Too hectic for a neighborhood drama, tense and so provocative in a way of how it explored that dark side and flaws of living and residing in a communal environment. Centered through the life of 4 families, I followed the women of the household in their challenges and pressures of dealing with motherhood, career, societal expectations and the shared responsibilities each need to fill while living at the Dream Future Pilot Communal Apartments, an experimental housing complex near Seoul that was designed to boost the national birth rate.

Frankly I was feeling a bit anxious in following each perspective as it progressed; none favourable much and it frustrates me to see how each having to deal with all the demanding familial and societal mess, those perceptions, sharp outlooks and critiques on parenting as well the gender roles issues in between. Too straightforward in its execution with minimal emotional tone on the writing yet it intrigued me on how the author explored those cultural pressures on the women, with highlight on the norms and those glimpses from the men’s POV.

Yojin’s narrative hooked me the most as it deals with harassment incident in between her relationship issues with Euno, not a fan to Danhui for her bossy and judgemental attitude and having a love-hate for both Hyonae and Gyowon; too frantic on their sides yet too real of how their settings tackled the modern household burdens— both physically and mentally. The relentless drama coupled with their lack of communications and mutual understandings piqued an empathetic suspense, engaging much of how that ‘warm community’ somehow no longer ideal and perhaps can be too haunting to few.

The no title on chapters can be a bit nuisance as no hint on the upcoming perspective but other than that, I enjoyed the read all in all for its lifestyle, familial and societal commentary premise. Loved that newcomer’s narrative at the end, a subtle depiction that the cycle continues; reality hits and life would just move on.

Thank you Times Reads for the gifted review copy!