Review by Booklist Review
Amidst contemporary challenges ranging from daily chaos to genocidal war, more books featuring quotidian places transformed into restorative havens are hitting shelves, featuring cafés, libraries, shops, and, more recently, laundromats, where troubled souls can get refreshed. Welcome to Smiley Laundromat, open 24/7 in Seoul's Yeonnam-dong neighborhood. Besides the usual machines, there are free coffee and wonderful books to share; also inside is an olive-green diary that becomes an inviting confessional-of-sorts. Between the pages, strangers make serendipitous connections, revealed in La Ronde--esque chapters. While Old Jang and his canine soulmate, Jindol, wash a Jindol-accidented blanket, Old Jang notices a troubling entry, "I don't want to live anymore. Why is life so hard?" He meets exhausted Mira, a repeat visitor struggling with so much more than her daughter's bedwetting, which leads to mutually lifesaving bonds. Fortuitous links continue. A struggling screenwriter finds true love, a songwriter goes viral, a bullied art student reclaims her agency, an older brother avenges his younger brother's suicide, a father and son reconcile. Strangers--who recognize each other from the distinct scent of the amber-lavender cotton dryer sheets that follows (and guards?) them--become protectors, friends, even family, as the mysterious diary enables intertwined paths while revealing deeper truths. Debuting author Kim's bestseller, smoothly translated by polyglot Tan, provides lucky anglophone audiences with a welcoming escape.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Kim's debut novel is heartwarming and thought-provoking, set in a quaint laundromat where ordinary lives intersect in extraordinary ways. The story revolves around a forgotten notebook left behind at the laundromat. The notepad soon becomes a sort of communal diary for the laundromat's customers. Each entry reveals deeply personal struggles, ranging from financial hardship and loneliness to relationship troubles and mental illness. Through the journal's pages, strangers become friends, who offer support, advice, and, at times, even retaliation for a wronged neighbor. The laundromat's owner serves as a steadfast presence and fosters this newfound sense of community, despite facing his own conflicts with his son, who is more concerned about profits than people. What makes this novel stand out is how it transforms a simple laundromat into a hub of connection and kindness. Beneath its seemingly lighthearted premise, it explores deeper themes of human connection, mental health, and the importance of caring for others. The story reminds readers that even in the most quotidian or unexpected places, they can find opportunities to create meaningful bonds. VERDICT Poignant, uplifting, and filled with both tender and exciting moments, Kim's novel offers a moving reflection on the power of empathy and community.--Jessica Calaway
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