The Healing Season of Pottery

By: Yeon Somin, Clare Richards

Narrated by: Jennifer Kim

This cozy, romantic novel about one woman's desire to heal herself through art is perfect for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and What You Are Looking for Is in the Library.

Burned out by her TV news writing job, Jungmin leaves in an attempt to salvage her life. When she stumbles upon a mysterious pottery studio, she feels immediately at home. The warmth, the smell of clay, and the incredible coffee awaken her senses and make her feel alive for the first time in months.

Over the coming year, season by season, pot by pot, Jungmin returns to herself and builds unexpected friendships with the other members of the studio, who are all working through their own trials at the pottery wheel. She connects with one student in particular, whose relationship with his girlfriend has begun to fray, and the two form a special bond.

Eventually, Jungmin realizes she might be open to love again—but should she take the risk?

In her English-language debut (translated by Clare Richards), rising Korean literary star Yeon Somin shares a testament to the joys and power of slowing down in a fast-paced world and an homage to the art of ceramics, as she immerses listeners in a world they won't want to leave after the final word.

©2024 Yeon Somin (P)2024 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

"It's been a long time since I've read such a lovely book. I was awestruck by the prowess with which Yeon guides her characters' stories, step by step, towards hope, never dragging them down into the abyss. It felt like she was guiding me by the hand under the balmy rays of the sun. I found myself wanting to follow her lead and mold a beautiful heart to gift to those I hold most dear. Reading her novel, I felt a warmth and joy, as if I, too, had spent four seasons in Soyo Workshop."—Baek Sehee, author of the international bestseller, I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki

“Like clay to the wheel, I was ‘thrown’ right into Yeon Somin’s charming and utterly moving novel of finding love, meaning, and peace through pottery. Reader, I hope you find these pages as healing as I have.”—Patricia Park, author of the novels Re Jane, Imposter Syndrome & Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim, and What’s Eating Jackie Oh?

“A charming and poignant novel about the power of friendship, community and hobbies that teach us to slow down and reconnect.”—Libby Page, author of the international bestseller, Mornings with Rosemary

Sweet little story

This is clearly a book that’s been translated. Know that going in. A coming of age story - young people finding themselves and overcoming what others expect of them.

A lovely surprise

I’m so happy to have come upon this story. The characters have kept me company on my new journey learning pottery, and helped me escape the ever maddening world here in the US. I wish I could meet the author, and hope to read/hear more of her works. Thank you so much for this production, exactly as it is. Just FYI, I slowed the pace of the reading to .85 and savored each bit.