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Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

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Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop

By: Hwang Bo-reum, Shanna Tan - translator
Narrated by: Rosa Escoda
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About this listen

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

©2023 Hwang Bo-reum and Shanna Tan (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc City Life Fiction Friendship Genre Fiction Urban World Literature Feel-Good Heartfelt Inspiring
All stars
Most relevant
Like hot tea for the soul. It was a beautiful book. Each of the characters were perfectly crafted and were all so human. I feel like their lives gently unravelled in front of me whilst listening. It’s powerful without being preachy. A beautiful book to end my year on, there are definitely lessons I’m taking from it.
The reader was great too, captured the tone very well I thought.

A beautiful story

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I really enjoyed the starting themes of what reading is about. I learned a lot about why you should read and what it takes to be a reader. The story is comforting and leaves simple mysteries with fulfilling answers. Love this book :)

Comforting book

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A book that feels like reading a slice of nonfiction, with characters that feel warm and real this book is such a cosy read for a cold winter's day.

A very real story.

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For me, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop was important because it reminded me that the “best possibility” we once imagine for ourselves may not come true, and sometimes wouldn’t even be the best after all. Still, there are other paths, other ways to feel well in what you do and to keep doing what you’re truly good at.

This book also stirred gratitude for the wonderful colleagues and managers I’ve had in the past, bittersweetness that such circles are no longer around me, and a gentle hope that such community can be found again. It’s not a fast-paced or dramatic story — but it offers quiet reassurance and the comfort of knowing that meaning can be found in new and unexpected places.

Finding New Paths When Plans Change

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It exudes comfort, tranquility, and warmth. The narratives and characters beautifully convey the message that personal happiness and life fulfillment are not bound by societal norms. While the idea may seem commonplace, the book serves as a poignant reminder that many tend to overlook.

Comforting and heartwarming

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