Ritrovarsi sotto un cielo di stelle

The Lost Souls Series #1

by Mizuki Tsujimura, Bruno Forzan (Translator)

Quando Manami Hirase, una giovane donna di Tokyo, fissa un appuntamento con il Messaggero, non immagina certo di trovarsi davanti un montgomery blu e taccuino alla mano, il ragazzo la invita a sedersi sulla panchina del cortile di un ospedale. Contattarlo attraverso una telefonata o il suo sito web non è difficile, ma quello che è in grado di fare, nonostante l'aspetto ordinario, è a dir poco il Messaggero, infatti, può invitare i morti a tornare nel mondo reale. Per soddisfare questa richiesta, le regole sono poche, ma l'incontro deve avvenire solo di notte, preferibilmente sotto la luna piena; il defunto può rifiutare la proposta; l'appuntamento è uno solo e con un'unica persona. Così, Manami chiede e ottiene di ritrovare la star televisiva che un tempo l'aveva aiutata in un momento di grande difficoltà. Seguendo il suo esempio, a turno, il Messaggero viene contattato dal signor Hatada che vuole rivedere la madre per chiederle scusa; dalla giovane Misa Arashi, che chiede di incontrare l'amica e rivale di cui ha deliberatamente causato la morte; e, infine, da Koichi Tsuchiya, un impiegato stanco che cerca di capire il motivo della fuga dell'unica donna che abbia mai amato. Tutti chiedono l'aiuto del Messaggero per ragioni diverse, e ottengono la possibilità di incontrare nella stanza di un hotel di lusso qualcuno che non c'è più. Ma chi è realmente il Messaggero? E cosa nasconde in questo misterioso e difficile ruolo di intermediario tra i vivi e le anime dell'aldilà? Un romanzo permeato di meraviglia e sentimento, una combinazione magica di emozioni e mistero che, nel cuore dell'Oriente, esplora la struggente nostalgia per chi non c'è più e il senso che i ricordi danno alla nostra vita.

Genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Fiction, Japan, Japanese Literature, Asian Literature, Adult

Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2010

About the author

Associated Names:
* Mizuki Tsujimura
* 辻村深月 (Japanese)

Tsujimura is an award-winning novelist, she is best known for her mystery and children novels. She studied at Chiba University and won the Naoki Prize in 2012 for Kagi no nai Yume wo Miru (I Saw a Dream Without a Key), and in 2018 she won the Japan Booksellers' Award for her novel Kagami no Kojo (Lonely Castle in the Mirror).

Japanese name 辻村 深月

Reviews

[Liong · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon" explores grief, longing, and the search for peace through magical encounters with the dead. 🤔

This book contains a few short stories, each gentle and emotionally resonant. 👍

It completely captured my heart. 😍

It's a beautiful example of how simple yet powerful storytelling can be deeply moving and thought-provoking.

I truly admire the author’s creativity in bringing these emotional narratives to life.

If you enjoy magical stories like Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, you’ll likely find this book just as enchanting.

It’s a must-read you won’t regret picking up.

The author’s new book, "How to Hold Someone in Your Heart (The Go-Between, #2)," is set to be released on September 4, 2025 — and I’m already looking forward to it! 🤩

P.S.: The first book I read by this author, Mizuki Tsujimura, was "Lonely Castle in the Mirror".

[emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

i'm in.

this was another example of the subgenre of Japanese lit i've really been enjoying lately — a magical setup to help troubled people solve their problems covering one person per chapter.

in this case, that fantastical process involves finding a high school boy who will help you meet one dead person, with a lot of rules.

it was a little more complex than a lot of others, with some characters more redeemed and some not, which was both the biggest pro and the biggest con.

bottom line: less satisfying, but more realistic. if you ignore the magic part.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Queralt✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grief is such a heavy feeling. You never get rid of it. Once you’ve lost someone, you carry their absence with you, but you also carry the unasked questions, the things you never got to say or do with them, and the goodbyes that were stolen from you. Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a book for those of us who know what it feels like to have lost someone. What if you could meet that person you lost one more time? Would you do it?

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is the first instalment of The Go-Between series. The go-between is a person who has a gift and can arrange for you to meet a deceased individual. The only rules are that, when you are alive, you only get to meet one dead person. And when you are dead, you can only accept to see one person. The deceased person has to accept meeting you and you can only meet them one night while the full moon is out.

