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.

“The Rainfall Market” is a captivating Journey into a Surreal World by You Yeong-Gwang.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️ Amazing world built
⭐️ Quick read
⭐️ Unique magic system
⭐️ Reality mixed with fantasy

My Review:

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang is an absolute gem of a read. I couldn’t put it down! The novel is a beautifully crafted blend of quick pacing, engaging prose, and imaginative world-building that completely swept me away. It's one of those rare books that feels like a delightful whirlwind — you’re in it, and then suddenly you’re done, but you don’t want it to end.
What I loved most about The Rainfall Market is the way it taps into a sense of wonder reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. The narrative takes you through a dreamlike, almost absurdist world, full of strange characters and bizarre happenings, but there’s always a deeper meaning behind the madness. You Yeong-Gwang does a remarkable job creating a world that feels both familiar and utterly foreign at the same time, drawing you into its logic and its mysteries with an almost hypnotic charm.
The story is concise, yet rich with atmosphere, and the pacing is perfect for readers who enjoy a fast-paced journey that doesn’t skimp on depth. It's a book that makes you think while still keeping you fully immersed in its weird, whimsical vibes. Every scene feels intentional, each description vivid yet minimalist enough to leave you with just the right amount of intrigue.
If you’re looking for a book that’s quick to read but leaves a lasting impression, The Rainfall Market is an incredible pick. It’s one of those rare stories that transports you into a world you’ll want to revisit again and again.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#TheRainfallMarket #NetGalley #PenguinRandomHouseUK

Thank you NetGalley UK & Penguin Random House for this E-Arc.

"On the first day of the monsoon an old ramshackle building appears.
This is The Rainfall Market.
Inside you will find magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries and anything your heart desires."

I really enjoyed this cozy fantasy, it's definitely got Studio Ghibli vibes. It's beautifully written and descriptive enough to let it play out in your head like a hazy dream as you read. I actually really liked the simplicity of the plot and the world building, I don't think it's the kind of book that needs really heavy writing. I found it the perfect bed time read, slow paced and dreamy. The characters were interesting, the MC Serin, although simple is likeable. The real show stealer is Issha, our magical guide cat. I grew an attachment to him almost immediately and just wanted to pull him out of the book and have him as a pet.

Overall, it's a simple, but magically dreamy story about love, family & appreciating what you have.

"With a gasp, she realized that the dark blanket of clouds had cleared, ending an interminable downpour. And as though answering a promise, a rainbow hung across the sky. Serin remembered a marketplace, and the friends she’d made there. A smile rose to her face, but she didn’t know if it was because of the boy, or the memories that came flooding back. A beam of sunlight filtered through the window and perched on her shoulder.

“아….”
세린의 입에서 짧은 탄성이 터져 나왔다.
아침부터 무섭게 쏟아져 내리며 그칠 것 같지 않던 비가 멈추고, 어느새 시커먼 먹구름이 걷혀 있었던 것이다.
그리고 하늘에는 약속이라도 한 듯 어김없이 무지개가 떠 있었다.
세린은 문득 어느 상점과 친구들을 떠올렸다. 그러자 남학생과의 약속 때문인지, 아니면 좋은 기억이 떠올라서인지 입가에 살며시 미소가 지어졌다.
창문 너머로 들어온 햇빛 한 줄기가 그녀의 어깨에 따스하게 내려앉았다."

The Rainfall Market is Slin Jung's translation of 비가 오면 열리는 상점 (literally 'shops that open when it rains') by 유영광 (You Yeong-Gwang).

Upfront I need to call out one key thing. This book, in the UK at least, appears to be marketed as adult fiction. In my view, it isn't. I'd suggest it's a good read for say 7-9 year olds, or perhaps a little young and read to them - readers who are moving on from series like The Secret Kingdom, reading the early Harry Potter books.

The set-up begins with rumours of a magical place that can change misfortunate lives:

"Somewhere far outside the big city was a place called Rainbow Town.
And somewhere in Rainbow Town was a run-down, abandoned house.
Rumour had it if you sent a letter about your misfortune to this house, you would receive a mysterious ticket. If you brought it to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you could completely change your life.
'No way.'
That's absolutely ridiculous.'
Everyone treated it as a fantasy at first. But somehow, the story spread like wildfire. And each time it was told, it became more and more elaborate.
But though the details were different, they all had one thing in common. The Dokkaebi.
‘I swear, I saw them with my own eyes!'
The people who claimed to have visited the house insisted that behind its doors was a secret, magical world where lived beings who called themselves Dokkaebi: people who looked human, but weren't."

