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식물, 상점
Win a free print copy of this book!
21 days and 15:03:10
31 copies available
U.S. only
“죽……여주는 곳 맞죠, 여기?”
유해한 세계에서 스스로를 지키려는 그녀들의 고요한 선택
2020년 자음과모음 경장편소설상을 수상하며 작품 활동을 시작한 강민영 작가가 서스펜스 넘치는 신작 장편소설 《식물, 상점》으로 독자를 찾아왔다. “가장 신뢰할 수 있는 문장”(노태훈 평론가), “신인의 패기”(소영현 평론가), “정확한 문장으로 세계를 직조해낼 줄 아는 작가”(안보윤 소설가), “얼른 다른 사람들에게 보여주고 싶다는 마음”(이종산 소설가)이 들게 하는 이야기라는 찬사를 받으며 등장한 이래 꾸준한 자신만의 행보를 보여온 작가의 시선이 마침내 닿은 곳은 비밀이 가득한 어느 상점이다. 시대의 불안한 삶을 예민하게 드러내면서도 고립된 여성을 구해내는 작가의 서사는 여전하고 거기에 전에 없는 스케일이 진전을 이룬다.
특유의 차분하고 신비로운 감성으로 지역 내 핫플레이스가 된 '식물, 상점'. 구옥을 고친 자못 독특한 이 가게를 운영하는 여자 사장, 최유희. 상점과 주인 모두 섬세하고 아름답다. 하지만 상점이 문을 닫는 늦은 시간이면 유희는 호미와 삽을 들고 고요히 마당으로 향한다. 때로는 곱게 갈린 무언가를, 때로는 톱에 잘린 어떤 덩어리들을 흙 속에 묻는다.
몇 차례의 연애 실패 후 마음을 닫았던 유희에게 한 남자가 다가온다. 유희는 잠시나마 희망을 품어보지만 결국 남자가 자신을 이용하려 한다는 사실을 알게 된다. 식물을 함부로 대하는 태도와 '쉬운 여자'라는 발언까지, 자꾸만 선을 넘는 남자를 향한 유희의 분노는 점차 끓어오른다. 그런데 '그날의 사건' 이후 얼마의 시간이 흐르고 평정을 되찾은 유희에게 사람들이 찾아온다. 저마다 어느 곳에서도 해결해주지 못한 문제들을 안고 여자들이 유희의 상점 문을 두드린다. 그들은 문을 열며 말한다. “죽……여주는 곳 맞죠, 여기?” 한편 형사 차도경은 '식물, 상점' 주변에서 남자들이 계속 실종되는 것을 의아하게 여기고 유희의 주변을 맴돌기 시작한다. 과연 유희와 그녀들의 비밀은 드러나게 될까?
《식물, 상점》은 여자들이 현실 세계에서 당면하는 사회적 사건들을 정면으로 다룬다. 데이트폭력, 불법촬영 및 유포, 오픈채팅방 내 성희롱, 동물 학대와 스토킹 범죄, 로맨스 스캠, 가정폭력……. 작품에 등장하는 남자들은 하나같이 자신의 욕망을 우선하며 상대방을 지배하려 하고 복종시키고자 한다. “그들은 마치 보이지 않는 굵은 선이 머리 위로 이어진 것처럼 공통점이 있었다.”
식물은 자신이 처한 문제를 조용히 머금다가 견디지 못할 때 표출한다. 또한 본인이 뻗어나갈 방향을 정확히 알고 있다. 사려 깊게 식물이 처한 문제점을 해결하듯 유희는 '식물, 상점'의 손님들에게도 차례대로 다가간다. 유희는 여자들의 강력한 아군으로 새로운 차원의 상상을 발휘한다. 대개 반성도 사과도 할 줄 모르는 파렴치한 가해자들을 자신의 방식으로 처단한다. 반복되는 악순환의 고리를 끊기 위해, 다음에 올 여자들이 또다시 같은 형태의 고통에 처하지 않게 하기 위해 결국 시발점을 찾아 말끔하게 지운다. 그렇게 함으로써 자신을 옭아매던 어릴 적 트라우마를 회복해간다.
여성을 향한 혐오를 정면으로 반격하며 통쾌함을 선사하는 《식물, 상점》은 특유의 분위기로 독자를 압도한다. 고통 속에서 홀로 맥없이 사그라드는 여성을 호명해 전에 없던 방식으로서의 연대를 드러낸다는 점에서 강민영 작가의 새로운 세계를 목도할 수 있을 것이다. “여자들의 이름이 기억되고 여자들이 다치거나 죽지 않는 세상을 만들어보고 싶었다. 모든 여자가 자신의 고유한 이름을 가지고, 그 이름의 뜻을 곱씹으며 종국에는 완전히 행복하지 않더라도 이전보다 나은 삶을 얻기를” 바라는 작가의 말은 그래서 더욱 뜻깊다.
유희는 마당에 서서 자신이 밟고 있는 땅바닥을 한참 내려다봤다. 끊임없이 여자를 괴롭히던 남자들. 그들은 마치 보이지 않는 굵은 선이 머리 위로 이어진 것처럼 공통점이 있었다. 그들과 엮인 여자들에게서 반복되는 악순환의 고리를 끊으려면, 결국 시발점을 찾아 말끔하게 지워야 했다. 유희는 그동안 '식물, 상점'을 거쳐 간 여자들을 떠올렸다._본문에서
유해한 세계에서 스스로를 지키려는 그녀들의 고요한 선택
2020년 자음과모음 경장편소설상을 수상하며 작품 활동을 시작한 강민영 작가가 서스펜스 넘치는 신작 장편소설 《식물, 상점》으로 독자를 찾아왔다. “가장 신뢰할 수 있는 문장”(노태훈 평론가), “신인의 패기”(소영현 평론가), “정확한 문장으로 세계를 직조해낼 줄 아는 작가”(안보윤 소설가), “얼른 다른 사람들에게 보여주고 싶다는 마음”(이종산 소설가)이 들게 하는 이야기라는 찬사를 받으며 등장한 이래 꾸준한 자신만의 행보를 보여온 작가의 시선이 마침내 닿은 곳은 비밀이 가득한 어느 상점이다. 시대의 불안한 삶을 예민하게 드러내면서도 고립된 여성을 구해내는 작가의 서사는 여전하고 거기에 전에 없는 스케일이 진전을 이룬다.
특유의 차분하고 신비로운 감성으로 지역 내 핫플레이스가 된 '식물, 상점'. 구옥을 고친 자못 독특한 이 가게를 운영하는 여자 사장, 최유희. 상점과 주인 모두 섬세하고 아름답다. 하지만 상점이 문을 닫는 늦은 시간이면 유희는 호미와 삽을 들고 고요히 마당으로 향한다. 때로는 곱게 갈린 무언가를, 때로는 톱에 잘린 어떤 덩어리들을 흙 속에 묻는다.
