Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon continues the trend of Before the Coffee Gets Cold readalikes. Again, we have a mechanism through which people can do something supernatural within the framework of arbitrary and clearly defined rules. In this case, almost identical to The Chibineko Kitchen, there is a way for any living person to request a meeting with someone who died. As is well-established in this genre, Mizuki Tsujimura offers four distinct scenarios, and a unifying thread focused on the person who offers the 'go-between' services.

As these books go, Lost Souls was not the worst I have read. The four scenarios has some interesting dynamics and lively characters. Two, both centring men, a story of a bullish son meeting his elderly mother and a man trying to find his bride who mysteriously disappeared seven years ago, were quite run of the mill. The two scenarios centring women, the story of a fan meeting her female idol and two schoolfriends going from friend to rivals, were a bit more interesting. The idol story stood out because of the lively and eccentric characterisation of the idol, and the schoolfriends story tapped into 'My Brilliant Friend'-style teenage female friendship co-dependency, a dynamic I find fascinating. In all of these cases, it felt like the author set up something that could be interesting and have a bit more bite to it than these books normally do, but ultimately fell short. In the friends' story especially, something that was set up in quite a brutal way descended into the usual moralising of the 'Coffee' subgenre.

Mizuki Tsujimura's Lonely Castle in the Mirror had an interesting central idea (more suited for a manga than a novel), but suffered enormously from inconsistent pacing. Lost Souls is, overall, an improvement, but the pacing is still off. 60% of the text focuses on the four stories, and 40% revisits them again from the perspective of the go-between. The last 'story', that of the go-between, was the worst offender in terms of banality and blatant moralising. Mizuki Tsujimura set up some interesting themes - femicide, co-dependent friendships, class dynamics in Japan - and coped out of doing anything interesting with them. In a world where you can read Mieko Kawakami or Sayka Murata, why read this?

If you want slice of life Japanese fiction for this JapanJanuary, read There's No Such Thing as an Easy Job by Kikuko Tsumura. If you like the sound of the Coffee books but are disappointed by them, the first 60% of Lost Souls is definitely a better read than that, so you can try it.

Thank you publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

This was a wonderfully written and enjoyable book about the go-between who connects the living with the dead for one night. I really enjoyed reading about the various people who sought out the go-between and why, and my favourite chapter was definitely the one about the go-between himself and his experiences. I found it touching, exciting and at times, tragic and highly recommend reading this book. I can’t wait for the next instalment!

This is an excellent and emotional book about the 'go-between', a service that allows the living to speak with the dead.

Told in five parts, the first four interweaving stories show the different uses of the service. The reasons each person wants to speak with someone who has passed are as varied and personal as grief is to each of them.

The fifth story brings everything together from the perspective of the go-between service itself, including how it came to be and what's needed for it to work.

Grief, loss, unanswered questions, generational trauma, familial and societal pressure all play a part in the emotional landscape of this book.

Underlying everything runs the deeply personal common questions:
Is it selfish for the living to want to speak with the dead?
Who touched your life and made a difference?
Whose very existence shone a light into your life and made it bearable?
Who made you the person you are?

This is definitely not a light and meandering story. This is more of an emotional rollercoaster through grief, loss, and celebration of life.


*I received an advance reader copy for free, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review*

If you could meet someone who has already passed away and be able to speak to them for just one night under a full moon, who would you choose and what would you say? Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is just that.

These heavyhearted characters are able to see their loved ones for one last time via a go-between. What I really liked was that the go-between's perspective and story was told as well.

The story will pull at your heartstrings - there is grief, there is love, there is selfishness, there are regrets and overall, there is a sense of closure for most of the characters.

I look forward to reading the sequel.

I felt it was all very touching, like a warm hug. I just wish the go-between was real. The stories were fresh and interesting .I thank netgalley and randomhouse for the eARC copy.

I absolutely adored this book and flew through it in two days! This is perfect for fans of ‘Before the coffee gets cold’ - I would even argue that I found this book even more immersive than Before the coffee, I preferred the characters backstories and emotional ties in this one and felt way more invested in each person and who they wanted to see for the last time. This was an emotional read but perfect for the cosy winter evenings - the way it was split into different stories made it so easy to dip in and out of! The writing style in this was so beautiful and I will definitely be recommending this to a lot of my friends - this book left me with a new appreciation for those around me and questioning what I’d want to say if I knew there was only one more time, or who I’d want to see if I only got one chance.

