Serin is lonely. Her sister is far away, her mother is too busy to care for her, and they don't have enough money for Serin to go to university. So, Serin writes to The Rainfall Market hoping they will grant her wish, and they do! Serin travels to a world where she must collect orbs in search of her true wish. She and a cat, Issha, make this journey together, but Serin doesn't realize that she is being used. This is a story where the character must look deeply into themself and determine what is important. Is it a job, money, or is there something more?
A nice, easy fantasy story, however I thought the writing was somewhat stilted. A good message, though.

Serin’s life is not great. She lost her father when she was young, her sister has run away, and despite her mother always working, there is never enough money. Serin finds comfort in Taeknowdo, but little else. Still, she has hope and dreams of a rumored place that may only exist in legend. A place where you can sell your misfortunes for a chance at a different life - The Rainfall Market.

What I loved most about this book is the atmosphere and setting. The author does such a great job of describing the various worlds we find ourselves in so it really feels like you’re there with Serin and Issha, my favorite character. Serin definitely goes on a journey in The Rainfall Market. We meet an interesting cast of characters, and facd challenges and a bit of a mystery along the way. We follow Serin through a lot of different orbs as she figures out what exactly she wants from her life, and though I found parts a bit repetitive, I’m glad she ends up exactly where she’s meant to be. I love the way this book wrapped up.

While this may have been too cozy for me, if you enjoy books like Water Moon, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and other translated works please be sure to check out The Rainfall Market.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a review copy.

This is what I would call a cozy fantasy. If you go to the rainfall market, you have the chance to find what you want. Sarah gets a ticket to the rainfall market, but only has a week to find what would make her happy in the future or she disappears. It’s an interesting book with fascinating character. Characters and the world is magical and cozy at the same time.

This was such a lovely book! It kind of read like a middle grade one, it was so easy to get into! It felt magical and surreal, and for a moment I was completely transported. Definitely a book I can recommend!

I'll admit that I was originally drawn to this book because of the cover - I've got a soft spot for the ones that include cats on them, as this one does. When I saw the title and read the synopsis, however, my anticipation was heightened for this new release because it sounded exactly like something that would be right up my alley.

Luckily, it turns out that this cozy, fantastical story was, indeed, much to my tastes overall. It's a simple tale of a magical journey undertaken by the main character; it's shorter and more plot-forward, but that works for the type of story it is... especially if the reader who picks it up is ready to just go with the flow the way that I was when I picked it up. I enjoyed wandering The Rainfall Market, meeting the various dokkaebi and magical creatures and experiencing the magic of this world.

The thing that really stuck with me though are two of the main themes touched upon, namely figuring out what you really want in life and a shift in the perspective with which you view the life you currently have. These are things that I've wrestled with myself in my own life (and fully expect that it'll happen again), so I was intrigued to see how it would play out for main character Serin.

While I enjoyed reading The Rainfall Market, it's not a new favorite simply because I wasn't emotionally invested in the main character. I can certainly appreciate the appeal of this book, however. I'm confident that other readers will enjoy this too, especially given the story is relatable, (mostly) wholesome with a bit of a fairytale feel and on the shorter side.

This was a very interesting book. The world building was great, but reading on kindle made the list and description of characters less useful for me. The writing felt almost simplistic, like a middle grade story but it was for adults, but I wonder if that had to do with the translation of it. In this world there is a house and if you mail a letter containing all of the horrible parts of your life you may be selected with a ticket to go to the Rainfell Market to exchange your life for another, better one. Our protagonist sends in her letter and gets a golden ticket and heads off to change her fortune. The story was sweet and while it was a bit predictable it was fun. Overall I gave this one 3.5 stars which I rounded up because it is totally possible the translation is what stopped me from truly loving it. Even with that it was a very quick read and definitely enjoyable.

