Member Reviews
I loved diving into a world where dreams are for sale the way books are. The way you pay is the emotion you feel after you experience them. If they are dreams of a crush, you pay in the flutter of your heart. If you experience past trauma, you pay when you are able to overcome the trauma and start to heal.
Though this book is is told from a very whimsical standpoint (which I loved), I could not help but be moved by so much of the content.
I am under the impression, since this is a Korean best seller, it may have been translated into English. But I do not think much was lost in the translation and still feel the soft coziness of the dream world permeating through the realm the author is building. I do think there are nuances about the dream world which are culturally specific to Korea which we may not understand but I cannot say enough good think about this book and the warm feelings it gave me to read.
It even highlighted the idea that animals get to have dreams as well and there is a floor in the dream department store where their sleepy little selves go to find their dreams. I also like that the "clients", the dreamers, do not often remember they've visited the department store in the past because we, as dreamers, do not often remember our dreams. It truly does leave a magical feeling and this is one I will be recommending to my viewers on my YouTube channel in the near future. I want to thank NetGalley for the chance to read this and it does say this is the first of a duology, so I cannot wait to read the second.
This is such a lovely concept! The imagery is beautiful and the worldbuilding is so intriguing.
It starts out with the protagonist, Penny, preparing for her job interview at the famous dream department store where you can buy your dreams for the night. This gives the chance to tell heartwarming and bittersweet stories.
What I didn't connect with ultimately were the characters. They felt flat and I didn't feel very much for any of them. I think this would have worked better for me as the beginning to a longer story, or as a graphic novel. I did enjoy the overall vibe of the book, so if there is a sequel I will definitely be reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley & Hanover Square Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The most refreshing, whimsical book I’ve read in a long time. I adored the characters, the world building, and imagining a place/time where you could purchase dreams in this way. This book is charming, touching and uplifting - truly something very special.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing + NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be published July 9, 2024.
The Dallergut Dream Department store is a beautiful novel by Miye Lee about a department store that sells dreams. We meet Penny, a young woman who interviews for and gets a job at this department store. We get to learn with her all the intricacies of a dream department store and get to meet a wonderful host of characters (floor managers, customers shopping for dreams, and dreammakers) along the way. Each chapter is a little vignette over the first year or so of Penny's employment and we also get stories within the story, about different customers she meets along the way.
4.5 stars rounded up. I really, really enjoyed this book. I think fans of other translated fiction titles like Before the Coffee Gets Cold and There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job will really like this. Originally written in Korean, this novel was translated by Sandy Joosun Lee. I think Miye Lee created such a beautiful world with the most wonderful characters and Sandy Joosun Lee really kept the heart of the novel while adding a personal touch, as well. I fell in love with the characters and the world in this novel. I would highly recommend this if you like contemplative novels with heart.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee is a whimsical, cozy fantasy that would transport the reader into a floating bubble of dreams. Expected Publication is July 9th, 2024.
Penny has just started working in a department store that is a highly coveted job. But this is not any department store. This is a store that sells dreams to humans and animals. She slowly but steadily learns how dreams make a difference.
Have you ever wondered what effect a dream can have on us? This is a translation of a Korean book and is a good version. It is so whimsical that I felt I was in a candy land, but with dreams. Though, on the surface, it feels that there is not much going on in the story, the interwoven stories tugged my heart. It definitely makes me think about how our dreams inspire us. I enjoyed this book so much.
Thank you, htp books, Hanover Square Press, and htp_hive for this book.
My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Korean Fiction, Asian Literature
*THE DALLERGUT DREAM DEPARTMENT STORE* is a delightful, feel-good read. It superficially reminds me of *The Kamogawa Food Detectives* because there isn't a western style plot. There really isn't an antagonist either. Both of these books work in snippets that are strung together.
For this book, it begins as Penny gets a new job and we see everything from her perspective. There's always a new wonder, a small surprise as the tale moves from one "scene" to another. There's a thread about lost money, who the most well-known and respected dreammaker is, someone trying to live their dream, more about comforting those are are grieving, and overcoming past hardships.
I felt like I was floating a bit in this book—as if I were in a dream too.