몇 차례의 연애 실패 후 마음을 닫았던 유희에게 한 남자가 다가온다. 유희는 잠시나마 희망을 품어보지만 결국 남자가 자신을 이용하려 한다는 사실을 알게 된다. 식물을 함부로 대하는 태도와 '쉬운 여자'라는 발언까지, 자꾸만 선을 넘는 남자를 향한 유희의 분노는 점차 끓어오른다. 그런데 '그날의 사건' 이후 얼마의 시간이 흐르고 평정을 되찾은 유희에게 사람들이 찾아온다. 저마다 어느 곳에서도 해결해주지 못한 문제들을 안고 여자들이 유희의 상점 문을 두드린다. 그들은 문을 열며 말한다. “죽……여주는 곳 맞죠, 여기?” 한편 형사 차도경은 '식물, 상점' 주변에서 남자들이 계속 실종되는 것을 의아하게 여기고 유희의 주변을 맴돌기 시작한다. 과연 유희와 그녀들의 비밀은 드러나게 될까?
《식물, 상점》은 여자들이 현실 세계에서 당면하는 사회적 사건들을 정면으로 다룬다. 데이트폭력, 불법촬영 및 유포, 오픈채팅방 내 성희롱, 동물 학대와 스토킹 범죄, 로맨스 스캠, 가정폭력……. 작품에 등장하는 남자들은 하나같이 자신의 욕망을 우선하며 상대방을 지배하려 하고 복종시키고자 한다. “그들은 마치 보이지 않는 굵은 선이 머리 위로 이어진 것처럼 공통점이 있었다.”
식물은 자신이 처한 문제를 조용히 머금다가 견디지 못할 때 표출한다. 또한 본인이 뻗어나갈 방향을 정확히 알고 있다. 사려 깊게 식물이 처한 문제점을 해결하듯 유희는 '식물, 상점'의 손님들에게도 차례대로 다가간다. 유희는 여자들의 강력한 아군으로 새로운 차원의 상상을 발휘한다. 대개 반성도 사과도 할 줄 모르는 파렴치한 가해자들을 자신의 방식으로 처단한다. 반복되는 악순환의 고리를 끊기 위해, 다음에 올 여자들이 또다시 같은 형태의 고통에 처하지 않게 하기 위해 결국 시발점을 찾아 말끔하게 지운다. 그렇게 함으로써 자신을 옭아매던 어릴 적 트라우마를 회복해간다.
여성을 향한 혐오를 정면으로 반격하며 통쾌함을 선사하는 《식물, 상점》은 특유의 분위기로 독자를 압도한다. 고통 속에서 홀로 맥없이 사그라드는 여성을 호명해 전에 없던 방식으로서의 연대를 드러낸다는 점에서 강민영 작가의 새로운 세계를 목도할 수 있을 것이다. “여자들의 이름이 기억되고 여자들이 다치거나 죽지 않는 세상을 만들어보고 싶었다. 모든 여자가 자신의 고유한 이름을 가지고, 그 이름의 뜻을 곱씹으며 종국에는 완전히 행복하지 않더라도 이전보다 나은 삶을 얻기를” 바라는 작가의 말은 그래서 더욱 뜻깊다.
유희는 마당에 서서 자신이 밟고 있는 땅바닥을 한참 내려다봤다. 끊임없이 여자를 괴롭히던 남자들. 그들은 마치 보이지 않는 굵은 선이 머리 위로 이어진 것처럼 공통점이 있었다. 그들과 엮인 여자들에게서 반복되는 악순환의 고리를 끊으려면, 결국 시발점을 찾아 말끔하게 지워야 했다. 유희는 그동안 '식물, 상점'을 거쳐 간 여자들을 떠올렸다._본문에서
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2024
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September 9, 2025Minyoung is right - men are pests!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Disabled woman hears plants, is flattened into murder.
"In that instant, all anxiety seemed to have vanished from Hyunjin’s face. Yoohee was reminded of another customer last week who’d hugged a big bouquet of white roses and grinned as though she owned the whole world. Now all Yoohee had done was offer to add another ribbon, but the way Hyunjin’s eyes brightened made her seem like an entirely different person against the backdrop of the big monstera plant fanning out its leaves behind her." p32
In Short: This is an engaging exploration of an anxious character and her primary coping mechanism, her plants, from which she can hear preverbal articulations like screams and sighs.
I love books that explore characters who are complicated psychologically. While I don't always like stories in which mentally complicated people, especially women and kids, become murderers, it's a very popular concept right now.
The plants create a genuinely brilliant setting-as-character, since the novel imagines plants as possessing preverbal articulation—states of distress, pleasure, and strain rendered as sound rather than language, and isolated to the main character. She's special because she is a highly self-aware mentally ill person...until she isn't. Trope or intuition? Hard to say.
The story ultimately turns this complex character into a vigilante who projects her trauma onto the people she targets. Her boyfriend hurts her plants and makes them scream. One man abuses his daughter. Another abuses his wife's cat. Each act of harm becomes legible to Sooyee—and each time, she kills.
What begins as a psychologically nuanced portrait collapses into something far more reductive. Sooyee is no longer complicated; she becomes instrumental, her trauma functioning as justification rather than something to be explored. Stories with a shape like this neglect their most interesting character in favor of unhinging the plot—escalating toward violence instead of deepening the character.
Beyond that, I loved the questions and answers at the end of the book, and learning about the author's creative purpose increased my enjoyment of the book. The ends Kim favored here, to center women in a slasher in which women are not the victims, is admirable and does change the texture of the read.
"Content Warnings:" murder, anxiety,
Preread: I'm definitely into women's rage stories. I read enough of them that uniqueness typically ends up being the deciding factor for me. I thought this one would be unusual, given the plant angle. I was right, so far!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the arc!📚
"In that instant, all anxiety seemed to have vanished from Hyunjin’s face. Yoohee was reminded of another customer last week who’d hugged a big bouquet of white roses and grinned as though she owned the whole world. Now all Yoohee had done was offer to add another ribbon, but the way Hyunjin’s eyes brightened made her seem like an entirely different person against the backdrop of the big monstera plant fanning out its leaves behind her." p32
In Short: This is an engaging exploration of an anxious character and her primary coping mechanism, her plants, from which she can hear preverbal articulations like screams and sighs.
I love books that explore characters who are complicated psychologically. While I don't always like stories in which mentally complicated people, especially women and kids, become murderers, it's a very popular concept right now.
The plants create a genuinely brilliant setting-as-character, since the novel imagines plants as possessing preverbal articulation—states of distress, pleasure, and strain rendered as sound rather than language, and isolated to the main character. She's special because she is a highly self-aware mentally ill person...until she isn't. Trope or intuition? Hard to say.
The story ultimately turns this complex character into a vigilante who projects her trauma onto the people she targets. Her boyfriend hurts her plants and makes them scream. One man abuses his daughter. Another abuses his wife's cat. Each act of harm becomes legible to Sooyee—and each time, she kills.
