Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

by Hwang Bo-Reum, Shanna Tan (Translator)

From the internationally bestselling author of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop comes a warm and reflective collection of essays inviting us to reflect on our relationship with reading.

Why do we read? What is it that we hope to take away from the intimate, personal experience of reading for pleasure?

Rarely do we ask these profound, expansive questions of ourselves and of our relationship to the joy of reading. In each of the essays in Every Day I Read, Hwang Bo-reum contemplates what living a life immersed in reading means. She goes beyond the usual questions of what to read and how often, exploring the relationship between reading and writing, when to turn to a bestseller vs. browse the corners of a bookstore, the value of reading outside of your favorite genre, falling in love with book characters, and more.

Every Day I Read provides many quiet moments for introspection and reflection, encouraging book-lovers to explore what reading means to each of us. While this is a book about books, at its heart is an attitude to life, one outside capitalism and climbing the corporate ladder. Lifelong and new readers will take away something from it, including a treasure trove of book recommendations blended seamlessly within.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books, Essays, Audiobook, Memoir, Adult, Writing

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 20, 2021

About the author

Hwang Bo-reum studied Computer Science and worked as a software engineer. She wrote several essay collections: I Read Every Day, I Tried Kickboxing for the First Time and This Distance is Perfect. Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is her first novel, which has sold over 150,000 copies in Korea and been sold into 9 territories. Before its release as a paperback, the novel was initially published as an e-book after winning an open contest co-organised by Korean content-publishing platform ‘Brunch’.

대학에서 컴퓨터공학을 전공하고 LG전자에서 소프트웨어 개발자로 일했다. 몇 번의 입사와 퇴사를 반복하면서도 매일 읽고 쓰는 사람으로서의 정체성은 잃지 않고 있다. 지은 책으로 『매일 읽겠습니다』, 『난생처음 킥복싱』, 『이 정도 거리가 딱 좋다』가 있다.

Reviews

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this author’s fiction book, Welcome to the Hyunam Dong Bookshop, so I was really looking forward to reading this nonfiction book about books. There were a lot of things I loved about this, I love how cozy and comforting this book felt to read, like someone who truly gets how special books are and the way they can change us and transport us. It was a gentle reminder about why I love reading in the first place, and it was very comforting to listen to this one on audio.

But I also couldn’t help but feeling some of it felt a little surface level or even pretentious? In the second half it was starting to feel like this author had an agenda with wanting people to read more classics or “difficult” books, and that’s fine, but I feel like she also could’ve touched on how it’s also okay to read silly light hearted books for escapism too. The message just got a little muddled for me toward the end and I wasn’t connecting with it as much as I did with the beginning.

[Mary Phung · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant and relaxing read! As someone who also reads every day, I picked up this book to compare my experiences with the author’s. It made me feel comforted and understood, and the many chuckles and smiles I had while reading were an added bonus.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published December 2, 2026.

Translated from the Korean by Shanna Tan.

4 stars

This was a nice, simplistic little book about the joys of reading (and sometimes writing.). Very short chapters give various reasons to read and suggestions for when you do. Lots of great quotes and I was introduced to the idea of a book bar, which is apparently a thing in South Korea. You go in with your book, get a table, order a drink (and maybe a snack? I’m certainly hoping that there are snacks!) and then you are left alone to enjoy your book, surrounded by other people who are doing the same. I hardly need say how much I love this idea and if I ever hit the Powerball I’m going to start my American empire. Anyone got a clever name? Let me warn you in advance I’ll be stealing it and giving you no credit whatsoever. OK, maybe a free drink. Once. This place has to make a profit, you know.

“You just need one single bond…a person you can truly trust, a person who rejoices in your existence. If there’s one such person in your life, you’ll be able to keep going.” THE UNUSUAL SOCIABILITY, Nakajima.

“Whether it’s fatigue, anxiety, worry, anticipation or anything else, tomorrow, as always, I’m going to replace them all with a book.” BED AND BOOKS, Jung Hyeyoon.

When to stop reading a book? “If I’m no longer curious about what’s next.”

“If I am what I have and if what I have is lost, who then am I? Nobody but a defeated, deflated, pathetic testimony to a wrong way of living…. if I am what I am and not what I have, nobody can derive me of or threaten my security and my sense of identity.” TO HAVE OR TO BE? Erich Fromm

“I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” Montesquieu

“…it’s impossible to be happy when one lives in fear of the future.”

