Dreamt I Found You

by Jimin Han

From the critically acclaimed author of The Apology, a contemporary retelling of Korea’s Romeo & Juliet, in which the cousin of the star-crossed lovers helps them avoid a tragic fate.

When Dahee Shin was nine years old, she made a promise to protect her favorite cousin, Channing, who has always been like a sister to her. Now, at thirty, Dahee has found herself in a Korean American community in a New England beach town, once more running to the rescue of her debt-ridden relative.

Ever the idealist, Channing—who has spent her life haunted by the tragic story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s parallel Romeo & Juliet—has fallen in love with Minjae Oh, all the while fending off the advances of powerful, manipulative Kent Cho, a local politician. As Channing and Minjae’s romance blossoms, and as Kent's suspicion and obsession grow, Dahee begins to realize that it may be up to her to make sure her cousin and beloved escape Chunhyang and Mongryong’s doomed end.
 
For fans of Hello Beautiful, Dreamt I Found You is a wondrous, tender retelling of Korea's most classic love story, steeped in the travails of a rigid class system, the power of premonition, and shot through with Korean folklore and magic.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Retellings, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Aapi

320 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2026

About the author

Jimin Han was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in Providence, Rhode Island; Dayton, Ohio; and Jamestown, New York. Her work has been supported by the New York State Council on the Arts. She is the author of The Apology and A Small Revolution. Additional writing of hers can be found online at American Public Media's Weekend America, Poets & Writers, and Catapult, among others. She teaches at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College, Pace University, and community writing centers. She lives outside New York City with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋆˙⟡♡ Dahee and Channing have always been like sisters to each other, and when they were nine years old, Dahee promised to protect and be there for her. So when Channing mentions that she feels uncomfortable with Kent Cho, a local politician who keeps making advances at her, Dahee leaves New York to stay with her cousin in a Korean American community in New England. At this time, Channing falls in love with Minjae Oh, which reminds both her and Dahee of the love story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, especially when Kent’s obsession grows. Dahee realizes that the story and the love birds’ romance are eerily similar, and she makes it her responsibility to rescue her cousin from such a tragic end.



✦•┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈•✦



⋆˙⟡♡ TL;DR: Although this was slightly disappointing, there were parts of the story that were either crazy to read or were entertaining. Harabeoji was the best.



⋆˙⟡♡ This was an okay read for me. I really liked how the characters were living out the story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, and I was super invested when I noticed the parallels. The writing was sometimes hard to understand, or it didn’t flow very well, and the pacing was kinda all over the place. The beginning of the book was slow, but once we hit that 50% mark, oh boy, no one could pry the book out of my hands. I had to know what was going to happen.

Also, having Dahee as the narrator made it hard to connect with any of the characters because Dahee herself is a closed-off person who likes to keep to herself (which, you know, same 🙋‍♀). And a lot was going on, especially concerning her cousin Channing, that it felt odd that we see it all through Dahee’s eyes and not Channing’s or even in a third pov where we can get a clearer picture of who and what everyone is and the nuance behind that, and not have it as a “this person is good; that person is bad; end of story.” But since Dahee admired and loved Harabeoji so much, I really got to know him as a character, and he became a favorite because he was just so caring, kind, and wise–literally the best. 🥹 But the other characters? Well, let’s discuss them.



I have mixed feelings about Channing. On the one hand, I wasn’t annoyed with her or her personality (to a certain extent) because all sorts of people make the world go round. She’s a spontaneous person who likes to think about the here and now, and that’s something I’ve always admired in people because I’m the exact opposite. 😂 However, she is a thirty-year-old woman, okay. When she meets Minjae and their romance blossoms, she acts like a sixteen-year-old who is consumed by “the love of their life.” Like, she depended so much on Dahee to cover for her and her responsibilities. Minjae was no help because he was basically the same as Channing, and they were gone most of the time, running around town like they didn’t have jobs or other stuff that needed to be done. I mean, I understand why Channing wouldn’t want to be anywhere near where Kent could find her (I’ll get to him), but, girl, you are an adult, not a lovesick teenager. You just met the guy. Let’s try to be a little bit more responsible and a little less I-go-where-the-wind-and-my-heart-takes-me because you got stuff to do, honey, and Dahee has a life of her own. But, overall, Channing wasn’t too bad, and I think she was still a good character that needed to be protected at all costs from that obsessive asshole (pardon my French).

