“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦..”

Quite a surprise. There are few books that really tackle all the ennuis of contemporary society in such a blunt way. From the vantage point of 30, we look at what failure is in South Korea. With the race against birth rates, the rising cost of housing and the impossibility of finding a decent job, and to hell with a career, how can a person just be?

We are reaching impossibility, but it’s Won-Pyung’s frankness that creates a numb hum through the text. Anxiousness. Frustration. Annoyance. Micro aggressions add up to one final act, too quick to even stay in a life that goes on without us.

A timely publication, especially after the necessary impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol. These days, how far can a protest go beyond a shot in the dark in a timeline of hurt and horrors? And does it matter as an individual? Ultimately, how do we matter to ourselves?

A quirky little book that captures the unique blend of hope and hopelessness that accompanies us as we age when our lives haven’t turned out the way we expected them to, and particularly when we try to sort out how much of the disappointment we feel is of our own making and how much is a system designed to keep us feeling like failures.

The protagonist and three men she meets in a class she takes through her job at an academy are each fed up with society and are too scared of change to do much of anything about it except grab onto their despair like a security blanket. They decide to do what little they can: quiet acts of protest against the system, or counterattacks, that are silly and largely ineffective in the grand scheme of things but are capable of effecting change on the individual level, giving them enough confidence to change their own mindsets.

The solution to this type of capitalism would be to divorce themselves from the belief that their work is integral to who they are. Easier said than done, but each of the four attempts this with varying degrees of success. Some blossom, some wither. As frustrating as that is from a fictional story, it’s so realistic: for the majority of us, the most we will ever do is wake up. Fewer of us will get out of bed, and even fewer of us are brave enough to actually push back. Perhaps this fact makes even the tiny counterattacks in this novel more bold than we’d give them credit for at first glance.

There are a few subplots — a shaky romance and the confrontation of a former school bully, the latter of which feels like a common theme in Korean media and felt a little stale. It serves more as a conduit for proving the protagonist’s character growth than anything else. It’s easy to grow frustrated with the protagonist, Jihye, as she misses opportunities for growth and understanding, but again, this is simply realistic. Even still, I was rooting for both her and her comrades.

There’s some endearing character growth that I found so relatable as an early 30-something, but I am now wondering how much character growth is possible within a system that punishes individuality and rewards assimilation. Is it growth, or is it acceptance? And does it matter? The themes and messages overall are obvious throughout, though they start stronger than they finish, and I can’t stop thinking about how maybe that’s one big (bleak) metaphor for aging itself.

Not sure how I feel about this one. As someone who is about to turn 30 and feels like they are going through the motions, I was excited to read this book. While I thought this story was well written and it was a quick read, it kind of left me feeling a little hopeless. I don't know. So much of the book just kept reinforcing this feeling of helplessness and disappointment. I did like the scenes between "the rebels," but there weren't really that many of them. I guess I was just hoping for a bigger revelation that I got. Not really the book's fault, I would say it was actually incredibly realistic. In fact, maybe a bit too realistic. While the characters do technically come out of these encounters changed, the changes are incredibly small and it is debatable whether or not the change is good. If you are going into this story expecting something fun and inspirational, you will be sorely disappointed. However, I do think this book works as a good representation about how hard it is to change and how small progress is still progress.

Jihye is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. She works as an intern at Diamant Academy, stacking chairs and making copies, hoping to be hired on as a permanent employee. One day she is tasked with returning a professor's cell phones to him at a coffee shop where she witnesses a member of the public yelling at the professor about all the wrongs he has committed. Later, when she is part of a hiring panel for another intern, she sees the man who yelled at the professor again and he ultimately becomes her coworker. Gyuok wants to disrupt the status quo through pranks and acts of mischief, He recruits Jihye and two other students in their ukulele class to join in his shenanigans. With their strange quartet, Jihye learns more about herself, what she hopes for in life, and how to be brave and try for the things that she wants.

This was an interesting story and I think it deals with a lot of issues that people are experiencing today. The characters were frequently frustrated with their place in society and felt as though they were powerless to make meaningful changes, which I think is something that a lot of people can relate to. I think that the characters were really well developed and they did change over the course of the book in meaningful ways. My main issue is mostly to do with the overall flow of the book. The first few chapters felt like they were sort of disjointed, so that was what I expected from the entire book, but then later in the book the story flowed together a bit more. I would have enjoyed the book more if the whole thing flowed from the beginning. This book will appeal to people who are critical of or disenchanted with capitalism and looking for something with a meaningful message.

I really enjoyed this title. I love that it gives us an insight into the working culture of South Korea as well. Our main character takes us through the experience of a thirty-something dealing with office culture and politics as well as grappling with where she fits in society. We see her interact with new friends, new colleagues as well as clash head to head with people from her past. It definitely looks at the how isolating it can feel when everyone else around you seems to have it together or their expectations of where you should be in life don't line up with what you want. A very good read and great for book club discussions.

