Two Women Living Together

by Kim Hana, Hwang Sunwoo

The big-hearted, bestselling South Korean memoir co-written by two best friends flouting gender norms and societal expectations with their decision to grow old together under one roof.

When most of their peers were moving in with romantic partners and having children, Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo chose independence—savoring solitude, quiet mornings, and the unmitigated freedom of living alone. But in their forties, something shifted, and they were met with a new, unexpected loneliness. Refusing to settle for the outdated choice between marriage or isolation, Hana and Sunwoo made a radical to buy a home and live together—not as lovers, not as roommates, but as chosen family.

Now a bustling household of two women and four cats, Hana and Sunwoo still value solitude, but can do so while sharing a life and its meaning with someone else. Together they navigate the challenges and comforts of cohabiting in midlife, the growing pains of interdependence and the unexpected rewards of compromise when you’ve grown set in your ways. From sick days to career wins to aging parents and beach-side retirement plans, they are redefining domestic bliss on their own terms, where love, partnership, and home are defined not by tradition, but by choice.

With warmth, wit, and sharp social insight, Hana and Sunwoo share their blueprint for building a life outside the scripts of marriage and society’s expectations for women. Two Women Living Together is a quiet revolution—a celebration of female friendship, community, and the many forms that love and family can take.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Memoir, Contemporary, Cats, Asia, Biography Memoir

251 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 22, 2019

Reviews

[Lavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

a realistic and inspiring look at what life/companionship/etc can look like outside of typical marriage/romantic conventions. I want to be these women and I absolutely loved this book

[Cheer is Currently Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

TWO WOMEN LIVING TOGETHER
RATING: 4.5
GENRE: Memoir, Nonfiction

This short, but poignant memoir redefines what family is. Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo, as two single 40-something women, choose to live together after many years of living ‘alone’. As they combine their households in order to have companionship, they struggle with the changes of now having a cohabitant sharing the same space.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as someone who lives alone and understands the idea that companionship does not necessarily have to equate to a romantic relationship. It is who we choose as our family and who we want to spend time with. While Hana and Sunwoo were friends before they decided on their current living arrangements, once the change occurs, they find out more about each other now that they live together. There’s many challenges as one is an organized and clean person, while the other is a ‘hoarder’. Yet, despite everything, they are there for each other in ways similar to a spouse, but without all the familial expectations.

This was such a sweet story of how these two women strive to break societal norms.I highly encourage everyone to read this memoir as both Hana and Sunwoo alternate and share their own experiences of cohabitation with a friend and what community and family is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ecco for a chance to read this book and check it on pub date 1/20/26! I can’t wait to pick up my own physical copy.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
If I had my life to do over and I wasn't happily married, I'd consider the lifestyle of these two women. They're breaking the mold on cultural and societal norms and it's refreshing to read.
I can't imagine the courage it takes to go into a situation like these two have but I'm so happy it's working out for them. Their alternating stories are funny.

[新新 Xin-Xin · Rating 5 out of 5]

真的好好看喔～覺得有獨居過的人會很有感＋三十幾歲以上女子更能體會。

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a delightful and heartwarming little book, filled with cute illustrations and beautifully curated photos. If you enjoy minimalist, artsy interior design, or soft furnishings aesthetic, or you’re a devoted cat lover, reading this book will likely be a soothing and enjoyable experience!

Beyond the visuals, the writing itself is light and effortlessly natural. The book centers around the daily interactions between two housemates, Hana and Sunwoo, told through their alternating perspectives. Reading this book is like watching a slice-of-life reality show. Despite their contrasting personalities and lifestyles, they always manage to reflect, communicate openly, and reach mutual understanding. This emotional honesty and balance in cohabitation is one of the book’s most compelling aspects.

Also, non-romantic cohabitation is another important topic in this book. It makes me rethink what intimacy really means.

Toward the end of the book, Sunwoo expresses a thought that resonates deeply:
互許終身，決定以婚姻這個強力約束綁住彼此，自然事件美好的事，但即便不是如此，在一個人的生命週期，假如能在某段時光相互照顧、成為彼此的依靠，不也是很溫暖嗎？既然個人欣然為彼此帶來這種福利，法律和制度就必須加以輔助才對。當有別於過往、形式多元的家庭變得更加穩固健康時，社會這個共同體的綜合幸福指數，必然也會跟著提升。
(Translation: Committing to spend your life with someone through the institution of marriage is, of course, a beautiful thing. But even outside of that, if two people can care for and rely on each other during a chapter of their lives, isn’t that also something warm and meaningful? If individuals willingly offer each other this kind of support, then laws and institutions should evolve to reflect and facilitate it. As these alternative forms of family become more stable and healthy, the overall happiness index of our society is bound to rise as well.)

