The Trunk
A Novel
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3.0 • 1 Rating
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- 139,00 kr
Publisher Description
NOW A NETFLIX TV SERIES
The English language debut from bestselling Korean author Kim Ryeo-ryeong – an edgy, arresting drama about a secret marriage service for Korea’s wealthy elite, and one unlikely couple in the thick of it all.
Meet Noh Inji: almost thirty years old, with five wedding rings and counting, she's never once been in love.
When Inji first accepted a job at Wedding & Life, the popular matchmaking service that’s taken Korea by a storm, she never imagined her role would be with NM, their secret marriage division that rents out “husbands” and “wives” to their wealthiest clientele. Just like a real marriage, Inji's assignments involve a wedding, some sex and a bit of housework, all tailored exactly to the client’s desires and length of time before they go their separate ways – no legal battles, no fights, no emotional baggage.
After several marriages, Inji has become an old hand. She certainly isn’t interested in finding real love, despite everyone trying to convince her otherwise (her brazen neighbor Granny, her flirtatious best friend Shi-jeong, and her failed blind date, Tae-seong, who won’t take no for an answer).
Then one of Inji's old husbands, a mysterious high profile music producer, requests her back for another year. Over the course of their marriage, the secrets of Inji’s past begin to unravel – as well as the dark, sinister underbelly of NM’s management team, who will stop at nothing to preserve their reputation… and their clients…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kim makes her English-language debut with the tantalizing story of a Korean hired bride and the company that employs her. Noh Inji, 29, works as a wife at New Marriage, a secret division of a matchmaking service that allows clients to live as if they're married while providing the option to terminate the relationship without having to go through a real divorce. After the end of her fourth marriage contract, to music producer Han Jeong-won, she's set up on a date outside of her company's client pool with a man named Om Tae-seong. When Inji rejects Tae-seong, he keeps pursuing her—even after she enters into a rematch marriage with Jeong-won. Tae-seong's disruptions ring alarm bells at New Marriage, and they dispatch a team of agents to scare him off. While happy to be rid of her stalker, Inji can't shake the guilt she feels about Tae-seong's fate, and she asks Jeong-won to help her find him. The investigation takes her deep into New Marriage's secrets, and as she learns unsettling details about its operations, she reflects on her lingering grief over a childhood friend's suicide. Kim's layered and well-constructed novel is packed with intrigue and surprising twists. Readers will be on the edge of their seats until the final page. Agents: Jackie Yang, Eric Yang Agency; Emily Randle, Randle Editorial.
Customer Reviews
A puzzling reading experience
3.75 stars ⭐️
Reading The Trunk was a puzzling experience, though not entirely what I expected. Marketed as a psychological thriller, the book didn’t deliver the kind of tension or suspense I was hoping for. Instead, it offered a subtle and peculiar exploration of South Korean dating and marriage culture.
South Korea’s unique approach to dating, shaped by societal expectations, plays a central role in the story. The book sheds light on how relationships are influenced by external pressures and traditions, making it no surprise that these factors contribute to the country’s low birth rates. This cultural backdrop added depth to the narrative and kept me engaged, even when the thriller elements felt muted or absent.
While I didn’t feel the pulse of a psychological thriller, there were moments that completely absorbed me—likely because I’m so fascinated by South Korean culture. The story’s understated humor and cleverness gave it a unique charm, even if it lacked the excitement I was led to expect. Perhaps the upcoming Netflix adaptation, which seems to lean more into the thriller angle, is partly responsible for my misplaced expectations.
I’d rate the book 3.75 out of 5 stars. It’s an enjoyable and thought-provoking read, but it left me wanting more suspense. Nonetheless, its exploration of South Korean dating culture offers plenty to reflect on and makes it a worthwhile experience for those curious about this evolving society. I’m looking forward to seeing how the TV series interprets the material—perhaps it will bring the tension the book only hints at.