The book is told in five episodes. Each episode follows different characters who seek the go-between to speak with someone who has passed away. We learn about their background leading to losing the person and why they’d want to see them again (i.e., what is left unsaid/questions to ask), how they find and meet the go-between, and the day they meet their loved one.

I adored the first, fourth (I’ll be forever crying about Kirari and Tsuchiya), and fifth stories. I was crying non-stop in the last 100 pages, the book made me so emotional. And it was strange because I did not care for the second and third stories, but the ending of both had me IN TEARS. It was such an emotional rollercoaster of a book. The episodes were just so easy to read and it was so easy to empathize with the characters. The last chapter was so satisfying because we got answers about who the kid is, how the go-between business works, and a beautiful reflection of the whole thing (meeting with the dead).

I’m going to keep this review short. This is a great book for book clubs and just as therapy. I think the reflection at the end about how important it is for us, the living, to feel the dead watching us was beautiful. I just felt it was all very touching. Again, as someone who has said a thousand times that I’d give anything I had to see my grandma again, this book just broke me. It felt like a warm hug. I just wish the go-between was real. I can’t wait for the next book. (PS: I think I liked this more than Lonely Castle in the Mirror.)

Bits I highlighted:
“Being a witness to a person’s pain isn’t something you can do half-heartedly.”

––
“Don’t think about coming over here yet. It’s super dark.”

––
“...I still somehow believed I would make it out OK. I thought, there's no way I’m gonna die. (spoilers removed)... life is going to be so good from now on. Only good things would happen to us. I wasn't scared. I couldn’t breath, but I felt good. I knew you would be with me when I woke up.”

[Henk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wholesome if a bit much tell versus show. Closure is not guaranteed but human connections are essential in this healing novel.
Who did dead people exist for?
With what reason?

I don’t know if the repetitive structure, especially the last section, helps tell the story of the go between, but overall I really enjoyed this novel by the author of Lonely Castle in the Mirror. A lot of arbitrary rules apply in Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, including sundown to sunrise duration, full moon preference and only once a life possibility, but in the end the five stories of the book work together well.

Starting off with a mysterious evening meeting and a girl of 27 tries to meet a free talking idol who died of a heart attack, Mizuki Tsujimura conjures a modern Japan with fantastical elements. Sometimes the stories have a bit lot of tell and little show in terms of how the background to their wished meetings with the departed are set-up.
The characters vary a lot, from an irritated older brother tries to meet his mother who died of cancer, a mysterious girl who just appears in a man's life and then disappears and a bizarre suicide and murder involving the go between themselves.
Topics like not telling a diagnosis to people suffering from an illness, duty and responsibility for the family business and a best friend who turns to jealousy over a theatre play role pop-up. Not everyone can reach redemption, as it requires hard work and introspection.
There is also commentary on precarious living, hostess jobs and estrangement from people we think to know. And some overtones in respect to the suspicion we feel towards wonderment as we grow older.

The magic mirror with more rules attached to it than reasonable or be useful to anyone, powered by moonlight and connected to a luxury hotel, felt like a bit much at the end, but overall I enjoyed this novel, although initially I was afraid it would be similarly moralistic to Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
I liked how the stories were tied together in the fifth one and how closure was not always reached. Not as powerful and ingenious as Lonely Castle in the Mirror but I would definitely be up to reading the sequel!

Quotes:
A living person shouldn’t be going around meeting with dead people, that is bending the laws of nature which can’t be a good thing

Promise me you will be happy.

Do dead people exist to serve the living? How is that okay?

I don’t know if the repetitive structure, especially the last section, helps tell the story of the go between. Secrets are revealed in the family.

[Abbie Toria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemplative and thought-provoking, the stories of the Go Between and the people he meets linger with you.

3.75 stars

🌕 Japanese Translated Fiction
🌕 Contemporary/ Literary Fiction
🌕 Contemplative
🌕 Grief, love, life, and loss
🌕 From the author of Lonely Castle in the Mirror

"I bring together the living and the departed," he said in a solemn voice, enunciating his words. "I am the go-between."

The first half of The Go Between felt like a collection of interconnected short stories; by turns emotive, loving, devastating and even dark. I felt the pace lagged at times in this part, before picking up again. For me, it really came into its own halfway through when it changed into more of a novel format. I loved the relationship between Ayumi and his grandmother.

