*Romancing on Jeju* by Hyun-Joo Park is an atmospheric and enchanting novel that seamlessly blends romance, mystery, and self-discovery against the stunning backdrop of Jeju Island. Park, a celebrated Korean author, crafts a vibrant narrative filled with emotional depth and engaging characters, making this book a captivating read from start to finish.

The story follows Romi, a passionate illustrator who finds herself irresistibly drawn to a fleeting encounter with a mysterious stranger. Driven by her romantic ideals and an unshakeable sense of destiny, Romi decides to track down her enigmatic admirer, but not before inviting her two closest friends to join her on this adventure.

Hadam, an aspiring filmmaker, seizes the opportunity to document Romi’s quest as part of her debut project. Her journey is not just about capturing Romi’s search for love but also confronting her own fears of failure. Meanwhile, Chakyung, a marketing professional, views the trip as a chance to revamp her career and gain some personal insight into her lingering unhappiness.

As the trio arrives on the picturesque Jeju Island, they are greeted by its breathtaking landscapes—the emerald waterfalls, sandy beaches, and lush scenery offer a perfect escape from their everyday lives. However, their idyllic vacation quickly becomes complicated by a series of misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and the unsettling presence of a mysterious stalker.

The novel shines in its portrayal of friendship and self-exploration. Romi’s quest for romance serves as a catalyst for each character’s personal growth. Hadam’s journey to overcome her fears and Chakyung’s search for fulfillment are interwoven with Romi’s romantic pursuit, creating a rich tapestry of intertwined narratives. The setting of Jeju Island is more than just a backdrop; it becomes a character in its own right, with its natural beauty contrasting sharply against the novel’s more sinister elements.

Hyun-Joo Park excels at creating a sense of place and atmosphere, making Jeju Island’s charm palpable to readers. The interplay of romance and mystery adds layers of intrigue, keeping readers engaged as the plot unfolds. The subplot involving a legendary queen bee and the conspiracy surrounding it introduces an element of suspense that enhances the story’s emotional and narrative depth.

*Romancing on Jeju* is a delightful read that combines the allure of a romantic adventure with the complexity of personal discovery. Park’s deft storytelling and richly drawn characters make this novel a compelling exploration of friendship, love, and the search for one’s purpose. It is a heartwarming and thrilling journey that reminds us of the transformative power of travel and the enduring strength of true friendship.

I always try to get a decent amount of translations in each year, and I was tempted by this story set in South Korea. I really liked the sound of the premise of Romancing On Jeju, with its island setting and what seemed like a focus on friendship as well as the search for love. I've been looking forward to read it, although I confess that I was a bit worried when I saw it was receiving quite low ratings so far... Sadly, I didn't turn out to be an exception, and I ended up struggling considerably with this story.

I think the title is actually a bit misleading, because Romancing On Jeju is actually more mystery than romance... The more literal translation Searching For Honeyman (also the name of the project of the three friends) would have suited the story so much better while also portraying that hint of mystery. The plot turned out to be a lot darker than expected, and this might have been part of the issue as I was expecting a fun romcom. This was neither my biggest nor the only issue I encountered along the way though; I'll try to explain why Romancing On Jeju wasn't a good fit for me.

First of all, I have to say that I did very much enjoy the Jeju island setting and its descriptions. I also liked the focus on beekeepers and I definitely learned a thing or two about the production of honey. I always love bookish traveling to international destinations, and you will find plenty of that in this translation. Sadly the story itself mainly just confused me. Romancing On Jeju uses a multiple POV structure and sometimes switches between POVs that are seemingly not connected to each other. These switches were quite abrupt as well, and as a result the story felt quite disjointed. There were certain chapters I simply had no clue what was going on nor what it ment, and this started to get really frustrating.

Like I said before, Romancing On Jeju is a lot darker than expected and the main genre is more mystery/thriller than contemporary or romance. The plot includes stalking, violence, crime, what feels like a conspiracy plot... Not something I usually mind, but in this case I had no clue what was really going on and the disjointed plot just didn't manage to grab my attention for long enough. On top of this, the romance itself was both lackluster and basically cringeworthy, including the dreaded love triangle vibe, cheating and an amnesia angle. There was also something about the writing style and word choice that somehow just didn't work for me personally.

