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With the Heart of a Ghost: Stories
With the Heart of a Ghost is a debut collection of eight fantastical stories translated by Chi-Young Kim (Whale) that explore feelings unseen, unconveyed, unexplainable.
The funny, meditative characters who inhabit this book are pulled far from their ordinary daily routines to stare straight into their own sorrows, however they manifest. Ghosts and otherworldly occurrences are folded seamlessly into author Lim Sunwoo’s quiet universe with stories buoyed by humor, warmth, and empathy for the lost and hurt among us.
A ghost who looks just like the narrator reflects her feelings back to her in a bun shop; mutant jellyfish take over the world and if you touch one you become one yourself; a heartbroken man becomes a tree in his ex’s apartment; the ghost of a wannabe K-pop star stuck in a vacuum cleaner wants out; Jugyeong helps a man hibernate by burying him up to his neck; Huiae, in deep conflict with her husband, reconnects with her strange old friend; Jo has lost his best friend–a gecko–but won't give up the search; and Suyeong plots revenge on a wild dog that killed her cats by channeling her inner cat.
For a moment, a short period of your everyday lives, each sparkling story asks you to look within, to encounter all that is desired and strange and possible in life and death.
The funny, meditative characters who inhabit this book are pulled far from their ordinary daily routines to stare straight into their own sorrows, however they manifest. Ghosts and otherworldly occurrences are folded seamlessly into author Lim Sunwoo’s quiet universe with stories buoyed by humor, warmth, and empathy for the lost and hurt among us.
A ghost who looks just like the narrator reflects her feelings back to her in a bun shop; mutant jellyfish take over the world and if you touch one you become one yourself; a heartbroken man becomes a tree in his ex’s apartment; the ghost of a wannabe K-pop star stuck in a vacuum cleaner wants out; Jugyeong helps a man hibernate by burying him up to his neck; Huiae, in deep conflict with her husband, reconnects with her strange old friend; Jo has lost his best friend–a gecko–but won't give up the search; and Suyeong plots revenge on a wild dog that killed her cats by channeling her inner cat.
For a moment, a short period of your everyday lives, each sparkling story asks you to look within, to encounter all that is desired and strange and possible in life and death.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2022
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741 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 16, 2026
In a Nutshell: A speculative stories collection. True to the genre, with a good mix of real and surreal. Character-oriented despite having tricky plots. Good translation. A bit disjointed at times in the storytelling but on the whole, a great debut. Recommended.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This debut collection contains eight stories that delve into human feelings while still reaching beyond the human experience into the surreal and the bizarre. It is ‘speculative’ in the true sense of the word, with each of the stories transcending logic without offering pragmatic justifications.
There is no foreword or note introducing the theme of the collection. But the blurb says that these stories “explore feelings unseen, unconveyed, unexplainable” and that “each sparkling story asks you to look within, to encounter all that is desired and strange and possible in life and death.” This effectively captures the crux of the stories: look within while looking beyond, question yourself but don’t question what you don’t understand.
One thing promised by the blurb seems to be a case of *Conditions apply*. It calls the characters of the book “funny and meditative” while cast in stories “buoyed by humour, warmth, and empathy for the lost and hurt among us.” These phrases make the stories appear lighthearted, charming, and even heartwarming. But most of the stories didn’t go down this path for me. Of course, humour is always subjective. If you can approach these tales with a different kind of funny bone, by seeing the wacky storylines as cleverly witty, or by seeing the comedy in the bizarre, you might indeed find some of these stories funny.
To me, the ‘meditative’ qualifier was more consistent with the introspective tone of the stories. Each plot contains some kind of a transformation: either physical or behavioural, sometimes both. So the dominant tone throughout the book is somewhat melancholic, though it doesn’t really get depressing even during sad events.
The stories are not too fast-paced as they are most character-oriented. At the same time, they don’t drag as well. The author has firm control on where she wants each story to go, and wields this effectively. I enjoyed how the stories, despite being so eccentric in their plotlines, still focus so intently on human behaviour and responses. It’s rare for a speculative collection to make me wonder what I would do in the character’s place.
The fantastical content of these stories is quite creative by itself, but it hits harder because the setting of each story is the ordinary world. All eight stories are based in the author’s country (South Korea), and the world she portrays seems real even with the surreal. It’s like the characters are used to bizarre events and take it as an acceptable and routine part of their life even when they find it questionable.
Some of the stories wander across multiple subplots that are still tied somehow through the character. It's like our real life when we deal with multiple things at once. However, it is a bit trickier to keep up with so many threads in fiction, especially in short fiction that gets a relatively limited time to sort things out. As such, the endings are a grey area. I liked some of them, but for others, I would have loved to see some extended information on what happened next.
This collection was originally published in Korean in 2022. A part of me wonders if being written during the lockdown influenced the introspective tone of the stories. The author’s note at the end doesn’t mention the pandemic, but it hints at each story coming from having “too many thoughts” and how she realised that thinking can lead to freedom. She shares some vignettes that led to the conception of each story; it is quite interesting to see the variation between each vignette and the end result. The translation of the book seems impeccable; at not point did I find the language constricted or awkward.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Because I had prepared myself for a whimsical reading experience, two of the stories scored a bit lower as they had only minimal speculative content. The rest were fairly strong entries, earning three or more stars easily. These were my favourites, with 4+ stars each.
Overall, this is quite an excellent collection, though it might not be the right fit for every reader. Anyone who needs earthy plotlines, detailed explanations, and neat endings might not like this set of stories. But those who enjoy the juxtaposition of the internal and the metaphysical, who love to explore the link between natural cause and effect, and who can go with the flow even when the flow isn’t straightforward, this debut collection can offer an enriching experience.
Recommended to fans of speculative fiction and translated short fiction.
3.7 stars, based on the average of my rating for each tale.
My thanks to Unnamed Press for providing the DRC of “With the Heart of a Ghost” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This debut collection contains eight stories that delve into human feelings while still reaching beyond the human experience into the surreal and the bizarre. It is ‘speculative’ in the true sense of the word, with each of the stories transcending logic without offering pragmatic justifications.
There is no foreword or note introducing the theme of the collection. But the blurb says that these stories “explore feelings unseen, unconveyed, unexplainable” and that “each sparkling story asks you to look within, to encounter all that is desired and strange and possible in life and death.” This effectively captures the crux of the stories: look within while looking beyond, question yourself but don’t question what you don’t understand.
One thing promised by the blurb seems to be a case of *Conditions apply*. It calls the characters of the book “funny and meditative” while cast in stories “buoyed by humour, warmth, and empathy for the lost and hurt among us.” These phrases make the stories appear lighthearted, charming, and even heartwarming. But most of the stories didn’t go down this path for me. Of course, humour is always subjective. If you can approach these tales with a different kind of funny bone, by seeing the wacky storylines as cleverly witty, or by seeing the comedy in the bizarre, you might indeed find some of these stories funny.
To me, the ‘meditative’ qualifier was more consistent with the introspective tone of the stories. Each plot contains some kind of a transformation: either physical or behavioural, sometimes both. So the dominant tone throughout the book is somewhat melancholic, though it doesn’t really get depressing even during sad events.
The stories are not too fast-paced as they are most character-oriented. At the same time, they don’t drag as well. The author has firm control on where she wants each story to go, and wields this effectively. I enjoyed how the stories, despite being so eccentric in their plotlines, still focus so intently on human behaviour and responses. It’s rare for a speculative collection to make me wonder what I would do in the character’s place.
The fantastical content of these stories is quite creative by itself, but it hits harder because the setting of each story is the ordinary world. All eight stories are based in the author’s country (South Korea), and the world she portrays seems real even with the surreal. It’s like the characters are used to bizarre events and take it as an acceptable and routine part of their life even when they find it questionable.
Some of the stories wander across multiple subplots that are still tied somehow through the character. It's like our real life when we deal with multiple things at once. However, it is a bit trickier to keep up with so many threads in fiction, especially in short fiction that gets a relatively limited time to sort things out. As such, the endings are a grey area. I liked some of them, but for others, I would have loved to see some extended information on what happened next.
