Sang Young Park's Love in the Big City is one of the most anticipated books of 2022. A heartwarming look at queer love in Korea, this will become one of your absolute favorite reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book pleasantly took me by surprise; I randomly started it one day and didn’t put it down until I was halfway through, and that's only because I had things to do.

I loved the writing, the characters and the story. It was happy at times, and very sad and melancholic at others but mostly it felt real. The writing showed the intensity of being young as well as the dread and insensitivity that comes with having to grow up then growing old.

I also really enjoyed the discussions about writing as the mc writes, in addition to learning how it is to be gay in Korea and living in a conservative home.

I did however feel like I kept waiting for a conclusion that never came but probably this was done on purpose because real life doesn’t have a conclusion? (Except maybe death, but let’s not get into this conversation.)

Will for sure check out from this author!

I appreciate any book that offers Asian queer representation.

This book is set in South Korean between the years of 2008-2018. The main character is a gay man who spends much of his 20’s drunk and having lots of sex with strangers.

I liked the blunt, honest writing style, because it gave authenticity to all of the characters. I enjoyed the first half, but had a hard time finishing the book due to the repetition of events (drinking, promiscuous sex, blundered relationships, and self deprecating monologues).

Where do I start with this book, it felt like it was half a dozen stories rather than one. I found that none of the ‘stories’ grabbed my attention and I found it hard and very tiring to read. So much so I just could not finish reading this book.

This was a such a fun read. It explores the relationships (friend and romantic) of young people in Korea, following them as they grow up and deal with the tribulations of life. My main takeaway of this book is that it is really funny, it was a such a fun and darkly comic read (despite many of the more serious themes that come up e.g., abortion, cancer). Definitely for you if you love Sayaka Murata!

Love in the Big City is really four separate vignettes/stories woven together rather than a straightforward novel. If you are looking for a plot-driven novel with a clear-cut beginning and end, this one may not be for you. This is more an exploration of the effects relationships can have on us, whether enduring or simply in the moment, as well as one’s journey to combat loneliness in the modern world.

Each of the four segments is defined by a relationship with another character, whether it be romantic, platonic, or familial. While the writing was oftentimes cute, humorous, or snarky, many of the moments within were actually quite sad. The narrative voice in the novel comes across as quite strong and I appreciated the author’s shielding the reader of its more melancholy moments through the protagonist’s flippant and casual narration. Notwithstanding, the novel can be quite evocative in the way it’s written.

This was a really refreshing read for me as it was quite unlike anything else I read this year. That being said, some aspects of the novel frustrated me- namely how stereotypical and monolithic I felt queer men were portrayed. I was, however, able to look past that as I feel the author was perfectly aware of this while writing and in some instances the story necessitated it. Many parts of the novel resonated with me as I am sure they will with other readers of my generation, as well as queer men in general. I also have to really hand it to Sang Young Park for writing an HIV+ character in a sensitive, thoughtful, and nuanced fashion. I felt the treatment surrounding this issue in the gay community was particularly realistic and well-done.

This isn’t one that I loved right from the beginning, but I certainly appreciated it the further I read. It won’t be for everyone, but if it sparks your interest- you likely won’t be disappointed.

This was as an absolute joy to read. A book that can make me both laugh and cry in one is a win no matter what. Highly recommend!

This is an interesting novel for the perspective it offers of contemporary LGBTQ life in Korea.

The translation was magnificent, allowing the reader to experience the slight disorientation of being in another culture through terms left in the original Korean, without setting them apart in italics or providing unnecessary explanations.

Though very well executed, I found the protagonist unlikeable and the style somewhat weak. I commend the author for offering such a flawed character and giving a glimpse of why he may be that way; however, he remained adolescent in his actions and outlook, never growing or changing, so it was hard to maintain sympathy for him. I also felt that hinging everything on his relationships meant some of the through lines were dropped. As a result, as important as the protagonist's mother was to the main character's story, for example, we never quite know how her cancer journey ended or how the protagonist coped with it.

Love in the Big City is a witty and poignant story that follows the ups and downs of one man’s queer life. Narrated by Young, a cynical, twenty-something student in Seoul, South Korea. It is an eye-opening and thought-provoking insight into how it feels to be a queer person living in a conservative country where image and tradition is everything.

I picked up this book hoping for a lighthearted and entertaining read, which is exactly what I got. I laughed out loud many times at Young’s antics and quips and enjoyed seeing a positive and joyful queer experience. But life is not all sunshine and rainbows, and there is also a real depth to this book as it examines themes of loneliness, longing, fear, and the search for love and acceptance.

Wonderfully written, the author doesn’t shy away from difficult and sensitive topics, but writes with honesty and compassion. I also enjoyed how the author surprised me again and again by taking the story in directions I never saw coming.

Entertaining, heartfelt and unexpected, this is a great piece of translated fiction.

I only have good things to say about this book, and I don't know where to start!

There's so much joy in this novel, so much queer joy -- which doesn't often get portrayed in such unmediated detail. For one, the narrator of Love in the Big City is a hoot, I laughed out loud in many sections. The sections themselves are divided mostly by each lover in his life, the first one devoted to his best friend in specific (this one was my favorite!).

