The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang
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Every year when the rainy season starts, some people are chosen to visit the Rainfall Market. If you are chosen to visit you will have the opportunity to change something you dislike about your life. Young Serin is hoping to be picked, but when she arrives she struggles with deciding what the best choice for her life would be.
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What I liked:
-Serin was such a sweetie pie. I loved seeing her interact with everyone at the market and all the friendships she made.
-The Cat. 😻
-The whole “what would you change about your life” question is a good one. I really enjoyed and appreciated the way the author approached it in this story.
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4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I just wished there was more to the story about Serin’s sister? I had a couple questions. Otherwise this whimsical story with a magical market was deliciously entertaining.

An okay read.
I liked the whimsical concept of the book but has difficulty retaining interest in the chapters.
I didn’t get very much from this book.

3.25 on StoryGraph.

This was labeled as adult on NetGalley, however I feel it definitely reads more young adult and even somewhat middle grade. I'm not sure if some of that more juvenile feel to the writing was due to the translation or not, but it did not read like an adult novel at all.

The journey through the Rainfall Market started to feel a bit tedious after the second shop visit, for me personally. It was quite formulaic and it repeated like 6 or 7 times. We also didn't really get an answer for what happened to Serin's sister and that felt a bit odd, to have that so open-ended.

I think I'd be harsher with my rating if it weren't for it being a translated -- I just have a feeling that some of my issues with the writing probably can be chalked up to that.

This was a fantastical new story from a best-selling Japanese writer about Serin, a lonely young woman who sends a letter to the mysterious 'Rainfall market' where its rumored people can get tickets and a chance to improve their lives. Surprised when she is the lucky recipient of a rare 'golden ticket,' Serin travels to the market where she meets a magical cat companion and together they search for Serin's ideal future possible life. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like the Before the coffee gets cold series. I really enjoyed this one a lot and LOVE the cover! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Serin is lonely with no prospect of life getting better. She’s obsessed with the Rainfall Market and the idea that she could pick a different life, but she can’t believe it when she actually gets a letter inviting her to come. Leaving behind her family she journeys to the market where she learns she has one week to decide, or disappear forever.

This sweet story has anime tones and is a thoughtful jaunt into the “what ifs.”

Thank you Berkley Publishing @berkleypub , Netgalley @netgalley , and You Yeong-Gwang for this free ebook!
“The Rainfall Market” by You Yeong-Gwang (translated by Slin Jung) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Korean Healing Fiction/Fantasy. Location: South Korea. Time: Springtime to Summer/ the Rainy Season.

WOULD YOU TRADE YOUR LIFE FOR ANOTHER ONE?
Main Characters:
Serin: A girl who wants to escape her dreary life.
Issha: A guide cat who follows the holder of the golden ticket.
Durof: The guide to the Rainfall Market.
Toriya: The Rainfall Market gatekeeper.
Teenager Serin lives in a small flat with her mother, dreaming of a better life. She can’t believe her luck when she receives a ticket inviting her to The Rainfall Market (in Rainbow Town somewhere outside the big city), where she can swap her life for a new, better one. The Rainfall Market is an old ramshackle building, populated by the Dokkaibi who look human but are not-they can read people’s hearts. It appears on the 1st day of the monsoon. Inside are magical bookstores, hairdressers, perfumeries, anything your heart desires. Accompanied by Issha the magical cat and followed by a mysterious shadow, Serin steps inside. She has 1 week to choose the perfect life and find true happiness. If she doesn’t find her dream life, she'll be trapped in the market forever.

Author Yeong-Gwang has written a sweet tale full of self-discovery lessons. He helpfully includes a Cast of Characters. Yeong-Gwang’s book is intended for an “international audience”, but his writing style reminds me of a book aimed at young children. The descriptions are childlike, the sentences quite simple. The book definitely meets the requirements for the popular Korean Healing Fiction genre (light, feel-good stories with inspirational messages. No heavy thinking required, cute, artistic covers, market appeal). If you told bedtime stories to your children that continued over days or weeks, you will recognize this as a kindred story- and there’s nothing wrong with that. I’d recommend it for younger children as a bedtime story. It’s 3 stars from me.🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️🎀

I really liked this! I'm becoming such a fan of translated Japanese Fiction/Magical realism and specifically all of the stories where there is some sort of magically appearing/travelling cafe, market etc. They always carry such deep philosophical conversations and topics and this book very much fell in line with that archetype of fiction and I liked it.