This collection was originally published in Korean in 2022. A part of me wonders if being written during the lockdown influenced the introspective tone of the stories. The author’s note at the end doesn’t mention the pandemic, but it hints at each story coming from having “too many thoughts” and how she realised that thinking can lead to freedom. She shares some vignettes that led to the conception of each story; it is quite interesting to see the variation between each vignette and the end result. The translation of the book seems impeccable; at not point did I find the language constricted or awkward.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Because I had prepared myself for a whimsical reading experience, two of the stories scored a bit lower as they had only minimal speculative content. The rest were fairly strong entries, earning three or more stars easily. These were my favourites, with 4+ stars each.
👻 With the Heart of a Ghost: I just don't know how to describe this story, or even to explain what happened in it. The surreal content was not understandable to my grounded brain but still enjoyable to my heart. A creative and emotionally rich story. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
🌊 You're Not Glowing: A beautiful albeit bittersweet story. When it began, I thought it would go the typical end-of-the-world apocalypse way with mutant jellyfish instead of aliens. But it turned out to be a tale rich in exploring human psychology during times of uncertainty. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🍃 Summer, like the Color of Water: A wonderful introspective story even though it left me wanting more clarification at the end. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
🎭 Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang: As this started, I thought this would end up a depressing story about lost chances and regrets. While it did have that undertone of sadness, it turned out to be a story of grabbed chances and hopes. A lovely story to wind up the collection with. - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall, this is quite an excellent collection, though it might not be the right fit for every reader. Anyone who needs earthy plotlines, detailed explanations, and neat endings might not like this set of stories. But those who enjoy the juxtaposition of the internal and the metaphysical, who love to explore the link between natural cause and effect, and who can go with the flow even when the flow isn’t straightforward, this debut collection can offer an enriching experience.
Recommended to fans of speculative fiction and translated short fiction.
3.7 stars, based on the average of my rating for each tale.
My thanks to Unnamed Press for providing the DRC of “With the Heart of a Ghost” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
October 3, 2025
An impressive collection of unsettling, uncanny tales from award-winning South Korean author Lim Sunwoo. The pleasingly whimsical cover is somewhat misleading. Lim Sunwoo does draw on the weird and the fantastical but in order to address quite weighty issues from urban alienation to overwhelming, personal trauma. It’s bookended by inventive variations on the traditional ghost story. The title piece introduces an entity that’s part spirit, part doppelganger to reflect on the soul-destroying sense of isolation that may result from years of repressing emotion. Despite flirting with elements of so-called ‘healing fiction’ it’s well-observed, rescued from sentimentality by Lim Sunwoo’s wonderfully wry delivery. “Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang” is told from the perspective of someone recently dead allowed to remain in the world for a few hours to bid farewell to their earthly surroundings. It gradually constructs a bleakly-comic meditation on feeling adrift in a fast-paced, highly competitive society.
Presumably inspired by coverage of the ongoing, so-called jellyfish crisis in which swarms of potentially toxic jellyfish have restricted entry to the sea in areas like Jeju and Gangwon, “You’re Not Glowing” depicts a future in which humanity’s continued existence is threatened by hordes of malignant jellyfish. Anyone who touches one is transformed into a zombie-like equivalent. Lim Sunwoo’s deft reworking of the familiar, creature-feature narrative turns this into a moving, insightful exploration of yearning and a search for meaningful connection. Themes around transformation and a thwarted desire for intimacy resurface in “Summer, Like the Colour of Water” where a man searching for his estranged girlfriend is literally rooted to the spot in the studio she once inhabited. His presence is a source of angst and, later, cautious optimism for the new tenant. It’s laced with memorable scenes and images, with intriguing echoes of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.
Lim Sunwoo’s clearly fascinated by the possibilities arising from splicing together the fantastical and the slice-of-life - in keeping with key influences like Patrick Süskind’s short fiction and Kyoko Okazaki’s searing manga. In “Go Sleep at Home” the disappearance of a pet gecko leads to a bizarre, male bonding ritual involving housecleaning and an abundance of takeaway food. The disturbing, bordering on absurdist, “The Hibernating Guy” presents a low-paid worker in the gig economy with a situation that unexpectedly unleashes a torrent of rage and resentment. It’s an arresting take on the impact of social inequality on struggling, contemporary Koreans. “Even Though It’s Not Alaska” is one of the strangest Christmas stories I’ve ever encountered, centred on an outcast woman plotting to avenge the killing of her beloved cats who’s unexpectedly saved from grief and loneliness through a series of surreal encounters with her tattoo-artist neighbour. At its best, richly imaginative, I particularly enjoyed Lim Sunwoo’s distinctive imagery and eccentric, dreamlike perspective on the everyday. Translated by Chi-young Kim.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher The Unnamed Press for an ARC
Presumably inspired by coverage of the ongoing, so-called jellyfish crisis in which swarms of potentially toxic jellyfish have restricted entry to the sea in areas like Jeju and Gangwon, “You’re Not Glowing” depicts a future in which humanity’s continued existence is threatened by hordes of malignant jellyfish. Anyone who touches one is transformed into a zombie-like equivalent. Lim Sunwoo’s deft reworking of the familiar, creature-feature narrative turns this into a moving, insightful exploration of yearning and a search for meaningful connection. Themes around transformation and a thwarted desire for intimacy resurface in “Summer, Like the Colour of Water” where a man searching for his estranged girlfriend is literally rooted to the spot in the studio she once inhabited. His presence is a source of angst and, later, cautious optimism for the new tenant. It’s laced with memorable scenes and images, with intriguing echoes of Han Kang’s The Vegetarian.
Lim Sunwoo’s clearly fascinated by the possibilities arising from splicing together the fantastical and the slice-of-life - in keeping with key influences like Patrick Süskind’s short fiction and Kyoko Okazaki’s searing manga. In “Go Sleep at Home” the disappearance of a pet gecko leads to a bizarre, male bonding ritual involving housecleaning and an abundance of takeaway food. The disturbing, bordering on absurdist, “The Hibernating Guy” presents a low-paid worker in the gig economy with a situation that unexpectedly unleashes a torrent of rage and resentment. It’s an arresting take on the impact of social inequality on struggling, contemporary Koreans. “Even Though It’s Not Alaska” is one of the strangest Christmas stories I’ve ever encountered, centred on an outcast woman plotting to avenge the killing of her beloved cats who’s unexpectedly saved from grief and loneliness through a series of surreal encounters with her tattoo-artist neighbour. At its best, richly imaginative, I particularly enjoyed Lim Sunwoo’s distinctive imagery and eccentric, dreamlike perspective on the everyday. Translated by Chi-young Kim.
Thanks to Edelweiss and publisher The Unnamed Press for an ARC
February 11, 2026
5⭐️
STUNNING. How lucky we English-speakers are that Unnamed Press decided to share a translation of this collection with us.
Eight stories, inspired by quotidian images - from mirrors, to the movement of water, to trees - exploring a vast landscape of human emotion and endeavor to connect and care. The author does not shy from controversial ideas, nor does she constrain herself to the linear. This is speculative fiction, this is fantasy, this is dystopian; and yet, the struggles of the people in the work are so very relatable and real.
A few of my favorites:
“I was getting worked up. The ghost let me finish ranting and said, I think you’re less out of sorts than disappointed. I shut up at those words. In fact, from the moment the ghost opened its eyes, I’d been feeling deeply disappointed that I wasn’t dead. In the end, we went back into the bakery together.”
With the Heart of The Ghost
“People were really fearful. Maybe the jellyfish weren’t there to be God, or zombies, or to hasten the end of the world. Maybe they were just glowing to the best of their abilities. People, not the jellyfish, were the problem. Everyone had a fear of darkness, so maybe those who couldn’t live with their own darkness were the ones drawn to the creatures’ glow.”
You’re Not Glowing
“Unfortunately for Yu, I didn’t understand people. Why did people sign up for sorrow? The world was already filled with sadness.”
Even Though It’s Not Alaska
And from the author’s note:
“I’ve always had too many thoughts, and at one point considered it a flaw that needed fixing. But as I wrote, I realized that thinking could lead to freedom. The more I think, the freer I can be. I can do this at any time.”
Thank you so very much to author Lim Sunwoo, translator Chi-Young Kim, Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a copy in advance of publication.