What a beautiful and necessary perspective!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Hana and Sunwoo are two women in their forties who decide to platonically cohabitate in Seoul-- something that isn't too common in Korea's rigid family structure. This memoir chronicles the trials and tribulations of living together, as well as the camaraderie between them (and their four cats!) in a humorous dual narrative that may also serve well as a guide on how to live harmoniously with others.

[박은정 Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

간만에 말랑한 책.

[Sunkyoung Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

p. 17-18: 혼자의 정점을 찍었던 서핑 여행 이후로 나는 산 정상에서 하산하듯 자연스럽게 친구들과 같이 뭔가를 도모하는 쪽으로 서서히 변화했다. 당장 그해 가을에 두 친구와 함께 열흘 동안 일본으로 여행을 갔고, 다음 해 겨울부터는 지금의 동거인과 같이 살게 되었으니까. 여전히 나는 혼자 먹는 밥이 맛있고 혼자 하는 여행의 간편한 기동력을 사랑한다. 그런 한편으로 또 믿게 되었다. 혼자 하는 모든 일은 기억이지만 같이 할 때는 추억이 된다는 이야기를. 감탄도 투덜거림도, 내적 독백으로 삼킬 만큼 삼켜본 뒤에는 입 밖에 내서 확인하고 싶어진다.

p. 113-114: 나중에 심리학에서 나 같은 사람의 애착 관계 형성 양상을 회피 유형으로 분류한다는 걸 알았다. 공격적으로 말하기보다 부드럽게 둘러서 얘기하고, 마찰이 생길라 치면 상황을 외면해버리기에 독립적이고 쿨해 보이는 이런 사람들은 실은 비겁한 부류다. 실망하기 싫어서 기대하지 않은 척하고, 부딪치기 싫어서 크게 중요하지 않은 척하는. 인격이 성숙해서 잘 안 싸우는 사람이 전혀 아니라, 오히려 미숙해서 잘 못 싸우는 사람에 가까웠던 거다. 다투더라도 기분이 상했을 때 내 집으로 돌아와 동굴 같은 그곳에서 휴식을 취하면 되었으니까. 하지만 이번에는 통하지 않았다. 함께 사는 사람과 싸운다는 건 도망갈 곳이 없어진 거다. 지금까진 누구와의 갈등도 이렇게까지 깊게 제대로 해결할 필요까진 없었다면 이제 절벽을 뒤에 둔 느낌으로 최선을 다해 임해야 한다. 제대로 잘 싸워야 한다.

p. 115: 이 싸움의 목적이 뭔지 생각해본다. 나의 가장 잘 드는 무기를 찾아 쥐고 한 번에 숨통이 끊어지게 적의 급소에 꽂는 것인가? 다시는 일어날 수 없도록 흠씬 두들겨 패서 밟아버리는 것인가? 함께 사는 사람, 같이 살아가야 하는 사람과의 싸움은 잊어버리기 위한 싸움이다. 삽을 들고 감정의 물길을 판 다음 잘 흘려보내기 위한 싸움이다. 제자리로 잘 돌아오기 위한 싸움이다.
사람은 혼자서도 행복할 수 있지만 자신의 세계에 누군가를 들이기로 결정한 이상은, 서로의 감정과 안녕을 살피고 노력할 수 밖에 없다. 우리는 계속해서 싸우고, 곧 화해하고 다시 싸운다. 반복해서 용서했다가 또 실망하지만 여전히 큰 기대를 거는 일을 포기하지 않는다. 서로에게 계속해서 기회를 준다. 그리고 이렇게 이어지는 교전 상태가, 전혀 싸우지 않을 때의 허약한 평화보다 훨씬 건강함을 나는 안다.

p. 119: 동거인의 상사였던 이혜주 편집장님이 결혼 생활에 대해 이런 말씀을 하셨다고 한다. "둘만 같이 살아도 단체 생활이다." 동거인에게 가장 중요한 자질은 서로 라이프 스타일이 맞느냐 안 맞느냐보다, 공동 생활을 위해 노력할 마음이 있느냐 없느냐에 달렸을 것 같다. 그래야 갈등이 생겨도 봉합할 수 있다.

