Narrow Rooms

by Sungmin Choi, Janet Hong (Translator)

A romantic thriller exploring the dark corners of human desire and isolation with quiet eeriness

Is a fresh start truly possible? Or will society’s strictures and your own impulses keep re-creating the same messed-up relationships in every narrow room you enter?

Choi Seongmin’s Narrow Rooms follows a young woman who leaves her rural hometown to study in Seoul and seek self-improvement. But once there, she quickly becomes the target of unwanted attention from her teacher, and the whispers of other students only deepen her alienation. Living in a cramped, poorly soundproofed room, the suffocating atmosphere begins to further distort her boundaries and perceptions. Longing for escape, she fixates on a handsome new neighbor, her fascination spiraling into obsession: She secretly rummages through his mailbox, collects his discarded cigarette butts and teabags, and hoards his trash. But when she discovers something unsavory about the object of her desire, will she be forced to confront the morals of her own behavior?

With clean, uniform lines and milky colors reminiscent of glass paintings, Choi’s cartooning heightens the story’s sense of claustrophobia and unreality. Expertly translated from the Korean by Janet Hong and originally serialized as a Webtoon, Narrow Rooms has been praised for its raw, unsparing depiction of how human desires leak out when confined behind thin walls, emerging in unsettling, antisocial ways that no amount of self-control can fully contain.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics

516 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2026

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to put this down because it was making me feel so claustrophobic. This was very unnerving and even ordinary scenes felt off. Captures a level of obsession and infatuation that probably more of us can relate to than we are willing to admit.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very disturbing. The story's content is a huge surprise, given the doughy, hyper feminine presentation. I was uncomfortable the whole time I read it, and even thought about stopping a few times. So while I technically didn't like the book (and wouldn't recommend it), I admire when an author can convey so successfully any type of feeling.

The unease created feels like what our main character possibly felt. How many times did she want to stop.. but couldn't?

[Zephorah Dove · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title truly fits the storyline as we get tiny glimpses into the characters minds and we get to see slices of their lives. There were so many stories intertwined that it flowed seamlessly. Although I was shocked that there was a prep school before applying for university.

Our MCs facial expressions cracked me up throughout the story and seeing her reaction truly showed what she was feeling and a lot of the awkwardness in convos and situations.

Without spoiling anything, I found this to be an engaging read that highlighted the not so perfect sides of people. I'll for sure keep an eye out for any more translated works from this author.

Thanks a lot to Edelweiss and Drawn & Quarterly Comics for the DRC..

[Natalie Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claustrophobic, Unsettling, and Thought-Provoking

This graphic novel creates a powerful sense of discomfort from the very beginning. Following a young woman’s move to Seoul, the story explores loneliness, obsession, and the blurred boundaries that emerge under isolation and social pressure. The artwork perfectly complements the tense atmosphere, making every cramped space feel oppressive and emotionally charged.

While some of the protagonist’s actions were difficult to sympathize with, that discomfort is clearly intentional. The narrative offers a raw look at desire, alienation, and self-deception without easy answers. Disturbing yet compelling, it kept me engaged throughout and left me with plenty to think about after finishing.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. I felt like some of the themes around loneliness felt flat and there were a lot of relationship-obsessed girls. The main character is an art student with OCD/anxiety and she is stalking her new neighbor while getting harassed by the school director and the stress of passing the art exams to get into a good college. The trio of girls each had their own issues but as a group they were gossipy and rumor mongering. A lot of the plot doesn't go anywhere but part of that is fine as it reads like a slice of life story, but I still would have liked to see some actual development. The end jumps around a bit and reads a bit gossipy too, like a summary of who is going out with who and what the main characters are up to now.

[crowsden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling, anxiety inducing, and reflective of the younger, modern Korean culture.

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's amazing and I love it

[Ayla Wachowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oof I wish this was longer

[Nettles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Purposefully uncomfortable.

The illustrations are just okay but the atmosphere is well done

3.5⭐️

[Andrea Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay.
Well I'm really uncomfortable now