STUNNING. How lucky we English-speakers are that Unnamed Press decided to share a translation of this collection with us.
Eight stories, inspired by quotidian images - from mirrors, to the movement of water, to trees - exploring a vast landscape of human emotion and endeavor to connect and care. The author does not shy from controversial ideas, nor does she constrain herself to the linear. This is speculative fiction, this is fantasy, this is dystopian; and yet, the struggles of the people in the work are so very relatable and real.
A few of my favorites:
“I was getting worked up. The ghost let me finish ranting and said, I think you’re less out of sorts than disappointed. I shut up at those words. In fact, from the moment the ghost opened its eyes, I’d been feeling deeply disappointed that I wasn’t dead. In the end, we went back into the bakery together.”
With the Heart of The Ghost
“People were really fearful. Maybe the jellyfish weren’t there to be God, or zombies, or to hasten the end of the world. Maybe they were just glowing to the best of their abilities. People, not the jellyfish, were the problem. Everyone had a fear of darkness, so maybe those who couldn’t live with their own darkness were the ones drawn to the creatures’ glow.”
You’re Not Glowing
“Unfortunately for Yu, I didn’t understand people. Why did people sign up for sorrow? The world was already filled with sadness.”
Even Though It’s Not Alaska
And from the author’s note:
“I’ve always had too many thoughts, and at one point considered it a flaw that needed fixing. But as I wrote, I realized that thinking could lead to freedom. The more I think, the freer I can be. I can do this at any time.”
Thank you so very much to author Lim Sunwoo, translator Chi-Young Kim, Unnamed Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a copy in advance of publication.
December 21, 2025
At the end of the last story I bursted into tears. This was absolutely stunning, flawless, life-changing. It’s healing fiction at its very very best, every story was so touching and unique and creative and not at all sentimental while being so hard-hitting.
I’m in awe of Korean lit. Please read outside of Han Kang and please don’t scoff at books with cats on the cover, you’re really missing out on incredible authors.
I’m in awe of Korean lit. Please read outside of Han Kang and please don’t scoff at books with cats on the cover, you’re really missing out on incredible authors.
February 24, 2026
With the Heart of a Ghost uses the fantastical as a quiet lens through which difficult emotions can be approached with honesty and control.
Ghosts, transformations, and impossible events appear without fanfare, folded naturally into everyday settings. Rather than explaining themselves, the stories trust the reader to sit with ambiguity, discomfort, and emotional tension.
The emotional focus is consistent throughout: unresolved grief, isolation within relationships, and the private logic people develop to survive loss. Some stories resonated more strongly than others, but the collection as a whole maintains a clear thematic coherence. The translation deserves particular praise for preserving a plain, direct tone that allows the emotional weight to emerge without excess ornamentation.
This book will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy literary short fiction, subtle speculative elements, and emotionally introspective writing. Fans of quiet surrealism, contemporary translated fiction, and character-driven stories about grief and disconnection will find a great deal to admire here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ghosts, transformations, and impossible events appear without fanfare, folded naturally into everyday settings. Rather than explaining themselves, the stories trust the reader to sit with ambiguity, discomfort, and emotional tension.
The emotional focus is consistent throughout: unresolved grief, isolation within relationships, and the private logic people develop to survive loss. Some stories resonated more strongly than others, but the collection as a whole maintains a clear thematic coherence. The translation deserves particular praise for preserving a plain, direct tone that allows the emotional weight to emerge without excess ornamentation.
This book will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy literary short fiction, subtle speculative elements, and emotionally introspective writing. Fans of quiet surrealism, contemporary translated fiction, and character-driven stories about grief and disconnection will find a great deal to admire here. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
A quietly strange and touching short story collection that leans into surreal ideas without losing sight of the emotions underneath. The author uses odd situations to explore familiar feelings, like loneliness, breakups, grief, the need to be seen.
What I liked most is the gentle, compassionate tone. Even when characters are doing something unsettling or impossible, the writing never judges them. There's a subtle sense of humor that balances the melancholy, and some stories really linger after you finish them, especially the ones that focus on quiet connections between people who feel out of place
Not every story hit the same way. A few felt a bit underdeveloped, and the similar emotional beats across the collection blur together if you read it all at once.
A quietly strange and touching short story collection that leans into surreal ideas without losing sight of the emotions underneath. The author uses odd situations to explore familiar feelings, like loneliness, breakups, grief, the need to be seen.
What I liked most is the gentle, compassionate tone. Even when characters are doing something unsettling or impossible, the writing never judges them. There's a subtle sense of humor that balances the melancholy, and some stories really linger after you finish them, especially the ones that focus on quiet connections between people who feel out of place
Not every story hit the same way. A few felt a bit underdeveloped, and the similar emotional beats across the collection blur together if you read it all at once.
November 9, 2025
Thanks to Unnamed Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of With the Heart of a Ghost by Lim Sumwoo. This is a speculative fiction book with a collection of paranormal short stories with different meanings to be inferred from. I liked the layout and design, and also that the cover shows some hints of the stories. However, I would have liked more coherence in the plots. In my opinion, the idea is good, but for me, it lacks substance.
January 17, 2026
“With the Heart of a Ghost” is a South Korean short-story collection filled with so much hope. all 8 of these stories analyzed the human condition through unique storylines and strange, often lonely, characters. from a world in which a woman wants to turn into a jellyfish as a means of escapism, to a man who begins turning into a tree in his ex’s apartment, to the ghost of a k-pop trainee who finally gets her moment on stage; the worlds surrounding these characters are uncanny, but the characters themselves are extremely human. these stories are a reminder of the beauty and power of friendship and connection during a time in which more people than ever feel alone.
many of these stories grapple with themes of love and loss, identity, isolation, and societal expectations. most of these stories were so tender and heartwarming that i could have cried. there were 2 or 3 stories toward the end that just really didn’t do it for me and lessened my overall enjoyment, but the final story got things back on track and made for a perfect conclusion to this collection. i’m so eager to get my hands on a physical copy of this and reread these stories. such a beautiful body of work.
publishing february 10th from the unnamed press! thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
many of these stories grapple with themes of love and loss, identity, isolation, and societal expectations. most of these stories were so tender and heartwarming that i could have cried. there were 2 or 3 stories toward the end that just really didn’t do it for me and lessened my overall enjoyment, but the final story got things back on track and made for a perfect conclusion to this collection. i’m so eager to get my hands on a physical copy of this and reread these stories. such a beautiful body of work.
publishing february 10th from the unnamed press! thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 10, 2026
➳ four point two five stars.
“sometimes it felt like my anxiety was living my life for me.”
how can we even begin to describe the wonderfully complex experience of breathing, living, and being in pain on this earth right now? in this collection of paranormal short stories lim sunwoo tries to do exactly that: she describes the small moments that hurt us and deeply change us, and she does so with real care and compassion. trauma often shows up when we least expect it: maybe it’s a ghost or a symbol following us everywhere we go, or maybe it’s the reflection we see in the mirror. i truly loved getting immersed in this world of strange creatures and finding parallels with real life. as long as we feel pain we are still alive.
“i gathered that people wanted to talk about themselves. i still didn’t know what that felt like.”
arc kindly sent by the publisher. all opinions are my own.
———
strangely heartwarming. full rtc!!
———
this collection of paranormal short stories sounds right up my alley!!
“sometimes it felt like my anxiety was living my life for me.”
how can we even begin to describe the wonderfully complex experience of breathing, living, and being in pain on this earth right now? in this collection of paranormal short stories lim sunwoo tries to do exactly that: she describes the small moments that hurt us and deeply change us, and she does so with real care and compassion. trauma often shows up when we least expect it: maybe it’s a ghost or a symbol following us everywhere we go, or maybe it’s the reflection we see in the mirror. i truly loved getting immersed in this world of strange creatures and finding parallels with real life. as long as we feel pain we are still alive.
“i gathered that people wanted to talk about themselves. i still didn’t know what that felt like.”
arc kindly sent by the publisher. all opinions are my own.
———
strangely heartwarming. full rtc!!
———
this collection of paranormal short stories sounds right up my alley!!
