Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon was a captivating read. I liked the premise of being able to meet with the dead once while alive and with the living once when deceased. The stories had a lot of emotion behind them, and since each chapter was an individual story, you could comfortably complete one or two stories per night. This is a book that will certainly appeal to fans of works along the lines of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I saw at the end of this book there was a snippet from the follow-up volume. For me, that's the only negative with these types of stories coming out of Japan lately: the first book is wonderful and new, but it becomes boring when the same premise repeats in book two, then book three and on. Therefore I am not sure yet if I will read on to a second volume, but this first book was definitely an enjoyable read with a plot idea that was fun but which still packed an emotional punch. The translation flowed well and the pacing within each story was good, making it easy bedtime reading. I am giving it 4.5 stars.

A beautiful segmentation of the human heart, Lost Souls is a fantastic book that will have you sobbing and rooting for everything and everyone.

A quietly lovely book with an intriguing hook. I enjoyed how the stories subtly built on each other, creating a mosaic of empathy, philosophy and daily, ordinary, yet large inner lives; while also exploring the rather alchemical influence of memory.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the ARC

I was intrigued by the concept because it reminded me of Before the Coffee Gets Cold series, which I love. It's five interconnected stories that all explore themes of loss and grief. It's a beautiful and emotional book. Both heartwarming and heartaching. The writing was great and every character had their own strong story and unique voice. I'm glad this is the first in a new series because I'm looking forward to seeing more from this world.

"Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon" intrigued me with its unique premise of five interconnected stories, each exploring the complexities of grief and loss. Tsujimura masterfully weaves together these narratives, highlighting the flaws and vulnerabilities of her characters, which makes them feel real and relatable.

However, I felt that Ayumi’s character lacked the impact I was hoping for. Although we see his story arc unfold, there's something missing—it’s as if the emotional weight of what happened to him doesn't fully resonate. I’m optimistic that a sequel might delve deeper into his character, bringing out the depth that seems to be lacking.

Overall, this book is one I’d recommend, especially to those who are still grappling with the loss of a loved one. It's a poignant reminder that even in our darkest moments, we're never truly alone.

Whew, what an emotional journey! I wasn’t expecting this to be the emotional rollercoaster it was - I think I felt almost every emotion known to humankind while reading this excellent book!

The writing was superb and one of the best translations I’ve read this year; I really enjoy the succinct storytelling and intentional word choices of Japanese novels! The structure was artful: while we have four stories under the same theme, each one is told slightly differently. Not only does this reduce repetition, it helps keep the pace and reader attention even once the rhythm of the stories is established.

The characters were a mixed bag: I personally enjoyed the latter two character journeys best and Ayumi’s chapter. I liked the non-linear storytelling in Arashi and Tuchiya’s chapters and getting to spend some time in their worlds before their loved ones died. Ayumi’s chapter tied all four stories together nicely and gave us extended context about each encounter too. Some characters are easier to cheer on than others, but they all have a unique feel to them keeping the stories fresh and interesting.

This looks like it’s going to be a series and I’m looking forward to reading the next one!

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you so much, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers! 🌙