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

On the outskirts of Rainbow Town, there is an old, abandoned house. They say that if you send a letter detailing your misfortunes there, you could receive a ticket. If you bring this ticket to the house on the first day of the rainy season, you'll be granted entrance into the mysterious Rainfall Market - where you can choose to completely change your life.

No one is more surprised than Serin when she receives a ticket. Lonely and with no real prospects for a future, Serin ventures to the market, determined to create a better life for herself.

There, she meets a magical cat companion named Issha and they search through bookstores, perfumeries, and fantastical realms while Serin tries to determine what her perfect life will look like.

The catch? Serin only has one week to find her happiness or be doomed to vanish into the market forever.

And all the while, a shadow follows quietly behind them..."

I mean, what if my perfect life is just wandering bookstores with a cat?

The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and inviting! I really liked the premise of this book. The Rainfall Market sounds like such a charming place that I would love to visit, and spend more than just the rainy season!

The character depictions in the beginning of the book were so fun and I loved being able to reference them when we met that character. Serin learns a lot along the way, and it is a nice reminder to realize what we have and what is most important before letting hopelessness set in.

Although this is an adult title, it could easily be enjoyed by readers of all ages from middle grade and up! It would be a lovely read to enjoy with your family. The whimsical atmosphere with a clear progression in the plot towards a satisfying ending would make a cozy read for many.

Thank you Berkley/Ace for the ARC!

This world is completely magical! Sit down and write about all your troubles. Send it forward to the local mysterious house. Maybe, just maybe you'll be a lucky winner of a ticket to enter this home on the first day of the rainy season. IF you are so fortunate, you could potentially change the course of your whole life. What a fun and different book, I could not put this down!

This was an intriguing read. The main character gets to visit a secret magical realm where she goes on an adventure having glimpses of alternate paths her life could take. The characters in the other world were all quite unique. The author's afterword was insightful to the book's journey to publishing. Asian cozy fantasy is having a moment and this title will find eager readers.

Perhaps it’s only human to be discontent with what we have. I don’t know about other people, but I confess that I’ve sometimes pondered what-ifs, things that might be different now if I’d taken another path. And I’ll admit to sometimes envying other people for their lifestyle, their jobs, their abilities . . .

All of this is a roundabout way of saying that the premise of The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang will likely resonate with many readers. The Rainfall Market of the title is run by non-human entities called the Dokkaebi. Invitees who come to the Rainfall Market during the rainy season have the opportunity to trade in their misfortune for a better life. Some people scoff at the notion that such a place could exist. Others believe whole-heartedly.

Protagonist Kim Serin—referred to as Serin through the book—is one of those who believes. In order to be invited to the Rainfall Market, applicants must submit a letter outlining their misfortune. Serin knows, from reading a book written by someone who claims to have attended the Rainfall Market and received a better fortune, that it’s best to be honest in this letter, so she lists all of the things in her life that she is dissatisfied with.

Serin feels her busy mother is too busy to have time for her. She laments the fact that her father died when she was young, plunging the family into a state of poverty. Their family home was destroyed in a fire, and they had to move to a semi-basement apartment in a building that is slated for demolition. Serin has no friends, and her younger sister Yerin ran away from home and is still missing. Her joys in life are listening to the radio, and participating in taekwondo classes, though even in the classes she loves she struggles with feelings of inadequacy.

Though she was careful not to get her hopes up, Serin does receive a ticket for the Rainfall Market. Not only that, but when she arrives, she discovers that hers is a golden ticket, one which gives her access to greater privileges than the other ticket-holders.

Ranging in size and abilities, the Dokkaebi who run the Rainfall Market are non-human, though they look somewhat like us. Author Yeong-Gwang does a good job of individualizing the different Dokkaebi, giving them unique abilities and physical attributes. Yeong-Gwang includes a helpful guide at the start of the book that provides highlights about each of the main characters.

When Serin and the other invitees arrive at the Rainfall Market, they are given an explanation about how things work. In exchange for their misfortunes, they will be given coins to be spent at the Market. These coins can be used to make purchases from the various vendors. Making a purchase also provides the buyer with the opportunity to buy an Dokkaebi Orb. The Dokkaebi Orbs give the user the chance to live a different life.

