We love a debut from an upcoming writer, we love distinctive, surprising prose, and we love a National Book Award winner — so obviously, Winter in Sokcho is a win-win-win.

The tourist town of Sokcho straddles the border between South and North Korea. As a desolate winter sets in, the young receptionist in a small guesthouse receives an unexpected visitor — and the pair strike up an uneasy relationship… Beguiling and atmospheric, there’s no better time to read Winter in Sokcho than in… you know… winter. -Evelyn Maguire