As someone with a background in therapy and someone unfamiliar with translated literature, this book didn't resonate with me in the ways I hoped it would. I can recognize that the author's struggles are real, and at some points I found her writing to be cathartic, but ultimately this was a book I was unable to finish. Perhaps it was the translation, or perhaps it was my lack of familiarity with the first of this author's books, but it was ultimately not for me.

Simply one of the best therapy books ever. I adored the first, and the second is just as good. These books remind me of the ups and downs of life, how it's ever changing, and how to ride the wave to the best of my ability.

This was very similar to the first book so I feel that anyone who connected the first will like this as well. Baek Sehee gives us more of a glimpse into her mental health struggles and the ways in which her therapist has provided insight and commentary regarding her life and decisions. Will enjoy reading more by this author in the future.

Much like the first book, this is a collection of musings and reflections by the author regarding her experience living with depression and anxiety. Readers with depression and anxiety will be able to find solace as they see themselves reflected in this book. While I enjoyed the first book a bit more, fans of I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki will still love this book.

After the success of her first book Baek Sehee is back with a follow up. Again , this had helpful insights with an unique writing format with transcriptions of therapy sessions. In comparison to book one this book felt a little heavier with some triggering topics.

I really enjoyed this follow up to the author's debut, I want to die but I want to eat tteokpokki. Told as a series of conversations between the author and her therapist, this book continues to deal with the author's experiences with therapy, depression, disordered eating and medication. Relatable, raw and honest and good on audio too. I highly recommend both books for anyone who is or has ever struggled with negative self thoughts and their overall mental health. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I loved and enjoyed this book so much. It felt relatable and sad, and yet weirdly uplifting at times. Mental health, therapy. Real and raw. Filled with vulnerability and honesty.
Also, the title feels like the sum of MY life. Just replace tteokbokki with mango and mochi. The title alone made me want to pick up this book. If someone was able to come up with a title that is a 100% accurate description of how I feel day in and day out all my life, then I must read it.
And I’m so glad I did. It did not disappoint.

i really enjoyed how this sequel expanded on the first and we got to see more of Sehee's continued journey in therapy with the addition of more self reflection. i admire baek so much for publishing these novels because they give people who haven't struggled with similar issues an insight into what its like.

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Se-hee is a beautifully written, deeply moving memoir that tackles difficult subjects with grace and authenticity. Baek Se-hee’s willingness to share her vulnerabilities creates a powerful reading experience that’s likely to stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. The book delves into her ongoing struggles with dysthymia and anxiety, offering readers an honest reflection on healing, growth, and self-acceptance. Baek’s voice feels comfortingly familiar—self-deprecating, introspective, and often darkly humorous. Yet, there’s also a sense that she has grown since we last heard from her. Her insights feel sharper, her self-awareness more developed. This nuanced portrayal of mental health recovery as an ongoing process resonates deeply, challenging neat narratives of overcoming adversity. A must-read for anyone seeking raw, heartfelt exploration of the human experience.

A continuation from the first book, “I Want to Die but I Still Want To Eat Tteokbokki” is a great look into mental health. I appreciate a mental health book that is straight forward and raw the way this one is. Without being preachy, Baek Sehee helps shed light on patterns of thinking and mental illness.

I do appreciate the content warnings in the beginning. As someone who has participated in some of the same behaviors I found it comforting to see someone else who struggled with the same things. That being said, it was extremely uncomfortable to read because it brought some past pains to the fore front of my mind. I am grateful for it though, because I gave me the chance to examine the way I dealt with it and reframe my thinking about that time in my life.

I recommend this to those suffering that feel alone. You are not alone. Find the help you need. I wish you peace and light on your journey.

I wanted to read this because of the title, even before I found out what it was about. It's a story about one person's mental health journey, and there were parts I could really relate to. Even though I have a completely different situation, and different issues, this kind of honesty and self reflection made me feel like I'm not alone. The structure is odd but interesting, as she's recreating conversations with her mental health professional. I highly recommend this to anyone struggling. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

I was drawn to this book because I am a psychologist - the title is catching and the description made me curious.

This memoir/self-help book is told through transcripts with the author's psychiatrist. It is interesting to see some similarities and difference in American and Korean mental health interventions. In America, you rarely see modern-day psychiatrists also providing therapy along with medications. Psychiatrists in the U.S. are also not typically well-versed in treating cognitive distortions and pointing out behavioral patterns in individuals.

I thought this book was well-written and the psychiatrist gave great responses to the author's depressive and anxious statements.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA | Bloomsbury Publishing, and Baek Sehee for the opportunity to read/review an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars. This book (and the first one) are very hard to rate, because this is someone's very personal journey. The amount of vulnerability and bravery it takes to put these raw emotions, thoughts, and discussions out into this world is incredible. I believe everyone can get *something* out of this book.

I did like the psychiatrist more in this book, as I felt like we got more great, meaningful advice here than in the first one. There were definitely ideas and inspiration here that I'll be taking into my own life! The author reflects that this is a book about an ordinary person (paraphrasing), which I believe is what makes these two books so special and unique, and meaningful.

I would definitely recommend this to fans of the first book and those looking to perhaps gain a different perspective on themselves while reading about someone else's happy and sad moments in their life, their successes and struggles.

