I was going to wait, but my current read is Hwang Boreum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop and it has blown me away within the first 50 pages. If you want to get a new perspective in life, want to see how others tackle existential questions about life, or you simply want to live your bookstore owner dreams vicariously through our main character, then listen up because I have a lot to say to you about this book.

I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with this read within the first chapter, but there’s just something in the language and narrative style of this book that hooked me from the get-go. The chapters are short, roughly around eight pages or so, and have actual titles (yay!) pertinent to the chapter. Not only does this combo make it so easy to read, but it feels like you’re experiencing mini lessons from each one. You could easily devour this in one sitting or take your time soaking up the chapters one by one. Maybe that’s why I’ve stopped where I am at to write this up because I truly feel a sense of understanding and fulfilment in the handful of chapters I’ve read so far (I will continue to read because I cannot get enough of this book, but that reward feel is there in my heart right now).

Yeongju feels a little bit like me when I read through her days. It’s probably better to say I see myself in her and her view of the world feels familiar which I like seeing as there’s a lot to think about and venturing further into with the inquisitive nature of her character. If I opened my own bookstore (a possible business venture in the future, perhaps), I think I would be reacting to the situations Yeongju puzzles over just as much as she is. What do you say when someone wants a book recommendation? How do you create a comfortable space and flow in literary discussions with strangers? Where should you store fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels to create the best flow in a store? These questions mixed in with the good old existential “Is there a meaning to life?” and “What is the point of living if you don’t enjoy anything?” give Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop a beautiful balance of naivety and depth.

We don’t just follow Yeongju which is nice. I’ve just finished reading a chapter which included background into the other worker in the bookshop – Minjun, the barista. The novel’s third-person narrative lets us see the characters and get insight into their lives, histories, thoughts and such without trapping us in the suffocating position of being them. We have our own lives, histories, thoughts and such to imbue into the narrative as questions arise and I feel that being able to pull away when we need to and getting to consider things for ourselves makes Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop a stand-out novel in my eyes.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop contains many tasty morsels of life and wisdom to nourish you, dear reader. Snatch this book up when you get the chance because you will be savouring it for weeks, months, and maybe even years to come. I know for sure that this is a top contender for my book purchases for 2024.