I enjoyed Lonely Castle in the Mirror so I had similar expectations for this book, but I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It feels slightly like Before the Coffee Gets Cold but I think what made it different and actually more interesting for me was the go-between. There were moments were it felt like things were slowing down, and parts that felt like they dragged on a bit which for me is why this isn't a five star read. But overall, a good book and I look forward to seeing if more come in this vein of work from this author.

→ 4.5 stars★

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a collection of five interconnected stories that explore grief, love, and the lingering "what-ifs" of losing someone. Each tale follows individuals who, through the mysterious go-between, are granted one final meeting with a departed loved one on the night of a full moon.

The premise is poignant, and the stories—especially the first, fourth, and fifth—are deeply emotional. The last chapter ties everything together beautifully, offering reflections on the living’s need for closure and connection. While the book is touching and thought-provoking, its simplicity and lack of depth in some stories made it less impactful than expected.

I loved Lonely Castle in the Mirror by the author, so I was really looking forward to this book. But unfortunately it didn’t live up to my expectation. It is inevitable for a collection of short stories to leave a reader wanting more. I kept wanting more from each story. Also, character development wasn’t sufficient for me to connect with the story. But I know the author has a knack for character development if it’s a novel.

Another problem is that there are way too many Japanese books like this now where a person meets a departed. Before Coffee Gets Cold, The Lantern of Lost Memories, The Chibineko Kitchen. I’ve already read three books this year very similar to this, so this book didn’t stand out as special.

It’s a market saturation problem rather than the author’s fault, but I would like to see other works by the author that is more like Lonely Castle in the Mirror.

I had requested this book because I had read “Lonely castle in the mirror,” but when I started it I thought I had in my hands yet another copy of the hot coffee thread. Fortunately that was not the case even though it does not stray that far, only the level of cynicism is much higher. Unfortunately, moreover, it wasn't until the end that I realized that this was only the first book in a series, the target audience of which I don't even seem to be. Better, because I wasn't going to continue reading it.

Avevo richiesto questo libro perché avevo letto "Lonely castle in the mirror" ma quando l'ho cominciato ho pensato di avere tra le mani un'altra delle ennesime copie del filone del caffé caldo. Fortunatamente non é stato cosí anche se non ci si allontana poi tanto, solo il livello di cinismo é molto piú alto. Purtroppo inoltre, solo alla fine ho capito che si trattava solo del primo libro di una serie, il cui target non sembro nemmeno essere io. Meglio, perché non avrei proseguito.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

“When a life was lost, who did it belong to? What were those left behind meant to do with the incomprehensible, inescapable loss?”

Is there anyone you wish to see?
So asks the smart young man wearing a designer duffel coat to his clients who have come to him for a reunion with the person who once changed their life. But it is no ordinary reunion. The people they ask to see have passed away.
With each heart-breaking reunion, tantalizing clues are scattered to piece together the mind-blowing emotional truth behind the boy in the duffel coat.
So, who would you like to see?

If I were to ask myself, I couldn’t begin to explain what prompted me to request an ARC of this book. Fantasy is not a genre I willingly choose, and fantasy in the realm of faith and spirituality would hardly ever make it to my reading list. Yet, between this cover image and blurb, I was immediately captivated.

The author’s writing is powerful and emotionally charged in exploring themes of pain, regret, and longing. Even though all four stories are bound by a common theme, the author approaches them differently, artfully weaving the narrative in a way that hooks the reader. It makes you ponder on the meaning of life and death, and wonder about existence on the other side, while creating an aura of suspense.

An unusually deep, thought-provoking novel, the intersection of these stories resonates deep within you.

This ARC courtesy of @netgalley and Transworld Publishers.

I have been so excited for this book, based on the description and I was not let down! I read this in two nights, I could t leave it alone!I will, be reading through this with my students! Perfect book. So very lucky I was allowed a copy. Thank you.

This book is an amazing exploration of handling grief, memories, and how we connect even after someone’s gone. The story starts with an intriguing teenage 'Go-Between' who sets up meetings between the living and the dead, which is a fascinating concept but Tsujimura's way of telling the story makes it shine. I have always loved magical realism, and this is the best in that genre that I have read in a long time.

The book starts with five linked tales, showing us different kinds of loss and longing, and each one uncovers a different meaning. The way the author captures genuine feelings really helps you connect with the characters. And instead of feeling like a gimmick, those moonlit meet-ups hit home about how we deal with grief and the ways we look for closure.

Don't let the cover fool you into thinking this is a mild, lovey dovey kind of book. This is one of those rare reads that shifts your perspective on life, death, and the impact of memories. Tsujimura has created something special - a heartfelt, thought-provoking look at loss that sticks with you well after you finish the book.

