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clairebartholomew549 's review for:
The Second Chance Convenience Store
by Kim Ho-yeon
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This is such a heartwarming story that is so well done. Mrs. Yeom runs a convenience store in Seoul that will never turn a huge profit but is dear to her heart, especially since she wants to make sure her employees keep getting paid. One day at Seoul Station, an unhoused man named Dok-go recovers her purse after she gets mugged, and she offers him a job at the convenience store. At first, the employees and customers are wary of him and are quite judgmental of Dok-go, but over time his kindness and humanity melt down their resistance and fears. It's a tumultuous year for the convenience store and its employees, but they weather the many storms together.
This book's message could probably be best as described as: don't judge a book by its cover. It's obviously more nuanced than that, but Ho-yeon takes care to show us each character as the world sees them but also each character as they see themselves. Our main characters are technically Mrs. Yeom and Dok-go, but we get a chapter from most of the minor characters' perspectives, and each one is a really beautiful study of a multi-faceted human. The writing is perhaps a bit overwrought and cheesy at times, but it has enough sincerity and earnestness that on the whole it doesn't matter much. Reading this book felt like sitting on the couch with my coziest blanket - I loved this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book's message could probably be best as described as: don't judge a book by its cover. It's obviously more nuanced than that, but Ho-yeon takes care to show us each character as the world sees them but also each character as they see themselves. Our main characters are technically Mrs. Yeom and Dok-go, but we get a chapter from most of the minor characters' perspectives, and each one is a really beautiful study of a multi-faceted human. The writing is perhaps a bit overwrought and cheesy at times, but it has enough sincerity and earnestness that on the whole it doesn't matter much. Reading this book felt like sitting on the couch with my coziest blanket - I loved this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Classism
Minor: Death