“Some people think of reading only as a kind of escape: an escape from the ‘real’ everyday day world to an imaginary world, the world of books. Books are much more. They are a way of being fully human.” Susan Sontag.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this book at my local library on a new release shelf. I was intrigued as I read every day and always have a book with me. The author expresses what I feel about books in her 53 essays.

I came away with new ideas on my approach to reading. Using a timer, collecting quotes, keeping a reading list and much more. I enjoyed this book immensely with the author’s passion for reading eloquently expressed in the short essays.

I liked her set of rules on book reviews. “Do not be tempted by reviews that are too emotional and peppered with exclamations - what an amazing book! - and instead trust objective reviews that provide a good synopsis and a selection of quotes from the book. “

I plan to reread it again in a few months. I also loved the type set in Minion inspired by late Renaissance era type.

[Stacy (Gotham City Librarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, what a gorgeous cover!!! I would hang a print of this in a frame on my wall.

This is a quick read. The essays are short and easy to digest. Author Bo-Reum brings up some interesting points about reading habits and choosing books, and I love her overall passion for it. The way she escapes her problems by spending time with other people’s words is very relatable.

I was particularly comforted by the section about forgetting what you read, because sometimes that happens to me, too. Bo-Reum says that books transform you as you read them, so it’s okay if you don’t remember everything.

I was struck by many quotes in this, but loved this one specifically: “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside of us.” Essentially, we must read to work through the tough things.

This is a nice little tribute to reading and even has book recommendations from the author. 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Versha · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface, this book doesn’t say anything new that an avid reader hasn’t already known or felt—but reading it was deeply self-assuring and satisfying. It reaffirms the importance of reading every day, of reading for fun, and of engaging in deep, thoughtful reading.

The author reminds us that there’s nothing wrong with enjoying bestsellers, while also emphasizing the value of reading classics and longer books. She beautifully explores how we grow as readers and how every book gives us something in return, each in its own way.

It was comforting to realize that readers everywhere share the same feelings and experiences—that none of us are alone in our love for books. This book also inspired me to write more. As a writer herself, Hwang Bo-Reum speaks honestly about the challenges of writing and reassures aspiring writers that we can write too—and that the only way to become better is by reading widely and consistently.

[Debbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the perfect remedy for a reading slump. The 53 short chapters explore the joy of books and reading, There are interesting quotes, good recommendations and lots of new ideas for enjoying and documenting the reading experience.
This is one of the few books I've wanted to read again the moment I finished. There are so many great questions to turn over such as, are books useful? Or thoughts on digital reading, or reading aloud vs reading silently.
The author reads globally, she sites many western writers as favorites. I especially enjoyed her references to Korean authors I hadn't heard of. I am inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum's book Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop will be on the top of the stack.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance copy of this charming book.

[miilkyblues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book so much✨ Hwang Bo-Reum's writing is just so so beautiful and cozy🤍 Every chapter was heart warming and I had to underline soo much, definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. Will write a full review once I gather my thoughts together💌

[India (IndiaReadsALot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is a really good book for people who are getting back into reading and have that rush of excitement of all the worlds that await them. For someone like myself, who has been an avid reader for such a long time, while there were some really nice anecdotes and a lot of books I have written down to check out. But the essays felt a bit surface level for me.

[Toribetweenpages · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many good takeaways and ideas on how to engage with books whether you read a little or a lot.

It was like sitting with a bag of chips and only eating the broken ones. Amazing information presented in bite sized pieces that kind of left me wanting more.

My takeaways (paraphrased)
• Reading is about understanding. Not finishing. Not rushing.
• Look for life changing reads.
• Read widely, then read deeply
• Books help us from sinking into the abyss
• Reading isn’t about remembering, it’s about feeling transformed.

Thank you Libro FM for the ALC of this book! Definitely recommend the audio.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy and introspective read about why reading is so wonderful 😌

[kellymross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thought provoking book all about the various aspects of books and reading. It’s impossible to read this short book of essays without reflecting on the joys and comfort that reading brings. So many books are recommended in the essays, I’d recommend reading with your TBR tracker handy! Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy.

[Leah (Jane Speare) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't post reviews on here anymore (just Storygraph) once I learned that Amazon owns those words, but as usual I don't care if they own words of my rage so here you go:

This was actually one of the worst books I've ever bothered to read. And I only bothered to keep reading it because I wanted to lean into my rage that I suddenly needed an outlet for.

Why was this book pretentious as fuck? Let me count the ways.

