In the charming neighborhood of Yeonnam-dong, a small laundromat quietly becomes the heart of a tender, introspective novel. In Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, Kim Ji-yun offers a gentle yet emotionally resonant portrait of urban life, where the hum of washing machines and the warmth of handwritten confessions become conduits for human connection.

At the center of the story is a curious diary left on a laundromat table—an unexpected artifact that transforms into a communal canvas. Strangers begin to write in it: questions, secrets, regrets, and glimpses into private lives that would otherwise go unnoticed. The laundromat becomes a space not just for cleansing clothes, but for airing out the soul.

The novel unfolds as a series of interconnected short stories, each sketching a distinct emotional landscape. There is a grandfather whose only solace is his beloved dog; a mother, crushed by life's relentless weight, who begins to question her very existence; and siblings whose bond remains unshaken even amid silence and distance. With each chapter, Kim Ji-yun draws us deeper into the fragile, often overlooked lives of everyday people.

What makes Smiley Laundromat so affecting is not a dramatic plot or twist of fate, but the author’s profound sensitivity to emotional nuance. Kim excels at portraying the complexities of relationships—between friends, family, strangers, and even the self. Her writing invites quiet reflection, coaxing readers to consider their own inner lives and the unnoticed humanity around them.

The prose, translated with care, carries a soft rhythm. Some readers may find the pacing gentle to the point of slow, yet this is part of the novel’s charm: it does not rush. It lingers, much like life itself, in moments that seem trivial but ultimately define us. The detailed descriptions and highly relatable experiences help anchor the narrative, making it easy to connect with the characters and their unspoken emotional worlds.

In all, Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat is a quietly powerful book—a meditation on solitude, memory, and the comfort found in small rituals. It is both relaxing and thought-provoking, offering a unique setting and a warm emotional tone that gently stays with you, like the scent of fresh laundry on a winter morning. Highly recommended for readers who find solace in the soft ache of human vulnerability.

I love this type of books as they're heartwarming. thought provoking, and a sort of mirror of the culture and philosophy of the Far East countries
Life affirming and poignant, loved it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

DNFd at 46%. I kept this on pause for a long time but every time I went to pick it back up I was put off by the language.

Let me explain more. I quite enjoyed the first two stories, the first one more than the second, but the third opened with a lot of very crude language and I really couldn't bring myself to read further. I considered skipping that story but I just wasn't invested enough. I also realised that there were some other themes that are personally triggering to me. I don't think it's a bad book, just not for me.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance copy. I really appreciate it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5)
A gentle and subtly magical tale about community, healing, and unexpected connections. The laundromat setting provides a unique and intimate backdrop for a cast of characters dealing with their own quiet struggles. Thoughtful, quirky, and emotionally generous, this is a book that sneaks up on you.

Another cozy and wholesome translated fiction that just sits so well with my soul and leaves me wanting so much more from this author..

Another perfect translated fiction that just settles so perfectly into my soul. This story is centred around a laundromat and an olive green diary that customers use to write down their worries and problems anonymously and other people can write back any advice or provide any help. I love the premise of this book, although it appears to be quite basic in style of writing the depth of the messages within the lines is endless. What a beautifuul premise where people feel comfortable enough to write down their problems whilst going about their every day tasks and have strangers offer their advice, without feeling like they have exposed themselves on a personal level.

"In the corner of the first page was a neatly written line: Towards a world where we can sleep without worry. The letters were indented on the paper as if the person had pressed down with great conviction. It didn’t seem like a regular diary.
[...]
It had turned into a shared space for people to jot down their thoughts and worries.
I don’t want to live anymore. Why is life so hard?
Old Jang’s eyes paused on one of the entries. No-one had responded to it. Was it because people shy away from commenting on the lives of others? Or did they just not care? He pondered for a moment before picking up the pen on the table. He wrote slowly, pouring his heart into each stroke and letter."

If ever you need a book to cheer you up - then this would be the one. I found myself easily reading this over a couple of sittings and it was just lovely to read. I found it a little bit slow to start with though but once I was used to the characters it was great.