January 11, 2026
This is a collection of speculative supernatural fiction stories that all have paranormal aspects. It blends the paranormal with everyday life. There are eight short stories. Four of them, I really enjoyed. But, the others I struggled to get through. For me the first two and last two stories were the best. My favorite overall was You’re Not Glowing. It literally had me tearing up. Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang was also very heartwarming and endearing. These stories deal with themes of grief, pet loss, loneliness, self-reflection, and love.
Thanks to Netgalley and Unnamed Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Unnamed Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
With the Heart of a Ghost was definitely an experience, just not the one I expected. I thought there’d be more actual ghosts and that cozy, magical realism vibe I usually love, but a lot of the stories felt confusing. A couple were okay, but the others really dragged for me. The idea and the cover are gorgeous, but overall, it was a tough one to get through.
Thank you to Netgalley and Unnamed Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Netgalley and Unnamed Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
November 3, 2025
"Sometimes it felt like my anxiety was living my life for me."
This lovely short story collection was my Halloween read this year. Far from being scary, it explores human emotions and relationships through the first-person narratives of eight characters experiencing various struggles. They’re lonely, remorseful, grief-stricken, heartbroken, disillusioned. But by the end they have all learned something about themselves, acquiring the freedom they might not know they needed, finally able to move on. I found the hopeful endings weirdly comforting.
Some tales were a bit less engaging than others, while a few left so many questions unanswered they seemed unfinished. The lack of speech marks could also get confusing. Nonetheless I like what they all have in common: a good mix of fantastical and realistic elements (Lim expertly criticises the flaws in our society, especially Korea’s). If I had to pick a favourite story, I think I’d go with the first one. Thanks to Unnamed Press via NetGalley for the ARC!
This lovely short story collection was my Halloween read this year. Far from being scary, it explores human emotions and relationships through the first-person narratives of eight characters experiencing various struggles. They’re lonely, remorseful, grief-stricken, heartbroken, disillusioned. But by the end they have all learned something about themselves, acquiring the freedom they might not know they needed, finally able to move on. I found the hopeful endings weirdly comforting.
Some tales were a bit less engaging than others, while a few left so many questions unanswered they seemed unfinished. The lack of speech marks could also get confusing. Nonetheless I like what they all have in common: a good mix of fantastical and realistic elements (Lim expertly criticises the flaws in our society, especially Korea’s). If I had to pick a favourite story, I think I’d go with the first one. Thanks to Unnamed Press via NetGalley for the ARC!
January 24, 2026
This strange, beautiful, unsettling short story collection explores the extremes of human emotion that are, almost always hidden away in quietness or shame.
I loved how the author explored different types of grief, loneliness, and regret. There was good exploration of how capitalism can cause us to lose what is most important to us. And while each story has its unique fantastical element, these themes bring everything together. I also liked how animals and nature featured heavily to represent the things we struggle to deal with as humans and how that contrasted with the city and society and how that can swallow people up.
Some of the stories ended just before I hoped or expected them to, forcing me to sit with that same lack of satisfaction that the characters experienced. I loved how willing the author was to refuse to make things make perfect sense so that you stayed focused on the emotional experience. Because humans really don’t make sense to others sometimes but it doesn’t stop you feeling for them (this idea manifests a few times).
Despite the quietly sad and sometimes heartbreaking stories, there was also humour and hope to be found.
Overall, the messages gently settled in me and made me feel so much. A moving, stunning debut.
I loved how the author explored different types of grief, loneliness, and regret. There was good exploration of how capitalism can cause us to lose what is most important to us. And while each story has its unique fantastical element, these themes bring everything together. I also liked how animals and nature featured heavily to represent the things we struggle to deal with as humans and how that contrasted with the city and society and how that can swallow people up.
Some of the stories ended just before I hoped or expected them to, forcing me to sit with that same lack of satisfaction that the characters experienced. I loved how willing the author was to refuse to make things make perfect sense so that you stayed focused on the emotional experience. Because humans really don’t make sense to others sometimes but it doesn’t stop you feeling for them (this idea manifests a few times).
Despite the quietly sad and sometimes heartbreaking stories, there was also humour and hope to be found.
Overall, the messages gently settled in me and made me feel so much. A moving, stunning debut.
November 14, 2025
This is a collection of strange and sad short stories that left me feeling a bit lonely. I especially loved the jellyfish story, I think it will stay with me for a long time. While each story is unique, I think they all have a similar vibe. While I didn't think so while reading, on reflection I think all of the stories are about loneliness in some way, but in different perspectives. I really enjoyed these and would love to read whatever Lim Sunwoo comes out with next.
October 29, 2025
thank you net galley for the chance to review this arc. highly recommend reading this one if you love magical realism, korean culture and whimsically weird, heartfelt stories about what it means to exist as a human ✨💕
February 2, 2026
A debut collection of eight fantastical stories that explore emotions that are hidden and haunting, blending ghosts, surreal transformations, and everyday life. Each story follows characters confronting grief, longing, love, and loneliness in unexpected ways from a jellyfish apocalypses to haunted vacuum cleaners and heartbreak that turns people into trees. Each luminous story invites readers to pause, reflect, and glimpse the strange, fragile, and beautiful possibilities that exist between life and death.
These were easily my favourite stories in the collection. I loved the world shaped by fear and bigotry toward the jellyfish, an unsettling mirror of real-world discrimination, but one that powerfully explored choice and identity. I was especially moved by the tender, reflective narratives of the dead lingering before crossing over on one of the other stories, savouring the small joys they’ll miss, mixed with some light humour that made them event more human. I also enjoyed the one where the characters spirit leaves her body, but she is still able to function and feel the grief of a lost partner, similar to the themes played out in the gentle short story of a man becoming a tree and his acceptance of his fate.
Overall, the collection felt deeply heartwarming yet emotionally resonant, beautifully balancing themes of life and death. While some stories didn’t land quite as strongly, I still appreciated their thematic intent and I do wish a few had been more fully developed or extended.
I’m very excited to read more from this author, especially if they release a novel; their soft, luminous emotional tone feels like exactly the kind of comfort we need in darker times. 3.75/5
Thanks to Unnamed Press and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available from the 10th February 2026.
These were easily my favourite stories in the collection. I loved the world shaped by fear and bigotry toward the jellyfish, an unsettling mirror of real-world discrimination, but one that powerfully explored choice and identity. I was especially moved by the tender, reflective narratives of the dead lingering before crossing over on one of the other stories, savouring the small joys they’ll miss, mixed with some light humour that made them event more human. I also enjoyed the one where the characters spirit leaves her body, but she is still able to function and feel the grief of a lost partner, similar to the themes played out in the gentle short story of a man becoming a tree and his acceptance of his fate.
Overall, the collection felt deeply heartwarming yet emotionally resonant, beautifully balancing themes of life and death. While some stories didn’t land quite as strongly, I still appreciated their thematic intent and I do wish a few had been more fully developed or extended.
I’m very excited to read more from this author, especially if they release a novel; their soft, luminous emotional tone feels like exactly the kind of comfort we need in darker times. 3.75/5
Thanks to Unnamed Press and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Available from the 10th February 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With the Heart of a Ghost
This is a collection of 8 short stories originally written in Korean by Lim Sunwoo and translated into English by Chi-Young Kim.
This collection carried a deeply melancholic tone throughout, and there was always an underlying sense of unease in the stories. I could never predict where any of them were headed, each one unfolded in a strange, often bizarre way that kept me unsettled and curious.
For me, this was a mixed collection overall, but the first two stories were really good. Their ideas and execution were exceptional.
The author writes about human emotions with remarkable depth and nuance, capturing grief, loss, isolation, and emotional repression in ways that feel both surreal and painfully real.
The opening story, With the Heart of a Ghost, follows a protagonist whose ghost separates from her body and gives voice to all the emotions she has long suppressed. Watching her finally confront and release these feelings felt cathartic and deeply moving. The second story, You’re Not Glowing, is about zombie jellyfish that can turn humans into jellyfish upon contact. We see how some people begin to choose this transformation willingly, offering a striking and thought-provoking insight into human longing and escape.
These two stories are now firmly on my list of all-time favourite short stories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @netgalley and @unnamedpress for providing the eARC of this book.
