This Studio Ghibli-esque book was a lovely cosy read for me, though I would say the writing style/voice of the main character rang as quite young, so I would probably recommend it to a younger audience, rather than adult fiction. This could be a translation issue, but overall it was a sweet read that I enjoyed!

Thank you to You Yeong-Gwang, Michael Joseph and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The Rainfall Market is a gentle, heart-warming and adventurous story. It reads very much like a Miyazaki film. Much like a Ghibli film it's a book that would appeal to children and adults alike. It would make for a perfect bedtime story.

It's a short book, probably taking less than a day to read. However, it was exactly the right length and I didn't feel short-changed at all by the author.

This is perfect for those who are enjoying the Asian magical realism boom but wish to read about something other than cafes.

I give The Rainfall Market 5 Stars!

The Rainfall Market is a sweet narrative of a girl who seeks to find a new, better life for herself through the Rainfall Market, a mythical place where human-like creatures exchange your misfortune for "the life you desire". It is a story about growth and self-acceptance, and the powers you can find in yourself to move through your life with strength and purpose. I would say that it is more YA or possibly even middle-grade than adult though, and should have been marketed as such. I feel that it would work best for the 10-15 age demographic, not the adult market. It personally didn't appeal to me as much as I am not generally a YA reader and this was very much written and/or translated in a YA style, though I can appreciate it as something that I would have absolutely loved 15 years ago and therefore I would still rate it well.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

The Rainfall Market is one of those books you just want to jump straight into and live in.

It’s a wonderfully cosy fantasy story about a mysterious market. The encounters throughout serve as reminders of how important friendships are, how to be grateful with your lot, the grass isn’t always greener, and full of whimsy and warming scenes.

I really enjoyed this and could see this as a cosy Ghibli style movie!

Thank you to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, and You Yeong-Gwang for granting me a Netgalley digital ARC of The Rainfall Market.

The Rainfall Market is an imaginative, cozy, light-fantasy story and is an easy, quick read. The plot is like the Goblin Market, the Midnight Library, and Studio Ghibli had a book baby. Focusing on the themes of love, family, friendship, and reminders to appreciate the important things in life and living true to ourselves. I was intrigued by the idea of wishing for the chance to live a different life; I mean, who hasn’t dreamed of what life they would have if they won the lottery? What we wish for is rose-tinted as it might not show us the truth; someone else’s life might look better than ours, but we don’t see their pain, dissatisfaction, sorrows, and disappointments. The writing is straightforward, with short sentences, and not very descriptive about character emotions or set up for the world-building about the Rainfall Market.

The main character, Serin, is a high-schooler who comes to the Rainfall Market with the dream of exchanging her current life, which is bleak and lonely for her. Serin’s character development through the lives she sees for her wishes is a subtle change as she grows to appreciate the life she has, even with all its faults, as the time of her one week at the Rainfall Market counts down. She gains insight into the sacrifices her mum has made for her and the bond her sister shared even though they are apart now. Her loneliness vanishes throughout her journey as she forms a friendship with her cat guardian, Issha, who is waiting to be loved after a life of neglect so he can be reborn.

A short, thought-provoking read about how we miss the good in our own lives, wishing for the greener-looking side of the road. I think some of the magic might have been lost in translation, but I still enjoyed reading this story. Its voice might appeal to a younger audience or those who like simple stories with lots of heartwarming moments and whimsical vibes similar to Spirited Away. I think this would definitely make a great Studio Ghibli movie with all the Dokkaebi creatures and Isha, the cat.

