“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.

Romancing on Jeju is a book you really can't judge by its cover. The cover title and illustration made me expect a lighthearted romance, and rather you get an ensemble cast of occasionally kooky characters on an adventure that, yes, involves romance but also business, leisure, and murder. There's a lot going on in this book that made it challenging for me personally to get into. The friend groups don't really seem like friends- there just wasn't the warmth I was expecting- and the mixed timelines never gave me enough time to get comfortable. I never found myself rooting (or even booing!) for anyone, and frequently this book got passed over for others when I reached for something to read.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

A goofy ensemble cast, akin to modern kdrama romcoms, a surprise murder mystery element, and reinventing and rediscovering yourself plot line, I think this book is for you!

While I enjoy all the elements I listed above, this book didn’t work for me. And that’s okay, because it was still a cute book!

I think the weakest part here is the translation choice. I think culturally some pivotal elements got lost, and it made the writing feel clunky. While I think this book intends to be character driven, instead we get the shells of characters who I KNOW would be relatable if it weren’t for the issues with translation.

A fun and funky time, would love to read from this author again!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc!

"The typhoon that had inundated the island wasn’t merely raging outside. At that moment, the storm was brewing in several people’s hearts. And where that storm was headed was different for all of them."

Romancing on Jeju is Paige Aniyah Morris's translation of 서칭 포 허니맨 by 박현주 (Park Hyun-Joo).

The Korean title is a phonetic rendition of the English 'Searching for Honeyman', and would have been a better title - if less enticing probably more accurate, since while there is romance here, the novel is as much a mystery novel, set on the wonderful island of Jeju.

It opens with three friends, young women, chatting, Hadam, a documentary maker, Romi and Chakyung. Padam is telling the others that she had quit her job, and that co-workers had assumed it was related to a man she was friendly to and who'd then annouced her was getting married. Chakyung comments that people often mistake kindness for something more causing Romi to blurt out rather randomly:

"“That’s why I almost moved to Jeju Island to become a beekeeper,” said Romi.
One of Romi’s quirks was tossing out comments without any context whatsoever."

When she explains - it relates to a man she met on a business trip to the island, but who then subsequently ghosted her - the three come up with a sponteneous plan:

“Let’s go to Jeju. To find that man, the beekeeper. Romi, you want to know what happened to him after the last time you saw him, don’t you? And, Chakyung, your company’s been looking for an eco-friendly project to build a campaign around, right? This could be a documentary, a marketing campaign, and a search for a long-lost love, all in one.”

They arrive on Jeju in search of 'honeyman', as they denote him, and get to know various colourful characters from the local beekeeping community, each also finding some potential romantic interest, as well as soaking up the beauty of the island:

"“The view is gorgeous,” Romi said. “I’ve been to Jeju so many times, but I had no idea there were views this stunning.” Hadam agreed. “Seriously. When people think of an island, they might picture only the ocean, but the mountains here are so beautiful.” They drove underneath a sign that announced they were entering Seogwipo."

But events take a more dramatic, and rather tangled, turn as they learn of a fatal car accident, which may not have been an accident; one of the three is pursued by an obsessed, and potentially dangerous stalker; the island is struck by a typhoon; and they stumble across an international bee-smuggling conspiracy.

"Romance lies to us. The countless love stories of our generation deceive us. They cover our eyes and turn us away from the obvious truth, passing off relationships that would require endless compromise to maintain in real life as love. Romance has the same bitter taste as betrayal—a false belief from the start. This was the painful truth the three of them had discovered on this trip to find love.

로맨스가 우리에게 거짓말을 한다. 우리 시대의 수많은 로맨스 스토리가 우리를 속인다. 눈을 가려 뻔한 사실을 외면하게 하고, 현실에서는 수많은 타협을 거쳐야 유지되는 관계를 사랑으로 치장한다. 로맨스는 배신의 쓰라림을 안기지만, 애초에 거짓된 믿음이었다. 로맨스를 찾아온 여행에서 세 사람이 발견한 괴로운 진실이었다.

“What is this, a self-reflection session: Jeju Island edition?” Chakyung said with a slightly bitter smile."

Rather wonderfully as the novel reaches its dramatic climax, a group of off-duty haenyeo leap into action to save the day:

"The crowd headed toward the sea was not the same group of suntanned grannies she had first encountered earlier that day. These women were professionals whose bodies had been trained and cultivated in the ocean over the course of decades; they had memorized the depths and shallows of these waters, their dangers and reprieves."

And the atmospheric re-creation of Jeju is for me the novel's strongest point. Not a novel I'd typically read were it not translated from Korean but very enjoyable.

As a bookworm, "Romancing on Jeju" by Hyun-Joo Park took me on a journey filled with friendship, romance, and a touch of intrigue. The vivid descriptions of Jeju Island transported me to its breathtaking landscapes, making me feel like I was right there alongside Romi and her friends.

While the premise of the story was promising, I found myself longing for more depth in the characters and their relationships. Romi, Hadam, and Chakyung each had intriguing backstories, but I wished for further exploration to truly connect with them on a deeper level.

The romantic elements were sweet and charming, adding a touch of whimsy to the narrative. However, I felt that the romance sometimes overshadowed the other aspects of the story, leaving me wanting more development in the mystery and danger hinted at in the synopsis.

Overall, "Romancing on Jeju" offered a pleasant escape into the world of friendship and self-discovery, but fell slightly short of my expectations in terms of character depth and plot complexity. Nonetheless, fans of romance and atmospheric settings may still find enjoyment in this novel.