A cozy urban low fantasy. The stuff that dreams are made of…literally. In this book we follow Poppy as she begins working at Dallergut’s Dream Department store: the place sleeping people go to buy their dreams. It’s the “dream” job. Learning the ins and outs of dream selection, dream currency, prepaid dreams, pet dreams, dream makers, and the value of the right dream, it’s a slow paced relaxing story for fans of books like “When the Coffee Gets Cold” with just a touch more humor.

A cozy little collection of stories, coming live from the Dallergut Dream Department Store, where sleepy people's subconscious helps them find the dreams they need- at the low cost of sharing emotions!!

This book was cozy, reflective, and a strange combination of simple and deep. I absolutely loved getting to imagine the world of dreams, and found myself thinking about what my subconscious would pull for me to dream about. I laughed and found joy in some of the dream scenarios, and unexpectedly found myself sobbing at the last one. This was so great!!

Thank you so much to Lee Mi-ye and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I think this book was such an interesting concept and I think it can be a lot of fun to read if you like slower paced cozy books. The concept of the department store (and competing stores) selling dreams and being paid in emotions was really fun. The book has some depth in conversations about the power and purpose of dreaming, both the science of the act and the more emotional viewpoint of our aspirations. I think where this book falls short for me is a lot of "tell not show". We are constantly seeing the workers talking about the emotions but we aren't actually seeing the emotion or the dreamers truly experiencing it. It felt like a great teacher giving a really interesting lecture about a topic, but not the same as diving into the topic yourself.

It's a short work and still worth the read to me but I would have loved a bit more visual happenings.

Disclaimer: I received a physical ARC in addition to the free ebook. My opinions are my own.

Oh how I love odd-concept books.

It's all very wacky. Despite being an adult novel it has a quality of whimsy that a lot are going to find off putting. It'd be easy to dismiss this book as being childish.

The biggest flaw with this one for me is forcing the very awake reader to use dream logic to make sense of this world. It's zany. The Dream Department store sounds like something that could have very well come from a children’s book. I don't mind it. I think the quirky names and bizarre rules and jobs to this dreaming world are pretty delightful but if you like more mature takes on big topics this probably won't be for you.

Dreams are already so incomprehensible at times that ascribing any productive meaning to them and the reason for them is a daunting task.

The translator's note at the end was also incredibly precious and I can count myself along with them in wishing this title recieves sequels and more fun with exploring the idea of dreams.

Finally, Maxim is babygirl. That is all.

Thank you NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the ARC! In this delightful fantasy tale, there is a world that exists beyond our own where we all can go to purchase our dream experience. Dream are crafted by special designers and everyone (animals included) can find just what they need to get a good night's rest (or afternoon nap) at the dream department stores. Perhaps the best known shop is the Dallergut Dream Department Store. Here, we follow Penny as she lands her dream job at Dallergut and the ins and outs of the dream business. With quirky characters and cozy vibes, The Dallergut Dream Department Store is perfect for those looking for a light, low stakes read.

I loved this book, I so rarely say this but I am so glad this is a duology. I wouldn’t be mad if this was a whole series 👀 Hint, hint Miye!

This seems like something you either get and love it or you don’t get and hate it, but luckily for me I ate this up. I read this almost in one sitting, grinning and kicking my feet the entire time. The idea that there’s a dream department store paid for in emotions is just so inspired. I did struggle with the world and understanding it initially but once everything started to click for me I could not put this down. I laughed, I cried, I cried A LOT, especially at the end. 🥹

As someone who is mainly a horror reader, it felt deeply refreshing to read a nice, happy book where only good things happen. Reading this book is like biting into cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day. Refreshing!

I can’t wait to get my grubby little raccoon paws on the second book. 10/10 will cherish this book forever.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was full of experimental fun. It reminded me of when the coffee gets cold but with dreams. I loved the stories within the big story and how all the characters connected in one way or another.


It was a nice break from what I normally read.

Completely lacks plot or just anything happening. I enjoyed this at first and thought the idea was unique but then it just starts to drag so I started skimming this after I got halfway into it and realized I didn’t care anymore. Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

"Everything is possible in a dream"

This book was like a deep dive into the subconscious dream world - calming, cozy, and captivating all at once. The Dallergut Dream Department Store follows Penny as she interviews and becomes an employee of the infamous dream store, with each chapter detailing the people she meets during her time there and the little journeys that customers go on in their dreams.

This book was different in the fact that there wasn't really a grand overarching plot. The stream of consciousness writing style with each chapter following a different character, dream scenario, or deep conversation about dreams was unique but sometimes confusing - much like dreams themselves.

It was a little rough to start as I tried to figure out the dream world dynamics but once I got reading I couldn't stop. I think this is going to be one of those love it or hate it books but I definitely enjoyed the journey.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee hinges on a really interesting premise- we all know that we dream, but what's the mechanism behind it? Intriguing right!? This was a bit of a departure from what I normally read and while I found it to be interesting, unfortunatley I found it to be somewhat middle of the road.

