Book Review; Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye

A while ago, I read the South Korean novel Soyangri Book Kitchen by Kim Jee Hye and today I'll post my review of the book.

Description from Goodreads

A heartwarming novel from a South Korean author about the healing power of books, perfect for readers of Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

With good books, good food and companionship, the Book Kitchen fills people's tired souls. Yoojin, who grew up in Seoul, opened the Book Kitchen by chance in Soyangri, a village two hours from Seoul by car. The Book Kitchen functions as a bookshop and cafe. The second function of the Book Kitchen is a Book Stay, where one can stay overnight in one of the building’s four complexes.

Over the course of one year, multiple characters each find comfort and hope at Yoojin’s Book Kitchen. From a music idol facing an identity crisis, to a promising lawyer beset by an unsettling medical diagnosis, to a young, failed music director who has had to rein in his dreams, they happen upon Soyangri at pivotal moments in their lives.

My Thoughts on the Book

I can't deny I've fallen a bit in love with the whole healing fiction genre, especially if they're from Japan or South Korea, and Soyangri Book Kitchen is no exception. Fair enough, some of the characters' stories felt a littke bit unfinished, but on the other hand, as we follow Soyangri Book Kitchen through an entire year, some of the stories fit the season of sorts, whether it's spring, summer, autumn, or winter.

It's a quiet book with more vibes than plot, but it's a heartwarming read that shows that books and food could help someone's soul heal, or the very least, be of help along the way towards healing.