I picked up this book, expecting to enter a world of spies and danger, but what I got was a powerful story about self-discovery and vulnerability, along with a lovely introduction to Korean cuisine that tugged at my heart and left my stomach growling. WOW

The characters— the Northerner, the Southerner, and the American— were the heart of the story. Each character brought something unique to the plot, making them impossible to forget. This was achieved through the use of multiple POV allowing us to get deep into the thoughts and feelings of these characters. By exploring their inner struggles, motivations, and desires, it was so easy to have an understanding of their individuality and how their stories intertwined. Additionally, the simplicity of the writing truly elevated the narrative, making even the smallest details feel rich and meaningful. I felt every hardship and every triumph alongside them.

Now, the novel does have some minor shortcomings, particularly the subtlety of its spy thriller elements. While the concept is fresh and intriguing the execution falls slightly short. It was tamer and less gripping than expected, lacking the suspense typically found in a thriller. Also, the sudden shift in POV with different titles midway through the story was a bit disorienting. I found myself needing to pause and reconnect with the plotlines several times. Unfortunately, these factors affected my ability to stay fully immersed in the story.

Despite these issues, I want to emphasize that it was still a pleasant read and I would recommend it.

Oxford Soju Club is an engaging and intricate tale that explores themes of immigrants, identity, and the tension between North Koreans, South Koreans, and Americans. At its core, the book delves into the lives of various characters whose identities are often clouded by aliases, secretive motives, and shifting allegiances.

The initial confusion stemming from characters’ various pseudonyms, nonlinear storytelling, and the alternating points of view can make it difficult to follow.

However, the novel’s depiction of spies and CIA agents offer a great tense and suspenseful atmosphere. The stakes feel high, and the portrayal of political and cultural dynamics between North Korea, South Korea, and the United States adds a unique depth to the story.

Overall, I recommend this book to those interested in espionage, international politics, and the search for personal identity amid global tensions.

This was a fun book. I like the mystery and how the characters investigated it as well as how they grew and changed as the mystery continued to unravel. This was a fun book and I highly recommend it for people who are looking for a mystery with an energetic and a cast of characters who are all different from one another but play off of one another so well.

Three storylines weave an interesting tale of a North Korean Spy Yohan, who frequents a restaurant that Jihoon owns and operates and being tailed by the Americans, Yunah.
Every character has their own name, a pseudonym and a moniker. This makes for really confusing reading at times, even with annotations. About halfway through we meet even more characters.
I think the story had really interesting and profound moments but at times it felt like it should have been two separate books. All in all a 3,5 star rating.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

This book focused much on the experience of being apart of the Korean diaspora through our three main characters, Yohan (a North Korean spy), Yunah (Korean-American CIA spy), and Jihoon (a South Korean restaurant owner). I felt that the major focus of the book were the characters and how they felt about their places in the world, rather than a tense, fast paced thriller. I did very much enjoy the slow moments, where the characters would talk and ponder. I felt that the flashbacks and POVs could be more clearly stated as I had trouble who we were following and the time. I wish we had more time with the characters and that they could have had more scenes together. Overall, I really enjoyed this book for its quality in literary fiction rather than how its spy thriller setting was handled.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book to review.

In this spy-thriller set in the university town of Oxford, we follow the lives of several Korean characters and how they become entangled with each other. Our main characters are Yohan Kim, a North Korean spy working from a cell based in Oxford; Yunah Choi, an American born Korean working for the FBI to investigate the North Korean spy cell; and Jihoon Lim, the owner of the Korean restaurant Oxford Soju Club, where much of this story is centred around.