[Lau · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Is it selfish wanting to reunite with a loved one whose life has ended while ours continues? In the midst of reading this book, I encounter this curious question. Such a thing never crossed my mind; perhaps I was too occupied with myself, wallowing in my own sorrow instead of considering the deceased's feelings. I have always been so hung up about my loss, not once stopping to think that my longing to keep them by my side for the longest time may disrupt their acceptance that their lives are no longer. They might have already moved on, at peace in the afterlife, and here I am, all miserable due to my incapability to embrace change. Through this book, I get the answer to the that question.

I was pleasantly surprised by this author's ideas and perception of things when I discovered Lonely Castle in the Mirror in the beginning of the previous year, and I was eager to see what other things Mizuki Tsujimura has in store for us, the readers. Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon has successfully replaced Lonely Castle in the Mirror as my all-time favorite book.

This is an interesting take about grief. I really love the concept and how the go-between doesn't take money as a means of payment. Can't wait for others to discover this masterpiece as well. The translation sometimes comes off a bit awkward, but nothing I will hold against the beauty of the book itself.

Thank you Random House UK for the ARC in exchange of honest review!

------

Got approved for this ARC, I'm so very excited! RTC.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 (a favourite of mine) 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.

Bookstagram

[Meltem Sağlam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yazarın okuduğum ikinci kitabı. İlk olarak ‘Aynadaki Yalnız Şato’ başlıklı eserini okumuştum. İçtenliği, samimiyeti ve sıcak anlatımı aynı. Her ikisinin de etkileyici ve duygusal, çok başarılı anlatımı var.

Yazar; yalnızlık çeken ve asosyal kişileri, ergenleri anlatmayı seviyor ve bunu başarı ile gerçekleştiriyor.

Benim de Ayışığında aramak istediğim kişiler var. Keşke mümkün olabilseydi.

Çok güzel bir okumaydı.

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the marketing suggesting a cozy read, I found this book incredibly difficult to get through and almost didn't finish it. The premise is intriguing - what if you could arrange a meeting with someone who has died?

Each chapter focuses on a different character, exploring the complex, varied responses to grief and death. You should read the trigger warnings if you want a heads up about sensitive content.

For me, this wasn't like the cozy, heartwarming, and uplifting types of "healing fiction" books that I love. Unlike the gentle comfort found in books like What You Are Looking For is in The Library or Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop—two books that felt timeless and made me want to reread them in the future—the story here felt confusing, jarring, and sad. I even had to go back and reread an earlier chapter just to grasp what was happening.

I read a physical copy of the book, and I also listened to some of the audiobook, which has multiple narrators.

Ultimately, the read was both structurally tough and emotionally sad. While the main message seems to be about living your life without regret and finding comfort in the idea that loved ones are always with us, it was a convoluted journey. It fell flat for me, but others might feel differently. I don't really recommend it, and it's not one that I want to revisit to read again.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Japanese translated fiction for its soothing quality, and this book was no exception. Of the five stories detailing what happens when someone can spend an evening with another person who has already died, I liked the two stories featuring women best. The other three lacked emotion.

Similar to When the Coffee Gets Cold, this novel compels one to reflect on one's choices, to use the time we have wisely, and to choose kindness whenever possible.

Thanks to Scribner books for the gifted book.

[luce (cry bebè's back from hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Lonely Castle in the Mirror and Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon share thematic similarities, the latter feels less immersive and less emotionally resonant. Once again, Mizuki Tsujimura presents us with a cast of struggling characters—those who are grieving, lost, or burdened by guilt. Seeking comfort, answers, or simply a reprieve from their sadness, they turn to the Go-Between, a mysterious figure who arranges meetings between the dead and the living. But there are strict rules for these encounters, forcing the characters to truly consider whether they want to go through with them.

One storyline follows a young woman who wishes to meet a recently deceased celebrity, though her reasons extend beyond mere fan devotion. Another features a rather traditional family man who seeks out his late mother—not out of longing, but to uncover the whereabouts of some land deeds. A teenage girl, wracked with jealousy, experiences a rift in what was once a precious friendship. In the aftermath of a tragic incident, she’s torn between guilt and resentment, desperate to know whether she was truly to blame. Meanwhile, a man reflects on his love story with a woman who mysteriously vanished. He reaches out to the Go-Between even if he dreads the idea of his meeting being granted (as it would confirm the worst).
At the heart of the novel is the Go-Between himself—a teenager suddenly faced with the weight of his family’s legacy, forced to consider whether he wants to accept a role that is bound to isolate him.

