The first DallerGut Dream Department Store was one of my favourite reads last year as I felt it was childhood favourite meeting the wonderful world of Korean/Japanese cosy fiction.
This book had more of a plot and purpose and in that way I think I enjoyed it more, but for the most part I didn't find it quite as visual as the first book, despite the big set piece.
A fun read and I will keep reading the series if more are translated.

I’m so glad I got to read this book. It has the perfect blend of feel good vibes and cosy writing. Honestly I would not have been surprised at all to hear that Studio Ghibli had done a movie of it. (They haven’t yet but we can only hope!) This book is the perfect escapism from real life.

In the second book, it builds upon this beautifully comforting world by bringing us more details of how dreams are made, more of the quirky characters we met in book one and a wonderfully elaborate pajama party that takes up the whole street!

Though I think I preferred the first book, I really enjoyed reading the sequel. It was lovely to revisit the same characters and world. I honestly could read a whole series of these books and still enjoy them!

Perfect to read as audio or in print versions, you can’t go wrong with this fantastic books!

I’ve really enjoyed this series! The first book made me think about dreams in such a different way and DallerGut has certainly become my fave book grandad. It was great to be on another journey with Penny in her second year at the store whilst she learns more about the regular customers. Without wanting to spoil anything, if you’re looking for a short story that will help with a but of reflecting I highly recommend. Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

A wonderful, whimsical sequel that carried on the story perfectly. I absolutely adore these books, they are the perfect book to curl up with on a rainy day

‘Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store’ by Miye Lee is a sequel in the dream department store series. The novel was everything you could want in a cosy sequel. A few major character driven plot points, a fun incident and a perfect reintroduction into the setting of the first book. It felt like we had never left off.

I loved the theme of reintroducing old customers to the store, getting a good insight into the operations outside of the store. I really thought this added to Penny’s ARK and I loved her ability to discover things about the store and its customers.

I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy cosy books as this is the pinnacle and those who enjoy light fantasy, as the magic is on the lighter side and isn’t delved into that much.

A solid enjoyable read.

I loved the first book and I have loved reading the second book. It’s a beautiful book that transports you back into the dream department store. I loved following penny through her daily work and the relationships with the characters in the book:

Enjoyed coming back to this world, cosy and whimsical with some beautiful moments and imagery. But again, the capitalism vibes are so at odds with everything else in this world it's kind of jarring. The juxtaposition of the Noctiluca laundry cave and the complaints department is so weird!

Return To The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Lee Miye

I read the first book in this series after an impulsive purchase based on the beautiful and engaging cover and was delighted to be approved for an advance ebook copy of the second book in the series by @wildfiredoesbooks and @headlinebooks

I was excited to discover how Penny had developed. Penny is a young girl whose dream of working at Dallergut had come true the year before. Penny is blossoming in confidence, learning new skills and making friendships with customers and the dream makers.

All the floor managers reappear like old friends and you learn more about their characters and back stories. I loved the burgeoning friendship between Penny and Maxim one of the nightmare makers and there is clearly more to this story! I chuckled aloud at the antics of Nicholas and Maxim and how they ensure customers balance their dreams with a dose of humility!

This book is pure fantasy with moral tales at the heart of the story. As with book one its more of a snapshot of fables than an overarching plot which allows you to dip in and out of the story.

I look forward to more in the series, as I NEED to know what will happen between Maxim and Penny, will Dallergut ever retire?? I'd love to see these books adapted for screen.

Thank you @wildfiredoesbooks and @headlinebooks for making my dreams come true!

Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store is a sweet sequel to the bestselling first book. Following Penny again, we learn more about the strange and fantastic world of dreams.

This time, we move outside of the department store and learn more about the production of dreams. There is wonder as the magical world expands but also some hard hitting truths. The story delves into the complaint centre and we learn more about the difficult dreams people have to face. This story had a good balance of levity and lightness to it. I really liked that was a heartwarming fantasy that had a real grounding in reality.

I would recommend this book to fans of the first book and series like ‘Before the Coffee gets cold’. There is something magical about these translated works!

I absolutely loved the first in this series - DallerGut Dream Department Store - when I read it last year and have been on tenterhooks waiting for this book to be translated and released here. I know I usually bang on about starting from book one and reading in order and it's always a good idea to do that with all series, but some really do warrant that effort. Like this one, which is, as was book one, also deliciously, quirkily, bonkers... And brilliant!
So, at the start of this book we catch up with Penny who is just about to celebrate her one year anniversary of working at the DallerGut Dream Department Store. As with all employees that have accrued this length of service she is now allowed to take the commuter train to the Company District where all the magic happens and where the dreams are produced. But as well as that, it is also home to the Civil Complaints Centre. And it is there that Penny also learns of the people who used to shop at DallerGut but do so no longer. She is determined to find out why, and more importantly try and coax them back...
As with the series opener, I slipped back into the wonderful world of the dream industry very easily. Sometimes it takes a wee while for my brain to recall the story and the characters but in this case it was all there pretty much from the start. And before long I was fully re-immersed in the wonderful world that the author has created.
Penny is a wonderful character, she blossomed during the first book and her development continues in this book. As does the world in which the series is set, expanding more outside the store which also gives rise to the introduction of a few more quirky characters as well as revisiting those we already met in the first book.
An analogy that I usually use in translated books is also quite pertinent here, if you don't notice a referee in sport then they've done a good job, likewise if you forget that it is a translation, the translator has done a good job and, herein, it is seamless...
The story contained herein is compelling and fascinating and held my attention all the way through, I think it's more emotional than book one but it is also more wholesome if you get what I mean. Maybe a bit sugary at times but hey, it's fun!
I see from reading other reviews that some are referring to this as just a duology rather than a series, but Fantastic Fiction has a third book mooted for release in 2025. I really do hope that this is the case as I would really love to continue my relationship with characters and their world...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A strong, and enjoyable sequel and a welcome return to the world of Dallergut. This book continues to explore the world of dreams, the purposes they serve us, and how we all feel about them.