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang, translated by Slin Jung is a magical fable that I think is best suited to younger readers. Serin, a young girl dreaming of a better life decides to try to gain entry to the magical Rainfall Market, which appears every rainy season and grants those lucky enough to be admitted their heart's greatest desire. When she is granted a special golden ticket she is beyond excited, but once inside the market she learns that figuring out what she really wants may not be as easy as she thinks even with the help of a magical cat companion, Isha. To add to the pressure, if she does not figure it out she will be trapped in the market forever.
This is a sweet and charming little story, with a rich magical world for the reader to explore alongside Serin and Isha, I do think I was expecting something a little more complex in terms of the storytelling which became a little repetitive in the middle of the book, and I really think that it is more of a children's story than the description suggested. I liked the richness of the world the author had created in the Rainfall Market itself and its inhabitants, and I think the book gives the reader plenty to think about in terms of what happiness really means.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A charming and intriguing story that brought a lot more fantasy to the table than other translated fiction I've read - making it just my kind of book! There was a beautiful message embedded in this story about appreciating what we have and I guess, in essence, reminding us that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Serin's character goes on a journey, meeting lots of inhabitants of the Rainfall Market and making friends along the way. There's an air of mystery around the whole thing, and a sense of foreboding as we're offered snippets that suggest all is not what it seems, and Serin may be in danger. In Serin's hunt for a better life for herself, drawn in by the promises of the Market, we better understand that things aren't always what they seem. This story has magic woven throughout and offers so many different experiences, building a rich world for Serin to explore in the pages of this book. I enjoyed this story and was completely charmed by it!

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this eCopy to review

The Rainfall Market is an enchanting tale of self-discovery and magical adventures. The story is told from the perspective of Serin, a lonely girl searching for a better life. She receives a mysterious ticket to the Rainfall Market, a fantastical place where she can trade her life for a new one. The market is filled with curious shops and magical beings, including a charming cat named Issha, who becomes Serin's companion.

As Serin navigates the market, she explores various possibilities for her future, each supposedly more enchanting than the last. However, in each future she sees they are all not quite right for Serin. The story beautifully captures the essence of hope and the desire for a better life, all set against a backdrop of magic and wonder. Yeong-Gwang's writing is both poetic and poignant, making it easy to get lost in Serin's journey.

What truly stands out in The Rainfall Market is the depth of Serin's character development. Her struggles and triumphs resonate with readers, and her determination to find happiness is both inspiring and relatable. The narrative is well-paced, and the world-building is rich and immersive.

Overall, The Rainfall Market is a heart warming and magical read that will leave you contemplating the true meaning of happiness and the lengths we go to achieve it. It's a book that stays with you long after the last page is turned. Highly recommended for fans of magical realism and stories of personal growth.

Very whimsical and full of Studio Ghibli, quirky vibes which i really enjoyed. It was a very sweet story and filled with joy and emotion, however it did feel very notably YA. I think it needed more depth to really draw out my emotions, but i also know this could have been to the choice of the words in the translation. It comes across and very simplistic and lacking something deeper to draw in older readers. However i think it would really appeal to YA readers and give them a good wholesome story to read.
I’d absolutely be visiting the market if it was real, and it resonates with a younger me, hopelessly chasing magic and getting caught up in it. I feel for that reason the plot will resonate with a lot of younger readers I just wish we got a bit more of what our Main character was truly thinking and feeling. I would love to discuss it with someone who read the original version to know if this was the intent or just something lost in translation .

Thank you Penguin Random House/NetGalley for the arc!

If you could swap your life for a better one, which would you choose?

"Sick of your misery and misfortune? Sick of doing nothing but dream of the life you desire? Well, no more! Because we can make your dreams a reality!"

On the first day of monsoon season, The Rainfall Market appears. Inside you'll discover the most magic stores, and anything your heart desires. But you cannot enter without an invitation.

Serin dreams of a bigger, better life. She lives in a small flat with her mother, and often yearns for something more. One day, she receives an invite to the market - a chance to swap her life for a new one, a better one.

Accompanied by a magical cat and a mysterious shadow, Serin has just one week to make her choice before she must leave the market. Fail to do so, and she'll be trapped inside forever.

"Serin, whatever you decide to do with your life, sometimes you'll run into obstacles that make you want to give up and leave. But if whatever you're doing is something you're absolutely sure about, don't give up, you hear me? I have faith in you."