The premise of this book intrigued me, as I wanted to read into the stories of what brought these characters all to the same location and how their differing worldly homes have affected each of them. While I believe this is what the author was aiming to accomplish, I felt like in the end I didn’t feel too attached to any of the characters. We skipped around three different perspectives every chapter, and while most of the story took place within a single day, we were also travelling back in time and reflecting on past moments. This format just lacked a hook for me. I felt like I was dragged around too often to these different moments, so much so that I couldn’t sit with them and feel for the characters. Just when I thought we were getting to something interesting, we switched once again to something else, or went back to the past where our main story isn’t moving forward. Not only this, but having the main present day story take place in the majority of a single day felt too slow of a pace to keep it interesting. It felt like they were dragging their feet just to give the segments set in the past some focus. I understand wanting to give these characters a history, but this didn’t feel like the correct way to do it. Perhaps we could have focused on certain characters for a whole chapter instead of squeezing in the three perspectives into every one.

I also didn’t particularly feel attached to the characters. Spoilers ahead, but when multiple of the characters died throughout the story, I felt a moment of “oh, so what was the point?” Instead of any real grief for them. I feel like the author was trying to make a statement about losing ourselves in this weird pseudo battle about culture, especially between these characters who all have a different idea of what it means to be Korean. I really liked this premise of the book, but I also feel like I didn’t get a deep idea of what these different relationships with the Korean identity truly means. It is at this point where I feel like the real meaning behind the book, the relationship with the Korean identity, was lost between the plot the author was using to tell these relationships through. I didn’t understand the connection, and in the end it got too muddled up for me to feel it. Speaking of the plot, I was also a little confused on why we were focused on these spy characters. I didn’t understand what their missions were or why they mattered, or what the catalyst of the story was really about. I kept thinking this would be revealed further into the book, but it was more of a set dressing than a real plot point. This made any mystery and intrigue lacking in this story, which feels like it removes the “thriller” aspect of a thriller book.

It is at this point where I feel the need to say that I don’t think this book is for me, and for that reason I believe this book could be a wonderful piece of literature for others. Those with more understanding of the history between North and South Korea, or are Korean themselves, may find this story speaks to them a lot better than it does to me. I feel like I was missing context which might have made the reading more enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book!! My first ARC and what a first one it was, thank you NetGalley & Dundurn Press!

This book is set in Oxford, following three spies, a North Korean, South Korean & Korean American and they are all connected in some way. “Soju Club, Dr Ryu” is the only breadcrumb of clue left by Doha when he is mysteriously killed, which leaves Yohan on a chase to find the answers as to why it happened.

The plot weaves between points of view and perspectives and we get to know the characters quickly through this. Each focussing on something different, yet are all interlinked. Their unique experiences with the past, current and possible future where their national identity is explored. Throughout the story we learn what it is to be Korean and the challenges faced in the society that has been created.

The thriller aspect is something that I did enjoy but I know is not the main point of the book. Lots of twists and turns, a throughly good read and one I’d recommend! I found myself wanting to pick this up and continue which is why I finished it in less than a day!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(⭐2.75)

I feel so bad I didn't understand most of this :(

☕︎ 1. Characters
It was really quite difficult to keep track of who was who. I wasn't entirely sure whose perspective I was following, due to the rapid and numerous POV changes. I didn't really feel anything for the characters other than ummm I think his name was Jihoon? I felt really bad for him towards the end. And when the reveal about his mother was dropped, I actually felt myself tear up. It was incredibly difficult to keep track, though, which made it hard for me to gain sympathy for these characters.

🍸✧ 2. Plot
I don't actually understand much of what happened, which is 100% on me. It's completely my fault, I didn't have any prior knowledge that helped me navigate the plot. I feel so bad that I didn't get any of it, but the plot was really hard to follow and understand for me, an Australian teenage girl.

The real mystery to me was what the freak I was reading 😭

*ੈ✩‧₊˚ 3. Final Thoughts
I definitely think someone who has any sort of previous/prior knowledge about Korean history would definitely enjoy this one more than I did. It wasn't a bad read overall, I just failed to understand it. I felt like the personification of the saying "She's a little confused, but she's got the spirit" 😭🙏

I really couldn't tell you what I just read, except for a cast of Korean spies, secret agents and restaurant owner get up to some eerie shenanigans.