This lighthearted book explores the pursuit of happiness. It includes themes of kindness, compassion, and the unexpected friendships that shape our lives. Through whimsical adventures and heartfelt moments, it delivers a meaningful message of learning to appreciate the life you have, as every life comes with its own struggles.
While I enjoyed the cozy and charming nature of this fantasy, the writing style was very middle grade.
It’s a great read if you're looking for something light and comforting, but if you’re looking for more depth and complexity, this one might disappoint.


| RATING | 3

| FOR READERS WHO LIKE |

• Magical Realism
• Cozy Fantasy
• Coming of Age
• Self Discovery
• Animal Companion
• Persuit of Happiness

| FAVORITE SCENE |

Popo gifting Serin a bamboo plant.
Popo explains that the bamboo plant is often underestimated. While other plants quickly sprout, grow, and bloom, bamboo takes a different approach. For the first few years, it remains underground, focusing on strengthening its roots and establishing a solid foundation. Then, once it's ready, it shoots up at an astonishing speed, growing faster than anyone expected.

| FAVORITE QUOTE |

-The quotes referenced are from an advanced reader's copy and may not reflect the final version. Please refer to the finished copy for accuracy.-

"Rainbows are funny things, aren't they? The harder it rains, the more beautifully they shine. Who knows? Maybe it's a gift from God, for those who've endured the storms."

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Rainfall Market is a charming tale of Serin, who details all her misfortunes for a chance to enter the market and create a life of her dreams.

While not my typical read, I found this story filled with meaningful messages and entertaining characters. My favorite part was learning what each dokkaebi took from humans, it was so creative.

I did feel this book overall read more like juvenile fiction than for an adult audience, but it leaves the reader with valuable perspective

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read a copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In an abandoned house, on the outskirts of Rainbow Town lies the entrance to the mysterious Rainfall Market. Rumor has it, if you write a letter about your misfortunes you may earn a ticket that grants you access to the Rainfall Market on the first day of the rainy season. Those who enter are given the opportunity to completely change their lives.

When lonely Serin receives a ticket to the Rainfall Market, she becomes determined to change her life for the better and enters the market looking for the best possible outcome. Figuring out the best new life is much more difficult than she could have anticipated and something darker lies within the inner workings of the market.

Rating 4/5 ⭐️s - A solidly enjoyable and contemplative read, this fantasy novel is a little hard to classify and slow at times. Serin’s youth make it hard to connect with her struggles but her search to figure out the best life possible is a somewhat universal battle for many people. The protagonist’s naivety and youth are both refreshing and, at times, frustrating. The fantasy elements of this novel feel somewhat cozy in that Serin’s encounters with the various residents of the Rainfall Market could take place somewhere in the real world. There is a definite tone of magic realism throughout the book. For these reasons, the story reminded me of Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. While I enjoyed the first read of this novel, I feel I would gain even more insight in subsequent readings.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and You Yeong-Gwang for this ARC. I’ll likely read this again during my next rainy day.

The Rainfall Market⁣
Genre - magical realism ⁣
Rating - 4.25⭐️/ loved⁣
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Thanks @berkleypub for the #gifted advanced copy - this book is out now!⁣
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At just over 200 pages, this translated novel was a warm hug of a book. I read it while dealing with a death in the family and then catching the flu, and it was exactly what I needed. It was a light, coming of age story, that still had significance and deeper meaning. It had similar vibes to The Midnight Library, which was actually a book I didn't love. While I thought TML had a lot of missed opportunities in the story, this one had all the elements I'd hoped for - a developed and lovable main character and world building that bordered into fantasy at times. One word of warning - there are a lot of characters to keep track of. I frequently had to reference the character guide (with pictures!) included in the beginning of the book.⁣
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#berkleypub #therainfallmarket #translated

It's challenging to review this book, because I don't know whether the issues that I have with it might be a language/cultural barrier. I also hate to be too critical of it after reading the author's sweet story of writing the book during breaks from his food delivery job. It certainly wasn't a bad book and I didn't dislike it, but it felt like there was a bit missing. I loved the premise and some of the world-building, but the story felt slow and many of the characters felt flat. My favorite character was Issha, a cat who had no lines. There were too many Dokkaebi without significantly different personalities or backstories. We met them all too quickly and it felt like a bit of a revolving door. I liked the lesson that Serin learned through her time in the Rainfall Market, but I didn't see her character grow. This felt more like a children's book or a fairy tale than I was expecting, and I'd recommend that anyone reading it go into it with those expectations.