- She barely mentions books published this century.
- The chapter on ebooks / screen-reading was ableist as fuck. And it didn't even TOUCH audiobooks. Weird considering I read this via audiobook.
-There were like two small nuggets of wisdom buried....
-...under hypocritical essays. One essay would say one thing and then she would completely backtrack it two essays later???
-Not one mention of romance, the BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY THAT KEEPS THE REST OF THE BOOK INDUSTRY AFLOAT. How can you write a whole book about a subject while not mentioning the literal backbone of it.
- In fact, there is little to no mention of ANY genre fiction book. Just nonfic or lit fic as your options. Even when she is saying things like 'feeling stagnant in your usual reading genre? Try something different! If you normally read philosophy, try a self help! If you are used to fiction, try something in business!' Like who the fuck reads just those genres. That is not branching out. A lost opportunity to say to try a SPACE ADVENTURE if you are tired of philosophy; you get the same thought provoking social issues turned inside out in a way that is unique and creative and stimulates the brain. But nope, nothing remotely close to that.

The tiny bits of the essays I enjoyed can be counted on one hand. And so I'll share those with you so you don't have to suffer through the rest of the crap.

#6 Underlining and Annotations: She mentions what her thought process is while reading. And even while we are having complex thoughts and emotions while reading, when we finish a book, for most people, you forget a lot. So why bother if you're just going to forget? Well, here she quotes Patrick Süskind's Three Stories and a Reflection. The essay (reflection) at the end of the collection is called Amnesia in Litteris "describes how, despite reading voraciously for more than three decades, he barely remembers details of any book [.......] he arrives at the conclusion that reading isn't about remembrance, but the change. In reading, it is not memory but change that is most important. We change as we read books. We just don't realize it. And this change may have an impact on the course of our lives."

I just realized what I liked about this wisdom isn't even the author's herself, but her quoting someone else.

#8 Choose Books not the Internet: She gets a little into some studies that have been done about focus and our attention span. The book she quotes is 15 years old, so that was a little disappointing as there have been a few more published since then. But the basic ideas still fit, it's just worse now. The essay ends with this from her, "Instead of forcing ourselves to read, we need to ask ourselves this: What's making it more difficult to read these days? There are always other fun activities competing for our time, but the internet is also a distraction. To draw closer to books, we have to distance ourselves from the internet. And according to Carr [author of the Shallows], to rewire our brains and improve our attention span, we should read. The more we read, the better we will be able to focus."

That's in folks. Now you don't have to read it. Stop into your local indie bookstore to chat with booksellers if you want to find your next book or need help on where to go next. Any bookseller worth their salt wouldn't dare hand you this book instead.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! this book is the perfect remedy for a reading slump. it's quiet, cozy, and full of reminders about why we fall in love with reading in the first place. the super short chapters explore the joy of books and the act of reading with such warmth, and i completely agree with the reflections on why stories stay with us, even when the details fade. there are thoughtful quotes, great recommendations, and so many new ideas for savoring and documenting the reading experience.

the questions the author poses are deceptively simple yet so meaningful: are books useful? what does digital reading change? How does reading aloud shift the experience compared to reading silently? I found myself nodding along constantly.

The author reads widely and globally, citing many Western writers, and I especially loved her references to Korean authors I hadn’t encountered before. It made the whole experience feel even richer—and yes, I’m absolutely inspired to start a new TBR list. Hwang Bo-reum’s Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop is now firmly at the top of my stack.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this charming, cozy read.

[Mimi Schweid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful collection of essays. I wanted to highlight so many passages!!!


''Reading lets us leave ourselves behind and explore the bigger world out there. There isn't a need to feel like we have to accomplish much out there. With just a slight change in mood, we'll be able to live today as a different person from yesterday. Some say those who read are idealistic. Perhaps they are on their own exploration of the world. Why must we always be 'realistic'? Sometimes it takes a little escape from reality to make our lives a tiny bit better.'' (pg 193)

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet little collection of micro-essays about the joys of books, based on the bestselling Korean author's own reading practices. Would definitely be a good gift for a bookish person in your life. Short but thoughtful.

[Ashwini Priolker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a warm hug on this chilly Sunday. An ode to the love of reading that will have you nod your head in agreement throughout the book. Many a times, we readers get asked peculiar questions like why do you read novels or why do you read at all? We know the answers well but struggle to articulate them because they are so personal. The author of this book has managed to answer all those difficult questions for us. Highly recommend this book if you are in a reading slump.

[Alexandra]

BCLC

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Day I Read by Hwang Bo-Reum | 5 stars out of 5!

This book feels like a comforting conversation with one of your most understanding friends, and it is certainly a book I will be thoroughly annotating and coming back to every year. Hwang Bo-Reum created a collection of essays taking an introspective dive into our relationships with books and the various ways we can deepen that connection. As a reader, having a relationship with books seems obvious, but I've come to realize I never really thought about it much beyond the concept itself existing.

