This was enjoyable…to a point. The premise is very intriguing, but it falls short in the execution.

I’ve written this review and erased it several times.

Let me just say this: it’s better to go into it blind.

My problem with it is that all the build-up, in my opinion, is for nothing. There’s no real resolution, and what there is feels supremely unsatisfying. The reader must suspend quite a bit of disbelief. Also, and I hate to say this, because I’m a translator myself, but the translation reads a little off, enough often that it’s noticeable. It’s good, for the most part, but it’s not great. There is huge potential for this world, though, as long as you halt the story as soon as the main character returns home from her shift at work that first day. I just wish it had gone in a different direction.

My thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s and Delacorte Press for a free copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Dystopian and reality-tv fans, unite! Written with attitude and action, Snowglobe deposits the reader in a post-climate change world where snow and sub-zero temps are the norm -- humanity exists simply to survive. The only thing that keeps the denizens of the outposts going (and producing power) is the satisfaction that they receive 24-hour, uninterrupted access to the lives of the celebrities living in the Snowglobe, a paradise with manufactured weather. When Chobahm encounters her idol, Director Cha, she believes that her chance to leave the barren wasteland of the settlements and achieve a seat in the Snowglobe's prestigious film school has arrived. It isn't long though, that Chobahm realizes that there is something sinister about Snowglobe and the film industry that keeps the masses entertained.

Filled with quick-moving action, mystery and twists and turns, Snowglobe is a must-read page turner!

I found the Snowglobe to be an interesting read. However, it took me a bit to get into it because the book was translated from Korean to English. I understand that, in translation, some small yet important details may be lost.

Still, the storyline and plot kept me engaged with numerous twists and turns, making it a true page-turner. While I liked the protagonists, I felt that we didn't get to know the main characters very well; they were quite vague. Despite this, the compelling plot compensates for it.
I hope we get a deeper exploration of the characters in the second book.

So I don't know exactly how to rate this book. The world building can be super overwhelming, where some basic stuff was still being explained near the end of the book and the main character kind of just happened into some major plot points.

But I had a lot of fun reading this. The premise is odd enough that I was caught from the beginning and I was curious where it was going from some early breadcrumbs. I wanted to know what happened next and I'm definitely going to read the second book. I didn't know it was a duology and was about to be very annoyed at the loose threads at the end. Overall, it was an interesting read.

I was so in the mood for some YA dystopian so was very excited to read this. I grew up reading hunger games and divergent so I always love to get back to a good dystopian book. The concept is super unique even for dystopian and the beginning really drew me in. I do think this book suffers some pacing issues as the beginning and the end were very exciting with twists and turns but the middle of the book lost me a little. I always love to include books translated from there original source (in this case Korean) in our library though and will for sure purchase.

This book's premise was unlike anything I have read in a long while. It Is such an interesting topic. This post-apocalyptic society was well-developed and odd enough that it pulled me right in from the beginning. It almost feels like it's the Hunger Games mixed with Squid Game all wrapped into one book. The main character, Chobahm, is likable in the sense that you are rooting for her success throughout the challenges she faces in Snowglobe. Without giving the specifics of the plot away, the ending of the novel is suspenseful and mind-boggling that a sequel, or trilogy, seems almost too likely. This is definitely a read that will be spun into a Netflix series or original movie that has to be a must-watch.

This book had quite a few twists and turns. Based on the blurb, I had expected the plot to be a lot simpler than it ended up being. Instead, the novel kept me glued to its pages, staring wide-eyed at the words as plot twist after plot twist was revealed.

Although I generally liked this book, I wish there had been a little more explanation given regarding some of the twists. The last few chapters in particular provided more questions than they did answers. I'm delighted to see there's a sequel, and I expect we'll receive many answers there. But even so, I wish at least some of the twists were explained more thoroughly within this book.

I also wish there had been a tiny bit more focus on characterization and character development. The book was very plot-driven (which in itself isn't a bad thing), but I feel like we didn't get to know the main characters very well beyond one or two facts about them. This is also something I hope will be explored within the sequel. This book spent quite a bit of time revealing secrets, so I'm hoping the sequel will dedicate more page time to exploring who the characters are and further endearing them to readers.