This is a collection of 8 short stories originally written in Korean by Lim Sunwoo and translated into English by Chi-Young Kim.
This collection carried a deeply melancholic tone throughout, and there was always an underlying sense of unease in the stories. I could never predict where any of them were headed, each one unfolded in a strange, often bizarre way that kept me unsettled and curious.
For me, this was a mixed collection overall, but the first two stories were really good. Their ideas and execution were exceptional.
The author writes about human emotions with remarkable depth and nuance, capturing grief, loss, isolation, and emotional repression in ways that feel both surreal and painfully real.
The opening story, With the Heart of a Ghost, follows a protagonist whose ghost separates from her body and gives voice to all the emotions she has long suppressed. Watching her finally confront and release these feelings felt cathartic and deeply moving. The second story, You’re Not Glowing, is about zombie jellyfish that can turn humans into jellyfish upon contact. We see how some people begin to choose this transformation willingly, offering a striking and thought-provoking insight into human longing and escape.
These two stories are now firmly on my list of all-time favourite short stories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @netgalley and @unnamedpress for providing the eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
[ARC REVIEW 📖]
With the Heart of a Ghost : Stories
Author : Lim Sunwoo
Translator : Chi-Young Kim
Heads up, there are certain topics discussed that may trigger unwanted responses, please be aware of suicide, animal abuse, & death.
This book is made up of a collection of eight short stories exploring the complexities of human emotions metaphorically. Some introspective, others speculative, as well as meditative & reflective.
Each of these imaginative tales have interesting premises, all unique in their own way of interpretation, tackling different issues like regret, grief, loss, and unresolved feelings.
It is compelling & captivating in its own way because the narrative is a collision of the supernatural & the paranormal with the real mundane everyday life. It is practically a balance of the unexplainable as surreal & the heart-wrenching truth of reality.
There were no likeable characters nor a really striking development from any of them. The narrative all throughout remained dry & monotonous. May not be for everyone's taste.
Thank you Netgalley & Unnamed Press for giving me this opportunity. 🥹🫶
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
With the Heart of a Ghost : Stories
Author : Lim Sunwoo
Translator : Chi-Young Kim
Heads up, there are certain topics discussed that may trigger unwanted responses, please be aware of suicide, animal abuse, & death.
This book is made up of a collection of eight short stories exploring the complexities of human emotions metaphorically. Some introspective, others speculative, as well as meditative & reflective.
Each of these imaginative tales have interesting premises, all unique in their own way of interpretation, tackling different issues like regret, grief, loss, and unresolved feelings.
It is compelling & captivating in its own way because the narrative is a collision of the supernatural & the paranormal with the real mundane everyday life. It is practically a balance of the unexplainable as surreal & the heart-wrenching truth of reality.
There were no likeable characters nor a really striking development from any of them. The narrative all throughout remained dry & monotonous. May not be for everyone's taste.
Thank you Netgalley & Unnamed Press for giving me this opportunity. 🥹🫶
3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
P.S. Follow me for more book reviews on:
❥ Instagram @bookwormdenz
❥ Threads @denz.kaye
❥ Meta @bookworm.denz
❥ Goodreads @bookwormdenz
February 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and The Unnamed Press for the ARC! This definitely is outside of my comfort zone and I wasn’t expecting some of these stories!
It was engaging, intriguing and I really enjoyed the jellyfish fish story the most!
It was engaging, intriguing and I really enjoyed the jellyfish fish story the most!
October 15, 2025
Jellyfish fiction is so important
Standouts:
- You're Not Glowing
- Summer, Like the Colour of Water
- Even Though It's Not Alaska
Standouts:
- You're Not Glowing
- Summer, Like the Colour of Water
- Even Though It's Not Alaska
January 11, 2026
Lim Sunwoo has managed to create a collection of short stories that perfectly reflects the everyday beauty of existence through the liminal spaces between life and death. Every story, at its core, speaks to how even our most seemingly insignificant decisions can reroute our lives and within those shifts, we are able to find joy if we look hard enough. These stories emphasize the importance of companionship, of caring for the people around you, of the sincerity of reaching for your dreams- sometimes even after death.
Normally, when I’m invested in a book, I can’t put it down, but I found myself taking a day between stories so that I wouldn’t have to let this collection go too early and I still feel like this book could have been longer. Sunwoo is cemented as a master of literature and I’m looking forward to every new release after this one.
If you need a heartwarming and soul-enriching book to read, “With the Heart of a Ghost” comes out February 10th, 2026. Preorder from an independent bookstore if you have the opportunity. Endless thanks to NetGalley, Unnamed Press, and Lim Sunwoo for the opportunity to review this incredible collection.
Normally, when I’m invested in a book, I can’t put it down, but I found myself taking a day between stories so that I wouldn’t have to let this collection go too early and I still feel like this book could have been longer. Sunwoo is cemented as a master of literature and I’m looking forward to every new release after this one.
If you need a heartwarming and soul-enriching book to read, “With the Heart of a Ghost” comes out February 10th, 2026. Preorder from an independent bookstore if you have the opportunity. Endless thanks to NetGalley, Unnamed Press, and Lim Sunwoo for the opportunity to review this incredible collection.
December 20, 2025
3.5 rounded up!
Thank you so much to the publisher for an E-ARC!
I really liked this collection. Was expecting the stories themselves to be weird which they were but for some reason I was expecting something more?? I'm not sure what which is an odd thing to say but I think more unexplained weirdness, unsettling, than magical
Thank you so much to the publisher for an E-ARC!
I really liked this collection. Was expecting the stories themselves to be weird which they were but for some reason I was expecting something more?? I'm not sure what which is an odd thing to say but I think more unexplained weirdness, unsettling, than magical
January 3, 2026
With the Heart of a Ghost is an exceptional short story collection! Sunwoo writes in a very terse and pragmatic way, which I really enjoyed and I thought lent itself well to the surrealism of the worlds she’s created. Some of my favorite stories from the collection were You’re Not Glowing (jellyfish are swarming the beaches and turning people into jellyfish when they sting), That Unfamiliar Night (a woman struggling with infertility runs into an old junior high acquaintance), and Even Though It’s Not Alaska (in which a woman trains to get revenge for her murdered cats). Straddling the line of realism and absurdism, every story in this collection has so much heart. I genuinely can’t wait to read them again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC! With the Heart of a Ghost publishes on Feb 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the ARC! With the Heart of a Ghost publishes on Feb 10, 2026
June 10, 2023
유령의 마음으로 - 4.5 stars
빛이 나지 않아요 - 3.5 stars
여름은 물빛처럼 - 3.5 stars
낯선 밤에 우리는 - 2.5 stars
집에 가서 자야지 - 2 stars
동면하는 남자 - 2 stars
알래스카는 아니지만 - 2.5 stars
커튼콜, 연장전, 라스트팡 - 3 stars
빛이 나지 않아요 - 3.5 stars
여름은 물빛처럼 - 3.5 stars
낯선 밤에 우리는 - 2.5 stars
집에 가서 자야지 - 2 stars
동면하는 남자 - 2 stars
알래스카는 아니지만 - 2.5 stars
커튼콜, 연장전, 라스트팡 - 3 stars
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
When I first saw the blurb for this book, I knew I immediately had to read it. Short stories with fantastical and magical elements? Sign me up! It really sounds like my cup of tea, especially the fact that the descriptions of the stories sound really quirky, concepts that are bizarre and borderline ridiculous.
But wow. I loved this collection more than I thought I would. Lim writes a collection of 8 stories that are weird, but wholesome and touching. Her favorite characters are those who are isolated, alienated, and lonely. People who wish to have human connection, who desire love and trust and being part of a community that accepts them. People who realize that some bonds are meant to be left behind, to be cherished as a memory, a temporary thing that once gave them warmth and strength. These characters now know that it's time to leave the comfort of isolation or the expired relationships because they're gradually becoming shackles to their own happiness and independence.