★彡🌿 pre-read:
just received the ARC for this intriguing read! thank you so much to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for a free e-copy in exchange for my review 💕 Oxford Soju Club releases on the 30th September, 2025!

Jinwoo Park's the Oxford Soju Club is a high-body-count, tragic spy-thriller and an exploration of the immigrant experience. The novel is set in Oxford during a purge of the North Korean intelligence service that followed the death of Kim Jong-Il. North Korean, American, and South Korean spys play a game of cat and mouse centered around the only Korean restaurant in town, and the tale is told through multiple points of view.

Each Korean character has a unique connection to their heritage and degree of comfort in their identity, largely explored through ruminations on the past, and many of the character are young with unprocessed family of origin issues. Some times these characters feel academic, descriptions of a type, more than real people.

The author clearly lays out the rather complex plot, but the prose felt remote, despite being written in the present tense, partly because of the lengthily ruminations into the past, but also due to a deficit of sensory detail. The book includes lengthy front matter, with a discussion by the author describing the meaning and purpose of the novel. I prefer to figure out what a book is about as I read, so I would highly prefer to find this sort of material in the back matter. In fact, all front matter is an impediment to engaging with the story and shrinks the sample size, so why not move it all to the end of the book?

I was left with the impression that this novel is a book of the heart, the novel that this author must write to process an core life experience, and writing this novel will free him to express many other aspects of the human experience. Given the high quality of this first novel, I look forward to more from this author.

When a North Korean spymaster is found stabbed in an Oxford alleyway, his protégé follows his dying words to the Oxford Soju Club, a restaurant owned by a South Korean immigrant escaping his grief, while a Korean American spy aims to fulfill her mission to track the North Korean spy cell.

This thriller is a meditation on the nexus of identity and nationality. Who are you when your entire life belongs to a country? What happens when you belong to a country, but there is nothing there for you? And what happens when you are caught between two places, never quite fitting in? These experiences are seen through a Korean diasporic lens as the spies shift between identities.

I really liked this. The writing is to the point, and the pace is quick, but the questions it asks and attempts to answer are even more interesting. To be honest, I could really see this as a miniseries with some great actors taking the characters and running with them.

Thank you very much to Maria at Dundurn Press for the Advance Reader Copy!

Oxford Soju Club is out on September 30th!

ARC Review: Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park
⭐️ 2/5 Stars ⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Summary: When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is killed in Oxford, his protege, Yohan Kim, follows a cryptic clue leading to the mysterious Soju Club. Meanwhile, CIA agent Yunah Choi scrambles to salvage her investigation into a North Korean spy ring. As their paths collide, secrets unravel, identities are questioned, and survival becomes the ultimate goal.

I tried to get into this one, but it is not for me. The fast pacing was great, but the multiple POVs and the way the story was structured just didn’t work for me. The transitions felt all over the place, and I found myself confused more often than not.

I think this book has potential, and I can see how it might appeal to readers who enjoy multi-POV storytelling and don’t mind a bit of chaos in the narrative. But for me, it just wasn’t the right fit.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Dundun Press for the opportunity to read this ARC—I hope it finds the right audience when it’s released!

While the mystery which 'Oxford Soju Club' brings the reading into at the beginning is intriguing, by the middle, the plot turns into a mere question mark. There are a lot of characters in this novel, some more interesting than others; and while Jihoon is an undeniably endearing character, the same treatment of exploring his backstory wasn't extended to most other characters until the last 20%.

Hopefully in the final publication of this books, the headers indicating whose perspective we're following is also made more clear, but even still, I believe the flow from narration to narration could be improved so that revelations are distributed through the novel and not all at once for ALL characters. For how short the ARC is, this novel could benefit from more writing and more pages.

Thank you to Dundurn Press and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC!

I was excited to read this because I don't usually read stories about the CIA, action, spies, etc, and the synopsis sounded really interesting.