The story is told from the perspective of a girl Serin. Living with her mother, who works all hours to make ends meet, in a small semi-basement flat in a poor area; her father died in an accident when she was young; her older sister has run away from home; and largely friendless at school - Serin writes a letter and, months later receives a ticket.

Arriving at the gates of the market she meets some of the others seeking a change in their life (shades of Willie Wonka, but without the cruel humour). The set-up of the market enables those coming to place their life and troubles into an Orb and then go around the Market to purchase a different Orb, and fate, with the gold coins they are given. But Serin discovers she is a VIP guest, the only one with a rare Golden Ticket, which enables her, uniquely, to have a sneak preview of the reality of each seemingly attractive alternative life:

‘The holder of a Golden Ticket is entitled to possess multiple Dokkaebi Orbs, and is even allowed to peer into each Orb to closely examine the life it offers. A sort of second-hand experience, if you will. And unlike our other customers, who must seek out these Orbs on their own, VIPs need only ask for the Orb they desire, and they will be borne away to the shops of their choice by one of our complimentary spirit creatures.’

Large parts of the novel are episodic - one can imagine bedtime reading of a chapter/adventure a night - as Serin, accompanied by a magical size-shifting dog-like cat, roam around the market, coming across the different Dokkaebi and trying out different lives - the book trying hard for Studio Ghibli vibes.

Inevitably each alternative life turns out to have its own catches, not least as they've presumably been deposited here by others coming to the market. A safe reasonably-earning 9-5 job turns out to be dull; but running your own business e.g. a restaurant is great, but long hours and only profitable until a more popular one opens up next door; and being a influencer and travel blogger is a lonely life in reality. There's some neat life lessons here for readers (although this is perhaps where one wonders if the 7-9 year olds are a little too young) as to the reality of adult life, for example when Serin wishes for to be married with kids, she briefly experiences the realities of family life in the modern economy:

Her eyes were instantly drawn to a framed wedding photo. A man and a woman, beaming at the camera. Just looking at the happy young strangers put a smile on Serin’s face too. The bride outshone the gorgeous flowers in the backdrop, and the man looked as though he was on top of the world.

But she soon recoiled. From inside the bedroom, someone swore. When Serin peered inside, she found the man and the woman from the photo embroiled in a heated argument. They were both red-faced, and looked ready to throw punches. The row went on with neither side willing to give in.

Though she had been made up to perfection in the photo, the woman in real life wore no makeup at all. She shrieked, ‘Are you mad? Look at this credit card bill! We can’t afford to spend like this!’

It feels it's setting itself up for a neat ending, but there's also a thief lurking in the background and the last quarter of the novel shifts gear into more of an adventure Serin is caught up in a power struggle amongst the Dokkaebi (although with inevitably still the predictable ending).

The book doesn't feel particularly Korean, although it was pleasing to see the denizens of The Rainfall Market labelled as Dokkaebi (도깨비) rather than say goblins (the original international version indeed seems to have been titled 'The Rainbow Goblin Store'), and taekwondo (태권도) plays a key role at one point. But given how popular K-culture is, I was disappointed to see something looking like white garae-ddeok (하얀색 가래떡) being Americanised to being like marshmallows, particularly given the distinctively different shape (and indeed texture).

"The Rainfall Market’s main building looked like a large stack of marshmallows arranged like a tower. It was so much taller and more majestic than the rest of the buildings, that Serin supposed if she stood at the very top, everything on the ground would look like matchboxes.

상점은 하얀색 가래떡을 길게 세워둔 모습을 하고 있었다. 근처 건물들에 비해 유난히 높고 웅장해서, 옥상에 올라서면 주변의 다른 집들은 성냥갑처럼 보일 것 같았다. 출입구로 보이는 곳에는 토리야가 고개를 숙이지 않아도 충분히 들어갈 만한 커다란 문이 있었다."

This would be 1-2 stars for personal experience - my teenage children are a decade too old for this, let alone me - but 4 stars for what it does (if not how it's marketed) - 3 overall.