If you love books from Asia, this is perfect for you. If you love experimental fiction, you should definitely try this. And if you want a feel-good read, then you're set with this book. This is a book you could have your kids read too.
Happy reading!
A cozy urban low fantasy. The stuff that dreams are made of…literally. In this book we follow Poppy as she begins working at Dallergut’s Dream Department store: the place sleeping people go to buy their dreams. It’s the “dream” job. Learning the ins and outs of dream selection, dream currency, prepaid dreams, pet dreams, dream makers, and the value of the right dream, it’s a slow paced relaxing story for fans of books like “When the Coffee Gets Cold” with just a touch more humor.
A cozy little collection of stories, coming live from the Dallergut Dream Department Store, where sleepy people's subconscious helps them find the dreams they need- at the low cost of sharing emotions!!
This book was cozy, reflective, and a strange combination of simple and deep. I absolutely loved getting to imagine the world of dreams, and found myself thinking about what my subconscious would pull for me to dream about. I laughed and found joy in some of the dream scenarios, and unexpectedly found myself sobbing at the last one. This was so great!!
Thank you so much to Lee Mi-ye and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!
I think this book was such an interesting concept and I think it can be a lot of fun to read if you like slower paced cozy books. The concept of the department store (and competing stores) selling dreams and being paid in emotions was really fun. The book has some depth in conversations about the power and purpose of dreaming, both the science of the act and the more emotional viewpoint of our aspirations. I think where this book falls short for me is a lot of "tell not show". We are constantly seeing the workers talking about the emotions but we aren't actually seeing the emotion or the dreamers truly experiencing it. It felt like a great teacher giving a really interesting lecture about a topic, but not the same as diving into the topic yourself.
It's a short work and still worth the read to me but I would have loved a bit more visual happenings.
Disclaimer: I received a physical ARC in addition to the free ebook. My opinions are my own.
Oh how I love odd-concept books.
It's all very wacky. Despite being an adult novel it has a quality of whimsy that a lot are going to find off putting. It'd be easy to dismiss this book as being childish.
The biggest flaw with this one for me is forcing the very awake reader to use dream logic to make sense of this world. It's zany. The Dream Department store sounds like something that could have very well come from a children’s book. I don't mind it. I think the quirky names and bizarre rules and jobs to this dreaming world are pretty delightful but if you like more mature takes on big topics this probably won't be for you.
Dreams are already so incomprehensible at times that ascribing any productive meaning to them and the reason for them is a daunting task.
The translator's note at the end was also incredibly precious and I can count myself along with them in wishing this title recieves sequels and more fun with exploring the idea of dreams.
Finally, Maxim is babygirl. That is all.
Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC! In this delightful fantasy tale, there is a world that exists beyond our own where we all can go to purchase our dream experience. Dream are crafted by special designers and everyone (animals included) can find just what they need to get a good night's rest (or afternoon nap) at the dream department stores. Perhaps the best known shop is the Dallergut Dream Department Store. Here, we follow Penny as she lands her dream job at Dallergut and the ins and outs of the dream business. With quirky characters and cozy vibes, The Dallergut Dream Department Store is perfect for those looking for a light, low stakes read.
I can't stress enough what a good translation this is.
I found this one to be whimsical and just a lovely, good time. I loved the world-building, I loved the brief looks at the dreamers, and I'm absolutely going to be annoying about this when the rest of the world has access to this book.
I loved this book, I so rarely say this but I am so glad this is a duology. I wouldn’t be mad if this was a whole series 👀 Hint, hint Miye!
This seems like something you either get and love it or you don’t get and hate it, but luckily for me I ate this up. I read this almost in one sitting, grinning and kicking my feet the entire time. The idea that there’s a dream department store paid for in emotions is just so inspired. I did struggle with the world and understanding it initially but once everything started to click for me I could not put this down. I laughed, I cried, I cried A LOT, especially at the end. 🥹
As someone who is mainly a horror reader, it felt deeply refreshing to read a nice, happy book where only good things happen. Reading this book is like biting into cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. Refreshing!
I can’t wait to get my grubby little raccoon paws on the second book. 10/10 will cherish this book forever.
Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was full of experimental fun. It reminded me of when the coffee gets cold but with dreams. I loved the stories within the big story and how all the characters connected in one way or another.
It was a nice break from what I normally read.
Completely lacks plot or just anything happening. I enjoyed this at first and thought the idea was unique but then it just starts to drag so I started skimming this after I got halfway into it and realized I didn’t care anymore. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.
"Everything is possible in a dream"
This book was like a deep dive into the subconscious dream world - calming, cozy, and captivating all at once. The Dallergut Dream Department Store follows Penny as she interviews and becomes an employee of the infamous dream store, with each chapter detailing the people she meets during her time there and the little journeys that customers go on in their dreams.
This book was different in the fact that there wasn't really a grand overarching plot. The stream of consciousness writing style with each chapter following a different character, dream scenario, or deep conversation about dreams was unique but sometimes confusing - much like dreams themselves.
It was a little rough to start as I tried to figure out the dream world dynamics but once I got reading I couldn't stop. I think this is going to be one of those love it or hate it books but I definitely enjoyed the journey.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee hinges on a really interesting premise- we all know that we dream, but what's the mechanism behind it? Intriguing right!? This was a bit of a departure from what I normally read and while I found it to be interesting, unfortunatley I found it to be somewhat middle of the road.
We follow Penny and severl other Dallergut employees and customers on their dream journeys- working at Dallergut, experiencing their dreams etc. This book definitely follows the cozy, laid-back, lower stakes format (which I don't inherently think is a bad thing), I just found the plot a little too slow and lackign in something compelling to draw the reader through the pages. I did also wish for a little bit more depth, the imagery is great, I can definitely imaging many of the characters and scenes but... I was just grasping for a little more. And perhaps its an issue of translation but sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline/place plot points in a timeline.
Overall, I think its an interesting concept but maybe just not for me.
Thank you, as always, to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy!
The Dallergut Dream Store is a lighthearted, relaxing trip to the world that exists when we are sleeping.
Spend time with the employees of the Dallergut Dream Store as they help you purchase the perfect dream. Most chapters introduce the reader to one of the customers and their unique type of dream.
I thought this book was really relaxing to read. It was a very unique concept. Though I was curious to know more about this new world, I did enjoy becoming very familiar with this store and the dream makers.
I'm not used to reading books like this, but it made for a nice change of pace. This book does not have a typical conflict, climax, resolution plot line. There is no intensity or build up. It is very slice of life but in a magical world.
Penny, our narrator, lands her “dream” job, working at The Dallergut Dream Department Store. Penny finds Mr. Dallergut kind and fair as he manages the five-story repository housing different types of dreams for purchase on every floor. To Penny’s delight, she also meets some of the Dream Designers who provide the store with a constant stream of unique and varied dreams: Babynap Rockabye, Wawa Sleepland, and Yasnoozz Otra. Penny and her coworkers, Speedo, Mogberry, and Weather, spend each workday helping both people and animal customers choose just the right dream. Some dreams are even designed specifically for naps!
I requested this book through NetGalley, intrigued and excited by the description. I couldn’t wait to start it! That said, I feel a little let down after having read it. The episodic story had no underlying plot. Only the novel’s characters and the department store link the chapters. Except for Penny and Mr. Dallergut, even the characters seem flat and one dimensional. The choice of names and the naiveté of the writing style are reminiscent of a middle-grade novel.
However, this author has created a unique, in-depth world! The idea behind this book has infinite possibilities and is untouched ground in fantasy. Several sobering and tear-inducing chapters toward the end give a sweet glimmer at this book’s full potential! Perhaps, a sequel will rise to fulfill all the possibilities The Dallergut Dream Department Store promised?
This enchanting novel transported me to a magical world where dreams are sold in a department store. Penny is a new employee, and we learn about the dream store as she visits each department and the dreams they create. This book was one of the most whimsical and imaginative stories I have read. It is full of sweet, cozy fantasy elements and heartwarming tales about employees and clients. One story in particular was emotional and had a profound impact on me. This book looks pretty fluffy, but it delves deeper into human behaviors and desires. It emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. Overall, it is a memorable read that was delightful.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press.