This is one of now so popular books in Asian literature that we could call it “cosy healing genre - heartwarming and wholesome”. I personally gravitate towards these type of books, because I as European find Asian world fascinating. Although I haven’t found the book, the right one for me. Each one I read, I find lacking depth in the story and the idealizing life does not resonate with me, which was also the case in Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat.

This book was OK and I still think it can be a great read for someone, especially if you want to delve into the Korean contemporary daily living. Although this book is classified as a novel, I see it more as a compilation of several novellas, that have in common the same place Yeonnam-dong's Smiley Laundromat, where characters spend some time. The first story, Take Care of Tomato Plant, I liked the most and it could be developed into a standalone novel since it had an interesting story and lovely characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the advance review copy.

Such a heartwarming book. I can't say no to healing fiction translated from Korean and Japanese (from Sweet Bean Paste to Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop) and Kim Jiyun's new release is one of the best new additions for 2024. It feels like coming back to life with the kindness, guidance, and compassion of others. Will be recommending this to my readers!

My Bookish Thoughts 💬
What a gorgeous, feel-good, comforting book with a bit of an edge! The moment I read the blurb, I fell in love with the idea of a community laundromat and a mysterious notebook where customers anonymously share their innermost thoughts.

At first, the book reads like a collection of short stories, but as the characters' connections gradually unfold, you see how their relationships and small acts of wrongdoing lead to the creation of a supportive, thoughtful community—one I’d love to be a part of.

Gentle Old Jang and the adorable little Nahee were my favorite characters. Plus, there’s a dog and a cat, which earns extra points from me!

I love how this novel fits within the cosy comfort reads coming out of Japan and Korea, but it also tackles deeper, darker issues without shying away from them.

I highly recommend this book if you're in the mood for a comforting read with a bit of an edge.

🙏🏼 Many thanks to Net Gallery, Quercus Books and Kim Jiyun for kindly gifting me a digital copy in return for an honest review.

whilst I love the concept of this, I didn't love the story itself. the execution was okay, but I had no affection for any of the characters and that's hard for me to love a book without that

This is pure magic! Something you need when your heart feels a little empty. I devoured this book in a weekend,it brought me all the reels I want in a book. I definitely will be recommending this to my students.

Ever since I’ve joined Netgalley, and reviewed Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, I began following Shanna Tan on Instagram and recently learned she would be publishing another translation from Korean, which got me excited. This is how I ended up placing an ARC request through Netgalley and got approved for reading the Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat before its publication. So, really, big thank you for allowing me to read this gem of a book and sharing my thoughts on it, Netgalley and Quercus Books!

The Book Title and Cover
This is one of the few times when I did not choose the book based on the cover but rather based on the translator (I never did this before, to be honest), and I got no regrets. Anyway, going back to the cover, the illustration seems pretty straightforward: there are a couple of buildings in the back, a tree in the foreground and, of course, the famous laundromat as the centerpiece. What I found interesting was the placement of the vending machine and the lady writing in a notebook, since she could be virtually anyone (from the author to one of the other female characters in the book), although I prefer to imagine this is Han Yoreum (the writer’s alter ego?). I also enjoyed the title placement, as well as the author’s name drop—the design team did a great job with this!
The title is also rather simple, as it describes the main place that ties together a series of destinies and allows people to wash away their worries, sorrows, or past stains, while, at the same time, enabling them to meet, grow closer together and help each other out.

The Characters and Plot
Old Jang is a retired pharmacist in Seoul. He lives together with his dog, Jindol, whom he loves very much, in a well maintained house in Yeonnam-dong. One day, due to an unfortunate incident, he ends up visiting the Smiley laundromat where he discovers a mysterious journal. As he leafs through it, he discovers an entry made by a young woman, and jots down a few soothing words for her, hoping she would find the strength to move on in life. Eventually, the old man meets other characters, more or less at the same time as the reader, and slowly learns about their lives, struggles and regrets.

Thoughts
I started this book slow, as I wanted to enjoy each word on the page, but after a few pages, I found myself turning them more rapidly, until I made myself stop. I was beginning to feel like the story would end too quickly and I wanted to spend more time with Old Jang and Mira. I couldn’t resist much, and eventually picked it up again and started to devour it. I couldn’t stop reading.

