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Romancing on Jeju
This atmospheric novel about friendship and self-discovery from Korean author Hyun-Joo Park buzzes with romance, mystery, and just a hint of danger.
Romi is an illustrator and hopeless romantic. When she can’t stop obsessing over a brief encounter with a handsome stranger, there’s just one thing to hop on a plane and find him.
But Romi’s not leaving without her two best friends. Hadam, a budding filmmaker, suggests the trip in the first place. Facing her fear of failure, she envisions Romi’s search for love as the perfect subject for her first documentary. And Chakyung, marketing pro, sees a chance to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client—plus get some quality “me time” to figure out why she’s secretly so unhappy.
The journey from Seoul to Jeju Island goes off without a hitch. The emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches are a balm to the trio’s souls. But then misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker stir up trouble in paradise. Will a conspiracy to nab a legendary queen bee keep these friends from discovering real love—and purpose?
Romi is an illustrator and hopeless romantic. When she can’t stop obsessing over a brief encounter with a handsome stranger, there’s just one thing to hop on a plane and find him.
But Romi’s not leaving without her two best friends. Hadam, a budding filmmaker, suggests the trip in the first place. Facing her fear of failure, she envisions Romi’s search for love as the perfect subject for her first documentary. And Chakyung, marketing pro, sees a chance to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client—plus get some quality “me time” to figure out why she’s secretly so unhappy.
The journey from Seoul to Jeju Island goes off without a hitch. The emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches are a balm to the trio’s souls. But then misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker stir up trouble in paradise. Will a conspiracy to nab a legendary queen bee keep these friends from discovering real love—and purpose?
351 pages, Paperback
First published August 20, 2024
118 people are currently reading
4468 people want to read
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March 28, 2024
Romi, Hadam, and Chakyung take off on an adventure to find love, friendship, and themselves on the stunning Jeju Island. The best part of the story? Watching them grow and change as they face all kinds of challenges together. From overcoming fears to chasing dreams, their bond only gets stronger with each twist and turn.
But here's the deal: while I was totally into the whole friendship vibe, the romance part didn't quite hit the mark for me. The romantic plotlines felt somewhat overshadowed by the darker themes that emerged unexpectedly. I wasn't prepared for it, but I kinda dug the darker twist in the plot, even though it was pretty minimal.
"Romancing on Jeju" is a filled with friendship, self-discovery, and unexpected surprises. If you're up for an adventure that's about way more than just romance, this book is definitely worth diving into!
But here's the deal: while I was totally into the whole friendship vibe, the romance part didn't quite hit the mark for me. The romantic plotlines felt somewhat overshadowed by the darker themes that emerged unexpectedly. I wasn't prepared for it, but I kinda dug the darker twist in the plot, even though it was pretty minimal.
"Romancing on Jeju" is a filled with friendship, self-discovery, and unexpected surprises. If you're up for an adventure that's about way more than just romance, this book is definitely worth diving into!
May 4, 2024
The typhoon that had inundated the island wasn’t merely raging outside. At that moment, the storm was brewing in several people’s hearts. And where that storm was headed was different for all of them.
Romancing on Jeju is Paige Aniyah Morris's translation of 서칭 포 허니맨 by 박현주 (Park Hyun-Joo).
The Korean title is a phonetic rendition of the English 'Searching for Honeyman', and would have been a better title - if less enticing probably more accurate, since while there is romance here, the novel is as much a mystery novel, set on the wonderful island of Jeju.
It opens with three friends, young women, chatting, Hadam, a documentary maker, Romi and Chakyung. Padam is telling the others that she had quit her job, and that co-workers had assumed it was related to a man she was friendly to and who'd then annouced her was getting married. Chakyung comments that people often mistake kindness for something more causing Romi to blurt out rather randomly:
“That’s why I almost moved to Jeju Island to become a beekeeper,” said Romi.
One of Romi’s quirks was tossing out comments without any context whatsoever.
When she explains - it relates to a man she met on a business trip to the island, but who then subsequently ghosted her - the three come up with a sponteneous plan:
“Let’s go to Jeju. To find that man, the beekeeper. Romi, you want to know what happened to him after the last time you saw him, don’t you? And, Chakyung, your company’s been looking for an eco-friendly project to build a campaign around, right? This could be a documentary, a marketing campaign, and a search for a long-lost love, all in one.”
They arrive on Jeju in search of 'honeyman', as they denote him, and get to know various colourful characters from the local beekeeping community, each also finding some potential romantic interest, as well as soaking up the beauty of the island:
“The view is gorgeous,” Romi said. “I’ve been to Jeju so many times, but I had no idea there were views this stunning.” Hadam agreed. “Seriously. When people think of an island, they might picture only the ocean, but the mountains here are so beautiful.” They drove underneath a sign that announced they were entering Seogwipo.
...
It was a newly constructed boutique hotel with huge windows and an enormous swimming pool out front.
(view from the windows of the boutique GoldOne Hotel & Suites in Seogwipo)
But events take a more dramatic, and rather tangled, turn as they learn of a fatal car accident, which may not have been an accident; one of the three is pursued by an obsessed, and potentially dangerous stalker; the island is struck by a typhoon; and they stumble across an international bee-smuggling conspiracy.
Romance lies to us. The countless love stories of our generation deceive us. They cover our eyes and turn us away from the obvious truth, passing off relationships that would require endless compromise to maintain in real life as love. Romance has the same bitter taste as betrayal—a false belief from the start. This was the painful truth the three of them had discovered on this trip to find love.
로맨스가 우리에게 거짓말을 한다. 우리 시대의 수많은 로맨스 스토리가 우리를 속인다. 눈을 가려 뻔한 사실을 외면하게 하고, 현실에서는 수많은 타협을 거쳐야 유지되는 관계를 사랑으로 치장한다. 로맨스는 배신의 쓰라림을 안기지만, 애초에 거짓된 믿음이었다. 로맨스를 찾아온 여행에서 세 사람이 발견한 괴로운 진실이었다.
“What is this, a self-reflection session: Jeju Island edition?” Chakyung said with a slightly bitter smile.
Rather wonderfully as the novel reaches its dramatic climax, a group of off-duty haenyeo leap into action to save the day:
The crowd headed toward the sea was not the same group of suntanned grannies she had first encountered earlier that day. These women were professionals whose bodies had been trained and cultivated in the ocean over the course of decades; they had memorized the depths and shallows of these waters, their dangers and reprieves.
And the atmospheric re-creation of Jeju is for me the novel's strongest point. Not a style of novel I'd typically read were it not translated from Korean but very enjoyable.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
Romancing on Jeju is Paige Aniyah Morris's translation of 서칭 포 허니맨 by 박현주 (Park Hyun-Joo).
The Korean title is a phonetic rendition of the English 'Searching for Honeyman', and would have been a better title - if less enticing probably more accurate, since while there is romance here, the novel is as much a mystery novel, set on the wonderful island of Jeju.
It opens with three friends, young women, chatting, Hadam, a documentary maker, Romi and Chakyung. Padam is telling the others that she had quit her job, and that co-workers had assumed it was related to a man she was friendly to and who'd then annouced her was getting married. Chakyung comments that people often mistake kindness for something more causing Romi to blurt out rather randomly:
“That’s why I almost moved to Jeju Island to become a beekeeper,” said Romi.
One of Romi’s quirks was tossing out comments without any context whatsoever.
When she explains - it relates to a man she met on a business trip to the island, but who then subsequently ghosted her - the three come up with a sponteneous plan:
“Let’s go to Jeju. To find that man, the beekeeper. Romi, you want to know what happened to him after the last time you saw him, don’t you? And, Chakyung, your company’s been looking for an eco-friendly project to build a campaign around, right? This could be a documentary, a marketing campaign, and a search for a long-lost love, all in one.”