I liked this! Great premise, loved the main character. I've read a few books now with a similar premise and this wasn't quite as heart-warming/heart-breaking as others - I didn't quite get the same level of emotional connection. I would still definitely recommend!

I thought this was a really beautifully written, cute book. I enjoyed reading it, although I do think a bit of emotion was lost in the translation.
This didn't ruin it, I still liked it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fine, and I think anyone that enjoys the odd book in the style of THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY would like it just fine, but it failed to grip me.

This was a nice story and I enjoyed the premise. I don’t think there was much depth to the character and the language was very simple so I think it should be aimed at a younger audience. I was a bit bored reading it.

The most perfect, cozy, whimsical, warm, magical and wholesome book I have read in a while. I really couldn’t put this story down. I loved following Serin on her journey and the final message of this story is just perfect and it wraps up wonderfully. I really think this would be such a great story to be animated as I pictured near enough every scene and it gave me studio ghibli vibes. I adored all the characters I met throughout and I am sad I read it so quickly. Easy 5 stars from me!

This book was so sweet! It was a perfect cosy fantsy and I loved the story, it's a great wee pallet cleanser between some heavier books.

The characters were all very fun, in particular I was a huge fan of Issha the cat!

Though I think it is seriously let down by the translation. It feels very clunky and lacks flow, the sentence structure is the same throughout and it reads almost like a childrens book. I think this novel would fare so much better if I gets retranslated as the current translated isnt doing ot the justice it deserves.

Thank you to @michaeljbooks and @netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest and open review.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙩 by You Yeong-Gwang is a wacky and heartwarming little read - think 'The Midnight Library', set in the goblin market from 'Nettle & Bone', as told in the style of 'Howl's Moving Castle'!

This is a beautifully atmospheric book. Each "stall" in the market is a different shop - a hairdresser, a restaurant, a bookshop (of course) - with an offbeat architectural style. I think my favourite part of this book were the descriptions of the market itself 🥰 It felt very 'Studio Ghibli' to me - the perfect combination of magic, mystery and just a little bit of menace...

Plot-wise we follow Serin, who has just received a golden ticket, a ticket that will allow her to enter a magical market that only appears during the rainy season and, rumour has it, allow her to swap her life for the life of her dreams. After entering the market she's guided to different shops by a mystical cat companion with an insatiable appetite, Isha. At each shop Serin must complete a task for the goblin-esque dokkaebi shopkeeper to earn their 'orb', which will allow her to enter the life inside - hitting a lot of those traditional fairytale beats.

The book was a much easier read than I expected. I'm often nervous to try translated fiction, as it often falls too far on the literary end of the spectrum for me (which I expect is a publishing trend rather than an indicator of the international book market!) - but this felt almost middle-grade in style to me, making it a really fun, comforting and quick read.

So, if you received a ticket to The Rainfall Market, would you take it?

This book was not really what I expected at all, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I felt like the pacing struggled a bit at times, which is impressive for a book that only has 196 pages. The ending felt a little frenetic, and at points during the final scene, I didn't really know what was going on, but the journey that Serin and Issha went on was heartwarming and made for a tender read. Happiness really can exist wherever you are. The boon really only left me with one question: Where is Yerin?

I'm unsure how I feel about this one. There were some really enjoyable aspects, such as the whimsical, cosy vibes. But I also found other aspects confusing, such as the age of the main character which really took me out of the story.
I do really love the idea of the magical rainfall market but I don't think that this story was for me overall. It may be suited better to a different audience.

I enjoyed the world building of the Rainfall Market. It very much had the vibe of a studio Ghibli movie. I really enjoyed this journey that Serin was on to appreciate her live and what she can make of it, rather than wish it away..

Incredibly interesting world that made me feel like I was in a Studio Ghibli film. While I liked our main character and the setting (I loved the monkey characters) but I couldn't connect to the writing style at all.