"Marigold Mind Laundry" offers a cozy fantasy with a unique premise: a laundromat that washes away emotional pain and turns it into petals. The novel shines in its exploration of grief and healing, weaving these themes through its magical realism and the poignant journeys of Jieun and her patrons. The lessons learned by the characters, particularly Jieun, are heartfelt and offer meaningful takeaways about resilience and self-forgiveness. The ensemble cast brings depth, not all of their arcs are fully fleshed out, leaving resolutions feeling by the end of the story.

Fans of reflective, slow-burning reads with a touch of whimsy will likely appreciate the novel’s charm, but those seeking a more dynamic or cohesive narrative might find it lacking. Ultimately, "Marigold Mind Laundry" is a beautifully imperfect story that lingers in the heart even as it stumbles in its execution.

I 'd love to see an film adaptation :)

This is a story about a magical woman who lives forever but doesn't enjoy life. She opens up a 'mind laundry' where patrons can come and wash away their regrets and mistakes in life or iron out difficult emotions. As she helps her customers she begins to heal herself and find a group of friends that make life worth living.

The negatives of this book for me was that I found some themes pretty heavy handed and that it was pretty similar to other books of this sub-genre that I've read before.

Thank you to NetGalley for an EArc in exchange for a review.
Though I’m sure it would be considered to be well written, I didn’t find myself as invested in the characters in the same way as I have in other novels of the same genre and style. The concept (and, admittedly, the cover) really reeled me in, and I have to admit, left me disappointed.

Definitely for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold! Lots of endearing stories— some I connected with and some not so much. REALLY cool concept—it was just missing something for me. However there were a lot of lines that really hit me in my heart! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Welcome to the Marigold Mind Laundry, where you can wash away the memories you wish to erase..

The premise of this book was quite interesting -- would you want to wash away your most hurtful memories, even though they may alter who you are today?

I'm unsure if it was executed properly and thoroughly by the original text or the translation. At times, it was confusing, as we were not fully invested in each character, which I think is a flaw for stories that come in bits and pieces and eventually come as a whole. I will say, however, once a certain character came in, I *needed* to know what made him different from the others. It was a happy ending, and I did enjoy it.

This author has written multiple self-help books, which may be another cautionary note for those who may prefer a deeper storyline and strong character development. However, if you love self-help messages integrated intentionally into a fictional story, this might be the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/The Dial Press for the ARC!

Honestly, I read this book bcs I was FOMO. While reading it, I was questioning: am I reading the right book?

I'm not saying the book is not good. It's quite not my cup of tea bcs the pace is quite slow, which I'm not really patience 😅 That's why I was questioning again: do I really like Korean Lit? Honestly, until I finished this book, the answer is still: I don't know. 😐

But, one word from me to describe this book is: philosophical.
It encouraged me to think further and deeper about life, about the consequences for every decision I make/take, or... about embracing fate—no matter how it is, and how I should react to it.

This book could be a book that help me adulting and made me wiser. Maybe, many people should read this book too.

I made another version of review of this book on my IG. I already attached the link below.
Thank you for letting me be your advance reader. I honour it ✨

Based on the premise of Marigold Mind Laundry, I knew that I'd be reading a bittersweet story about lessons in life. And in that sense, I loved this book. There are a lot of quoteable moments about living in the present and accepting that our past has shaped us, but doesn't need to determine our future. Yet overall, this book was frustrating to read. I know enough Korean that when a Korean word was used as a translation, I knew what the translator's intent was. It was jarring though, and in general, I didn't enjoy the translation.
Take this quote:
"By choosing to be happy, even when the days are full of thunderstorms, the gentle moonlight in our hearts can still bring about peace."

It's pretty, It's also nestled in a paragraph with a lot of general life statements about happiness, and I didn't know whether to appreciate the insight or be frustrated that I was getting preached at to be happy.

3 stars-- Overall, I liked it! Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc of this book. Marigold Mind Laundry was published in Oct 2024- On a fun side note, marigolds in Korea are especially celebrated in Oct and symbolizes a better future, a prominent theme in the book. :)

Words cannot describe how much I loved this story. The journey that Jieun went on and the lives she touched was very heartwarming. In the beginning I had no idea where the story would go after Jieun made her family disappear and spent decades trying to find her way back to them. My heart was slowly breaking for her cause wandering without those you call family leads to a very bleak existence, and for her there was no end in sight. When she decided to use her powers to help people and open the laundry mat, I loved the imagery and descriptions. For wach of the 5 people that made their way to Jieun not only did they find a way back to a happier version of themselves, they were leading Jieun back to herself as well. There were so many life lessons to be taken away from each person as they went on the journey of exploring their pasts that lead them to where they were. This was so much more than a fantasy book and I enjoyed every second of it.

I have noticed the emergence of many cozy, whimsical stories with Korean and Japanese authors, so when Marigold Mind Laundry appeared on my NetGalley dashboard, I was intrigued. I haven’t read a lot of translated books, so this is new territory for me.

