Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

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'.'

About the Author

Hwang Bo-reum studied Computer Science and worked as a software engineer. She wrote several essay collections: I Read Every Day, I Tried Kickboxing for the First Time and This Distance is Perfect. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is her first novel, which has sold over 150,000 copies in Korea and been sold into 9 territories. Before its release as a paperback, the novel was initially published as an e-book after winning an open contest co-organised by Korean content-publishing platform ‘Brunch’.