p. 205: 운동에 대해 내가 롤모델로 삼는 사람은 인스타에 가득한 몸짱 트레이너도, 어떤 프로 운동선수도 아닌 김하나의 어머니다. "느그, 늙으면 자신감이 어디서 나오는지 아나? 체력이다." 김하나의 어머니는 체구가 작고 언제나 몸이 약해서 늘 누워 계셨다는데, 40대 이후에 꾸준히 요가와 수영을 해오면서 지금은 이렇게 말씀하시는 정도가 되었다. 언젠가 우리를 부산역에 데려다주시면서 어머니는, 40대에 한창 수영을 배울 때 처음 잠영에 성공했던 이야기를 들려주셨다. "어떤 사람이 수영장 레인 끝에서 끝까지 숨을 참고 단번에 헤엄쳐 가는 거야. 저 사람은 참 대단하고 멋있구나 싶었는데 나는 그리 못할 것 같았어, 절대로. 숨을 도저히 못 참을 거 같더라고. 그런데 어느 날 한번 결심을 하고 나도 되는 데까지만 가보자, 했더니만 끝까지 갈 수가 있더라고. 숨 한 번도 안 쉬고 말이야. 어찌나 기본이 좋던지, 응? 그러니까 뭐든 안 된다고 생각하지 말고 한번 해보는 것도 좋아."

[Remi · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a gentle and grounded collection of essays about two women in their thirties who choose to share a home, share the logistics of living, and slowly, quietly, share a life. what i enjoyed most was how ordinary the book allows itself to be. instead of stretching for big emotional revelations or dramatic friendship narratives, kim hana and hwang sunwoo focus on the very real day-to-day: how to divide chores, how to navigate differing habits, how a shared space becomes a shared rhythm.

the friendship here is never forced into sentimentality; it grows through grocery lists, weekend cleaning, silent mornings, and the ongoing negotiation of personal boundaries. there’s a certain tenderness in how they allow one another to simply exist.

this makes the book a comforting, steady read, something that feels particularly relatable for millennial women building self-chosen support systems outside of traditional family structures. i also appreciated how the essays highlight companionship as a valid and meaningful form of intimacy, without having to label or explain it.

it’s a light read in tone (i found myself picking it up before bed), but the themes linger: how we create home, how we care for others, and how friendship can be a long-term life practice.

in a nutshell: a quiet, reflective book about living alongside another person and letting that gentle closeness reshape your world.

-------

ditching gender norms and societal expectations...it could be an important book for me ;)

*thank you to Ecco for the ARC*

[Eseink Kuo · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘’無論家庭的型態是什麼樣子，我們會彼此依靠，也會帶著兩倍的快樂走過人生的各種曲折。‘’

‘’對於越不了解、越疏遠、越缺乏愛的對象，就越容易將其一般化，就算被胡亂包在一起互相抵銷也無所謂。‘’

‘’同居人來說，最重要的特質不是生活方式是否契合，而是有沒有心為了共同生活努力。‘’

‘’一個人做的一切都會變成記憶，但和別人一起做，就會變成回憶。‘’

好喜歡書裡的兩位主角，獨立卻又能互相扶持陪伴的女性，喜歡他們對生活的堅持，對韓國不平等的性別文化的反思，是我想要成為的大人模樣。和好友G一起住的這兩年是我工作後不可獲缺的快樂來源，讓我不知不覺中對這個這個我曾經以為我一輩子都無法喜歡的城市產生了一種稱之為家的依戀，謝謝妳的陪伴。

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very wholesome lil book with lil blurbs about Hana and Sunwoo, two friends who cohabitate platonically and own a home together. An enjoyable read that made me want to adopt 2-4 more cats immediately!!!