Lim's stories in here are mostly decent, solid stories (3.5-3.75 stars), but some of them truly takes the cake. "You're Not Glowing" is my personal favorite, followed closely behind by "That Unfamiliar Night". There's something so raw and emotional in these two stories that tug on my heartstrings. The Hibernating Guy, With the Heart of a Ghost, Go Sleep at Home, and Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang are decent stories to read as well, and my least favorites would be Even Though It's Not Alaska and Summer, Like the Color of Water. But all of the stories still hold their own weight, and I thought Lim was good at setting up the atmosphere and tone of the stories that they are all distinct in their own ways.
With that being said, I still have some qualms with this collection.
I think that some of the stories here can be redundant, with themes that are very similar to one another. I don't mind having a shared theme in a collection; in fact, some of the best collection I've read follow one singular theme like Rejection and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. The difference between With the Heart of a Ghost and these stories are the way the theme is represented or executed. Some of the stories in here, if you pare them down, follow this exact pattern: two (or more) lonely misfits connect with each other, creating a bond that brings them warmth through companionship. Which I find so endearing, but after seeing the exact same idea executed multiple times, it gets really tedious to read. That's not to say the stories were all the same thing, it's just that this pattern repeats itself throughout some of the stories. It doesn't take away from the distinctive charm and personality that Lim built for each story, but I just wished the stories were more diverse in their execution.
Overall, this was a zany, charming little collection. Lim's writing is very reminiscent of Choi Eunyoung, Banana Yoshimoto, and Kaori Ekuni. Warmth and hope bleeds into her writing, portraying loneliness, grief, and heartbreak in a moving way. I felt the author's sincerity in her words, which reminds me of something the late Malaysian director, Yasmin Ahmad, said about how sincerity is what she looked for in any film; if a film moved her, she would consider it a great film (I don't remember the exact wording, but something along the lines of that). I think sometimes a great book is one that is sincere, and I can feel Lim's hopes and emotions for a less lonely world in this collection.
Many thanks to The Unnamed Press and Edelweiss for this collection!
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
But wow. I loved this collection more than I thought I would. Lim writes a collection of 8 stories that are weird, but wholesome and touching. Her favorite characters are those who are isolated, alienated, and lonely. People who wish to have human connection, who desire love and trust and being part of a community that accepts them. People who realize that some bonds are meant to be left behind, to be cherished as a memory, a temporary thing that once gave them warmth and strength. These characters now know that it's time to leave the comfort of isolation or the expired relationships because they're gradually becoming shackles to their own happiness and independence.
Lim's stories in here are mostly decent, solid stories (3.5-3.75 stars), but some of them truly takes the cake. "You're Not Glowing" is my personal favorite, followed closely behind by "That Unfamiliar Night". There's something so raw and emotional in these two stories that tug on my heartstrings. The Hibernating Guy, With the Heart of a Ghost, Go Sleep at Home, and Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang are decent stories to read as well, and my least favorites would be Even Though It's Not Alaska and Summer, Like the Color of Water. But all of the stories still hold their own weight, and I thought Lim was good at setting up the atmosphere and tone of the stories that they are all distinct in their own ways.
With that being said, I still have some qualms with this collection.
I think that some of the stories here can be redundant, with themes that are very similar to one another. I don't mind having a shared theme in a collection; in fact, some of the best collection I've read follow one singular theme like Rejection and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. The difference between With the Heart of a Ghost and these stories are the way the theme is represented or executed. Some of the stories in here, if you pare them down, follow this exact pattern: two (or more) lonely misfits connect with each other, creating a bond that brings them warmth through companionship. Which I find so endearing, but after seeing the exact same idea executed multiple times, it gets really tedious to read. That's not to say the stories were all the same thing, it's just that this pattern repeats itself throughout some of the stories. It doesn't take away from the distinctive charm and personality that Lim built for each story, but I just wished the stories were more diverse in their execution.
Overall, this was a zany, charming little collection. Lim's writing is very reminiscent of Choi Eunyoung, Banana Yoshimoto, and Kaori Ekuni. Warmth and hope bleeds into her writing, portraying loneliness, grief, and heartbreak in a moving way. I felt the author's sincerity in her words, which reminds me of something the late Malaysian director, Yasmin Ahmad, said about how sincerity is what she looked for in any film; if a film moved her, she would consider it a great film (I don't remember the exact wording, but something along the lines of that). I think sometimes a great book is one that is sincere, and I can feel Lim's hopes and emotions for a less lonely world in this collection.
Many thanks to The Unnamed Press and Edelweiss for this collection!
3.75 stars, rounded up to 4.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
None of what I'd done felt like my choice. Leaving home as soon as I turned eighteen, working at a movie theater in a basement, visiting the canal, keeping a human tree in my home. Sometimes it felt like my anxiety was living my life for me. I combed my hair back and said, Don't be too grateful, because I will dig you out in six days.
With The Heart of a Ghost: Stories (2026) is Chi-Young Kim's translation of 유령의 마음으로 (2022) by 임선우 (Sunwoo Lim). The Korean original is listed on Goodreads separately: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
This is a collection of gently offbeat stories, typically the first person narrator going through a break-up, or similar, and then encountering something, often supernatural, that throws them out of their normal routine, but leads them to re-examine their situation.
In one sense this collection is adjacent to the healing fiction trend, but far more interesting that the Magical Healing Coffee at the Bookshop-cum-Laundromat genre.
The title story has the narrator, who works as a bakery, visited by her own ghost, who helps her talk to the fish which she feeds the leftover Potato Buns (her own favourite the Soboro Bread) and work through how she should move on from her boyfriend, in a coma for two years.
You’re Not Glowing has Korean seawaters visited by glowing jellyfish who turn anyone who touches them into another of their species, and the narrator helps someone who wished to make this transition.
In Summer, Like the Color of Water the narrator’s flat is visited by the ex- of the previous tenant, who decides, literally, to put down roots until she returns, turning into a human-tree hybrid.
While Go Sleep at Home has the narrator helping her ex, who still lives with her, neither able to afford buying out the other’s deposit, hunt their apartment block for his missing gecko, in the process befriending the man who lives above them, himself fresh from a break-up.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
List of stories
유령의 마음으로 - With the Heart of a Ghost
빛이 나지 않아요 - You're Not Glowing
여름은 물빛처럼 - Summer, Like the Colour of Water
낯선 밤에 우리는 - That Unfamiliar Night
집에 가서 자야지 - Go Sleep at Home
동면하는 남자 - The Hibernating Guy
알래스카는 아니지만 - Even Though It's Not Alaska
커튼콜, 연장전, 라스트 팡 - Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang
Quotes in English translation and Korean original
I studied the ghost as it cried. All the emotions that couldn’t fully surface in me resided entirely within the ghost. I reached out and wiped the tears flowing down the ghost’s cheeks. I couldn’t touch them, but they were clearly warm; they were so warm that I was able to cry. What kind of ghost cries like this? I asked. Because I’m not a ghost, the ghost said, weeping. The ghost wrapped me into a hug, and I felt perfectly understood, something I’d never before experienced in my entire life. I think this is the end, I said in the ghost’s arms, and the ghost answered, Yes, it is.
- from With the Heart of a Ghost
나는 유령의 우는 얼굴을 바라보았다. 나에게 도달하지 못한 감정들이 전부 그 안에 머무르고 있었다. 나는 손을 뻗어 유령의 두 눈에서 뚝뚝 떨어지는 눈물을 닦아 주었다. 손에 닿지는 않았지만 분명 따뜻했고, 너무나 따뜻해서, 나는 울 수 있었다. 대체 어떤 유령이 눈물까지 흘리는 거야. 내가 말했다. 나는 유령이 아니니까. 유령은 우는 와중에도 그렇게 말했다. 잠시 뒤에 유령이 나를 끌어안았는데, 그것은 내가 태어나서 처음으로 받아 보는, 한 치의 오차도 없는 완전한 이해였다. 여기까지인 것 같아. 안긴 채로 내가 말했을 때 유령은 그래, 라고 대답해 주었다.
-「유령의 마음으로」에서
My first client lived in an apartment with three generations of her family. Lee Gyeongsun, 80, is ill and wants to go to the sea. This was the concise note written on the intake form. I rang the bell and Mrs. Lee’s daughter opened the door. I followed her into the primary bedroom to find the low, bathtub-sized tank that our technician had installed the day before. Mrs. Lee was there too. I said hello, and she asked me who I was. I said I was going to assist her through this process, and she asked me again who I was. I said, I’m going to help you become a jellyfish, but she kept asking me the same question.
