I truly enjoyed this book. I'm a big fan of K-drama and have been looking for more korean books that have been translated to English. The translation was a little rough in some parts but that didn't bother me since my mom still speaks broken English (she's a South Korean native) so I was able to pretty much understand what was being said. It was an interesting story and humorous at parts.

I was drawn in by the fact that this was going to be made into a Netflix TV drama, and I love Korean TV dramas. I think some of the best TV shows I have seen were Korean. Maybe this will translate better on the screen, but reading it, this was just kind of a slow burn for the entire book. It wasn't bad - don't get me wrong. I liked the premise of a matchmaking service that rents out “husbands” and “wives” to their wealthiest clientele. However, there just didn't seem to be much of a plot to it. I will still watch the show when it comes to Netflix, to see if I missed something somewhere when I was reading it, but I admit, this has been a disappointment for me.

A compelling piece about contract marriages and a main character who does not believe she is meant for love. The company itself that does the matching is also proven to have some unsettling secrets, ones that may have darker ties than our protagonist realizes. I believe this is a very strong debut but that thing that fell short for me was some of the sproadic translations that came off just a bit sloppy. I do feel there is something deeply unsettling throughout but I wouldn't call this a feminist thriller in a sense. I also felt that the shadows of homosexuality wasn't done in a way that was of good light to LGBTQIA, if anything that subplot felt like a one off and I wanted to know more.

This is a gripping and intriguing read that will captivate fans of psychological thrillers and literary fiction who enjoy exploring the complexities of human relationships, the blurred lines between love and commerce, and the darker aspects of the human experience.

The Trunk by Kim Ryeo-ryeong was surprisingly entertaining.
And I’m excited to see how this story unfolds on the screen.

DNF at 25%

I'm not sure if the issue I am having is with the translation or with the author's writing style, but I am finding it difficult to connect with this narrative. While the characters and premise have been established, I'm not sure I understand what the plot is, and it seems rather late in the game to not know that.

I love the narrative structure of THE TRUNK, cycling back and forth between past and present, watching all the parts of the story come full circle and connect at the end. The characters are fascinating is their depth and honesty, even if that honesty is to their detriment, clear in their understanding of how they arrived where they are and when they’re taking advantage of others in their need for decency or even a simple lifeline.
I enjoyed the way THE TRUNK spiraled rather than breaking down into acts as is traditional in Western narratives, carrying the reader along and around and through. I will be thinking about it for a long time to come and hope for more from this author in the future.

I loved this book and was enthralled with the writing. I loved the character study. Would read more from the author!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for this ARC.

The Trunk is a satirical look into a matchmaking service that hires field wives to carry out contractual marriages. We follow the life of Noh Inji, a woman in her late twenties, as she deals with being a field wife, having been married five times herself. This time, Inji finds herself remarried to a former husband.

I went into this book expecting a thriller but found it less thrilling than I hoped, but I think the last bits of the story felt more thrilling which I appreciated. I really enjoyed the concept, and the premise was unique and interesting. It was also a good opportunity to touch on social commentary like Kim Ryeo-Ryeong does in the book. I found that reading about Inji's past, especially about her friends and family, was well done in order to understand more about Inji herself, like why she is who she is, and why she is where she is. Her inner dialogue was quite captivating and she was full of life and fleshed out as a character.

I'm super excited that this is being adapted into a Netflix series, and I will definitely be on the lookout for that!

“So this is the world we live in, where even spouses can be rented.”

The Trunk is an intriguing, fast-paced and oftentimes humorous satirical look into a not-so-distant future in which Noh Inji, our narrator, works as a ‘field wife’ for a matchmaking service that rents out ‘contract’ marriages to its various clienteles.

Kim tackles many difficult issues in this book, ranging from a critical examination into the gender conformity and the roles of women in contemporary South Korean society, to the commodification of love in our ever-changing capitalist world. While some threads are perhaps more poignantly discussed than others, Inji’s no nonsense and cynical narrative voice rings through with clarity binding the different facets of the story together. The translation team behind the book did an incredible job and I very much appreciated the inclusion of the translators notes at the end of the book.

