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✨Book Review✨
The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon, translated by Janet Hong

𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒅, 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑯𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆, 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒇𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒇𝒇.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 is a heartwarming Korean bestseller about Dokgo, a homeless middle-aged man who has lost his memory to alcohol-related dementia. His good deed leads to unexpected kindness from Mrs. Yeom, a retired teacher. As he begins working at her corner store, he transforms the community, offering hope and connection—until his past resurfaces, threatening his newfound peace.

Reading this book felt like walking into a quiet, fluorescent-lit corner shop and unexpectedly finding a piece of your heart tucked between the shelves. It’s a quiet novel, but it spoke volumes to me—about regret, kindness, the power of memory and the strange, gentle ways life offers us redemption. It also shows us how in a complex, deeply interconnected world, a simple action can have much larger effects (The Butterfly Effect) and hereby telling us not to discount our small actions in our daily lives.

Through Dokgo's story who begins working at a neighborhood convenience store after hitting rock bottom, we get to meet a few troubled souls who are indirectly helped by Dokgo. I had expected this to be another novel with magical realism but I was proven wrong.

Kim crafts a narrative that is both deeply moving and refreshingly unpretentious. He shows us that how different lives can easily be altered even without magic, choosing instead to highlight how small acts of kindness and genuine human connections can lead to profound personal transformations.

His storytelling is understated but powerful. There’s no dramatic twist or emotional manipulation—just the quiet rhythm of a person finding their way back to themselves. It reminded me that sometimes, we don’t need grand solutions. We just need one person to believe in us. One chance. One ordinary job that turns out to be not so ordinary after all.

By the final chapter and as I closed the book, I sighed— not because the book isn't of any good, but because of the gentle accumulation of hope. This book is a soft landing for anyone who's ever felt like they’ve failed too many times or gone too far off track. It says, simply and sincerely: it’s not too late. And that gives me hope, especially during the most trying of days. 𝓜𝔂 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you so much @harperperennial for gifting me this copy.

THE SECOND CHANCE CONVENIENCE STORE
RATING: 4
GENRE: Fiction

Oh cozy translated fiction, how you warm my heart. The Second Chance Convenience Store follows the story of a homeless man, Dok-go, who’s given ‘second chance’ after losing memories through alcohol-induced dementia. Told through different perspectives of those that Do-kgo encounters, he slowly learns to be reintegrated into society and begins to form human connections again.

The book, at first, seems to have characters would go on with their daily routine and unaffected by their surroundings. When Dok-go is introduced, it shakes up their world. He opens their minds to prospects that they never considered before and allows people to be their truest self. It’s a heartwarming story of how simple actions can alter your mindset. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend to those who believe in second chances at life.

Thank you Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon is delightful! This is a heartwarming story of kindness. The owner of a corner store takes in an unexpected guest and his presence transforms the whole neighborhood. This book takes community to heart. I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend everyone read this book!

In The Second Chance Convenience Store, a heartwarming novel from Korea, a down-on-his-luck man named Dok-go finds himself taken in by Mrs. Yeom, a retired teacher who owns a local convenience store. After a good deed and a twist of fate, he becomes a pillar of support for the quirky neighborhood community. But his past, shrouded in mystery, threatens to unravel the newfound joy he's brought to others. A moving tale of redemption, second chances, and the bonds that form when people come together.

This just didn’t work for me.

I was really drawn to the premise—I love a good story set in a convenience store and was hoping for something cozy, maybe a little emotional, ideally with some food moments or even a touch of magic or whimsy. But the book felt disjointed from the start. The pacing was slow, the writing felt choppy, and the multiple POVs didn’t help. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and a few of them actually started to grate on me.

It also really irritated me that the main character doesn’t actually pay for the crime he committed. I know someone could argue that losing everything and becoming homeless is punishment enough—but no. The way his storyline wraps up felt too convenient and tidy for the weight of what he did.

By the time I hit the 50% mark, I was ready to be done. I kept going, hoping something would shift, but by 70% I gave up and just skimmed to see how it ended. I was wholeheartedly bored.

I love translated fiction, especially when it leans into introspective or quietly magical territory—but this one just didn’t deliver what I look for. I wanted to like it, but it ended up feeling more like a chore than a comfort read.

The Second Chance Convenience store is a quiet character driven book which read for me as a series of interconnected short stories. It begins with a homeless man who finds the Convenience store owners purse and wallet and returns it to her. She then befriends him and employs him, while he in turn helps others, who in turn help him. Each chapter focuses on a different character who interacts with the convenience store.

