I'm a huge fan of character-driven stories, and this translation doesn't disappoint. My favorite development is that of the teenaged Ayumi himself and how he became a go-between; the set-up, while a slow burn, was immensely satisfying and included a twist for which I was wholly unprepared. As someone who is also still somewhat in a 'grief fog' and often looks to bibliotherapy, I appreciated the exploration of different types of losses and the kind of relationships one can still have with the loved one even after they're physically long gone.

Thank you to Scribner publishing as well as the author, Mizuki Tsujimura, for access to this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed this book which focused on the journey of people requesting a meeting with a deceased person in order to speak with them on me last time. A young man working as “the go between” spoke with deceased people and, if they agreed to meet with those who requested, set a meeting in a hotel for them to meet. I enjoyed the variety of people who requested these meetings - and for very different reasons. There was comfort in imagining a world where this could be possible and pondering who I would use my “one chance” on to meet. (Individuals can only meet with one deceased person their entire lives). I would recommend this book to others, especially those that appreciated translated Japanese fiction and collections of stories centered on one idea.

This was a nice, and much more emotional story than the previous parable-type Japanese and Korean books I've read lately. Although magical realism isn't my typical genre, I enjoyed this and felt moved by each characters' decisions as they navigated the loss of a loved one or idol. Overall, I believe the theme was one of living a life free of regrets. More specifically, in real life we don't have the opportunity to talk to a loved one after they've passed. We cannot get their approval or confirmation that we are on the right path, or clarify anything they said or did before they passed. In the author's (paraphrased) words, "the dead can only serve the living." We bring comfort or solace to ourselves in what we choose to believe about the deceased based on our own memories and lived experiences. Since we cannot always know for certain how they would feel, it's good to believe they would support you.

Thank you to the publisher, Scribner, and NetGalley for this advanced review copy.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Mizuki Tsujimura, and Scribner for allowing me to have an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Delightful. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon.

If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli, you need to pick this up ASAP. Cozy, enchanting, and mysterious are three words to describe this book. We see the true main character through the eyes of several different narrators, all people he is helping meet someone from the other side. Piece by piece, we discover more of who he really is.

I loved this book. It is just a bit outside of my usual genre, and I am so happy I took the chance on it. Mizuki has truly done something special and I don’t think I’ll be finding anything that comes close to this level of fantasy anytime soon.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for the ARC! I was excited to read this after reading the premise of the story and really enjoying the author's previous work The Lonely Castle in the Mirror. This book is set up similar to other popular series of Before the Coffee Gets Cold and the Kitchen detectives (which I also really enjoy) where we encounter a new person in each chapter looking to meet someone who has passed on. I loved that the last story is actually about the Go-Between himself and how became one, I feel like some series (cough Before the Coffee Gets Cold's ghost cough) don't give us the backstory so early on in a series. I'm excited to see where the sequel takes us as we follow Ayumi fully taking on the responsibilities as the go-between.

I have never read anything quite like "Lost Souls Meet under a Full Moon." The concept was new to me, I adored it. The story was a slow-burn with excellent pacing. The story is sad, poignant, beautiful, a little desolate in a good way, and it's really stuck with me. The writing is lovely and the translation doesn't seem to interfere with that. Having read this novel and adored it, I will be looking for more of Mizuki Tsujimura's work. Sometimes a book just comes along with an unusual concept and takes you by storm and this was one of those for me. I cannot recommend this book enough.

A go-between—someone who arranges a single meeting between the living and the dead. The meeting can only take place on the night of a full moon, and it must end with the morning light. For the living, you are granted just one meeting in your lifetime. For the dead, you can accept only one request—never initiate it.

This book poses the haunting question: Who would you ask to meet with? How would you use your time? And if you're the one who has passed, would you be willing to accept?

Told through a series of interconnected short stories, this collection explores the deeply human experiences of grief, longing, and love that lingers beyond death. Each story is a glimpse into the sacred, often painful space where memory meets reality and where goodbye can never truly feel like enough. And while some characters walk away with a sense of peace, others are left with more questions than answers—because closure, as this book reminds us, doesn’t come to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this beautiful and thought-provoking ARC.

Wow—this was such a beautiful book, both in its physical form (that gorgeous cover!) and in the way it was written. The premise alone is deeply moving: a mysterious "Go-Between" who allows the living one last chance to reunite with someone they've lost. It’s a heart-wrenching, magical idea that really made me reflect—would that one final meeting give the closure you're seeking, or just stir everything back up?

I’ve always been drawn to magical realism, but I especially fell in love with the Japanese approach to it while living in Thailand. My favorite bookstore there was a Japanese chain, and it's where I first discovered Haruki Murakami. Mizuki Tsujimura’s style captured that same delicate balance of beauty and mystery for me.

I loved the structure of the story—first following five different people as they meet Ayumi, the Go-Between, and their departed loved ones, and then shifting to Ayumi’s own story in the second half. The pacing was just right; I finished it in a single evening. Despite the heavy subject matter, it read smoothly and quickly, and still managed to pack a serious emotional punch.

As someone who’s still grieving a recent loss, parts of this book completely undid me—I found myself sobbing more than once. But it was cathartic, not crushing. There’s something so healing in the way Tsujimura writes about loss, memory, and letting go.