They arrive on Jeju in search of 'honeyman', as they denote him, and get to know various colourful characters from the local beekeeping community, each also finding some potential romantic interest, as well as soaking up the beauty of the island:
“The view is gorgeous,” Romi said. “I’ve been to Jeju so many times, but I had no idea there were views this stunning.” Hadam agreed. “Seriously. When people think of an island, they might picture only the ocean, but the mountains here are so beautiful.” They drove underneath a sign that announced they were entering Seogwipo.
...
It was a newly constructed boutique hotel with huge windows and an enormous swimming pool out front.
(view from the windows of the boutique GoldOne Hotel & Suites in Seogwipo)
But events take a more dramatic, and rather tangled, turn as they learn of a fatal car accident, which may not have been an accident; one of the three is pursued by an obsessed, and potentially dangerous stalker; the island is struck by a typhoon; and they stumble across an international bee-smuggling conspiracy.
Romance lies to us. The countless love stories of our generation deceive us. They cover our eyes and turn us away from the obvious truth, passing off relationships that would require endless compromise to maintain in real life as love. Romance has the same bitter taste as betrayal—a false belief from the start. This was the painful truth the three of them had discovered on this trip to find love.
로맨스가 우리에게 거짓말을 한다. 우리 시대의 수많은 로맨스 스토리가 우리를 속인다. 눈을 가려 뻔한 사실을 외면하게 하고, 현실에서는 수많은 타협을 거쳐야 유지되는 관계를 사랑으로 치장한다. 로맨스는 배신의 쓰라림을 안기지만, 애초에 거짓된 믿음이었다. 로맨스를 찾아온 여행에서 세 사람이 발견한 괴로운 진실이었다.
“What is this, a self-reflection session: Jeju Island edition?” Chakyung said with a slightly bitter smile.
Rather wonderfully as the novel reaches its dramatic climax, a group of off-duty haenyeo leap into action to save the day:
The crowd headed toward the sea was not the same group of suntanned grannies she had first encountered earlier that day. These women were professionals whose bodies had been trained and cultivated in the ocean over the course of decades; they had memorized the depths and shallows of these waters, their dangers and reprieves.
And the atmospheric re-creation of Jeju is for me the novel's strongest point. Not a style of novel I'd typically read were it not translated from Korean but very enjoyable.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
May 25, 2024
Before I start, thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely DRC!
Going on a trip to Jeju with your two friends because you’re searching for a man you met a few years ago and still have some lingering feelings… I can’t say I wouldn’t do it or at least think about it, lmao
I went into this book with an open mind; I had never read from this author before (since I don’t speak Korean), and the premise intrigued me. To say I liked ‘Romancing on Jeju’ would be an understatement!
We follow three women in their thirties who embark on a trip to Jeju, in search of a guy nicknamed ‘Honeyman’, with little information about him, a seemingly impossible task when I first read it. As the story progresses, we slowly move from a romance type story to mystery elements entering the story. We meet new people and also cross paths with some familiar faces.
I had a great time reading this book: I couldn’t help but smile at the cute fluffy moments, had a giant question mark floating above my head as I tried to figure out 1, who Honeyman was, 2, why certain other characters were also on Jeju, and more things I can’t discuss without spoiling, so you’ll have to find out yourself ;). There were also moments where I just couldn’t stop reading and had to know what was unfolding
All three main characters were very likable; they were at the same time distinct and unique. Their friendship was also beautiful, and their conversations were insightful because each person brought a different opinion into the discussion that someone may not have considered before. I can’t even say I had a favorite because of how much I was rooting for everyone in general, but also in their own story.
That also brings me to the ending of this book; I felt it was very satisfactory! I find it hard to describe without spoiling, but it felt like a very natural conclusion, especially when it came to the smaller story lines of everyone’s personal story. If this were a Kdrama or TV show I would most definitely be invested.
I have to commend the translator for their work, as the book reads very nicely and naturally to me, if that makes sense. Since the original novel was in Korean, I was also curious to see how its translation would play out, and it was great! There were the occasional terms with not an exact translation, but I did not feel like it greatly affected my reading experience. Perhaps a small footnote giving a short description of the Korean word in question would have been nice, but I did not feel like I missed a great ton just because of a few words. However, since I have very little knowledge of the Korean language I may not be the best judge of this aspect of the book. It is just how I experienced it
There were times where certain events appeared to happen quite quickly after one another which left me a little confused / having to re-read. On the other hand, at the start I was not as invested because I felt like not much was happening (yet), but as time went on I really warmed up to all of the characters and became more interested (my annotations became increasingly expressive too, lolol). The book also indirectly made me rethink some things which is always refreshing. I could see how maybe those expecting a full on romance may not enjoy this as much, but i love mystery so I had a great time.
Overall, ‘Romancing on Jeju’ was a lovely reading experience, especially for those going in with an open mind, and even just writing out this review feels enjoyable. I would definitely be interested in reading any more work by this author! And again props to the translator
Going on a trip to Jeju with your two friends because you’re searching for a man you met a few years ago and still have some lingering feelings… I can’t say I wouldn’t do it or at least think about it, lmao
I went into this book with an open mind; I had never read from this author before (since I don’t speak Korean), and the premise intrigued me. To say I liked ‘Romancing on Jeju’ would be an understatement!
We follow three women in their thirties who embark on a trip to Jeju, in search of a guy nicknamed ‘Honeyman’, with little information about him, a seemingly impossible task when I first read it. As the story progresses, we slowly move from a romance type story to mystery elements entering the story. We meet new people and also cross paths with some familiar faces.
I had a great time reading this book: I couldn’t help but smile at the cute fluffy moments, had a giant question mark floating above my head as I tried to figure out 1, who Honeyman was, 2, why certain other characters were also on Jeju, and more things I can’t discuss without spoiling, so you’ll have to find out yourself ;). There were also moments where I just couldn’t stop reading and had to know what was unfolding
All three main characters were very likable; they were at the same time distinct and unique. Their friendship was also beautiful, and their conversations were insightful because each person brought a different opinion into the discussion that someone may not have considered before. I can’t even say I had a favorite because of how much I was rooting for everyone in general, but also in their own story.
That also brings me to the ending of this book; I felt it was very satisfactory! I find it hard to describe without spoiling, but it felt like a very natural conclusion, especially when it came to the smaller story lines of everyone’s personal story. If this were a Kdrama or TV show I would most definitely be invested.
I have to commend the translator for their work, as the book reads very nicely and naturally to me, if that makes sense. Since the original novel was in Korean, I was also curious to see how its translation would play out, and it was great! There were the occasional terms with not an exact translation, but I did not feel like it greatly affected my reading experience. Perhaps a small footnote giving a short description of the Korean word in question would have been nice, but I did not feel like I missed a great ton just because of a few words. However, since I have very little knowledge of the Korean language I may not be the best judge of this aspect of the book. It is just how I experienced it
There were times where certain events appeared to happen quite quickly after one another which left me a little confused / having to re-read. On the other hand, at the start I was not as invested because I felt like not much was happening (yet), but as time went on I really warmed up to all of the characters and became more interested (my annotations became increasingly expressive too, lolol). The book also indirectly made me rethink some things which is always refreshing. I could see how maybe those expecting a full on romance may not enjoy this as much, but i love mystery so I had a great time.
Overall, ‘Romancing on Jeju’ was a lovely reading experience, especially for those going in with an open mind, and even just writing out this review feels enjoyable. I would definitely be interested in reading any more work by this author! And again props to the translator
August 2, 2024
Finished reading: August 1st 2024
"The lingering awkwardness between them slowly melted down like yellow margarine sitting atop warm rice."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Amazon Crossing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
August 20, 2024
A fun book about friendships, bond, and self discovery.
