I truly adored this book—it made me smile, giggle, kick my feet, and even cry. At its core, it’s a heartwarming story filled with moments that feel both tender and deeply relatable.

One line that stuck with me was: “Yesterday would still lead into today, which would lead into tomorrow.” Simple, yet such a profound truth. I also loved how the author weaved in familiar, real-world details—like the mention of The Midnight Diner, which I’ve personally enjoyed watching. It made the story feel that much more connected to life outside the pages.

Chapter 3, in particular, resonated with me. The line “he happened to be one of them, afraid of doing what he knew best” hit home on a personal level. And then there was that sweet moment when he asked the girl if he could set their hiking photo as his phone background—absolutely adorable. On the other end of the spectrum, one of the most heartbreaking parts for me was when the girl revealed she had “all the time in the world for the snack” because she gave up her chance to reincarnate just to watch her friend succeed. That selfless act of love and friendship really stayed with me.

The artist’s story of the cliff catching fire, especially since it tied back to Sa-wol and Yeon-hwa’s own journey, was another highlight that made the narrative feel layered and interconnected.

What also stood out were the personal touches the author included after each story. They gave the book an intimacy that made the emotional investment worthwhile.

Overall, this was a beautiful, heartwarming read with plenty of relatable moments. I’d give it a solid 4.5 stars—an unforgettable story that lingers even after you close the book.

A really cute story that offers a new perspective on death and the idea of passing on. The main character is relatable, inspiring, and you become invested in her story immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, William Morrow for this free e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

'A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang" by Lee Onhwa is a nice, cosy read. Learning about every dead soul's story made me a bit emotional, and I even cried for one or two. However, seeing their determination to contact their living loved ones or to taste a pastry related to their past life evoked feelings of warmth in me.

I really enjoyed learning about the different Korean pastries and a general method of how each is made. Whilst I definitely could not pronounce most of their names, it was definitely a good peak into traditional Korean culture, which not many know about due to the rise and popularity of Korean pop-culture. The ending of the book also contained a few plot twists, but nothing that had me feeling lost, angry or perturbed. This story wrapped up really nicely; I just wish it was a bit longer because the author wrote so well.

Reading this book transported me to the same world in which the characters live - I felt as if I was truly there experiencing everything in person. If you are looking for a nice, cosy read, with hints of fantasy, look no further.

Similar to the cherry blossom book shop I wish this one had a bit more substance, plus the dialogue was very elementary andI I find that very common with translated books which makes it hard to get through.

I love the magic here. Each customer brought their own story and their own struggle. I don't want to add any spoilers but this is so sweet and so poignant. If you've ever lost someone and had regrets, this is your story.

This is such a cute cozy book that would pair well with a hot coffee or tea in front of the fireplace on a fall day. I’m a big mood reader and I think my mood changed about 65% into this short novel. Either that, or the book just declined around that point. This book is fictional but it also discusses life lessons and regrets we have in life. Often life is too short, we should live fully and communicate with our loved ones better. It’s separated into chapters that focus upon an individual who is passing on into the afterlife. I love these types of books, it actually reminded me a lot of When the Coffee Gets Cold because of the life lessons, which I adore. This book fell short though. The book talks about sweet little treats which would have been great if they had added an extra layer of drawings or the recipes since they discuss them so much in the book. As I sit and digest the book further, I do believe the last two “stories” were lacking and unrealistic. The ones before has been very touching and some showed some cultural differences between Korea and the typical US culture. Lastly, the translation was a bit bumpy and some of the vocab was very peculiar. I’m not sure where the translator learned English because that may impact vocab and sayings used within the book.

This book absolutely delivers on its promise of being a warm and cozy read with a soulful core. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the gentle magic of Yeon-hwa’s midnight pastry shop — a place not just for desserts but for memories, healing, and emotional goodbyes. The quiet, comforting way it explores grief, longing, and the act of letting go through the eyes of those visiting the shop was beautifully done.

One of the most delightful aspects of the book was the introduction to so many traditional Korean confections. I found myself pausing frequently to look them up, and each time I did, I was rewarded with not just delicious visuals, but a deeper appreciation for their cultural and emotional significance in the story. It truly added to the immersive experience.

If I had one wish, it would be to see more of Yeon-hwa’s past particularly her childhood and her upbringing with her grandmother, who is such a quietly powerful presence in the book. Their bond felt so meaningful, and I would have loved more glimpses into the early roots of that relationship.

That said, my only real critique which I believe lies more with the translation than the original writing is that some phrases and emotional beats felt slightly off or out of place in English. These moments were rare but noticeable, and I imagine they carried more clarity and nuance in the original Korean.

I would wholeheartedly recommend A Midnight Pastry Shop in Hwalwoldang to readers who enjoyed Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune. Both novels share a gentle, introspective tone and center on unique spaces where the living and the departed briefly meet — a concept handled with grace in both stories.

A comforting and reflective read that lingers like the scent of something sweet baking at midnight.

Thank you to HarperCollins and William Morrow Books for the opportunity to read this heartfelt ARC of A Midnight Pastry Shop in Hwalwoldang.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC. 

This was such a sweet book. It was partly a collection of short stories, but was all connected together with the bigger story of the pastry shop. 

I will warn you that this book will make your crave Korean food, so I would absolutely get some before you start reading. It'll also make you cry, so getting some tissues out is probably also a good idea. 

I really loved learning about all the magic and the stories along with the main character. 

The ending was heartbreaking, but very sweet.

As soon as I finished this book, I wished it was just a bit longer.

Yeon-hwa inherits her grandmother's pastry shop and has to find a way to keep it afloat, all while catering to spirits before they leave for the afterlife. The book explores grief beautifully—how some ghosts accept their passing fully while others are a bit more sad and wistful. I personally enjoyed each customer's story because it helped Yeon-hwa through her own emotional growth. Sawol, the supporting character, was also just mysterious enough to make you wonder what his purpose was, and why he was so adamant on helping our protagonist.