The friendship between the three friends had potential, but it was kind of buried under all the other issues. The pace itself was extremely slow, as this story is mostly character-driven and there is a lot of focus on the characters talking. Again, not my cup of tea at all, as slower stories simply don't seem to work for me at the moment. The plot felt surprisingly dull considering everything that was apparently happening, and I confess that I started skimreading well before the halfway mark. I kind of wish I had just DNFed it instead... Oh yes, Romancing On Jeju and me were definitely not a good match.

This reminded me of a K-drama, which I love. The characters all were friendly and meshed well together. You could actually see these ladies being friends. Hopefully, Park Hyun-Joo writes more romance. I also liked that it had a bit of mystery thrown in.

I really wanted to like this book as I'm usually very into asian stories (one of my favorites is Lucie Yi is not a romantic) but unfortunately this was a big miss for me.
I couldn't get into the story, I wasn't connecting with the characters, and I felt very lost with what was happening throughout the story.
I just finished it because I wanted to know how the book ended and cause I was already 3/4 of the way so figured I might as well finish it.
It had sooo much potential, and I was looking forward to liking this book but unfortunately was a miss.

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Romancing on Jeju” by Hyun-Joo Park is a delightful blend of romance, mystery, and self-discovery set against the picturesque backdrop of Jeju Island. The novel follows Romi, an illustrator with a penchant for romance, who embarks on a journey to find a handsome stranger she can’t forget. Encouraged by her two best friends, Hadam and Chakyung, each grappling with their own personal challenges, they set off on an adventure that promises more than just a quest for love.

Hadam, a budding filmmaker, sees Romi’s pursuit as the perfect subject for her debut documentary, overcoming her fears of failure in the process. Meanwhile, Chakyung, a marketing professional, seizes the opportunity to work on a new ad campaign while also seeking clarity on her own unhappiness. Together, they navigate the serene landscapes of Jeju Island, finding solace in its emerald waterfalls and sandy beaches.

However, their idyllic journey takes an unexpected turn as misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and a mysterious stalker threaten to derail their plans. Caught in a web of conspiracy and intrigue surrounding a legendary queen bee, the trio must confront these challenges to uncover real love and purpose.

Hyun-Joo Park crafts a compelling narrative that captivates with its atmospheric descriptions and vibrant characters. Romi’s quest for love intertwines seamlessly with the personal growth and introspection of Hadam and Chakyung, making their journey not just about romance but also about discovering themselves amidst the beauty and challenges of Jeju Island. This was really fun to read!

Romancing on Jeju is a story about three friends Romi (a romantic), Hadam (a filmmaker), and Chakyung (a cosmetics marketer). Three years ago, Romi met a stranger who she felt a connection from Jeju. She has been unable to forget him and Hadam suggests they go find him. With little to go on, except that he was a beekeeper, they set off to begin investigating. Hadam decides to work on a documentary on beekeeping that will allow them to search while also giving Hadam the chance to work on her first documentary. Chakyung is soon to be married but is not happy in her relationship and decides to take them time to build a new ad campaign and take some time for herself. On her way to Jeju, Chakyung meets a friendly and charming stranger who happens to be going to the same place as her and who she feels a strong connection with. During their search, Hadam connects with her ex-boyfriend and they begin to grow closer. Romi finds her beekeeper but realizes that he doesn't remember her. As the friends meet more people on the island and get to know some of the locals, they also are thrown into the middle of some mystery and danger.

The story of these three women was a nice summer read and completely unexpected. What at first you think will be a little romance turns into a drama full of twists and turns. There is friendship, romance, mystery, hidden identities, hidden agendas, betrayal, and secrets. While the story was entertaining the flow of it was a little choppy. The story switched from current to past several times. Many times, I was unsure what was going on in the story. Some of this was intentional by the author, but other times it just felt confusing.

The characters were the most interesting part of the story, but I found some I cared for more than others. Overall, Chakyung and Soo-eon were my favorites. They were the most interesting characters with the sweetest storyline. While I like Romi and the search for her beekeeper, I felt like it took a backseat to everything else that was taking up the story. There were a lot of excess secondary characters that I had trouble caring about.