I usually enjoy nonfiction books that read like memoirs or feel like a conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Hwang Bo-Reum captured this preference of mine while reminding me of how nice it can be to go through a few shorter essays each night. Like I mentioned earlier, the author’s tone also made it feel like I was hanging out with a friend. The cherry on top, as someone who loves to get into the nitty-gritty of the text, was finding another person who uses mindfulness when reading and enjoys stories by diving into themes, character development, and more.

I failed to find any major flaws. The book was exactly what it promised to be, and I really enjoyed the author's thoughts and ideas. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by how introspective this book left me. I expected some sort of existentialism, but I did not expect to feel so comforted and motivated at the same time.

I recommend this book to all readers, and those who have been wanting to get back into reading again, but are struggling to do so. It's definitely not short, but it certainly reads quickly and is very easy to pick up and put down. Oh, and to anyone who is obsessed with hunting down quotes. You will feel very validated.

Thank you, Bloomsbury Publishing, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
#EveryDayIRead #NetGalley

[carly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps something was lost in translation here but this book was quite a disappointment. The author would share one opinion in a chapter, only to express the opposite in the very next chapter. Most of all, it was disappointing to hear her share criticism of ebooks, even going so far as to share a quote that stated that people who read ebooks are not readers but "users." I've never encountered such an ableist statement before within a book that's trying to lift up readers and the act of reading. There are many reasons why readers choose ebooks, to disparage that choice is unacceptable IMHO. And the author doesn't even bother mentioning audio books so who knows how she feels about people who listen to books.
My hot take: read what you want. Whether it's literary fiction and obscure philosophy like this author promotes, or the number one bestselling fiction novel this season. Read for enjoyment or to learn or whatever you need. Don't let books like this one tell you what you should or shouldn't do. All readers are welcome here.

[Giovanna Dobinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book at the bookstore, I was immediately excited, since the other book written by this author, “Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop”, is one of my favorite books of all time.
So, I didn’t even look inside and just took it with me. I was surprised to find that this was a non-fiction essay collection on books and reading. However, I am not dissappointed.
I really liked this essay collection. While I do not believe that the author made any new or revolutionary discoveries on reading. I really liked her perspectives as well as what she took away from the books she read. Some of the “tips” on how to get closer to books were also really nice.
I also really liked the writing style. There is just something I really love about works that were translated from Korean. I think the sentence structure and flow just feels different, in a way that really appeals to me personally.
I think I will come back to this book multiple times in the future when I feel like I am in a reading slump.

[pau♪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

in an era of book quantification, it feels so validating that one of my fav authors is as krazy with reading and books as i am 🥹🫶

(on a side note: i think each chapter is a fantastic journal prompt. might do this later on!)

[Kara Cecchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened on audio & immediately purchased the book a couple chapters in because I plan to reread and use as reference as a reader. A reminder to myself, with recommendations & ideas I hope to put into practice. Just a beautiful, quaint and thoughtful piece.

[Sybiee Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

IV enjoyed every word of this book. a true joy to read, an incredibly welcoming and cosy read that is guaranteed to make anyone I think smile

[Alexander Petkovski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about the author’s love of books. Normally, I loved it, since my thoughts and opinions about book in general are very similar to the authors. Reading is my main passion in life and I hope it continues that way. Also, I got so many book recommendations. I would definitely reread this book.

[Lena · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFd at 30%

[Nandita Damaraju · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, cozy read. I listened to the audiobook and really loved the narrator’s voice. Although the book is framed around 53 ways to get closer to books, that wasn’t my main takeaway at all. What I enjoyed most was how artfully the author articulates her love for reading. Her enthusiasm for books is clear throughout, and she communicates beautifully what reading means to her and what it gives her. In doing so, the book helped me better articulate my own relationship with books. I did dock a point because toward the end the writing became a bit incoherent and scattered, as though it lost its focus. This book is also a treasure trove of book recommendations.

[Ece Çavuşlu]

Aylardır kendi rızamla hiçbir şey okuyamıyordum. Okur yanıma sarıldım, çok iyi geldi.

[yağmur · Rating 3 out of 5]

telefonumun notlar kısmı bu tarz yazılar ve alıntılar dolu ama başkasının gizli kitap düşüncelerini okumanın zevkini tattırdığı için hoş

[Amanda Witt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to think about how starting or continuing some habits may be good for our self esteem or stretch us in other ways