Enjoyable and fun read with romance. Nice book to finish off the season. ☀️🏝️
I also really like that this is a translated romance.
The translator did amazing. I want to check out more books like these.
Enjoyable and fun read with romance. Nice book to finish off the season. ☀️🏝️
I also really like that this is a translated romance.
The translator did amazing. I want to check out more books like these.
January 26, 2025
ROMANCING ON JEJU is not what I thought it would be. With the cute cover and the literal word “romance” in the title, I was expecting a lighthearted romcom, a genre I don’t read often and definitely have not yet read in translation. But to my surprise (and delight), it was much more than that. If you’ve watched enough Korean dramas (and I use “dramas” loosely here as an umbrella term), you know that we (Koreans) love to include multiple genres and tropes together—romance, comedy, and thriller is a common and classic trifecta that is beloved. Because it works.
Romi and her two friends, Hadam and Chakyung, decide to visit Jeju to find a man Romi had a brief, possible romantic encounter with. Hadam uses this trip to film her first documentary about Romi’s search for love, and for Chakyung, it’s an opportunity to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client. The trip starts off well as they meet and socialize with locals from the beekeeping community. But things take a dark turn with the discovery of a fatal car accident, an obsessed stalker, and a beekeeping conspiracy.
I’ve read quite a few books that have been reminiscent of K-dramas, but this is the first book I read that truly felt like I was reading actual scenes from an on-air Korean drama. The large cast of characters with multiple storylines, quick changes in scenes and POVs, and even down to the sometimes awkward but direct writing, it all felt like I was watching a 16-episode drama unfold before my eyes. While I had started off confused (because it was in the beginning), I became captivated and completely invested by the end. It was a refreshing to see all the characteristics that I love in a Korean drama come to life on the page and be done well. Also, the descriptions of Jeju is beautiful—I felt transported to the island and made me wish time and time again that I was there.
I do want to point out that the title of this book is a bit misleading. The original Korean title 서칭 포 허니맨 (Searching for Honeyman written phonetically) would’ve probably been a better fit. The romance is there, but it’s pretty minimal as most of the story is driven by a mystery—who is this dark and sinister force that lingers over the three friends and the local community, who is behind the beekeeping conspiracy and are they connected—as well as a journey of self-discovery for the three friends.
I went into this expecting romcom and instead got mystery, and for me who generally enjoys darker themed books, that was a nice surprise. I think if you want to read contemporary romance with all the cute feels, this isn’t that book. But, if you want to read a mashup of genre fiction that’s been translated and reads like a Korean drama, I recommend this one.
Romi and her two friends, Hadam and Chakyung, decide to visit Jeju to find a man Romi had a brief, possible romantic encounter with. Hadam uses this trip to film her first documentary about Romi’s search for love, and for Chakyung, it’s an opportunity to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client. The trip starts off well as they meet and socialize with locals from the beekeeping community. But things take a dark turn with the discovery of a fatal car accident, an obsessed stalker, and a beekeeping conspiracy.
I’ve read quite a few books that have been reminiscent of K-dramas, but this is the first book I read that truly felt like I was reading actual scenes from an on-air Korean drama. The large cast of characters with multiple storylines, quick changes in scenes and POVs, and even down to the sometimes awkward but direct writing, it all felt like I was watching a 16-episode drama unfold before my eyes. While I had started off confused (because it was in the beginning), I became captivated and completely invested by the end. It was a refreshing to see all the characteristics that I love in a Korean drama come to life on the page and be done well. Also, the descriptions of Jeju is beautiful—I felt transported to the island and made me wish time and time again that I was there.
I do want to point out that the title of this book is a bit misleading. The original Korean title 서칭 포 허니맨 (Searching for Honeyman written phonetically) would’ve probably been a better fit. The romance is there, but it’s pretty minimal as most of the story is driven by a mystery—who is this dark and sinister force that lingers over the three friends and the local community, who is behind the beekeeping conspiracy and are they connected—as well as a journey of self-discovery for the three friends.
I went into this expecting romcom and instead got mystery, and for me who generally enjoys darker themed books, that was a nice surprise. I think if you want to read contemporary romance with all the cute feels, this isn’t that book. But, if you want to read a mashup of genre fiction that’s been translated and reads like a Korean drama, I recommend this one.
April 8, 2024
3.5
Romancing on Jeju was not what I was expecting, but nonetheless the cast of relatable and likeable characters, alongside the delicate examination of love and our expectations of it ultimately drew me in. The book follows three friends, Hadam, Romi, and Chakyung as they each journey from Seoul to the island of Jeju for different reasons—spanning from filming a documentary to work campaigns to ultimately searching for the honeybee farmer that got away.
I thought that the subtle building of mystery and suspense in the book was excellent, and the reveal at the end worked really well to tie everything together (although the pacing in the very beginning of the book was a bit slow, the second half of the book picked it back up). Overall, I loved the different POVs as we got to see each of the three main characters grow and come to understand what it is they have come to Jeju to search for. I thought both the author and translator did a lovely job conveying the various intertwining, and sometimes complicated, relationships between all the character throughout the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Romancing on Jeju was not what I was expecting, but nonetheless the cast of relatable and likeable characters, alongside the delicate examination of love and our expectations of it ultimately drew me in. The book follows three friends, Hadam, Romi, and Chakyung as they each journey from Seoul to the island of Jeju for different reasons—spanning from filming a documentary to work campaigns to ultimately searching for the honeybee farmer that got away.
I thought that the subtle building of mystery and suspense in the book was excellent, and the reveal at the end worked really well to tie everything together (although the pacing in the very beginning of the book was a bit slow, the second half of the book picked it back up). Overall, I loved the different POVs as we got to see each of the three main characters grow and come to understand what it is they have come to Jeju to search for. I thought both the author and translator did a lovely job conveying the various intertwining, and sometimes complicated, relationships between all the character throughout the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 5, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of Romancing on Jeju, by Hyun-Joo Park. I thouroughly enjoyed the concept of this book, but there were a few drawbacks for me preventing a higher rating. The book's premise is two-fold for the main characters - professional and personal - as they embark to Jeju from Seoul in search of "honeyman." And so unfolds a story about love, friendships, the past, the present, and the future. I had a hard time with this translation. Many of the personal descriptors remained in Korean and I found it hard to keep track of/understand and found myself Googling a lot of phrases, which ultimately made reading feel choppy. Similarly, the translated internal monologues felt overly forced, almost as if the author was trying too hard to be "insightful," when in reality the book would've been more enjoyable without forcing metaphors.
There were also a lot of characters/storylines to follow, which would've been fine otherwise but the translation made following all of these perspectives difficult. I felt that I didn't get enough backstory for some of the main characters and I was left wanting more. There is also an element of "mystery" to this book, ending with a beach-side (almost) shootout? I didn't feel this was an entirely necessary addition.
Overall, I reated Romancing on Jeju a 3/5. I enjoyed the overall premise and the characters were fun, but I think I would've enjoyed this more if it had been a straight romance in genre.
There were also a lot of characters/storylines to follow, which would've been fine otherwise but the translation made following all of these perspectives difficult. I felt that I didn't get enough backstory for some of the main characters and I was left wanting more. There is also an element of "mystery" to this book, ending with a beach-side (almost) shootout? I didn't feel this was an entirely necessary addition.
Overall, I reated Romancing on Jeju a 3/5. I enjoyed the overall premise and the characters were fun, but I think I would've enjoyed this more if it had been a straight romance in genre.
March 16, 2024
"Once you knew a person's situation, you could no longer claim to be an irrelevant character in their story."
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This book was way darker than I expected! From the title, I expected that this would be a lighthearted romance but damn. It was way more sinister than implied. Even the summary made this seem a lot superficial than it really was.