We follow Penny and severl other Dallergut employees and customers on their dream journeys- working at Dallergut, experiencing their dreams etc. This book definitely follows the cozy, laid-back, lower stakes format (which I don't inherently think is a bad thing), I just found the plot a little too slow and lackign in something compelling to draw the reader through the pages. I did also wish for a little bit more depth, the imagery is great, I can definitely imaging many of the characters and scenes but... I was just grasping for a little more. And perhaps its an issue of translation but sometimes it was hard to follow the timeline/place plot points in a timeline.

Overall, I think its an interesting concept but maybe just not for me.

Thank you, as always, to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy!

The Dallergut Dream Store is a lighthearted, relaxing trip to the world that exists when we are sleeping.
Spend time with the employees of the Dallergut Dream Store as they help you purchase the perfect dream. Most chapters introduce the reader to one of the customers and their unique type of dream.
I thought this book was really relaxing to read. It was a very unique concept. Though I was curious to know more about this new world, I did enjoy becoming very familiar with this store and the dream makers.
I'm not used to reading books like this, but it made for a nice change of pace. This book does not have a typical conflict, climax, resolution plot line. There is no intensity or build up. It is very slice of life but in a magical world.

Penny, our narrator, lands her “dream” job, working at The Dallergut Dream Department Store. Penny finds Mr. Dallergut kind and fair as he manages the five-story repository housing different types of dreams for purchase on every floor. To Penny’s delight, she also meets some of the Dream Designers who provide the store with a constant stream of unique and varied dreams: Babynap Rockabye, Wawa Sleepland, and Yasnoozz Otra. Penny and her coworkers, Speedo, Mogberry, and Weather, spend each workday helping both people and animal customers choose just the right dream. Some dreams are even designed specifically for naps!

I requested this book through NetGalley, intrigued and excited by the description. I couldn’t wait to start it! That said, I feel a little let down after having read it. The episodic story had no underlying plot. Only the novel’s characters and the department store link the chapters. Except for Penny and Mr. Dallergut, even the characters seem flat and one dimensional. The choice of names and the naiveté of the writing style are reminiscent of a middle-grade novel.

However, this author has created a unique, in-depth world! The idea behind this book has infinite possibilities and is untouched ground in fantasy. Several sobering and tear-inducing chapters toward the end give a sweet glimmer at this book’s full potential! Perhaps, a sequel will rise to fulfill all the possibilities The Dallergut Dream Department Store promised?

This enchanting novel transported me to a magical world where dreams are sold in a department store. Penny is a new employee, and we learn about the dream store as she visits each department and the dreams they create. This book was one of the most whimsical and imaginative stories I have read. It is full of sweet, cozy fantasy elements and heartwarming tales about employees and clients. One story in particular was emotional and had a profound impact on me. This book looks pretty fluffy, but it delves deeper into human behaviors and desires. It emphasizes the importance of self-discovery and personal growth. Overall, it is a memorable read that was delightful.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press.

Whimsical story about dreams and how they are made .We follow Penny on her new job at the Dallergut dream department store. we meet the actual makers of these dreams and they are quite the cast of characters .Magical and captivating

This is a book where you have to go in with the right expectations. It is not a plot driven book. For the typical "American" reader this will not be interesting enough to read. However, one of my own personal goals is to explore more translated work, more cozy type, low stakes and atmospheric reads (ie: Before the Coffee Gets Cold, The Komogawa Food Detectives). I've noticed more Asian works being translated. They have a very unique vibe...that we don't have here (I'm in the US). Much of the time, I can put down these books/series...and pick them back up on. my time. They are a little more relaxed and calming to me emotionally. I never feel urgently pressed to "finish it". I'm not generally THAT invested. And yet, I enjoy the story and the atmosphere.

The Dallergut Dream Department Store fills that vibe. It's a little bit of cozy fantasy and we follow the lives of multiple employees and "dreamers" at the department store by following Penny, a new hire at the store. While the summary describes Penny as "enthusiastic" - she is better described as engaged with her job. This might be were the translation falls short. Because when you translate a text, it cannot be word for word. You may have to find a different word to convey the correct behavior. In Korea, Penny may be enthusiastic, but by US definition Penny is doing her job, wants to do it well and wants to do it better. But she is not overzealous, excited, sponkey, innovative, driven, a go-getter....etc that I would associate with that term in the US.

There are lots of areas where the translation falls short. At times the spacing between people/scenarios was very jolting. Maybe additional chapters would have better prepared the typical English reader, cuing visually a change. In English writing a space between sections is usually a continuation of a character - new scene with the same character....not necessarily a jump to a new character. Which would have been a new "chapter" cuing the reader to be open to the new situation.

