Cozy

After leaving behind the pressures of city life in Seoul, Yoojin unexpectedly opens the Book Kitchen in Soyangri, a peaceful village in the South Korean countryside. Part bookshop, part café and part guesthouse, this welcoming retreat offers visitors a place to rest, enjoy homemade food and rediscover the comfort of books. Over the course of a year, as the seasons change, people arrive at the Book Kitchen during difficult turning points in their lives. Among them are a singer struggling with an identity crisis, a promising lawyer facing a troubling medical diagnosis, and a young musical director whose dreams have been diminished by repeated failures. Through quiet conversations, shared meals and the stories found on the shelves, each visitor begins to reconsider their circumstances and imagine new possibilities. With its gentle atmosphere and interconnected characters, the novel celebrates the restorative power of literature, the kindness of strangers and the importance of finding a place where one can pause, reflect and begin again.

The Second Chance Convenience Store follows Dokgo, a homeless man living near Seoul Station who has lost his memory and struggles to make sense of his past. His life begins to change after he finds and returns a wallet belonging to Mrs Yeom, a retired teacher who owns a small convenience store. Grateful for his honesty, she offers him food and eventually gives him a job at her shop. As Dokgo becomes part of the neighbourhood, his quiet kindness begins to transform the lives of customers and colleagues dealing with loneliness, family conflict, and personal disappointment. Yet his mysterious past continues to cast a shadow over his new beginning. Through the everyday encounters taking place inside the store, Kim explores social isolation, economic insecurity, and the importance of community. The novel celebrates compassion and suggests that small acts of kindness can help people recover their dignity and rebuild their lives.