I got drawn in by the cover and the concept, the start was promising. However from the middle to end I was skipping pages to see if much changed and there just didn't seem much plot to the story.

Imaginative and creative worlds yes, just not for me unfortunately. The characters lacked depth and felt a bit too odd at times. I just felt it didn't flow.

Raya and Q are separately transported to a fantastical train (in concept more than reality, cause this train is downright magically strange), the Elsewhere Express, when they have lost their purpose in life. On the train they meet and must decide if they want to get rid of their pasts so they can live happily along with other passengers who have done the same. In the process, a stowaway is found on board who must be dealt with or the train and its passengers will cease to exist. Working with the conductor, they struggle with internal and external battles as well as try to figure out their own relationship to each other. A book of hope, questioning your purpose as well as questioning following other peoples' paths to happiness, building friendships, and the power of the arts to heal. The character Q is experiencing vision loss and that topic, along with magical sight restoration, is discussed throughout the story.

Thank you to Netgalley, Del Ray, Random House Worlds and Inklore for the eArc in exchange for an honest review!

I'm actually not sure how to describe this one. I think this story had the potential to be very Studio Ghibli-esque, which I'm guessing is what the author was going for, especially with the success of her previous novel, Water Moon, which was like reading a beautiful anime come to life. The Elsewhere Express is a second chance for people who have lost their purpose, but can find it again on this magical express through the stars, defying all concepts of realism and normality. It's made from daydreams, thoughts, worries, grudges, etc, but no excess baggage is welcome.

Raya is our main character, and she is dealing with the loss of her brother and guilt over his death. Q is dealing with the loss of his eyesight as well as an overall feeling of hopelessness. Together, they find themselves aboard the express and must go on a quest to find which compartment they belong to. I think my main issue with this story are the characters and the romance(?). I really think that the subplot did not need to be included, but I also thought that Raya's inability to suspend her disbelief really annoyed me to the point of irritation with her as a whole. The entire time she spent wanting to get off this whimsical beautiful ride (you can eat dinner on LILYPADS and use paintings as doors???) And that pissed me off.

I think the plot twists as the story went on were predictable but fit the Studio Ghibli vibe; I again thought it was unnecessary and kind of wished for a more gentle and whimsicle vibe from the story, but hey ho. This book was excellently written and I did enjoy the world building and rules of the train, as well as the way that the story was structured with the itinerary and legs of the journey and I already know the special editions will be spectacular, but I can't give this higher than a 3 based on the character work.

The Elsewhere Express is a cozy fantasy that explores self-discovery, second chances and all the hopelessness of grief.

Truly, this book is a magical feeling poured on to every page. I don’t know how the author managed it but each new area and every scene had a special feeling etched into it, like you were truly aboard the elsewhere express and peeking into its controlled magic.

I liked Q, though at times he just seemed to be there to conveniently roll the plot along. But he was unerringly bright and good compared to Raya’s more downcast character. Being within Raya’s pov for the majority of the book did mean that you were not as enthralled with the idea of the train as Q or the writing may want you to be (as the magic seeps into every corner of the pages, but Raya vehemently declares her want to leave).

The plot thread of mystery was also extremely welcome as I find that cozy fantasy tends to be a bit on the boring side, no matter how wondrous the setting is. I was pleasantly surprised by all the twists and turns the story went through!

Thank you to netgalley and Random House for the arc!

The Elsewhere Express by new to me author Samantha Sotto Yambao, published by Del Rey Random House, is a full length, stand alone urban, cozy fantasy.
The two main characters Raya and Q are troubled people, suffering from loss, guilt and hopelessness they board the Elsewhere Express who guides them and erases their pasts, giving them quests while hopping from car to car.
An exquisit story that wasn't what I expected at all.
The cover and the sprayed edges are simply stunning, 4,5 stars.

Raya and Q are two lost people. Raya was born because her brother was sick and needed a bone marrow donor. Since he died, she's lost her purpose and her music. Q is a painter who is slowly going blind. They both end up on the Elsewhere Express one night. This is a train to and from nowhere for people who are lost. As they learn about the train and is passengers, they start to question what the train actually gives them. And as they get to know each other, Raya and Q form a strong friendship. A meditation on meaning in life and what happiness really means.

