts of caring that can mend something broken.
For anyone who has ever longed for a place to rest and to quietly begin again, this book is a soothing balm to the soul.

The Soyangri Book Kitchen is about the power of books to heal, as a woman leaves her busy life in Seoul to open a bookshop café in the countryside where guests can stay overnight.

This was a heartwarming story that I enjoyed reading. It felt like a bunch of lost souls connecting over a common interest, going through the same feelings whilst trying to find their place in the world, which I liked. Stories like this are typically some of my favourite books to read about as I feel like it's incredibly relatable but unfortunately, there were some chapters that could have benefitted from being a bit longer as I still had questions and left thinking is this really how this particular chapter ends? Also, some of the earlier chapters didn't flow as well as they could have - it sometimes jumps from one thing to another, which kind of took me out of the story.

There was a lot of characters that are introduced in this book that felt hard to keep up with who was who and what their role in the story was because I don't think that they were fleshed out enough, in order to make them feel distinctive and memorable. I was left wanting to know more about them because despite them having relatable feelings, I didn't feel a connection to them.

I really liked the setting and really thought it added to the content of the story as I liked trying to picture how everything would look, although some things were easier to visualise than others, for example the layout of the book kitchen with the hotel. I think with a little more clarity it would have been easier to picture how it looked.

Thank you Harvill Secker and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ CWs: panic attack, alcohol use, mental health (anxiety), suicidal ideation, car accident, grief, death, cancer; mentions illness, injury detail, weight comments, absent parent ⚠️

The stories of others can help bring out the best stories in ourselves, and that's what the patrons of Soyangri Book Kitchen, amidst the cosy decor and friendly hospitality of the staff, come to realise.

A heart-warming story of people from all walks whose lives are affected by their visit(s) to Soyangri Book Kitchen throughout the seasons. Opening in April, the patrons focused on in Soyangri Book Kitchen visit during the different seasons throughout the year, starting with a story in Spring focusing on new beginnings and ending in December focusing on togetherness.

This debut novel from Kim Jee-Hye focuses on healing, friendship and the feeling of togetherness, and these are embodied through the patrons that walk through the doors of Soyangri Book Kitchen and its staff. Each character focused on in this book is likeable and realistic. I feel that I could have walked past these people whilst shopping or commuting, and I feel that I can relate to some of the struggles and triumphs that the characters have encountered in this story.

This book made me feel warm inside ,and I immediately wanted to go and visit a cosy bookstore, sit within the comforts of this inviting place and write my own story. Sometimes it's the simplest things that can have the most impact on your lives.

I'm looking forward to picking the physical copy of this to add to my own, personal Book Kitchen on October 2nd 2025!

This book held my heart and set my senses on fire.
First of all, a book kitchen - this sang to my soul and the story was full of healing.
I absolutely adore books that follow the same premise - different people/characters going through life with different challenges, coming together at a set place (in this instance the Soyangri Book Kitchen) and providing wisdom to heal others.
I love the simplicity of the story and yet the takeaway messages are so profoundly deep and inspiring.
This book makes you reminisce about the good things in life that can get overlooked or forgotten about when caught up in the rat race of life, and the importance of recognising when you are pouring from an empty cup and need to take a moment to refill/self-care.

The definition of cozy fiction. Centring around Yoojin's book kitchen, located in the serene outskirts of Seoul, the novel explores the trials and tribulations of life and the beauty of human relationships through the stories of seven different people.

The book kitchen acts as a turning point in the lives of these individuals, allowing them respite from their busy and demanding lives and the chance to create long-lasting friendships.

I love the concept of the book kitchen and the chance to stay at the cafe for up to a month for a 'book stay', this is something I would definitely do myself! Some of the lessons in the novel were very impactful, particularly for those who feel lost in their 20s, which is usually a time we spend trying to navigate life and go down different routes, even if we end up at a dead-end. We are allowed to deviate from the path that has been set for us.

I love how the book mentions actual novelists like Delia Owens and Murakami to relate the themes and lessons in their novels to the character's situations in the book. It makes the characters more relatable and also teaches us valuable lessons in our lives.

My only complaint is that the characters are difficult to keep track of, and at times, we don't get to know enough about one of the characters before we move onto the next. Therefore, I didn't feel as connected to some compared to others. I felt most connected to Sohee who we get to know very well.

This novel is released in the UK in October and gives the perfect autumnal vibes. It's definitely a perfect book for fans of cozy fiction.

This book deals with real-life struggles and approaches the subject of feeling uninspired by your current reality. It does so in a deeply moving way whilst also managing to keep the book feeling lighthearted. It is an incredibly easy read that encompasses a great selection of storylines, all while set around, what sounds to be, the loveliest bookshop ever.