What begins as a psychologically nuanced portrait collapses into something far more reductive. Sooyee is no longer complicated; she becomes instrumental, her trauma functioning as justification rather than something to be explored. Stories with a shape like this neglect their most interesting character in favor of unhinging the plot—escalating toward violence instead of deepening the character.
Beyond that, I loved the questions and answers at the end of the book, and learning about the author's creative purpose increased my enjoyment of the book. The ends Kim favored here, to center women in a slasher in which women are not the victims, is admirable and does change the texture of the read.
"Content Warnings:" murder, anxiety,
Preread: I'm definitely into women's rage stories. I read enough of them that uniqueness typically ends up being the deciding factor for me. I thought this one would be unusual, given the plant angle. I was right, so far!
Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley for the arc!📚
November 23, 2025
4,5 Sterne (mit Tendenz nach oben)
Habe es geliebt. Ich muss zugeben, die Autorin hat mich so weit gebracht, dass ich jeden einzelnen Tod dieser Abschaum-Männer gefeiert habe, wie die Hochzeit, die ich nie haben werde. Das ist Female Rage in Reinform und ich habe es gefeiert! Unsere Plant Lady hat aber auch echt die schlimmsten Exemplare vor die Flinte bekommen 😂 (Im übertragenen Sinne, die Tode waren viel besser inszeniert). Das im Kontrast mit dieser tollen Liebe zu Pflanzen und dann ist das ganze auch noch nuanciert und nicht splatterig – Wahnsinn. Ganz toll geschrieben. Ich empfehle auch sehr, das Nachwort nicht auszulassen, das hat mich nochmal ganz anders getroffen. Richtig gut, ich hatte zwar ein paar Probleme mit den Namen, aber das liegt nun wirklich an mir.
Habe es geliebt. Ich muss zugeben, die Autorin hat mich so weit gebracht, dass ich jeden einzelnen Tod dieser Abschaum-Männer gefeiert habe, wie die Hochzeit, die ich nie haben werde. Das ist Female Rage in Reinform und ich habe es gefeiert! Unsere Plant Lady hat aber auch echt die schlimmsten Exemplare vor die Flinte bekommen 😂 (Im übertragenen Sinne, die Tode waren viel besser inszeniert). Das im Kontrast mit dieser tollen Liebe zu Pflanzen und dann ist das ganze auch noch nuanciert und nicht splatterig – Wahnsinn. Ganz toll geschrieben. Ich empfehle auch sehr, das Nachwort nicht auszulassen, das hat mich nochmal ganz anders getroffen. Richtig gut, ich hatte zwar ein paar Probleme mit den Namen, aber das liegt nun wirklich an mir.
June 14, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
“She was the best gal around!”
“What about the people she murdered?!”
“What MURDAH??”
That meme/ interaction is my overall response to this book. I support women’s rights... and their wrongs
Plant Lady was a very quick read. It was organized into a few short stories — but still related with our FMC as the connecting link.
I loved the setting of the boutique store that was filled to the brim with a variety of plants, to the point it sounded like a jungle. The descriptions were so picturesque, and made me want to go buy more plants to decorate my home.
Overall, the writing did feel very out of body/ disconnected. I prefer to feel as if I’m in the characters’ shoes rather than watching from an outsider’s POV. Also I was very thrown off when we first switched POVs. I was not expecting that, and took awhile to comprehend what was going on.
Even though some violent events occurred, it felt pretty bland and monotone. The events were described, but I don’t think I felt many emotions besides the anxiety. They were eluded to, but it wasn’t very visceral. When we started getting into the portion where the detective was sniffing around it did start to get more interesting.
“She was the best gal around!”
“What about the people she murdered?!”
“What MURDAH??”
That meme/ interaction is my overall response to this book. I support women’s rights... and their wrongs
Plant Lady was a very quick read. It was organized into a few short stories — but still related with our FMC as the connecting link.
I loved the setting of the boutique store that was filled to the brim with a variety of plants, to the point it sounded like a jungle. The descriptions were so picturesque, and made me want to go buy more plants to decorate my home.
Overall, the writing did feel very out of body/ disconnected. I prefer to feel as if I’m in the characters’ shoes rather than watching from an outsider’s POV. Also I was very thrown off when we first switched POVs. I was not expecting that, and took awhile to comprehend what was going on.
Even though some violent events occurred, it felt pretty bland and monotone. The events were described, but I don’t think I felt many emotions besides the anxiety. They were eluded to, but it wasn’t very visceral. When we started getting into the portion where the detective was sniffing around it did start to get more interesting.
October 22, 2025
Yu-hee liebt Pflanzen – Menschen dagegen weniger. In ihrem kleinen Pflanzenladen findet sie Ruhe, aber auch die Kraft, sich gegen das zu wehren, was ihr und anderen Frauen angetan wurde.
Minyoung Kang schreibt ruhig, klar und trotzdem mit so viel Gefühl. Es ist kein lautes Buch, sondern eins, das man leise liest – und das lange nachwirkt.
Die Pflanzen in diesem Buch sind mehr als Deko. Sie spiegeln das Leben wider – Wachstum, Verfall, Erneuerung. Sie stehen für das, was Yu-hee sich selbst zurückholt: Kontrolle, Würde, Freiheit.
Ich mochte, wie ehrlich und gleichzeitig poetisch dieses Buch mit Themen wie weiblicher Wut, Schmerz und Heilung umgeht.
Ein feminines, stilles, starkes Buch – anders, aber genau das macht es so besonders.
Minyoung Kang schreibt ruhig, klar und trotzdem mit so viel Gefühl. Es ist kein lautes Buch, sondern eins, das man leise liest – und das lange nachwirkt.
Die Pflanzen in diesem Buch sind mehr als Deko. Sie spiegeln das Leben wider – Wachstum, Verfall, Erneuerung. Sie stehen für das, was Yu-hee sich selbst zurückholt: Kontrolle, Würde, Freiheit.
Ich mochte, wie ehrlich und gleichzeitig poetisch dieses Buch mit Themen wie weiblicher Wut, Schmerz und Heilung umgeht.
Ein feminines, stilles, starkes Buch – anders, aber genau das macht es so besonders.
January 22, 2026
Plant Lady started with an idea that immediately intrigued me. I also really liked the structure: six chapters, each working as its own closed-off story. I truly wanted to love this book.
Sadly, the writing style didn’t work for me. It felt very cold and detached, almost like reading a report. Even though the protagonist, Yu-hee, does shocking and extreme things, I never really felt the rage behind them .. more like feminine rage on Valium. 🙈 The characters lacked depth, which made it hard to care about what happened.
Overall, the book was simply too quiet for my taste. Some nuances may have been lost in translation, and knowing that the story was originally planned as a short story makes a lot of sense to me … I think it might have worked better in that form.
That said: the edition looks absolutely stunning 🌿🖤
Beautiful concept, beautiful book … just not the execution for me.
𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥 | 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺
Thank you @team.bloggerportal & @penguinbuecher for the review copy!