Although the stories presented by Kim Ji Yoon are rather simple and the writing is easy to follow, I found myself immersed in each character’s struggle. For the old man, it was the cry of the memories versus his son’s pretend happiness, for Mira, the pain of being a fresh mommy, for Han Yeoreum, the struggle to make it into the writers’ world. Hajoon reminded me lightly of a webtoon character with the same name, even though their stories are different. The young artist triggered my fight response, and Daegu made me want to slap some sense into him. Yet, even though they were all flawed, these characters kept me company and made me reminiscence things from my past.

The mystery of the notebook also caught my attention and, even though it turned out to be very different from what I had imagined, I have to confess I loved the first line in the green diary. The story was heart-wrenching and, sadly, way more common than we’d imagine in South Korea (beware the scams!). The same goes for Mr. Daegu-I-am-too-stubborn-to-see-reason. Although I despised him, I could understand where he was coming from.

Anyway, at the end of the day, I found myself wanting to join Yeonwoo on a friendly adventure and helping her deal with her loving boyfriend, as well as Jaeyeol on his brief chase for the scammers. Hajoon also gave me secondhand embarrassment with his cheesiness, and Yeoreum and Mira made me want to jump into the book and comfort them both.

Overall, the book was great and I enjoyed roughly every line of it, but if I were to have written it myself, I would have spiced it up a little more and proceeded to develop the female characters a bit more, while also adding a bit more context for the magical place that threads together their strings of destiny.

How wonderful it is when a book fills your heart with warmth and every so often squeezes your heart so much that your eyes fill with tears. Well for me, this is one of those books and it is a book I loved reading!

In the neighbourhood of Yeonnam-dong sits a special laundromat that does more than just allows you to wash your clothes. In there, on a table, a diary waits for you if you feel that life is too much or you’re feeling alone and you need someone to share the load with and listen. The diary, which hopes for “a world where we can sleep without worry”… And so we meet the mother with a young child struggling to make ends meet, the artist trying to make a breakthrough and the writer struggling to make her mark, the student who broke up with her boyfriend and the man wrecked with guilt over his brother’s death. And before long their lives collide…

Through most of the story we also follow Old Jang and his son who struggle to understand each there. Maybe the laundromat also has something in store for them…

This book reminded me of another Korean book I thoroughly enjoyed (‘Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop’) and as such, it was so lovely to see at the end that they were translated by the same person.

So when times get tough, remember that better days are ahead and if your days are brighter at the moment, remember to be kind and look out for those who are weathering a storm.

This book was very cute and lovely but also brushed up on real, rooted themes so it felt easier to connect to the characters in that way. All their lives interconnect thanks to this laundromat and a little green diary that the community confides in — real anime vibes going on here.

If you want the feeling of putting on a warm jumper just after it’s got out of the tumble dryer, then have a wander into Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat!

'Every one of us needs our own little beach. A place where we can let go and cry. Here in Yeonnam-dong is one such spot, washing away our tears and sadness with its frothy waters.'

In a quiet district of Seoul sits a small laundromat, and as this quietly written novel progresses it becomes the heart of the neighborhood. To it comes a motley collection of customers: the widowed Old Jang and his dog, a mother and her daughter, an aspiring script writer who keeps getting passed over.... And there are more, whose stories start to weave in and out as connections are made, each of them finding solace in the warmth and comfort of this unique laundromat. And at its heart is a green notebook, a place for anyone to write about their troubles or to offer solace for others.

Definitely in the genre of uplifting reads that are becoming quite widespread now from Japan and Korea, but this one definitely stands on its own two feet. Yes, its warm and cosy and gives you everything that you need, but its not afraid to tackle some darker issues along the way.

A book about the importance of opening up, of giving voice to the worries that you keep inside thinking 'well, I won't bother anyone with this'. Talk to someone. Help someone. Do a good deed. If this book doesn't inspire you, nothing will. A true testament to the power of books.

(With thanks to thepublisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)

This was such a heartwarming read! I absolutely loved all the characters and how everything tied up together in the end. A unsuspecting laundromat with a mysterious journal left behind seemingly brings joy and answers to the residents of this small town. I felt the beginning was quite strong and the final story was okay. Although, it seems like 4 seperate stories, I liked how we catch glimpses of all the residents throughout the whole book.

