Wow, this book really dropped into my lap right at the time that I needed it. Beyond that, it was a perfect start to my 2025 reading year.

Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is a book that feels like a cup of tea. It warms you. In the author's note, Bo-Reum wrote that she wanted her book to feel like, "A space to snuggle comfortably for the day," and she did exactly that.

The book follows Yeongju and the cast of characters that surround her life in the bookshop that she has built. It's simple slice-of-life stories, nothing majorly dramatic or overwhelming, but every moment feels worth being on the page. I wanted to follow each character, even beyond the page, but Bo-Reum does a fantastic job of showing just enough to make us fall in love and also let the characters live their lives as they will.

I'd recommend this if you're going through a chance in your life (or are questioning if you should) or if you just need a moment of comfort in a hard time. This would be a great pick for fans of character-driven novels and stories that you can feel comfortable picking up and putting down/taking your time reading.

I will note that, as with lots of translations, the dialogue can feel stilted at points, but it's not enough to frustrate and the narrative doesn't hold that same discomfort, but worth noting if you are new to translated works.