[阿近 · Rating 5 out of 5]

　　去年就留意到《兩個女人住一起：非關愛情的同居時代》，即使是有婚姻關係或血緣關係的親人，都有可能因為錢財因素起糾紛甚至撕破臉，兩位作者並非伴侶也不是親戚，她們做出共同購屋的決定時，是如何將雙方的權責劃分清楚？又是什麼因素促成她們選擇與同性友人同住的決定呢？我很好奇金荷娜與黃善宇兩位作者經歷了怎麼樣的心路歷程決定一起購屋同住，總算有時間拿起這本書拜讀解惑。

　　本作由金荷娜、黃善宇共同執筆而成，她們在書中分享兩人相識熟稔的過程，來往中仔細觀察對方的品格、喜好、價值觀、金錢觀是否相近，一起償還房屋貸款，同住後生活習慣不同的磨合期與朝夕相處發現同居人值得尊敬的優點，相伴後感受到的快樂‧‧‧‧‧‧等等經歷。兩位作者的文筆流暢優美，引人會心一笑的妙喻俯拾皆是，一月底的時候精神比較緊繃，讀得相當緩慢，這幾天情緒較放鬆，心無罣礙的狀態下這次迅速而順暢地讀完了。

　　書中第一個觸動我的敘述，是金、黃兩人個別描述自己在獨身生活裡從享受到疲憊的瞬間，從某一刻起感受到與人相伴而行的溫暖與獨自時無人可分享的寂寥，兩者帶來的負荷與溫度差。金荷娜女士自述：

　　「那是在釜山爸媽家過夜的某天早上。爸媽一大早就在準備早餐，瓦斯爐上不知道在煮什麼，發出咕嘟咕嘟的沸騰聲。我很自然地被擱放碗盤時互相碰撞的聲音吵醒，聞到了米飯和湯的香味。我在聲響與香氣之中躺臥著，覺得好溫暖、好溫暖，莫名有點想流淚。這些之所以會讓我覺得那麼溫暖，也意味著我獨自在靜謐早晨起床時的溫度並非如此。自從那天早晨之後，我開始留意自己一個人住時必須耗費的能量，尤其到了晚上，我會不自覺地花很多力氣在胡思亂想與不安感上頭。可能就是在那個時間點，那種疲勞感超越了獨自生活的輕盈與享受。」（金，頁七）

　　至今我與人相處收獲到的正向感受仍然遠遠比不上獨處時所體會到的自在悠然，但讀著這段情境描述，不知為何能夠同理那種心情。而看到黃善宇女士的體悟則是讓我思考著是否會有那麼一天，因為忍受不了只能將內心的感嘆吞嚥下去的滋味，而重新選擇新的生活方式？或者尋找適當的人生夥伴一起共度餘生？雖然頻率不多，但偶爾獨自嚥下所有情緒的體驗像是泛起漣漪的水面一樣，忽然出現，頃刻間又恢復平靜，看似沒有留下任何痕跡的那瞬間寂寞開始漫延到身周。或許這樣的情緒堆疊到某個程度後，我會做出不同於以往的改變也不一定？我忍不住這麼想。

　　「我依然覺得獨自吃的飯很美味，也熱愛獨自旅行的簡便機動性，但另一方面也開始相信，一個人座的一切都會成為記憶，但和別人一起做，就會變成回憶。嘗過把那些感嘆或嘀咕，都像內心獨白般把它們吞下去的滋味後，我開始想要把它們說出口了。」（黃，頁十四）

　　兩位作者皆年過四十，這個年紀多半已累積豐富的社會經歷，對於自己想要追求的生活與不想要的生活應該也有了較清明的意識了吧？至少金荷娜女士就表現出這種清醒，即使體會到自己想脫離獨居生活，也很明白不能為了擺脫現在的痛苦而胡亂作出選擇，盲目地跳進婚姻制度，以下這段話也令我心有戚戚焉，讓我覺得有這番認知的金女士好帥氣、好俐落喔！

　　「但結婚似乎不是答案。為了逃避獨處的疲累就跳進婚姻制度、婆家生活和父權制之中，無疑是自投羅網的愚蠢行為。假如真有魅力爆棚、足以把我變成愛情傻子的男人突然出現，也許就很難說，但這也不是我想要的，於是我很自然地開始摸索其他的生活方式。」（金，頁七）

　　兩人在同住期間也體會到許多新的經驗，首先是磨合期的兩人在吵架中學會道歉與溝通的技術，黃善宇女士是熱衷購物而不諳整理的人、金荷娜女士則是有極簡主義精神的人，這樣的兩人從搬家初期開始就因物品數量的標準不一致、家務分配不均造成的內心不平衡而起了衝突，反覆爭執、道歉、和好後，她們找到了適切的步調，讓自己和同居人在新家都能快活度日。兩人不是擁有血緣羈絆的親人，也不是締結婚姻關係的伴侶，正因她們只是兩名選擇彼此成為同居室友的朋友，為了日後能夠長期自在相處，勢必得協調出兩人都能接受的生活方式與權責劃分。我很喜歡她們敘述體認到雙方既然要同住，就必須有為共同生活努力的共識、要有照顧對方感受的認知，總覺得在這拉鋸戰的過程裡，她們已經磨合出健康良好的同居心態。

