Books like Almond by Won-pyung Sohn

Yunjae lives with alexithymia, a condition that hinders his ability to feel emotions such as fear and anger. Growing up surrounded by the supportive presence of his mother and grandmother in their small bookstore home, he navigates life through routine prompts that remind him to smile, say thank you, and laugh. On his sixteenth birthday, a sudden act of violence shatters this fragile world, leaving Yunjae alone and profoundly changed. As he withdraws into silence, a troubled teenager named Gon joins his school, and the two form an unexpected bond. Through interactions with new classmates and a developing relationship with a girl at school, Yunjae begins to experience emotional growth. When Gon faces danger, Yunjae is called upon to step beyond his comfort zones, discovering that he may become the hero he never thought he could be.

First publish date: 2020