The genre of 'healing fiction' can truly take place in any setting. I particularly liked the convenience store in this novel and how it highlights that any job can be the spring board you need to find your true calling. It was really sweet that we got to meet all this different characters in different situations who all found something in the convenience store. The story also revolving around a homeless man who starts working at the store and is able to impart little nuggets of wisdom on the other characters.

A genuinely really sweet story that kind of lost steam towards the end as the narration tried to figure out what to do with Dok-go.

The Second Chance Convenience Store begins with a man without a past and his series of good deeds. The ways that people underestimate him, are rude to him, or are generally distrustful. And it's about all the ways he proves them wrong, offers them kindness and empathy, against their distrust. In many ways, the convenience store is a ground for second chances for them all. The Second Chance Convenience Store is a testament to not judging a book by its cover. We never know what's going on in people's lives. We have to give them the chance because a moment of kindness can change someone's life.

The Second Chance Convenience Store is a cozy, heartwarming slice-of-life story about Dokgo, an unhoused man who haunts Seoul Station. When he returns a lost purse, he meets its owner—a woman who later offers him a job at her convenience store. As Dokgo begins this new chapter in his life, the story follows the lives of those he encounters, showing how their paths cross and change for the better. Meanwhile, Dokgo quietly battles his fading memory, struggling to recall pieces of his past.

This book is full of cozy vibes, and it truly captures that slice-of-life vibe that so many people are chasing. It also is an impressive translation from Korean. While I can’t speak to how true to the original this translation is, it doesn’t suffer from common issues that persist in translated literature, like awkward phrasing or incorrect usage of figures of speech.

I did find that the story was a bit predictable and formulaic, but in the case of this story, I really think it just improved its cozy factor. The persisting themes of healing, personal growth, and redemption made this story significantly more touching and emotional than I expected, especially at the end. That last chapter absolutely blew me away!

If you read a lot, but are ready for a change of pace, I’d highly recommend securing a copy of The Second Chance Convenience Store, in whatever way is most convenient for you. This must-read summer release is bound to please, especially if you need a change from your normal and are ready to slow down and enjoy the moment, even if just for a little while. Five stars from this reader!

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-yeon
Translated by Janet Hong
Publication Date: June 17/25

A charming and poignant tale about the power of kindness, compassion, connection and second chances. When Dok-go, a homeless man, saves a shoplifted wallet and returns it to the owner of the Always Convenient store he sets off a quiet revolution of generosity. In gratitude, Mrs Yeom offers him a daily meal. Seeing beyond the unwashed exterior dirt she offers him employment on the night shift.

This simple act of trust begins a ripple effect of connection and kindness that reverberates out from the store touching and reshaping the lives in this community. The narrative gently explores how lives can unravel into isolation and despair and how even small gestures of care and kindness can begin to mend what’s broken.

This is a deeply moving story that will touch your heart and soul with characters that are quirky, complex and endearingly human. Their stories, interwoven with Dok-go’s, offer a moving reflection on the challenges of modern life and the healing power of community. This novel is a touching reminder of how looking past the surface can lead to unexpected transformation.

Perfect for summer reading, this heart warming and inspiring novel will linger with you.

When Dok-go, finds a purse and rescues it from bandits, his good deed opens up a new life style he never thought he deserved. Now both he and his wondefully sweet boss Mrs. Yeom will work through assumptions and hard people as they try to save the community.

This book hooked me from the get go. I LOVED the characters. It read like a slice of life kdrama. I would honestly love to see this book come to life. Beautiful character development and a quick read. Very fun.

So cute! THE SECOND CHANCE CONVENIENCE STORE is the latest offering in this new trend of Asian “cozy healing” novels: stories that feel like a hug, or a warm cup of your favorite drink at your favorite local cafe. It’s breezy and heartwarming, but not particularly deep–not that it has to be.

Everything about this book, from its cover to its premise, is cute cute cute. (Side note: I’m so jealous of books that get these kinds of covers. I want to collect all of them and display them, cover side out, on my wall.) When a noble homeless man saves a woman’s lost wallet from thieves, she invites him to work at her 24-hour convenience store. There, a cast of characters come into the story and interact with the man, learning something about themselves, their community, or their world in the process.