Okayyy, now let’s talk about Kent. The audacity this man has…is insane. My jaw was hanging open whenever new information came up about him or when he was trying to literally corner Channing to get what he wanted from her. My guy, that’s not how you win a woman’s heart. And, news flash, she doesn’t love you and never will! What you’re doing is what we like to call harassment. You should be under police surveillance, but that’s not freaking possible, is it, since everyone and their grandma literally thinks you can do no wrong. Lock him up! Oh my gosh, I was about ready to throw my phone at the wall. Kent frustrated me soooo much. I wanted to kick him where it hurts and make sure he ended up in jail because what he was doing and what he did was unacceptable and downright disgusting. Like, sir, why is no one investigating you?? All I’m seeing is red because of all the red flags flapping in my face every time Kent appeared, and from my anger at the lengths he was willing to go to get what he wanted. Once he showed up, I didn’t even need to read the rest of the book to want justice. Ugh, I felt so bad for Channing. No one deserves to live in fear and paranoia just because someone can’t hear the word no and is a manipulative jerk. Absolutely crazy. I was just shocked.



But the ending was both good and disappointing. The conflicts and problems were dealt with, but I didn’t really understand how that came to be. Was justice served? I feel like it was all anticlimactic after everything the characters have been through. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad because it seemed like there were issues that needed to be dealt with, mainly surrounding Kent. It all just felt a little too convenient compared to how serious the conflict was.

Overall, this was still an interesting and entertaining read, for the most part. If a story can evoke any kind of emotion from me, then it’s a pretty good story. 😁👍🏼

𖤓 Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. 𖤓

❗Content Warnings❗
Assault, stalking, death of loved ones, & mentions kidnapping.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only mentions kissing.

[Liana Gold]

A contemporary retelling of Korea's Romeo & Juliet love story steeped in travails of a rigid class system. Beautiful, tender, emotional.


Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and the author, Jimin Han for an early copy.

Publication date: April 28, 2026

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love wins out over everything.”

As an educator, I’ve always sought out cross-cultural stories for my classroom. I’m fascinated, not only with an entertaining story, but with the characters, setting and outcomes that are shaped by the various cultures. This story gave me a glimpse into Korean values, customs and beliefs and had me appreciating the value of diversity and empathy.

The novel opens with a retelling of Chunhyang and Mongryong before the author begins her contemporary retelling of this Korean Romeo and Juliet fairytale.

When nine-year-old Dahee Shin promises to protect her cousin, Channing, she has no idea that twenty years later she’ll still be running to her rescue. Channing has fallen in love with Minjae Oh (think of the star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet), but is struggling to deal with the overbearing presence of Kent Cho. Without Dahee’s help, the lovers are headed towards a tragic fate. You’ll be swept up in a story where you think you know the ending, but the tension and pacey plotting keep you turning pages.

I enjoyed a fascinating story highlighting the Korean class system, the value of folklore and storytelling, and the reminder of the importance of not ignoring your gift. I think this will be a well-received story because of the quality of writing, the resonating parallel of fighting society to be together, fiercely believing in love in all its forms, and appreciating the freedom to be our truest selves, in addition to the value of family.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han, Dahee and her cousin who she shared her birthday with Channing, would love to hear their grandfather who they calledBarabeoji, tell the story of Chunhyung and Mongryung. unlike the fairytales of Western countries this was a story told and song, Channing couldn’t get enough of hearing it. Little did the girls know but much later while Dahee would come to visit one summer and how much Channing’s life would mirror the romance she loved so much. Dahee was only supposed to visit for a few days but would absolutely extend that., when she noticed a popular guy around their Korean beachside community wouldn’t take no for an answer. Little does the two cousins know that Kent isn’t going to be the only grievance visited to them that summer but as I say after a storm outcomes the sun. I absolutely loved this book and just as a bonus there’s not only one swooney part but two… There are many things I loved about this book but I think my favorite part was that she just mentioned they were Korean and told the story like a normal person she didn’t say we’re Korean and here’s all the bad things America has put on us for being Korean she left all that out and just told a great tale. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books from those of another culture and see just how a like we all are in the end plus be entertained at the same time needs to read this book. I loved it I loved it! #NetGalley, #MyHonestReview#TheBlindReviewer,

[Arielle Fishman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compact, well-paced, readable story about the power of familial and romantic love, with a coastal New England backdrop and rich infusions of Korean culture.
--
The premise:

The book begins with a prologue: Our protagonist is a nine-year-old girl, and her beloved grandfather, called Harabeoji, tells her and her cousin a fairytale.

It’s a Cinderella story: girl (Chunhyang) meets boy (Mongryong). They come from different social classes and so they cannot be together. They sneak around for a while. But then, the boy and his family move far away. The girl, left behind, is pursued by an evil man who is rich and powerful. She rejects him and so he throws her in jail. Finally, the boy rescues her, and they live happily ever after.
--
Cousin to the rescue:

Flash forward to the present: Dreamt I Found You is told from the point of view of Dahee, a 30-year-old Korean-American elementary school teacher who lives in New York City. Dahee’s cousin, Channing (our modern-day Chunhyang), is like a sister to her. They’ve been best friends since they were kids.

