How much do we owe the people who raised us—even when they’ve failed us?
In Shelter, debut author Jung Yun delivers a powerful, unflinching novel about family, trauma, and the devastating cost of survival. Kyung Cho is a young father with a house he can barely afford, a stalled career, and a strained marriage. When his parents—whom he’s long tried to distance himself from—are victims of a shocking act of violence, Kyung is forced to offer them shelter in his already-crumbling home.
As his parents move in and long-buried wounds resurface, the line between obligation and resentment blurs. Secrets come to light, tensions escalate, and Kyung must reckon with his past before it consumes his present. Gritty, emotional, and unforgettable, Shelter explores the complexities of generational trauma, cultural identity, and what it truly means to protect one’s family.
Perfect for readers of Celeste Ng and Matthew Salesses, this gripping novel is both a psychological page-turner and a deeply human portrait of fractured families.
 
❤️ Why You’ll Love It
🧠 Complex Family Drama: Richly drawn relationships filled with tension, history, and emotional depth.
🔥 Page-Turning Suspense: Combines domestic realism with the momentum of a thriller.
🧩 Themes of Trauma & Identity: A timely look at generational wounds, cultural expectations, and the Korean American experience.
✍️ Elegant Yet Unflinching Prose: Jung Yun’s writing is lyrical and fearless, capturing moments of violence, tenderness, and despair with equal grace.
🏠 A House as a Pressure Cooker: The literal and emotional space of “shelter” becomes its own character, forcing everything to boil over.
🎯 Perfect For
Readers who love emotionally intense literary fiction
Fans of family dramas with psychological suspense
Book clubs looking for discussion-worthy themes like trauma, class, and forgiveness
Fans of Asian American literature and multigenerational storytelling
 
📚 Fans of Shelter may also like:
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
The Leavers by Lisa Ko