Regardless of my expectations, I really enjoyed this ARC. It was really great and more realistic than I thought it would be. I loved the mature depiction about life, romance, and adulthood. It was really sweet and relatable. I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for Korean translated works because of the way they
The three female leads were all great. I think their characters could have been fleshed out more, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Just sometimes I'd get confused who was speaking. Otherwise, the women were great and very fun to read about.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This book was way darker than I expected! From the title, I expected that this would be a lighthearted romance but damn. It was way more sinister than implied. Even the summary made this seem a lot superficial than it really was.
Regardless of my expectations, I really enjoyed this ARC. It was really great and more realistic than I thought it would be. I loved the mature depiction about life, romance, and adulthood. It was really sweet and relatable. I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for Korean translated works because of the way they
The three female leads were all great. I think their characters could have been fleshed out more, but it didn't ruin the story for me. Just sometimes I'd get confused who was speaking. Otherwise, the women were great and very fun to read about.
August 23, 2024
ALC gifted by netgalley
Such a fun read with a good mix of romance and mystery! I could totally see this as a k drama 😍 love the three FMCs and their different journeys. The description of Jeju island also made me want to visit so badly!
My main gripe is the dynamics between the three FMCs don’t seem that close. I was expecting more friendship elements but seems like they’re off doing their own things a lot 🤣 there are also quite a few characters! You’ll need to pay attention to connect all the dots and solve the mysteries
Such a fun read with a good mix of romance and mystery! I could totally see this as a k drama 😍 love the three FMCs and their different journeys. The description of Jeju island also made me want to visit so badly!
My main gripe is the dynamics between the three FMCs don’t seem that close. I was expecting more friendship elements but seems like they’re off doing their own things a lot 🤣 there are also quite a few characters! You’ll need to pay attention to connect all the dots and solve the mysteries
March 18, 2024
Generally speaking, I liked this novel. It is definitely different from what I usually read, but the change was a little refreshing. I loved travelling to Jeju and wandering on the island with the characters. It was definitely more a character-driven novel and it focused on the three characters and their relationship(s). However, I did not connect with the characters and the romantic developments did not interest me that much. The plot, though minimal, was rather dark and that was unexpected but I did enjoy that.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
April 3, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It had an element of mystery that kept it interesting and I liked the characters and their interactions with each other. This book was translated from Korean to English and sometimes the phrasing was awkward or unclear, I think it would be better to read in its original language but that is the nature of translated works.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It had an element of mystery that kept it interesting and I liked the characters and their interactions with each other. This book was translated from Korean to English and sometimes the phrasing was awkward or unclear, I think it would be better to read in its original language but that is the nature of translated works.
May 18, 2024
Three friends embark on a journey to search for a man one of them came across years before and had a fleeting butterflies in the stomach moment with.
Don't let the cheery cover fool you. This book is less romance and more mystery. There is a stalker following one of the women. He's a dangerous man. Lurking beside her. His identity is unknown, but his presence throughout the novel is heavily felt.
The bond of friendship is strong in this novel. That's one of the good points in the story. How the friends continue to grow together.
Honestly, I was expecting a romcom. And instead got a kind of serious book. I think that may have affected my feelings towards this novel.
Rating: 3/5
* ARC courtesy of NetGalley *
Don't let the cheery cover fool you. This book is less romance and more mystery. There is a stalker following one of the women. He's a dangerous man. Lurking beside her. His identity is unknown, but his presence throughout the novel is heavily felt.
The bond of friendship is strong in this novel. That's one of the good points in the story. How the friends continue to grow together.
Honestly, I was expecting a romcom. And instead got a kind of serious book. I think that may have affected my feelings towards this novel.
Rating: 3/5
* ARC courtesy of NetGalley *
July 22, 2025
It was kinda cute but dragged in the middle. Felt like a weirdly paced kdrama.
August 21, 2024
The overall concept: the main characters embark to Jeju in search of this mysterious person from the past. Along the way, the characters' stories unfold, the past, present and the future.
At face value, the story and concept seemed to be up my alley as I am exploring into more contemporary fiction. However, there were a few things that may have prevented me from really enjoying the book to the fullest. The first major thing may have been the translation of the story. That could be an important factor that made the connection hard to make. Secondly, the narration was difficult to follow. Third, the narrator was not my favorite. Last but not least, there were a lot of characters and their own storylines to follow throughout the entire book. Put all their storylines together that jump throughout the timeline, and it can get very confusing really quickly. And very similar to other reviews, there was a really odd subplot of a mysterious character. I really was looking forward to this ALC, and unfortunately it fell flat for me. Two stars.
Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Amazon, and the author for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
At face value, the story and concept seemed to be up my alley as I am exploring into more contemporary fiction. However, there were a few things that may have prevented me from really enjoying the book to the fullest. The first major thing may have been the translation of the story. That could be an important factor that made the connection hard to make. Secondly, the narration was difficult to follow. Third, the narrator was not my favorite. Last but not least, there were a lot of characters and their own storylines to follow throughout the entire book. Put all their storylines together that jump throughout the timeline, and it can get very confusing really quickly. And very similar to other reviews, there was a really odd subplot of a mysterious character. I really was looking forward to this ALC, and unfortunately it fell flat for me. Two stars.
Thank you Netgalley, Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio, Amazon, and the author for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
May 2, 2024
Overall, I was a bit letdown by this book. I was hoping for a nice, relaxing rom-com, but this felt more like a KDrama with a bunch of plot twists. It went a bit off the rails at the end.
The book is told in multiple POVs, with some flashbacks, so there was a bit of intrigue. However, the build up to the inevitable end felt forced. The characters were generic, making it hard to really connect with them.
Ultimately, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would, but if you're into a romance turned thriller, this may be for you.
The book is told in multiple POVs, with some flashbacks, so there was a bit of intrigue. However, the build up to the inevitable end felt forced. The characters were generic, making it hard to really connect with them.
Ultimately, I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would, but if you're into a romance turned thriller, this may be for you.
August 19, 2024
Recommended: yep!
for a romance-light story about romantic relationships, for side information about beekeeping and bees that might pique your interest in the topic, for a range of endings for each of the characters
Thoughts:
Look, I know the title has "romancing" in it, but it's not a romance novel like you might see from most traditional United States publishers. It's more subtle, and modest, and somehow that makes it feel so much more intimate in a lot of ways. It's all heart, no genitals. There are romantic relationships that are a focus, but there's not so much romance itself.
Romance in this story is also much less flashy, and yet much more impactful. Tearful confessions and bold declarations are sparse. We see love and affection through action. People stepping up to help someone they don't have to, or risking their own safety to ensure that of the person they admire. Getting mad at the person they admire for risking themselves in the first place. And, maybe if you're lucky, a tender kiss or two. You know the phrase "show don't tell?" That's how this is. Love is shown through actions far more than words.
What the perky cover and cutesy title don't hint at is the darker storyline woven into it as well. It was very unexpected but not at all unwelcome, so when we got the first perspective narration from an ominous and unnamed person, it colored everything else differently. Things that seemed so idyllic and light suddenly had a cloud chasing after them. This shifted the tone in a really interesting and exciting way, and allowed for an ending that was all kinds of crazy. loved seeing how everything connected between all the characters and I guessed absolutely none of it, which was fabulous.
There were a LOT of characters, all with complicated relationships between each other. I had to stop and think about who was connected with whom sometimes to remind myself what was going on when it switched between them. I did generally enjoy everyone's stories though, and I felt like they each got enough growth shown despite how much was going on. The three core friends have an interesting bond together, although I'm not sure we ever learn how they even met or why they're so close. They show it though, in really admirable ways.
This novel is translated, and huge kudos to the translator, because the book still felt like it carried that Korean style. It was eloquent and subtle and refined and had moments that popped with humor and insight. Reading it in Korean would be an interesting comparison, but it doesn't seem like anything has been lost in translation here. Even a plot point around words that are near rhymes were made to be similar enough in English as well that it was believable! That's quite impressive to me.