My simple answer to whether I like this book or not is; Yes, absolutely loved it.
I really enjoyed the idea of a bridge “Go between” that would allow the living talk to the dead. I’m sure if you imagine this in your own life, you’ll understand the rabbit hole and strength of emotions that you would fall into. The author has done an excellent job of conveying those emotions through the story that is told here.
Such an immersive read, I can’t wait to have more from this author in the future.
Would recommend without a shadow of a doubt. Thank you so much for allowing me an arc. Very much appreciated.

I was a fan of the author’s last translated work, Lonely Castle in the Mirror, and was looking forward to to reading this as a consequence! This story is more in the vein of the popular series, Before the Coffee Gets Cold: in a very similar proposition, a series of people contact a mysterious person known as the ‘go-between’, who has the power to arrange meetings with the living and the dead - for one night only, during the full moon. As with the time travelling premise of Coffee, there are various rules attached to this magical element: you can only meet one soul during your lifetime, and the ghosts can also only have one meeting once they have passed on. They can make a request but the departed person can say no. I wasn’t too sure about the first couple of stories, but I think the book came more into its own with the story of Ayumi, who is learning how to take on the responsibility of being the go-between from his grandmother. I actually liked that it explained the mechanics a bit at this point, and analysed the first couple of stories and why they had been good or bad for the characters. But maybe not as original as Lonely Castle in the Mirror had been - I feel like this follows the setup of several other similar Japanese novels and thus isn’t quite so unique. I did enjoy it though, and it’s a fairly easy read.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Doubleday, part of Random House for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was so excited to get a copy via NetGalley as I love this author. I was bit disappointed. I read it during a flight, and then also during the night as I wanted to finish it. Lovely book.

I haven't realised immediately that the author of this book also wrote 'Lonely Castle in the Mirror'. If I did I would've been less surprised by how much I loved this book as well. In the beginning I was slightly wary: recently there were too many books published following the same template where people seemingly fixed their lives by coffee/cats/books etc. This book then looked like just another entry on this list, only this time with dead people instead of cats or books. And yet even though the idea is indeed the same the way it is written is so loving, elegant and at the same time understanding of the human condition I couldn't help but fall in love with this book by the end of the 1st chapter, and it only got better from then on. I would absolutely recommend this novel to everyone who enjoyed this author's work before, and to those who haven't yet maybe even more.

A delightful story about reconciling with loss of a loved one. This tale has 5 separate but interconnected stories about a "go-between" who arranges meetings between the living and the dead. With each story, you see a little more about the go between, culminating in his own story at the end of the book. I was so pleased to see that a sequel is on its way and will look forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to netgalley for this ARC.

This was a lovely heartwarming read but surprisingly a lot more emotional and heavy than a lot of other similar books I’ve read in this genre.

That being said it was still a very enjoyable read and easy to get through despite the subject matters raised and I look forward to the sequel!

For fans of Before the Coffee gets Cold.
A collection of stories about meeting the departed via the go-between. Both the living and the dead are allowed only one meeting in their lifetime on the night of a full moon. One night, from sundown to sunrise.

This deals a lot with grief, guilt, and obligations.

The writing lacked that musical, magical quality of Lonely Castle in the Mirror and there is little time to get invested in the characters and their plights.

1 Beloved Icon - about a fan and idol and life feeling pointless and boring.

2 The Rule of the Eldest Son - an eldest son visiting his mother feeling the weight of obligations.

3 The Rule of the Best Friend - a best friend feeling guilty and ashamed and jealous.

’My mum always says, Don't give up before you try,' Misono said. ‘It's better to do something and regret it than to regret not doing it at all.’

I'd felt pain constantly since the moment of Misono's death, didn't know how to describe it, except to say that I pictured a black, dense smoke like that of burnt tyres, circulating up and down my insides. I couldn't tell whether I'd been swallowed up by the smoke, or whether it was erupting out of me.

4 The Rule of Lost Love - a fiancée left wondering about the disappearance of his partner.
This one was the most heartwarming and had the biggest ‘twist’ so to say. I was most invested in the mystery and the meeting.

5 The Rule of the GoBetween
This is the story of the young boy acting as the go-between and connects all the previous stories together.

Who did dead people exist for? For what reason?

Ultimately, let down by the simplicity of this book. There is a sequel in the works, but I won’t be picking it up as this theme genre doesn’t work for me (I wasn’t a huge fan of the preachy style of Before the Coffee gets Cold either).

Thank you to Double Day UK for sending me a physical arc in exchange for a review.