　　「一個人雖然也能幸福，但既然決定讓某個人進入自己的世界，就必須照顧彼此的感受與狀態，為此付出努力。我們仍會吵架，快速和好後，再繼續吵。儘管一再原諒對方後又會失望，但我們依舊沒有放棄期望，不斷給彼此機會。而我知道，持續交戰的狀態，比完全不吵架時的脆弱和平要健康得多。」（黃，頁一一一）

　　「對同居人來說，最重要的特質不是生活方式是否契合，而是有沒有心為了共同生活努力。唯有如此，就算產生衝突，也才能夠修補關係。」（金，頁一一五）

　　「這段時間彼此慢慢放下的，是企圖控制對方的心，取而代之的，是將兩人共同的理想住家樣貌與狀態、各自想確保的私人空間明確說清楚，並一起努力達成。試圖改變對方只會帶來爭吵，這件事從一開始就不可能發生。兩人一起為了相同目標努力，才是團體生活需要的團隊精神。」（金，頁一一五至頁一一六）

　　金荷娜女士、黃善宇女士輪流寫生活發生的大小事，兩人本身都各有才情，對私生活也有自己的喜好與品味，分享見聞時會讓我有「喔喔——原來在這種情況下可以獲得小小的感動啊！」例如，金女士分享收到向摯友黃英珠訂製的美麗書櫃時的感動改變她對家的認知（金荷娜〈自炊族何時會變成獨身族？〉）、兩人在新家裝修的忙碌期間思考著能讓她們確實獲得幸福感的事物是什麼。順道一提，我很喜歡文章裡分享濟州島書店老闆李榮珠的體悟：「幸福是獲得保障的未來」這個答案。（金荷娜〈奶油就是幸福！〉）

　　我很喜歡她們觀察生活細微變化的敏銳心思，這份心思讓她們在同居日常裡的每一樣新發現，都化為對同居人的進一步理解或欣賞，同時深刻體會到同居生活為自身帶來的變化。讀完一個人眼中所見所感後，接著在下一篇文章讀另一個人眼中的新生活，可以互相對照她們感想的相同與迥異之處裡得到更多樂趣。像是黃善宇女士所寫的〈兩種人〉一文，兩人都是書蟲，但奉行的購書原則有些許差異，衝突之後確立了空間守則，兩人也分別因為對方的因素而受惠。

　　作者們聊書、聊音樂、聊料理都很有意思，黃善宇女士精於烹飪，也樂於用食物取悅身邊親友，所以文章裡還可以看到她分享為了回報或褒獎同居人辛勤打理家裡環境的努力，會在閒暇時間細心準備的食物聊表心意，兩人之間互相回饋的氣氛讓我覺得很美好和悅，而黃女士也是對下廚樂在其中的人，那份很開心為你們準備這些美味料理的喜悅都在字裡行間流露出來了。

　　我對《兩個女人住一起：非關愛情的同居時代》感興趣的理由，除了第一段陳述的部份以外，另一個原因可能是想看看不一樣的生活方式吧。要是未來我有類似的念頭，想找志同道合的夥伴一起同住、互相扶持，就可以從這本書參考前輩們的經驗和她們遇到的坎。整本書讀起來散發著恰到好處的舒適，兩人一起打拼整頓出來的家、熟悉的同居人，這裡能夠讓彼此非常安心生活下去的氣氛，書裡有提供作者們在家的照片，還有四隻貓咪的居家照和文字介紹來歷個性，熱愛貓咪的我看得非常開心，同時覺得這些安排體現出金女士、黃女士將貓咪們視為家人的用心。

[totesintobooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I find so deeply empowering about this book is how it centres two single women who choose to live together, quietly but firmly stepping outside what society tells us a “complete” life should look like. A huge part of why I loved this book so much is how uncannily relatable it felt to me:
single ✔️
have a cat / cats ✔️
don’t see myself getting married anytime soon ✔️
plan to live alone ✔️

Reading about their anxieties around living alone felt visceral and honest, and it made me pause to consider the kind of life I might build if I chose to move out and live independently. The book doesn’t just romanticise cohabitation; it shows both its beauty and its friction—the negotiations, the compromises, the slow learning of how to live with another person, especially when one is meticulously tidy and the other leans towards hoarding. One line that stayed with me was Sunwoo recalling what her boss said on marriage, “Living together with someone is communal living. The best partner isn't someone whose lifestyle matches yours but someone who is willing to put in the effort to create a lifestyle with you.”