Overall, though, this was a very enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes reading dystopian novels, critiquing reality shows, and devouring plot twists.

Snowglobe is about a post-apocalyptic society in which climate change has turned into the next ice age. It starts with a nod to The Truman Show; there are actors who spend their entire lives on screen for the benefit of society; the difference is, they know that they're actors. The television world is run by directors, who have the final say in how much of the constant surveillance is turned into broadcast shows. These shows, all broadcast from the city of Snowglobe, are a lifeline for the rest of the population, whose lives revolve around generating power - literally, as much of the power used by their society comes from power plants in which people spent 10 hours a day walking inside a hamster wheel, with a minimum requirement of four miles per hour to keep the TV turned on. Only in Snowglobe, a city completely enclosed in an insulated and heated dome, does the average temperature rise above freezing; there, the average temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The inhabitants of Snowglobe create the entertainment that keeps the rest of society going - but something is truly rotten in Snowglobe.

Jeon Chobahm is a worker at a power plant, spending her days walking on a wheel, generating power for her community, when a stranger appears - an event in itself. That she recognizes the stranger as Cooper, from a well-known television show makes it even more interesting. Cooper leads Chobahm to a black limousine, where a famous director offers Chobahm the chance of a lifetime, even offering her the chance to go to directing school if she'll do just a small favor for her. But there's more than meets the eye to the director's offer - much more - and accepting that offer thrusts Chobahm into a world of intrigue and mystery unlike any she could have imagined. Recommended for teen and adult readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Soyoung Park for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Snowglobe coming out February 27, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was so excited to get this book! I love Korean books. This book is a cross between Snowpiercer and the Truman Show. Sometimes it felt a little like the Hunger Games. I loved the writing, and the storyline, and the plot. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I was definitely excited to find out what happened. The first half of the book was amazing and I love how she was thrown into the Snowglobe life. I think things got a little crazy in the second half, but I really loved it. I think this will be a series based on the ending. So I’m definitely excited to read more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books about dystopian societies.

A book that will delight fans of YA dystopian books like The Hunger Games, Snowglobe is an impactful and disturbing story. The premise - the elite live in climate controlled, decadent Snowglobe, while everyone else watches their lives on TV from the power plants in the frozen wastes - is an apt setting for today's world, where social media and reality tv are incredibly prevalent in young people's lives. I was impressed by the utter bleakness of the setting, both inside and outside of Snowglobe itself. The plot has elements of sci-fi and thrillers, and there were a series of twists/reveals that were impactful without being cheesy or too unexpected. The ending of the first book leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and in fact, raises some more; I'm ok with this, though, because it's the first book in a duology, and I definitely plan to read the second one!

Snowglobe is being translated from Korean for the first time in 2024!

I enjoyed this book, because a future mini ice-age may very well be what we experience in terms of climate change. Since dystopian fiction dominated book shelves in the mid-2000s, it kind of feels like the genre died out a bit in favor of other things. It is really nice to be able to revisit it through such a unique and fun lens!

Reading about how the people in the story respond to harsh winter conditions was really intriguing, and the pull to completely disappear into the world of television and synthetic reality is all too real today. This book pairs well with Hunger Games and Divergent, but provides its own fresh twist on the dystopian adventure story.

I wish I could have had this on the shelf when I was younger! Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an e-ARC.

Set in a dystopian society in Korea where winter is the permanent season, people struggle to survive with the bare necessities of food and shelter unless they are invited to live in the Snowglobe. Inside the Snowglobe, people enjoy luxury and warmth, but in exchange, their lives are recorded as part of a reality TV show that is broadcast to everyone outside the Snowglobe.

Chobahm and her twin brother live and work with their family outside the Snowglobe, where they struggle to stay healthy and warm. One day, Chobahm is offered an opportunity she can't refuse. She is asked to come to the Snowglobe and pretend to be the famous star, Haeri, who has tragically passed away. As Chobahm bears a striking resemblance to Haeri, no one suspects the switch. From this point on, the book is filled with several plot twists.

While I enjoyed the beginning and the end, I found the middle to be a bit confusing and overly long. Based on the other reviews I've been reading, I think this may be a situation where the book is good, but not the right fit for me.

