Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum

24 reviews

cnannery19's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-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

3.0

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clavishorti's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad slow-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

4.0

Let me tell you about a book that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking: Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum. Translated with grace by Shanna Tan, this novel offers a calming yet invigorating glimpse into the everyday magic of a small bookshop. 
 
At its heart, the story follows Lee Yeongju, who decides to open a bookshop in Hyunam-dong, a charming neighborhood full of character and warmth. But this isn’t just any bookshop; it becomes an unexpected nexus of life-changing stories and encounters. Each page reveals the bookshop as a connecting thread between diverse individuals. It’s more than a place for buying and selling; it’s a stage for serendipitous meetings and profound connections. Through these interactions, characters both influence and inspire one another, creating a vibrant web of relationships that enrich their lives. The bookshop becomes a gravitational pull, drawing together intertwined narratives and emotions in a beautifully orchestrated way. 
 
What’s truly captivating about this book is its serene, warmly engaging storytelling. The leisurely pace of the narrative unfolds in a refreshingly positive way. The characters and their world exude a relaxed, peaceful vibe, as if every detail is designed to offer moments of reflection and peace. In the midst of our fast-paced lives, this book provides a space to pause, appreciate life, and absorb deep insights about human connections and the power of bookshops. 
 
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum is the ideal pick if you’re craving a light yet deeply meaningful read about life in a bookshop. It’s not just a treat for those curious about the impact of books and bookshops on our lives but also a source of valuable wisdom about living and connecting. If you’re seeking an escape from the daily grind and a new perspective on how a bookshop can bridge people together, then Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is a must-read. 
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koplomps's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I love this! It is so cozy and I can imagine the bookshop well. This book inspired me to put up a coffee place where people can read books of all genres. Soon! The characters are interesting, too! I enjoyed this a lot since I am a book and coffee lover. Thank you, Bo-Reum nim☕✨📚
 
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drtx_bwt's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

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kaneebli's review against another edition

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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

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yvo_about_books's review against another edition

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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. 
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bookbrig's review

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reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Quiet and cozy, this is like a lit fic found family? With lots of coffee details and really compelling characters. A bit abstract and slow at times, but very satisfying. I keep coming back to the characters over and over, even though there were a few times where I felt like the book was a little too slow while I was reading. This is a story that lingers, and the more I think about it the more I enjoy it!
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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

this is a comforting novel whose reading experience is akin to someone patting ur shoulders to give u strength while ranting and nodding in understanding abt how messed up the world is.

the setting and premise of ร้านหนังสือฮยูนัมดงยินดีต้อนรับ might be cliched, but hwang executes it well, filling it w/ diverse characters who are all going thru different difficult things yet naturally forming a community that supports one another . it's also insightful to learn more abt a bookstore - esp an independent, neighborhood one - is run. the novel's thematically dense yet quite accessible, delving into various topics like reading, dreams, happiness, work and work-life balance, all of which are increasingly relevant esp in the book's native south korea. 

tho i have to say, bc the book's quite understated in its plot and mostly even pacing, some chapters and sections are more forgettable than others, and i wish the themes and issues that are explored were more show-not-tell instead of the current text dumps thru dialogue and convos. overall, however, this is a read that both comforts and rallies the reader, sth which i happen to need at the moment.
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gillthequill's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 I think the author's note at the back of this book perfectly sums up the experience reading this book: it is a book about people, slowly, one step at a time, finding themselves and becoming better. And the comforting, cozy feeling that the realization of "this is good enough" is a valid one. It is a critique of society, critique of expectations society places on us, and challenges what exactly a "good life" is. I am glad I read this book and highly recommend anyone struggling to find their place in the world give it a shot. It left a warm feeling of hope in my chest and that in of itself is a powerful feeling. 
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