This book just kind of fell flat for me. The writing style didn't seem very developed, and neither did the characters. I ended up just not caring about anyone really. There were a couple twists that were intriguing, but overall I felt that the relationships and plot were pretty predictable and overused.

Received a free copy from Netgalley.

This is an ambitious debut. Each chapter is told through three viewpoints (until one gets killed) and within each viewpoint there's often a present day scene and a flashback to something in their childhood. In addition, the three viewpoint characters meet each other but, as spies, they meet each other under pseudonyms so you've to keep track of both their real and fictional identities. It's very easy to get lost so I'd advise reading the novel in large chunks. Because it's complicated, I'm not sure if I ever connected emotionally with any of the characters such that I was rooting for them. The ending is rather depressing and just shows how North Korea treats people as utterly expendable. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Oxford Soju Club has a really awesome name and an interesting premise. Having just moved back to the US from South Korea a few months ago I was really looking forward to reading this!

I could not get into the story enough to label it a thriller and I felt like the prose told the audience more than it showed.

I am a huge fan of Viet Than Nguyen and I feel attaching the name to the book in the selling points blurb put the story at a disadvantage when I started reading. I had Viet’s Norton Lectures (now published as To Save and To Destroy) in the forefront of my mind in regards to how he speaks of writing as an “Other” and felt the indications between English and 한국어 likely could’ve been presented in a more organic or authentic way. It is strange to have suffixes indicating the level of familiarity between characters without a guide for the reader and yet also be indicating what is said in which language. I felt as though the book would be less disjointed by choosing to either cater or not cater to the audience.

i loved the plotline and the story, and the intertwining stories kept me reading until the very end. however, it was difficult to keep up with each character. i'm all for multiple povs, but there was just so much going on, i found it hard to keep track.

but it really is captivating and thrilling, just takes extra concentration from the way the multiple povs are written and explored.

OXFORD SOJU CLUB REVIEW
RATING: 3
GENRE: Literary Fiction, Thriller/Suspense

Oxford Soju Club attempts to tackle the question of identity through three main viewpoints - the South Korean migrant, the Korean American posing as a South Korean, and the North Korean posting as a Japanese-French student. I was very intrigued by the premise of this book and wanted to like it, but it sadly fell flat for me.

I usually enjoy multi-character perspectives in books as events play out, especially since this book has a mystery component of “Who killed Doha?” However, the three main viewpoints came with two timelines (present and past), and while to was meant to provide insight into our characters’ backgrounds and history, it seemed to cause more confusion. There were moments I did not understand when events were occurring so I needed to piece together when, where, and who was speaking.

I did enjoy the aspect of each character’s internal struggles but it felt like the author was trying to do too much in a short amount that it felt as if we didn’t get a fully fleshed out plot. I do think there is potential in Park’s writing and understand that it is a debut novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book even though I had a hard time keeping up with the characters.

I love a good spy novel. It is engaging and intricate at the same time.

Also, the added political and cultural dynamic between the North Korea, South Korea and US had added flavor and excitement.

Will definitely recommended this to those spy lover readers out there.

When I started this book, I did not expect it would end with me crying at 3 in the morning. I requested the arc from NetGalley because I have been following the author on TikTok for a while now and enjoy the commentary videos he makes, and this book did not disappoint.
Even though it is a spy thriller, I found it to be a stunning exploration of the nuances of implicit cultural practices. Park Jinwoo gave voice to the silent observations made when entering spaces where you're met with individuals from different backgrounds who live life by different principles that, in some ways, could feel astounding. He weaves Korean culture throughout the story and shares the significance of every aspect shared, whether it is sharing a bottle of soju with an elder, or the practice of giving a child a derogatory nickname to protect them from evil spirits, and filial piety.
I love when peripheral characters are given backstories that are as important as the main characters' backstories, so to see each character be given a story as heartfelt (and heartbreaking) as the next gave the book an extra layer of depth. Although it was a little confusing to transition between characters and flashbacks, the story keeps you on your toes, especially with its fast pacing.
There's only so much to say without spoiling, so I'll end this by saying I loved this book and it exceeded my expectations.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the ARC!

Personal rating: 3/5 stars.

This book is consisted of three different POV of three different people. They three are Korean diaspora, in some way (or not!). All of them are involved in their own 'mission' and said 'mission' is taking place around this 'Oxford Soju Club' where most of the book's events happen.