When we meet her, Channing, a computer whiz who’s disillusioned by the tech industry and often unemployed, has taken a summer job babysitting two little boys in East End — the idyllic beach town south of Boston where she was raised. Channing is living with the boys at their house; the parents are out of town. She helps support her father who’s in treatment for alcoholism, so she really needs the money from this gig.

Channing mentions on the phone to Dahee that there is a guy named Kent Cho who keeps coming into the house without being invited. He doesn’t even ring the doorbell, he just…appears inside. This is annoying verging on concerning, but Channing feels she needs to keep it friendly because he’s a close friend of the boys’ parents and a respected figure in town. (Reader, this is the villain!!)

Alarmed, Dahee decides to pick up their grandfather, Harabeoji, who lives in Boston, and drive out to East End to help Channing deal with this wacko.
--
Things get complicated — and scary:

As Dahee and Channing uncover the extent of Kent’s scheming (and, frankly, psychopathy), they befriend a warm group of fellow Koreans in East End. They reconnect with the adult grandkids of Harabeoji’s old friends Mr. and Mrs. Yun: Alice, Ames, and Paul (who’s pretty cute), and Paul’s friend Minjae, who has perfect skin and is immediately smitten with Channing. (Cue our fairytale heartthrob.)

Dahee intends to stay just a few days to make sure Channing is okay, but things get complicated real quick, and her visit, by necessity, extends…and extends, and extends. As Kent pursues Channing with increasing desperation, Channing rejects him with increasing fear.

This game of cat and mouse eventually blows up, leading to a cascade of ripple effects that shake the Korean community in East End. The second half of the book reads as a nail-biting thriller in which good must overcome evil.
--
This book is powered by a web of love stories:

-Channing and Minjae. Minjae notices Channing from across the Yuns’ backyard, where she’s trampolining with the boys. He sees her (a former gymnast) soaring in the air, and well, that’s it, he’s done for. Channing is immediately drawn to him, too. They’re a lot alike — in good ways and bad — which is endearing.

-Dahee and Paul. The classic will they/won’t they. Dahee is not one to fling herself into a love affair. Her childhood trauma affects her to this day, reminding her to stay safe always, to not take risks that could end in hurt. Paul senses this and holds back, but as Dahee shifts her perspective, things start to smolder…

-Harabeoji and his granddaughters. These three are a unit. They’re especially close since Harabeoji’s sons (Channing’s and Dahee’s dads) are totally checked out…for reasons that are more complicated than they seem. Harabeoji has a not-of-this-world quality to him. He’s (divinely?) intuitive, always knowing what his granddaughters feel and need before they can express it. He’s also amazingly accepting of his granddaughters, flaws and all. He played a key role in bringing Channing and Dahee together as nine-year-olds.

-Dahee and Channing. This is the main love story of the book. In the original fairytale, the hero is the boy, Mongryong. But in this story, the hero is the cousin. Dahee has Channing’s back in every single moment, prioritizing Channing’s wellbeing above everything else (including her job and comfort.)

I was especially drawn to Dahee’s relationship with her aunt, Channing’s late mother. We see their bond in flashbacks to Dahee’s childhood, when her aunt is dying. I like how they connect over great stories, and how the aunt fills her forced downtime with books. Dahee, to this day, is a book lover (like us ;)).

I also like how the aunt and other characters are unafraid to speak about signs — a blue crane signifying great love; the color white signifying death; a dream as a lens into the future. Jimin peppers these symbols throughout the book which creates a sense of divine inevitability.
--
We love a New England setting:

I’ve always had a soft spot for books that take place in charming summer getaway spots like Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. It’s so fun to imagine being there.

As a Californian, I’m used to the awe-inspiring terrain of the West Coast — rocky cliffs, thunderous waves and biting wind, icy water. East End, on the other hand, has a nice softness to it. Jimin describes the grass and birdsong and peacefulness. There are cute independent shops in town — the coffee place, the bakery. Heartbreakingly, East End is struggling financially. In the same way as the characters, it’s held back by a tumultuous past.

Still, I imagine East End to be a relaxing contrast to NYC and Boston where Dahee and Channing live normally. It also creates that classic “trouble in paradise” tension, a stark contrast to Kent’s stalker behavior.
--
The Korean experience in East End:

I really appreciated spending time, so to speak, with a Korean-American community. This community is unfailingly loyal to one another, and unbelievably generous (with their homes, their money, their food, their connections), in a way that is really moving. Harabeoji is able to pick right back up with old friends, and Dahee and Channing connect quickly with other Koreans in East End because of their shared experience.

