I loved being back with Penny, Weather, Mogtail and the rest of the staff from Dallergut's department store. And just like returning to a familiar dream, this felt like going home with a comfortable and meandering story that just wants to envelope the reader in feelings of hope and compassion. The second book is very introspective, this time examining why customers leave complaints about their dreams and also why they don't return to the store - with Penny being entrusted to come up with solutions for both. There's a heavy emphasis on memories and the passage of time, with the message that while some situations can look bad now it will only be for a short period of time and it's these experiences that shape who we are now. There's some really endearing, touching passages as we see certain customers life stories and what has brought them to this place. I have a special fondness for the Noctilucas and their responsibilities, and we see in this book that their job goes beyond what we initially thought in the first book.

Penny is a wonderful character to explore the dream world with. She's smart and inquisitive but with a sensitive soul and seeing the world through her eyes lends it a sympathetic air. There's no threats, no dangers here and the reader knows they're in safe hands with Penny. In the end she'll make sure everyone is ok. I love her budding romance with Maxim too, and hope there's more books to explore this.

This gets a slightly lower rating from me because, just as a personal preference, I really need a plot to keep my interest and there just isn't one here. It's a series of linking short stories or ideas, and the pace is slow and careful without any action. While this is perfect for this kind of story and I appreciate it for that, I found my attention fading a few times especially at the beginning.

Perfect escapism that holds your hand through some difficult topics with a strong message of love and acceptance.

I feel so emotional in the best way. This book returns to the Dallergut dream department store, Penny has worked there for a year and her performance review is due. Penny works to help lost regulars fund their way back to their dreams and learns more about the industry. This series is beautifully written and so comforting. I hope there are more books I need to read know what’s happening! I laugh, I cry and feel fulfilled, just brilliant

I was excited to go back to the Dallergut Dream Department Store and see the character development of Penny and the other characters.
This was a completely different story and we got to see a lot more of the other characters briefly mentioned in the first book which I really liked.
We saw a bit more behind the scenes of the department store - it was a good read.

This is such a beautiful, light hearted fantasy! The love I have for this book and the first one is crazy. I want to live in this world because of how beautiful it is. I love the writing style of this book and the development of characters throughout. It just a beautiful, touching and emotional story. Definitely up there as one of my favourite books

Thank you NetGalley and Headline for the ARC

Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store was a lovely sequel to The DallerGut Dream Department Store. It had the same cozy feeling but know we got to see more of the universe. I liked seeing our MC actually work in the dream department store and learning more about it. A short, but mighty and lovely read.

I've really enjoyed this duology and I'm so glad they came into my life! Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store finds us back with Penny, a year on from her start date and she's at her first annual appraisal, wondering what will come of DallerGut's thoughts on her job role and demeanour.

I really like Penny and her colleagues, I also love the names of the dream makers! Yasnoozz Otra and Kick Slumber, not to also forget Babynap Rockabye! Love it!

I like how this book takes us on the train to visit other parts of the dream world and the noctiluca's sound amazing too!

Penny deals with more in this book, she has more responsibility and has much more experience now it's a year into her career. I want to watch the Dream of the Year awards and join a huge pyjama party!

Who knows, I may visit the DallerGut Dream Department Store tonight and see what they have on offer!

This a thought-proving sequel which contains the same magical and whimsical prose, but delves deeper into the lore of dream making and the darker side to the industry's inner workings.

This book is wacky, wonderous and comforting. Just like its predecessor, reading it felt like being wrapped in a fluffy cloud. It's undoubtedly creative and a little silly at parts and while I enjoyed it immensely, I did find my attention drifting several times. For me, it didn't hold my attention like my initial introduction to the DallerGut Dream Department Store did. The budding romance was incredibly sweet and if you're looking for an uplifting read with low stakes and lots of heart than this one is definitely for you.

It was a magical read; however it felt a little repetitive and slow in places for me personally.

A great sequel - really recommend if you like translated fiction and magical realism.

Thank you for the copy to review

This book, like many recent favorites, is effortlessly pleasant—light, breezy, and gone without a trace once it’s finished. I understand why these kinds of stories are comforting; they’re safe, undemanding, and effortlessly charming. But for me, this lacked something to hold onto. There’s no depth, no challenge, nothing to really sink into or mull over. They blur together, enjoyable in the moment but ultimately forgettable.

4.5/5

I loved the first book, so I was so excited to be approved for this arc! I dove straight back into the world of dreams and enjoyed every minute of my time with the staff at the DallerGut Dream Department Store. This instalment follows Penny as she gains her confidence working on the first floor and learning about the dream business.

It was great to learn more about some of the behind the scenes aspects of this world, as I found that it fleshed out the story and made it more endearing. Being able to see the processes behind choosing dreams for certain customers, as well as their reactions to the dream, provided some poignant insights into the power of memory and community. It was a unique take on the current trend of cozy and quiet stories. I really enjoyed reading more about the main characters' backstories, too.

Overall, this was a charming and hopeful story. I loved it!

my final read of the year 🌟

this was so dreamy (as the title hints), I was so glad to go back to Penny and while this was a duology I wish there was more 😭🥺

I love the cosy vibes but there is a hint of sadness mixed in 🥺

Also Ty to netgalley I did get an arc of this book although I'd already bought my paperback first 😌

This was so so good!
As with the previous one, the story feels like a warm hug to come back to after a long day in work - it’s warm, it’s cosy, it’s relaxing and it’s fun.
I’m not usually one for short stories and the chapters read as such but, as they’re all interconnected, it really works and it means even those who are not fans of short stories can really enjoy the book.
The characters are great, the story is lovely, there’s no high stakes or tension so it’s just soothing… definitely one I’d recommend!