While I appreciated Tsujimura’s empathetic approach to her characters and their struggles, and there are plenty of poignant moments and reflections on grief, memory, and the lingering ties between the living and the dead, I found myself wanting more. More depth, particularly in the characters, and perhaps a more atmospheric storytelling style (although I did like her soft approach to fantastical/supernatural elements). The bonds formed in Lonely Castle in the Mirror added an emotional layer that feels lacking here. Still, this is the kind of healing, comforting story that reads easily and remains, for the most part, compelling.

[Maria Triantafilloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, translation sucked.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of this sort that I have read, and now I know that this style of story is not really for me. The book consists of four relatively disconnected stories (there IS a connection) and a fifth story/chapter that winds up tying all the threads together.

The gist of the book is that there is such a thing as a go-between, who can arrange a meeting between someone who has died and the loved one who longs to see them again. There are lots of rules surrounding this: you can only ask for one person ever; the dead person can only meet with one requester ever; and so on. The first four stories are about individuals who request and then meet with a loved one who has died. The last story focuses more on the young man who has been training to be the go-between, to take over from his beloved grandmother.

The stories varied in interest for me. The one that got to me the most was the third one, about two high school girls who had been best friends. Sort of. Until I read that one, I was going to rate the book lower, but that story pulled me in, and I enjoyed the rest of the book more. I generally love magical realism, which is one reason I was attracted to trying this book.

If you love books like Before The Coffee Gets Cold (I haven’t read that one and I probably won’t) or The Kamogawa Food Detectives, you will probably love this book.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

if i had a nickel for every time i read and enjoyed a translated interconnected story collection about different people who all meet the same reoccurring character and their bizarre magical-realism experiences i would have 2 nickels. which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice

[Cozy Puppy Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the marketing suggesting a cozy read, I found this book incredibly difficult to get through and almost didn't finish it. The premise is intriguing - what if you could arrange a meeting with someone who has died?

Each chapter focuses on a different character, exploring the complex, varied responses to grief and death. You should read the trigger warnings if you want a heads up about sensitive content.

For me, this wasn't like the cozy, heartwarming, and uplifting types of "healing fiction" books that I love. Unlike the gentle comfort found in books like What You Are Looking For is in The Library or Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop—two books that felt timeless and made me want to reread them in the future—the story here felt confusing, jarring, and sad. I even had to go back and reread an earlier chapter just to grasp what was happening.

I read a physical copy of the book, and I also listened to some of the audiobook, which has multiple narrators.

Ultimately, the read was both structurally tough and emotionally sad. While the main message seems to be about living your life without regret and finding comfort in the idea that loved ones are always with us, it was a convoluted journey. It fell flat for me, but others might feel differently. I don't really recommend it, and it's not one that I want to revisit to read again.

[Nailya · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 have 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.

[andra · Rating 4 out of 5]

rating: 3.75* (rounded up to 4)

I loved Lonely Castle in the Mirror so much that when I found out the author is coming out with a new book and that it was on Netgalley - I knew I had to try requesting for it. Imagine my surprise when I got it. Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday!

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a collection of five short stories about the Go-Between, a service provided by a strange young man in a coat and a lovely old lady where the living can request to reunite with a deceased loved one/acquaintance during a full moon.

One thing about short story collections is that sometimes because of the length of the stories, as a reader we would feel distant with the characters as they didn't have enough space to grow, or feel dissatisfied as we feel there could've been more to be explored in the story. Another worry that I have sometimes is when the collection is interconnected with the same "theme", the stories would feel too monotone.

What I appreciate about these stories is how interconnected they are. Each narrative is connected to the next - starting with subtle connections that gradually build in strength as the collection progresses. The characters, settings, and events intersect very subtly, which I really like because it feels cohesive and gives some of the characters some extra space to develop. I also appreciated how distinct the themes are in each story, so I don't feel bored reading them.

