Title: A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang
Author: Lee Onhwa
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Cozy fantasy, Ghosts, Magical realism
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2024
I thought that this book was incredibly sweet and a whole lot of fun. It played a little with the concept of time, but not in an overwhelmingly confusing way. It also highlighted the importance of life and love, and just living the best version of life you can. But I particularly loved how each and every chapter is the story of a life lived and lost, all with a bit of bittersweetness thrown in.
There was something about A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang that was beautiful and really nostalgic. I’m not sure what it was making me nostalgic for, but that was most certainly the feeling I had. I honestly didn’t want the story to end, and could’ve read so many more stories about lives (mostly) well lived. It was such a gentle souled story.
Although this is a book that is ultimately all about death, it is really rather hopeful. For me, the beautiful mix of the past and present was a great reminder to live every day to its fullest. And, in every moment there is hope. Something that i really needed at the time i read this, a reminder to live life and always be hopeful for the future.
I wasn’t really expecting there to be a twist in this story. But there definitely was. And I enjoyed how it bought everything full circle. Something about the way this ended tied everything together beautifully, and gave a sense of serenity as I turned that final page.