Thank you to Bloomsbury USA/Bloomsbury Publishing for the eARC, and for the opportunity to leave an honest, voluntary review.

tw: self-harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation

I am thankful to RM of BTS for having the first book ‘I Want To Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki’ in an episode of ‘Bon Voyage’. Because of this, I preordered the first book as soon as it was translated to English.

I am grateful to Baek Se-hee for persisting and putting her words and life out to the world. I am also thankful to Anton Hur, who is my favourite translator, who brings the beauty of the Korean language to English in a wonderful way.

Now, I was lucky enough to not only win an ARC from Goodreads but I was also given an e-arc to read.

I finished this book in two sittings. I couldn’t put it down. Baek Se-hee feels like a friend that I am cheering for and rooting for. Someone I can relate to on some levels and someone I empathize with on others.

“I keep flitting back and forth between emptiness and gratitude. Rage and gratitude, the desire to be part of a group and to be free, I’ve got to accept it, these contradictions. I have to console myself that these contradictory impulses can coexist.”

I loved this book, as I loved the first book. In reading it, some of my own thoughts felt heard.

As my trigger warning and a note from the author in the beginning of the book states, this book contains material that some may find disturbing.

In exchange for an honest review, I was given an e-arc from NetGalley and I was excited to win an ARC from Goodreads. Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing, Netgalley, and Goodreads for the giveaway ARC and e-arc. Thank you specifically to Baek Se-hee for sharing so much of her life with me, I am cheering for you.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

It fascinates me that I can read a book by a Woman on another continent and realize it could be written by me.

Self-hate and depression are heavy feelings to deal with. To this day, I'm terrified of being rejected by a gent and remain single at 40. I have learned that letting everything out, even if it could hurt a friendship, is necessary for my survival.

Great book to feel seen and realize that my mental/emotional states are somewhat normal.

This was a good and emotional read, but not quite what I expected. For some reason I thought this book was fiction, but it didn't take away from the experience of reading. The were many passages that I really resonated with, but some that I didn't. I'll definitely go read the first one for better understanding and probably revisit this book.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I Want to Die but I Still Want to Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sahee is a Korean memoir that records conversations between Baek Sahee and conversations with her psychiatrist. As Sahee continues to live with her depression, work on publishing her book, and struggle with her personal relationships, she opens up about some of the more difficult aspects about mental health, including self-harm and feeling trapped.

I cried several times reading this as I connected a lot to what Sahee was saying. When the therapist was calling her out and praising her for good decisions, it was very impactful and forced me to examine how hard I am on myself.

Sahee’s personal request is that readers remember, even if they connect with what is in the memoir, that these are Sahee’s struggles, the struggles of a real, living person, and that she’s sharing these sessions with us, the readers. If anything, I actually found this reminder to be incredibly helpful as not only does it foster empathy and create distance, but it also helped remind me that I am not alone in my struggles.

From work issues to unhappiness with her body to wanting to sleep all day, this memoir is an unapologetic look at the layers of what contributes to depression without ever claiming that someone will be ‘cured.’ Depression doesn’t leave; you learn to live with it and figure out ways to deal when it rears its ugly head. Baek Sahee is on medication for her depression, which is something I still see being stigmatized despite how necessary it is for some people, and I’m very thankful that she is so open about that fact on top of her conversations with her psychiatrist.

Trigger warnings for conversations around body image and fat-shaming, self-harm, and suicidal ideation.

I would recommend this to readers struggling with mental health who are in a place where they can read something so open and honest about these topics, fans of memoirs that delve into mental health, and those looking to better understand loved ones who are also struggling with depression.

This is raw, real, and emotional. It takes you through the mind of a person struggling with their mental health as they seek out help. The ups and downs.

The layout is interesting as it alternates between lived experience and a transcript of sessions with their psychiatrist. It feels vulnerable, like a journal.

While I don’t relate to a lot of the lived experience of the author, I found her descriptions of depression to be so spot on. I also really enjoyed the nuggets of wisdom from the psychiatrist. There were some really thought provoking things said.

Strong TW: depictions and thoughts of self harm: suicidal thoughts and cutting. While this would probably be comforting to someone actively going through it, making them feel seen, I recommend reading this when you’re in a good place mentally.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy!

I like the premise, but the execution wasn't it for me. There were things that resonated - for example,

"Familiarity felt like safety to me. Which is why, whenever depression or emptiness came calling, I was all too eager to open the door of self-pity and god right inside."

- but mostly it was kind of like reading court transcripts, lots of filler and repetitive, unnatural speech (but that could also be translation). I appreciate the message, but the delivery didn't feel as impactful as it could have been.

Also, there's a bit about reviews on her first book, specifically how she rationalizes that a bad review might equate to the reviewer being an angry/bad person. While this could be true, it's also possible that her book wasn't that good or even that it isn't good for everyone. (Books are subjective, after all.) It made me feel apprehensive and guilty about leaving my own review, even if I felt justified about my reasoning.

I found the first book in this series to be very poignant so it’s unsurprising that I also enjoyed this. Above all I have to commend the author for how vulnerable and honest this book is. Even the aspects and struggles I couldn’t relate to still really hit me because they were just discussed so openly and truthfully to the author’s experience. And, still, there was a lot that resonated with my own experience and was fascinating to see explored — this book was definitely one with lots of highlighted lines for me.