Another example is that they use the word disciple in reference to a God and a type of "creation myth" related to how dreams develop. And I felt disciple was used...and it was very jolting. Not from a religious perspective....but reading it I struggled because I don't think that was the right word for Western culture. A disciple in Western culture is someone who follows a preaching/religion and spreads this philosophy. And I felt, the disciples were more accurately dieties. - because they had powers that were granted to them to utilize. Where as a disciple does not have any "god-like" powers and would not be given such. I know this is a small thing overall, but it does throw a reader because it takes additional time to understand what is really "meant"

I think translators overall do a wonderful job, and this translator did exceptionally well. But I feel that translators should be allowed some ability to re-word and rephrase context to ensure a good read. It might a good idea after a translation to have a couple of readers pre-read and identify these types of areas so that translators and authors can ensure smooth flow.

Overall the story is lovely, slow building and creates a unique dream atmosphere. I really wish I could order certain dreams...maybe my soul is ordering dreams....if so the payout must be big to the Dallergut Dream Store, because I am always dreaming....every night...something different.

I hope to see more translated works from this author!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was obsessed with this concept, visiting a store to buy your dreams, but I just wish the story had a little bit *more*. I was hoping for more detail and imagery, or more depth into the stories and dreams people chose. This would kill as a movie or series. I did enjoy it overall and finished it in less than a day.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee.

I love the influx of translation literature and these feel good magical stories that are coming out of it. This book was very original and fun with a great message. I'm sure there could be a lot of installments of different happenings at The Dallergut Dream Department Store.

What happens to your subconscious once you’ve fallen asleep? We know we dream, but how?

First stop when falling asleep: visiting Dallergut Dream Department Store to purchase your dream of choice for the night.

With each chapter in The Dallergut Dream Department Store, we follow Penny and other coworkers as they sell dreams to customers throughout the world, but we also get to follow certain customers who purchase dreams as well as the dreammakers who create them.

Reality can be manipulated by the dreams sold to individuals, causing them to wake up with certain emotions to carry them throughout the day. The payment for dreams is the emotions one feels when they wake up. These emotions are bottled up and exchanged for cash or used directly as is (spray Cozy on a couch to make it super comfy; consume Flutter to feel excitement).

It's quirky, whimsical, cozy, and fascinating but also so incredibly sad to see the various reasons humans (or animals!) select certain dreams. The writing is not flowery, the text pretty much gets straight to the point (likely a product of being translated from Korean) but kind of adds to its quirky charm.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for the advance copy!!

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee is a multi third person-POV Korean cozy fantasy. Penny has always wanted to work for the Dallergut Dream Department Store because their pay is one of the best. But when she lands the job, she finds that it’s a lot more than what she was expecting.

I really loved this from the moment I started reading. The translator, Sandy Joosun Lee, really helped capture a cozy voice that paired so beautifully with the story and ideas from Miye Lee. Penny feels like a realistic representation of a new member of the workforce who is most excited about the benefits of their job but slowly learns to love the work for the work. Her dynamic with Weather and Dallergut himself, who work the front desk, was also very sweet. I really liked how Dallergut was mentoring Penny by encouraging her to think things through and listening to her ideas and questions.

The worldbuilding is so fun. The payment in emotions and much of that payment being delayed was genius while the different kinds of dreams and how those emotions played into it worked so well together. I really enjoyed the story of the Three Disciples and the God of Time in the beginning as it really helped set the cozy atmosphere and breathed life into the world.

My favorite part was the dreams regarding dealing with trauma. I understood where all of the customers were coming from in not wanting to confront traumatic events in dreams, where it feels like that is the one place where we can be free of those thoughts and feelings, but Dallergut saying that it’s meant to help people move past those feelings was so spot-on. Trauma dreams are not fun, but they exist for a reason and sometimes that reason is to tell us when it’s time to finally start processing difficult situations we have been through so we can lead healthier lives.

I never comment on covers, but I love this cover. I love it so much. The purple and orange, the whale, the moon and the clouds. And those little unique details in all of the windows. It’s just so perfect for the cozy vibes and the ideas presented in the novel and all of my friends who have seen the cover have fallen in love with it as well.

I would recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy, readers looking for Korean fantasy that is more contemporary, and those looking for a fantasy focusing on dreams.

This book was such a fun cozy read! The idea of a department store for dreams was a great draw to this book, and the way the characters are described brought the world to life in a very enjoyable way!

This book centres on Penny, a new employee at the Dallergut Dream Department Store, which exists on the dream-side of existence. As she learns how the store works, she gets to know Dallergut, the owner and manager of the store. She gets to meet the 'Legendary Five', a group of dreammakers who make some of the most popular, most vivid dreams. She also interacts with the dreamers, as they move through the store and purchase different dreams, and the employees on the other floors of the store. She starts to learn how the store is run, and how the payments of emotions are received from the dreamers.

This was such an enjoyable story! It's a very cozy fantasy story, and the parts of the book that followed the dreamers made it that much more enjoyable. Reading how Penny maneuvers through the store, meeting the celebrities of her world, was a lot of fun and made her a well-rounded character. There were moments of her interactions with the dreammakers that left me wanting more, so I'm hoping there will be a follow-up book soon. I found the currency of the world to be a lovely creative choice, and gave an interesting twist to the dream world. This book is easily one of my favourite reads of this year!