Give more Korean/Japanes books that mixes magic realism, mythology and make me feel good and think in a positive way.
LOVED IT, LOVED IT . Due to health issues cannot not but will write a proper review at a later time
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Rainfall Market has the whimsy and fun that I was expecting, but one thing that was a little confusing was that it seems to be marketed as an adult book but it read very much like a young middle grade novel. I mostly enjoyed the story and didn’t struggle to finish it, but it was a little confusing figuring out who it was written for! Maybe it’s how it comes across in the translation. But if you go into this knowing this, I think it’d be a really enjoyable read for pretty much all ages.

Thank you Netgalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Michael Joseph and You Yeong-Gwang for the eArc of The Rainfall Market.

I've recently started reading more translated fiction so I was really excited to receive this Arc. I love the mysticism of this book It's beautifully written and translated. For for me, it's also very relatable with our MC, Serin and because of this I feel The Rainfall Market has a very " Spirited Away " vibes by Studio Gibli which I loved and mixed with Matt Haigs, " Midnight Library " We all go around wishing we could have a do over.

I read this very quickly and pretty much in one sitting so I'll be very tempted to pick up more of You Yeong-Gwangs works in the future.

4 stars

The pacing for The Rainfall Market was too slow for me, and I’d definitely say middle grade in audience. However I’ve not read much translated fiction so that may be why. Otherwise a lovely story if not a bit simple.

"It's never too late to start on your dreams. The present is the best time to launch yourself forward."

Serin's life is lonely. She lives in a hovel with her mother, who is barely able to support them. Serin dreams of going to university, of carving out a different life for herself, but she knows it's not possible.

Then, she reads a book about the mythical Rainfall Market. The author claims that if you send a letter to a certain abandoned house, you could receive a ticket to the market, where your life would be forever changed and your dreams would be made real. When Serin receives a ticket, she travels to the market, where a cat called Issha will be her guide as she navigates the market to find her perfect life. But, it's much harder than she realised. In the meantime, someone or something is watching her very closely.

This is a lovely, gentle story about how the things you think you need, aren't really the things you want. Serin wants to get out of poverty, wants to find a great job, wants money ... These are not bad things to desire but the point is, the result of escaping these often mean something else that is negative might enter her life.

The descriptions of the market are charming and I loved Issha (even though I'm not a cat lover!). The only reason this is a three- rather than four-star read for me is that I felt the threat Serin faces in the market should have been played up more. I never felt afraid for her, even though the author clearly wants to indicate that she's in some sort of danger. There is a distinct lack of tension, both from the unnamed shadow and from the fact that Serin's time in the market is running out.

Otherwise, it's an enjoyable and cute read with some important life lessons.

I read up until 40% before DNF'ing this book.

What I read was fine, it was somewhat cosy and definitely an interesting concept but unfortunately just a little lack-lustre and didn't hold me captive enough. It was quite slow paced and read quite young - therefore just not for me.

Not a bad book, an intriguing premise and perhaps better suited to younger readers or those who don't mind a softer, slower approach to their books.

“The rainfall market” was a beautiful, engaging and cozy tale about a high school student who receives a golden ticket into The Rainfall Market- a place where she could sell her misfortune in exchange for happiness. The catch is: she has only till the end of the rainy season to find out what
true happiness is for her and leave the Market or she will be trapped there forever.

I found the book so lovely and gripping, I couldn’t put it down. Reading it felt like playing the game Strays in the world of Spirited Away. I had an absolute blast watching Serin go from one Dokaerebi to another, visiting shops, restaurants and hair salons and meeting creatures from spirit world, making friends and collecting magical orbs. And I was so happy to see the relationship she
developed with the cat she was given along the way.

As someone who’s life has been put on hold due to unforeseen circumstances (cancer) I absolutely love the lesson this book teaches its readers: it doesn’t matter what life you have, what job, what family situation or what amounts of money you earn. What matters is now, the current moment and the people that surround us when we need them. “The rainfall market” is about appreciation of the small things and realisation that the sun will always shine after the rain. There’s always happiness after the bad or sad moments.

We just need to be open to seeing these happy little things in the world around us, the way Serin had to spend all that time in the market and go against the big bad guy at the end to learn that what mattered most were the friends she made along the way and the people and things she
already had in life that she took for granted.

Such a great read! I 100% recommend it to everyone who’s ever wished their life was different.

3.5

I feel like sometimes we overuse the statement that a book ‘feels like a Studio Ghibli film’ but truly - this book does feel like a Studio Ghibli film.

Set during the rainy season, in South Korea, Serin receives a ticket to attend the mysterious Rainfall Market - a place run by Dokkaebi, where you can trade in misfortune for a different life (with no guarantees or responsibility taken for how that life pans out).

We follow Serin as she explores this mysterious market, alongside a magical cat that she’s been gifted, as she peers into possible lives, and weighs up the weight of them.