Overall I enjoyed this story and felt like there was so much in it for being a standard length novel. The translation was excellent and I'm really happy with the whole story that I got in here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.
for a romance-light story about romantic relationships, for side information about beekeeping and bees that might pique your interest in the topic, for a range of endings for each of the characters
Thoughts:
Look, I know the title has "romancing" in it, but it's not a romance novel like you might see from most traditional United States publishers. It's more subtle, and modest, and somehow that makes it feel so much more intimate in a lot of ways. It's all heart, no genitals. There are romantic relationships that are a focus, but there's not so much romance itself.
Romance in this story is also much less flashy, and yet much more impactful. Tearful confessions and bold declarations are sparse. We see love and affection through action. People stepping up to help someone they don't have to, or risking their own safety to ensure that of the person they admire. Getting mad at the person they admire for risking themselves in the first place. And, maybe if you're lucky, a tender kiss or two. You know the phrase "show don't tell?" That's how this is. Love is shown through actions far more than words.
What the perky cover and cutesy title don't hint at is the darker storyline woven into it as well. It was very unexpected but not at all unwelcome, so when we got the first perspective narration from an ominous and unnamed person, it colored everything else differently. Things that seemed so idyllic and light suddenly had a cloud chasing after them. This shifted the tone in a really interesting and exciting way, and allowed for an ending that was all kinds of crazy. loved seeing how everything connected between all the characters and I guessed absolutely none of it, which was fabulous.
There were a LOT of characters, all with complicated relationships between each other. I had to stop and think about who was connected with whom sometimes to remind myself what was going on when it switched between them. I did generally enjoy everyone's stories though, and I felt like they each got enough growth shown despite how much was going on. The three core friends have an interesting bond together, although I'm not sure we ever learn how they even met or why they're so close. They show it though, in really admirable ways.
This novel is translated, and huge kudos to the translator, because the book still felt like it carried that Korean style. It was eloquent and subtle and refined and had moments that popped with humor and insight. Reading it in Korean would be an interesting comparison, but it doesn't seem like anything has been lost in translation here. Even a plot point around words that are near rhymes were made to be similar enough in English as well that it was believable! That's quite impressive to me.
Overall I enjoyed this story and felt like there was so much in it for being a standard length novel. The translation was excellent and I'm really happy with the whole story that I got in here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.
September 21, 2024
Living on the edge for a cute stranger just might get you your perfect match…maybe.
Romancing on Jeju by Hyun-Joo Park is a standalone novel and is filled with love, chaos, spontaneousness, and living on a whim. When a woman and her friends are all at a standstill in their lives, they decide to go on an adventure and help each in the process. One for love and the others for work and life in general. While things seem great as an idea, they soon realize there’s a lot more that needs to be sorted out in order for things to go their way.
I really enjoy the fact that this story is rooted in friendship. Sure it’s a love story but the deeper relationship is between the three women and their friendship. In addition to that, I really love that they are all in their thirties. A lot of the time stories have younger protagonists and when you’ve aged out of that era, it’s not relatable anymore. So having those moments with older women makes the stories more interesting.
The taking their lives back and taking control over what they do moving forward aspects pops out strongly. It’s refreshing to see women standing in their own power and not just following along with what society has presented to them. They go against the grain and follow their hearts. Whether it’s love or passion, they are on it.
The biggest issue I had was with the constant jumps through time. Every other chapter was a different time period so sometimes I didn’t realize when things were taking place. But I do like that backstory is brought in by having a dual timeline. It just could’ve been a little clearer.
If you love a group of women who thrive together as a tribe and push each other into their next levels, this is for you. Between the love, the spur of the moment decisions, and the filming, there’s something for everyone. I recommend diving into this story!
One quote I liked and that sums up the story: “This could be a documentary, a marketing campaign, and a search for a long-lost love, all in one. — Searching for Honeyman” - Hadam.
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Romancing on Jeju from Hyun Joo Park via NetGalley
Romancing on Jeju by Hyun-Joo Park is a standalone novel and is filled with love, chaos, spontaneousness, and living on a whim. When a woman and her friends are all at a standstill in their lives, they decide to go on an adventure and help each in the process. One for love and the others for work and life in general. While things seem great as an idea, they soon realize there’s a lot more that needs to be sorted out in order for things to go their way.
I really enjoy the fact that this story is rooted in friendship. Sure it’s a love story but the deeper relationship is between the three women and their friendship. In addition to that, I really love that they are all in their thirties. A lot of the time stories have younger protagonists and when you’ve aged out of that era, it’s not relatable anymore. So having those moments with older women makes the stories more interesting.
The taking their lives back and taking control over what they do moving forward aspects pops out strongly. It’s refreshing to see women standing in their own power and not just following along with what society has presented to them. They go against the grain and follow their hearts. Whether it’s love or passion, they are on it.
The biggest issue I had was with the constant jumps through time. Every other chapter was a different time period so sometimes I didn’t realize when things were taking place. But I do like that backstory is brought in by having a dual timeline. It just could’ve been a little clearer.
If you love a group of women who thrive together as a tribe and push each other into their next levels, this is for you. Between the love, the spur of the moment decisions, and the filming, there’s something for everyone. I recommend diving into this story!
One quote I liked and that sums up the story: “This could be a documentary, a marketing campaign, and a search for a long-lost love, all in one. — Searching for Honeyman” - Hadam.
*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Romancing on Jeju from Hyun Joo Park via NetGalley
March 30, 2024
"Romancing on Jeju" follows the romantic lives of three friends journeying from Seoul to Jeju to chase down the one that got away:
Romi, the hopeless romantic who has been longingly dreaming about a handsome stranger she met three years ago.
Hadam, the aspiring filmmaker who has never quite forgotten about her ex-boyfriend.
And Chakyung, the marketing workaholic who begins having doubts about the man she is about to marry.
The three friends team up to track down this mysterious stranger from Romi's past they dub the Honeyman (as the only concrete information they know about him is that he is a bee keeper) and embark on an adventure that will change all three of them in ways they would never expect.
While the English title implies that romance will be the central focus of the novel, and this might be true about the first half of the story, don't be fooled by its cute and cheerful cover (and remember that it's original Korean title is "Searching for Honeyman," a name that doesn't imply romance at all). Hyun-Joo Park plays with typical k-drama-inspired romance tropes and flips them on their head. None of the romances end in the way you would expect them to and that it was I love about this story.
"Not every trip had to end with romance. And not every story had to end with a couple kissing, the camera spinning around them a full 360 degrees. Just because a lot of people made that their ending didn't mean she had to."
This is a story about so much more than romance. It is about friendship. About self-discovery. About life not living up to your expectations and finding a way to move forward anyways. It is about being an adult woman in her 30s trying to live her life while navigating the complexities of love. Life is complicated. Love is complicated. And sometimes life and love both have funny ways of working themselves out in a way that is least expected.
I do not typically find myself drawn to romance books, but I had fun reading this. It was well written, the language was beautiful, and it is very nostalgic for any reader who has spent time either living in or visiting Korea. It is cute, with believable characters, and a story that is much bigger than the romance it originally presents itself as.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is released on August 20, 2024!
Romi, the hopeless romantic who has been longingly dreaming about a handsome stranger she met three years ago.
Hadam, the aspiring filmmaker who has never quite forgotten about her ex-boyfriend.
And Chakyung, the marketing workaholic who begins having doubts about the man she is about to marry.
The three friends team up to track down this mysterious stranger from Romi's past they dub the Honeyman (as the only concrete information they know about him is that he is a bee keeper) and embark on an adventure that will change all three of them in ways they would never expect.