All around, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a gorgeous, thoughtful, and emotionally resonant story. I’m so curious to see how the series continues. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Scriber for the early e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I liked it a lot surprisingly, the first two stories were very blend to me and i starting to give and then the third story was so excellent! I Loved that it wasn't feel good anymore and that she felt empty after the meeting instead of comforting and it was interesting to think how selfish it is to summon the dead to satisfy the living needs when it might make it worse for the deceased. I will remember this book

This was a short read, I didn't realize when I picked it up that it was more of an interconnected stories situation. The stories are hits and misses for me. The one with the best friends and the one with the eldest son were my favorite. I think they really dived into each person's perspective and emotions surrounding death.
But most of these stories feel like skimming the surface. I think that there was so much more that could be done with each character, but it didn't go in depth. The first story for example cuts out a large chunk of the meeting which sounded like the most compelling part.
The writing is really breezy in a good way, and I did enjoy it for the most part. Just wish there was more.

The heavy topic of grief is written in such a lovingly and understanding way. This was a pretty short book, but one laced throughout with deep emotion which linger long past when you finish the book.

I though the writing itself was lovely and poignant, with rich imagery. This book simultaneously felt like it splayed open my ribs and hugged me warmly.

This book really sat with me. It’s short, but it lingers—kind of like the grief it talks about. I didn’t expect it to hit so hard, but the way it moved through different people’s stories, all tied to the same strange but gentle idea, was really well done. Some parts were stronger than others, but overall it felt honest and thoughtful. Quiet, but powerful. Definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura is the kind of story that lingers with you long after the final page—a quiet, powerful meditation on grief, closure, and the deep human longing for one last conversation with those we’ve lost. It’s gentle, haunting, and profoundly moving in a way that sneaks up on you.

What I loved most was how Tsujimura handles the concept of grief—not as something to be solved, but as something to be witnessed and honored. The magical realism here is subtle and purposeful, never overpowering the emotional core of the narrative. There’s a comforting stillness in the way these stories unfold—soft moments filled with reflection, empathy, and sometimes, just enough resolution to help someone take a step forward.

The mystery surrounding Ayumi himself is woven in slowly and beautifully, building to a reveal that is tender, unexpected, and satisfying. This book may be short, but it’s deeply layered and quietly profound.

If you’re looking for a story that will hold your heart gently while examining the weight of what we carry, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is an unforgettable experience. It doesn’t just explore grief—it offers a moment of stillness, a whisper of hope, and a reminder that love, even in loss, continues to echo.

This was a short quick read, but one that took me longer than expected to finish. It was a heavy topic, and as someone in healthcare, about a feeling that I'm all too used to. I think because of that, this book felt comforting, felt like a hug, and felt like a heavy weight taken off my shoulders. It takes a special soul to write about a topic like this with the grace this book gave it, and it's truly commendable that reading it transported me into these characters and in turn helped me come to terms with the grief I carry myself. I genuinely loved this one and need a physical copy in my hands asap so I can relive it again.

This is a, honestly, quick read that packs a big punch. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I requested it, but the way the story is laid out is honestly very interesting. The bulk of the book is told through first-person POV of the varied people that meet with the "go-between" to meet a specific person in their life in... well, death. Each chapter is non-linear, jumping through varied points in time, but the bulk of it is how they deal with grief. I think the varied types of grief explored were really well-done. There's the grief of losing your fiancee, the grief of losing your friend, the grief of losing your mother, and even the grief of losing someone you were a fan of.

The central concept of the go-between was really fascinating and I liked how the various chapters all tied together in the end. I do think that the way that the POV-shifts happened led to a bit of confusion at times. I hope that the finished copy more clearly indicates that--either with bigger paragraph breaks or some sort of line break. I wasn't really a fan of 2 of the stories, but I think overall this is a quick, good read if you're in the right headspace for it.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon
By: Mizuki Tsujimura

Imagine getting the chance to see someone again who has passed. The go-between can make that happen, as long as the person you want to see says yes. The stories were really touching. I really enjoyed all the characters! I really enjoy Mizukis writing. It’s beautiful! I’m very excited that there will be a second book in this series. I can’t wait to read.

I absolutely loved Lonely Castle in the Mirror! I was so excited when I saw Mizuki was writing another book. Her writing brings me a lot of joy. I was even more excited when I received an eARC of it!!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Mizuki and Scribner for eARC!!

Rating: ✨✨✨✨✨
Publication Date: October 21st 2025

#NetGalley

A beautiful and moving book about grief, hope, and what it means to move on.

This book takes you on an adventure of what grief means to each person, including their regrets and what it means to get closure. With each story, the loss is different, along with what they are seeking to get closure by saying goodbye one final time. It’s a very raw look at how grief is such a personal journey and how as much as it pains us, we can grow from that experience.

Although the genre is fantasy, the real story is the complexities of loss, relationships and what it means to forgive. As the story progresses you get more information about who the “go between” is and the loss that he is learning to grow from.

I cried many times throughout the book, it was beautifully written.

Oh, how I loved this book. I read it under 4 hours. I will be looking for more books by this author.
In *Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon*, a young Tokyo woman seeks to connect with a deceased TV star who once helped her, only to be met by Ayumi Shibuya, a teenage boy dressed in a designer coat. Ayumi offers a unique service that reunites the living with the dead under specific conditions: it’s free, can be refused by the deceased, and occurs only during a full moon. As Ayumi organizes these poignant meetings, we meet various clients grappling with unresolved issues, including a resentful son, a grieving girl, and a businessman seeking closure after his fiancée's disappearance. As the story unfolds, Ayumi's own mysterious background is revealed, making this a novel that keeps you turning the pages .
This will be a best seller, IMO.
This author writes with soul.

This is a really gentle story of different people and how we deal with loss. I really enjoyed all the stories and how the ending of the book came together. I would recommend this to anyone that is a fan of translated japanese works or anyone that just enjoys a though provoking look at how different people deal with life and death.