Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the ARC of this book, as it was a good one! The story’s plot was intricate and interesting, and I grew to love the characters for their rich, multicultural backstories.

Though I did enjoy this read overall, I found it at times hard to follow since the characters and their pseudonyms were used interchangeably, leaving me a bit lost at who is who at some points.

With that in mind, I would still highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of mystery thriller!

Oxford Soju Club offers a fresh perspective on the spy thriller genre, delving into the complexities of identity and belonging within the Korean diaspora. While some readers desire more in-depth character exploration, the novel's inventive plot and emotional resonance make it a noteworthy debut.

This is a very difficult book to review without spoilers because let's just say every character I cared about died, so this review will be brief. I liked the idea of a literary spy thriller where spies all congregate at a Korean restaurant in Oxford, and I really liked the title, but ultimately this didn't work for me as a story.

This book tells the story of an American spy whose Korean parents worked at a bagel shop in New Jersey, a North Korean spy who is having doubts, and a South Korean spy who are all investigating each other in Oxford. The most interesting part of this was using the spy element as a conceit to explore the many layers of Asian immigrant identity, and I loved Jihoon, whose mother wanted him to go to university but his dream was to work at a restaurant with her.

But the spy thriller took up most of the book and as a thriller I found it boring and underwhelming, with a jagged pace and confusing time jumps. I almost DNF'ed a few times but I pushed through because it was such a quick read. I think a longer length and quicker pacing on the thriller elements would have done these characters more justice. I guess I should have known because I didn't like The Sympathizer either and this is very similar.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

i love it so much, i love the espionage tale about self identity and discovery. i really liked the writing style, it was fast paced and really fun to follow.

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

I would rate this novel 3.5 stars.

Jinwoo Park’s debut novel, Oxford Soju Club is a wild ride, that deposits us right into the heart of a spy thriller between North Korea, the U.S, and South Korea, set in Oxford in the UK. Korean-American CIA agent Yunah Choi attempts to get information on the North Koreans (Doha Kim and his protégé Yohan Kim), and this all converges in Oxford’s only Korean restaurant, Soju Club, run by Jihoon Lim, who moved to the UK from Seoul.

The novel is an interesting look into North Korean politics and the Korean diaspora, that explores identity and belonging, family, and questions of loyalty and freedom. The relationships between the characters were strong, and the characters felt real and life-like – especially Yohan, I felt like I really understood him as a character.

However, I did find it confusing at times. The storytelling is disjointed, flitting between characters, places, and time period every few pages – we moved from Yohan, to Yunah, to Jihoon; from Seoul, to North Korea, to Oxford, to the U.S. Sometimes I couldn’t fully keep up with what was happening and to who, and whether it was in the present or the past. The writing at times felt too simple, and I would have loved it to be a bit more fleshed out and to include more description. I felt like I was being told and not shown, and this felt like it let down the action scenes. A whole shootout or fight would happen in the space of a page, and I felt I had no sense of what people or places looked like, smelt like, felt like, etc.

Despite all of that, I really enjoyed this short novel and everything it had to say about the Korean immigrant experience, belonging and identity. I loved the use of Romanised Korean words as someone learning Korean too. One thing I appreciated was how much food was mentioned, as the novel was largely set in the Soju Club restaurant. It truly made me hungry reading about all the lovely food described, and how food brought the characters together and united them.

I’ve followed the author, Jinwoo Park, on TikTok for a while, and have always loved what he has to say, so getting the chance to read his debut novel early has truly been a treat. And shoutout to the cover too – a brilliant and interesting cover, which I would definitely pick up in a bookstore!

If you’re at all interested in Korean culture, including North Korea, and stories about immigrants and the Korean diaspora, I would very much recommend this novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!
THIS is a story about identity and THIS is a good debut novel.

Oxford Soju Club tells the story of the struggles and adjustments immigrants experience in a unique way.

At times I found myself struggling to distinguish the characters from one another as they intertwined in such a rapid manner. Regardless of this, I found myself invested in the story telling as I found it to be engaging.
From the outside. the main three points of view characters may seem driven by a singular task, but each character was quite deep and complex in their respective contribution to the story. The social identity & complexity intertwined with life's purpose (or lack there of) was fascinating to read in this spy thriller format.

