Book Review; The Second Chance Convenience Store by Ho-yeon Kim

Last month, I read the contemporary novel The Second Chance Convenience Store by Ho-yeon Kim and today I'll post my review of the book.

Description from Goodreads

'Holding on to the belief that life had meaning and must go on, I, too, would carry on.'

In this million-copy bestseller from Korea, the owner of a corner store takes in a homeless man who does a good deed – a kind soul whose presence will transform the whole neighbourhood.

Seoul Station is home to Dokgo, a man shrouded in mystery with no memories of his past. Until one day his subdued existence is disrupted when he stumbles upon a lost wallet, triggering a chain of events that will change the course of his life.

Enter Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher turned convenience store owner, who, upon discovering Dokgo's act of kindness in returning her purse, offers him a meal as a token of her gratitude. Their chance encounter blossoms into an unexpected alliance when the man’s bravery saves the store from ruin, earning him not just a job but a place in the heart of the neighbourhood.

But just when things are looking up for Dokgo, Mrs. Yeom's troubled son, eager to sell the store, hires a detective to dig into the mysterious man's past and unearth what he seems to be trying so hard to forget . . .

The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving and joyful story of a woman fighting for her community and a man who has lost everything except the will to try again.

My Thoughts on the Book

The Second Chance Convenience Store is one of those gentle comfort reads that fits into the category of healing fiction. It's one of those books that asks us how many people have we overlooked simply because they don't fit neatly into our worldview? It's also obviously about second chances and grabbing it with both hands.

Aside from in the start of the book, there's no big crisis or anything that drives the plot forward, apart from the more mundane everyday problem for the most part. What makes this book fun and engaging is the various characters and their quirks.

It's obviously more of a lighter read, but it's a quiet book about kindness and friendship, and because of that, it's worth the read.