The characters were interesting, and I was intrigued to read about each of their backgrounds, families, and aspirations. This was a strong point in the novel, as the reader feels connected to most of the characters and their motivations. However, I did find it hard to follow at times, especially with the timeline and the flashbacks. Each section is titled "The American", "The Southerner", and "The Northener", which I got used to pretty quickly— but then at the end the titles change, and I got quite confused. The narrative voice shifted a couple of times from third to first person, which was a bit jarring.

My favorite scenes were, naturally, set at the Soju Club. I loved reading about the food, and the family recipes, as well as the connection people get to make over a bottle of soju.

The writing was great, exactly my style, and filled with rich descriptions. There were several passages I highlighted that I found very touching.

Overall, it was a pleasant read!

3.5

Gracias a Dundurn Press via NetGalley por el arc (es mi primer arc entonces ando feliz)
Thanks to Dundurn Press via NetGalley for the arc (it's my first arc so I'm quite happy)

En Oxford conocemos a tres personajes: una hija de coreanos nacida en USA y agente de la CIA, un surcoreano dueño del único restaurante coreano de Oxford (Soju Club) y a un espía norcoreano.
Set in Oxford, we get to meet three characters: a daughters of koreans born in the US, and a CIA agent, a south korean man owner of the only korean restaurant in Oxford (Soju Club), and a north korean spy.
Es a través de estos tres personajes que se explora la identidad, la pertenencia a una nación y las relaciones que creamos.
It is through this three characters that the author explores identity, sense of belonging to a country and the relationships we create.

Creo que la parte central del libro fue la más fuerte y la que más disfruté, mi personaje favorito fue Jihoon (el dueño del restaurante), su backstory y todo lo que lo llevo a establecerse en Oxford, la relación con su madre, y cómo está en medio de todo este rollo sin saberlo fue bastante entretenido de leer.
I think the central part of the book and what I enjoyed the most was my favourite character: Jihoon (the owner of the restaurant), his backstory and what lead him to settle in Oxford, the relationship with his mother, and how he's in the middle of all of this without knowing was quite entertaining.

Igual resalta la dinámica de los personajes norcoreanos. La verdad fue entrañable lo que construyen entre los tres y se sintió correcto que acabara la historia con ellos.
Another thing that stands out was the dynamics between the north korean characters. It was heartwarming to read what the three of them built and it felt right that the story ended with them.

En general estuvo bien, tuvo sus momentos que me hacían no querer soltar el libro, y la ambientación y exploración de personajes que hace me encantóoo.
In general, it was quite good, it had its moments where I couldn't put the book down. The setting and character exploration was a highlight and I really enjoyed it.

Jinwoo Park’s Oxford Soju Club is a bold foray into the world of espionage interlaced with cultural nuance and multifaceted character studies. The narrative weaves together a labyrinth of international intrigue, personal loyalties, and the subtle interplay of identity—elements that set it apart from conventional thrillers.

The story’s strengths lie in its atmospheric settings and vivid character portrayals. Park’s dialogue crackles with authenticity, and the intermingling of Eastern and Western sensibilities enriches the narrative, inviting readers to navigate through tension-filled streets and clandestine rendezvous. Though complex, the plot is driven by memorable characters whose relationships and internal conflicts reflect more significant geopolitical undercurrents, making each scene resonant with personal and political stakes.

However, there are areas that could benefit from further refinement. Occasional abrupt word breaks and formatting inconsistencies disrupt the reading flow, and the frequent shifts in perspective might leave some readers struggling to track the central narrative. Tightening these structural elements would enhance clarity without sacrificing the richly layered world Park has created.

Potential for Screen Adaptation:
The manuscript is also an excellent candidate for a movie or TV series adaptation, given its richly woven tapestry of espionage, cultural interplay, and character-driven drama. Its suspense, action, and emotional depth blend promises to translate well to the screen.

Oxford Soju Club is an ambitious work that balances suspense, cultural commentary, and intricate plotting. With further editorial polish—addressing issues like inconsistent formatting and abrupt perspective shifts—the manuscript’s clarity and professional polish could be greatly enhanced, ensuring that Park’s unique blend of international intrigue and human drama captivates readers and, potentially, a broader viewing audience.

