Book by Hwang Boreum
A couple of months ago, I quit Netflix and Instagram. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made because it created more time and space for me to learn new things and focus on what I genuinely enjoy. Three months in, I realized I didn’t miss the distractions those platforms provided. In fact, I’ve felt freer ever since—free from distractions and even learning to enjoy moments of boredom.
One of the hobbies I’ve picked up—or perhaps gently forced myself to pick up—was reading books. In my previous role as a Chief of Staff, I mostly read business books out of necessity, always trying to make the most of my time. I only read things that directly contributed to my work. But with more time on my hands now, I’ve been able to explore other genres. That’s how I came across Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop. It’s one of the most anti-climactic books I’ve ever read, but it’s also surprisingly calming and funny.
The book tells the story of a woman who quits her corporate job to pursue her dream of opening a bookshop. She faces rejection from her parents—particularly her mother—because her career choice seems unconventional compared to a stable 9-to-6 job. In the beginning, she struggles to find her footing, but over time, she starts to infuse her personality and vision into the bookshop.
What I really enjoyed about the book was the way it shared a third-party perspective on the characters who visited the bookshop. It captured the small, often-overlooked struggles and wins of their daily lives and the simple, meaningful conversations we tend to forget. It highlighted how romantic and beautiful life can be when viewed from a different angle. Reflecting on my own life from a third-party perspective, I realized it adds a fun twist to my story and helps me notice things I never paid attention to before.
I also deeply admire the book’s protagonist—her courage to fearlessly chase her dreams and the intentionality she brought to creating her bookshop. The little details she poured into it, the thoughtful curation, the people she surrounded herself with, and the meaningful conversations she fostered—it’s all inspiring. It reminds me of the importance of being a “human being” rather than a “human doing.”
Reading this book has encouraged me to bring more intention and purpose into each day. It’s made me think about exploring life in ways that feel authentic to me, becoming less concerned with how others perceive me and more focused on how I see myself.
If anything, I hope to include more self-reflection and fun in my own day to day.
You can get it here!