- from You're Not Glowing
내가 처음으로 파견된 집은 삼대가 사는 아파트였다. ‘이경순, 82세, 병환으로 인한 고통에서 벗어나 바다로 가고 싶음.’ 고객 정보란에는 간략하게 적혀 있었다. 초인종을 누르자 이경순 씨 딸이 문을 열어 주었다. 그를 따라 안방으로 들어가 보니 전날 기사가 와서 설치하고 간 욕조 높이의 낮은 수조와 이경순 씨가 있었다. 내가 인사를 건네자 이경순 씨는 나에게 누구냐고 물었다. 도우미라고 대답하자 그는 또다시 내게 누구냐고 물었다. 할머니께서 해파리가 되실 수 있도록 도와드릴 거예요, 설명했지만 그는 계속해서 내가 누구인지 물었다.
-「빛이 나지 않아요」에서
Kyobo entry for the original
https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detai...
With The Heart of a Ghost: Stories (2026) is Chi-Young Kim's translation of 유령의 마음으로 (2022) by 임선우 (Sunwoo Lim). The Korean original is listed on Goodreads separately: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
This is a collection of gently offbeat stories, typically the first person narrator going through a break-up, or similar, and then encountering something, often supernatural, that throws them out of their normal routine, but leads them to re-examine their situation.
In one sense this collection is adjacent to the healing fiction trend, but far more interesting that the Magical Healing Coffee at the Bookshop-cum-Laundromat genre.
The title story has the narrator, who works as a bakery, visited by her own ghost, who helps her talk to the fish which she feeds the leftover Potato Buns (her own favourite the Soboro Bread) and work through how she should move on from her boyfriend, in a coma for two years.
You’re Not Glowing has Korean seawaters visited by glowing jellyfish who turn anyone who touches them into another of their species, and the narrator helps someone who wished to make this transition.
In Summer, Like the Color of Water the narrator’s flat is visited by the ex- of the previous tenant, who decides, literally, to put down roots until she returns, turning into a human-tree hybrid.
While Go Sleep at Home has the narrator helping her ex, who still lives with her, neither able to afford buying out the other’s deposit, hunt their apartment block for his missing gecko, in the process befriending the man who lives above them, himself fresh from a break-up.
Thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the ARC.
3.5 stars rounded to 4.
List of stories
유령의 마음으로 - With the Heart of a Ghost
빛이 나지 않아요 - You're Not Glowing
여름은 물빛처럼 - Summer, Like the Colour of Water
낯선 밤에 우리는 - That Unfamiliar Night
집에 가서 자야지 - Go Sleep at Home
동면하는 남자 - The Hibernating Guy
알래스카는 아니지만 - Even Though It's Not Alaska
커튼콜, 연장전, 라스트 팡 - Curtain Call, Extra Inning, Last Pang
Quotes in English translation and Korean original
I studied the ghost as it cried. All the emotions that couldn’t fully surface in me resided entirely within the ghost. I reached out and wiped the tears flowing down the ghost’s cheeks. I couldn’t touch them, but they were clearly warm; they were so warm that I was able to cry. What kind of ghost cries like this? I asked. Because I’m not a ghost, the ghost said, weeping. The ghost wrapped me into a hug, and I felt perfectly understood, something I’d never before experienced in my entire life. I think this is the end, I said in the ghost’s arms, and the ghost answered, Yes, it is.
- from With the Heart of a Ghost
나는 유령의 우는 얼굴을 바라보았다. 나에게 도달하지 못한 감정들이 전부 그 안에 머무르고 있었다. 나는 손을 뻗어 유령의 두 눈에서 뚝뚝 떨어지는 눈물을 닦아 주었다. 손에 닿지는 않았지만 분명 따뜻했고, 너무나 따뜻해서, 나는 울 수 있었다. 대체 어떤 유령이 눈물까지 흘리는 거야. 내가 말했다. 나는 유령이 아니니까. 유령은 우는 와중에도 그렇게 말했다. 잠시 뒤에 유령이 나를 끌어안았는데, 그것은 내가 태어나서 처음으로 받아 보는, 한 치의 오차도 없는 완전한 이해였다. 여기까지인 것 같아. 안긴 채로 내가 말했을 때 유령은 그래, 라고 대답해 주었다.
-「유령의 마음으로」에서
My first client lived in an apartment with three generations of her family. Lee Gyeongsun, 80, is ill and wants to go to the sea. This was the concise note written on the intake form. I rang the bell and Mrs. Lee’s daughter opened the door. I followed her into the primary bedroom to find the low, bathtub-sized tank that our technician had installed the day before. Mrs. Lee was there too. I said hello, and she asked me who I was. I said I was going to assist her through this process, and she asked me again who I was. I said, I’m going to help you become a jellyfish, but she kept asking me the same question.
- from You're Not Glowing
내가 처음으로 파견된 집은 삼대가 사는 아파트였다. ‘이경순, 82세, 병환으로 인한 고통에서 벗어나 바다로 가고 싶음.’ 고객 정보란에는 간략하게 적혀 있었다. 초인종을 누르자 이경순 씨 딸이 문을 열어 주었다. 그를 따라 안방으로 들어가 보니 전날 기사가 와서 설치하고 간 욕조 높이의 낮은 수조와 이경순 씨가 있었다. 내가 인사를 건네자 이경순 씨는 나에게 누구냐고 물었다. 도우미라고 대답하자 그는 또다시 내게 누구냐고 물었다. 할머니께서 해파리가 되실 수 있도록 도와드릴 거예요, 설명했지만 그는 계속해서 내가 누구인지 물었다.
-「빛이 나지 않아요」에서
Kyobo entry for the original
https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detai...
October 29, 2025
What are ghosts, really? Are they the souls of the dearly departed, a warning from the great beyond, a manifestation of our subconscious desires and fears - or something entirely unexplainable?
In this mesmerising collection of eight newly translated short stories, we meet brand new ghost stories with lives (or deaths) of their own. They're full of wonder and whimsy, playing with the concepts of ghosts to explore different aspects of life from self-reflection, loss, love and identity. Each story has it's own style, but the same contemplative, warm voice flows through every one.
These tales are strange, with beautifully vivid writing and lyrical, poetic wording that were a pleasure to read. Sunwoo paints each story in rich detail, whether the setting is ordinary or extraordinary, keeping each tale short but their core ideas still shining through without having to interpret or think too hard (although you may anyway)
Some of the tales bordered on the longer side of what you'd expect from a short story collection - with the eight covering 200 pages - some felt like I wanted them to be snappier but I still loved the strange middle land that these worlds inhabit, offering a bit of world building, some carefully curated details without a full narrative.
A ghost who looks just like the narrator reflects her feelings back to her in a bun shop; mutant jellyfish take over the world and if you touch one you become one yourself; a heartbroken man becomes a tree in his ex’s apartment; the ghost of a wannabe K-pop star stuck in a vacuum cleaner wants out; Jugyeong helps a man hibernate by burying him up to his neck; Huiae, in deep conflict with her husband, reconnects with her strange old friend; Jo has lost his best friend–a gecko–but won't give up the search; and Suyeong plots revenge on a wild dog that killed her cats by channeling her inner cat.
A strange little book with a lot of charm, this is a great addition to your bookshelf if you love a casual existential crisis.
In this mesmerising collection of eight newly translated short stories, we meet brand new ghost stories with lives (or deaths) of their own. They're full of wonder and whimsy, playing with the concepts of ghosts to explore different aspects of life from self-reflection, loss, love and identity. Each story has it's own style, but the same contemplative, warm voice flows through every one.
These tales are strange, with beautifully vivid writing and lyrical, poetic wording that were a pleasure to read. Sunwoo paints each story in rich detail, whether the setting is ordinary or extraordinary, keeping each tale short but their core ideas still shining through without having to interpret or think too hard (although you may anyway)
Some of the tales bordered on the longer side of what you'd expect from a short story collection - with the eight covering 200 pages - some felt like I wanted them to be snappier but I still loved the strange middle land that these worlds inhabit, offering a bit of world building, some carefully curated details without a full narrative.