This book expands the cast of dreamers and dream-makers, as well as neatly tying up some loose ends from book one, like Vigo and his dream of making dreams, as well as sowing seeds for the future, like Penny and Maxim.

Like the first in the series, this book is fun and gentle, and surprisingly moving at points. Another great slice of life in a beautifully created world.

Thank you for the ARC of this book. The book follows on from the first instalment and you will enjoy this one if you liked the first book. For me, the first book was refreshing as the story was so different yet a bit boring and repetitive as the story dragged a bit after about 50%. The second book feels even more repetitive as the concept isn't new anymore. 2.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book, which is not surprising because I loved the first one. It is Penny’s second year at the store and there are more dreams and more events and the staff continue to be wonderful and I wish I worked there.
I loved the idea of the second disciple in this book, the introduction in the beginning with Penny’s card reading and then the continued reinforcement throughout the book to the ending. Really sweet and perfectly done.
I love the way we continue to see the dream the way the customer does, that is often my favourite part of the chapter.

The sequel to The Dallergut Dream Department Store, we have returned with our favourite characters in this fun fantasy setting - and I for one am so glad to be back in this world.
What I love the most about these two books is the workplace environment which I find to be so humorous. In a couple of chapters in this instalment we go to the customer complaints centre which was particularly relatable. I think what is especially important is Penny's development arc over the two books, I've grown to really love her along with all the other characters: the floor managers, dreammakers and the Noctilucas!
It is a heavy hitting and emotional read yet so heart-warming at the same time. I cried multiple times yet had the best time reading this book.
The first book was a solid 5 star for me and this sequel didn't quite live up to book one but I'm still rating it 4.5 overall. This is just my perfect translated fiction in a fantasy world, I have so much love for this duology. Without spoiling the ending there is also a very sweet budding romance and I would just adore a novella to focus on their relationship.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for NetGalley)

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and Miye Lee for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy.

Review posted to Goodreads and The StoryGraph. Review to be posted on Amazon and Instagram on publication date.

I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC by Headline and NetGalley, thank you for the opportunity.

Where do I begin? I was so excited to rejoin Penny’s journey, learning about her role at the dream department store and seeing what has changed after her first year. Being an established member of the Dream industry, Penny gets to show us behind the scenes, and honestly going behind the curtain was fantastic.

I loved learning more about Dallergut, Motail and some of the other characters I first met in Dallergut Dream Department Store. And hearing some more back story on Penny’s parents was cute!

As before, I got to learn a bit about individual customers’ lives - and again some more challenging themes were explored here (including themes of mental health).

Miye Lee has written another heart-warming story. Although I’ve heard this described elsewhere as a duology, I think it’s been left open enough that she could revisit these characters to write more (although I found it to be a satisfying ending even if she chose not to revisit).

An easy to read sequel, with fantastical yet charming characters set against a whimsical backdrop. A must read if you enjoyed the first book!

A return visit to a quirky world with sweet characters and a fun story.

I absolutely adored book 1, so I was delighted to get early access to part 2. Whilst I didn't find it as good as book 1, it was still thoroughly entertaining and a nice, easy read. I loved the idea that there is a building you can go to complain about your dreams, a brilliant extra layer to the story. Imagine being able to do that in real life! Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars.

What a joy to be able to return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store! There’s something so safe yet whimsical about the world created by Lee that I can’t get enough of. The book is low stakes but high cozy-ness, a perfect book to read before you go to sleep. The theme of memories throughout is thoughtful and meaningful. Returning to the same characters from the first book was like receiving a big hug, though I’d liked to have seen more from Penny and Maxim.

Overall I love the vibes, the world, the people we meet along the way. I find these books the ultimate in cozy reading, and Return to DallerGuts Dream Department Store is not to missed if you’re looking for comfort.

A massive thank you to NetGalley and Headline Books for the ARC of this ebook!

It breaks my heart to say this but unfortunately this sequel fell really flat for me which I didn't see coming since Dallergut Dream Department Store is not only one of my favourite reads of this year but also one of my favourite books of all time.

I did enjoy getting to see more of Penny and the other characters from the first book and getting to explore new settings outside of the store but overall I just didn't feel the same depth to the story as I did in the first book, in book one the best part for me was exploring the meaning behind certain dreams and not only did we not get as much of that in this book but when we did it just really didn't seem to have the same level of impact.

For a quick quirky read I would still recommend this but I would just say don't go into it with such high expectations like I did.

I love the magic of the Dallergut Dreamstore. We get to see in the lives of some of their customers just like book 1. I wasnt a huge fan of some of the character stories, compared to book 1 these ones didnt feel as well thought out and didnt grab me as emotionally as the other book did.
Im enjoying seeing Penny grow into her own but I WISH we saw more of Penny and Maxim!! We need a novella of those two, im begging.

Still a great read, feels like a warm hug. Theres no stress, no worry, just a feel good story.

Thank you to NetGalley for An advanced copy of this book

I loved the first book in this series and seeing how they go into the workings of the dreams a bit more is interesting

Working in retail myself the complaints centre made me chuckle a bit when I think of the complaints I get and how similar they may seem pointless complaints but after deep diving the truth behind it

There was a couple bits that felted a bit repeated and at times thought this could be split into another book but still a great read