Being a translated book I also enjoyed the snippets of cultural differences slipped in, but all in all we see that people all over the world have the same issues, which can be helped by simple kindness and listening to each other. This book was released in Korea several years ago, so it does have some Covid references towards the end. Thank you to net galley and Harper Perennial for the e copy of this book.

A story about kindness and compassion, told in a different way than I was used to.

The story starts with a homeless man retrieving a convenience store owner's purse from a few thieves, and from there is taken in by the woman and is offered a job at the store. Throughout his time there, we learn that he has forgotten his past, and that he is a bit of a lost soul.

The ending of this book was honestly so well done. I really enjoyed all of the POV's and stories throughout the book, but the consistent underlying plot was executed in a way that makes you really feel satisfied at the end.

Heartwarming, touching, and tragic, I recommend The Second Chance Convenience Store.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Perennial, and Kim Ho-Yeon for the ARC of this book. I am always grateful for the chance to read stories early.

The Second Chance Convenience Store is the common thread connecting a series of characters that include the store owner, several of the part-time employees and a number of customers. We get snippets of each person's backstory and some of the tough aspects of life they're currently dealing with (family and romantic relationships, money/financial stress, difficulties at work, etc.). One of the part-time workers connects with others in ways that are unexpected and heartwarming. There are a number of sweet moments in the intertwined stories although some pieces feel a bit abrupt and random (perhaps it's a stylistic choice? Or the translation? Or something else altogether?). This was an enjoyable read, easily something that can be read as a palate cleanser in between longer/intense books. 3.75/5


Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for the e-arc.

The Second Chance Convenience Store follows multiple characters' perspectives, but centers around Dogko, a man experiencing homelessness who is given a "second chance" at a local convenience store after saving the owner's purse and wallet.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this book. While it's intended to be heartwarming, the book is offensive in its descriptions of Dogko - did we need to hear how much he smelled constantly? It seemed to take every stereotype of a person experiencing homelessness and apply them to Dogko, and in the end, I found it extremely offputting.

🔹 My take: 4.25/5

Really loved reading this heart warming book. The storyline from beginning to end is very well maintained. The different POVs of each of the characters was also endearing to read. At some point I started looking forward to the story since I knew every key person’s POV will be shared. The writing is simple and easy to follow. And I loved the food descriptions. At some point I craved for the corn silk tea and the lunch box myself. Dokgo’s character was shown so realistic and I loved reading most about Sihyeon and Inkyeong. Kyeongman and Oh’s story was so emotional that I felt for them.
Looking forward to reading more of Ho-Yeon Kim’s books.
If you are interested for some self introspective reads about human emotions and life struggles, do pick this up.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harperperennial for sharing the DRC in exchange for honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sinopsis en español:

Dok-go vive en la estación de Seúl. No puede recordar su pasado, y lo único que sabe con certeza es que realmente le vendría bien una bebida. Cuando encuentra una cartera perdida llena de documentos, su vida cambia drásticamente.

La Sra. Yeom, una profesora de historia jubilada y actual propietaria de la tienda de la esquina de su vecindario, está angustiada por la pérdida de su bolso, hasta que recibe una llamada misteriosa de la persona que lo encontró. Para agradecer a este desconocido de mala suerte, ella le ofrece una comida gratis de la tienda de conveniencia. Al ver la alegría que le trae la comida, la Sra. Yeom lo invita impulsivamente a pasar a almorzar todos los días.

En un giro del destino, Dok-go salva la tienda de un ladrón, un acto valiente que impulsa a la Sra. Yeom a ofrecer al hombre parecido a un oso un trabajo trabajando en el turno de noche, a pesar de las objeciones de sus cautelosos empleados. El nuevo empleado de la tienda se gana rápidamente a los peculiares habitantes del vecindario, convirtiéndose en un oído acogedor y en una fuente de asesoramiento para los problemas de sus compañeros de trabajo y vecinos, y ayudando a su nuevo jefe a salvar la tienda de la ruina financiera. Pero justo cuando las cosas están mejorando para Dok-go, el hijo bueno para nada de la Sra. Yeom, ansioso por vender la tienda, contrata a un detective para profundizar en el pasado del misterioso hombre y en lo que parece estar tratando de olvidar.

The Second Chance Convenience Store es una historia conmovedora y alegre de una mujer que lucha por su comunidad y un hombre que ha perdido todo excepto la voluntad de intentarlo de nuevo.




Reseña:

A veces solo es necesario leer algo reconfortante. Este libro es como un apapacho.

First up, I'd like to thank @netgalley, @harperperennial and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a wholesome little read, and I enjoyed it very much.