However, compared to Lonely Castle in the Mirror, I still feel like there was something missing from this book? I feel like the characters could've been fleshed out a little more hence why I was still feeling distant from the characters while reading this book. I still very much would recommend this, especially if you're a fan of cozy Japanese literature. I will also definitely be reading The Go Between #2 (whenever that is).

[inês · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Thank you Scribner, Netgalley and Mizuki Tsujimura for providing me an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book reminded me of similar Japanese translated fiction that deals with grief by allowing characters to interact with people who have passed away. However, I would say the stakes were heightened by restricting those opportunities to a "once in a lifetime" type of occurrence, which worked in its favor by making it stand out among similarly conceived novels.

We get several interconnected stories as is the tradition with this types of works, each exploring different characters and their struggles. The last one sort of tied it all together and probably because of that became the most impactful for me. I appreciated its mystery and the structured rules by which these meetings were arranged. Most of all, I felt that each was different enough and with different outcomes--some good, some bad--to make this less of a cozy book, and moreso a thoughtful exploration of the consequences of our choices and how we show care and love to one another.

Overall, it's a short read that definitely meets its goal and makes one delve into introspection; however, it could be that I'm slightly fatigued of this format, but I wish that we got more of a narrative structure to follow.

[liv ❁]

dnf @ 46%
While I really enjoyed her first book, this one was just falling flat for me.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I quite liked Lonely Castle in the Mirror by the same author.

I did care much for the other Japanese literary hype Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

This one hangs in the middle of those two. Lonely castle had fully developed characters with meaningful relationships amongst each other. The fragmented storytelling of this book (and Before the Coffee Gets Cold) doesn’t really allow for that, which is a big miss.

Already bought the sequel tho, so guess I’ll soldier on 🤷🏼‍♂️.

[✮ osanna aoki ✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A door that connects this world with that one. If people were allowed easy access to both worlds, they would flock to see the ones they loved. Death would cease to have meaning, which meant living would become meaningless too.

Lost Souls Meet Under A Full Moon is a cozy, gentle, yet poignant book about bridging the gap between life and death for just one night— under the radiant glow of a full moon.

Is there anyone you’d like to see?

In this novel, four short stories are loosely intertwined by two constants. Every living person is seeking out the go-between in hopes of meeting with someone who has since departed, and a mysterious teenage boy will be the one to help make that happen.

The go-between is not a space or a place— but a fashionably dressed high school student named Ayumi Shibuya.

And Ayumi offers an honorable, extraordinary service: he reunites the living with those who have passed on.

Of course, there are some ground rules that make this service a bit more complex. Both the living and the dead only have one opportunity for a meeting, with each side needing to choose carefully. For those who are living— there is just one chance to arrange with someone who has crossed over. If the deceased person accepts the arrangement, the living person can never meet with anyone else who has died.

And as the deceased wait on the other side, they can only say ‘yes’ to an arrangement once. While having the option to also deny a request, they may possibly end up sitting with regrets if they are never called on by anyone again.

You can never contact or be contacted again.

It’s truly bittersweet.

In these four, first-person stories the reader is taken on a short journey through the lens of the individual seeking the go-between. They are tales about thanking those who may not know how much they’ve impacted you, coming to terms with grief and learning to let go of pain— the gnawing effects of guilt, tying up loose ends, and redemption.

Mizuki Tsujimura writes a book that takes the complexities of being human and makes it softer around the edges. Every character has their quips— both virtues and vices. They each have their own distinctive personality with unique voices, and different reasons for seeking out a loved one. No two people grieve the same, and Tsujimura represents that beautifully in Lost Souls Meet Under A Full Moon.

Even the go-between harbors the rawness of what it means to be human. In the final chapter, Ayumi’s own story is brought to the surface— creating the feeling of a full circle moment. Pieces are put together in an undone puzzle, the mystery that lingers in the air becomes a lot less fuzzy, and the reader learns that the go-between is not exempt from the messy and chaotic ways of life.

The living are present, but the dead were also once alive. Lost Souls Meet Under A Full Moon is the push and pull between the two. This book is as much about life as it is death, and vice versa.

So why not make things magical and give each side the chance to meet one more time?

I’m giving this book ★ ★ ★ ★ stars for all of its feels, the thought-provoking elements, and simply because magical realism in Japanese literature feels like my safe place. There could have been better pacing, and some parts felt a bit flat— but overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys the exploration of deep emotions in a cozy setting. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the second book in this series!

