Behind five willows / June Hur.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

From the New York Times- bestselling author of A Crane Among Wolves comes a warm and romantic homage to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set in historical Korea, about a reader and a writer who secretly fight against government book banning and find themselves irresistibly drawn together.

As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber to make a little extra money. It's dangerous work, but she loves it--especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favorite author, known as Black Lotus.

When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn't be so terrible... if it weren't for the young man's uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.

As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He's kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father's son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.

When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple--along with the girl's younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly...

Also by June Hur
The Silence of Bones
The Forest of Stolen Girls
The Red Palace
A Crane Among Wolves

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

Two teens in 18th-century Korea find themselves drawn together via secret correspondence and their commitment to a common cause in this simmering historical romance by Hur (A Crane Among Wolves). Eighteen-year-old Shin Haewon, the middle daughter of a financially struggling family, covertly works illegally as a book transcriber, an occupation that becomes increasingly dangerous as book-banning government mandates multiply. But Haewon enjoys the thrill of her job's taboo nature, and especially loves transcribing books from anonymous popular fiction novelist Black Lotus, with whom Haewon has also been secretly exchanging letters. At home, Haewon chaperones her older sister, Jade, during Jade's courtship with a wealthy gentleman who's similarly accompanied by his uptight friend, Seojun. As the only son of a wealthy minister, Seojun feels pressured to uphold his family's reputation--which he knows would fall into jeopardy if his moonlighting as Black Lotus was discovered. Stress brought about by filial duty and government censorship is buoyed by spirited correspondences with his transcriber, known only as Magpie. Warmly rendered characters navigate a unique and evocative setting, which echoes with sharp societal commentary as well as witty repartee that's reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice. A glossary and author's note conclude. Ages 13--up. Agent: Amy Bishop-Wycisk, Trellis Literary. (May)

School Library Journal Review

Gr 7 Up--An engaging dual point-of-view story with an enemies-to-lovers romance plot that younger readers can enjoy. Haewon, 18, lives in late 1700s Korea, where women and their reputations are fragile; women are not expected to be seen outside of their homes, nor to have any contact with men unless they are married. Anything as fickle as rumors can "ruin" them and their families, so stakes are extremely high. However, much to her mother's chagrin, Haewon is a frequent patron of Five Willows, a local bookstore with a secret: it has a hidden room in the back where titles are copied and reproduced, as this is a time when paper and the printing press were almost unattainable to most people. Haewon, using the pen name Magpie, is a well-respected transcriber notable for her accurate work. Local golden boy Seojun is in a completely different status bracket, but he, too, frequents Five Willows, where he enjoys books not only as a reader but as an author named Black Lotus. Haewon's and Seojun's worlds collide when the government starts banning books and raiding bookstores on the belief that novels are the downfall of moral values. The well-researched story is made richer by the author's note, which includes more historical background details. Except for a couple of plot missteps, this compelling title will have broad appeal for its social justice subplots amid a setting where women's rights are nonexistent and literacy is frowned upon. VERDICT A great purchase for upper middle school and high school collections.--Carolina Youssif

Booklist Review

Shin Haewon and Yu Seojun could not appear to be more different: Haewon is the second daughter in a commoner family; Seojun, the oldest son and heir to a high-ranking official in the Joseon government. Haewon loves novels, despite the king's edicts against them, while Seojun professes to align with the Confucian ideals of his elders. Behind the scenes, Haewon is known as Magpie, a notorious transcriber of novels, especially the books by Black Lotus--a legendary, if anonymous novelist. It just so happens that Black Lotus is Seojun himself, and he and Magpie have been pen pals for months. When Haewon and Seojun meet, she dislikes him immediately, and he looks down upon her family's uncouth behavior and low birth. Hur's latest historical YA work is an homage to Pride and Prejudice that feels devastatingly timely as it shines an unflinching light on the downsides of government- enforced censorship of stories and ideas. With high stakes and seamless prose, Haewon and Seojun's dual-POV narrative propels readers forward through their dislike-to-love journey. Despite the historically accurate restrictions on the characters' ability to so much as brush hands, their romance is utterly swoony and heartstopping. Side characters--including both protagonists' sisters, parents, and the bookish shopkeeper whose secret novel collection brings everyone together--are vibrant and well rendered. An engaging, thoughtful Austen interpretation.

Kirkus Book Review

During a time of censorship, two young people who are flouting the law find one another. Joseon Dynasty Korea, 1792: King Jeongjo just reinforced a ban on fiction, but not everyone follows the rules. Eighteen-year-old Shin Haewon, a cunning young commoner, transcribes novels under the pseudonym "Magpie" for Five Willows, a secret bookshop that lends out forbidden texts for "a small fortune." Nineteen-year-old Yu Seojun is torn between pleasing his traditional father, an important government official, and doing what he loves most: writing fiction. After the reinstatement of the Munchebanjeong edict, Seojun, or "Black Lotus," stopped writing his novel--or responding to letters from his transcriber and pen pal, Magpie. When their paths finally cross in person, they meet as strangers. Seojun dismisses Haewon because of her social status, while Haewon sees Seojun as arrogant "Lord Perfect." But over time, Seojun develops a fondness for Haewon and realizes her identity; Haewon takes longer to recognize who Seojun is, let alone her feelings for him. In this heartwarmingly beautiful yet frustratingly slow romance that riffs on Jane Austen'sPride and Prejudice, layers of secrecy, mystery, and sociopolitical risk weave tension into a charming love story. A slow-burn, book-themed romance with appeal for patient readers of character-driven stories. (historical note, character list, author's note)(Historical romance. 14-adult) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.