What fascinates me is that Kent Cho is able to get away with so much havoc because he’s a pillar of the Korean community — so people are innately loyal to him. It can be hard to call out a bad guy in your own marginalized community. As a Jew, I know that my community collectively cringes when one of us does something bad — it unfairly makes all of us look bad to those who see us as a single entity.

On that note, Koreans in East End experience a steady influx of racism, which is painful to see but important to witness, especially since it’s not the typical manifestations of racism that you (or, at least, I) read about.

Last thing! This book reads as a celebration of Korean culture, which is glorious! We experience the delicious food, hear bits of Korean language, and learn about traditions and cultural norms. This is probably my favorite aspect of the book and I feel grateful to Jimin for sharing Korean culture with us.

[Richard Derus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: From the critically acclaimed author of The Apology, a contemporary retelling of Korea’s Romeo & Juliet, in which the cousin of the star-crossed lovers helps them avoid a tragic fate.

When Dahee Shin was nine years old, she made a promise to protect her favorite cousin, Channing, who has always been like a sister to her. Now, at thirty, Dahee has found herself in a Korean American community in a New England beach town, once more running to the rescue of her debt-ridden relative.

Ever the idealist, Channing—who has spent her life haunted by the tragic story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s parallel Romeo & Juliet—has fallen in love with Minjae Oh, all the while fending off the advances of powerful, manipulative Kent Cho, a local politician. As Channing and Minjae’s romance blossoms, and as Kent's suspicion and obsession grow, Dahee begins to realize that it may be up to her to make sure her cousin and beloved escape Chunhyang and Mongryong’s doomed end.

For fans of Hello Beautiful, Dreamt I Found You is a wondrous, tender retelling of Korea's most classic love story, steeped in the travails of a rigid class system, the power of premonition, and shot through with Korean folklore and magic.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: A double shot of romantic emotional caffeine. The story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, then the modern-day Korean diaspora story that evokes it, all juxtaposed with subtlety against the bog-standard Murrikin's understanding of Romeo & Juliet and set on the New England coast.

All of this is just fine, sure I'll read it no problem; what made me want to tell y'all about it, is that I saw more parallels to Shakespeare in Love than to Romeo & Juliet. I myownself found that *more* appealing not less so. I know I'll get body-checked into the glass (I need to stop reheating Heated Rivalry) for saying this, but stop telling me I must love Shakespeare's foreign-language drama with its now-stock characters for the depth of his insight. That depth has been added over the course of almost half a millennium of studying analyzing and commenting on the source text! We "know" it's there because so so many people have already "found" it and told us about it. It's now cultural shorthand in Anglophone cultures (possibly others but I have no direct access to those). "It's the Korean Romeo & Juliet" is not an analysis, it's an emotional appeal to the Anglophone reader's cultural furniture.

Author Han has very cannily gotten us Anglophones to do the hard work of buying in to her story in one fell swoop with this (apt, it seems to me) evocation of the very slightly older (c. 1591 versus c. 1694) iteration of the eternal star-crossed lovers story. I was primed by the clearly stated link between this modern-day version and its historical antecedents. I got the expected frisson from the love-conquers-all story, spiced up by the deeply satisfying comeuppance of a crappy human being. Beats there a heart so cold as to not race just a little when the lovers defeat a rotten, jealous monster?

I think not, at least not outside the ranks of the aromantic.

It's the beating heart of the story told here, that tension between what we're expecting, what we know, and what's happening on the page. While Minjae and Channing and Dahee and Kent do their literary gavotte with all its showy back-and-forths, its little hops and leg-pointings, and its apparently endless—at times feeling relentless—repetitions of the same movements to no internal resolution, the external story outline we've applied from long, long cultural familiarity serves as the musical accompaniment that grants us the readers as well as them the characters a stopping place.

I did say stopping place, not ending. The thing about a gavotte is that it's a folk dance all dressed up for aristocratic slumming, so it never develops beyond stylish-looking moves that show the dancers' stamina more than their grace. In Dreamt I Found You the characters are set a task...fall in love, overcome an obstacle, help or obstruct these actions...and repeat that task against a variations-on-a-theme backdrop. It's a time-tested technique that keeps on working because the specifics are fungible as a result of the audience's investment being all but assured. It requires little character development. All that is handled by the evocative models folloed, the stpes of the dance known to most all of us.

The "music" that provides the pace in Dreamt I Found You is the US culture on display. It must be said that culture is not shown to great advantage, but it also isn't deeply explored by the characters' interactions. They all execute the steps, do the hops, make the gestures; nothing derails their actions. The jolts and surprises are few because they're built into both model storys' bones and are well known to us. It doesn't really feel surprising, the biggest tension is will this be Shakespeare's tragedy or Korea's re/union?

