Review: Behind Five Willows by June Hur

 Okay, I do plan on doing a fall wrap-up soon (ish), but I received an e-arc copy of Behind Five Willows via NetGalley, and I feel like it deserves its own post. 

Rating: 4.5 / rounded up to 5

I loved this book, as I have loved every other June Hur book that I have read. 

The imagery that Hur invokes in her novels is breathtaking, and this world is no different. Behind Five Willows is very romance-focused, and we get to see the world bloom through the eyes of Haewon and her favorite flowers, with very nature-inspired imagery. The overall vibe and mood are very light and heartwarming, even during some of the more intense scenes! The homey feel of the bookstore contrasts with the tumult of emotions Haewon and Seojun experience, creating a tense romantic atmosphere while still maintaining the overall soft mood of the novel. 

While heavily Pride and Prejudice inspired, Behind Five Willows really did carve its own themes and messages into the plot that blended in beautifully with the overall themes in p&p. Hur embraces the discussion of women's rights and their relationship to social pressure as we see in Austen's pride andprejudice but Hur also brings in the unique feelings of Josen era Korea and the book bans that affected women much more than men. We see three unique women and how they interact and live their individual and shared worlds, yet the struggles they face do not force them apart. Romance is the center of this novel, and I did love to see the interpretation of the 'Mr. Darcy' character type in Seojun, but I also just really appreciated the relationship between the sisters, it's beautiful to see the way they each care for one another and how their love for one another drives their decisions (both good and bad). 

Introducing the concept that Haewon and Seojun knew each other before they ever actually met is such a good way to get insight into their personalities and establish their relationship while acknowledging the separation between genders as part of the societal norm. I think this helped with the pacing as well, since it feels like their love and care for one another started before the book even began, and turns what could be seen as an insta-love into something much slower, gradual, and well-deserved. All the characters have unique desires and points of view that often clash but still blend together in a way that does not seem harsh or odd, creating a cohesive set of characters. 

One of my only soft complaints is that the characters never really face any consequences, even after one of their biggest fears comes to life. Seojun faces the King and gets reprimanded (?) and writes a sarcastic little letter adn does not face much punishment for writing novels. While I do understand this as a point of how status, gender, and money can solve a lot of your problems, I do wish it had been a little more fleshed out. The fear of being found out was a huge plot point for the entire book, and when it does happen, it falls kinda flat. However, it doesn't stop me from appreciating the message that is sent, nor does it stop me from loving this story. 

All in all, this was a beautiful story, and I am very glad I was able to read it. I most definitely want a physical copy of it and am more than likely going to pre-order a hardcover :) Thank you to June Hur, Macmillan & NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review