Dallergut Dream Department Store
Miye Lee
“I believe there are two ways to love your life, Penny. The first is to work hard to change your life when you feel unsatisfied…The second option may look easier, but is actually more difficult… To accept your life as it is and be grateful. ”
7.3
Follow Penny as she begins the opportunity of a lifetime at the Dallergut Department Store — the world’s most enchanting stocker of dreams. Across its many floors and curious departments, she meets an unforgettable cast of dream-sellers and makers, guided by the wise and eccentric Dallergut himself. A gentle, imaginative tale about how dreams help us heal, grow, and rediscover wonder.
Judging the Book by Its Cover
The edition we’re reviewing is the WILDFIRE 2024 printing, with cover design and illustration by Seoyoung Kwon.
(The cover plays no part in our final rating, but it’s always fun to discuss!)
This edition easily features one of the most charming covers we’ve seen this year. The colours are vibrant without feeling loud, using rich blues, pinks, and golds to instantly draw the eye. It’s playful yet elegant, perfectly matching the book’s balance of whimsy and warmth.
The illustration style captures the dreamlike atmosphere beautifully — full of motion and tiny details that make it feel alive, as if the scene might shift the longer you look at it. It fits the story perfectly, reflecting a world where dreams are made, shared, and treasured.
The physical edition feels wonderful to hold too. The glossy embossing adds depth and texture to the design, giving it that extra touch of quality that makes the book feel special. Even the spine design feels carefully considered, with colours and typography that make it stand out on a shelf.
Overall, it’s a beautifully designed edition that captures everything Dallergut Dream Department Store is about — imaginative, comforting, and just a little bit magical.
Closing the Book
Stepping into the Dallergut Dream Department Store is like stepping into a gentle, whimsical daydream.
The Dallergut Dream Department Store is one of those rare books that feels both familiar and entirely new — part whimsical slice-of-life, part quiet philosophical reflection. Each chapter is its own little vignette, yet together they build a larger, dreamlike narrative that slowly reveals the charm of this strange, gentle world. It reads differently from most Western novels, with a pacing and rhythm that feel distinctly Korean — unhurried, meandering, and deeply soothing once you fall into step with it.
We are both struck by how different this book feels from most novels we’ve read. The vignette structure makes it feel like wandering through the aisles of the Dream Department Store itself, discovering curiosities in every corner. It’s an unusual flow, and while Jess finds that dreamy rhythm soothing and immersive, Rob sometimes feels moments lack a strong conclusion. The first few chapters hint at a deeper mystery that never quite materialises, pivoting instead toward a gentler, slice-of-life tone.
The worldbuilding is unique without ever being overwhelming. As someone who finds dreams fascinating, Jess loves how the author explores the art of dreaming in such a playful and imaginative way. The writing captures that hazy half-awake feeling, full of whimsy and curiosity, making you feel the soft hum of the store, the smell of calming cookies and faint starlight drifting from the shelves, and the quiet thrill of uncovering a dream just waiting to be found.
Each character is distinct and memorable — sometimes to an extreme. For Rob, that larger-than-life quality makes some feel a little exaggerated; for Jess, those bright character traits add to the storybook feel that makes the book so endearing.
Beneath its whimsical surface, there’s a quiet reflection on purpose — how our waking and dreaming lives shape each other. Many of the book’s most moving moments come not from grand revelations, but from small acts of empathy and understanding. It’s a story that reminds you it’s okay to rest, to pause, and to find meaning in simply being. There are moments that quietly tug at the heart, where a fleeting dream or a gentle gesture resonates longer than the plot itself, leaving a lingering sense of warmth.
What we both appreciate most is how kind the world of Dallergut Dream Department Store feels. There are no real villains here — just people (and dream dwellers) doing their best, even when they stumble. The translation (by Sandy Joosun Lee) captures that warmth beautifully, maintaining a light, whimsical tone that feels natural in English while preserving the spirit of its Korean origin. It flows wonderfully, carrying over the subtle humour and tender observations that make each character feel real, even in such an otherworldly setting. It’s impressive how seamlessly the story retains its cultural charm while feeling accessible to new readers.
Overall, The Dallergut Dream Department Store is a gentle, imaginative read — one that might not grip you with tension but quietly charms you with its heart. It’s less about plot twists and more about wandering, observing, and finding comfort in small wonders. It’s a slow morning with a cup of tea, early sunlight streaming through the window whilst the dog snores lightly on your lap. Whether you see it as a soft escape or a curious experiment in storytelling, there’s something here worth dreaming about.
Rob 6.6 - Jess 8.0
💡 Looking for a cosy blanket game to fill a sleepy afternoon? Check out our review of Patchwork.
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