Reading it to find out is the pleasure of discovery on offer. I resonated to the story, I liked the author's choice of which model to emulate, and at the end of the dance I bowed to my book-shaped partner and led him off the dance floor admiring how handsomely he had done the dance with me.

[Rem Tolentino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han is a modern retelling of The Story of Chunhyang, set in the fictional New England town of East End and centered on a tight-knit Korean American community. Han weaves together themes of racial identity, sisterhood, and romance within a mystery-thriller framework. However, the novel never quite refreshes its source material, and at times relies on contrived and puzzling plot choices that ultimately make it an underwhelming read.

The characterization is uneven. Reframing Chunhyang’s story through a third-party perspective, Dahee, is an intriguing choice that initially feels fresh. As the narrator, Dahee offers commentary and internality on her cousin Channing’s relationship with Minjae, but she lacks meaningful agency. Rather than influencing events, she functions more as an analogue for the reader, observing as more active characters such as Ames, Mai, and Paul drive the plot forward. This imbalance leaves Dahee feeling peripheral in what is ostensibly her story.

As for the central romance, Channing is compelling. She is free-spirited, somewhat aloof, and her family is deeply entrenched in East End. Her backstory anchors the novel’s central mystery, and she consistently proves more engaging than Dahee. Additional POV chapters from her perspective would have strengthened the narrative. In contrast, Minjae feels underdeveloped and largely instrumental. His limited presence, appearing in only 20% of the novel, undermines the credibility of his relationship with Channing. While his absence loosely mirrors Mongryong’s arc in the original tale, the adaptation strips away the character’s agency and heroism. In the original tale, Mongryong has his own journey back from Seoul that is full of adventure and an eventual “hero moment” where he uses a satirical poem to condemn and upend the villain magistrate. His eventual return feels rushed and culminates in a whirlwind resolution that lacks emotional payoff.

The antagonist, Kent Cho, is similarly one-dimensional. He reads as a caricature, overtly villainous, lacking nuance, and saddled with implausible plot elements, including (seriously is everyone on his payroll?! Does he have security cameras in every Korean household?). Even within melodramatic conventions, antagonists typically possess some degree of charisma or complexity. Kent has neither. His role is purely functional, which makes the resolution, where Ames rather than Minjae delivers the narrative payoff, feel both surprising and unsatisfying. Instead of subverting expectations in a meaningful way, it raises the question of why Minjae is included at all.

The novel’s exploration of Korean American identity and microaggressions is intermittently effective but tonally cacophonic. While these moments feel authentic, they are not well integrated into the existing plot threads that Han writes, creating tonal and pacing inconsistencies. Similarly, the mystery involving a missing $500,000 tied to Channing’s father introduces initial intrigue but ultimately detracts from the central romance. Its resolution is abrupt to say the least, and felt like a last minute throw in by the author.

There are glimpses of what the novel could have been. The folkloric framing, particularly through Dahee and Channing’s Harabeoji, is compelling, and the premise of reinterpreting a classic tale through an Asian American lens is strong. But Dreamt I Found You tries to juggle too many narrative ideas at once. In doing so, it loses the emotional clarity and mythic resonance that make The Story of Chunhyang and enduring piece of Korean folklore in the first place.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company for the advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Mikala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gah. I love Jimin Han so much and will pretty much read anything by her. I really loved The Apology. The women in that book felt so fully realized and complex. By comparison, the women in *Dreamt I Found You* felt a little less “full color” to me at first, but I also think that’s partly the point: Dahee and her cousin Channing are barely thirty, still actively figuring out who they are, what they believe, and how they want to move through the world. They’re in that messy, liminal stage where you’re old enough to see the systems around you clearly, but not yet settled into how you’re going to resist or survive them.

I loved the setup: Dahee, who once promised to protect Channing when they were children, finds herself yet again coming to the rescue in a tight-knit Korean American community in a New England beach town. Idealistic, dreamy Channing who’s grown up haunted by the tragic love story of Chunhyang and Mongryong, the “Korean Romeo and Juliet” falls for Minjae Oh, all while being dogged by the attention of Kent Cho, a powerful, manipulative local politician who does not like being told no. As Channing and Minjae’s relationship deepens, Dahee slowly realizes that this isn’t just youthful drama; the dynamics of power, money, and reputation in this town mean that if she doesn’t intervene, the people she loves could be swallowed whole.

I was unfamiliar with the Chunhyang story before this, but I loved how Han threads that legend through the narrative. The threat of wrongful imprisonment, the abuse of authority, the rigid class structures sit right alongside contemporary details like small-town politics, online harassment, and the way racism often shows up in comments sections instead of to your face. The racist townsfolk here are mostly a chorus of online voices and rumors, which feels depressingly accurate. There are also lovely touches of folklore, premonition, and a bit of magic that create this slightly heightened, almost shimmering reality around Dahee and Channing’s very real fears.