Throughout the story, you see how each of the main women have changed their views and perceptions on love. The story itself was sweet and even with so much going on, it was very entertaining. If you want a nice beachtime summer read, then I would recommend it.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was not for me. I just felt bored throughout and did not care for the characters. I hope others love this one but it was not for me.

I DNF's this at 7%. I just couldn't get into it. This read too much like a k-drama with they way the characters talked and acted. The three friends were just a bit annoying. It didn't make me want to read more.

I love Kdrama and so I was excited to get the ARC of this book from Netgalley. However, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't the light romance I expected. Romancing on Jeju is more of a thriller with twists, which probably due to translation issues, were quite confusing sometimes. It was a good read after all, but it took a long time for me to finish it. Thank you, Netgalley. All opinions expressed are mine.

I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC of Romancing on Jeju, by Hyun-Joo Park. I thouroughly enjoyed the concept of this book, but there were a few drawbacks for me preventing a higher rating. The book's premise is two-fold for the main characters - professional and personal - as they embark to Jeju from Seoul in search of "honeyman." And so unfolds a story about love, friendships, the past, the present, and the future. I had a hard time with this translation. Many of the personal descriptors remained in Korean and I found it hard to keep track of/understand and found myself Googling a lot of phrases, which ultimately made reading feel choppy. Similarly, the translated internal monologues felt overly forced, almost as if the author was trying too hard to be "insightful," when in reality the book would've been more enjoyable without forcing metaphors.

There were also a lot of characters/storylines to follow, which would've been fine otherwise but the translation made following all of these perspectives difficult. I felt that I didn't get enough backstory for some of the main characters and I was left wanting more. There is also an element of "mystery" to this book, ending with a beach-side (almost) shootout? I didn't feel this was an entirely necessary addition.

Overall, I reated Romancing on Jeju a 3/5. I enjoyed the overall premise and the characters were fun, but I think I would've enjoyed this more if it had been a straight romance in genre.

This books wasn't quite what I expected, it was good though. I'd say it wasn't strictly a romance like i thought it was, but rather more of a story of friendship.

This story started out as a girls-trip type of story, then turned into a romance, then turned into a thriller at the very end. The premise of three friends going to Jeju to look for a potential romantic interest was a cute idea, and it was nice reading about the island of Jeju and the community of beekeeping. However, the story was a bit drawn out and it took a while to get through the middle portion of the book, and the sudden switch to a suspenseful thriller ending felt like it came out of the blue. I wouldn't recommend this book to someone looking for a romance novel, but it could be interesting for readers of literary fiction who like the idea of the Jeju island setting.

The style, in which this book was written, hasn't resonated with me. I liked the general idea of the main plot, with three friends and their reasons for coming to Jeju. However, there were too many subplots for the length of this book. Reading this book felt like jumping from one character to another, from one subplot to another. Therefore, I couldn't fully focus on it all and be captivated by it.
One thing I enjoyed, was how each friend had a different perspective on life and love. Their conversations about those topics were interesting to read.

Before I start, thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this lovely DRC!

Going on a trip to Jeju with your two friends because you’re searching for a man you met a few years ago and still have some lingering feelings… I can’t say I wouldn’t do it or at least think about it, lmao

I went into this book with an open mind; I had never read from this author before (since I don’t speak Korean), and the premise intrigued me. To say I liked ‘Romancing on Jeju’ would be an understatement!

We follow three women in their thirties who embark on a trip to Jeju, in search of a guy nicknamed ‘Honeyman’, with little information about him, a seemingly impossible task when I first read it. As the story progresses, we slowly move from a romance type story to mystery elements entering the story. We meet new people and also cross paths with some familiar faces.

I had a great time reading this book: I couldn’t help but smile at the cute fluffy moments, had a giant question mark floating above my head as I tried to figure out 1, who Honeyman was, 2, why certain other characters were also on Jeju, and more things I can’t discuss without spoiling, so you’ll have to find out yourself ;). There were also moments where I just couldn’t stop reading and had to know what was unfolding

All three main characters were very likable; they were at the same time distinct and unique. Their friendship was also beautiful, and their conversations were insightful because each person brought a different opinion into the discussion that someone may not have considered before. I can’t even say I had a favorite because of how much I was rooting for everyone in general, but also in their own story.