Thank you to Dundurn Press for the opportunity to review this ARC.

It took me a while to get engaged with the story, but once I did it was an okay read.

I found the changing in narration, jumping from third to first person, really reflects the awareness of the caracters about the things they do and what is happening around them. Though sometimes if felt like too much jumping around, going from past to present on top of the change in perspectives.

The story is much less about spies, and a whole lot about identity and finding purpose, so having that in mind can better the reading experience. I like it enough to keep and eye for next realeases by the author.

The northerner, the southerner, and the American. Three identities, one race. "The natural enemy of a Korean is another Korean"- Oxford Soju Club is more than a book, it's a blood stained catalogue of the lives of immigrants, of refugees and the ones that's been casted our from their "motherland". The ones that's put to play the roles defined for them and once they are over it, vanish from reality. When a North Korean spymaster gets murdered in Oxford, his protégé, Kim Yohan, starts the journey to find the truth, with two hints- Dr. Ryu. Oxford soju club.

Characters of vivid intellectual foldings create an enhanced flavor to this book as their fates get intertwined. Dynamic relations across the pages makes this book an intriguing read, keeping it as interesting as it could be, from page one to the end. Fast paced and cinematic, this book feels like watching a movie, it's imaginaries vivid and detailed.

People. Lives. Death. Value of life. Oxford Soju Club talks about the marathon we run, the masks we put on and off, the identities we smear up on us and take off, betrayal and trust, and more than anything, the answer to the question whether we are what we are meant to be.

Such an amazing book to be a debute!!!

I was immediately drawn in by 'Oxford Soju Club' by Jinwoo Park because the title and beautiful cover. A spy novel set in Oxford sounded very promising to me, but it took me a while to really get into it. The plot was a bit confusing at times and while I enjoyed figuring out the connections between the characters and their backstories, something just didn't really click for me.
The character I liked the most was Dr. Ryu—the mystery around her and how she was linked to Yohan and Doha kept me hooked.

There were definitely some interesting moments, but overall, it fell a little flat for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing me with an ARC.

Reading The Oxford Soju Club felt like a wake-up call. From the very first pages, I was confronted with my own ignorance—shocked by the truths within and drawn into a story that constantly had me questioning the motivations behind each character’s actions. By the end, I was left with a heart full of hope and a deeper appreciation for love—love that is open, intentional, and fueled by curiosity about the relationships we welcome into our lives.

I initially picked up Oxford Soju Club expecting a thriller/mystery after requesting it on NetGalley. What I got was something far richer—a profoundly moving, tender exploration of truth, history, and the experiences of over 25 million people affected by their government. Through the lens of this novel, Jinwoo Park reveals how propaganda continues to shape perspectives, not only within Korea but on a global scale, often turning people against one another in ways we rarely stop to question.

Jinwoo, thank you for crafting such a striking and deeply nuanced book. It explores what it means to live the lives we’ve been taught to live, the weight of making our own decisions, and the importance of embracing the fleeting moments of true happiness.

Before starting The Oxford Soju Club, I had only a surface-level understanding of Korea—beyond recognizing the DPRK as one of the most totalitarian governments of this century. This beautifully written novel compelled me to dig deeper, to research countries and histories that don’t receive nearly enough discussion. The perspectives woven throughout—Northerner, Southerner, and American—challenged me to take my time and truly understand the depth of each character’s actions. That extra effort was more than worth it.

The Oxford Soju Club isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. And one I’m grateful to have had.

I was intrigued by this book, particularly when I realised it was set in the Cowley area of Oxford (which I know well) but also featured both spies and Korean politics, something which is less common for an Oxford book!

The reader follows a selection of characters who all circle round the Oxford Soju Club as a North Korean spy ring starts to unwind. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this to someone who is only interested in reading a spy novel as I think it has more to offer as a meditation on identity and immigration but the book still has a good flavour of international espionage to it.

The final section felt a little rushed and I think some of the cast of characters were done a disservice because of this. This wouldn't stop me recommending it though!