Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC! I was excited to read this ARC of the Dallergut Dream Department Store, since one of the members of one of my favorite k-pop groups (Seventeen’s Wonwoo) recommended it.

The book follows Penny, a recent graduate who got a job at a front desk of a department store that sells dreams. This store sells all sorts of dreams, from ones where the buyer reunites with a lost loved one to nightmares of reliving exam days in university (even though the buyer graduated years ago) to mysterious dreams about the future. They even sell dreams for pets too! There is a bit of mystery - one of the most coveted and expensive dreams gets stolen on Penny’s watch - but it wasn’t the main focal point of the story. Instead, I got to experience the whimsical world of dreams, how they are made, and the kinds of dreams one has after “buying” one.

There isn’t much plot to the story, but the book is quite comforting, fun, and heartwarming. I loved the characters - Penny, Dallergut (the owner of the store), the different managers of each floor, and the Dream creators - were interesting and each had their own quirks. And about that small mystery: don’t worry, it gets solved…eventually. Overall, this book was a great way to escape - both from your own reality as well as other’s realities - to explore wild and wonderful dreams.

This book follows Penny , a new employee at the Dream department store and her journey working there. This was a fun , light read — and fast -paced — I finished this book in a day. The concept is fun and unique — giving good logical reasoning for the dreams we experience and/ or choose to have . The world and characters are well built and likeable — it is magical, and whimsical — it is full of life and yet reminiscent of Before the Coffee gets Cold series but in a lighter tone.

Thank-you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade publishing/ Hanover Square Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

This reminded me of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and books similar to that. I loved the sci-fi element of "dreams" and how it plays out in this novel. It was cozy, tender, and easy to breeze through. I highly recommend it.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Lee Mi-ye was just what I needed in my life right now, and though I think this is going to be for a very niche market of readers, it was the perfect book for me. The storyline focuses mainly on Penny who gets a job at the Dallergut Dream Department Store and starts learning the world of selling dreams. You get to know an array of funky and unique characters throughout, and I loved every single one of them. The storyline doesn't necessarily lead anywhere, but I could have easily taken 200+ more pages in this world and loved every minute of it.

While the main POV is Penny, we also hop into the lives of some of the people who come into the store, and a couple of them near the end of the book left me in a puddle of tears. Overall, this is a very light and uplifting read, but it was also thought-provoking and heartfelt. I loved that there was a note from the translator (Sandy Joosun Lee) at the end, and I thought she did a truly beautiful job with the translation. If you enjoy getting lost in magical worlds and just need something to take your mind off the daily grind, The Dallergut Dream Department Store is the perfect place to do it.

Beautiful, dreamy little book about a store where anyone can browse for dreams. I found it delightful and cozy, reminded me a little bit of books like What You Are Looking For Is in the Library. It's a pretty quick read and not massively detailed, but I understand that this is the first book in a potential series and I have faith in the series' ability to flesh out the world and characters a bit more. As it stands, the book made for a perfect before-bed read.

Penny is the newest employee of the Dallergut Dream Department Store, where humans and animals alike can purchase many different kinds of dreams. With the help of a quirky cast of coworkers, Penny meets dream makers and learns the inner workings of this magical world.

This book is a whimsical and thought-provoking tale about life and the power of dreams.

Through episodic writing detailing transactions at the dream department store, readers meet several characters in different relatable circumstances and dive into reflections on what matters most in life, and how pleasant dreams and nightmares can both impact a person’s reality and well-being in different ways.

The writing is not very descriptive or immersive but this is also a translation, so it met my expectations.

This book isn’t a great fit for high-stakes fantasy readers because there isn’t really a firm plot or character arc to connect with, but this story would appeal to those who like magical realism and philosophical fantasy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC.

Truly a cozy and thought-provoking book - the perfect, fizzy accompaniment to a vacation or long weekend at home. The Dallergut Dream Department store sells dreams, yes, but even more so, it meets the unspoken needs of its sleepy clientele. Mr. Dallergut is a clever, Wonkaesque figure with true warmth and wisdom. His customers come and go each night, selecting dreams written by celebrity dream makers and assisted by an attentive and hardworking staff. This book is truly unique and meaningful while remaining airy and sweet - I’m sure I’ll return to it again when I need something comforting but thoughtful, too.

A delightful premise…a department store in which sleepers browse for dreams. This promises to be a series, and I hope that it will allow for better world-building and character development, as those areas were a bit lacking. Some details were charming (Eyelid Scales), but many of the dreamers’ stories seemed thrown in at random…like a short story in the middle of another novel. This created a choppy read, with a lack of actual plot.

Penny is a new employee at the Dallergut Dream Department Store, a place where you buy the dreams you want for the evening. The store serves all time zones so it's usually open 24/7 unless dreams sell out.

A whimsical novel, each chapter reads as a vignette or story within the larger book. The book explores different types of dreams and the quirky happenings of the store and it's employees. From customers who pay in emotions based on their dream experience, to the big 5 dream makers, to seasonal December dreams by Nicholas, there's quite a bit here

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This was such a light, whimsical read. The book doesn't take itself too serious, so you can enjoy this dreamy, sort of magical story with ease.

While it was a cute and quick read, I did find the translation (Korean to English) to be a little too simple. It's almost like you're reading a lighthearted middle grade book at times. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters for this reason. I wish that it more world/character building, because the impact was ultimately not as strong as I wish it would have.

This book was different. It showed different types of dreams and how they can affect us. Sadly, I thought the story was slow and didn’t hold my attention very well.

