Ronit J

Fantasy Author of Absurd Stories

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Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho | Manwha Review

Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho is a South Korean manwha that was originally released on Webtoon. I came across this title on NetGalley, I found the premise very interesting. The cover and title sort of reminded me of Your Name, which prompted me to request an ARC. I had never read a manwha before, so that was another reason I was excited to read this one.

Lucky enough, they approved my request. So, what did I think of this manwha? Read and find out!

Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho | Synopsis

Sori is a special young girl – kind, caring and principled well beyond her years. Unfortunately, these are NOT the personality traits generally celebrated in middle school – especially Sori’s, where she’s bullied mercilessly for defending the defenceless until she herself becomes a target.

To escape, she transfers to a new school where the same old problems begin to play out all over again – that is until a mysterious trail of letters leads Sori on a magical scavenger hunt through the hidden world that exists right below the surface of her new middle school. The mail trail is the work of an anonymous guardian angel, whose mission seems to be to provide a soft landing for Sori at her new school. But who is this person? And why did he choose her? With each letter, secrets are revealed and bonds are formed – as Sori learns about friendship, flora, fauna and finding the good in people in this strange new environment.

Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho | Review

It’s been a while since I read something YA. After Your Letter, I feel I should dive into more such tales. Because, Sori’s tale genuinely immersed me in its heartwarming journey.

What I liked about Your Letter by Hyeon A Cho:

I never changed schools, so I would never really be able to relate to Sori’s situation. Yet, her anxiety over her newfound situation made me feel uncomfortable. And when she found the first letter, the journey she embarked on fascinated me just as much. Hoyeon’s slow guiding of Sori in and around his school was nothing short of magical. I was a little conflicted when Sori ends up running into Dongsoon, because I personally don’t like forced romances. However, the romance never sparked (at least not overtly). The characters remained just friends, and I am glad the author kept them that way. We really do need more stories of friendships like these instead of pointless romances.

As Sori and Dongsoon befriend each other, we do get a backstory of Hoyeon and Dongsoon, and how they ended up as friends. While the story navigates themes of bullying, loneliness, and finding where you belong, a large part of the narrative grounds the reader in the present. For all its heavy and hard-hitting truths, Your Letter is a very cosy and comforting read. In fact, the way the letters come to Sori through a crazy treasure hunt, and where they lead Sori and Dongsoon in the end will leave you with a smile and tears in your eyes.

I don’t want to say a lot because I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone. This is a genuinely heartwarming tale.

What I didn’t like:

The art style didn’t quite resonate with me. Some panels felt rushed, and not quite up to the mark. Despite that, the overall emotional journey was evocative and enjoyable. There were a few narrative choices I didn’t fully like, but neither did I dislike them enough to lower my rating.

Also—and this is feedback for NetGalley—I hated how the watermark was so prominently displayed in the centre of all the pages. I understand the need for IP protection, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of our reading experience.