I loved how these ruminations naturally open into reflections on marriage itself—how it, too, is a form of cohabitation, only layered with in-laws, expectations, and the labour of maintaining familial ties. What Sunwoo and Hana have may not exist on paper, but it quietly redefines traditional relationships. It feels like a deeply viable, even hopeful, option for singles who might otherwise fear growing old alone. They show up for one another in moments of grief and uncertainty, and they champion each other’s dreams with tenderness and resolve.

Another aspect that resonated so strongly with me is that they’re cat parents. I couldn’t help but think of how my parents didn’t want another cat after my previous one passed, and how I still snuck Ehsan home one day because I wanted to be a cat mum regardless. This passage truly undid me:

“A happy life isn’t achieved by preparing for and avoiding pain, loss and agony. Without those, perhaps life wouldn’t be life at all. Had I known about the difficulties of watching my cats grow old and sick, and the pain of saying goodbye, would I have given up the life that Haku and I have built together? But the moments before the farewell, the moments when we love with every fibre of our being, the memories that rekindle a loved one’s peculiarity, and those that sometimes bring us pain — aren’t those the pieces that make up the fabric of life?”

It made me think about companionship in a broader sense—about choosing love despite impermanence, about how sharing a life, even platonically, can bring double the joy and halve the pain. A pain shared really is a pain softened.

This is a non-fiction book not to be missed!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

TWO WOMEN LIVING TOGETHER, a memoir by 황선우 & 김하나 (translated by Gene Png), was a tender, informative, and at times funny look at two Korean women in their forties who are single, with marriage not in their future. These two friends decide it’s better to live with someone than alone, purchase an apartment together in Seoul, South Korea, and build a family of their own, going against traditional family structure and societal norms.

I especially liked:

How they go into detail about how the idea formed, the steps they took, and the nitty-gritty of what worked and what they had to navigate together. I especially appreciated the chapters on finances. Money plays such a huge role in our lives, and it would have felt unrealistic for two people to buy a home together without honest conversations about it.

I also appreciated how often they acknowledge their differences, how they had to work through them, make compromises, and ultimately be okay with not being the same.

I did have a few complaints, though most felt like possible editing issues. Rather than a cohesive memoir, the book reads more like a collection of essays, and the overall flow isn’t very strong. (That said, this did make it easier to pick back up.)

There isn’t much of a plot and the pace is slow, but I still appreciated each essay, especially for anyone considering the big step of buying a home and moving in with a friend who can become your legal 보호자, a lifelong (platonic) partner. (Why do we focus so much on romantic partners, yet rarely give the same weight or importance to platonic friendships?)

Overall, I really liked this book for what it was and I’m glad it exists.

I don’t believe life is meant to be lived alone. This book was heartwarming in the way it encourages people to defy societal norms and “take the next step in life” by creating their own family, regardless of whatever “configuration” that might be.

[Erin Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Women Living Together
by Kim Hana & Hwang Sunwoo
translated by Gene Png

Thank you to Ecco for the ARC.

Two Women Living Together is a quiet, thoughtful memoir about choosing companionship on one’s own terms. Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo write candidly about deciding, in midlife, to share a home not as romantic partners or roommates, but as chosen family. What unfolds is not a manifesto, but a lived-in reflection on how care, responsibility, and love can exist outside traditional structures.

The alternating voices work well. Each woman brings her own temperament, habits, and anxieties to the arrangement, and the book never pretends that cohabitation is effortless. Differences in cleanliness, finances, solitude, and emotional needs are handled with honesty and humor. The result feels grounded rather than idealized.

What resonated most for me was the way the memoir reframes loneliness. It acknowledges the freedom of living alone, while also naming the quiet ache that can appear later in life when independence no longer feels like enough. Their solution is neither nostalgic nor radical for its own sake. It is simply intentional.

The cultural context adds depth. The expectations placed on women in South Korea around marriage and family make their choice especially meaningful, and the book offers insight into how social norms shape personal decisions, often invisibly.

Warm, observant, and gently affirming, this memoir expands the idea of what a shared life can look like, especially as we age.
4 stars.

