Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Author: Kim Jiyun
Genre: Contemporary Korean Fiction / Slice-of-Life / Comfort Reads
Ideal For: Fans of gentle stories, slow character growth, cozy neighborhood settings, and K-lit with heart
Sometimes, the books that stay with you the longest aren’t the loud or dramatic ones. They’re the quiet ones—the ones that move at the pace of real life, pausing to notice the things most of us overlook. Yeonnamdong’s Smiley Laundromat is one of those special books. Set in a tucked-away corner of Seoul, it offers a warm and introspective look at life, pain, connection, and the everyday magic of starting over.
Reading this felt like stepping into a sunlit laundromat on a rainy day: unexpected, comforting, and oddly healing.
Why I Picked It Up
I’m always drawn to books set in quiet neighborhoods with a cast of seemingly ordinary characters. So when I saw this Korean novel was centered around a small laundromat in Yeonnamdong—a real-life artsy district known for its hidden cafes and slower rhythm—I knew it would be something special. And it was.
If you loved Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Miracles of the Namiya General Store, or The Inconvenient Convenience Store, Yeonnamdong’s Smiley Laundromat belongs on your TBR next.
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
The novel revolves around Hajin, a young woman who leaves a fast-paced life and a painful past behind to quietly take over a laundromat in Yeonnamdong. It’s called Smiley Laundromat, though nothing about Hajin’s life at the start is particularly smiley.
As she settles into her new surroundings, Hajin begins to cross paths with a colourful and vulnerable cast of locals—each with their own burdens, each seeking something soft and human. There’s the elderly man who visits every Sunday just to fold laundry slowly. A high school student hiding out from pressures she can’t voice. A neighbor who leaves mysterious notes. And slowly, gently, Hajin starts to see that healing doesn’t always come in grand gestures—it often comes in small, quiet moments shared with strangers.
Why It Works So Well
1. A Deeply Human Story, Told Softly
There’s no major twist or big drama here—and that’s exactly the point. Yeon Somin writes with such empathy and grace that every minor interaction feels meaningful. The pacing is slow, but never boring. Instead, it mirrors the process of emotional recovery—day by day, visit by visit, conversation by conversation.
It’s the kind of book that makes you exhale slowly and feel okay about simply being.
2. A Love Letter to Community and Place
Yeonnamdong itself is a character in this novel. The winding alleys, the tucked-away shops, the creaky old buildings. All of it creates a backdrop that’s both nostalgic and full of possibility. There’s something profoundly comforting about the way the book invites you to stay in this neighborhood—to notice its stillness, to appreciate its people.
Much like the laundromat, Yeonnamdong becomes a refuge, a space where nothing is demanded of you, and everything is gently offered.
3. Characters You Come to Care About Deeply
Though we follow Hajin most closely, the supporting characters shine. Each one gets just enough space to breathe, to share a fragment of their lives—and somehow, these small glimpses are enough to make you care deeply. The novel reminds us that every person we meet is carrying something. And sometimes, just folding laundry side by side is enough to build connection.
By the end, you’ll wish Smiley Laundromat was real so you could stop by and say hi.
You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy…
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – for its blend of nostalgia and quiet emotional weight
- The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino – for healing stories wrapped in everyday settings
- The Inconvenient Convenience Store by Kim Ho-yeon – for its warm-hearted look at life through a humble lens
- Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata – for slice-of-life narratives about belonging
- Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop – for new beginnings and the power of community
Final Thoughts: A Hug in the Form of a Novel
Yeonnamdong’s Smiley Laundromat isn’t a book that shouts—it’s a book that listens. It gives voice to ordinary people living quiet lives and reminds us that healing doesn’t have to be dramatic to be profound. Through its simple setting and deeply human moments, it invites us to slow down, reflect, and find comfort in the little things.
If you’ve been craving a book that feels like a warm drink on a rainy afternoon, this is it. It’s soft, sincere, and stunning in its simplicity.
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