Like most novels of this genre, there is an episodic feel to SECOND CHANCE. Each chapter focuses on one character, and then that character becomes a side character in subsequent chapters/”episodes.” Most of these characters have a pretty simple arc, and achieve redemption or enlightenment by the end.

Interestingly (to me at least), SECOND CHANCE gives me a sort of “fairy tale” feel, especially as regards the mysterious homeless man, who we don’t know very well, but whose calm and values-driven presence positively impacts those around him. There’s a nice little bit at the end where we get the man’s perspective to tie things up; I didn’t think it was all that necessary, but it is what it is.

If you love cozy healing novels, THE SECOND CHANCE CONVENIENCE STORE is not to be missed. If, like me, you can only enjoy these types of stories in small quantities, I will say that I enjoyed it more than Yeonnam-dong’s Smiley Laundromat, but a smidge less than Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop.

✨Second Chance/Redemption Arc
✨Found Family
✨Slice of Life

"To reveal a character, one simply needs to show the path they chose at life's crossroads."

A beautiful book on the kindness of strangers and how we can change the course of someone’s life, while also being changed by treating others as more valuable than ourselves. I loved the found family of this book, and the abundance of heartwarming moments that remind us of the power of community and compassion. The only issue I had was pacing which made it heard to get through but I love how well the characters were written such that the reader is invested and pulled in. Would recommend to those who like Korean fiction!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of the Second Chance Convenience Store by Ho-Yeon Kim! This book follows a homeless man suffering from alcohol related memory loss who returns a stolen purse to an elderly women, who in turns feeds him and hires him on at her convenience store where he has a ripple effect making a difference in the lives of many while trying to uncover who he used to be. The messages in this book are profound and meaningful -- we are all connected, and kindness goes a long way. I also am a fan of books that touch on the early COVID pandemic experience, which this does. Definitely recommend this to anyone looking for inspiration.

"In the end, life boiled down to relationships, and relationships to communication. Happiness, I realized, wasn't far off. It was in sharing our hearts and minds with those around us."

This was a really lovely and poignant read. I've read a lot of Japanese "healing fiction" but not as much Korean, so this was a pleasant surprise since I found it had more depth than I'd expect from this kind of book. I also appreciated learning even more about Korean culture. I also like how the characters themselves tied the story together. I'd love to read more from this author! Also, kudos to the translator because it reads very smoothly and that isn't always the case with translations.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'd imagine anyone who picks it up will thoroughly enjoy it!

The blurb: "Dok-go lives in Seoul Station. He can’t remember his past, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he could really use a drink. When he finds a lost wallet filled with documents, his life is drastically changed.

Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher and owner of her neighborhood’s corner store, is distraught over the loss of her purse, until she receives a mysterious call from the person who found it. To thank this down-on-his-luck stranger, she offers him a free meal from the convenience store. Seeing the joy the food brings him, Mrs. Yeom impulsively invites him to stop by for lunch every day.

In a twist of fate, Dok-go saves the store from a robber owner of a corner store takes in an unhoused man who does a good deed, a kind soul whose presence will transform the whole neighborhood—a heartwarming tale of community and redemption."

The author created fully dimensional characters that i grew to love, be interested in and followed their stories even though this story is slow to. medium paced compared to most American fiction. I'm used to watching J-dramas, so I enjoy how Japanese authors and screenwriters spend time in developing their characters. This is a feel good read and don't we all need a little more of that in our daily life? Highly recommended.

I'm so glad I was able to get early access to this great, cozy fiction novel. The story begins with Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher, who now owns a convenience store. She takes a homeless man (who has lost his memory) under her wing and gives him a job at her convenience store. Each chapter provides us with different perspectives of characters that are all interconnected. There is also a mystery element I was not expecting, but loved, as the past of this homeless man (who goes by Dok-go) is unknown. I thought this was such an interesting, thought-provoking novel, and I could even see a sequel to learn more about the different characters in the book and where they are now. This is a 5-star book to me, and I would recommend this to anyone!