🇩🇪
Ich hatte große Hoffnungen in dieses Buch …
Schönes Cover, spannende Idee, gemischte Gefühle. 🌿📖
Plant Lady hat mich am Anfang sofort neugierig gemacht. Die Grundidee ist interessant, und auch die Struktur mochte ich: sechs Kapitel, die jeweils für sich stehen. Ich wollte dieses Buch wirklich mögen.
Der Schreibstil hat mich leider nicht abgeholt. Er war sehr nüchtern und distanziert, stellenweise fast wie ein Bericht. Obwohl die Protagonistin Yu-hee extreme und schockierende Dinge tut, habe ich die Emotionen dahinter kaum gespürt – eher so etwas wie „feminine rage auf Valium“. Auch die Figuren blieben für mich ziemlich blass, sodass es mir schwerfiel, mit ihnen mitzufühlen.
Insgesamt war mir das Buch einfach zu leise. Vielleicht sind durch die Übersetzung ein paar Nuancen verloren gegangen, und da die Geschichte ursprünglich als Kurzgeschichte gedacht war, kann ich mir gut vorstellen, dass sie in dieser Form besser funktioniert hätte.
Was man aber definitiv sagen muss: Die Ausgabe sieht wunderschön aus 🌿
Tolle Idee, tolles Buch – nur die Umsetzung hat mich persönlich nicht überzeugt.
Sadly, the writing style didn’t work for me. It felt very cold and detached, almost like reading a report. Even though the protagonist, Yu-hee, does shocking and extreme things, I never really felt the rage behind them .. more like feminine rage on Valium. 🙈 The characters lacked depth, which made it hard to care about what happened.
Overall, the book was simply too quiet for my taste. Some nuances may have been lost in translation, and knowing that the story was originally planned as a short story makes a lot of sense to me … I think it might have worked better in that form.
That said: the edition looks absolutely stunning 🌿🖤
Beautiful concept, beautiful book … just not the execution for me.
𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘥 | 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺
Thank you @team.bloggerportal & @penguinbuecher for the review copy!
🇩🇪
Ich hatte große Hoffnungen in dieses Buch …
Schönes Cover, spannende Idee, gemischte Gefühle. 🌿📖
Plant Lady hat mich am Anfang sofort neugierig gemacht. Die Grundidee ist interessant, und auch die Struktur mochte ich: sechs Kapitel, die jeweils für sich stehen. Ich wollte dieses Buch wirklich mögen.
Der Schreibstil hat mich leider nicht abgeholt. Er war sehr nüchtern und distanziert, stellenweise fast wie ein Bericht. Obwohl die Protagonistin Yu-hee extreme und schockierende Dinge tut, habe ich die Emotionen dahinter kaum gespürt – eher so etwas wie „feminine rage auf Valium“. Auch die Figuren blieben für mich ziemlich blass, sodass es mir schwerfiel, mit ihnen mitzufühlen.
Insgesamt war mir das Buch einfach zu leise. Vielleicht sind durch die Übersetzung ein paar Nuancen verloren gegangen, und da die Geschichte ursprünglich als Kurzgeschichte gedacht war, kann ich mir gut vorstellen, dass sie in dieser Form besser funktioniert hätte.
Was man aber definitiv sagen muss: Die Ausgabe sieht wunderschön aus 🌿
Tolle Idee, tolles Buch – nur die Umsetzung hat mich persönlich nicht überzeugt.
January 28, 2026
Während es in der westlichen Welt in der Malerei die Tradition gibt, die Fläche eines Bildes ganz auszumalen, bedeuten in Asien freie Flächen nicht, dass etwas unfertig wäre, sondern haben ihre eigene Aussage als Teil eines Bildes. So ist es auch in Plant Lady. In diesem Blumenladen quillt nicht alles vor Pflanzen über, es gibt wohlgestaltete Freiräume. Formal unkapriziöse, einfache Sätze, die sitzen. Hier wird viel darüber entfaltet, was nicht explizit dort steht oder nur angedeutet ist. Das gefällt mir sehr gut. Die dargestellte weibliche Wut und Reaktion auf patriarchale Strukturen und drohende Femizide muss ebenfalls im kulturellen Kontext gesehen werden. Man vergisst leicht, dass es in Südkorea um die Rechte von Frauen nach wie vor schlecht bestellt ist, vor allem im Vergleich zu anderen hochentwickelten Industriestaaten. Wer sich dafür interessiert, dem/der sei „Kim Jiyoung, geboren 1982“ empfohlen.
November 6, 2025
„Kann eine zerstörte Pflanze oder ein Mensch wie ich jemals wieder lebendig werden?“ S. 87
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Yu-hee hat ihren Bürojob schon lange hinter sich gelassen und ihr Leben dem gewidmet, was sie wirklich glücklich macht: Pflanzen. Ihr Pflanzenladen ist eine bekannte Adresse in einem eher öden Gewerbegebiet, und zuweilen verirren sich Frauen hierher, die Zuhause noch größere Probleme haben, als eingegangene Pflanzen wie zum Beispiel toxische Beziehungen, Gewalt, Manipulation, Cyberbullying durch Männer.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Für diese Probleme ist Yu-hee die perfekte Adresse. Beladen mit ihren eigenen schlechten Erfahrungen mit Männern, ist sie ihnen nicht besonders wohlgesonnen. Ihre Problem-Löse-Strategie ist sehr praktisch orientiert, sie macht kurzen Prozess mit der männlichen Schöpfung. Doch bald wird Detective Cha Do-khyung auf sie und ihren ungewöhnlichen Pflanzenladen aufmerksam ...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ich habe das Buch wahnsinnig gerne gelesen. Der Schreibstil ließt sich leicht und die Kapitellänge war für mich einfach perfekt. Richtig gut gefallen hat mir auch das Nachwort der Autorin, in der sie den Entstehungshintergrund der Geschichte erläutert.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Es ist eine herrliche tolle - koreanisch typisch seltsame - Geschichte, die mich einfach zum richtigen Zeitpunkt erwischt hat. Ich mochte die Atmosphäre des Pflanzenshops, Yu-hees Hilfsbereitschaft und die gespiegelte Realität - in der sonst die Frauen die Opfer sind und schnell in Vergessenheit geraten.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Auch die Aufmachung des Buches ist wunderschön! Es ist so liebevoll gestaltet und bekommt nun einen ganz besonderen Platz in meinem Bücherregal.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ein großes Monatshighlight für mich und eine dicke Leseempfehlung für euch!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4,5/5 ⭐️
Toll übersetzt von Kyong-Hae Flügel
Rezensionsexemplar @penguinbuecher
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Yu-hee hat ihren Bürojob schon lange hinter sich gelassen und ihr Leben dem gewidmet, was sie wirklich glücklich macht: Pflanzen. Ihr Pflanzenladen ist eine bekannte Adresse in einem eher öden Gewerbegebiet, und zuweilen verirren sich Frauen hierher, die Zuhause noch größere Probleme haben, als eingegangene Pflanzen wie zum Beispiel toxische Beziehungen, Gewalt, Manipulation, Cyberbullying durch Männer.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Für diese Probleme ist Yu-hee die perfekte Adresse. Beladen mit ihren eigenen schlechten Erfahrungen mit Männern, ist sie ihnen nicht besonders wohlgesonnen. Ihre Problem-Löse-Strategie ist sehr praktisch orientiert, sie macht kurzen Prozess mit der männlichen Schöpfung. Doch bald wird Detective Cha Do-khyung auf sie und ihren ungewöhnlichen Pflanzenladen aufmerksam ...