While the English title implies that romance will be the central focus of the novel, and this might be true about the first half of the story, don't be fooled by its cute and cheerful cover (and remember that it's original Korean title is "Searching for Honeyman," a name that doesn't imply romance at all). Hyun-Joo Park plays with typical k-drama-inspired romance tropes and flips them on their head. None of the romances end in the way you would expect them to and that it was I love about this story.
"Not every trip had to end with romance. And not every story had to end with a couple kissing, the camera spinning around them a full 360 degrees. Just because a lot of people made that their ending didn't mean she had to."
This is a story about so much more than romance. It is about friendship. About self-discovery. About life not living up to your expectations and finding a way to move forward anyways. It is about being an adult woman in her 30s trying to live her life while navigating the complexities of love. Life is complicated. Love is complicated. And sometimes life and love both have funny ways of working themselves out in a way that is least expected.
I do not typically find myself drawn to romance books, but I had fun reading this. It was well written, the language was beautiful, and it is very nostalgic for any reader who has spent time either living in or visiting Korea. It is cute, with believable characters, and a story that is much bigger than the romance it originally presents itself as.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is released on August 20, 2024!
September 27, 2024
This book was such a rollercoaster of a read! Not only did I love reading a romance book that has so many other themes to explore throughout the story, but the sense of mystery and suspense kept me on my toes in a way that not many books within the genre have been able to. Romancing on Jeju, by Hyun-Jo Park, is a truly unique story of friendship, how we change and grow as we age, love in all its many forms, and those sinister individuals so many of us have learned to be wary of.
I’ll admit, for a while I struggled with keeping the characters straight, but that is no fault of the author, and instead is my own whitegirl lack of familiarity with a list of names that stray from John, Jane, James, etc. That’s an exaggeration, but still, it didn’t take more than a handful of chapters for each character’s storyline and personality to solidify within my mind and I was able to read without needing to remind myself of who I was reading about. Each of the three female main characters are delightfully different and have such unique voices that it was simply my own stumbling block to overcome. I’m assuming many readers won’t have the same issue.
The vibrant setting of South Korea has me itching to travel there and the author does a beautiful job at describing all the many settings the story takes place in as our characters navigate to and around Jeju Island. I kept trying to pick a favorite character, between Rome, Hadam, and Chakyung, one that I was looking forward to reading more of than the others as the book progressed, but Hyun-Joo Park weaves such an enticing story that I found myself equally invested in all of their lives. It was wonderful to read a book where two of the three main female characters don’t end up becoming supporting characters while one pulls ahead and takes the spotlight.
Overall, I highly recommend Romancing on Jeju. There were certainly scenes that left my skin crawling and goosebumps rising on the back of my neck, but it was all because these scenes were so relatable as a woman. This book is an excellent break from the plethora of cutesy romance books flooding the market that I think any reader will love.
As always, a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Amazon Crossing, for allowing me the privilege of reading the ARC of this fascinating story.
Romancing on Jeju, by Hyun-Joo Park, was published on August 20, 2024. Enjoy!
I’ll admit, for a while I struggled with keeping the characters straight, but that is no fault of the author, and instead is my own whitegirl lack of familiarity with a list of names that stray from John, Jane, James, etc. That’s an exaggeration, but still, it didn’t take more than a handful of chapters for each character’s storyline and personality to solidify within my mind and I was able to read without needing to remind myself of who I was reading about. Each of the three female main characters are delightfully different and have such unique voices that it was simply my own stumbling block to overcome. I’m assuming many readers won’t have the same issue.
The vibrant setting of South Korea has me itching to travel there and the author does a beautiful job at describing all the many settings the story takes place in as our characters navigate to and around Jeju Island. I kept trying to pick a favorite character, between Rome, Hadam, and Chakyung, one that I was looking forward to reading more of than the others as the book progressed, but Hyun-Joo Park weaves such an enticing story that I found myself equally invested in all of their lives. It was wonderful to read a book where two of the three main female characters don’t end up becoming supporting characters while one pulls ahead and takes the spotlight.
Overall, I highly recommend Romancing on Jeju. There were certainly scenes that left my skin crawling and goosebumps rising on the back of my neck, but it was all because these scenes were so relatable as a woman. This book is an excellent break from the plethora of cutesy romance books flooding the market that I think any reader will love.
As always, a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Amazon Crossing, for allowing me the privilege of reading the ARC of this fascinating story.
Romancing on Jeju, by Hyun-Joo Park, was published on August 20, 2024. Enjoy!
April 21, 2025
Romancing on Jeju by Hyun-Joo Park is a vibrant story full of adventure, friendship, betrayal, and a touch of obsession. At its heart is a trio of South Korean friends Park Hadam, Do Romi, and Yoon Chakyung, who reunite to celebrate Hadam’s 36th birthday. During the gathering, Hadam shares that she quit her job as a producer. Her coworkers assumed it’s because a male colleague she’s close to is getting married, but she insists there was never any romantic involvement.
This sparks a memory in Romi, who recalls meeting a mysterious beekeeper during a trip to Jeju Island three years ago. She had even considered becoming a beekeeper herself, but the man disappeared from her life without a trace. The friends decide to launch a "Search for Honey Man Project,” with Hadam documenting the whole adventure.
To track down beekeepers on the island, Hadam reaches out to her ex, Gu Jaewoong, who is a Jeju local. As they work together, old feelings resurface, and there's definite chemistry between them once again, but he is definitely hiding a big secret.
Meanwhile, Romi finally finds her beekeeper man, only to discover that he was in a serious car accident three years ago. His wife died in the crash, and he now suffers from amnesia, so he doesn’t remember Romi or their time together. Such a K-Drama twist, but there’s more to this story.
Chakyung, on the other hand, keeps having run ins with a man who seems sleazy at first glance but always ends up helping her out. Their interactions were so swoon worthy! I honestly only finished the book because I needed to know where their story would go!!
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. What I appreciated most was that it wasn’t just a romance. It had elements of mystery and suspense, especially with the subplot of Romi being stalked and threatened by someone from her past. Each character had a rich backstory, though Hadam was by far the most frustrating. She was way too focused on getting perfect shots for her footage, even at the expense of everyone’s safety. She seriously felt like the kind of person who would die trying to get a perfect selfie. Maddening!
I recommend Romancing on Jeju to fans of friendship driven stories with a good dose of drama and adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this delightful book.
This sparks a memory in Romi, who recalls meeting a mysterious beekeeper during a trip to Jeju Island three years ago. She had even considered becoming a beekeeper herself, but the man disappeared from her life without a trace. The friends decide to launch a "Search for Honey Man Project,” with Hadam documenting the whole adventure.
To track down beekeepers on the island, Hadam reaches out to her ex, Gu Jaewoong, who is a Jeju local. As they work together, old feelings resurface, and there's definite chemistry between them once again, but he is definitely hiding a big secret.
Meanwhile, Romi finally finds her beekeeper man, only to discover that he was in a serious car accident three years ago. His wife died in the crash, and he now suffers from amnesia, so he doesn’t remember Romi or their time together. Such a K-Drama twist, but there’s more to this story.
Chakyung, on the other hand, keeps having run ins with a man who seems sleazy at first glance but always ends up helping her out. Their interactions were so swoon worthy! I honestly only finished the book because I needed to know where their story would go!!
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. What I appreciated most was that it wasn’t just a romance. It had elements of mystery and suspense, especially with the subplot of Romi being stalked and threatened by someone from her past. Each character had a rich backstory, though Hadam was by far the most frustrating. She was way too focused on getting perfect shots for her footage, even at the expense of everyone’s safety. She seriously felt like the kind of person who would die trying to get a perfect selfie. Maddening!
I recommend Romancing on Jeju to fans of friendship driven stories with a good dose of drama and adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this delightful book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2024
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Romancing on Jeju ?
