The Rainfall Market is the story of Serin, a girl unhappy with her life as her family is down on their luck, and she's lacking confidence.
She hears of a legendary way to trade her life for a better one by sending a letter to an abandoned house in Rainbow Town, decides to write honestly about all the reasons she doesn't like her life, and to her surprise she gets a reply.
The novel is the story of her journey through a fantastical market on the quest for a better life.
I am surprised that the book is being pitched for adults, and as a "sensation", as while it's a heartwarming, quick read (I went through it in a couple of hours) that entertained me for as long as it lasted, I think both the prose and the plot are those of a middle grade children's book. Accordingly I rated it only 3/5 stars based on my expectations, but it would probably be a 4 if it was found in the children's section of bookstores.

Note: I received this book for free as an ARC from #NetGalley but the opinions above are mine and unbiased.

3-3.5 stars.
I was simply not the right audience for this book.

The concept intrigued me, and overall, I liked this book for its life-affirming, tender, and peaceful qualities.

Serin is generally likeable and so are all the characters in the market.

I am sure that the translator had done an amazing job - I do not think this is related to the translation but rather the writing style - it took me about 40 minutes to delve into the story. Things started to get more interesting after around 40 pages, too. Though, considering the lovely themes in this book, I expected a deeper story with a unique writing style. Again, this boils down to personal preferences in the prose and other books I have read before. I think this is a great book for YA readers. I highly recommend it to those who are looking for a sweet, calming story too.

A charming, whimsical story which provides a glimpse into a very different culture, this book taps into universal questions about the meaning of life and how best to live it.

Told through the journey of Serin, who is given the unexpected opportunity to "shop" for an alternative life - the life of her dreams - in a very special market, the story reminds us that whatever the opportunities on offer, ''time and tide wait for no-one" and it is best to think carefully about what we really want out of our precious lives. It gets 3.5 stars.