[Drea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quietly radical in the best way. Two Women Living Together isn’t just about cohabitation: it’s a thoughtful reimagining of what family, partnership, and a meaningful life can look like outside of romantic or traditional frameworks. Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo show that choosing a life together as friends isn’t a consolation prize or a deviation, but a fully intentional, deeply loving way to age, grow, and belong.

What I appreciated most is how honest they are about the tension between independence and interdependence. They don’t romanticize living together, but they also don’t frame it as a compromise. Instead, they explore how care, companionship, and shared responsibility can exist without romance or marriage, and how powerful that can be, especially for women navigating midlife in a society that often offers only two options: coupledom or loneliness.

The book is warm, funny, and quietly defiant. It made me think about chosen family in a broader sense and about how many lives don’t fit the standard script but are no less rich or complete. This is a comforting, affirming read for anyone who has questioned traditional milestones or wondered whether there are other ways to build a life rooted in connection and care. It feels both deeply personal and socially important, and it stayed with me long after I finished.

Heartfelt thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Elena L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ 4.5/5 stars ]

This is about Sunwoo and Hana, two women and four cats living together (W2C4).

By following the lives of two Korean women with overlapping tastes, this book exposes the aloneness in contemporary Korean society. As they defy traditional familial structures, gender roles and societal expectations, their experiences as unmarried provide fresh and unique perspectives that personally turn into deep reflections.

Ultimately, this is about navigating life, showing the complexity of living with a cohabitant that means challenges but on the other hand, companionship (that evoked some emotions). Some aspects that I found interesting are the themes of house ( "The house is the reflection of the people living in it." ); minimalist x maximalist; self-care (when a person with family yearns to be alone) and caring for others ( "But doing things for others adds joy and zest into our lives" , an idea that I like to adopt).

I read TWO WOMEN LIVING TOGETHER (tr. Gene Png) in two sittings and this book works for those navigating adulthood. In short, I found this co-written memoir propulsive and quite insightful.

[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Ecco books . All opinions are my own ]

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, REALLY enjoyed this story of platonic female friendship between two 40 year old Korean roommates who have consciously decided to live single - TOGETHER - and this co-written memoir is both funny, heartfelt and a great example of why more people might want to consider a lifestyle like theres.

They share a series of humorous and relatable anecdotes about why their situation and relationship works so well in addition to some of the pluses and negatives. I picked this up on a whim and honestly can't recommend it enough, especially if you enjoy stories about great female friendship and older women living life how they want, flouting societal expectations with no regrets.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review! Fans of books like B.F.F., Share your stuff, I'll go first or These precious days by Ann Pratchett won't want to miss this one!

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review***

This charming collection of short essays from two South Korean women close in age and similarly successful who combined forces to create their own unit, which includes their four cats. Their appreciation for each other and their circumstances is apparent, as are some of the challenges they had to overcome to achieve this level of harmony. I especially enjoyed their take on how the lack of obligation towards each others' parents (because they weren't in the dreaded role of daughter-in-law) allowed them to have a better relationship with them. I also loved how obsessed they are with their cats because, um, same. It's heartening to hear of women choosing their own means of attaining fulfilling lives despite societal pressures to choose a different path. Their open-mindedness was refreshing.

[Annie Tate Cockrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently translated from Korean this is a memoir about two adult women who are good friends and roommates. We alternate between chapters written by each woman. At moments it felt a little self help-y (neutral) - giving the reader wisdom about communication, cohabitation, and (maybe surprisingly) financial matters. We also get a really interesting look at aspects of Korean culture that I wasn’t privy to before reading. Overall it was a very sweet book that I’m happy I got to read. Thanks to the publisher for a galley - Two Women Living Together comes out in January 2026.

3.5

[Melissa Cecil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two Women Living Together was a short, heartwarming read about friends choosing to support one another through life. I hope that sharing more stories like this will encourage readers to think beyond societal pressures and recognize that true happiness and companionship don’t have to come in the form of romantic partnerships. The stories of these women (and their cats!) highlight their unique differences and show how beautifully they complement each other. I could genuinely feel how deeply they cared for one another. A fantastic read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[em]

While I really enjoyed the message behind this and the solidarity of female friendships, I feel like it didn’t need to book a book. I found myself bored while reading, it would have worked better as an essay/article. The chapters felt repetitive and nothing really happened. It was an interesting insight into everyday life, but still hard to stay focused.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TwoWomenLivingTogether #Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.

