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kaneebli's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Mental illness
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
yvo_about_books's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Finished reading: June 15th 2024
"I think it’s more comfortable to live a life that you want instead of a life that would not disappoint them. Of course, it’s a pity that the closest people to you are the ones disappointed in you. But there’s no way to live your whole life according to your parents’ wishes."
WARNING: it's unpopular opinion time again!!
On paper, Welcome To The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop should have been a great fit for me. I love bookish stories, and the fact that this story is mainly set inside a bookshop and offers lots of bookish references alone should have been able to convince me. I was looking forward to more insight in Seoul life and how the bookshop influenced the characters in play... But somehow this story fell flat for me instead. I've seen this type of stories called 'healing fiction', and it might just be that this particular genre simply isn't for me. It might also be that my fickle reading mood has decided to show its face again, although it has been behaving lately... Either way, I ended up struggling considerably, and I actually contemplated DNFing more than once. There is no real plot to speak of, and no storyline to follow. Welcome To The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop reads more like a rambling journey with no clear path nor end goal, and to make things worse the pace is extremely slow. There were parts that were very repetitive, and as a result the story dragged considerably. I also felt like I never really got to know the main characters at all... I actually caught myself skimreading more than once and I kept stopping to do other things instead, which is never a good sign. I can't deny that I do like the idea behind this story and what it is trying to do, but the execution just wasn't a right fit for me. It's a shame, because I was really looking forward to this one! That said, don't give up on my account as most people do seem to enjoy their time with Welcome To The Hyunam-Dong Bookshop.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Grief, Mental illness, Alcohol, and Gaslighting
gracie_reads_everything's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Super cozy and reflective about life, how to live, and how work and leisure and defined, intertwine, and diverge from one another. About friendships and finding meaning through human connection.
Minor: Alcohol
xvicesx's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A beautiful love letter to books, bookshops and the necessity of taking a breather from taking life too seriously.
Its a bit of an acquired taste, very Far East Asian in type, because you don't really have slice-of-life as a Western genre. I'm glad it did get the publicity and the translation for the Western market, though, because this entire book feels like a warm hug. A cosy moment in a cosy place where you can settle down and watch life go by for a little while.
Its a bit of an acquired taste, very Far East Asian in type, because you don't really have slice-of-life as a Western genre. I'm glad it did get the publicity and the translation for the Western market, though, because this entire book feels like a warm hug. A cosy moment in a cosy place where you can settle down and watch life go by for a little while.
Minor: Alcohol and Grief
refrejarator's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was like a breath of fresh air. I've never come across a book that was actually comforting and inspiring at the same time until I read this one.
Minor: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Sexism, and Suicidal thoughts
Very very mild. Also mention of divorce which is important for the plot.
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