I personally feel like it had potential to be a longer novel. I found myself wanting a deeper connection with the characters. Regardless of this, it evoked emotions in me that I didn't expect to feel for such a short novel. Jinwoo Park did a good job in managing to achieve this.

Oxford Soju Club is a good debut that explores difficult themes and evokes an emotional pull. The cover for this is also a lovely, clean, modern style that I can't wait to see on the shelves!

wow. i was invested from page one and never lost interest. the storytelling was phenomenal, and the subtle hints at the dissent between different korean dialects and regions were so interesting. i got a little bit confused about who was who for a while because i didn’t have my glasses on and two character names were pretty similar BUT once i figured it out we were smooth sailing. would 10000% read again and i recommend it to everyone!!

When North Korean spymaster Doha Kim is assassinated in Oxford, his protégé Yohan Kim is left with a single clue—“Soju Club, Dr. Ryu.” Meanwhile, Korean-American CIA agent Yunah Choi is scrambling to salvage her investigation, and at the center of it all is Jihoon Lim, the quiet owner of Oxford’s only Korean restaurant, trying to rebuild his life after a personal tragedy. As these three lives collide, the line between truth and survival starts to blur.

At its core, Oxford Soju Club is about identity—how immigrants from the Korean diaspora build new versions of themselves to survive and what it costs to finally face who they really are. One of the most interesting threads is how the novel flips stereotypes on their head—like the idea that immigrants, who may be used to making themselves small and invisible, are perfect for spycraft. As one character puts it, “The ego is used to looking down, not up.”

While the themes are fascinating, the execution is a bit hit-or-miss. The third-person narrative keeps us at a distance from the characters—maybe fitting for a spy novel full of secrets, but it made it hard to really feel for anyone. The plot meanders at first (is Yohan just trying to survive, or solve his boss’s murder?), and there are a lot of characters introduced quickly, making it tough to get attached to the main trio. Plus, the spy talk feels a little clunky—like there wasn’t quite enough research to make it flow naturally.

That said, the book does shine when it digs into conversations about race, immigration, and identity—turning the struggles of being “othered” into a strategic advantage. And the cover? Absolutely stunning—crisp, modern, and totally eye-catching.

Overall: An ambitious debut with some really thought-provoking themes, but the scattered plot and emotional distance kept me from fully loving it.

I loved the concept of this one, but had some trouble following the various story lines or feeling super connected to any of the story line’s main characters. Loved the concept though and the cover.

The Oxford Soju Club was a quick but intriguing read. It combined a classic three-way espionage tale with a study of identity, in particular self-identity. Although we didn't get to spend long with them, the characters were all well written and distinctive. The action jumped between present and past but was always clear to follow, and the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a fun tale that also included some deeper themes, and I am giving it 4.5 stars. This is a short review, but I am wary of saying too much in this case to avoid any spoilers. If you like thrillers and contemporary fiction, this book offers a story that blends the two genres.

A solid debut novel that might have been better as a movie or limited tv show. With three narratives, each with a past and present timeline, it was a little hard to keep track at first. But after the first three chapters, the action really took off. It felt a little like "We Solve Murders" by Richard Osman meets James Bond.

The ending came on abruptly and I felt that some characters were introduced and then written off a little too quickly. Other story lines felt like they could have been fleshed out more. Perhaps it's because the novel was a little short, or perhaps that's the style of a spy thriller. It is not a genre I read often. But other than one character's fate that I felt did not make sense, I did enjoy the read and I would read more of Jinwoo Park's work if he were to write more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

I found the premise of this book very interesting and was so pleased to have been approved for an advanced copy. While it took me a some time to really sink my teeth into, from about the 30% mark I was fully hooked.

The book tackles the concept of identity through the eyes of multiple characters of differing nationality. While I myself have luckily not faced the difficulties associated with packing up my life and moving across the world, I think the book did a very good job of portraying so this. I like that dependant on the reader and their lived experience, we each take away something different from this book.

The ways that the main characters lives intertwined, sometimes more intentionally than others, was fascinating, and although we didn’t have long to focus on each of the characters they felt believable and interesting. Each layer that was peeled back left you wanting to learn more before being directed back to someone else.

