When you've closed your heart and built high walls, rarely do you let anyone see the real you. And why should you? But despite everything, no matter how hard you try to not let someone see the real you, those high walls are bulldozed by the power of love. A love that's monotonous and ordinary gives you the power to put the other first, even if it's at the cost of your future together . . .

Love in the Big City is sardonic, mellow, bittersweet, and flawed, just like the narrator, Young. He is reckless, rude, and at times you wonder what do the other characters even see in him to be together in a relationship. Sometimes, vice versa. But then you remember what you did in your early twenties wasn't too different--falling for the wrong guys, being at their beck and call, and hoping for them to show any kind of affection. You somehow end up seeing yourself in Young, and in Gyu ho.

Reading the book, seamlessly translated by @antonhur from the Korean, made me even forget that it was translated! It flows so well. It's one of books where I felt that both the author and the translator had the same voice, perhaps even wrote it together!

Love in the Big City portrays the queer scene in Seoul and gives a true insight into the city's 'glittering nighttime world and bleary-eyed morning after'. It is about love. But it is also about more than that. It layered, and it will make you think (and perhaps even smack some sense into Young and get Gyu ho back!).