I would like to point out the positive upfront. But first, little TMI, the reason why I requested this book because I follow the author on my only-for-scrolling account on Tik Tok. I find his discussion about Korean books and translation-field really intriguing. Besides reading, I'm so much into Hallyu (read: Korean waves), so his content aligns with my interest and niche.

The thing that I like about this book is the way the story involves three different perspective from three different Korean person that have three completely different backgrounds. I find it quite entertaining to discover their own story uncovers as I swiped the e-book. It's like collecting the missing puzzle about their identity and personal experiences. I can describe this book as a breathe of the fresh air, since the Korean and (also including) Japanese books that has been around so much lately that I've noticed are the one with cozy theme and slice of life genres.

In other hand, I can only give this book 3 stars. For me, this book still needs a lot of 'cooking.' It felt like a butter chicken without yogurt and served with uncooked rice. The flavour is there, but it also needs to 'connect' better with better thorough re-cooking. This is not me making fun of this book, just to put a disclaimer here. I will explain what I meant by this in a minute.

I find this book quite... confusing. And in my opinion, this book still requires a lot of editing. I found a few typos (like 'omani', for example. It should be 'omoni', as in 'mother.' This particular typo made me confused at some point because I was lost when the characters talk about their 'omani' and that time I thought the character was talking about a place, not their mother). Also, I think it is important to include nuance and/or explaination/foot notes in the book later when it's officially released. Like 'ssibal' or 'saekki' or 'aicham' for example. For me, who is an avid K-drama enjoyer and Hallyu-enthusiast, this doesn't confused me at all because I understand the context and the meaning when it is spoken by the character in this book. However, this particular thing could be confusing to some readers who is not familiar with the nuances and the meaning of the words. This is including the food mentioned as well.

Now, plot-wise and characterization-wise, I find that the plot is good but the characterization is 'the yogurt' I mentioned before. I couldn't connect much to the characters since they don't really have strong motive or personal believe about what they're doing and this affects me to feel a bit disconnected. For example, I found Doha's description of his character is vague and realized only later that he's older than I thought.

The one that needs 'recooking' is also the plot-line and how the story unravel between the three different POV. These still feel 'is not right there' for me and it's missing the 'satisfying part' (like the cooked rice in butter chicken). I really hope this will be edited in finished version when it's released.

To sumps it all, I find this book .... okay. Just need a bit of recooking. For me, this book is entertaining, And for the people who is curious about Korean diasporas and/ or cultures, this book is perfect for them in my opinion.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for eARC!

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Spy Thriller / Character-Driven Drama
Setting: Oxford, England**

Set in the quiet, academic city of Oxford, this compelling spy thriller pits three intelligence factions—North Korean, South Korean, and American—against each other in a deadly game of secrets and survival. The result is a gripping, character-driven narrative with echoes of Spy vs. Spy, but with far higher and more lethal stakes.

The story kicks off with the mysterious assassination of North Korean spymaster Doha Kim. His protégé, Yohan Kim, is left with only a cryptic clue from his dying mentor: “Soju Club, Dr. Ryu.” Meanwhile, Korean American CIA agent Yunah Choi scrambles to regain control of her investigation into the North Korean spy network, which is now in chaos.

At the center of this web of espionage is the Soju Club—the only Korean restaurant in Oxford—run by Jihoon Lim, an immigrant from Seoul trying to rebuild his life after personal tragedy. Jihoon is not a spy, but his restaurant becomes a neutral ground, frequented by operatives from all sides. As conflicting agendas clash, the story evolves into a layered exploration of loyalty, identity, and the human cost of espionage.

While the plot includes the expected twists and turns of a spy thriller, much of the novel leans into character study. The emotional depth and motivations of the key players are given as much weight as the covert missions they undertake, making the story feel grounded and resonant.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and appreciated its character-centric approach to the spy genre. The ending was particularly satisfying, tying up loose threads without resorting to cliché.

Recommended for: Readers who enjoy spy fiction with strong character development, and those looking for a thoughtful, modern take on international espionage.

Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park is an incredibly satisfying combination of spy intrigue and rumination on the struggle immigrants face with finding identity and meaning while navigating different cultures.

The intrigue comes from the plot which revolves around North Korean, South Korean, and Korean-American spies maneuvering around each other in the city of Oxford in England, as they carry out competing orders in a time of upheaval. The ruminations come from the novel's focus on how the characters feel about the life choices that brought them to the sleepy foreign city, their thoughts on their present, and their fears for the future. Both elements weave expertly around each other and provide drama both emotional and kinetic.