I did on occasion find myself a little lost within the plot and with the wheel of characters and their multiple names, as well as the flash backs. I did have to backtrack on multiple occasions in order to grasp the story again, but this improved the longer I spent which the characters and was possibly in part due to the layout of the copy.

A very solid debut that evoked real emotion and eloquently explored finding peace within yourself in spite of, or because of, your past. I would be very interested to read more from this author!

Love the book, love the cover, love the concept, love the characters! This book instantly grabbed me it was very engaging, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t believe that this is a debut novel! The twists and turns Had me on the edge of my seat, I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of “Oxford Soju Club.”

We follow three groups of characters: the North Koreans “studying” at Oxford, a South Korean restaurant owner nearby, and a Korean-American CIA agent keeping tabs on the North Koreans.

The first sentence reveals that one of North Koreans has been found dead in an alleyway. Through a mix of present-day events and flashbacks with alternating POVs, we learn who these people are, what their motivations are, and at the heart of the mystery - who killed the North Korean.

This book was a fast read. Although it is labeled as a mystery/thriller, I found myself more captivated by the flashbacks, which provided insight into the characters’ pasts before their paths converged. With all the constant back and forth with timelines and POVs, I honestly forgot about the “main plot” and struggled to connect with most of the characters. I almost wish the book had been to allow for deeper character developer and connection.

I enjoyed the social commentary on the Korean identity as I found it quite relatable as a Vietnamese-American. I wish there had been more flashbacks to pivotal events that helped shaped the characters’ perspectives rather than just telling us what happened.

Overall, a really interesting and unique story!

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!!

new year new me and 2025 has me reading korean literature?? i thought the cover was rad and the title is iconic. as a soju drinker i 100% had to read this book. the synopsis reads like an espionage spy thriller kind of thing centred around a korean restaurant Oxford Soju Club. somehow all the characters grew on me, and the diasphora (chat am i using this word right) about being korean is done so well in a way that it kind of reminds me of Babel (RF Kuang)??

i love how being korean is explored in three perspectives — a north korean spy, a south korean restaurant owner and an american korean (also) spy. i love how this book jumps around in time to show us the lives of the various characters, placed strategically, i assume, to cause the most emotional damage. it is smart, and i love how the backstory comes together, though usually when a story is complete, there is only the end left.

the one that stuck most with me was Jihoon, surprisingly the only uninvolved, innocent party in this. okay i am partial to him because i love korean food and anyone who makes it, but his life is no doubt a tragedy, from his life in korea with his mother and her restaurant and not wanting to go to university to his mother's death and eventually settling down in oxford with his own restaurant. he is honestly a bright ray of sunshine in this rather dark story and (spoilers!!) when he was shot and killed, i suddenly understood why even the stone cold Yunah and Deoksu mourned him. it was heartbreaking, to see that he never got the family and life he wanted for himself in the end, even though he was happy until the end.

but of course this is very much Yohan's story. the influence Doha and his death had on him ripples throughout the book, and i love how he was never given a choice in his life. Dr Ryu and Doha (their story and friendship ripped me to bits!! utter tragedy) chose for him to live, to take him under his wing. the americans gave him the choice to side with them and flee, only for the ones offering be killed. the pain. it was devastating that he finally found comaraderie in Yunah only for it to end so quickly.

and i love how the perspectives changed from the Northerner, the Southerner and the American to the Exiled (Dr Ryu), the Rejected (Yunah) and the Nameless (Yohan), because once you've read the story everything just clicks.

" live. Yohan-a. live." <- the koran literature version of "live manon live" CRYING.

" going around pretending to be one of us just because you look like us, but you're not like us. you're not korean. you don't have an ounce of who we are in you. " Deoku's lines HIT.

" when you're older, your heart grows tired. time gets to us all. " what happens if your heart is already tired??

the only way i can describe it is that this was thought provoking and heartbreaking. and to think, this was the author's debut?? excited for what else he will write!!