It was oddly comforting to know from early on that things wouldn’t end in pure tragedy, because stories about abuse of power and unjust punishment are challenging for me to read. Han manages to keep the tension high while also holding space for tenderness, humor, and sisterly love. Dahee’s voice, especially, carries a quiet determination that I really responded to; she’s an observer and a protector, someone who learned early to read the room and manage other people’s chaos. Watching her decide how far she’s willing to go to rewrite the script of Chunhyang and Mongryong for this generation was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I finished feeling both unsettled by how familiar this kind of abuse of authority is and comforted by the idea that stories can be retold, and endings reshaped, when women refuse to accept the roles they’ve been assigned.

[Genevieve Hogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Dreamt I Found you” by Jimin Han is a retelling of a famous Korean love story – the story of Chunhyang. Retelling and modernizing a well-known myth can be difficult, but Han handles this story with deft discretion. The tale is told from the point of view of Dahee, cousin to the “star-crossed lover”. Thus, the reader is provided with additional levels of character development as well as experiencing the story from a different point of view.

In addition, I didn’t know the original Korean story, nor was I familiar with the structures and nuances of Korean-American society as depicted in the novel. It is wonderful to be given a glimpse into the values and stories of another culture. The story is powerful, and I was transported into a new community and experience, which is one of the joys of a well-written novel.

“Dreamt I Found You” has plenty of tension and plot-twists. There is a literary quality to the story that will make it enjoyable to many readers beyond those who might choose a traditional romance novel. This is a story of class and power and working within a system, as well as a story about the love of family and how that fits with the ideals of romantic love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown, and Co. for access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Madeline Church · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamt I Found You reeled me in with the gorgeous cover and kept me with the amazing story! This novel is a retelling of the Romeo & Juliet version from Korea. That in itself was super interesting to read about!

The coastal setting of a New England beach town was great. The author did well incorporating this into the story. Many little details along the way added to this setting. It truly felt as though the story was happening in a coastal town.

Jimin Han's ability to tell a story was incredible. The storytelling skills were through the roof, especially since it was a retelling. I was captivated by each chapter and how the story seamlessly went on.

Not too often does a novel want to make you do research, but this one did from the start! I was instantly intrigued by the Korean version of Romeo and Juliet. Doing my own research added more background information to this novel, and it enhanced the reading experience for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company, & Jimin Han for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Dreamt I Found You is released on April 28, 2026!

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt like an idyllic nightmare.

We meet Channing, who I actually don't know much about besides she's babysitting some kids, and she's Dahee's cousin, and supposedly Juliet. Then there's Minjae, our Romeo. They're being kept apart by Kent, our supposed villain.

Except, I don't care that Kent is the villain. He's thrust as our villain without any actual build-up to being the villain. He's all but told to us that he's the villain.

The pacing for the story is very off. I don't know why scenes are changing or why I'm being introduced to new characters. It's really hard to tell the flow and when the scenes move onto the next. It feels like it comes from point A to B to C in a matter of words.

There also was no emotional connection made with any of the characters. We aren't given much substance with any of them, so I did not give a flying rat about them, and in turn, did not care much for the plot.

Overall, a terrible read. I don't think there was a single moment I thought, okay this is going to make it worth reading. Absolutely not.

thank you to netgalley and little, brown and company for the eARC!

[Susannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5/5. I was so excited for this one because I read Han’s The Apology as an ARC and absolutely adored it, so I jumped at the chance to read another of her books early. Unfortunately, I found the pacing of this absolutely glacial. For the first half of the novel, it felt like virtually nothing was happening – just a constant stream of small talk and heavy descriptive passages unrelated to either the plot or the characters’ internal lives. I think I would have stopped reading had I not felt obligated to continue since it was an ARC. Having Dahee as narrator when all central events of the plot focus on her cousin Channing was an interesting narrative choice, but one that I don’t believe paid off.

At roughly the 50% mark, the pacing becomes rapid and erratic. Too much happens in too few pages and the emotional consequences of major plot points are glossed over, especially with Dahee as such a passive and emotionally detached narrator. The ending wasn’t unsatisfying, but it felt tied up in a way that was slightly too tidy and convenient.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a retelling of a Korean fable about Star-crossed lovers, The Tale of Chunhyang, modernized to reflect it upon today’s landscape as well as the Korean experience.

Two little girls, Dahee and her cousin, Channing, are told the story by Dahee’s grand rather Channing is struck by the Brett of the story’s love and hopes she can have that while Dahee is too practical to believe in fairy tales. Channing comes home to be a nanny of two young children, falls in love but is has another suitor, Kent Cho. We are kept in suspense over how Channing ‘s love story will end.