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ich habe das Buch wahnsinnig gerne gelesen. Der Schreibstil ließt sich leicht und die Kapitellänge war für mich einfach perfekt. Richtig gut gefallen hat mir auch das Nachwort der Autorin, in der sie den Entstehungshintergrund der Geschichte erläutert.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Es ist eine herrliche tolle - koreanisch typisch seltsame - Geschichte, die mich einfach zum richtigen Zeitpunkt erwischt hat. Ich mochte die Atmosphäre des Pflanzenshops, Yu-hees Hilfsbereitschaft und die gespiegelte Realität - in der sonst die Frauen die Opfer sind und schnell in Vergessenheit geraten.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Auch die Aufmachung des Buches ist wunderschön! Es ist so liebevoll gestaltet und bekommt nun einen ganz besonderen Platz in meinem Bücherregal.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Ein großes Monatshighlight für mich und eine dicke Leseempfehlung für euch!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
4,5/5 ⭐️
Toll übersetzt von Kyong-Hae Flügel
Rezensionsexemplar @penguinbuecher
January 6, 2026
>>Schlechte Zeiten für böse Männer<<
In „Plant Lady“ von Minyoung Kang, aus dem Koreanischen übersetzt von Kyong-Hae Flügel, begleiten wir die junge Yu-hee, die Abstand von ihrer Vergangenheit gewinnen will und in einem anderen Teil der Stadt einen Pflanzenladen eröffnet, obwohl sie davon eigentlich erst einmal gar keine Ahnung hat. Da sie selbst doch sehr introvertiert ist, wird dieser Pflanzenladen schnell ihr Rückzugsort und nicht nur ihrer, denn nach und nach auch für einige ihrer Kundinnen. Was erst einmal harmlos scheint, spitzt sich mehr und mehr zu und wird mitunter doch sehr blutrünstig- vorallem für die Männer der Schöpfung... mehr möchte ich an dieser Stelle nicht verraten.
Zu Beginn muss ich ehrlich sagen ist es mir doch eher schwer gefallen in der Geschichte anzukommen, das lag zum einen am sehr nüchternen Schreibstil und der für mich empfundenen Unnahbarkeit von Yu-hee... Interessant empfand ich wiederum den Aspekt rund um die Pflanzen, was für den Verlauf der Geschichte auf verschiedenste Art und Weise auch noch von großer Wichtigkeit wird. Je weiter ich also dran blieb, umso gespannter war ich, besonders als sich hier noch Detektive an Yu-hees Versen heften.
Mein Fazit: Ein interessantes Buch, das den Blickwinkel definitiv mal verändert und insgesamt viele Fragen hinterlässt, über die mich auch im Nachgang noch beschäftigen.
Dennoch tat ich mich auch mit einigen Dingen eher schwer, daher würde ich das Buch bewertungstechnisch im mittleren Feld einordnen.
In „Plant Lady“ von Minyoung Kang, aus dem Koreanischen übersetzt von Kyong-Hae Flügel, begleiten wir die junge Yu-hee, die Abstand von ihrer Vergangenheit gewinnen will und in einem anderen Teil der Stadt einen Pflanzenladen eröffnet, obwohl sie davon eigentlich erst einmal gar keine Ahnung hat. Da sie selbst doch sehr introvertiert ist, wird dieser Pflanzenladen schnell ihr Rückzugsort und nicht nur ihrer, denn nach und nach auch für einige ihrer Kundinnen. Was erst einmal harmlos scheint, spitzt sich mehr und mehr zu und wird mitunter doch sehr blutrünstig- vorallem für die Männer der Schöpfung... mehr möchte ich an dieser Stelle nicht verraten.
Zu Beginn muss ich ehrlich sagen ist es mir doch eher schwer gefallen in der Geschichte anzukommen, das lag zum einen am sehr nüchternen Schreibstil und der für mich empfundenen Unnahbarkeit von Yu-hee... Interessant empfand ich wiederum den Aspekt rund um die Pflanzen, was für den Verlauf der Geschichte auf verschiedenste Art und Weise auch noch von großer Wichtigkeit wird. Je weiter ich also dran blieb, umso gespannter war ich, besonders als sich hier noch Detektive an Yu-hees Versen heften.
Mein Fazit: Ein interessantes Buch, das den Blickwinkel definitiv mal verändert und insgesamt viele Fragen hinterlässt, über die mich auch im Nachgang noch beschäftigen.
Dennoch tat ich mich auch mit einigen Dingen eher schwer, daher würde ich das Buch bewertungstechnisch im mittleren Feld einordnen.
October 19, 2025
Einzig das Cover sticht hervor
Wenn dieses Buch in den Buchhandlungen kein Blickfang ist, dann weiß ich auch nicht mehr. Das Cover wäre auch der einzige Grund, aus dem heraus man dieses Buch kaufen sollte. Dazu muss man aber schon sehr designversessen sein, um die Bücher im Bücherregal nur noch nach dem Coverdesign auszuwählen. Oder ein Museum.
Ich habe dieses Buch gelesen, weil ich die Grundidee erstmal originell und überraschend fand. Die Idee wurde allerdings nicht gut ausgeführt. Einerseits ist das Buch sprachlich holprig in der Ausführung, was der Übersetzung geschuldet sein mag. Es liest sich an vielen Stellen leider nicht schön. Auf der anderen Seite trägt die Handlung auch nicht zu einem gelungenen Leseerlebnis bei. Die Kapitel sind in sich abgeschlossen und die Spannung bricht am Kapitelende jäh ab. Erst später im Buch treten unterliegenden Handlungsstränge zu Tage, die mich am Ende zumindest vor dem Lektüre-Abbruch und einer noch schwächeren Bewertung bewahrt haben.
Das Buch ist ein Genre-Mix der schlechteren Art. Es ist weder Krimi, noch Thriller noch Roman. Es ist ein Buch, dem eine schöne Grundidee zu Grunde liegt, dessen Charaktere und Handlungsstränge aber leider ungenügend herausgearbeitet sind. Lasst euch in den Buchhandlungen von der schönen Cover-Art nicht überlisten. Finger weg!
Wenn dieses Buch in den Buchhandlungen kein Blickfang ist, dann weiß ich auch nicht mehr. Das Cover wäre auch der einzige Grund, aus dem heraus man dieses Buch kaufen sollte. Dazu muss man aber schon sehr designversessen sein, um die Bücher im Bücherregal nur noch nach dem Coverdesign auszuwählen. Oder ein Museum.
