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.