Juhea Kim books

Juhea Kim is a Korean-American author of literary and historical fiction, known for her bestselling debut Beasts of a Little Land and the Reese's Book Club pick City of Night Birds.

Short Story Collections

Title Published Buy on Amazon
A Love Story from the End of the World 2025 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Beasts of a Little Land 2021 Buy
City of Night Birds 2024 Buy

Juhea Kim was born in Incheon, South Korea, and moved to Portland, Oregon, at age nine. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Art and Archaeology and now lives in London. Her writing has appeared in publications including Granta, Guernica, Times Literary Supplement, and The Massachusetts Review.

Kim’s debut novel, Beasts of a Little Land (2021), spans nearly five decades of Korean history, from Japanese occupation through the Korean War and its aftermath. The book follows a group of friends and rivals as they navigate politics, love, and survival in a changing country. It was a finalist for the 2022 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, won the 2024 Yasnaya Polyana Award, and has been published in thirteen countries with a television adaptation in development.

Her second novel, City of Night Birds (2024), shifts to the world of Russian ballet. It follows prima ballerina Natalia Leonova as she returns to St. Petersburg after an accident that derailed her career, and was selected as a Reese’s Book Club pick. Kim’s short story collection, A Love Story from the End of the World (2025), explores lives and relationships set against climate change and technological upheaval, and was named one of the best books of 2025 by The New Yorker.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Juhea Kim known for?

Juhea Kim is known for her internationally bestselling debut novel Beasts of a Little Land (2021), which was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and won the 2024 Yasnaya Polyana Award. Her second novel, City of Night Birds (2024), was a Reese’s Book Club pick.

What are Juhea Kim's books about?

Kim’s novels are set in different countries and time periods but share a focus on characters caught up in larger historical forces. Beasts of a Little Land spans five decades of Korean history during and after Japanese occupation. City of Night Birds follows a Russian prima ballerina through the world of professional ballet in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Paris.

What order should you read Juhea Kim's books?

Juhea Kim’s novels are all standalone works and can be read in any order. Beasts of a Little Land (2021) was her debut, City of Night Birds (2024) was her second novel, and A Love Story from the End of the World (2025) is her short story collection.

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