BEHIND FIVE WILLOWS BY JUNE HUR // blog tour book feature: my body is ready for this Austen-inspired enemies to lovers historical romance!!!

Alas my short streak came to an end and I am entirely blaming it on moving. Which is the worst btw. I fully intended to present you with a review today because I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS BOOK ITS UNREAL. But instead I was packing boxes. So please excuse me, let’s just marvel at the book together instead!

Welcome to my stop on the Behind Five Willows blog tour <3<3

Title: Behind Five Willows
Author: June Hur
Page count: 352
Date published: 26 May 2026
Genre: Young adult historical fiction

📚

Synopsis:

As the dutiful second-eldest daughter of a poor family, society would have Haewon believe that her only hope of a decent life is to marry well. But during a time of rampant government censorship and book banning, she instead works as an illegal book transcriber in order to make a little extra money. It’s dangerous work, but she loves it – especially when she gets to transcribe the work of her favourite author, known as Black Lotus.

When her older sister becomes smitten with a wealthy young gentleman, Haewon is roped into chaperoning them during their courtship. Which wouldn’t be so terrible, if it weren’t for the young man’s uptight and annoying best friend who also accompanies them.

As the only son of a noble, Seojun has a lot expected of him. Wealth. Status. Respectability. Certainly not frivolous and often illicit activities such as reading fiction. But Seojun loves to do something even more scandalous: writing. He’s kept his work secret from his father and friends, but with each passing day, the pressure of being his father’s son and the dispiriting actions of the government make Seojun question the purpose of it all. The only thing keeping him going are the encouraging letters he receives from his transcriber, known only as Magpie.

When his best friend falls hard for a girl of lower social status, Seojun finds himself forced to act as chaperone to the infatuated couple – along with the girl’s younger sister, who is as irritating as she is judgmental. But as Haewon and Seojun spend more time together, they begin to suspect they may have judged each other too quickly . . .

📚

 

📚

Big thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours for having me on the tour and to Fierce Reads for the eARC via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

📚 YA historical romance

📚 Set in the Joseon dynasty

📚 Political intrigue aka banned books

📚 Pride and Prejudice inspired

📚 They’re both secret writers

📚 and anonymous pen pals

📚 You’ve Got Mail vibes

📚 slow-burn romance

June Hur is a New York Times-bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of YA historicals, including The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, The Red Palace, A Crane Among Wolves, and Behind Five Willows. Born in South Korea, June spent her formative years in the USA, Canada, and South Korea before studying History and Literature at the University of Toronto, and working at the city’s public library. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, The New York Times, CBC, and KBS. June resides in Toronto with her family and can be spotted writing in coffee shops.

📚

Website // Instagram // TikTok

---

HAVE YOU READ THIS BOOK? WHAT DID YOU THINK? HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING ELSE BY THIS AUTHOR? DID YOU ENJOY? WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUSTEN? I’D LOVE TO KNOW!