There was a big reveal toward the end, and I wish I could have sat with it more as the reader before moving onto the epilogue. I think it would have also been more powerful if Yeon-hwa processed her spiritual encounters a bit more before addressing the the next customer. Her character arc was too fast-paced sometimes, and some parts could have been more powerful if she slowed down a bit.

I did wonder, as I do with many translated works, if the prose was made to read more young-adult than adult. Sometimes, Yeon-hwa felt much younger than her age of 27.

Overall, still a quick and sweet read that I enjoyed!

A young woman inherits a pastry shop, and a lot of debt that cannot be covered by selling the shop. There may be a solution but it requires that she run the pastry shop according to some odd rules her grandmother left. Lacking any better option she goes along with it, perhaps because the young man helping out at the shop is cute.Of course, it is no ordinary pastry shop, as she discovers when she meets her first customer.
Not the most elegant translation, but this is an easy to read story with a cat and some tasty-sounding treats. I wish this one had actual recipes for each treat, so we could be making and eating them while reading, but I could find recipes easily enough by googling them. Still, a future edition of this book should have recipes at the beginning or end of each chapter, maybe with cute illustrations of the pastries. It is that sort of cozy, a nice break from heavy or serious reading. This book will make you hungry for snacks though.

While, this book checked all the vibe boxes I found it lacking over all. I wasn't able to connect with our main character and the connections she made with her dead customers were very surface level. The flashbacks to the customers lives were jumpy and were unable to capture me emotionally which continually left me wanting.

eeek thank you, net galley, for the chance to read & review this ARC! this book was whimsical heartache, mixed with supernatural elements, a cute black cat and a likable, funny female protagonist 🥹 i loved that each chapter gave us a glimpse into certain customer’s lives and the healing closure they received from the Hwawoldang pastry shop <3 there were moments that made me audibly laugh and other moments that made me tear up from how heartwarming they were written (the imagery was beautiful)!! if you need a lighthearted read but still want to feel a bit emotional then this is the book for you 🙂‍↕️ the story truly was like the warmest hug from your best friend. possibly one of my new favorite books of translated fiction ♥️✨🐈‍⬛

Yeon-Hwa’s grandmother just passed away and now she was willed the pastry shop, Hwawoldang. Yeon-Hwa and her grandmother were not close so she was to handle the pastry shop she had no idea where to begin until Sa-wol, the Shaman showed up.

Hwawoldang was actually a place where the dead and alive order pastries for loved ones. Each time a dead person/ghost comes into the store at 11pm, Yeon-Hwa had to make the order while the ghost waits. During that time, the ghosts would show her what happened to them that caused them to die. Each story was heartbreaking and told a different story about how they loved the person or people that they left behind. Ordering pastries for the living and remembering their love for sweet desserts made the ghosts happy and eventually move on from being a ghost.

I loved the short stories about the ghost’s lives but sad that each one ended especially the 10 year old boy. Each ghost dying at a pretty young age. Sa-wol’s story about Yeon-wha’s grandma saving him and the price she had to pay for saving his life was devastating especially to Yeon-Wha. At the end, I’m glad that Yeon-Wha won’t be alone because Sa-wol promised to help her with the pastry shop.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for providing me this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you for NetGalley and William Marrow with Harper Collins for the ARC of this book for my honest review :)

I want to start off by saying the synopsis of the book was super interesting and that’s why I chose to read it. At the end of the day I don’t want place a rating on this book because I DNF’ed it at 24%. Unfortunately I could not tell if this was geared towards really young readers or if the translation just made it seem that way. It was repetitive and often I was questioning who was being talked to or where the point of view seem to come from. I enjoyed the beginning and it captivated me to continue reading however, after the first customer I tried to finish the book but simply couldn’t.

I’ve read my fair share of translated books and to be completely honest, they have been translated more smoothly than this one was.

Submitted Review on Goodreads, Fable and Storygraph

4.5 stars. Very well written. If you are someone that loves translated works or cozy tales that really make you take a look at yourself, this is one you will likely enjoy. It is emotional and beautiful without feeling like it is trying to hard.

This was a really emotional read. I was not expecting going into this book the amount of grief and healing it would talk about. I thought it was a beautiful book. I loved following the tragedies and healing of the customers that paralled Yeon-hwa’s healing journey too/navigating grief. Even though it was a sadder book, it still had a delightful and cozy air to it too. The elements of traditional Korean pastries and foods were mouthwatering and every food I read about felt like a warm hug. Yes, this book made me cry but it was such a pleasant read. Would recommend!

Book Review 📚
Title: A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang
Author: Lee Onhwa

First of all, I absolutely love this cover! It’s so cute! I wish I could go to this pastry shop.

Yeon-hwa inherited an enchanted bakery from her grandmother. She soon learns that the bakery is not an ordinary bakery. Spirits visit the bakery before they head to the afterlife. She learns how to help her customers. She also learns some secrets about her family.

I loved this book. It was so magical and sweet. I can’t recommend it enough.

Thank you NetGalley, Lee and William Morrow for the e-ARC!

Publication Date: January 13 2026
Rating: ✨✨✨✨✨

#NetGalley #AMidnightPastryShopCalledHwawoldang

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang
by Lee Onhwa

Release date January 13th

Korean magical realism

Yeon-hwa inherits her grandmother’s pastry shop that’s only opened from 10pm-Midnight. The customers are souls/ghosts who after Yeon-hwa sees their past and making a purchase they will be reincarnated.

This was a beautiful book about life, death, love, and grief. The customers memories were well written. I also liked how some things were interconnected.

Highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my arc.