The book explores beyond love, the meaning and power of family, loyalty and belonging. It’s a mix of magical realism, romance and mystery within a telling that shows the consequence of racism, social hierarchy and social media.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Little, Brown & Company for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel by Jimin Han. It contains all the elements of a successful story: romance, suspense, villainy (a truly scary, psychotic, stalker of a politician), friendship, family dynamics and more.
I also enjoyed learning some of Korean lore and other cultural details that were mentioned.

Our story is based on the "The Tale of Chunhyang", Korea's version of Romeo and Juliet. It's different enough with more details and events that happen, that it feels like it's own creature, not a copycat one.

To put it simply:
If Romeo and Juliet were modern day, and had a happy ending, it would be "Dreamt I Found You", by Jimin Han.

The first novel I've read by this talented author, but it won't be the last one.
Highly recommend!


I received this book in exchange for a review containing my honest thoughts and feelings.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for the book and the opportunity to review it.

[Pat Trattles · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the time she was a little girl, Channing has always been fascinated with the tragic tale of Chunhyang and Mongryong, Korea’s version of Romeo and Juliette. And now she is living it. Kent Cho, the most powerful man in town, friend to the mayor and chief of police and admired by all relentlessly pursues Channing. But she is in love with Minjae Oh. Kent continues to pursue her in spite of her protestations, accuses her of battery and theft and throws her into jail where she will stay until she apologizes and agrees to marry him. It is up to her cousin Dahee to protect Channing from Kent’s unwanted advances and a potential loveless future. The novel is steeped in Korean culture, food, and traditions which add to the richness of the story. 3.5 stars rounded to 4. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this retelling of Chunhyang and Mongryong, we see how a story based on how devotion and love will overcome society's barriers across any timeline.
The story is told in a small seaside town where a Korean community has grown, with remaining ties back in Korea despite future generations settling more and more in the United States. There is insight into the differences between generations, cultural pressures, and racism still being experienced.
Dahee the narrator is an interesting choice, telling the main story from her viewpoint, as a side character, not seeing the whole picture as she is discovering things and they are put in her perspective. You can feel her frustrations and that was so well done.
The relationships explored between the characters, romantic, paternal, sisterly, etc. are lovely and the author adds the Korean perspective in a way that is relatable across cultures.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the opportunity to read this book!

[Allison Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dreamt I Found You is a version of the Korean Romeo and Juliet, Chunhyang and Mongryong, but in the current day. Set in a Korean American enclave in a New England costal town, our narrator is a young woman Dahee whose beloved cousin Channing (our Juliet) falls in love with a charming young man Minjae (our Romeo).

We follow Dahee and the star crossed lovers through trials and tribulations, the stress of an obsessed fellow Korean (the villainous Kent) and explore the narrator’s close relationship with her grandfather. The book has themes of racism, disloyalty, heritage and the meaning of family.

I enjoyed it. To be published April 28, 2026, thank you to Little Brown and NetGalley for this eARC.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it enjoyable to read this version of Korean culture in America. I particularly enjoyed the buildup of suspense and mystery that ensued involving Channing, a seemingly luckless young woman, and Kent, a pushy small town official. This part of the story kept me reading with great interest. What I didn't find in the story was any echo of the tragic Romeo and Juliet tale, Korean style. But then, I am not Korean, so maybe I missed understanding this aspect. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the writing style, the characters and the lovely message of hopefulness, resiliance and the will to correct injustice. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the complimentary e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Meredith Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚: Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han
⭐️: 3.5/5 (rounding down on #goodreads)

The story of Chunhyang and Mongryong is a tragic Korean love story passed down through generations.

Channing grew up hearing that story, and as she suddenly falls in love, parallels between the tale and her life appear. Will her own love life become an unhappy ending?

Set in a coastal New England town navigating its changing identity as an aging Korean immigrant community, this book’s setting and emotional core landed strongest.

While a few underdeveloped side plots and uneven pacing held this back for me, this was just engrossing enough to keep reading.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Dreamt I Found You is out now.

[Breva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a really nice read. I liked how it used a Korean Romeo & Juliet–style story but set it in a modern Korean American community. It felt fresh but still rooted in tradition. The Korean elements like folklore, family pressure, and fate were my favorite parts and made the story feel more meaningful.

The cousin dynamic was sweet, and I liked seeing someone actively try to stop the tragic love story from happening. It’s emotional without being too heavy, and the romance and cultural aspects balance each other well. Overall, a solid read, especially if you enjoy Korean retellings and heartfelt stories.

