A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang

A Midnight Pastry Shop Called Hwawoldang is a comforting and evocative novel that explores themes of family, food, belonging, and the search for home, both in this life and beyond. The story centers on Yeon-hwa, a twenty-seven-year-old woman who, after the death of her grandmother—the enigmatic and distant proprietor of the Hwawoldang pastry shop—chooses to honor her wishes by maintaining the shop. The narrative blends warmth, nourishment, and a cozy atmosphere with a gently unfolding emotional journey, offering readers a nurturing tale of loss, legacy, and connection. Spanning 288 pages, the book has resonated as a Korean bestseller and captures the cultural specificity and universal feelings tied to a beloved neighborhood establishment and those who keep its doors open.