That also brings me to the ending of this book; I felt it was very satisfactory! I find it hard to describe without spoiling, but it felt like a very natural conclusion, especially when it came to the smaller story lines of everyone’s personal story. If this were a Kdrama or TV show I would most definitely be invested.

I have to commend the translator for their work, as the book reads very nicely and naturally to me, if that makes sense. Since the original novel was in Korean, I was also curious to see how its translation would play out, and it was great! There were the occasional terms with not an exact translation, but I did not feel like it greatly affected my reading experience. Perhaps a small footnote giving a short description of the Korean word in question would have been nice, but I did not feel like I missed a great ton just because of a few words. However, since I have very little knowledge of the Korean language I may not be the best judge of this aspect of the book. It is just how I experienced it

There were times where certain events appeared to happen quite quickly after one another which left me a little confused / having to re-read. On the other hand, at the start I was not as invested because I felt like not much was happening (yet), but as time went on I really warmed up to all of the characters and became more interested (my annotations became increasingly expressive too, lolol). The book also indirectly made me rethink some things which is always refreshing. I could see how maybe those expecting a full on romance may not enjoy this as much, but i love mystery so I had a great time.

Overall, ‘Romancing on Jeju’ was a lovely reading experience, especially for those going in with an open mind, and even just writing out this review feels enjoyable. I would definitely be interested in reading any more work by this author! And again props to the translator

I was a little disappointed in this book. Instead of the beautiful, laid-back rom-com I was expecting, this felt more like a KDrama with a lot of twists and turns (Cringe). Towards the end, it kind of went crazy.

The story is narrated from several points of view, including some flashbacks, so there was some suspense. The build-up to the inevitable conclusion, though, seemed forced. It was difficult to empathize with the characters because they were so generic.

Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had anticipated, you could enjoy it if you enjoy romance novels that are turned into thrillers.

This was a great book. I connected with the characters. I felt engrossed with the plot. I would read another book by this author.

Three friends embark on a journey to search for a man one of them came across years before and had a fleeting butterflies in the stomach moment with.

Don't let the cheery cover fool you. This book is less romance and more mystery. There is a stalker following one of the women. He's a dangerous man. Lurking beside her. His identity is unknown, but his presence throughout the novel is heavily felt.

The bond of friendship is strong in this novel. That's one of the good points in the story. How the friends continue to grow together.

Honestly, I was expecting a romcom. And instead got a kind of serious book. I think that may have affected my feelings towards this novel.

Rating: 3/5


* ARC courtesy of NetGalley *

I didn’t expect some darker themes to arise, but I embraced it coming into play amidst the stories of friendship and romance. I look forward to reading more from this author.

I had such high hopes for this book. Anything based in South Korean and I'm in!!

There are romantic elements which the cover kind of suggests, it is more of a mystery. I did want a Kdrama feel however I thought it was a little forced in places. Characters were relatable. It was a good read just not what I was expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

In Romancing on Jeju, Romi, a romance-loving illustrator, impulsively goes on a mission to find a stranger she can't forget. She's joined by her two best buds, Hadam and Chakyung, who have their own reasons for tagging along. Hadam wants to film the adventure for her filmmaking dreams, while Chakyung hopes to sort out her life. The trip starts off chill but gets wild with mix-ups and a mystery stalker. As they deal with the chaos, they question what they're really after. Will they figure it out? Romancing on Jeju is all about friendship, love, and finding yourself on a crazy journey.

Romancing on Jeju isn't your typical lovey-dovey tale, it's got some serious darkness to it. Even though it's supposed to be all about romance, there's way more going on beneath the surface. But hey, I still had a blast reading it! There's this mystery vibe that keeps you hooked, and the characters are super relatable. It's not just about finding love; it's about friendship, figuring yourself out, and dealing with life's curveballs. Plus, it's set in Korea, which adds a cool vibe. Even if you're not big on romance, this book is worth checking out. It's easy to get into, and the writing is nice considering it was translated from Korean. Overall, it's a fun read that's way deeper than it first seems.