[eVa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book I read by Mizuki Tsujimura was "Lonely Castle in The Mirror", that was one of my 5star readings in this year, so I need to read whatever she wrote.

First %50 was a bit exhausting, and the book threw me into a reading slump. But... I pushed myself reading more and the things changed.

Contains short stories, each follows different characters seeking the go-between person to meet someone who has passed away. Then this stories was connecting with our go-between boy. And I loved the connection between him and his grandmother.

It reminded me Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi.

And the author using the mirror again, I liked that detail too.

[SJARR ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me feel a lot of things.
I was so dedicated to this, I finished it in one sitting. I could not move until it was done.

"Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon" is a short story collection, telling the tale of the go-between.
A system that allows the living and the dead a single chance to meet.
Fans, idols, children, parents, best friends and lovers gain the ability to say goodbye.

Some parts of this were quite emotional, and also very enjoyable.
This is one of those books that really makes you think about difficult things. Throughout, all I was able to think about was what it would be like if this were real.
Which of my loved ones would I meet?
Would I be brave enough to even meet them, or would I be too afraid to use my one chance wrongly and regret it?
Would anyone want to meet me?
I mean, I was really thinking HARD. But I like a book that has that effect on me.

The story of the two best friends and the two lovers hit me right in my feelings. Particularly hard.
I was certainly getting teary toward the end of both of them.

I will say that I think the other two stories could have used a tad more depth.
The meetings felt just a little shallow, and I left me wanting more emotional connection between the characters.
Despite this, I still absolutely thought it was worth the read.
What I felt during the rest of this book made up for the parts I didn't love as much.

Thank you to Netgalley, Scribner and author Mizuki Tsujimura for providing me with the eARC of "Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon", in exchange for my honest review!
Publication date: August 26th, 2025

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was originally introduced to Tsujimura’s works through the movie adaptation of Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Since then, I’ve been meaning to read her books so I was very grateful to receive an ARC for Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon.

While it’s always a bit tricky to judge when it comes to translated works, I enjoyed the prose which had a nice flow and pacing to it. I was a little skeptical about the plot and how it was set up, though. Each chapter featured a new story about a person who wished to see a deceased love one, the reasons being quite varied. Not all characters appeared likeable and some stories were more interesting than others.

However, already from the second story onwards, you could find little connections between the cases beyond the central character Ayumi who is the one to bring the deceased and living together. With each story, we learn a little more about him and the final chapter brings everything to full circle in a way I had not expected. It is a good example of how big of an impact the ending to a story can have on the plot as a whole. Which is not to say that I didn’t enjoy the individual stories, but I was definitely impressed with how things tied up.

I can even say that I viewed characters I didn’t care for much in a different light upon completing the book. There is a lot of food for thought in regards to how differently people handle grief and how everyone has a burden or another to carry in their life. My only complaint in regards to the story would be that it ended very abruptly - this may sound like a contradiction as I just said that I liked how things come full circle. They do, but then a hint of a new beginning is shown and it almost felt as though things ended mid paragraph. On the bright side, it makes me eager to pick up the sequel.

On a more technical note, perhaps I am just nitpicking, but I feel that a translation feels more authentic when proper name conventions are used. There were lines where characters were called by their first and last name, and I’d be very surprised if the original spans wouldn’t use surname-first name instead. This book seems to switch back and forth between correct and incorrect name order, I am not sure if it’s deliberate or not but it felt as though the translator couldn’t decide whether to use English or Japanese name conventions.

[Tiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this poignant novel, we follow the mysterious teenage “Go-Between” who arranges meetings between the living and the dead. The rules of the meeting are: the reunion is at full moon, the deceased can only be summoned once, they can refuse and the service is free. With astounding empathy, this tender novel explores the human experience of grief and how the power of memory can give our lives meaning 🍵

Lonely Castle in the Mirror is one of my all time favourite books, so I had high hopes with this one and it did not disappoint! I must admit I was initially unsure, as this kind of idea has been done a lot in Japanese literature, especially in the format of a series of intertwined stories. BUT how the stories were interwoven and the little clues throughout that were pieced together at the end was truly mind-blowing. There were moments I was left just sitting there in shock 🥹