I enjoyed the pace as it felt like a leisurely read. The short stories that supplement the larger storyline were very sweet. If you were to read this without reading the description the reveal when the reader is made aware that Penny's world is the dream realm in our subconscious and people are only there when they fall asleep was gentle. I loved how the interwoven stories touch on things that most people dream about - better lives, being in love, family - and how they were both not in your face and complemented the larger story of Penny and the Department Store. I particularly enjoyed the story where soon-to-be departed loved ones create dreams for those they love to be delivered at a later date and how much care Dallergut gave to each of them. It humanized him as a character and tugged on my heartstrings. Penny's inquisitiveness drove both her and the stories progression as well. My one complaint is Maxim. He just kind of disappeared from the story when it had felt like he and Penny may have a cute budding romance on the horizon. It left me wanting more.

3 Stars - thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press for the English translation ARC of this story. It was a sweet and enjoyable read.

Absolutely loved this! While reading you are transported to a universe where everyone is asleep and you get to buy dreams based on what you would like to experience. We meet Penny, who starts at the Dallergut Dream Department Store, working the front desk, and learns more and more about the history of dreams and how they can be purchased. Each chapter presents itself a different story with different characters and a new meaning. I really like how Miya Lee incorporated the dreams of animals and how important their dreams are!

This book feels like warm hug and gives you a wonderful look into the importance of our dreams and what we can learn from them! I will re-read this for sure!

I really enjoyed this book because the premise is so intriguing. Penny, a young woman, has landed her ‘dream’ job at Dallergut Dream Department Store. The store where the sleeping masses, including animals, come to buy their dreams. The story focuses on some of the sleeping patrons and also on the dream creators. It is a story built on the different dreams that most humans have, like repetitive, nightmares, aspirational, or totally random. It was fascinating to read how Miye Lee wove them all together along with inspirational quotes and common dream theory.

Where I think the story fell down for me is possibly in the translation aspect from Korean to English.
The sentence structure at times was juvenile and hard to follow. Some of that may indeed be because of translation, but it became frustrating to read.

All in all a pretty good book. I think it would make a really good television show.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press, and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

This is such a sweet and heartwarming book.

Dallergut interviews Penny for his dream department store and offers her a job. She is beyond excited. We follow her journey as she navigates the ins and outs of the business, what makes a dream good or a nightmare and how it helps people.

Basically, the world building is this parallel universe that humans from our world visit when they dream.
So as we fall asleep, we have a choice to “buy” our dreams at these stores. But when we wake up, we can’t remember their world, even if we remember our dreams.

It’s a very unique concept and I found it very interesting.
I couldn’t help but imagine it being one of Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. That’s the vibe I was getting.

All the side characters were fun to read and the human experiences were so sweet too. The chapter about meeting the dead in your dreams made me tear up a little.

I’m only giving it 3 stars because I felt like the main story wasn’t expanded enough but apparently it’s a duology and I hope to read the second book as well!


Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC!

The Dallergut Dream Department Store is a dreamy (pun only mildly intended—there’s genuinely no better word) wondrous piece of fiction. At once cozy and dramatic, its world I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and living in for a few days while I savoured the book in bites. A fantastical premise and utterly charming writing.

I admire the translation of the novel, which manages an atmospheric, whimsical prose that (I can only hope) keeps the charm of the original novel but brings it to an English-speaking audience.

My only quibbles are that the dialogue is sometimes unnatural and stilted. I imagine due to some cultural expressions or norms that are less translatable, and that the ending felt…abrupt. Not a bad ending, for sure, but one that I’m not sure did all the justice needed to Penny’s story.

I will absolutely be on the lookout in case Miye Lee writes more, as this is world I can only hope to return to. If only in my dreams.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for the book ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Just finished this book and WOW. Absolutely loved it. Good vibes and a cozy read is something I’ll always love. It was entertaining, I couldn’t take my eyes off it at all.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store beckons readers into a world brimming with potential, but unfortunately falls short of its promising premise. While the exploration of trauma and loss within dreams offers glimpses of depth, the story ultimately veers into a more mundane direction, leaving behind the complexity it initially hints at. The lack of plot and character development may leave some feeling unsatisfied, as the narrative fails to fully capitalize on its intriguing concept. Despite its captivating beginning and occasional moments of charm, the execution ultimately falls flat, resulting in a read that may leave readers longing for more substance. While "The Dallergut Dream Department Store" offers an interesting concept, its potential remains untapped, leaving it to be a cozy yet ultimately forgettable read for some.

This books feels very....ethereal? It's really vibey and dreamlike, which I definitely think some people will get a kick out of. Personally, I don't like that style. For me, it's very reminiscent of purple prose, but in a tonal/atmospheric way. I tend to really enjoy translated literature, because I like how the prose usually translates very simply, for lack of a better word, without a ton of extra fluff--and this was no exception to that. However, I do think that there were some continuity problems with this story, and at times I would stumble upon a sentence that made very little sense/was confusing, or lacked anchoring from the surrounding context. The concept of this story was really compelling, but I think the dreamlike atmosphere coupled with the slightly confusing translation made this a story that just was not for me.
If you're a fan of very floaty and dreamlike prose, and you're better at following sentences/translated works than I am, then you'll definitely get a kick out of this. Also, that cover was stunning, I'm sad that I didn't love it but I know there are some folks who will.

this was a nice read. i loved the atmosphere and characters. super cozy and comforting! Although sometimes i did have a bit of trouble following along, overall i understood the story well and enjoyed reading it.