An intriguing title that instantly draws you in! This novel combines elements of espionage, identity, and cultural conflict, following the intertwined lives of three spies: a Korean American, a North Korean, and a South Korean. Their stories expose the complexities of nationalism, loyalty, and the struggle for survival. Something that stands out about this book is how it captures the immense pressure faced by Korean immigrants. Having lived in South Korea as an outsider, I’ve seen how strict social expectations can shape one’s identity and sense of belonging. The author does an exceptional job of portraying this struggle, peeling back the layers of performance and self-preservation. The characters are incredibly relatable. They are flawed yet fascinating and I found myself empathizing with their dilemmas, even when their choices felt morally complicated. The storytelling is tense and emotional, with each twist hitting hard. There is something unique and intimate about how the book explores identity, showing how the how various interpretations of being "Korean" can coexist and clash. I was completely absorbed. I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my shelf. If you’re debating reading this, do it.

Oxford Soju Club may be touted as a spy thriller, but I believe the plot goes much deeper than that. It explores a striking clash of identities against the brutal political backdrop of different nations.

There were times I was rendered befuddled and times when I questioned whether this even qualifies as a thriller. That being said, I did find myself stuck to the story like glue, waiting to find out how it all unfurls. Nevertheless, I think this was a great debut which perhaps teeters more towards the side of literary fiction than the “mystery” genre.

2.75 ⭐️

Thank you Net Galley and Dundurn Press for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up! This debut novel from Jinwoo Park publishing Sept 2, 2025 is a spy mystery on the outside but on the inside a story about belonging and identity. The story follows three main characters: a Korean American CIA agent, a North Korean spy and a South Korean restaurateur. Not only do we meet these characters in the present day but also growing up and in their pasts to see what brought them to where they are. Good twists and plot lines throughout! Nice debut!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is the type of book you could read over and over again and still find something new to dissect. Thrilling and engaging, I couldn't put it down. I felt like I had to keep reading in order to understand what was happening - I loved every second.

Emigrating to a new country is never easy—different roads, different food, and faces unlike your own. It is even more challenging when the country in question is the enemy. Yohan Kim and his spymaster, Doha, find themselves in precisely this situation. While they sit in the bars and restaurants of the university city of Oxford, masquerading as a professor and his French-Japanese protégé, they are, in reality, gathering intelligence for the Supreme Leader of North Korea.

When Yohan discovers Doha bleeding in a back alley, beyond the point of being saved, he is left with only a single cryptic message: *"Soju Club, Dr Ryu."* With no idea of what lies ahead, but knowing he must reach the Soju Club, Yohan embarks on a journey fraught with uncertainty.

The Soju Club, a restaurant in Oxford, is run by Jihoon, a South Korean immigrant who rarely strays from his establishment. His greatest fulfilment comes from feeding others—a way to feel closer to his mother, who once did the same. Food is a central theme throughout this novel, intricately woven into its narrative, exploring its cultural significance and the way it shapes identity and relationships.

***"Jihoon, food doesn’t just nourish you. It affects a person in an incomparable way," his mother once told him. "The experience of taste—there’s a whole world there. It changes people, it makes them whole."***

This deep connection to food is also shared by Yunah, the third key character. She often reminisces about her childhood, spent with her grandmother, who insisted on preparing special dishes whenever she visited. The novel beautifully portrays food as a love language, a means of connection that transcends petty squabbles and unites generations.

***"During summers when she returned home from university, her mother would cook all her favourite Korean dishes. It didn’t matter how busy it got at the bagel shop—her mother always made time to feed Yunah."***

It is this unspoken bond that draws the main characters together in a Montague-and-Capulet-style conflict. Yohan is a Korean-American working for the CIA. Jihoon is a South Korean restaurateur. Yohan is a North Korean spy. Despite this, they all find a semblance of kinship in this little green-bottled oasis in the heart of Oxford.

***"As they stand side by side, smoking, she feels as though they have always been friends, even though they have never exchanged any words beyond ordering from the menu. Her father used to tell her that Koreans naturally gravitate towards one another, no matter where they are. She used to scoff at this, dismissing it as silly, nostalgia-driven bias."***

This novel, while offering a gripping spy thriller set in the aftermath of Kim Jong-il’s death and Kim Jong-un’s succession, is also a poignant exploration of belonging, identity, and the meaning of cultural heritage. Packed with action and unexpected twists, Jinwoo Park’s debut is a thrilling journey through the streets of Oxford that will intrigue fans of espionage fiction—and certainly leave them ‘hungry’ for more.