"Je suis tombée sur ce roman un peu par hasard, seulement quelques jours avant sa sortie, moi qui passe pourtant mon temps à guetter les traductions coréennes ! Et quelle joie d'avoir enfin un peu de diversité avec une romance, qui se passe à Jeju en plus."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Trois amies se rendent ensemble sur l'île de Jeju, chacune avec un objectif personnel et professionnel bien différent, et vont cheminer ensemble pour réaliser leurs objectifs et pourquoi pas, trouver l'amour..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"J'avais lu des avis mitigés alors j'ai essayé de ne pas m'emballer pendant ma lecture alors que j'ai été emportée dès les premières pages. Et même si le roman n'est pas parfait, je me suis régalée au cours de ce voyage à Jeju. Bien sûr, être sur l'île, c'était déjà un gros point fort, mais en plus on évolue dans des milieux variés comme l'apiculture ou le surf, et on suit trois amies aux caractères bien différents, qui vivent donc des choses bien différentes. Premier amour, coup de foudre, déceptions... On n'a pas le temps de s'ennuyer (et ce n'est qu'un tout petit échantillon d'exemples). En revanche, je pense que l'autrice a voulu pousser le bouchon un peu trop loin en incluant des éléments criminels à son histoire. Toute cette partie-là ne m'a pas vraiment intéressée, d'autant que le suspense n'était pas incroyable et que la façon de faire était un peu confuse, mais ça reste finalement des passages assez anecdotiques par rapport au reste du roman. Et puis, c'est très drama coréen pour le coup. Quant au clin d'oeil indispensable aux haenyo, il était juste parfait."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai beaucoup aimé la fin, avec son côté réaliste, mais ça ne m'empêche pas d'espérer avoir une suite un jour pour en savoir un peu plus sur l'avenir de nos trois héroïnes."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Je suis tombée sur ce roman un peu par hasard, seulement quelques jours avant sa sortie, moi qui passe pourtant mon temps à guetter les traductions coréennes ! Et quelle joie d'avoir enfin un peu de diversité avec une romance, qui se passe à Jeju en plus."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Trois amies se rendent ensemble sur l'île de Jeju, chacune avec un objectif personnel et professionnel bien différent, et vont cheminer ensemble pour réaliser leurs objectifs et pourquoi pas, trouver l'amour..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"J'avais lu des avis mitigés alors j'ai essayé de ne pas m'emballer pendant ma lecture alors que j'ai été emportée dès les premières pages. Et même si le roman n'est pas parfait, je me suis régalée au cours de ce voyage à Jeju. Bien sûr, être sur l'île, c'était déjà un gros point fort, mais en plus on évolue dans des milieux variés comme l'apiculture ou le surf, et on suit trois amies aux caractères bien différents, qui vivent donc des choses bien différentes. Premier amour, coup de foudre, déceptions... On n'a pas le temps de s'ennuyer (et ce n'est qu'un tout petit échantillon d'exemples). En revanche, je pense que l'autrice a voulu pousser le bouchon un peu trop loin en incluant des éléments criminels à son histoire. Toute cette partie-là ne m'a pas vraiment intéressée, d'autant que le suspense n'était pas incroyable et que la façon de faire était un peu confuse, mais ça reste finalement des passages assez anecdotiques par rapport au reste du roman. Et puis, c'est très drama coréen pour le coup. Quant au clin d'oeil indispensable aux haenyo, il était juste parfait."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"J'ai beaucoup aimé la fin, avec son côté réaliste, mais ça ne m'empêche pas d'espérer avoir une suite un jour pour en savoir un peu plus sur l'avenir de nos trois héroïnes."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
August 19, 2024
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hyun Joo Park for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Romancing on Jeju coming out August 20, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Romi is an illustrator and hopeless romantic. When she can’t stop obsessing over a brief encounter with a handsome stranger, there’s just one thing to do: hop on a plane and find him.
But Romi’s not leaving without her two best friends. Hadam, a budding filmmaker, suggests the trip in the first place. Facing her fear of failure, she envisions Romi’s search for love as the perfect subject for her first documentary. And Chakyung, marketing pro, sees a chance to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client―plus get some quality “me time” to figure out why she’s secretly so unhappy.
The journey from Seoul to Jeju Island goes off without a hitch. The emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches are a balm to the trio’s souls. But then misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker stir up trouble in paradise. Will a conspiracy to nab a legendary queen bee keep these friends from discovering real love―and purpose?
This is the first book by this author. I understand it’s a translation from Korean to English. I’ve been obsessed with Korean dramas for a long time, so I’m always looking for new Korean books to read. I think this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I was hoping for more romance. I think it was just a little dry for me. There was a lot of description of things and not so much dialogue and drama. I’m just more into dialogue, so I got lost in the descriptions. I would check out other books by this author.
Romi is an illustrator and hopeless romantic. When she can’t stop obsessing over a brief encounter with a handsome stranger, there’s just one thing to do: hop on a plane and find him.
But Romi’s not leaving without her two best friends. Hadam, a budding filmmaker, suggests the trip in the first place. Facing her fear of failure, she envisions Romi’s search for love as the perfect subject for her first documentary. And Chakyung, marketing pro, sees a chance to build a new ad campaign for her cosmetics client―plus get some quality “me time” to figure out why she’s secretly so unhappy.
The journey from Seoul to Jeju Island goes off without a hitch. The emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches are a balm to the trio’s souls. But then misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker stir up trouble in paradise. Will a conspiracy to nab a legendary queen bee keep these friends from discovering real love―and purpose?
This is the first book by this author. I understand it’s a translation from Korean to English. I’ve been obsessed with Korean dramas for a long time, so I’m always looking for new Korean books to read. I think this book wasn’t quite what I was expecting. I was hoping for more romance. I think it was just a little dry for me. There was a lot of description of things and not so much dialogue and drama. I’m just more into dialogue, so I got lost in the descriptions. I would check out other books by this author.
August 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really interesting read. The overall vibe of the book had cozy Kdramas vibes and nothing makes a cozier setting than Jeju island! The atmosphere and setting of Jeju Island with its beautiful nature- bees, waterfalls, beaches and oceans, also really helped to bring the story to life.
I found each of the perspectives of Romi, Chakyung, and Hami very interesting and none of them was boring or dull. I like how each women's romance life and story was different and unique.
They go to Jeju in search of Honeyman but things don't go as they expect. What was originally a journey to search for Romi's romance, it became one of self-discovery as well as one which helped to strengthened old relationships (friendships) as well as create new ones (romance). It became a journey to find one's purpose.
The ending took me a bit off-guard even though there was build up with Romi’s stalker as well as Chanmin’s suspicious actions. I feel like this part of the story was a bit random and out of nowhere which is my only complain on the story.
Overall, I do recommend reading this for someone looking for a story with cozy vibes!
This was a really interesting read. The overall vibe of the book had cozy Kdramas vibes and nothing makes a cozier setting than Jeju island! The atmosphere and setting of Jeju Island with its beautiful nature- bees, waterfalls, beaches and oceans, also really helped to bring the story to life.
I found each of the perspectives of Romi, Chakyung, and Hami very interesting and none of them was boring or dull. I like how each women's romance life and story was different and unique.
They go to Jeju in search of Honeyman but things don't go as they expect. What was originally a journey to search for Romi's romance, it became one of self-discovery as well as one which helped to strengthened old relationships (friendships) as well as create new ones (romance). It became a journey to find one's purpose.
The ending took me a bit off-guard even though there was build up with Romi’s stalker as well as Chanmin’s suspicious actions. I feel like this part of the story was a bit random and out of nowhere which is my only complain on the story.
Overall, I do recommend reading this for someone looking for a story with cozy vibes!
March 25, 2024
Romancing on Jeju by Hyun-Joo Park, translated by Paige Aniyah Morris
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book releases August 20, 2024!
