A gripping, emotionally charged debut about family, survival, and the dark legacies that shape who we become.
 
Kyung Cho and his wife, Gillian, are drowning in debt and disappointment when tragedy strikes: Kyung’s parents are violently attacked in their suburban home. As they move in with him during recovery, old wounds resurface—abuse, resentment, and unspoken guilt. Forced into proximity, the family must confront the painful history that binds them even as it threatens to tear them apart.
 
In Shelter, Jung Yun delivers a powerful exploration of identity, generational trauma, and the illusion of safety. Through spare, precise prose, Yun examines what it means to protect—and fail—the ones we love. As Kyung wrestles with anger toward his abusive father and conflicted compassion for his mother, the novel exposes the fractures beneath the surface of the American dream.
 
Both a domestic drama and a psychological study, Shelter is as haunting as it is humane. Yun’s storytelling balances intensity with empathy, asking difficult questions about forgiveness, inheritance, and the fragile spaces we call home.
 
A finalist for the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award, this debut established Jung Yun as one of the most vital new voices in contemporary fiction.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
A powerful, emotionally complex family drama.
Tackles trauma, forgiveness, and cultural identity with nuance.
Elegant, suspenseful writing that feels both intimate and epic.
Perfect for readers who appreciate character-driven literary fiction.
A moving reflection on the cost of silence and survival.
 
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of Celeste Ng, Min Jin Lee, and Yaa Gyasi.
Readers who love layered, thought-provoking contemporary fiction.
Book clubs exploring family, trauma, and cultural heritage.
Anyone drawn to beautifully written emotional realism.
 
❤️ Fans Also Liked
If you enjoyed Shelter, you might also like:
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng — quiet family tension and secrets.
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee — identity, family, and cultural conflict.
The Leavers by Lisa Ko — belonging, loss, and the immigrant experience.