Ich habe dieses Buch gelesen, weil ich die Grundidee erstmal originell und überraschend fand. Die Idee wurde allerdings nicht gut ausgeführt. Einerseits ist das Buch sprachlich holprig in der Ausführung, was der Übersetzung geschuldet sein mag. Es liest sich an vielen Stellen leider nicht schön. Auf der anderen Seite trägt die Handlung auch nicht zu einem gelungenen Leseerlebnis bei. Die Kapitel sind in sich abgeschlossen und die Spannung bricht am Kapitelende jäh ab. Erst später im Buch treten unterliegenden Handlungsstränge zu Tage, die mich am Ende zumindest vor dem Lektüre-Abbruch und einer noch schwächeren Bewertung bewahrt haben.
Das Buch ist ein Genre-Mix der schlechteren Art. Es ist weder Krimi, noch Thriller noch Roman. Es ist ein Buch, dem eine schöne Grundidee zu Grunde liegt, dessen Charaktere und Handlungsstränge aber leider ungenügend herausgearbeitet sind. Lasst euch in den Buchhandlungen von der schönen Cover-Art nicht überlisten. Finger weg!
September 23, 2025
3.5
Das Buch habe ich innerhalb kürzester Zeit inhaliert und das ist für mich eigentlich immer ein gutes Zeichen. Im Prinzip folgen wir der Protagonistin Yu-Hee, die Inhaberin eines Pflanzenladens in Sejin ist und dabei immer wieder in ihrem Leben auf Männer stößt, die sie furchtbar behandeln. Yu-Hee kümmert sich um diese Männer auf ihre eigene diabolische Weise und beseitigt sie alle nacheinander. Aber Yu-Hee bleibt nicht alleine, denn auch andere Frauen kommen zu ihr und berichten ihr von deren gewalttätigen Vätern, Freunden, etc. Yu-Hee will diesen Frauen beistehen, gerät dabei jedoch ins Visier eines Polizisten.
Für mich war das ein wirklich gelungenes Buch. Zwischen die einzelnen Morde fließt immer wieder Wissen über die verschiedensten Pflanzen mit ein und so bekommt das Buch eine ganz einzigartige Atmosphäre. Der Schreibstil ist nüchtern und man muss sich die Gefühle schon zwischen den Zeilen herauskramen, aber das hat für mich gut zum Buch gepasst. Es hätte aber gerne länger sein dürfen, ich empfand es als ein wenig zu kurz, um richtig in die Geschichte abtauchen zu könnnen.
Das Buch habe ich innerhalb kürzester Zeit inhaliert und das ist für mich eigentlich immer ein gutes Zeichen. Im Prinzip folgen wir der Protagonistin Yu-Hee, die Inhaberin eines Pflanzenladens in Sejin ist und dabei immer wieder in ihrem Leben auf Männer stößt, die sie furchtbar behandeln. Yu-Hee kümmert sich um diese Männer auf ihre eigene diabolische Weise und beseitigt sie alle nacheinander. Aber Yu-Hee bleibt nicht alleine, denn auch andere Frauen kommen zu ihr und berichten ihr von deren gewalttätigen Vätern, Freunden, etc. Yu-Hee will diesen Frauen beistehen, gerät dabei jedoch ins Visier eines Polizisten.
Für mich war das ein wirklich gelungenes Buch. Zwischen die einzelnen Morde fließt immer wieder Wissen über die verschiedensten Pflanzen mit ein und so bekommt das Buch eine ganz einzigartige Atmosphäre. Der Schreibstil ist nüchtern und man muss sich die Gefühle schon zwischen den Zeilen herauskramen, aber das hat für mich gut zum Buch gepasst. Es hätte aber gerne länger sein dürfen, ich empfand es als ein wenig zu kurz, um richtig in die Geschichte abtauchen zu könnnen.
December 28, 2025
sie war noch viel zu nett
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌿 Plant Lady by Minyoung Kang🌿
I went into this expecting something feminine rage, but I was not prepared for how emotionally layered this story would be. The rage is there, but it is not the only thing driving this story. It never is.
This book really understands that rage does not come out of nowhere. It builds. It comes from repeated harm, from being dismissed, from being unheard, from surviving things that should have never happened in the first place. The author does not just show anger, instead as a reader you exprience all of the emotions.
There is grief here. Fear. Exhaustion. And that pivotal moment where survival turns into a decision. That is where rage enters. Rage is rarely the first response for women. It is something that builds. A result of everything that came before.
I know this is a story I will come back to. I need time to sit with it before I finalize my full review, but this was easily a 6 star read for me. I cannot stop thinking about it.
🪴 What to Expect
• Plant shop
• Vigilante justice
• Dark humor
• Missing Men
• Morally gray FMC
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I went into this expecting something feminine rage, but I was not prepared for how emotionally layered this story would be. The rage is there, but it is not the only thing driving this story. It never is.
This book really understands that rage does not come out of nowhere. It builds. It comes from repeated harm, from being dismissed, from being unheard, from surviving things that should have never happened in the first place. The author does not just show anger, instead as a reader you exprience all of the emotions.
There is grief here. Fear. Exhaustion. And that pivotal moment where survival turns into a decision. That is where rage enters. Rage is rarely the first response for women. It is something that builds. A result of everything that came before.
I know this is a story I will come back to. I need time to sit with it before I finalize my full review, but this was easily a 6 star read for me. I cannot stop thinking about it.
🪴 What to Expect
• Plant shop
• Vigilante justice
• Dark humor
• Missing Men
• Morally gray FMC
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
📝 Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
February 18, 2026
Hat mir wirklich, wirklich gut gefallen! Unsere Plant Lady nimmt die Dinge in die Hand und hilft den Frauen, die Opfer von Stalking, Mobbing, Demütigungen etc. geworden sind, jedoch von der Polizei/Gesellschaft im Stich gelassen werden. Das Gelesene ist mir sehr nahe gegangen und ich hatte absolut kein Mitleid mit den Männern, schon gar nicht, nachdem ich mich schlau gemacht hatte wie es mit den Frauenrechten in Südkorea bestellt ist.
Ich mochte den Schreib- und Erzählstil. Ebenso mochte ich die Protagonistin Yu-hee, weshalb ich das ganze Buch über etwas nervös und gehofft habe, dass die Polizei ihr nicht auf die Schliche kommt.
Auch das Nachwort der Autorin fand ich sehr lesenswert!
Ich mochte den Schreib- und Erzählstil. Ebenso mochte ich die Protagonistin Yu-hee, weshalb ich das ganze Buch über etwas nervös und gehofft habe, dass die Polizei ihr nicht auf die Schliche kommt.
Auch das Nachwort der Autorin fand ich sehr lesenswert!
February 21, 2026
Es ist ein eher abgelegenes Viertel in Dosan, in dem Yu-hee ihren «Plant Shop» eröffnet. Doch die grüne Oase gewinnt schnell an Beliebtheit – insbesondere bei Frauen, die unter übergriffigen Männern leiden. Yu-hee hilft ihnen auch bei diesen Problemen; doch bald schöpft der örtliche Detective einen Verdacht.
