The Second Chance Convenience Store

A Novel

By: Kim Ho-Yeon

Narrated by: Jennifer Kim

""It’s easy to see why this quick and endearing read was so popular in Korea and beyond; U.S. readers are in for a treat."" — Library Journal

In this million-copy international bestseller from Korea, the owner of a corner store takes in an unhoused man who does a good deed, a kind soul whose presence will transform the whole neighborhood—a heartwarming tale of community and redemption reminiscent of the bestselling novels of Matt Haig and Gabrielle Zevin.

Dok-go lives in Seoul Station. He can’t remember his past, and the only thing he knows for certain is that he could really use a drink. When he finds a lost wallet filled with documents, his life is drastically changed.

Mrs. Yeom, a retired history teacher and current owner of her neighborhood’s corner store, is distraught over the loss of her purse, until she receives a mysterious call from the person who found it. To thank this down-on-his-luck stranger, she offers him a free meal from the convenience store. Seeing the joy the food brings him, Mrs. Yeom impulsively invites him to stop by for lunch every day.

In a twist of fate, Dok-go saves the store from a robber—a brave act that propels Mrs. Yeom to offers the bear-like man a job working the night shift, despite the objections of her wary employees. The store’s new employee quickly wins over the quirky denizens of the neighborhood, becoming a welcoming ear and source of advice for his coworkers and neighbors’ problems, and helping his new boss save the store from financial ruin. But just when things are looking up for Dok-go, Mrs. Yeom's good-for-nothing son, eager to sell the store, hires a detective to dig into the mysterious man’s past and what he seems to be trying so hard to forget.

The Second Chance Convenience Store is a moving and joyful story of a woman fighting for her community and a man who has lost everything except the will to try again.

I love all of it

It was wonderful the reader was perfect as was the story. I can’t wait to talk about it with my friends

Interesting

Nice feel good hard keeping up
With names . Found it to be a little bit schmaltzy!

A warm story

I love the webtoon of this book. The story is really well written because it is a warm story and shows humanity. My only complaint is the narrator. I thought she was very flat and feel the book could have been delivered better with a different reader.

Characters story perseverance and human kindness

Enjoyed all aspects of this true to life story. People judge others for appearance and behavior but have no idea who that person really is.

The narration sounded like AI. So bad.

It was like reading a report. Boring! All exposition. Not good. Wish I could return.