[Mary C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Retelling of a classic Korean love story, similar to Romeo and Juliet. Dahee and Channing are cousins who grew up together. Dahee promised her aunt that she would always protect Channing. Dahee and their grandfather travel to see Channing when she talks about a man she is having issues with . As the man is thought of highly in the Korean community and has powerful connections. Channing's growing romance with Minjae place them both in danger. Dahee, with the support of family and friends, finds the information needed to ensure a happy ending for the couple.
#DreamtIFoundYou #LittleBrownandCompany #NetGalley

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy modern retellings of folk tales, this one is for you. Dreamt I Found You is based on the Korean story of Chunhyang and Mongryong. We have two young people who fall deeply in love and an older man with government power who keeps them apart while trying to get the young woman for himself. There are twists and turns and morals to the story.

The plot was enough to keep me interested, but the language was a bit dry. I think I may have enjoyed this more as an audiobook. I did very much enjoy how the author kept referring back to the folk tale.

Thank you to Little Brown and Company and NetGalley for the early access.

[Maria Maldonado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, lyrical novel described as a "retelling of Korea's most famous classic love story" - it is all about the power of family and romantic love. The characters all come to life under Jimin Han's deft's hands. There is passion, mystery, betrayal and redemption. I couldn't put this book down. I'm still thinking about the various themes that ran through this book - how does a critical and painful event impact us and color our lives? How long are we obligated to keep promises we made when we were very young? Will integrity always win over corruption? And why is it when we recognize true fated love, we want to help the lovers overcome the obstacles?

[Dixie Can · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the Digital ARC.

Dreamt I Found You by Jimin Han was a beautifully written story that ended up meaning more to me once I finished it. I’ll admit, I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it at first, but as the story unfolded, I really began to understand and appreciate the premise and deeper meaning behind it.

I especially loved learning that the story was inspired by the Korean tale of Chunhyang and Mongryong — often considered Korea’s version of Romeo and Juliet. The cultural and folklore elements added so much depth and uniqueness to the novel, and I enjoyed getting a glimpse into Korean traditions and storytelling.

Overall, while it took me some time to fully connect with the book, the beautiful prose and rich cultural inspiration made it a worthwhile read for me. 3.5/5 stars.

[melody]

i lovee this cover, so dreamy and simple but evocative. lots of tsitp (the show not the book) vibes here, as it takes place in a new england town and features star crossed lovers. the writing wasn’t my favorite- felt a little unnatural/stilted. plot is also a little weird- our protagonist’s cousin falls in love with someone but can’t be with him because of a local conniving politician… lots of drama but still felt wholesome… i did like how it featured korean folklore and small, insular korean immigrant communities. i’m all over the place here but ultimately don’t think i’d recommend unless you’re very interested

[Emily McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've mentioned in previous reviews that my time spent living in Korea compels me to seek out and read Korean literature. This particular novel is about Channing, who is obsessed with the Korean version of Romeo & Juliet (Chunhyang & Mongryong), and her cousin Dahee. Channing is floundering in life and believes she has found her person, all the while she is being relentlessly pursued by Kent, a popular but unsavory local man. Her story (not subtly) follows Chunhyang's tale, including a brief imprisonment. I found all of the characters apart from Channing, Dahee, and Harabeoji (grandpa) to be entirely one dimensional, especially Kent.

[Marcia Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know that different countries had their own versions of Romeo & Juliet. How I loved reading Dreamt I Found You from the first to the last page. I was delighted with the grandfather telling the story of Korea's own lovers, and the modern day young couple caught within a swirl of secrets and bad actors. So thankful for the wonderful cousin who carries the spirit of love and romance enough for all of us. Perfect. A story so right for settling into your favorite reading place and savoring each moment.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun retellin g of a traditional Korean fairy tale. I was not familiar with the tale, but it is told to us in the first chapter, so it is easy to follow from there.
I am not Korean, but I enjoyed all the Korean culture that is spread throughout the book. Much of it takes place on Long Island, but also some in South Korean later on.
That was an easy read and very compelling. I really wanted to see how it all worked out, even though I knew the broad outline.
Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Jennifer Manocherian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to read an advance copy. Let me start by saying how much I loved Dreamt I found You told in Jimin Han’s direct and unsentimental writing style. Each of her books has a really different storyline yet while they are mainly set in America, they are seeped in Korean culture and traditions. Dreamt I found You is an original take on one of the most famous love stories ever told, Romeo and Juliet, not just because the lovers are Korean Americans and thus beset by a myriad of cultural rules but also because the narrator Dahee Shin strives to and succeeds in changing the outcome

[Kim van Alkemade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this contemporary interpretation of the tragic Korean story of Chunhyang and Mongryong reminded me of those modern romances based on Jane Austen novels where the characters know they're in an Austen story but can't help falling in love anyway. With its cultural context among a tight-knit Korean community, and its atmospheric setting in a coastal beach town, this novel offers a fresh take on that premise. You'll be hissing at the villains and cheering for the heroine until the last redemptive page!