Thank you for the e-ARC HarperVia! I read Won-Pyung's last novel, Almond in 2024 and am still thinking about it today. It was in my top books read that year and so I was beyond excited for their latest, Counterattacks at Thirty.

This is a translated work about a main character who has entered her thirties and hasn't figured out her life yet. She lives in a basement apartment, has yet to secure fulltime employment and isn't currently in a relationship. Throughout the story she is introduced to a cast of 'non-ordinary people' trying to figure out life. They bond together to make an impact.

What I liked-This was a fast paced and short read about found family and not being afraid to go for what you want in life. Nobody has it all figured out. I enjoyed learning about the importance of a strong Korean name. I also liked the concept around 'a chair is just a chair''.

What I disliked -This was very different from Almond. It left me wanting more with regards to the main character's story and end result. I wanted a deeper dive into the issues at hand. The romantic subplot didn't feel like it fit to me, but without giving away spoilers, I did appreciate the lunch date situation as I could relate to needing an escape.

An interesting take on work cultures and the ways that our traumas and those that do us wrong affect us long after they're gone. Counterattacks at Thirty looks at Ji-hye, a slightly disgruntled employee who meets a group of fellow disgruntled employees. They commiserate over life and try to take justice in their own hands in menial ways.

Jihye feels like an unassuming character and her growth throughout the story is a series of small realizations and progress. It was an interesting read, and follows Sohn Won-Pyung's writing style in Almond.

COUNTERATTACKS AT THIRTY
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
GENRE: Fiction, Translated Fiction, Asian Literature

The author of Almond, Sohn Won-Pyung, is back with a look on a young woman's life through the corporate machines of Korea. Jihye is simply a cog that keeps the corporate world of Diamant Academy going - easily replaceable and unassuming. She lives a monotonous life - day in and day out - unsure of what her goal is but she also does not want to stand out from the rest of society.

Lee Gyuok arrives as an intern and slowly introduces new ideas and controlled chaos into Jihye’s life. Does one small action really make a difference? Does it right old injustices? Should one stand back and watch life happen to them or fight back? This book critically looks at these questions but I think falls flat on the conclusion. However, I found the book to be very introspective on what it means to go through the motions of life and what is expected of us. I will say the book focuses more on character dynamics and growth vs. comical hijinks so don’t expect this to be a humorous book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia books for this e-ARC. Please pick up this book if you enjoy what I refer to as ‘reflective slice of life’. Dropping 3/11/25.

I wasn't the biggest fan of Sohn's ALMOND, even though I could appreciate it, but I absolutely devoured this novel. Having studied contemporary Korean culture and women's positions in society, this was right up my alley in terms of how it reflects the current reality of women in Korean work culture. I flew threw this novel over three days and thought that it was well done, even if its messaging might fly over some readers' heads.

Jihye is as ordinary as they come. But ordinariness is relative, and us ordinary people can still find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Stuck as a 30-year-old intern at Diamant Academy, a small and neglected branch of a massive "culture" conglomerate, Jihye is a loner, underappreciated, overlooked, flying under the radar. But when the company takes on a new intern, Gyuok, her mind-numbing work-centric life gets shaken up.

This was described as Devil Wears Prada meets The Office - I would actually revise that to call it a contemporary Office Space. Small acts of resistance against the corporate overlords, screaming out to be heard and not drowned out in the crowd of ordinary people, I think this would resonate with a lot of thirty-somethings who feel like they are running to catch up to where they thought they'd be in their life.

I really liked Jihye and Gyuok's friendship. The way Gyuok pushed her to think differently really worked well, and as she began to spiral, I found myself hoping he would be there to catch her (no spoilers!)

The pranks the ukulele crew pulled were a lot of fun, making the book feel light and even silly sometimes, while also making statements about today's capitalist society. I also liked that it captured some of the unique challenges faced by this generation in Korea while still feeling relatable for a reader like me who isn't from that same cultural background.

I can't quite put my finger on why it feels like a 4 and not a 5, maybe a bigger climax at the end would have pushed it up - but regardless, I found this to be an extremely enjoyable read, a book that has something to say yet doesn't take itself too seriously. I may come back later and adjust it up if I keep thinking about it. We'll see!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for this ARC to read and review.

This book read like a movie. I didn’t just read Kim Jihye’s story. I lived her life, experienced her pain, and grew as she did.

I read the ARC for Counterattacks at Thirty as soon as I finished Sohn Won-Pyung’s first book, Almond. I have so much appreciation for Almond, which uses unique characters to explore how connections can make our broken, lacking selves whole.

Counterattacks at Thirty takes nearly the opposite approach. The main character, Kim Jihye, is completely ordinary, even down to her name. She is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. Her every day consists of doing ordinary with ordinary people under an ordinary workplace system. That is until some seemingly ordinary people with unordinary mindsets come into her life, pushing her to reflect on how she truly wants to live.