The Elsewhere Express is an enchanting and whimsical fantasy that feels like a warm hug for the soul. The concept of a magical train that appears to those who are lost is absolutely charming, and the author's creativity shines in the descriptions of the train's wondrous cars, from lily-pad picnics to jellyfish swimming through clouds. It's a journey not just through a magical world, but a journey of self-discovery, hope, and finding your own sense of purpose. A truly delightful and inspiring read.

This book was so unique and touching at times! I wish it was a little deeper in some areas but overall a good book!

The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao is a beautifully imaginative novel that sweeps readers into a whimsical, otherworldly journey aboard a mysterious train where lost souls seek second chances. The writing is lush and evocative, and Sotto has a gift for weaving magic into the mundane, making every stop along the journey feel poignant and alive. That said, the book occasionally lingers too long on description, which can slow the pace and momentarily pull readers out of the story’s momentum. Some character arcs also felt slightly underdeveloped compared to the richness of the setting. Still, the heart of the novel, the tender exploration of love, regret, and redemption shines brightly, leaving an aftertaste of wonder and hope. Despite its minor flaws, I loved the book for its emotional depth and its ability to remind us of the beauty in both holding on and letting go.

This was a really fun read! Whimsical, with a great world to fall into. I did not love it as much as I loved watermoon, but it is still a great book. I had a lot of fun. The characters were good, the plot was a tad confusing but still nice, and the magic was cool. After having an experience where my expectations were too high (Book of Doors followed by The Society of Unknowable Objects), I tried to keep my expectations normal for this book. And, I think that really helped me enjoy it while reading and pass judgment later.

If you enjoyed Water Moon, you will probably like this book, but don't expect it to be as great as Water Moon.

Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this arc!

✨🚂 Book Review: The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao

“Live. Breathe. Be.” — this haunting refrain lingers long after closing the book, like a lullaby you can’t shake off.

📖 The Elsewhere Express is not just a novel; it’s an invitation to board a train that runs on dreams, memories, and the weight of everything we carry (and sometimes the things we can’t let go). Samantha Sotto spins a story that feels both intimate and infinite — a journey through grief, purpose, and the fragile magic of being human.

We follow Raya (Hiraya), a girl born with the crushing destiny of saving her brother, and Q, a brilliant artist losing his sight but holding on to visions that only exist in dreams. Their stories converge aboard the mysterious Elsewhere Express — a train where doors open into daydreams, conductors wear borrowed faces, and passengers wrestle with the truths they’ve been running from.

🌌 What makes this book shine:

The atmosphere: lush, surreal, and cinematic. Imagine Studio Ghibli colliding with Neil Gaiman’s dreamscapes.

The themes: family, loss, art, memory, and the question — what makes us human?

The writing: lyrical yet sharp, every page sprinkled with sentences you’ll want to underline.

🥀 But it’s not all whimsy. Beneath the magical settings lies a deep meditation on grief and identity — what happens when your “purpose” vanishes, when your body betrays you, when dreams slip through your fingers like smoke.

📚 Perfect for fans of:

Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus

Emily St. John Mandel’s Sea of Tranquility

Anyone who loves trains as metaphors for life, memory, and the in-between

✨ Verdict: The Elsewhere Express is an unforgettable journey — strange, tender, and quietly devastating. A novel that asks you to sit with your ghosts, listen to your heart’s heaviest sigh, and perhaps, find yourself along the way.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

💭 “Every train, no matter how full, is empty. Thoughts carry people away. Once created, they need a place to go. On the Elsewhere Express, they do.”

Ahhhhh!!! I'm so grateful to Del Rey [and NetGalley, ofc!] for granting this eARC request *and* for also sending me a physical ARC as well! 🥰 I received my paperback copy sometime last week and absolutely DEVOURED it immediately. Yambao's debut(?) trad novel, WATER MOON, is one I can easily still say is one of my TOP favorite books of 2025 (and I read it back in *January* lol). It inspired me to read her back-list and I now look forward to whatever she puts out next as she is 100% an auto-buy author for me (+ bonus points for being a fellow Filipina, ayeeee~ haha) 🤩 THE ELSEWHERE EXPRESS is once again another win for me— I absolutely adore Yambao's writing style and sense of pacing (nothing drags!), how effortlessly she seems to be able to construct such magical, immersive worlds (her creativity truly knows no bounds), and just how well-written and nuanced her characters are. I won't spoil anything because I believe this kind of magical realism/light romantasy story is one best read blind, but I highly highly recommend checking this one out come pub day!!!