There were a few occasions where I felt each individual storyline lost their way a bit, but overall I was satisfied by the ending and left feeling inspired by the cast of characters involved. Overall, this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Hello, below I have attached my review for this book. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your organisation!



This novel is set in the mountainside of South Korea, where we are introduced to Yoojin, the owner of book cafe and bed and breakfast, and her doting staff members.

The book is set over the course of a year and follows the lives of the employees and guests lodging at this hub of soul rejuvenation. Of those who grace its doorstep, many find themselves needing time away from the burdens of adulthood and modern life for a variety of reasons. At the Soyangri Book Kitchen, they experience comfort and solace in either the hearty food, the carefully curated selection of books or the picturesque landscape.

As I was reading this book I felt myself completely immersed in the magic of the Book Kitchen. When it came to an end, I longed to return to this heartwarming countryside retreat as if I had set foot on the grounds days before. A must read for anyone at a crossroads in their life.

Kim Jee Hye's "Soyangri Book Kitchen" is a heartwarming and soothing journey into a world of books and compassion. The story takes place in a charming village in the countryside, and it follows Yoojin as she opens a bookshop café with an overnight "bookstay" idea, offering a haven for tired hearts.

Across the seasons, seven lives at the crossroads take refuge in its pages. Their lives, subtly intertwined, demonstrate the restorative power of books and human connection. Kim Jee Hye weaves a tale that is less about showy plot devices and more about the gentle changes that take place through shared experience, nourishing food, and the quiet speak of books.

The novel's power is in its calming ambiance and its faith in the humble but powerful effect of a loving community. Although some readers may find the pace slow, those looking for a gentle and contemplative read about discovering peace and belonging will discover "Soyangri Book Kitchen" to be a soothing and inspiring experience. It's a literary hug, ideal for those who need a respite from the chaos of contemporary life.

May the smell of books fill this place.
곧 이 공간이 책 냄새 가득한 공간으로 변신하겠지.

Soyangri Book Kitchen (2025) is Shanna Tan's translation of 책들의 부엌 (2022) by 김지혜 (Kim Jee Hye).

The novel is another in the strong trend towards healing literature in the translated-from-Korean fiction - indeed Shanna Tan herself translated in 2023-4 Marigold Mind Laundry, Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat and Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop, and also has forthcoming in 2025 The Moonglow Bookshop, Hakuda Photo Studio and the non-fictional Every Moment Was You.

The novel opens in March with the main character Yoojin (유진) completing the finishes touches to her new shop, the Soyangri Book Kitchen. Soyangri itself is fictional but it is in the area of 마이산 (Mai Mountain).

"In addition to the bookshop, which doubled up as a café and event space, Soyangri Book Kitchen would also be running a ‘bookstay’: accommodation for those looking for a getaway from the hustle and bustle of life. Of the four twostorey buildings it occupied, three were guesthouses. And the building in which she stood now housed the book café, as well as all the staff on the upper floors. From a bird’s eye view, with a garden and a botanical glasshouse in the centre, the compound looked like a cross.

The book café’s floor-to-ceiling glass windows offered a panoramic view of the picturesque Soyangri village. Behind the plum blossom trees, one could make out the meandering mountain ridges in the distance. Gazing at their majestic yet gentle curves, Yoojin sometimes wondered if she was living in a dream. As a Seoulite born and raised in the city, Yoojin was more used to tall, sharpedged skyscrapers, skyscrapers, 24-hour convenience stores, chain cafés, a sprawling subway network and high-rise apartment buildings."

In the Korean the book store is rendered in 소양리 북스 키친은, where, unlike the novel's title, Book Kitchen is rendered phonetically from the English, and indeed the Korean original's cover has the shop name in English:

"소양리 북스 키친은 책을 팔고 다양한 행사를 진행하는 북 카페와 책을 읽을 수도, 휴식을 취할 수도 있는 북 스테이를 결합한 복합 공간으로 총 4개의 동으로 구성되어 있었다. 우선 북 스테이 공간은 건물 3개 동으로 만들었는데 각각 2층짜리 독채 펜션이었다. 북 스테이용이 아닌 나머지 건물의 1층은 북 카페로 사용하고 2층은 스태프들이 거주하는 공간으로 사용하도록 구성했다. 그리고 이 4개의 동은 중앙 정원에 있는 유리로 된 식물원으로 연결되어 있었다. 다시 말해 정원을 중심으로 십자 모양으로 4개의 동이 들어서 있는 셈이다.