The novel starts with the mystery of the murder of a senior North Korean spy and jumps around in time as if follows about a half dozen characters affected by the death. Park doesn't hold the reader's hand or hold back on shocking developments, and his writing moves at a brisk place, but if readers trust him, as they should, they'll find he provides answers in due course which are satisfying while keeping questions open until the final pages. The final question asked by one of the main characters, especially is incredibly emotive and a worthy emotional climax. Deep dives into Korean culture, especially in the form of cuisine, add rich subtext and authenticity as do the evocative descriptions of the geography of Oxford and the interior of the titular restaurant, "The Oxford Soju Club" where a lot of the story takes place.

This is a story that rewards multiple read throughs. The various plot riddles and their resolutions are prominent in the first go around. After this, with the major mysteries solved, subsequent reads feel like a conversation with a thoughtful friend about the oddities of living a life caught between multiple worlds.

Highly recommended to fans of either intrigue, deep character studies, or immigrant stories. As I enjoy all three, this was an amazing story to have experienced.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for sending me an advance reader's copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

i have been getting into korean literature lately, and i really enjoyed this book! thank you so much to the publisher for giving me this e-arc ♥️

this was fun, refreshing, very engaging...but a lot of it did feel quite flat. quite a few characters were two-dimensional and there were many moments where a lot of important action occurred in very few words, leaving me wondering what the hell just happened and how. while the present/flashback structure was interesting, the use of the past and present tense wasn't always correct or clear; this was a little confusing at times. overall, i enjoyed this book and recommend it, but it definitely could have been more exciting.

[i received a free copy from netgalley. all opinions are my own.]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to review this ARC!! Oxford Soju Club was a very interesting read so far, it is a thriller that contains themes of identity, complex characters, and morality. I felt like all the characters were perfectly captivating in their own way. The multiple POVs might be confusing for some people as I had to take some notes on the side to keep myself from losing any points in the story. Something that caught my attention was how the idea of time seemed to pass through the chapters, one moment referring to something that brings some context to our character’s past, but then being followed by lots of action.

Oxford Soju Club throws readers straight into a tangled web of espionage, identity, and political intrigue—all set against the backdrop of Oxford University. With North Korean, South Korean, and American spies circling one another, and an unsuspecting restaurant owner caught in the middle, the novel is part spy thriller, part cultural meditation. I would give this novel overall 3.5 stars.

At times disorienting and opaque, the plot is dense with secrets, misdirection, and shifting allegiances. For readers unfamiliar with Korean history or East Asian geopolitics, the layers of context and subtext can make the storyline tough to follow. I found myself lost more than once, and though the confusion may have been intentional (mirroring the characters’ own lack of clarity), it often left me more confused than intrigued. That said, the cat-and-mouse tension and the interweaving of personal and political stakes gave the novel a compelling rhythm once I found my footing. The character work is ambitious. With so many pseudonyms, code names, and flashbacks, it was hard to keep track of who was who. Emotional connection was sparse for most of the cast—but Jihoon, the kind-hearted restaurant owner, stood out to me. I wish there had been more clarity and time to sit with characters like him before the plot ramped up. Oxford Soju Club examines identity—not just personal, but national. Each character wrestles with inherited loyalty, fractured heritage, and the challenge of carving out a sense of self in the shadow of propaganda and expectation. The Soju Club itself becomes a symbolic crossroads for culture, politics, and memory. While the writing style can feel messy or even overwhelming at times, it also evokes the fragmented nature of identity in a globalized, polarized world. There’s a kind of poetic chaos in that, even if it occasionally comes at the expense of clarity. This isn’t a clean or easy spy novel. If you're interested in stories that explore diasporic identity, political complexity, and the human cost of espionage, Oxford Soju Club offers a unique perspective.

A solid debut with lots of promise.

3.5/5
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Oxford Soju Club is such a thrill ride! It starts slow, taking its time to weave a web of tense situations between complex characters, whose backstories are quite compelling. The author teases us with rare occasions of innocence and questions of morality, pushing us to view everything through a grey lens.

The only problem I had with the writing was the frequent switching of tenses. I understand that the author likely made this choice to distinguish between the past and present storylines of each character. However, it was somewhat confusing to get the timelines and track the characters' locations based on tense alone. It often felt like a writing inconsistency than a deliberate creative decision. The narration, too, shifts between third person and first person depending on the character, which, as a reader, left me feeling confused, - and even frustrated at times. I hope the final edit smooths out these issues.

