The Apology is a truly special story that all readers will appreciate. How many of us wish we could correct the missteps of our past, that we would have the chance to travel both on earth and in an otherworldly realm, that we could reconnect with past loves. In this story, Jeonga Cha is haunted by ghosts, actual and imagined from decisions she made in the past. She’s lived for one hundred and five years as a privileged, wealthy woman and now she is determined to set the record straight and correct any errors of the past. Oh, that we all could have such a chance! (That I could, too!) Part ghost story and part family epic, The Apology finds its place in our hearts and won't let go. I thought about Jeonga for days and weeks after reading this. I still do. That is a good story, that is a great book!

The Apology by Jimin Han is a powerful intergenerational saga that is also a ghost story about the effort to repair mistakes made in the earthly realm from the afterlife. Our protagonist, Jeonga Cha, is the daughter who wants more than any of her sisters to please her father (even after his death) and protect the family name. When her sister, Seona becomes pregnant out of wedlock she sends her away to the US and this has severe implications for the family lineage. This decision tears Jeonga and her own son's relationship apart and also damages the bond between Jeonga and Seona.

I love how readers are able to journey along with Jeonga in the afterlife as she seeks to apologize to her sister and make amends for her choices. At first, we are not sure Seona will appear to Jeonga. There is so much hurt in their history and Seona is not necessarily the type of woman who is apologetic by nature. Over the course of the story, Jeonga meets her extended family, views first hand the negative impact of her choices, and is humbled into taking a different approach towards helping the family and as a result her and her sister heal.

In the end, apologies are sincerely made and generational curses are broken. A beautiful story about what it takes for generational healing to occur with a focus on the supernatural and spiritual elements that make healing possible.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the e-arc copy!