If You Leave Me

This first novel opens in 1951 Korea, where readers first encounter 16-year-old Haemi in a refugee camp with her widowed mother and brother after Communist-backed troops from the north invade her hometown. Initially depicted as a strong-willed young woman, Haemi dresses as a boy to traipse off during late-night hours with childhood friend Kyunghwan, with whom she's in a budding romance. When Haemi consents to helping her family by marrying Kyunghwan's wealthier cousin Jisoo, Kyunghwan learns to suppress his feelings and come to terms with the loss of his first love. Up to the year 1967, the narrative follows these three in alternating chapters as they deal with the trauma of war and mature through life. Things take a turn halfway through when Haemi and Kyunghwan reunite in Jisoo's home, with Haemi now the mother of three daughters and the wife of an unfaithful husband.