Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

The heart-warming Korean sensation

By: Hwang Bo-reum, Shanna Tan - translator

Narrated by: Rosa Escoda

Bloomsbury presents Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum, read by Rosa Escoda.

**AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER**
WATERSTONES BEST FICTION BOOKS OF 2023 PICK
WOMAN & HOME NOVEMBER BOOK OF THE MONTH
iPaper TOP FICTION PICK

'An absolutely charming novel that all bookworms will adore' Red

'A balm for the soul and a glorious love letter to books and reading' iPaper

There was only one thing on her mind.

'I must start a bookshop.'

Yeongju did everything she was supposed to, go to university, marry a decent man, get a respectable job. Then it all fell apart. Burned out, Yeongju abandons her old life, quits her high-flying career, and follows her dream. She opens a bookshop.

In a quaint neighbourhood in Seoul, surrounded by books, Yeongju and her customers take refuge. From the lonely barista to the unhappily married coffee roaster, and the writer who sees something special in Yeongju - they all have disappointments in their past. The Hyunam-dong Bookshop becomes the place where they all learn how to truly live.

A heart-warming story about finding comfort and acceptance in your life – and the healing power of books.

'Delightful, reflective and heart-warming' Woman's Weekly

‘Profound and healing … a beautiful story at its heart’ Woman & Home

'An incredibly exciting debut novel. At once gentle and invigorating. I devoured it' Sarah Crossan, author of Here is the Beehive

Reader Reviews:

'Love love love this book! Cosy, heart warming, wholesome...Will be recommending this to everyone. It makes me smile when I think about it!'

'Such a beautiful book, I adored the story and characters, The writing style was gorgeous. 100% recommend.'

'A love letter to books, bookshops and all who love them'

'Such a warm and cosy read! Was completely here for it...and the appreciation for books was magical'

'A heart-warming cosy read that makes you think about how important it is to be happy, and that we can all find a place to call ‘home’.'

Critic reviews

Profound and healing … a beautiful story at its heart

An incredibly exciting debut novel. At once gentle and invigorating. I devoured it (Sarah Crossan, author of Here is the Beehive)

This was a word of mouth Korean sensation when it was first published and now translated into English it isn’t hard to see why. This novel is both a balm for the soul and a glorious love letter to books and reading

A story that embraces its sentimentality

Quirky… It’s a tale about community and finding comfort in the small things

A real love letter to reading... wonderful

Delightful, reflective and heart-warming … we challenge you not to fall in love with it

All readers who love books about books will fall in love with this charming story

This is a love letter to bookshops and to the people who find solace among their shelves … An absolutely charming novel that all bookworms will adore

Reader Reviews:

'Love love love this book! Cosy, heart warming, wholesome...Will be recommending this to everyone. It makes me smile when I think about it!'

'Such a beautiful book, I adored the story and characters, The writing style was gorgeous. 100% recommend.'

'A love letter to books, bookshops and all who love them'

'Such a warm and cosy read! Was completely here for it...and the appreciation for books was magical'

'A heart-warming cosy read that makes you think about how important it is to be happy, and that we can all find a place to call ‘home’.'

Conversational

It was a good book to listen while driving. It made me to own my own bookshop though

Gently moving and warm. A balm of peace and encouragement.

Time slows in the pages, as does this reader's breathing. A wonderful invitation to reflect on where you are in your own life and aspirations, your neighborhood and community of diverse souls, amid the pressures and uncertainties of living in the 2020s.

A charming tale for book-lovers and more

If you like books which make you feel comfortable and comforted that you are not alone in the world as you strive to live an authentic life - even if it means living on the fringes of what is considered normal - then this is the book for you. A book about books and writing, the challenges of running an independent bookshops, and life in South Korea, I truly appreciated how this book encouraged readers to find meaning from one's present experience and the discovery of one's own inner compass rather than from mainstream societal values and conventional ambitions for the future. To anyone who has felt left out in life or as if they have spent their lives marching to a different drum, this is a wonderful book to let you know that it is ok to feel marginalized, to go against the grain of society, and to find a way to live life on your own terms. A lovely translation read with quiet elegance, I really enjoyed being transported into the calm, quiet world of Hyunam-dong bookshop with its host of quirky characters. Thank you.

A philosophy of life

This book hit every right spot for me, and never once hit a bad spot.

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The sound is very emotional the story is warm and cozy I enjoy listening to it...