*Thanks to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for my ARC of The Second Chance Convenience Store. All opinions expressed are my own.*

The premise of this book is what enticed me to request it and pick it up. The message it was trying to convey was kindness to all, and how people, no matter their background deserves second chances. I enjoy stories that have interconnectedness to them between multiple people. The ending was the best part of the book for sure because everything wrapped up quite nicely.

A lovely shorter story about the ripple effects of showing genuine kindness to others. It left me with a smile and a needed reminder that the world is full of good people striving to do their best.

Fantastic! Great short story about being kind.

Mrs. Yeom owns a convenience store. Through the course of events, she meets Dok-go, an unhoused man who helps her when she loses her purse. As payment for helping her, she allows him to get lunch every day. The story is about how this kindness changes many lives.

I enjoyed the storytelling and seeing how kindness can change lives.

Thanks to Harper Perennial and Netgalley for the ARC. Publication date for the US version is June 17, 2025.

I loved this beautiful story- it is not typical but tells a universal truth. I can't wait to read more from Kim Ho-Yeon

'The Second Chance Convenience Store" has a cozy, slice-of-life feel, and the translation to English is well written. Dok-go’s transformation is interesting, but overall, I had trouble connecting with the characters or finding much urgency in the plot. Some characters use foul language, which stands out against the otherwise wholesome tone. I didn’t finish the book, but I would recommend it to someone who enjoys Korean culture and short, charming stories.

Special thanks to the Publisher, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A wonderful feel good book! I was not expecting to get the POVs of multiple characters, so I was disoriented when we first switched from Mrs. Yeom to Sihyeon, but I caught on quickly. I enjoyed the overlapping of time and how we got to see multiple views of the same things happening. The story felt very authentically Korean—always a deadbeat son and a stressed out mother and alcoholism—and I could easily imagine the characters as people from my own life. I think the translation was very successful. The writing also felt poetic and metaphorical, most notably the chapter with Mrs. Oh and how she viewed men and dogs (and how Dokgo was able to change how she viewed men). I’m glad the story remained low stress even when things picked up at the end. It was fitting that way.

4.5/5 stars! a nice, short, feel good read!

This is the tale of how one person's kindness can change multiple people's lives. Multiple POVs as the characters interact with each other at the convenience store. A tale of compassion, shame, addiction, grief and forgiveness for self and others.

I really enjoyed The Secind Chance Convenience Store written by Kim Ho-yeon and translated by Janet Hong. Easy to read with straight forward prose, this is a story of kindness to strangers, responding to those in your community with acceptance, being willing to take a chance by offering grace to a stranger and seeing where that kind of living will take you.
The main character Dok-go is a large “bear” of a man who is homeless and can’t remember his past. He goes out of his way to help a stranger, Mrs.Yeom. To repay his kindness she takes a chance and offers him a job in the convenience store she owns. As customers and employees come and go through the store we get to know them as Dok-go interacts with them. Each person is dealing with the hand life has dealt them and Dok-go listens and offers advice and small kindnesses. Often it is just the thing that person needs. But it is a two way street: Dok-go is also changing as he begins to try and figure out his past and how he became homeless.
I really loved the feel of this story and the idea of a neighborhood convenience store where people enter as strangers but eventually leave as friends is heartwarming. Kindness to others can go such a long way. It’s often said we should be kind to strangers we meet for we never know what they are going through. This story embodies that with lovely results.

A gentle, heartfelt collection that quietly lingers.
I really enjoyed The Second Chance Convenience Store. This translated work weaves together a series of interconnected short stories, all centered around the quiet presence of the main character who, in his own way, touches the lives of everyone he meets. Each chapter adds depth, to the connections he makes.

The final chapter was especially powerful as it shifted the focus to him, allowing us to fully understand his perspective and the quiet ways he had been changed by those around him. What seemed like him helping others was also a path toward his own growth. By the end, it’s clear he’s the one who truly learns empathy and compassion.

Highly recommend for fans of character-driven fiction with a quiet emotional resonance.