The Second Chance Convenience Store centres around a neighbourhood convenience store and a homeless man named Dokgo. When the owner of the convenience store has her purse stolen, Dokgo steals it back and returns it to her. In return, the owner thanks him by providing him with daily meals at her convenience store. What follows is life changing for Dokgo, and those around him.

Although this story was simple, and at times predictable, it was thoroughly enjoyable and heartwarming throughout. I never felt it was repetitive, as I feel some translated fiction can be. The characters all felt fleshed out, especially Dokgo, and I was rooting for them throughout. The only downside to this book that I saw was the length of the chapters, as I'm a short chapters girlie at heart.

Honestly, my favourite part of the book was the final chapter though. In it, everything was tied up nicely with a little bow, and I felt that the conclusion answered all questions I had and felt satisfying. Overall, I thought this was a neat little read, and I would read more works by this author.

This was a wonderful little parable of the way we each better each other and community at large when we listen and actively try to understand each other. I always enjoy these types of simple stories.

Thank you to the publisher, Harper Perennial, and NetGalley for providing this advanced reader copy.

The book is full of heartwarming and uplifting story that beautifully captures the impact of kindness and connection. The little 24/7 supermarket owned by Mrs. Yeom serves as the nexus where several lives unknowingly influence each other—a slice of life in modern-day Seoul. Mrs. Yeom, a former teacher, runs the shop not just to keep busy in retirement but to support her community. When she offers a job to Dokgo, a formerly homeless man, his presence sparks change in the lives of those around him. While the story follows a predictable path, its emotional depth and well-developed characters make it a compelling read. At just over 300 pages, the book delivers a touching and inspiring story without overstaying its welcome.

When homeless Dok-go returns the purse belonging to Mrs. Yeom. A retired teacher who owns a convenience
store, she invites him to the store for a meal. When one of her employees leaves, she offers him a job at the store.
As he works at the store, Dok-go begins to recover lost memories His interactions with fellow employees and
customers will have a positive effect on their lives. Heartwarming story
#TheSecondChanceConvenienceStore #HarperPerennial #NetGalley

This book was everything I wanted it to be. Really one of those feel good little stories that moves pretty quickly. We follow the owner of Always Convenience, Mrs. Yeom, who takes a chance on a homeless man, Dokgo. He changes everything about her previously struggling convenience store for the better. I found all the characters to be loveable and really enjoyed how each chapter centered on one touched by either Always Convenience, Mrs. Yoem, or Dokgo.

In full American fashion, I was waiting for Dokgo to be some form of a grifter or for there to be a twist at the end, but it is nice to have a story about the goodness in humanity, especially when it can be difficult to see sometimes.

The Second Chance Convenience Store by Kim Ho-Yeon tells the story of Mrs. Yeom who owns a convenience store and by chance befriends a homeless man, Dokgo. He ends up working the store for the night shift and changing lives, including his own.

I recommend this book for fans of general and multicultural fiction. I enjoy Korean translated fiction, it often leaves me smiling and more content with humanity. This book delivers in every way for an entertaining read that touches your heart.

Thank you Harper Perennial and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute little read! It reminds me so much of some translated books I have read and it was great

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! It has truly earned its five-star rating in my eyes. Healing fiction is gaining popularity worldwide, and I’m thrilled to see translated versions making their way to English-speaking audiences. This particular book transported me back to the real, vibrant people I encountered while living in a small town in Korea. It's so authentic and emotionally resonant. I can hardly wait to purchase a physical copy so I can annotate it and soak in every detail. If you’re on the fence about reading it, let this be your sign to dive in! You won’t regret it! :)

The Second Chance Convenience Store
By: Kim Ho-Yeon

I loved this story from the beginning. I was smiling the entire time I was reading. It’s such a heartwarming story.

Dok-go’s life really changes when he finds a wallet which belongs to Mrs. Yeom. She gives him a chance to have a better life by working at her store. Dok-go has no memory of his life before he became homeless. We do learn about his past, which is so interesting. I really loved how Mrs.Yeom was so sweet to him and not judgy. She truly was a sweet person.

I loved all the characters in the book except for Mrs.Yeoms son, he such a brat.


“When Bob Dylan was young, his grandmother told him that happiness isn’t on the road to anything. She said happiness is the road. And that we should be kind because everyone’s fighting a hard battle.”

It’s a really moving story. We can all learn to be kind and not so judgmental. This is a book I know I will read again. I will be buying a psychical copy of this book. The minute I saw the cover, I knew I needed to read it.


Thank you so much NetGalley, Kim and, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the eARC!

Publication Date: June 17 2025
Rating: ✨✨✨✨✨

#TheSecondChanceConvenienceStore #NetGalley