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Jini dedicates her life to the study of primates. One night, she helps rescue a bonobo that has escaped from a burning building. As she holds the bonobo in her arms on the way back to the Center for Primate Studies, an accident throws her through the windshield and a strange fusion takes place: while her body is taken to the hospital, between life and death, Jini’s spirit takes refuge in the body of the little bonobo. Thus begins a fascinating coexistence between the two beings.
From the author of the #1 international bestsellers The Good Son and Seven Years of Darkness, Jeong delivers a captivating story that keeps us on our toes from start to finish. But the real originality of his novel is to examine the boundaries between human and animal by making us enter the universe and the sensitivity of bonobos.
Jini dedicates her life to the study of primates. One night, she helps rescue a bonobo that has escaped from a burning building. As she holds the bonobo in her arms on the way back to the Center for...
Jini dedicates her life to the study of primates. One night, she helps rescue a bonobo that has escaped from a burning building. As she holds the bonobo in her arms on the way back to the Center for Primate Studies, an accident throws her through the windshield and a strange fusion takes place: while her body is taken to the hospital, between life and death, Jini’s spirit takes refuge in the body of the little bonobo. Thus begins a fascinating coexistence between the two beings.
From the author of the #1 international bestsellers The Good Son and Seven Years of Darkness, Jeong delivers a captivating story that keeps us on our toes from start to finish. But the real originality of his novel is to examine the boundaries between human and animal by making us enter the universe and the sensitivity of bonobos.
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Average rating from 18 members
Featured Reviews
Ronnica F, Reviewer
5 stars
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I wasn’t expecting a book with this premise to make me cry. I came for the weirdness, but left with a new appreciation of life, death, and the compassion we can show one another through respecting their autonomy.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
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Gregor M, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Wow! What an achingly beautiful story. I absolutely adored every second of this and I’m not afraid to say that the tears were flowing by the end.
Of the East Asian literature I’ve read (strap in for some sweeping generalisations), I’ve often found them to exist in an almost dreamlike state, focusing on the transience of life, and Bonobo perfectly sums this up.
Blending moral duty with a harmony and respect for nature, You-Jeong Jeong has managed to craft a story about someone’s consciousness leaping into the body of a bonobo into a bittersweet tale of belonging, redemption, and honour.
Thank you so much to Honford Star and NetGalley for the early access, with the paperback release in the UK set for October 13th.
I also want to mention the incredible cover artwork for this edition by Takashi Nakamura, it is absolutely incredible.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
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Claudia F, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
What an emotional rollercoaster this was. Bonobo, by You-jeong Jeong, is deeply moving and endlessly entertaining — I found myself completely invested in what would happen to the characters. The writing is beautiful, weaving together adventure and hardship with genuine insight into life and death. Powerful and tender without ever tipping into melodrama, I'd recommend this novel wholeheartedly, especially to fellow animal lovers.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
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Rudi M, Educator
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
I honestly did NOT expect this book to hit me as hard as it did. The premise is strange in the best possible way, but underneath the speculative elements is a surprisingly emotional story about life, death, identity, and our relationship with animals.
Jini becoming trapped inside the body of a bonobo was such a fascinating way to tell this story. I loved getting that perspective and learning about the bonobo’s behavior, memories, and experiences. Some of it was genuinely heartbreaking, and there were moments that made me stop and just sit with what I was reading.
This is definitely different from the darker psychological thrillers I’ve read by You-jeong Jeong, but I really appreciated seeing this side of her writing. It’s strange, beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately a story about what makes a life matter.
And yes… I cried. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Featured Reviews
Ronnica F, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
I wasn’t expecting a book with this premise to make me cry. I came for the weirdness, but left with a new appreciation of life, death, and the compassion we can show one another through respecting their autonomy.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Gregor M, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Wow! What an achingly beautiful story. I absolutely adored every second of this and I’m not afraid to say that the tears were flowing by the end.
Of the East Asian literature I’ve read (strap in for some sweeping generalisations), I’ve often found them to exist in an almost dreamlike state, focusing on the transience of life, and Bonobo perfectly sums this up.
Blending moral duty with a harmony and respect for nature, You-Jeong Jeong has managed to craft a story about someone’s consciousness leaping into the body of a bonobo into a bittersweet tale of belonging, redemption, and honour.
Thank you so much to Honford Star and NetGalley for the early access, with the paperback release in the UK set for October 13th.
I also want to mention the incredible cover artwork for this edition by Takashi Nakamura, it is absolutely incredible.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Claudia F, Reviewer
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
What an emotional rollercoaster this was. Bonobo, by You-jeong Jeong, is deeply moving and endlessly entertaining — I found myself completely invested in what would happen to the characters. The writing is beautiful, weaving together adventure and hardship with genuine insight into life and death. Powerful and tender without ever tipping into melodrama, I'd recommend this novel wholeheartedly, especially to fellow animal lovers.
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Rudi M, Educator
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
I honestly did NOT expect this book to hit me as hard as it did. The premise is strange in the best possible way, but underneath the speculative elements is a surprisingly emotional story about life, death, identity, and our relationship with animals.
Jini becoming trapped inside the body of a bonobo was such a fascinating way to tell this story. I loved getting that perspective and learning about the bonobo’s behavior, memories, and experiences. Some of it was genuinely heartbreaking, and there were moments that made me stop and just sit with what I was reading.
This is definitely different from the darker psychological thrillers I’ve read by You-jeong Jeong, but I really appreciated seeing this side of her writing. It’s strange, beautiful, heartbreaking, and ultimately a story about what makes a life matter.
And yes… I cried. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
Ronnica F, Reviewer
Gregor M, Reviewer
Claudia F, Reviewer
Rudi M, Educator
