Crystal Hana Kim verkent de complexiteit van menselijke verbindingen en familiedynamiek, waarbij ze zich vaak verdiept in thema's als culturele identiteit en generatietrauma. Haar proza kenmerkt zich door scherpe psychologische inzichten en een lyrische kwaliteit die diepe emotionele waarheden onthult. Kim's werk bevraagt noties van ergens bij horen, verlies en de zoektocht naar het zelf in een turbulente wereld. Haar schrijven biedt lezers een diepgaande beschouwing van de menselijke geest en de complexiteit van het leven.
"A hauntingly poetic family drama and coming-of-age story that reveals a dark corner of South Korean history through the eyes of a small community living in a reformatory center-a stunning work of great emotional power from the critically acclaimed author of If You Leave Me"--
An emotionally riveting debut novel about war, family, and forbidden love, the unforgettable saga of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the heartbreaking choices they're forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war that still haunts us today. When the communist-backed army from the north invades her home, sixteen-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her family's makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan. Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesn't realize his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemi, and is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife, then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come. Richly told and deeply moving, If You Leave Me is a stunning portrait of war and refugee life, a passionate and timeless romance, and a heartrending exploration of one woman's longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world.