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I went into this book thinking it would be a fun, not-too-serious romance book from the cover. The description didn't fully set up the expectation of some of the more serious aspects in the book. But honestly that did not detract from anything. Even though the story turned out different than my initial impression, I really enjoyed this book.
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This book follows three women as they search for one woman's "honeyman", a past romantic interest, which one of the women lost contact with three years prior on Jeju Island.
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Like a lot of translated Korean fiction, the writing tended toward atmospheric and reflective. The way the relationships were handled between all parties was more mature than most novels involving romance. There was an underlying theme of the global shared lived-experiences of women and what we have to deal with and be aware of at all times.
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I would definitely recommend this book. It was a nice experience while reading.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. This book releases August 20, 2024!
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I went into this book thinking it would be a fun, not-too-serious romance book from the cover. The description didn't fully set up the expectation of some of the more serious aspects in the book. But honestly that did not detract from anything. Even though the story turned out different than my initial impression, I really enjoyed this book.
.
This book follows three women as they search for one woman's "honeyman", a past romantic interest, which one of the women lost contact with three years prior on Jeju Island.
.
Like a lot of translated Korean fiction, the writing tended toward atmospheric and reflective. The way the relationships were handled between all parties was more mature than most novels involving romance. There was an underlying theme of the global shared lived-experiences of women and what we have to deal with and be aware of at all times.
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I would definitely recommend this book. It was a nice experience while reading.
May 2, 2024
As a bookworm, "Romancing on Jeju" by Hyun-Joo Park took me on a journey filled with friendship, romance, and a touch of intrigue. The vivid descriptions of Jeju Island transported me to its breathtaking landscapes, making me feel like I was right there alongside Romi and her friends.
While the premise of the story was promising, I found myself longing for more depth in the characters and their relationships. Romi, Hadam, and Chakyung each had intriguing backstories, but I wished for further exploration to truly connect with them on a deeper level.
The romantic elements were sweet and charming, adding a touch of whimsy to the narrative. However, I felt that the romance sometimes overshadowed the other aspects of the story, leaving me wanting more development in the mystery and danger hinted at in the synopsis.
Overall, "Romancing on Jeju" offered a pleasant escape into the world of friendship and self-discovery, but fell slightly short of my expectations in terms of character depth and plot complexity. Nonetheless, fans of romance and atmospheric settings may still find enjoyment in this novel.
While the premise of the story was promising, I found myself longing for more depth in the characters and their relationships. Romi, Hadam, and Chakyung each had intriguing backstories, but I wished for further exploration to truly connect with them on a deeper level.
The romantic elements were sweet and charming, adding a touch of whimsy to the narrative. However, I felt that the romance sometimes overshadowed the other aspects of the story, leaving me wanting more development in the mystery and danger hinted at in the synopsis.
Overall, "Romancing on Jeju" offered a pleasant escape into the world of friendship and self-discovery, but fell slightly short of my expectations in terms of character depth and plot complexity. Nonetheless, fans of romance and atmospheric settings may still find enjoyment in this novel.
April 24, 2024
Did I read the blurb in diagonal and not realize that this was going to turn into a murder mystery half way through the book? Yes, I did.
I liked it though, because I really didn’t see it coming. I was all ready for friends and romance and vacation, but it turned into a k-drama.
I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the twist and turns, and I liked Chakyung and Soo-eon’s romance the most, they were just the cutest to me. I got happy anytime it was their parts.
I think my issue with the story is that I was looking for close friends and this trio did not feel like a close knit unit. There was a certain distance between them, and when Hadam goes on a sanctimonious sermon to Chakyung because of her fiance, it ticked me off. The three women felt more like close acquaintances than close friends. And I think I would have loved to see their friendship develop more.
But all in all it was a pleasant read, and I definitely got surprised at many turns!
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!
I liked it though, because I really didn’t see it coming. I was all ready for friends and romance and vacation, but it turned into a k-drama.
I enjoyed the book, I enjoyed the twist and turns, and I liked Chakyung and Soo-eon’s romance the most, they were just the cutest to me. I got happy anytime it was their parts.
I think my issue with the story is that I was looking for close friends and this trio did not feel like a close knit unit. There was a certain distance between them, and when Hadam goes on a sanctimonious sermon to Chakyung because of her fiance, it ticked me off. The three women felt more like close acquaintances than close friends. And I think I would have loved to see their friendship develop more.
But all in all it was a pleasant read, and I definitely got surprised at many turns!
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC!
October 14, 2024
Ihan ok. Romantiikkaa, mehiläistenhoitoa ja jännitystä yhdistelevä kepeähkö romaani. Kolme ystävystä lähtee Jejulle eli Korean omalle lomasaarelle etsimään vuosia sitten yhdelle heistä flirttaillutta miestä, joka toimi mehiläistenhoitajana. Kyseinen mies löytyy lopulta, mutta samalla kuvioihin saapuu niin ex-miestä, tulevaa miestä kuin kaikenlaisia muita miehiä. Romantiikan keskellä on myös stalkkausta sekä suunnitelma kuningatarmehiläisen kaappaamiseksi. Kuulostaako sekavalta? Lukukokemus oli kyllä sekava ja rakenne turhan moniulotteinen. Olen käynyt Jejulla ja tykkäsin saaren kuvauksesta :) Sen sijaan perinteistä romantiikkaa en voi oikein sietää, onneksi tähän kirjaan mahtui myös vähän actionia ja lopulta vanhat naiset hoitavat homman kotiin 😍 Pelkkää romantiikkaa kaipaavalle voi olla pettymys, mutta genrehybrideistä pitävä voi löytää tästä kivan lukukokemuksen.
July 6, 2025
Reading this feels like watching a K-drama in my mind. The plot and topic are great, get to know more about bees and Jeju Island. The three best friends have their own romance story. I especially liked Chakyung's the most. However, Romi's story felt like the most genuine because of the her personality.
I really love story set in country side, and it's one of the reasons I picked up the book. However, it's still surprising that the side characters know each other, I mean even the one I didn't expected.
It is suitable for a summer read, since it's also set in the summer and also giving an exotic vibes. Innitially, I thought it's just all about the characters' romance. Turns out, there's also a little of mystery there! Really like those foreshadowing that keeps me wondering who's the villain and what are they up to, and also the plot twist. However, almost towards the end, I kinda did 2x speed read. Might be because I can see how the story will ends.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.
I really love story set in country side, and it's one of the reasons I picked up the book. However, it's still surprising that the side characters know each other, I mean even the one I didn't expected.
It is suitable for a summer read, since it's also set in the summer and also giving an exotic vibes. Innitially, I thought it's just all about the characters' romance. Turns out, there's also a little of mystery there! Really like those foreshadowing that keeps me wondering who's the villain and what are they up to, and also the plot twist. However, almost towards the end, I kinda did 2x speed read. Might be because I can see how the story will ends.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for a review.
May 6, 2024
A goofy ensemble cast, akin to modern kdrama romcoms, a surprise murder mystery element, and reinventing and rediscovering yourself plot line, I think this book is for you!
While I enjoy all the elements I listed above, this book didn’t work for me. And that’s okay, because it was still a cute book!
I think the weakest part here is the translation choice. I think culturally some pivotal elements got lost, and it made the writing feel clunky. While I think this book intends to be character driven, instead we get the shells of characters who I KNOW would be relatable if it weren’t for the issues with translation.
A fun and funky time, would love to read from this author again!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc!
While I enjoy all the elements I listed above, this book didn’t work for me. And that’s okay, because it was still a cute book!
I think the weakest part here is the translation choice. I think culturally some pivotal elements got lost, and it made the writing feel clunky. While I think this book intends to be character driven, instead we get the shells of characters who I KNOW would be relatable if it weren’t for the issues with translation.
A fun and funky time, would love to read from this author again!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc!
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