Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop : A Novel (Trade Paperback)
by Hwang Bo-Reum

The Korean smash hit available for the first time in English, a slice-of-life novel for readers of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library and Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of AJ Fikry–now in paperback.

• This book has flown off the shelves and proven a bookseller and reader favorite: It was a USA Today and National Indie Bestseller, chosen as an Indie Next Pick, a Powell’s Pick of the Month, a Goodreads Editors’ Choice, and a Debutiful Most Anticipated Book of 2024, and received glowing trade reviews, a feature in the Atlantic, and the cover art feature in BookList. The paperback is sure to have a long life.
• The beloved original nighttime cover has been redesigned for the paperback, still featuring the charming outdoor bookstore scene but with a springtime twist perfect for this publication slot and summer reading.
• Already featuring such titles as There’s No Such Thing as an Easy Job and the ever-buzzy I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki, this title will add sun and romanticism to our translation list. Hwang Bo-reum is a software engineer-turned-essayist who authored several collections before turning her attention to this book. Paired with young translator Shanna Tan, mentored by our own Anton Hur, they conjure a charming, buoyant narrative voice and distinct characters who fill the Hyunam-dong Bookshop with light.

“[This book] suggests that finding daily satisfaction is itself a serious job . . . Hwang explores . . . how a meaningful life might be built by applying oneself to even the most pleasurable pastimes.” –The Atlantic

“The perfect book to read while curled up in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday.” -Readers Digest, “Books Everyone Should Read”

“A real love letter to reading . . . wonderful.” –Good Housekeeping

“I may have found my ideal bookshop book . . . By the end of Hyunam-Dong, [Yeongju] has encountered enough surprises to figure out that bookshops-and love-rarely go by the book.” –The Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“A thoughtful slice-of-life story that also serves as a tribute to the power of books and community . . . Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop treats both grand and small dreams with respect while appreciating that we can find joy even in the fleeting present. If you feel uncertain about your path in life or your bonds with others, you may find as much comfort in this book as its characters do in the books that shape and change them.” –Illinois News-Gazette

“Already a run-away hit in its original Korean, this gentle, philosophical novel is a balm for book lovers, for the burnt-out, and for anyone seeking change or community. It reminded me of all the reasons bookstores are my favorite ‘third-place’ and also my favorite way to get to know a place.” -Powell’s Books, February Pick of the Month

“This is a heartwarming story that everyone should read in their quiet moments.” –The New York Journal of Books (8/26/2024)