I thought this book was so fun and cozy! I loved how low stakes it was and the cozy mystery in it. I especially loved how a few of the chapters showed how Dokgo affected the lives of the people going to the convenience store from their perspective. This book was a very sweet and enjoyable read. The translation is done beautifully! I highly recommend checking this book out on June 17 when it's released in the US!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. This is not normally something I would read but I really loved the blurb and thought “why not?” IM SO GLAD I READ THIS. It was so heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time and just SO GOOD.

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Ho-Yeon Kim is a mixed first- and third-person, multi-POV Korean contemporary novel. It follows Mrs. Yeom, who runs a struggling convenience store in Seoul, and Dokgo, a homeless man battling alcohol addiction. When Dokgo returns Mrs. Yeom’s lost wallet, she offers him daily lunch boxes, then a job, sparking a profound transformation in both their lives.

The cover beautifully captures the cozy tone, showcasing the vibrant yet muted palette and hinting at the characters' dynamic and the story’s heartwarming themes.

Each chapter delves into a different character’s perspective, showing how lives intertwine and evolve as Mrs. Yeom supports Dokgo. Initially met with skepticism due to his homelessness, Dokgo gradually earns the community’s respect by working hard and forming meaningful connections. From helping the elderly with groceries to mentoring a struggling teenager, his journey highlights themes of redemption, compassion, and the power of community.

This is a cozy, uplifting tale that humanizes the homeless and celebrates the transformative impact of kindness.

4.5 stars
thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks

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

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Ho-Yeon Kim is a mixed first and third person multi-POV Korean contemporary novel. Mrs. Yeon runs a small convenience store in Seoul and is struggling to remain profitable. When she loses her wallet, it’s found by Dokgo, a homeless man who is struggling with alcohol addiction. Instead of grabbing her wallet and forgetting about him, Mrs. Yeom brings him to her store and gives him a lunch box every day and, eventually, gives him a job.

I rarely comment on covers, but I’m going to comment on this one. The cover does everything I think a cover is supposed to do: it tells me that the tone is going to be cozy, it gives me two characters and an idea of their dynamic, and it’s a beautiful piece of art that tells me the sort of story I can expect. I love how vibrant and colorful it is while still being slightly muted in its color palette.

Every chapter follows a different character as their lives slowly shift after Mrs. Yeom meets Dokgo. Some characters leave the convenience store and others stay in Mrs. Yeom’s employment and have a chance to see Dokgo grow and his positive impact on the community. There are a lot of assumptions of Dokgo initially because he was homeless, but opinions change as they see him trying hard and changing himself when he receives food, clean clothes, and a place to live.

Tone-wise, this is more cozy and at its heart, it is a story about community and how everyone in the community deserves a space and love and care. I loved watching Dokgo create good relationships with the elderly in his new neighborhood and carrying their purchases to walk them home as well as him trying to mentor a teenager who needs more positive influences. It’s a heart-warming tale that humanizes the homeless.

I would recommend this to fans of cozier contemporary and readers looking for a contemporary focusing on character relationships and with a slower pacing that is also a short read.

I enjoyed this collection of interconnected stories about the workers and patrons of Always Convenience. Like some similar translated literature from Korea and Japan, the book centers on a single location, and this one explores the second chances that people connected to the store are able to get. This book was slightly different from others I've read in the same vein because it featured a lot more character growth from the central character, Dokgo, who undergoes a great transformation throughout the string of stories.

What could have made this a 5-star review for me would have been if the book were slightly less preachy, particularly in the first part of the story. The author overdid it a little with the religious undertones and one of the characters came off as having a bit of a savior complex, so I was worried I wasn't going to enjoy the book. However, the religious leanings and preachiness toned down through the remainder of the book, and I am glad I finished to find out what happened to Dokgo.

Thanks very much to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a sweetly written warm hug of a book.

A homeless man returns a wallet and the owner, an elderly woman who owns a convenience store, gives him food as a reward. She tells him to stop by and get food when he needs, which already made me fall in love with her. But when he protects the store from some bad guys she offers him a job on a whim. This is met with concern from others as he is an intimidating homeless alcoholic who doesn’t seem to remember a thing from his past. As the book progresses we see him learn how to be a member of society again and how he and the surrounding neighbors affect one another in deep and intricately connected ways.

Eventually the owner’s good for nothing son tries to dig up dirt on Dok-Go and we get to the meat of the mystery - but this isn’t a “what happened to him??” mystery/thriller type of book. Instead we learn about who he is and why he wound up where he was in a way that’s more heartbreaking in its humanity and emotion.

You may guess the mystery before the end, but i think the journey and lessons are definitely more important than the end.

This is a book about people and connection and how we affect others. It’s less mystery and more slice of life, but it all fit together very well. I loved the differing viewpoints and how his chapter ties it all up in the end.

Lovely light book to read with a well-contained story that will leave you feeling warm in your heart and giving more consideration to each of your interactions with others. Would be a great palette cleanser book if you’re in between heavy-subject matter books.

I received an ARC of this book for my honest review, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

I made it to 30% into this book before the trigger of alcoholism became a bit too much for me and I had to set this one down. If you do not find alcohol, addiction, or alcoholism to be triggering for you, this is an excellent cozy read.

That being said, I need to put this one down. Since I did not finish it and still want to make sure a rating is left, I am leaving 5 stars as there was nothing wrong with the book, it is truly a work of art.