As a huge Jane Austen fan, the moment I saw the teasers for Behind the Five Willows by June Hur, I knew it was something I wanted to read. Pitched as Pride & Prejudice meets You’ve Got Mail and set in Joseon Dynasty Korea? I was immediately sold!
When I saw June Hur announce on Instagram that free advanced reader copies would be available on NetGalley for 48 hours, I thought it was my chance to read it ahead of its May 26 release. Mom brain got the best of me, though, and by the time I clicked the link in her bio, the “Read Now” button had disappeared and “Request” was all that remained. A few days later, I received the inevitable email—my request had been declined.
There was, however, a sampler copy with the first five chapters, and curiosity got the best of me. Even though I knew I would regret giving myself a cliffhanger, I started reading anyway.
Immediately, I could picture the scenes unfolding like a sageuk drama. With the Joseon Dynasty as its backdrop, the setting felt immersive and vivid. The Five Willows reminded me of the bookshop where Kim Yoon Hee (played by Park Min Young) worked as a transcriber in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. I could picture stacks of books lining the shelves, with customers reading intently in quiet corners. The mention of the Noron faction and the political undercurrents grounding the story added historical texture. Even the marriage decree requiring unwed men and women past a certain age to marry, with the villagers believing that if all spinsters wed, the drought would end, immediately brought to mind 100 Days My Prince.
These details made the world feel lived-in rather than ornamental. The author doesn’t simply borrow the aesthetic of the Joseon era; she weaves in political and social structures that anchor the romance in something tangible. It left me wanting to brush up on Korean history—a mark of the author’s immersive storytelling.
And yes, the parallels to Pride & Prejudice are deliciously clear—familiar in structure, but refreshed by culture and setting.
Shin Haewon is intelligent, book-loving, witty, and fiercely devoted to her sisters—very much in the spirit of Elizabeth Bennet. Yu Seojun, a wealthy and broody nobleman, son of the Minister of Justice, carries secrets and a reserved pride that immediately evoke Mr. Darcy. Their first meeting is electric. Tension sparks quickly, first impressions form, and prejudice takes root—the kind we know will eventually give way to something deeper.
Even in just five chapters, the chemistry feels intentional rather than rushed. The dialogue carries that sharp, restrained tension Austen readers love, while the Joseon setting gives it fresh stakes and atmosphere.
It is truly a travesty that I had to stop after chapter five and wait for the full release to see how everything unfolds. But if I were to rate it based solely on this sampler, it earns a solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me. The historical immersion, the familiar-yet-fresh character dynamics, and the promise of slow-burn romance have completely hooked me.
Now I wait impatiently for May 26.
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