Oxford Soju Club might be a short read, but it is impressive for a debut novel and I look forward to reading more thrillers by Jinwoo Park in the future.

This was an easy read with a captivating cast and, although I struggled to see the motivation or the point of the book for a while, the journey was fun

I’m starting to think I should steer clear of books written by authors named Jinwoo. Flux by Jinwoo Chung left me irritated and confused, and Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park… followed suit.

The novel kicks off with someone getting shot (not me, sadly), and then immediately dives into time jumps that had me flipping pages just to figure out when I was. Past? Future? An alternate timeline where emotions don't exist?

The real issue for me is the writing itself. It felt flat, like reading a book by someone who once heard of a thing called emotions and decided they didn't need to be included, idk. The characters don't have a distinct voice or even much of a pulse. So combine dry prose, emotionally constipated characters, and a confusing temporal whiplash, and you’ve got me... not having a good time.

In the foreword, the author mentions this book is meant to reflect on the experience of Koreans living abroad. That intrigued me for 'obvious reasons' (PhD in North Korean Studies = I've met dozens if not a hundred Korean migrants), so I was hoping whatever I took from this book would be a topic of conversation. But honestly, I don't know what I've read. But I've read it. Yay. And I have opinions about the NK stuff but I’ll shut up 😂

4 stars for a spy story set in Oxford, England. There are 3 groups of spies: North Koreans, South Koreans, and Americans. I am reminded of the Mad magazine cartoons, Spy vs Spy, only in this story, some people die. The blurb sets the scene:
"When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is mysteriously killed in Oxford, his protégé, Yohan Kim, chases the only breadcrumb given to him in Doha’s last breath: “Soju Club, Dr. Ryu.” In the meantime, a Korean American CIA agent , Yunah Choi, races to salvage her investigation of the North Korean spy cell in the aftermath of the assassination. At the centre of it all is the Soju Club, the only Korean restaurant in Oxford, owned by Jihoon Lim, an immigrant from Seoul in search of a new life after suffering a tragedy. As different factions move in with their own agendas, their fates become entangled, resulting in a bitter struggle that will determine whose truth will triumph."

Jihoon Lim is not a spy, but the spies use his restaurant to meet. There several twists and turns in this spy story, much of which is a character study. I enjoyed reading this book. I recommend it to fans of character description vs spy books.
I liked the ending.
Thank You Dundurn Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
#OxfordSojuClub #NetGalley.

Pub Date Sep 30 2025

Unfortunately, this was a barely 3 stars, if that, for me. 2.5 rounded up, let's say. (Upon further thought, yes, 2.5, but I don't think I can genuinely round it up to 3 stars.)

Because of the switching between the perspectives of several characters from different groups, as well as the jumping back and forth in time, not always in a linear manner, this was quite confusing and took some time to get into. The writing style was also slightly peculiar, maybe a little awkward word-choice wise, and often more telling than showing, but, regardless, I went into this quite open-minded and got mostly used to it after a while. So, then for a while it was going alright, though I wasn't really sure where exactly the story was gonna go, but I was a willing enough passenger.

However! Then the second/end portion of the book, the action!, happened, and the way it all went down was...an unpleasant, messy twist of events, and I was left wondering what was the point of all this.

Now, I went into this, expecting a story from the perspectives of several different characters, where these characters and their experiences are connected/overlap because of the central events of the story or whatever. It was kind of like that in some sense, but this was very much Yohan's story, which I think is very well illustrated by how it all ends. In fact, most or practically all of the other characters that had any meaningful role in the story are removed in one way or another by the end, some very abruptly, others with a bit more resolution. That just made no sense, and felt like the author was throwing away the 'toys', now that he was done playing with them and they had no more use, and that, actually, they never had had much use anyway besides supporting and creating the surroundings for Yohan's story to play out in.

Finishing this off with the good. The setting of the Soju Club, the contrast between Oxford and the different places the characters originated from, though, I think this could've been explored more deeply too. I did also enjoy (is enjoy too strong of a word here? well, they held my interest...something like that.) the main characters and some of their background stories well enough to stick around to the end. Clearly. And, of course, the cover!

I really enjoyed this book! It was suspenseful and provocative, but at times it was confusing figuring out who was who, and which POV I was reading from.