The rules are simple. If you take a Dokkaebi Orb to the human world, it’s yours, along with the new circumstances it offers. If you leave without taking an Dokkaebi Orb, you simply return to your old life. But if you don’t depart the Rainbow Market before the end of the rainy season, you will vanish forever.

As Serin goes on her quest, she is assisted by a cat-shaped spirit creature named Issha. Serin begins the search for a better life with great excitement. But readers are privy to the fact that not everyone wishes Serin well in her efforts, though the details about the plot against her are not clear at the outset. This, along with the fact that time is ticking down as the rainy season progresses, adds suspense as events progress.

The Rainfall Market provides a blend of action and the opportunity for philosophical musings as readers follow Serin’s adventures. Serin is a likeable protagonist who is easy to root for. Issha, with his dog-like characteristics and his strange powers, is also both entertaining and endearing. The premise of the book combined with the strangeness of the events drew me forward, chapter by chapter. The Rainfall Market is an entertaining book that spirits the reader to a different realm, while also containing lessons that resonate in our own, less exotic world.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher, Ace, an imprint of Penguin Random House, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*The Rainfall Market* by You Yeong-Gwang is a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel that explores themes of loss, memory, and human connection. Set in a surreal world where people gather at a mysterious market during rainfall to trade memories and emotions, the story follows a protagonist who grapples with the complexities of their past. Yeong-Gwang’s prose is poetic and deeply emotional, immersing readers in a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere. The novel’s unique premise, combined with its rich character development, offers a poignant meditation on the value of memories and the impact of choices. *The Rainfall Market* is a captivating read for fans of literary fiction with an imaginative twist.

What a cute story with a great message! Tons of creativity and adventure in this book. You’ll meet some interesting creatures along the way and fall in love with the friendships made! Life is what you make it ♥️

Kim Serin is a girl who has lived through many difficulties. At her home, there's only her and her mother. They barely survive, so she can't afford a new school uniform. Her only luxury is taking taekwondo classes. Serin is tired of surviving. Her hopes rise when she learns about a rainfall market where humans can exchange their misfortunes for happy lives. That's why she wrote a letter to the market, even though she wasn't sure it was real. The adventure begins when she receives the golden ticket that invites her to the market.

Serin's travel through the Rainfall Market is funny and hopeful. To find her happy life, Serin would meet different characters who would help her in her journey. However, the exchange is not one-sided because she changes the lives of everyone she meets. Likewise, she is befriending them too. At one point in the story, we can conclude that the goblins helped Serin grow. At the beginning of the book, she is obsessed with finding her perfect life. However, during her journey, she faced unimaginable challenges and scenes that took her out of her comfort zone. That's why, in the end, we see a more mature and optimistic Serin.

For me, the book's message is that there's no such thing as a perfect life. No matter what Serin wished, she never saw, in the orbs, a life without problems. On the contrary, it strengthens the belief that having some things doesn't guarantee a comfortable and carefree life. For example, in one of the orbs, she wished to go to the university. However, she learned that going to university doesn't guarantee that you will get a job immediately. Nonetheless, you could be rejected, many times, from a job even though you have a professional degree.

Another example is when she decides she wants to be her boss. Then, she learned that having your own business does not always lead to a successful and peaceful life. That's why I feel that the message of the author is that life is a mix of good and not-so-good moments. The important thing is to treasure the happy moments and the people with whom we share them.

Rainfall Market is, without a doubt, one of my favorite books and one of the most beautiful ones. It invites us to fall in love with life and its imperfections. Likewise, it reminds us that love is the most important thing we need in our lives. Thanks, NetGalley and Ace Editorial for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing story.

Looking for a quirky, fantasy, speedy read? THE RAINFALL MARKET is just the ticket! There you will find a girl, Serin, who is bored with her ordinary life and hopes that it will change for the better sometime soon. She hears about a mysterious place, that if you send a letter and are chosen, you can enter it and get the life of your dreams. Is it really true?