Unfortunately, my interest waned around page three. The writing is overly simplistic, the revelations hollow. Perhaps the prose is lost in translation…? The only reason I’m rating 2 stars instead of 1 is because I like the premise, and this season is all about coziness and ease.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book had some great aphorisms, but I also thought it wasn't anything too unique. I wish the stories went deeper with each character, as I felt like it barely went past the surface.

Notable lines:

"It's the same with the blemishes on our heart. Once we acknowledge their presence, they're no longer stains but growth rings. Don't be afraid of life. No one knows for sure whether we'll live to see a certain day, so why think too far ahead about an unformed future? Don't fret over what lies ahead. Be present in the moment and when tomorrow comes, it'll be a brand-new day-yet another today. That's good enough."

"When winter descends on our hearts, the reason we can endure it is because of the hope that this season, too, will pass. Hope-it can breathe life into us. Or summon death . . ."

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

Thank you for the eARC! I was beyond confused for the first few chapters and it was difficult to get into the story for me. However, I was eventually able to invest myself into the sweet story. A very fast read, meant to be comforting, was not quite what I expected. I enjoyed this unique book and am always happy to broaden my reading horizons. Unfortunately, I think it may turn off some readers by how confusing the initial bits are.

I absolutely love fables and fantasy stories so I was really looking forward to this one! Overall, this was a good read. It was heartfelt, sweet, and fantastical, but at times, I felt somewhat confused with things and maybe this is due to translation or just me not being able to actively picture certain aspects. But either way, it didn’t detract from the overall arch of the story. This was a really heart-warming story that had me thinking so much.

I wanted to love Marigold Mind Laundry. The premise—a magical laundromat that transforms pain into healing flower petals—felt unique and full of promise. A story about memory, healing, and self-discovery should have been the perfect mix of enchanting and thought-provoking. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me.

While I appreciated the message at the novel's heart—how healing is a journey we all have the power to undertake, the execution didn’t live up to its potential. The writing felt overly simplistic, and I struggled to connect with the characters and their emotional arcs. The five customers who came to Jieun for healing were meant to represent different facets of human pain, but their stories lacked depth, leaving me wanting more nuance and insight.

That said, the imagery of the Marigold Mind Laundry itself was beautiful. Turning pain into petals was a lovely metaphor, and I think this book could resonate with readers who enjoy lighter, fable-like storytelling. However, it missed the emotional impact I was hoping for.

I admire the ambition behind the story, but it ultimately didn’t work for me. I rated this one ⭐⭐ because while it had a compelling concept, the execution didn’t quite deliver.

Very cosy and highwarming whilst also being quirky. Really enjoyed it but wasn't a favourite. Will read more from this author.

Confused the hell out of me, but a sweet and heart wrenching story none the less. Plus, look at that cover!

Title: A Heartwarming and Enchanting Tale

Review: "Marigold Mind Laundry" by Jungeun Yun is a beautifully written and imaginative story that captivated me from the very beginning. The concept of a magical laundromat that erases painful memories is both unique and thought-provoking. The characters are well-developed and their individual stories are touching and relatable. Jungeun Yun's writing is poetic and filled with emotional depth, making it easy to connect with the characters and their journeys.

The translation by Shannan Tan is excellent, capturing the essence of the original text while making it accessible to a wider audience. The book's themes of healing, hope, and the power of memories are conveyed with sensitivity and grace. I highly recommend "Marigold Mind Laundry" to anyone looking for a heartwarming and inspiring read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book!

I am always looking to add books in translation to my to be read pile so I was delighted to find the Marigold Mind Laundry. I really liked the five stories of the people who share their troubles with Jieun, and how her own journey intersects with theirs. Magical realism can be hit or miss for me, and while this wasn't my favourite of the genre, I was glad I read it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eARC copy of this book!

How can I begin to describe how much I liked this book? I guess I'll start with the feelings it made me feel. I had a lot of nostalgia and happiness throughout the book, but I also felt like my heart and mind were struggling to understand my own feelings as I considered my own life compared to what was being talked about in the book.

This book is filled with positivity and motivation to keep living when you are not sure if you're living the right way. It kind of acts as a mental guide for the person who is going through a difficult time or trying to overcome a past memory that hurt them. I feel like it's specially good for people who are struggling in life even a little bit but people who are content with their lives can also enjoy it.

My favorite aspect about this book is how the magical realism blends with the characters and makes them work smoothly in favor of the story. I think magical realism has that awkward line or paragraph where characters realize something "not-normal-or-possible" is happening, but in this story that is not the case (or at least I didn't find it.)

Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars was because it took me a bit to get into the story, but that might be my personal reading style and struggles that affected it.

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

I liked the idea of the story more than the execution. There’s an amount of whimsy and coziness I really enjoyed. My main complaint is that it’s a somewhat shallow dive, I didn’t feel like I really got to know any of the characters particularly well. If we’re going for mostly vibes, I like to understand the characters better than this.