This book is quite beguiling and enchanting, and it flowed so smoothly. There is an element of peril scattered throughout the book, which did heighten the tension, but overall it was a very cosy book to get lost in.

It did feel to me that it erred more on the side of YA, due to its simplistic writing, but I didn’t mind that. It was sweet, and heartwarming, and I enjoyed it quite considerably, even though it didn’t rock my world.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review.

A young girl finds herself at The Rainfall Market hoping to change her life for the better with a wish but perhaps she's should be careful what she's wishes for.

A really enjoyable book about appreciating what you have. I must say, perhaps due to the age of the character, it does read as very YA. Which could be to its credit as I think teenagers would enjoy this even more than I did!

I think the descriptive elements could have used some work but it did allow your mind to run free imagining it.

The Rainfall Market encapsulates for me the trauma of coming of age - where you are left unsure if the path you seek to take is the answer to the path of happiness of whether you'd be better off making a different decision. Ultimately it is a book of 'What Ifs' with Serin so lost as to where to take her life she seeks out The Rainfall Market in the hopes of finding the answer to 'happiness', learning instead that the path to such is not so easy nor sweet.

A cosy thought-provoking novel.

This book is quirky and a little bit odd in a way that I'm not sure if I loved or not. I think its the type of book that would appeal to people who like things a little bit strange. It would probably make a good book group choice as I'm sure it would encourage debate and opinions about the story and the writing style.

This was such an enjoyable read for me!

We meet Serin, a girl who is unhappy with her life and longs for a new one, maybe one with a better job, more money or just generally being in a better situation than her current one. In comes the Rainfall Market, a magical market that only opens to invited parties once a year during the Rainy Season, and gives them the opportunity to choose a better life. The catch, if a new life isn't selected by the time the Rainy Season is over, the person is stuck in the market forever.

I absolutely loved Serin's journey through the market and all the characters she meets on her travels. The story was the right balance of magical realism & lighthearted storytelling & I could 100% see this as a Studio Ghibli film.

If you're looking for an easy read to cosy up with this month, make this it!

Too magical.
I read the reviews of this book and was looking forward to reading it, I had enjoyed the restaurant of lost recipes and the Marigold mind laundry.
Serin is the girl with no friends and no money, she wins a ticket to the mystical Rainfall market and a chance to alter her life. Once she gets there, the market is filled with magical characters and a cat who helps to guide her. Who can she really trust?
I found this too magical and odd for my taste.
Thank you NetGalley, You and Michael Joseph for this ARC.

This was a really enjoyable read - whimsical, enchanting, and so much fun. This is a quick read, perfect for days when you're looking for a bit of adventure.

As a big fan of Japanese fiction, I was instantly attracted to this book by its title and premise, and it didn’t disappoint. In some ways it reminded me a lot of traditional fairytales with its simple ideas and repetition between scenes as Serin endeavours to find the perfect life. However, I did get confused with character names at times as there are quite a lot and many of them aren't featured for very long!
If you are after a high-paced adventure, this may not be for you, but as a feel good, coming of age, moral story, in a highly imaginative setting, it is a definite must read! I would be really keen to read more books by the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I really enjoyed this one. It was really well translated and a book that I will think fondly of

I feel that this book has been mis-categorised. This would have been a great middle grade book but as adult fiction, it just did not work for me. I found the language to be very simplistic and this may be a translation issue and not the fault of the author. However the story itself felt quite boring as there were no surprises or moments of tension or development. I just did not have a good time with this
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

"Nothing in this world is ever useless, Serin. It'll all come in handy someday." 

The story follows a girl who is unhappy with her lot in life, (who isn't at times?) who knows you can go to the Rainfall Market run hy Dokkaebi. The Dokkaebi will offer you the chance at a different life. I haven't read The Midnight Library but believe this has a similar premise.

The vibe is pure magic, as Serin works her way through the Rainfall Market in search of the life she thinks will suit her best. This has all the right notes for a Studio Ghibli movie so if you like them you will very likely enjoy this. I finished this over Christmas and have been thinking about it ever since. so a review was a must!

I read 38% of this book and then DNF'ed. Although I DNf'ed this book the part I read was not bad but i was bored. If you are a fan of Before the coffee gets cold or similar cozy mystery stories then you may enjoy this book.

I've seen a lot of reviews say this book is too juvenile or simplistic.. but I think that's kind of the point. As a teen we're all hoping for this, that and the other. A good job, lots of money, someone to spend out life with.. but it's not that simple. And even as an adult we get lost in those concepts.

Is this the most complex story out there? No. But it makes you think about what's in front of you, who's in front of you. Some of it could be it not translating properly but I genuinely think that this book is all about the message. It's about relationships and situations and your view on life and the future.

Will everyone like this book? No. But I did. And I cried (think I'm over emotional atm anyway to be honest!) not once but twice. Because of a cat.