Thank you to the publisher - I received a complimentary eARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

A sweet story about a young woman with an opportunity to improve her life and circumstances. However she quickly finds out unexpected truths about each path she might take. This story was fun to read with its magical creatures and the powers they all have. There were some plot points I wish had been fleshed out more, but I enjoyed this book quite a bit.

“Rainbows are funny things, aren’t they? The harder it rains, the more beautifully they shine. Who knows? Maybe it’s a gift from God, for those who’ve endured the storms.”

The Rainfall Market by You Yeong-Gwang (Translated by Slin Jung) is a fantastical story that revolves around a young girl named Serin who wins a “Golden Ticket” to a mysterious market that operates only during the rainy season – an experience that is rumored to enable one to change one’s life. Serin, a lonely girl with a fair share of troubles and though a tad doubtful, hopes that she will find a way to change her life for the better.

The author weaves a fascinating tale with a meaningful message, combining elements of Korean myth and folklore, wit and wisdom, magic, mystery and adventure. I had a wonderful time following Serin’s journey and loved how the author describes the Dokkaebi and the magical market. I loved how Serin bonded with Issha, the spirit creature (in the form of a cat), who guided her through the market, coming through for her on more than one occasion. Several subplots featuring a large cast of characters - some friendly and helpful and some more devious - are deftly woven into a well-paced, engaging narrative that touches upon themes of kindness, friendship, loyalty, courage, self-realization, hope and healing.

Though I wasn’t the target audience for this book (the book is meant for younger readers), this in no way detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. Delightful, imaginative, adventurous and thought-provoking, I found this book to be an entertaining read. I hope the author continues Serin’s story as there are a few plot points that remain unexplored.

Finally, I love the beautiful cover art!

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Interesting premise but falls short in delivery. This started out fascinating but then slowed down and never quite found its stride. I found my mind wandering constantly and wasn’t sure what the actual point of the story was. The writing, as others have mentioned, is simplistic, and perhaps a lot of the whimsy was lost in translation but this was ultimately not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, You Yeong-Gwang, and Slin Jung for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so reminiscent of The Midnight Library, even though I hate comparing. If this many people feel this way though, it’s almost too close of concepts.

Things this book did well:
* the immersive cultural elements - I do not know a lot about Korean culture. I loved the elements that are included!
* Issha - his entire existence was such a light for me! I enjoyed his connection with the MC and made so many scenes wonderful
* the vibes - Rainbow Town = adorable, Rainfall Market = also adorable, all the little market vendors = very adorable, book cover = stunning, the vibes were immaculate

Things I didn’t love:
* pacing - was a little slow to get into and the ending felt slow, even though there was a ton of action?
* the end action scene - felt unnecessary and dark, the vibes were so good throughout that I just couldn’t deal with the change-up
* character depth - I didn’t feel like we got to know any of the characters that well, and this was mainly focused on 1 MC

This was really interesting and reminded me a lot of the Midnight Library (just with less self harm). It was a nice story about looking around you and seeing what you have, not just what you think you don’t. I loved Issha the cat, such a cute addition to the story.

This is a short and sweet « the grass is always greener” type story. It’s serious and reflective while at the same time introducing you to some really fun characters.

Thank you to Ace Books and Berkley for the free book and to PRH Audio for the free audiobook. These opinions are my own.

This is a cozy fantasy translated from the original Korean. Serin wants something more from her life. So she writes a letter to the Rainfall Market in hopes that she will be one of the lucky few invited to trade her future.

Serin is young, so this was on the line of a YA book for me. I actually double checked to see how it was marketed. As a reader, I was right there with her, constantly wondering what has happy and feeling I couldn't trust anyone at the Rainfall Market.

In addition to a really fascinating magical world, there's a lot of mystery and danger. I really appreciated the final morale of the story.

Rosa Escoda narrated quite well. The story flew by with an audiobook that was only 6 hours long. I read it in a single afternoon.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book! I LOVE this book. It’s fun and an easy read. For fans of Studio Ghibli films and storylines. Is also say if you enjoy T. J. Klune you would probably enjoy this story as well. I will definitely purchase a copy!