Like most Korean stories/dramas, there’s a little dark and mysterious backstory every step of the way.

Very similar to Before The Coffee Gets Cold or The Kamogawa Food Detectives. So if that’s your vibe, you’ll like enjoy this one too!

A heartfelt, warming tale about the residents of Yeonnam-Dong, a suburb of Seoul, South Korea. A 24 hour laundromat that provides solace to troubled people, who communicate their worries in a diary, read by the patrons who provide anonymous offers of help & support.

It comprises of several lengthy chapters, each focusing on a different person/people but their paths inevitably cross and this really appealed as I love this form of storytelling, it ticks a lot of boxes.

Some great characters, all quite varied in their personality type, but they're all drawn to the welcome and comfort of the laundromat with it's gorgeous smells, complimentary coffee and calming atmosphere. I really loved all the stories, but my favourite has to be Yeoreum, a young scriptwriter who has lost her way a little.

It's observational, witty and a must for fans of this genre of fiction and great for those to whom the genre is brand new,

3.5 A heartfelt and human reflection on community, this short story serial features an interesting cast of characters connected by their community laundromat. This might sound a bit unusual, but it really works!

What worked for me:
🧺 The cover was beautiful and calming, creating its own unique sense of place with quiet slice-of-live art
🧺 Our premise was unique and I loved spending time in the laundromat and how it became such a community hub over the course of the book
🧺 Many of the characters! Old Jang was a firm favourite: the love he had for his dog, Jindol, his endless patience, his stubborn streak, and the care he showed to the people in the laundromat community made him easy to root for. Yeonwoo was a sweetheart too: while the beginning of her story was hard to stomach, I enjoyed her growth and development as a character. Plus, her little buddy Ari was a delightful addition! As a result, I think Take Care of the Tomato Plant and The Umbrella were my favourite sections. Mira, Sewoong, Jaeyeol, Hajoon, and Jaeyoon the vet were interesting to spend time with too.
🧺 I wasn’t expecting the action-style story of Lost and Found - it was a refreshingly different addition to the story that I've not seen before in this type of serial short
🧺 The redemption arc in Jujube Ssanghwa-tang was awesome!
🧺 The translation was well done: I liked the use of Korean when there wasn’t a like-for-like English word and the care the translator put into making sure the translation was accessible for all English readers, not just British audiences (the only slightly weird exception to this was Yeonwoo’s boyfriend who spoke like a British rude boy).

What I wasn’t so keen on:
🧺 A few of the characters really grated on my nerves: Daeju, who was almost abusive toward his Dad. Old Jang isn’t financially responsible for his son or grandson but Daeju was blaming him exclusively, never mind the frustratingly questionable financial choices he was making which were completely driven by wanting to appear wealthy. Make better choices! Yeoreum was such a milquetoast character. She had no personality outside of self-pity was deeply obtuse and kinda creepy too: imagine giving a busker too much money and then stealing a smaller amount back? Just talk to the guy! I found both of them tricky to root for and spend time with.
🧺 The only section I wouldn’t rate four or five stars was A Midsummer Romance: I liked Hajoon’s musical journey and wish this had been the focus of the section rather than a romance. Our two lead characters had zero chemistry and all of their interactions felt awkward and forced. It was a very unconvincing ‘romance’.
🧺 I didn’t like the commentary that being “unattractive”, overweight, poor, and/or unemployed meant a person was somehow deficient.

In Take Care of the Tomato Plant, Old Jang mentions if he moved into an apartment, Jindol would need ‘dog devocalization surgery’. I am genuinely too scared this up - please tell me this barbaric idea isn’t a real practice?

I your enjoy Korean healing fiction or simply enjoy spending a little time with some interesting characters on healing journeys of their own, I recommend this with confidence.

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you so much, Quercus Books!

I love all the Korean translated book that are around at the moment and this one has to be up there with my favorites. It is like a warm hug and a lovely feel good story. It covers a lot of real life topics and challenges but the author does this beautifully.