북 카페의 전면은 통유리 창으로 되어 있었고, 창문 너머로 보이는 소양리 풍경은 자체로 그림이 되었다. 매화나무 너머로는 굽이굽이 이어진 산등성이가 보였다. 유진은 치맛자락이 너울대는 듯한 거대하고 부드러운 곡선을 보면서 자신이 꿈을 꾸고 있는지도 모른다고 생각했다. 서울 본토박이인 유진은 뾰족하고 높은 빌딩과 24시간 편의점, 프랜차이즈 커피 전문점 그리고 빽빽하게 연결된 지하철과 대단지 아파트로 구성된 도시가 이곳 소양리보다 훨씬 현실감 있게 느껴졌다."

Yoojin is in 32 years old, and has bought the land on which the book shop stands, and completed the building work, from the proceeds of the sale of her small start-up. Her inspiration was Maeve Binchy's posthomously published novel A Week in Winter.

And this is a healing book about a book shop that mainly specialises in healing books, and wider mentally theraputic stays:

"Next to Anne of Green Gables, the staff had recommended a few more book-pairings for the novel, alongside a handwritten note.

Take a leisurely walk in the woods of words
#goodmoodreads #healingessays #koreanauthors
#cosyreads

Reflections on Kindness by Kim Honbi
The Skill of Relaxation by Kim Hana
Hohoho by Yoon Gaeun
The Taste of Kkwabaegi by Choi Minseok
The Charm of Kkawabaegi by Choi Minseok
It Doesn't Matter, Does It? by Jang Kiha"

The novel consists of a prologue, 7 episodic chapters, and two brief 'what happened next' epilogues:

프롤로그 - 소양리 북스 키친 - Prologue Soyangri Book Kitchen
1장 - 할머니와 밤하늘 - Grandma and the Night Sky
2장 - 안녕, 나의 20대 - Goodbye, My Twenties
3장 - 최적 경로와 최단 경로 - The Optimal Route vs. the Shortest Route
4장 - 한여름 밤의 꿈 - A Midsummer Night's Dream
5장 - 10월 둘째 주 금요일 오전 6시 - The Second Friday of October, 6 A.M
6장 - 첫눈, 그리움 그리고 이야기 - First Snow, Missing You, Stories
7장 - 크리스마스니까요 - Because It's Christmas
에필로그 1. - 별빛과 바람이 머무는 시간 - Epilogue 1 - Time of Starlight and Wind
에필로그 2. - 1년 전 오늘입니다 - Epilogue 2 - A Year Ago Today

The chapters introduce various people who come to stay at the Book Kitchen, starting with a famous singer whose grandmother owned the land which Yoojin bought, and the connections they build between them and within Yoojin and her staff.

And this is not a 'Hell Chosun' novel with characters struggling in the rat-race of modern life. Most of the characters are young - around 30 - but successful (Yoojin herself having sold a start up; her sunbae and business partner, now a director at a tech company; a famous singer; a lawyer close to becoming a judge; the son of a large family conglomerate etc). And, unlike the Douglas Kennedy novel which one character picks up, most do not up-end their lives, they simply need a pause for breath and take stock:

"What you just described reminds me of his [Douglas Kennedy's] novels. It starts with a protagonist who leads a successful life but feels empty on the inside. Then, something small triggers them to throw away everything and leave behind their old life to settle in a village in the countryside. They change their name, appearance, career, and live as a completely different person."

c.f. for the characters including Yoojin:

'Yoojin, you're looking much better these days, said the sunbae, looking more relaxed himself. 'I mean it ... It's as if you've grown stronger, comfortable with being truly you.'

There is also a strong - and explicitly reference - Murakami vibe to the set up with a focus on simple home cooking and jazz music.

As noted above, this novel brings the healing novel trend full circle and it would be a fitting and welcome end to the trend, although from the list of forthcoming translations that feels a vain hope. But it is good to read a novel from the genre that majors on the smell of books not coffee and indeed one that implicitly celebrates the opportunites offered by the modern Korean economy rather than decry it.

Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.

Soyangri Book Kitchen is a lovely tale of a woman who leaves behind the stresses of her city job and life and opens a book shop/cafe nestled in the heart of nature.

I loved this book, especially how it shows the reader the change in seasons and how nature is in constant change around us, it really highlighted to me the need to fully appreciate each passing moment, how the flowers bloom in spring, how the snow falls in winter. The authors note at the end of the book furthered my feelings about that.

If I had to find a negative with this book is that I wish we’d been able to go deeper into the lives of the characters who visit the book kitchen, I would definitely read a follow up book for this.

This book is for everyone who likes peaceful settings in stories where the meaning of life can be pondered. I wish the author every success with this beautiful written book.