Thank you to Soyoung Park, NetGalley, and Random House Children's, Delacorte Press for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

A dystopian lover’s dream. Perfect to have been read in the winter (and feeling c-c-cold). Combines many elements of books I have read previously and loved. A little something for everyone.

This is a great dystopian story, translated from Korean, and like many others who have posted, it was a fun way to channel our childhood feeling with what we had in the dystopian realm. This was a new to me author and I look forward to more from them!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a big fan of dystopian young adult novels, having come up during their heyday, and this novel felt like a refreshing callback to those days. The premise was fun and felt fresh, and the characters all felt real and fully realized. I've seen some reviews that complain about part3: You being confusing, but maybe I've just read too much science fiction and dystopian novels, because I had no problem following. I look forward to a sequel, as the author bio says this is a duology (even though it could be read like a standalone).

That was a very fresh read. I am a huge fan of translations and think we don't have enough of them, and I think it's necessary to learn other perspectives. This book was clever, witty, and very well-crafted. Can't say much without spoiling the whole thing, but I'm pretty sure the voice alone will appeal to a large number of readers.
A must if you're looking for something new!

Thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an eARC of Snow Globe!

I am so excited that this book was translated from Korean. It was perfectly reminiscent of post-apocalyptic books from my teenagehood. I absolutely enjoyed reading it and it had many of the elements of PA books that we love so much. I hope more will read and enjoy!

Entertaining, descriptive, original, and well-written. Grateful I was able to read a translated version of “Snow Globe” as I could not put this book down.

From the very start there is a strong connections to all the characters, their environment, and ways of the current world. I also really enjoyed the complexity of the storyline, as I kept wondering what would happen next. Very action-packed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children’s, and Delacorte Press for providing me the opportunity to review "Snow Globe” prior to publication. I am appreciative and leave my review voluntarily.

This was very different. I thought it was more like the The Truman Show, rather than Hunger Games. Anyway, I thought this was a unique story but felt there were still some loose ends. Finally at the back of the book in the About The Author section it mentioned this was a Duology which put my mind at ease. I will be looking for the second book for sure.

This story takes place in a very well thought out world. It had some really interesting quirks that added a lot of depth to the story. The machinations by the folks in charge, ie the Directors, made for some other interesting aspects. There are a few mysteries going on. A big one is resolved but it's resolution led to a bigger one and that is where the story ended. The writer's style was easy to read and she didn't spend pages on superfluous descriptions and the pacing was great.

I am really looking forward to the 2nd book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, Delacorte Press, Soyoung Park, and Joungmin Lee Comfort (translator) for the opportunity to read Snowglobe in exchange for an honest review.

Snowglobe is originally written in Korean. This version was picked up by Random House Children's and translated for a young adult audience by Joungmin Lee Comfort. Sometimes translations can be a bit clunky, but Comfort makes this novel run smooth.

Two-hundred years ago, the Earth fell into another ice age. The cold climate became unlivable. But only certain people were granted the luxury of living inside Snowglobe, a climate-controlled city surrounded by a protective dome. The people of Snowglobe have fame and riches, their fabulous lives filmed for the entertainment of the poor, those who must live, thrive, and survive out in the cold wasteland.

Chobahm's dream is to live the Snowglobe life. Being of the unlucky population, she lives in the wastelands, her favorite show and enjoyment watching Snowglobe's hit show Goh Around, staring the most popular person in the city, Goh Haeri. Chobahm's luck is about to change. When Goh Haeri dies, Chobahm is selected to take her place!

It must be fate, but Chobahm soon finds out that the lives projected on the screen are not accurate to the truth of living in Snowglobe. Chobahm learns there is more to Goh Haeri's death than meets the eye, and she is determined to find out what, all while playing faithful actress in the process.

A really neat novel that features a possible near-future situation. Ice ages have an occurrence pattern, and despite global warming, certain areas of the world are going to be facing an ice age in the near future (well, kind of far for those of us alive today, but in the future of humanity). This novel explores one resolution when that natural happening occurs, though it also explores the skewed shift humanity might take in its equality, ethics, and morals.

An intriguing novel with vibrant characters and a realistic world demonstrating another example of the dystopia humans see in their future. A great young adult novel to pair with books like Scythe and Hunger Games.