디어 시스터 Dear sister

In this young adult novel, we encounter two somewhat estranged sisters, who navigate their month long summer vacation in separate cities. One finds herself in Thailand, accompanying her mother who is there to support her aunt through childbirth and to assist with the newborn. The other sister goes to Berlin, joining her father at an architecture exhibition for work. As the narrative progresses, their diverse adventures are shared through the medium of email exchanges, revealing the nuances of their current relationship and how they've grown apart.

The book is a pretty straightforward read, similar to previous books I've read from the same author, with simple sentence structures and accessible vocabulary. While the pace of the story unfolds gradually and without any major plot twists, it provides a window into the characters' ordinary lives, the experiences that have lead to their falling out, and healing.

Although I found the plot a bit lacking in terms of engagement, this books still offers value from a language learning perspective, as it offers a light exploration of family dynamics, personal growth, and the subtle complexities of sibling relationships (and the reader gets to learn about Berlin and Chiang Mai from a Korean teenager's perspective ;) Hence, I think this could still be worth reading for some!