Not all the characters were likeable, however, I appreciated that this was done in order to highlight the breadth of difference in the grief experience. As the story unfolded, you got more insight into the characters which helped you relate to them more. In saying that, some of the characters experiences were just so heartbreaking that they had me in tears 😭❤️‍🩹

If you’re a fan of Japanese literature, magical realism and/or books that explore grief, this 4.5⭐️ book is an absolute must read! I cannot wait for this to be published (April 1st) so you can read it, and I’m beyond excited for the release of the second book later this year. Please check any trigger warnings and make sure to practice self-care 🤍

Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia for gifting me my copy 💌

[Linda Galella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


A collection of five short stories that are seemingly unrelated until author, Mizuki Tsujimura, heavy handedly pushes them into an unsatisfying ending. It didn’t make cliffhanger hanger level. Maybe a curb hanger? Bump hanger? Sigh…

LOST SOULS MEET UNDER A FULL MOON was originally published 10+ years ago in Japan and sold over 10M copies. It has won numerous awards in publishing as well as cinema for some of the individual short stories being brought to life on the screen. Magical realism is extremely popular in Japan as is this author.

IMO, these stories would have been far better as individual books or edited down to eliminate the attempt at threading the storylines together. To accomplish this, it was done by massive amounts of repetitive writing that did nothing more than bulk up the page count, while slowing down the reader’s experience, creating frustration and boredom.

Characterizations are lacking, emotional motivation is missing and dialogue is weak making it difficult to find a reason to care about the characters or why they are seeking a Lost Soul. The premise of the book was intriguing to me: people are given a single opportunity during their lifetime to meet with someone who has passed on. The request is made thru a “go between” and a meeting is set up during a full moon. The requested person also has only one opportunity for such an encounter. These meetings are a big deal and who you select should have extraordinary meaning in your life. I wanted to know SO much more about that from the author.

Too much repetition about nonsense that doesn’t matter and no development about those things readers care about. On the positive side, there’s only a smattering of soft expletives and no physical violence or sexual content.

The translation seems to be decent but perhaps the nuance that makes this book such a winner in Japan is lost in the English.

Recommended for those who like magical realism, Japanese fiction and aren’t picky about character development📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, via Kindle, with thanks to the author and publisher.

[Dima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another instalment in the seemingly never-ending series of books coming out of Japan (and sometimes Korea) where there is some sort of gimmick (in this case, meeting someone who died) that allows the author to collect a series of short stories about people who struggle to accept some aspects of their lives. In this case, there are four such short stories, and a final, fifth, story that brings it all together and talks about the mechanism that enables these encounters and the people who employ it.

Now, I'm not against this genre per se. Enjoying such a book is mostly dependent on the quality of the stories and the complexity of lives it illuminates. In this case, as was the case with Marigold Mind Laundry, The Full Moon Coffee Shop, We'll Prescribe You a Cat, Before the Coffee Gets Cold and its terrible sequels), the stories are shallow and banal. They are really unremarkable. Another aspect that can make such a book tolerable is the quality of writing, which, in this case, was rather good, and comparable to Before the Coffee Gets Cold series. The proof is that I was able to finish it (unlike Marigold Mind Laundry, for example).

Either way, if you enjoyed the books I mention above - you'll enjoy this one, perhaps more than most. If you are looking for a serious piece of literature, or something that showcases aspects of contemporary Japanese life, look elsewhere.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an early copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 lowkey hundert mal besser als before the coffee gets cold

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do the living owe the dead? What do the dead do for the living? There's no answer to these questions here, but Mizuki Tsujimura encourages us to think about them in this bittersweet, beautiful story about a family that serves as the go-between for the living and the dead. Each living person who manages to contact the go-between may ask to spend a night with one person they lost, and each deceased may answer one request, giving everyone two chances to connect through the go-between. The book chronicles four different people's requests, while the fifth chapter follows the go-between himself. Nothing is quite what you expect, but everything is beautiful and melancholy, the kind of sadness that makes a tear leak from your eye rather than full sobbing - even as Tsujimura explores the themes of Lonely Castle in the Mirror in one chapter that is harsher than the others.

Who would you meet if you could? Whose request would you answer? And how would it change you for the rest of your life?

[Althea ☾]

omg new mizuki tsujimura!!!!!