In that sense, this book is just as impactful. If Almond focuses on what we can give to others, Counterattacks at Thirty explores what we give to the world,

This book is for the people who have lived all of their lives feeling small, like a speck of dust floating within the vast universe. For those of you who have questioned whether your voice can be heard or if your actions would make even the smallest difference. Remember, rainbows don’t just fill up the sky at the end of a storm - you can find rainbows in the most ordinary places.

Counterattacks at Thirty by Won-pyung Sohn is a reflective and engaging read that blends workplace monotony with subtle rebellion. Following Kim Jihye, an ordinary 30-something struggling with a stagnant life and career, the story introduces an unexpected spark in the form of Gyuok, a new intern who shakes things up with his quiet but subversive activism. Together with other disillusioned colleagues, they embark on small acts of resistance—petty pranks and anonymous exposes—that challenge societal norms and the hierarchy around them.

I’d give this one 3.75 stars. The mundane yet relatable vibe resonated, especially Jihye’s feelings of insignificance and yearning for purpose, which mirror universal frustrations about capitalism and modern life. The low-key rebellion was fun, but at times I wanted the stakes to feel a bit higher or the antics to be more impactful. Still, Sohn’s thoughtful character work shines, and the story’s quiet power lies in showing how even the smallest acts can ripple out into change. A solid pick if you enjoy introspective reads with subtle humor and societal commentary.

I really enjoyed Won-Pyung's other book, the dark and disturbing “Almond.” This one is very different and quite a bit lighter. While “Almond” was an unsettling and serious novel, this one doesn’t take itself too seriously most of the time, and there are moments that were a little bit too silly for me. (Example: vivid descriptions of a manager's farts.) There was also a romantic subplot that to me felt forced and not entirely believable. (But I'm also bitter these days, so take that criticism with a grain of salt.) The book had shades of darkness later on, and one scene that was very strange and somewhat unnerving.

I should probably hesitate to say that I related to the narrator of this story, because that could potentially reflect poorly on me in some ways. But there were definitely aspects of her personality that resonated. (She hated having to do self-introductions in school and work settings! One of my absolute nightmares.) And when we meet her, she is feeling lost, beaten down by work and life and the corporate system. The basic gist of this plot is learning to stand up for yourself and fight for what you want and what you deserve. It's a decent message, but the story didn't pack a strong enough punch. Our protagonist ends up making friends through her workplace who unite in their desire to "play pranks" on important people in public as a form of rebellion and revenge, but they don't have a huge impact. And I know that it was the point for the sake of growth and development, but the main character’s spinelessness eventually got on my nerves.

What this book did pull off well was illustration of the fact that sometimes you really don’t know the people you work and interact with, and you might be judging someone too harshly. People can change completely as a result of going through the system and end up unrecognizable from the individuals they once were. We all have to adapt in ways we might not like.

This was a pleasant enough read, so I'm giving it three stars. But I highly recommend "Almond," which was a 5-star read for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

Biggest TW: Mention of Adults sleeping with minors, Misogyny, Bullying

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC! While I think this could be a great book for many people, I just couldn’t get into it. I think the style of writing just doesn’t grasp my attention.

Being that I am in not in high school I enjoy and appreciate reading books I can relate to. This one I almost related to a little too much. It follows a couple 30 somethings and their office dynamic. It wasn't my favorite but I still liked it.

Sohn and Halbert work together to create such a beautiful piece of work. Sohn's writing never disappoints and I think they are a true artist when it comes to the craft of writing because Almond is one of my favorite and this is equal as good. Halbert as a translator never fails when bringing Korean literature into English and always makes the writing flow and really brings into the English the beauty of the language, story, and character development.

an awesome book about despondency and pulling yourself out of a funk with some really fun characters and plotting. 4 stars tysm for the arc.

I have been a fan of Won-pyung Sohn every since I read Almond. I thought that book was brilliant and I was so thrilled when I found out the author was releasing a new novel.
In the book we follow Kim Jihye who is in her thirties and is ordinary in every sense of the world. When Gyuok starts working at her job she finds her little world being challenged and at times clashing with his. Gyuok eventually recruits the others to start a small rebellion where the attacks are mostly petty, but small enough that they're noticeable. This book that centers everyday people, who are not rich, powerful, or even have dreams to be successful, is captivating. Won-pyung Sohn is a genius at character work and connecting the mundane into bigger social issues.

This book follows Kim Jihye, an ordinary 30 year old woman who feels stagnant and uninspired by her life and job. She emphasizes how ordinary she is by comparing it to how common her name is, that at one point, there were four other Kim Jihye’s in her class. One day a new intern, Gyouk is hired and starts shaking things up in the office. He encourages her and two other ordinary/unhappy people to rebel against the system through small planned pranks. Jihye just wants to find purpose, meaning, and satisfaction in her life, as we all do.

As a 30-something myself, I could relate to Jihye’s frustration with capitalism and competition. And feeling insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But I loved the lesson she learns by the end of the book.

This was a pretty good book! It was about 30 year olds in the office that were tired of being taken advantage of in their office setting and they decide to strike back, It had funny parts and also it did make me think at other times. I enjoyed this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!