Serin is so excited when she receives the sought after invitation to the Rainfall Market after sending a heartfelt letter! She is one lucky girl or is she? Once inside, Serin meets creatures big and small, particularly one transforming cat named Isha, who befriends and travels along with her on her journey.
She learns she has a week to seek her new life. If she doesn't succeed, she risks being stuck in the market forever. Will Serin find the life of her dreams? Or will she become trapped in the market with its extraordinary occupants?

Exquisitely creative, captivating and utterly charming, THE RAINFALL MARKET, was a delightful diversion at the end of an exhausting day. A girl sets out on a trip to a mystical place and meets exceptional characters that hinder and help her along the way. She meets a lovable furry cat guide that provides comic relief in this fantastical story. I fell in love with kitty, Isha, who is one smart cat! There are some scary and funny moments scattered throughout. All in all, this is a refreshing tale with a moral of sorts. A positively playful plot with a spicy flair.

I received an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Rainfall Market is such a unique and refreshing read. The concept of a mysterious market that only appears when it rains is super creative, and the way it’s described makes it feel almost magical. The world-building is rich and atmospheric—you can almost hear the raindrops as you read.

The characters are intriguing and relatable, especially as they navigate the strange and sometimes eerie happenings in the market. The story balances mystery and emotion really well, though there are a few moments where the pacing feels a bit slow or the plot gets a little hard to follow. That said, it’s still a really rewarding read.

If you’re into stories with a mix of magic, mystery, and a little bit of a surreal vibe, this one is definitely worth picking up. It’s a memorable and thought-provoking book that’ll stick with you long after.

A magical realism tale about Serin, a girl who is feeling trapped in her life. With no money, a hardworking mother she never sees and fiercely missing her sister who left her, Serin is desperate to create a new life for herself. Enter the Rainfall Market, a place where you can choose a new life, if you are lucky enough to get a ticket. With Issha the cat as her faithful companion, Serin sets out to find which life will lead her to happiness and fulfillment. Along the way she encounters magical creatures throughout the Rainfall Market but not everyone is what they seem. This story is whimsical but also very simply told which I think makes it feel a bit more YA but is still enjoyable for all ages. The magical creatures are creative and memorable and this is the perfect cozy book to make you appreciate the small things in life.

Many thanks to Berkley & Netgalley for the ARC.

This one was fun….not perfect…but fun.

I loved the market and I’d absolutely visit if I managed to get myself a ticket! My new favorite trope is stores, markets, etc. so I will be looking for more books in this realm.

I really enjoyed the Concept of the Rainfall Market and the idea that our protagonist was a struggling but hopeful girl chasing after magic, and when she encounters it she gets super swept up in the possibilities but of course nothing is as it seems, amazing idea.


However, I do feel as though the writing was a bit….idk the best word….stiff? Emotionless? It felt like we never really got DEEP into Serin’s head, everything felt very surface level—as if the author was just guessing at how she might feel m, and not really giving us much detail. Also, I know this was translated, but the writing felt very elementary and it took me out of the story occasionally.

Aside from that though I did manage to still enjoy this. Thank you so much ACE for the Arc!!

Serin is a young girl with few prospects for the future. When she hears about a house on the outskirts of her town where you can send a letter detailing your misfortunes, she decides she has nothing to lose. To her surprise, Serin receives a ticket with instructions to bring it to the house on the first day of the rainy season to gain access to the mysterious Rainfall Market. Serin always thought the Rainfall Market-- a place where you can choose to change your life--was a legend, and she counts down the days until the weather changes to see what fate awaits her. At the market, Serin meets a magical cat companion and searches through bookstores and fantastical realms, trying on different lives to see which one suits her best. But Serin only has a week to find her new happiness before she vanishes into the market forever, and unbeknownst to her, a shadowy figure is hot on her tail.

I wanted to pick this up because I don't read a lot of translated fiction, and this sounded very whimsical. I loved the idea of this market where you can try on different lives. It was fun following Serin as she tried out all these versions of her life to see which one she liked the most. I also liked the magical creatures and people she encountered along the way. The execution of the plot is what kept throwing me off. The writing was simple and read almost like a middle-grade, which is fine but not what I expected. I'm not sure if some of the delicacies of the story got lost in translation, but it wasn't as impactful as I thought it'd be. It was a quick read, and I flew through it in one sitting, but I think maybe it would be better geared toward a younger audience.