Romancing on Jeju

Three friends embark on a romantic adventure in Park’s overambitious debut. Three years before the start of the book, illustrator Romi participated in a craft fair on Jeju Island, where a handsome, enigmatic fan of hers stole her heart. He disappeared before she could get his contact information, leaving her with only one clue—his passion for beekeeping. Inspired by Romi’s unfinished romance, her friend Hadam, a filmmaker, suggests that they film a documentary about traveling to the island and tracking down “Honeyman.” Once they and their friend Chakyung arrive, Hadam enlists the help of her old flame, Jaewoong, who’s now working as a civil servant on Jeju, to narrow down a list of local beekeepers. Meanwhile, Chakyung struggles with her attraction to a charming stranger she met on the flight, forcing her to face how detached she feels from her fiancé. As the search for Honeyman yields disappointing results, Romi wonders if she will ever find closure to her unfulfilled fantasy. Though there are some good ideas here, Park struggles to balance the large cast and the many subplots, resulting in an incohesive narrative. This feels half-baked. (Aug.)