I am also very much looking forward to the Netflix adaptation of this novel as I am huge fans of both the lead actors and can’t wait to see this story play out on the screen!

Thank you to Hanover Square Press/HTP Books and Colored Pages Book Tours for a gifted copy of this book.

This is an odd one. It's not a thriller but I can't really put a genre label on it although it is a bit melodramatic. Inji is a contract wife. She's already been married five times-and she's only 30. It's not a bad way to make a living (or is it?) but then things go sideways and her life begins to unravel. The lives of other wives are also unraveling. Much of this happens in her head. I had a hard time relating to Inji and the situation. The translation is not as smooth as it could be-more than once there was awkward language I'm sure was not awkward in the original. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. While this wasn't for me, I'm sure others will enjoy it especially as it's good opportunity to read a popular Korean author (and to get ahead of the planned series.)

I think the concept of this was a really cool one. As I was reading it, I can definitely see the commentary on people's views of marriage, women and sex especially with the changing generations. But I don't think this book is being marketed correctly at least when it comes to western markets. This was described as a satirical feminist thriller and honestly it really should just be marketed a commentary on social issues in a changing environment. The reason I point out western markets is that nothing in this book was new or different from things I have read in the past trying but were more exciting to read. It just seems western markets are a little more ahead in trying to break down societal expectations and the patriarchy. And that is not a dig on any society or saying one society has it right or perfect I just mean that for the Asian market this book might be more impactful with their growing feminist movements such as with the 4B movement in South Korea.
Then there was the marketing that this was a thriller and for me at no time did this book hit the level I would expect from a thriller. It might be because the book is 85-90% internal musings of the FMC Inji Noh. There was actually very little dialogue and the dialogue there was very basic conversations. And I think that is the point to drive home some of the commentary the author is trying to make but it doesn't make for an exciting thriller. Now the reason I stuck with the book and finished it is there was the promise of the dark underbelly of this company that the Inji works for, and I thought that is when things would pick up and they were moments that showed you the company can have dangerous consequences for those that cause it problems but they are barely blimps in the book except for how it ended. That was the one exciting moment in my opinion of the book. So maybe with it ending on this cliff hanger the next one will lean more into the thriller aspect of the book.

Overall, I think the concept was a very interesting one, but I don't think this book is being marketed correctly for a western market as it didn't quite hit those marks for me.

This book is about Inji Noh who is a 30 something who is a field wife for an organization that has contract marriages for their wealthiest clients. This is a secret division of a larger matchmaking organization that is very popular and is very protective of its image. As a Field Wife Inji is expected for do all the same duties expected of any wife during any marriage just with a designated end date agreed upon contractually. All to give the clients the benefits of marriage tailored to their needs without any of the messiness you can get in a standard marriage. Inji has been married 5 times and still has never been in love which is a good thing for a field wife. But then one of her previous husbands requests her for a remarriage and she agrees because to her it because why not. She knows him and has no objections, and one husband is just like any other. But there is something different this time around. Not just with her husband but her as well as unexpected baggage is coming from both of them that is affecting not just their marriage but also has the risk of affecting the company and the company will do anything to protect its clients and more importantly its image.

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this cause the series will come out soon on netflix so i need to know the plot for the story! It's kinda weird to be honest, but cant wait for the series!!!! Thank you for the e-ARC netgalley <3

Korean author Kim Ryeo-ryeong shares with us the story about Noh Inji. Meet the woman who is part of an exclusive matchmaking service whose job is to be a "wife" to their clients. After five marriages, she is an expert in her field and understands what is and what is not acceptable. She is surprised when a former husband asks for another year of marriage with her, she has no other option but to say yes. Company rules dictate that saying no three times has the company gently requesting them to part ways with them.

Kim Ryeo-ryeong shares the story of Noh and how she even became part of this world filled with lies and deception. Watch how she juggles between this life and the one she dips into with her family and friends. See how the past start to seep into her present and what she does to ensure her future is secure. Read along as you discover how far the company will go to ensure their pristine reputation and how it affects everyone both in and around the company.

I have read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press for this privilege.

loved the book, I can't wait to see how netflix turns this into a show!
Hopefully, they do it justice!