Behind Five Willows
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Description
As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It's dangerous work, but she loves it-especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.
When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn't be so terrible... if it weren't for the young man's uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.
As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He's kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father's son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.
When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple-along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...
Also by June Hur
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
A Crane Among Wolves
Book Information
Posts
Behind Five Willows completely enchanted me. This is one of those books that doesn’t try to dazzle with spectacle, but instead wins you over with atmosphere, restraint, and emotional precision. Quietly. Politely. And then suddenly you realize you’re fully invested. A Pride and Prejudice–inspired romance set in Joseon-era Korea? Turns out that works extremely well. The historical setting adds real weight to everything — reputations matter, books are controversial, and women are very much not supposed to want things too loudly. Which, of course, makes wanting things much more interesting. The romance thrives on soft yearning and sharp observations rather than grand declarations. Haewon and Seojun circle each other with meaningful glances, misunderstandings, and just enough tension to keep things delicious. I also loved how deeply this story cares about reading, writing, and storytelling itself — it feels like a novel written by someone who knows exactly why books matter. If I have one tiny complaint, it’s that I would not have said no to a little more breathing room at the end. A bonus chapter? An extra quiet moment? I would’ve gladly taken it. But that’s more greed than criticism. 4.5/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the eARC! #BehindFiveWillows #Netgalley #Bookstagram
Description
As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It's dangerous work, but she loves it-especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.
When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn't be so terrible... if it weren't for the young man's uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.
As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He's kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father's son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.
When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple-along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...
Also by June Hur
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
A Crane Among Wolves
Book Information
Posts
Behind Five Willows completely enchanted me. This is one of those books that doesn’t try to dazzle with spectacle, but instead wins you over with atmosphere, restraint, and emotional precision. Quietly. Politely. And then suddenly you realize you’re fully invested. A Pride and Prejudice–inspired romance set in Joseon-era Korea? Turns out that works extremely well. The historical setting adds real weight to everything — reputations matter, books are controversial, and women are very much not supposed to want things too loudly. Which, of course, makes wanting things much more interesting. The romance thrives on soft yearning and sharp observations rather than grand declarations. Haewon and Seojun circle each other with meaningful glances, misunderstandings, and just enough tension to keep things delicious. I also loved how deeply this story cares about reading, writing, and storytelling itself — it feels like a novel written by someone who knows exactly why books matter. If I have one tiny complaint, it’s that I would not have said no to a little more breathing room at the end. A bonus chapter? An extra quiet moment? I would’ve gladly taken it. But that’s more greed than criticism. 4.5/5 stars Thank you @netgalley and @headlinebooks for the eARC! #BehindFiveWillows #Netgalley #Bookstagram