The one thing I was not expecting going in was the Poz storyline, which was handled with such care. I don't think I've ever read a narrative that dealt with it in such a way (maybe Bryan Washington's Memorial comes close).

Anyway, what a gorgeous book. Thanks to the publisher for the egalley!

With the title and the name of the book you would think this would be a fluffy read, maybe it resonate to a Sex in The City vibe. What I wasn’t expecting was an emotional read. The story is broken up in to different life periods of a man named Young. The beginning he is very much into partying and having fun but as the story expands and he gets older, that’s when it gets interesting. I’m never going to understand how it feels to be a gay man in South Korea, but the window Young provided was very emotional and sometimes quite depressing but it was such a good story. I really hope more of the authors books are translated in the future.

I requested this novel from Netgalley who let me read it in exchange for my honest opinion, here it is :

While reading the first few chapters, I thought this wouldn't be a novel for me : people partying, sleeping around endlessly, no particular thoughts about life, just living for the moment, for the fun that felt more like a means of forgetting about an empty life. Not something I'm much interested about when there is no particular reason mentioned
.
However, as the novel progressed, as his friend got married and started leading an adult life, as Young started talking about his mother, his past, his love life, I got wrapped up in what he was saying, experiencing, feeling and I found him touching and deeper than he first appeared. Living constantly with the consequences of his past up to the point when he has to think about other people's welfare before his own, Young was definitely using sarcasm to deal with a tough reality.

One thing I noticed while browsing other people's reviews, though, was that this novel is often referenced as funny, joyful and really, I found it rather depressing ! Not bad depressing, because it was a good novel and I'm very happy to have discovered this author, yet if you're looking for something light and fluffy, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for a realistic portrait of gay young Korean people in general, this novel is well worth the read.

Love in the Big City is a coming-of-age story set in South Korea, originally translated from Korean and wonderfully so. The story follows Young throughout his life as he struggles with his romantic relationships, his mother's sickness, and his friendship with his roommate Jaehee. Sang Young Park did an amazing job jumping back and forth between different time periods while ensuring the flow was cohesive and coherent. The only complaint I had while reading was the lack of quotation marks, which is very minor overall, but I noticed the difference. Overall, a great story for insight into the LGBT+ community in South Korea (and to learn some cultural aspects). Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting coming of age= albeit with an adult- story set in Korea, Young finds a friend and anchor in Jaehee until she marries and he finds himself back with his difficult and ill mother. It's more. however, about his relationships with a series of men, some good, some not so good. and coping with himself. There are four sections, each filled with what can best be described as vignettes. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I admit that some of this went over my head but I enjoyed Young's voice and the insight he offered.

2.5 stars

This is not a conventional book, it doesn't have a plot, I would say that here we have 4 stories about our protagonist's life, these 4 stories are told in different ways, about important moments in his life, most are related to his love life but there are several important themes being treated in these stories besides the romance.
I didn't like all the stories, I thought the chapters were too big making some of the stories tiring to read.
I just didn't DNF this book because I found the stories minimally interesting, as well as being quick to read.
It's not a bad book it's just not the kind of book I like, I feel the author's writing didn't captivate me.
I liked our main character and following him in some moments of his life but the author's writing make some parts to be very confusing for me doing the reading experience not so good

I picked this one up and read it cover to cover in just a few hours - the narrator’s voice just sucks you in and you hop onboard the journey he’s taking you on.

For me this book was about the millennial experience and trying to figure out who you are, where you belong and just making your way through life.

But most of all it was about relationships - familial, platonic, romantic - and how each of these shape and impact us both in our life overall and for the next relationships that we have.

This was my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Such a great story and fast read. Highly recommend!!!

I received a free e-arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is not so much a book as a series of four novellas, tracking the loves (platonic, familial and sexual) of the narrator. I found the first story interesting and appealing, and then they descended from there, with the final instalment being maudlin and self indulgent.

The book is a translation, and there were language choices that were lost on me (huang?) There were other cultural things I felt like I missed, that it was taken for granted I would understand which I did not, like whether things were expensive or cheap.
The choice not to use quotation marks reminded me of other self indulgent novels, and was a minor irritation, although it wasn't terrible here, since most of the book was so far into the authors / narrators head anyway.

No spoilers, but I thought the introduction of "Kylie" was either genius or more maudlin self indulgence, I still can't work out which.

if this review seems a bit all over the place, that's quite reflective of this interesting, odd book.

I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

I made it about 15% into the book before I had to put it down. This story overall wasn't for me. That doesn't mean that I don't think there are those that won't like it, because I do. I'm just not one of them. The story felt a little too dry for my liking and I couldn't stay focused on it. I needed more details to feel invested in the story.

LOVE IN THE BIG CITY is an interesting look at life for a young, gay Korean man. I enjoy media from other countries to see how we're alike and different. While I have some similarities with the main character in this book, our lives look quite different.

The prose in this book is fairly dry and light, which serves to emphasize the tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. That aspect comes across strongly. The darker and more emotional aspects, less so. I wonder if this is intentional or cultural or a result of this being a translated work. Similarly, it doesn't have much structure, which made it difficult for me to connect.

That said, I'm grateful to have read this and gotten a glimpse into a life far different from my own.