[aska · Rating 5 out of 5]

非常に羨ましい関係、煩わしい嫁姑問題もなく、「気持ちよく」気遣いができる関係って良い。この2人を私の近しい友人と私との関係に置き換えて終始読んでいたけど、その人生はそれはそれで大変だろうなと思いつつ、大学の寮生活を働きながら続けると考えたら妥当かなと思った。1番画期的だと思ったのは家事分担を平等にするために、どちらか一方が多く家事を負担した時には、やらなかった方がお金を払うということ。確かにこれは、家事に対価が払われるので、合理的だしお互いが納得できるならいいけど。。。例えば同居人との収入格差がある場合に、とかまたは労働時間の格差がある時にどれほど家事を多くやった対価として払っているのかは緊張を孕む問題になり得るかも。。。？同性異性関係なく

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable true life story about two women who choose to live and make their lives together, unromantically.

I live this life. I've lived with my best friend and our cats for the last 19 years. I wouldn't change a single thing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Lonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

나와 정반대의 삶을 사는 사람들의 이야기처럼 보인다. 비혼에, 아이는 없지만 고양이는 있으며, 일을 하고 술을 마시고 친구들이 많고 돈에 여유가 있는 삶. 신기한건 아무리 나와 달라도 생각이나 느낌이 겹치는 부분이 있다는 것. 기분이 좋은 읽기였다.

그리고 내 동거인이 있어서 정말 다행이라고 느꼈다. 다 떠나가도 나와 함께 남아줄 그와 함께 사는 일은 세상에서 제일 다행인 일이다.

[Erika]

早々に飽きてしまってDNFするけれど、こういう「普通」という同調圧力に押しつぶされずに、自分たちが心地のいい生活ができてる人のみるのは、気持ちがいい。
特に、韓国と日本は儒教思想の強さとか似てるし、文化的にもよく似てるので、日本でも同じくらい「普通」がバリエーション豊富になればいいのに、と思った。

…が、如何せん、知らん人の事を300以上のページも読むのは飽きてしまう…
もしかしたら、韓国語で読んだらクスッと笑える面白い文章なのかもしれんが、日本語だとなんだが淡泊で…

[la · Rating 5 out of 5]

非！常！可！爱！的！一！本！书！！！
读完以后，我的大脑像被两位女士按在她们的W2C4的家里狠狠按摩了一顿。看到后面她俩给猫猫和房子拍的照片，隔着屏幕我都能感受到她俩对自己生活、自己家、自己猫猫浓浓的满足与自豪感，我每每点开一张照片，都要在心里发出很恶心的哼唧叫声哈哈哈哈。
我之前一直觉得以后也没有必要买房，自己一个人租房过日子也挺不错，但是读的时候不止一次冒出似乎有个完完全全属于自己的房子也很不错，似乎拥有一个同居人也很不错的想法。但仔细想想，与人同居所要付出的时间、精力十分巨大，目前来看，我应该是不想这么付出的。真希望以后的社会能对选择独身生活的人更加友好，从方方面面。

[rosie2046 · Rating 5 out of 5]

一开始还想两位作者交替这么讲述 我可能会分不清谁是谁
但是还没读到一半
就已然熟悉两位的文字风采了
黄善宇的文字稳重温柔 金荷娜的文字妙趣横生
但是前者是破坏大王 后者是家政精灵多比
交朋友 即使志趣相投到可以同居的程度
依旧会有很多沟壑需要弥合和填补
适应对方的生活习惯的同时也是更加了解自己的喜好的过程吧
给予也是某种程度上的获得
即使没有爱情和家庭 只要有归属感的集体和群体
我们一样可以获得安稳和幸福

[Wenjing Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

有一点疑惑这本书的目标受众是谁？是困在婚姻里想要离开的女性，还是希望永远独身但为潜在的寂寞而担忧的女性？但似乎前者不会有机会看到，而如我这样的后者也不需要这类书写。这样说是因为，阻碍我们和好友“购房同居”的并非任何观念问题，而是经济，“半年就还了购房贷款的一半”在我生活的城市绝对没有任何可能，那“同居磨合”也就是不那么重要的议题了。虽然也探讨了关于单身社会的话题，落在支持女性政治家和追求“制度”的改进无可厚非，但倒数几节里写到“终有一天会分开”让我委实有一些不解。最后想大声辱骂一下中文版的这个译名，“两个女人住在一起”多好啊

[isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

so wholesome; my heart is full