A ghost who looks just like the narrator reflects her feelings back to her in a bun shop; mutant jellyfish take over the world and if you touch one you become one yourself; a heartbroken man becomes a tree in his ex’s apartment; the ghost of a wannabe K-pop star stuck in a vacuum cleaner wants out; Jugyeong helps a man hibernate by burying him up to his neck; Huiae, in deep conflict with her husband, reconnects with her strange old friend; Jo has lost his best friend–a gecko–but won't give up the search; and Suyeong plots revenge on a wild dog that killed her cats by channeling her inner cat.
A strange little book with a lot of charm, this is a great addition to your bookshelf if you love a casual existential crisis.
January 29, 2026
With the Heart of a Ghost is a collection of short stories all about humans being humans… or ghosts, or cats, or trees. And guess what? I loved every second of it!!!
Mutant jellyfish bringing the apocalypse, a stranger breaking in and growing roots in someone’s apartment, a ghost befriending another ghost stuck inside of a vacuum - these are just a few ways to sum up the magical little universe crafted by Lim Sunwoo within this collection.
The stories fit perfectly well together, mainly looking at the lives of working-class people in South Korea, and centring characters who are holding on to something or someone. They are fuelled by feelings such as loneliness, uncertainty, or nostalgia, and they tend to navigate their lives quite passively. Weird, unexpected events usually take place and make them shift their perspectives. I could relate to so many of these characters and felt a genuine attachment to them despite only spending a few pages together, and what’s even more important is that I could tell how much the author cared for them as well :)
Besides the extremely enjoyable writing style and the many moments of playfulness and creativity, I’d like to note that this book is also incredibly moving. Most stories seem uncomplicated and light at first, only gradually and gently revealing their profound nature. There’s a delicate, beautiful balance between mundanity and wonder, the work being both grounded and dream-like.
The stories making up With the Heart of a Ghost had a calming effect on me and left behind such surprising emotions once they were over. I am so grateful to the publisher for providing me with an ARC! This book will stay with me for a really long time.
4 🌟
Mutant jellyfish bringing the apocalypse, a stranger breaking in and growing roots in someone’s apartment, a ghost befriending another ghost stuck inside of a vacuum - these are just a few ways to sum up the magical little universe crafted by Lim Sunwoo within this collection.
The stories fit perfectly well together, mainly looking at the lives of working-class people in South Korea, and centring characters who are holding on to something or someone. They are fuelled by feelings such as loneliness, uncertainty, or nostalgia, and they tend to navigate their lives quite passively. Weird, unexpected events usually take place and make them shift their perspectives. I could relate to so many of these characters and felt a genuine attachment to them despite only spending a few pages together, and what’s even more important is that I could tell how much the author cared for them as well :)
Besides the extremely enjoyable writing style and the many moments of playfulness and creativity, I’d like to note that this book is also incredibly moving. Most stories seem uncomplicated and light at first, only gradually and gently revealing their profound nature. There’s a delicate, beautiful balance between mundanity and wonder, the work being both grounded and dream-like.
The stories making up With the Heart of a Ghost had a calming effect on me and left behind such surprising emotions once they were over. I am so grateful to the publisher for providing me with an ARC! This book will stay with me for a really long time.
4 🌟
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Actual rating 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars ⭐
‘With the Heart of a Ghost’ is a short story collection that blends the mundane with the fantastical, with the collection being tied together by each story following a lonely person and looking how they cope with the loneliness, and it was a mixed bag for me.
There are some absolutely wonderful stories in this collection and ‘You’re Not Glowing’ was the real highlight, set in a world where siren jellyfish attract humans to the sea so they can become jellyfish too, but somehow capitalism finds a way to make a profit from this. I also really enjoyed the interconnected ‘Go Sleep At Home’ and ‘The Hibernating Guy’, with ‘Go Sleep At Home’ being a really grounded story and a pretty believable portrayal of what someone may do to keep human connection. ‘The Hibernating Guy’ requires you to suspend some of your disbelief, but it is written well enough that you can believe a human hibernating is possible and that someone would help them go into hibernation.
Whilst the premise of some stories really worked, other times they fell flat and it felt like a bit of a slog to get through them. It’s difficult to pinpoint what really went wrong for me with some of the stories, because looking at my synopsis for each of them they all sound like something I would absolutely love to read, but in practice they came off as confusing and underdeveloped. I suppose that’s the risk you take with a short story collection though and I would still recommend reading this collection as there are more hits than misses and all of the concepts are interesting, even if the execution didn’t quite work for some of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the chance to read this ARC.
‘With the Heart of a Ghost’ is a short story collection that blends the mundane with the fantastical, with the collection being tied together by each story following a lonely person and looking how they cope with the loneliness, and it was a mixed bag for me.
There are some absolutely wonderful stories in this collection and ‘You’re Not Glowing’ was the real highlight, set in a world where siren jellyfish attract humans to the sea so they can become jellyfish too, but somehow capitalism finds a way to make a profit from this. I also really enjoyed the interconnected ‘Go Sleep At Home’ and ‘The Hibernating Guy’, with ‘Go Sleep At Home’ being a really grounded story and a pretty believable portrayal of what someone may do to keep human connection. ‘The Hibernating Guy’ requires you to suspend some of your disbelief, but it is written well enough that you can believe a human hibernating is possible and that someone would help them go into hibernation.
Whilst the premise of some stories really worked, other times they fell flat and it felt like a bit of a slog to get through them. It’s difficult to pinpoint what really went wrong for me with some of the stories, because looking at my synopsis for each of them they all sound like something I would absolutely love to read, but in practice they came off as confusing and underdeveloped. I suppose that’s the risk you take with a short story collection though and I would still recommend reading this collection as there are more hits than misses and all of the concepts are interesting, even if the execution didn’t quite work for some of them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Unnamed Press for the chance to read this ARC.
February 10, 2026
Oh my gosh, I loved this book. It is a collection of eight short stories and each one takes you on a different emotional ride. The characters in these stories and their situations might differ, but each one is lonely. I wanted to hug each of them and talk to them so they wouldn’t be. But I am glad that they all find people they can share their loneliness with and feel comforted, even if only for a short time.
It’s difficult to say what genre they all fit in, they might be science fiction with the glowing jellyfish or fantasy with the ghosts, but for me, they were all healing. Each story left my eyes full and my heart comforted.
🪼🪼🪼
To give you an idea of what the stories are like, we have a girl who finds herself face-to-face with her own ghost and can understand her true feelings. A girl who helps people voluntarily transform from humans to jellyfish. A person who starts putting down actual roots waiting for his ex. Two friends, one dealing with fertility, and the other involved with a religious cult, who reconnect after years. A person whose life runs on lies but feels offended when others do the same to him after he loses his gecko. A girl who helps another person hibernate for the winter and buries him alive. A girl whose downstairs neighbour bores a hole in the ceiling with her gaze. And finally, the ghost of a singer trapped in a vacuum cleaner.
All these stories sound bizarre and they are uncanny, but they are all full of so much heart.
🪼🪼🪼
If you love healing fiction, or slice-of-life stories, you need to absolutely pick up this book. You won’t regret it, I promise.
It’s difficult to say what genre they all fit in, they might be science fiction with the glowing jellyfish or fantasy with the ghosts, but for me, they were all healing. Each story left my eyes full and my heart comforted.
🪼🪼🪼
To give you an idea of what the stories are like, we have a girl who finds herself face-to-face with her own ghost and can understand her true feelings. A girl who helps people voluntarily transform from humans to jellyfish. A person who starts putting down actual roots waiting for his ex. Two friends, one dealing with fertility, and the other involved with a religious cult, who reconnect after years. A person whose life runs on lies but feels offended when others do the same to him after he loses his gecko. A girl who helps another person hibernate for the winter and buries him alive. A girl whose downstairs neighbour bores a hole in the ceiling with her gaze. And finally, the ghost of a singer trapped in a vacuum cleaner.
All these stories sound bizarre and they are uncanny, but they are all full of so much heart.
🪼🪼🪼
If you love healing fiction, or slice-of-life stories, you need to absolutely pick up this book. You won’t regret it, I promise.
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