🕰️ It's been a year since Penny first entered the enchanting world of the DallerGut Dream Department Store and now she's officially an employee in the dream industry!
Penny can now travel to the Company District, where all dream production happens and learn about the creation of raw dream materials and testing equipment.
However, the Company District isn't exactly what she expected.
Beneath its magical facade lies a darker side of the dream industry she thought she knew.
Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store delves into the mysteries of this enchanting world and its customers.
Why do some customers buy a dream and never return?
Can Penny and her colleagues bring their regulars back?
☁️ Both books in this duology are fantastic.

This short novella is a cosy low -tension read. Magical and whimsical with no plot just vibes. Good for days when you just want to feel cosy and warm.
For the most part it's Penny and her colleagues going about their work with the occasional POVs of dream experiencers.
I liked the ending a lot, it was really sweet and would have liked to see more of that interaction.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved the first DallerGut book, and this sequel does a really good job of keeping the magic from the first book but also fleshing out the world it takes place in.

A very good sequel to an already good novel.

In Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store, Penny’s journey into the magical and mysterious dream industry takes a deeper, more introspective turn. Having officially survived her first year as an employee, Penny eagerly ventures into the Company District—a bustling hub for dream production. However, the vibrant façade hides a darker side of the industry that challenges Penny’s perception of her work and its impact.

This sequel expands upon the whimsical foundation laid in the first book, exploring not only the mechanics of dream creation but also the emotional and psychological experiences of dream consumers. The introduction of the Civil Complaint Center, where people register grievances about their dreams, provides a fascinating lens into how dreams can shape, haunt, or inspire lives. These complaints, along with the mystery of the disappearing regular customers, add depth to the story as Penny uncovers the reasons behind their absence and evolves from merely selling dreams to understanding the complexities of the human heart.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its comforting tone, blending workplace satire with heartfelt moments. The mythology of the dreamworld is further enriched, offering readers new insights into the industry’s inner workings while maintaining the charm and quirkiness of the original story. The characters are relatable, their journeys reflective of real-world struggles wrapped in a magical narrative.

Return to the DallerGut Dream Department Store is a gentle, thought-provoking sequel that offers a perfect balance of escapism and emotional resonance. Its exploration of the dream industry’s unseen layers makes for a satisfying read, ideal for fans of cosy fantasies with a touch of whimsy and psychological insight.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I had high hopes for this book after I loved the first one. It did not disappoint. Just like the first novel it had great storylines and characters. I could read these books again and again.

I really enjoyed returning to the world of the DallerGut Dream Department Store. Getting to see more of the world outside of the store was really interesting and this really helped to develop the characters. The book is just as gentle and heart-warming as the previous one and I would definitely recommend. I was ambivalent about the first book but I'm really glad I continued with this one as I enjoyed it much more.

3.5/5!!

A very cute continuation on the first book. I wish there had been more of my favourite character (Maxim!) but it definitely felt more cohesive and fleshed out. I wonder if there will be more stories branching off of this magical dream realm?

“Live in the present for the happiness you have now.
Look forward to the future for happiness yet to come,
And reflect on the past, for you only recognise happiness after it has passed.”

I could spend forever in this world and I’d never get sick of it, most likely because I’m convinced there will be beautiful, creative, thought-provoking surprises around every single corner.

In Return to The Dallergut Dream Department Store we rejoin Penny as she nervously awaits her first annual appraisal as a front desk employee at the dream store. Her goals for the year ahead include tackling some customer complaints and finding out why regular customers have stopped visiting. Penny does this with the help of Dallergut himself, as well as a host of other favourites from book one.

Now, where this series sings is the conceptual elements and the world building. It is being unpacked so slowly, and it feels like Lee has an endless stream of ideas, vignettes and discussion points to keep the series feeling fresh. A sequel like this can so often flop because after book one you know the broad concept and you’ve done the reflection on the basic implications of the magic system, so what’s left? The experience can sometimes get repetitive or stale. Return to Dallergut’s though was neither.

We didn’t waste time rehashing the magic system or the basics of the dream world and the department store. If something was relevant to what was happening, it was covered in just enough detail to jog the memory, without feeling laborious. It’s honestly a testament to how vast this world is that some elements from book one were barely touched on at all, because we were preoccupied uncovering new buildings, talking thrill rides to previously forbidden areas of the city and even exploring noctiluca laundry caves, HELLO!!

I love the format of this kind of book and to this point I haven’t read anything else like it. The story of the store, world and main characters run in the foreground, while we periodically turn to little vignettes within the main story, delving deeper into the dreams of customers to explore a variety of different themes. I know there are other series that follow this ‘stories within the story’ vibe so I need to pick up more of them and see whether the magic is transferable for me.

A couple of the themes in this sequel really resonated with me and touched on areas I’m super passionate about, which definitely helped my rating bump up from the 4 stars I gave to the first book. I also found with the first one that as much as I enjoyed it when I first read it, my appreciation has grown over time as I’ve mulled over the concept and ideas and related the themes back to my own life. I guess that means I went into Return to Dallergut’s with the advantage that I’ve formed a connection with the world over a period of time.

I’m connecting with the main characters slowly and authentically. Some still feel difficult to distinguish at this point, but the ones that we spend more time with feel whimsical but fully rounded and real. They’re lovable but not in a 1 dimensional ‘cute and fluffy’ way. Our MC Penny can be sweet but a little annoying, prissy at times and full of sass at others; she feels real, and so do the relationships she’s forming.

Okay this review is long enough now; I’ve been gushing forever. I’m gonna head to bed and hope I can find my way to Dallergut’s Dream Department Store. Sweet dreams everyone x

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC of this book for review.