Minyoung Kang schreibt in nüchternem, distanziertem Ton von den besonderen Dienstleistungen ihrer Hauptfigur; wie genau diese aussehen, wird allerdings ausgespart, diese Lücken muss man selber füllen. Reflexion findet keine statt, die Charaktere bleiben eindimensional und relativ emotionslos. Auch Spannung wird kaum aufgebaut, «Plant Lady» ist kein Thriller oder Krimi; vielmehr sollen gesellschaftliche Problemstellen aufgezeigt werden. Auch wenn ich der Autorin in ihren bitteren Betrachtungen vollkommen Recht gebe, ist die Geschichte aber schlussendlich doch recht banal.
Phosphor Kultur: Augenpulver #30
Minyoung Kang schreibt in nüchternem, distanziertem Ton von den besonderen Dienstleistungen ihrer Hauptfigur; wie genau diese aussehen, wird allerdings ausgespart, diese Lücken muss man selber füllen. Reflexion findet keine statt, die Charaktere bleiben eindimensional und relativ emotionslos. Auch Spannung wird kaum aufgebaut, «Plant Lady» ist kein Thriller oder Krimi; vielmehr sollen gesellschaftliche Problemstellen aufgezeigt werden. Auch wenn ich der Autorin in ihren bitteren Betrachtungen vollkommen Recht gebe, ist die Geschichte aber schlussendlich doch recht banal.
Phosphor Kultur: Augenpulver #30
May 16, 2026
3⭐️
i’m a big supporter of women’s rights and especially women’s wrongs. 🙂↕️ this was so weird girl fiction coded and i really enjoyed it!
this book was separated into 6 short instances, all surrounding our plant lady choi yoohee. she has an intense love for her plants and her shop and nothing could come between them. she believes men are absolute pests and should be dealt with, especially if they are harsh toward her and her plants. she’s also been known to help the women who come into her shop seeking assistance. one by one, men keep disappearing and she’s fallen under suspicion.
this felt so slice of life and i didn’t mind the writing style. it felt a bit choppy at times but i think it got, with how each instance was a short story for each chapter.
i’m a big supporter of women’s rights and especially women’s wrongs. 🙂↕️ this was so weird girl fiction coded and i really enjoyed it!
this book was separated into 6 short instances, all surrounding our plant lady choi yoohee. she has an intense love for her plants and her shop and nothing could come between them. she believes men are absolute pests and should be dealt with, especially if they are harsh toward her and her plants. she’s also been known to help the women who come into her shop seeking assistance. one by one, men keep disappearing and she’s fallen under suspicion.
this felt so slice of life and i didn’t mind the writing style. it felt a bit choppy at times but i think it got, with how each instance was a short story for each chapter.
December 31, 2025
Eher plump
March 30, 2026
Ich mochte es schon gerne, man hat zwar auch am Ende keine wirkliche Ahnung was passiert ist durch die Auslassungen aber irgendwie war das interessant:)
July 3, 2026
Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an arc of this book.
First I want to say that I support women’s rights and wrongs.
“Plant lady” is the kind of book that can be read in a few hours, while having a drink and trying to survive the heatwave. It’s written under the form of short stories, but it’s not a short story! Don’t be fooled!
While the choices of the main character were not legal (lol), I understand why she chose to act like that. Some men just deserve it.
I loved the setting, the plan shop. It made me want to go and get me some plants, or just going for a walk in the middle of a botanical garden while drinking a cup of tea or something. It was very immersive.
I can’t say a lot of things about “Plant lady” because of the number of pages, under 200, without spoiling the story. I mean, I think you’ll know what is about. It was a satisfying read, and while I’m not a violent person, I love when people get what they deserve, especially men who think they’re entitled to anything.
The plot was fast paced, the writing is easy to understand and to follow and the characters are really great. I recommend it if you want a very short read!
Slay.
First I want to say that I support women’s rights and wrongs.
“Plant lady” is the kind of book that can be read in a few hours, while having a drink and trying to survive the heatwave. It’s written under the form of short stories, but it’s not a short story! Don’t be fooled!
While the choices of the main character were not legal (lol), I understand why she chose to act like that. Some men just deserve it.
I loved the setting, the plan shop. It made me want to go and get me some plants, or just going for a walk in the middle of a botanical garden while drinking a cup of tea or something. It was very immersive.
I can’t say a lot of things about “Plant lady” because of the number of pages, under 200, without spoiling the story. I mean, I think you’ll know what is about. It was a satisfying read, and while I’m not a violent person, I love when people get what they deserve, especially men who think they’re entitled to anything.
The plot was fast paced, the writing is easy to understand and to follow and the characters are really great. I recommend it if you want a very short read!
Slay.
February 9, 2026
This was a really satisfying read because I am just sick and tired of men (especially men) getting away with heinous crimes. I enjoyed reading this very straightforward horror book about killing bad men who harm women and their communities. The plants were a great medium through which to tell the story and it was well-paced. This book doesn’t look like it’d be in the horror genre but I think that’s what made me love it even more. It's a fresh take on the genre of stories that take place in little whimsical stores.
One could ponder more about the morality of the actions in the book, but I’m not in the mood of headspace to even care. Female rage!!!! Go Yoohee!!!
One could ponder more about the morality of the actions in the book, but I’m not in the mood of headspace to even care. Female rage!!!! Go Yoohee!!!
January 22, 2026
The Plant Lady is an intriguing and intimidating exploration of female rage, even through a quiet, understated protagonist. I found myself gripping the book, eagerly turning each page to see what would happen next. While there were moments where I felt a bit lost, the story is ultimately well thought out and left me questioning the morality behind the events. The vengeance is sweet, the plants are vicious, and the story itself is deeply compelling.
December 1, 2025
This was an entertaining, fun read on a dark topic: violence against women, and a society that pretty much accepts this as the status quo. While I am sure I missed some Korea specific references, I believe any and esch of the instances of gender-specific harassment and violence can be found anywhere. At times you could tell that the story started out as a short story, some characters are not well-developed, and some questions linger, but perhaps that’s for the reader to think about!
October 23, 2025
Ich weiß auch nicht, die südkoreanischen Frauenstimmen in der Literatur sind ganz eigen, aber ich liebe es! Nichts wird verschnörkselt, alles ist einfach wie es ist. Sehr zu empfehlen, eine witzige, spannende Geschichte einer Frau, die sich rächt!
December 29, 2025
Grauenvoll der Sprachstil, evtl. schlecht übersetzt, die Story entwickelt sich nicht wirklich, die Idee und das Ambiente sind cool
July 7, 2026
Advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley.
Yoohee is a simple woman with simple pleasures. Her plants and the plant shop she owns take up most of her time, as she cares for them as though they are her own children.
But what that means is that anyone who disrespects her plants, needs to be dealt with.