The book in itself was great. And the plot and the theme was also incredibly written. I believe the characters could have developed more.

Another Ghibli-esque escapist fantasy from Sotto Yambao, once again in another realm brimming with magical construction, two characters searching for purpose, and some one-liners that will make you close the book and just think.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
The Elsewhere Express
by Samantha Sotto Yambao

Magical trains that appear out of nowhere? Cars that double as meadows, picnic lily pads, and bars where whales swim through clouds? Sign. Me. Up. On paper, this book had everything I usually devour in a single sitting: whimsy, wonder, cozy vibes, and the promise of purpose. But in execution? Well… the train arrived, I boarded, and it turns out I was stuck sitting next to Raya—our main character—who spent most of the ride wishing she could get off.

And that’s really the core of my issue. You’ve got this lush, imaginative setting just begging to be explored, and instead of leaning into the magic, Raya treats the whole thing like a bureaucratic layover she didn’t sign up for. I wanted someone wide-eyed, curious, maybe even a little selfish about staying on board. Instead, I got reluctant, resentful, and honestly… a bit of a downer.

Q, our resident tortured-artist-love-interest, was… fine. Charming in spurts, frustrating in others. Sometimes he felt like an actual character, sometimes like a plot device who showed up exactly when needed. I didn’t hate him, but I also didn’t exactly ache for more page time with him either.

The worldbuilding, though? Gorgeous. Whimsical. Exactly the kind of fantasy escapism I was hoping for. And I’ll admit—the late-stage twists and the little sting in the epilogue did perk me up. But by that point, I’d already skimmed through chunks of the middle because my connection to Raya (or lack thereof) was dragging the magic down.

So yeah, this book wasn’t bad—it’s well-written, imaginative, and I can already see it being someone else’s five-star comfort read. But for me? It missed the stop. Every time I wanted to sink into the wonder, Raya yanked me back into her sulking, and the spark fizzled. Three stars feels fair: a lovely concept with stunning details, but paired with a main character I never really wanted to sit with.

This was a beautiful, magical book. Very easy to read and enjoyed the twist at the end. I loved how descriptive everything was throughout the book.

First off- that cover and sprayed edges!! Oh my gosh! I’d buy the book just because of that! But fortunately, the book is really good, too! This book is as magical as the cover. The author is very creative and the imagery is amazing.

This book was beautifully magical and full of feeling.

Welcome aboard The Elsewhere Express - boarded at the end of all your dreams at a quarter past your heaviest. The Elsewhere Express is made from spools of daydreams, plans, ideas, memories, poems, and songs. Excess baggage not allowed.

Raya is dealing with loss and guilt.
Q is dealing with loss and hopelessness.
They find themselves aboard, purposeless. They must embark on a quest across the train to find their compartment where they belong.

Similar to Watermoon, this jumps from one task to the next, but they seemed more seamless in this book.

This touches on mental health through allusions and metaphors in a Studio Ghibli setting which invokes nostalgia, longing, and melancholy.
Exactly what our two protagonists feel.

I found the plot more compelling and the themes more explored compared to her debut.
There were a lot of conveniences and easy ‘get-out’ cards, but if you go in expecting a whimsical , no-sense magical realism, you won’t be disappointed.

I did guess the big reveal, but I liked how the book played out.
Especially with the totality representation

Arc gifted by Transworld Books.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

After reflecting on it I think this book may have just not been for me but I enjoyed the prose and the detailed world building.

I don’t know how I keep stumbling onto the most breathtakingly beautiful stories about grief and healing, but boy am I glad I do, because I need them.

This was one of the coziest stories I’ve read this summer. It’s nostalgic and new all at the same time, a whimsical journey to discover that the best life you could live will always be your own.

The perfumery chapters were my favorite - memories make up more of us than we realize, and scent is one of the strongest ways to access them. Just the other day, I smelled something at work that reminded me of a long-gone spring day in first grade. Manon serves her purpose to move the plot along, but in a way that also makes the reader feel like time has stopped. She lets us take a moment in her shop and just be, reminds us to cherish each moment but always remember which memories are worth keeping and which only weigh us down.

Raya and Q are the perfect duo to tell this story through. Climactic reveals aside, they offset each other brilliantly - the realistic cynic and desperate dreamer, each with their own demons and urgently in need of someone to love their darkest places.

I will be adding Samantha Sotto Yambao to my auto-buy list.