And wouldn’t ya know it, it’s always a MAN who’s making these slights against her. And she’s not the only one who won’t be taking any more flack.
Women and girls from near and far, at first just regular customers that she can read like a book, then those that need her most come to her directly requesting her help with ridding themselves of men that have harmed them or made their lives a living hell for one reason or another.
An emotionally unstable artist husband texting you hundreds of times a day? Fertilizer.
An abusive father to a young girl who just wanted to explore her interest in plants? Fertilizer.
The boy who is the reason you fled town comes to find you after years of no contact? You guessed it. FERTILIZER.
But hey, Yoohee’s garden is THRIVING.
This book was funny in a way that is a bit hard to explain. Most of the apparent murders aren’t really the focus of the story, it goes more into the reasoning behind it.
Each women’s story of turmoil at the hands of a man is told front to back, and made to relate to a particular type of plant.
You know that Youhee is definitely ending them and using most of their remains to fertilize her garden or mix into potting soil, but it’s much more about her and the women she helps, and less about the killing as an act. At least, that’s how it felt to me.
But I didn’t feel deprived of anything because of that, it was still a very fun and digestible story.
Yoohee is a simple woman with simple pleasures. Her plants and the plant shop she owns take up most of her time, as she cares for them as though they are her own children.
But what that means is that anyone who disrespects her plants, needs to be dealt with.
And wouldn’t ya know it, it’s always a MAN who’s making these slights against her. And she’s not the only one who won’t be taking any more flack.
Women and girls from near and far, at first just regular customers that she can read like a book, then those that need her most come to her directly requesting her help with ridding themselves of men that have harmed them or made their lives a living hell for one reason or another.
An emotionally unstable artist husband texting you hundreds of times a day? Fertilizer.
An abusive father to a young girl who just wanted to explore her interest in plants? Fertilizer.
The boy who is the reason you fled town comes to find you after years of no contact? You guessed it. FERTILIZER.
But hey, Yoohee’s garden is THRIVING.
This book was funny in a way that is a bit hard to explain. Most of the apparent murders aren’t really the focus of the story, it goes more into the reasoning behind it.
Each women’s story of turmoil at the hands of a man is told front to back, and made to relate to a particular type of plant.
You know that Youhee is definitely ending them and using most of their remains to fertilize her garden or mix into potting soil, but it’s much more about her and the women she helps, and less about the killing as an act. At least, that’s how it felt to me.
But I didn’t feel deprived of anything because of that, it was still a very fun and digestible story.
May 19, 2026
"Plant Lady" is a book belonging to the weird girl lit microgenre but make it Korean, that will also appeal to the man vs bear crowd that loves to hate on all the men who have wronged all the women in the world. But it fell flat to me.
It did get tied together at the end where I understood Yoohee better, but mostly I felt she was an inscrutable, cold character for most of the book. I found her intriguing at first, a social outcast who left her boring office job to pursue her dream of running a plant shop. I, too, can understand connecting with plants better than with people.
But perhaps because the book was so short, I felt it didn't go far enough in examining Yoohee's motivations and emotional life. I felt removed from her. I wanted a novel brimming with female rage and instead it was quiet and restrained. Yoohee indiscriminately kills bad men, which was a premise I felt intrigued by, but to me this wasn't horror or thriller because the murders felt rushed and the detective was incompetent. The horror wasn't spooky or scary other than some limited gore and the horror of women's experiences.
I think the bones were there in this book and it was well written in a quiet, straightforward way, I just wanted more of an emotional punch. I would recommend this to the right reader though.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It did get tied together at the end where I understood Yoohee better, but mostly I felt she was an inscrutable, cold character for most of the book. I found her intriguing at first, a social outcast who left her boring office job to pursue her dream of running a plant shop. I, too, can understand connecting with plants better than with people.
But perhaps because the book was so short, I felt it didn't go far enough in examining Yoohee's motivations and emotional life. I felt removed from her. I wanted a novel brimming with female rage and instead it was quiet and restrained. Yoohee indiscriminately kills bad men, which was a premise I felt intrigued by, but to me this wasn't horror or thriller because the murders felt rushed and the detective was incompetent. The horror wasn't spooky or scary other than some limited gore and the horror of women's experiences.
I think the bones were there in this book and it was well written in a quiet, straightforward way, I just wanted more of an emotional punch. I would recommend this to the right reader though.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 2, 2026
I enjoyed this so much more than I thought I would, maybe because I didn’t really know what I was setting myself up for when I picked it up.
This book follows Yoohee, the owner of Plant Shop, as she attempts to carry the burdens of several other women, including her own, on her shoulders. She is happiest around plants, and the shop becomes a respite for women who are also looking for their own happiness after it is taken away by men in their lives. While you could argue that the means Yoohee goes to to help these women isn’t “right”, we should remember that, as Kang points out in the author’s note, women are wronged daily, often to the point of death, simply for existing. Kang does a great job at building plot and flicking back and forth at certain points without it becoming confusing. I also loved that each character felt distinct and unique, and I especially loved the way Yoohee was a strong presence amidst injustices done to her and the women who seek her out.
Thank you Doubleday for the NetGalley arc!
This book follows Yoohee, the owner of Plant Shop, as she attempts to carry the burdens of several other women, including her own, on her shoulders. She is happiest around plants, and the shop becomes a respite for women who are also looking for their own happiness after it is taken away by men in their lives. While you could argue that the means Yoohee goes to to help these women isn’t “right”, we should remember that, as Kang points out in the author’s note, women are wronged daily, often to the point of death, simply for existing. Kang does a great job at building plot and flicking back and forth at certain points without it becoming confusing. I also loved that each character felt distinct and unique, and I especially loved the way Yoohee was a strong presence amidst injustices done to her and the women who seek her out.
Thank you Doubleday for the NetGalley arc!
August 23, 2025
So nett und so BÖSE. Ein bisschen Ingrid Noll auf koreanisch.
January 4, 2026
3.75⭐️
May 27, 2026
thank you so much @prhukexport for the opportunity to read this ARC 🪴
This book surprised me, in a good way.
I was not expecting that “plant lady” was going to turn out to be such a depth story when it comes to Yoohee’s motives and that honestly made me view this story diferently.
The characters feel a bit detached but I believe that’s what the author also intended. The police officer started to grow on me but other than that I was just eager to know what was going to happen and what would get these man killed. Every motive seemed to be perfectly justifiable tbh 🙂↕️😂
I also liked how we move to a different story each chapter, it flies by so quickly.
This book surprised me, in a good way.
I was not expecting that “plant lady” was going to turn out to be such a depth story when it comes to Yoohee’s motives and that honestly made me view this story diferently.
The characters feel a bit detached but I believe that’s what the author also intended. The police officer started to grow on me but other than that I was just eager to know what was going to happen and what would get these man killed. Every motive seemed to be perfectly justifiable tbh 🙂↕️😂
I also liked how we move to a different story each chapter, it flies by so quickly.
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