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The Yomigaeri Tunnel
This speculative coming-of-age YA novel follows a teenager as she undertakes a magical journey to bring her deceased childhood friend back to life.
A poignant quest for hope with original, fantastical twists, perfect for fans of Dustin Thao and Ann Liang.
Monika can’t bring herself to celebrate her last summer before college. Instead, she’s still grieving the loss of the one classmate who didn’t make it to graduation, a boy named Shun with whom she had a complicated relationship.
Then, during her final Japanese Club meeting, Monika hears about the Yomigaeri Tunnel, a local urban legend. Those who venture into this mythological passageway undergo harrowing trials to confront their hidden secrets and worst fears. According to the lore, anyone who makes it through is rewarded with the ability to resurrect one soul from the dead.
Monika jumps at the chance to bring back Shun, but she soon discovers she’s not alone. Sharp-tongued and fierce Shiori is hell-bent on reviving her mother and won’t let anyone stop her. As Monika and Shiori confront the ghosts of their pasts, they have to Are they friends, or foes?
With fantastical twists, this emotional, offbeat book about hope and healing is an essential read for anyone who’s ever needed a friend in the darkness.
A poignant quest for hope with original, fantastical twists, perfect for fans of Dustin Thao and Ann Liang.
Monika can’t bring herself to celebrate her last summer before college. Instead, she’s still grieving the loss of the one classmate who didn’t make it to graduation, a boy named Shun with whom she had a complicated relationship.
Then, during her final Japanese Club meeting, Monika hears about the Yomigaeri Tunnel, a local urban legend. Those who venture into this mythological passageway undergo harrowing trials to confront their hidden secrets and worst fears. According to the lore, anyone who makes it through is rewarded with the ability to resurrect one soul from the dead.
Monika jumps at the chance to bring back Shun, but she soon discovers she’s not alone. Sharp-tongued and fierce Shiori is hell-bent on reviving her mother and won’t let anyone stop her. As Monika and Shiori confront the ghosts of their pasts, they have to Are they friends, or foes?
With fantastical twists, this emotional, offbeat book about hope and healing is an essential read for anyone who’s ever needed a friend in the darkness.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
9 people are currently reading
3516 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Murashige
2 books62 followersBorn and raised in Hawaiʻi, Kelly Murashige (she/her) is a writer, reader, and dreamer. She specializes in contemporary fiction with fantastical twists based on Japanese mythology and culture. Though she can be shy, she loves obsessing over books and video games.
Her debut YA contemporary fantasy novel, THE LOST SOULS OF BENZAITEN, released on July 23, 2024 with Soho Teen. Her sophomore YA speculative novel, THE YOMIGAERI TUNNEL, released on July 1, 2025 with Soho Teen.
You can see more at her website, https://www.kellymurashige.com/, and check out her newsletter at https://kellymurashige.substack.com/.
Please note: This Goodreads account is not closely monitored. If you would like to contact this author, please do so on her website. Thank you. :)
Her debut YA contemporary fantasy novel, THE LOST SOULS OF BENZAITEN, released on July 23, 2024 with Soho Teen. Her sophomore YA speculative novel, THE YOMIGAERI TUNNEL, released on July 1, 2025 with Soho Teen.
You can see more at her website, https://www.kellymurashige.com/, and check out her newsletter at https://kellymurashige.substack.com/.
Please note: This Goodreads account is not closely monitored. If you would like to contact this author, please do so on her website. Thank you. :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
April 22, 2025
Not a bad book by any means, but I wish it had touched me more. The Yomigaeri Tunnel is without doubt an emotional novel that deals with many heavy themes, but the structure of the book made it really hard for me to connect. The premise of a mythical tunnel with the power of reviving the dead was very intriguing to begin with, but the execution was not what I expected. The book follows 18-year-old Monika who is at a difficult point in life. She just graduated high school but doesn't really have a plan for the future while friends of her do, and she is very upset because of the recent death of a classmate. After she overhears a conversation about the Yomigaeri tunnel she decides to search for it and bring her classmate back to life. The little glimpse into Japanese folklore was nice, but listening to a random conversation was a poor introduction to the topic and rather uncreative in my opinion. The book then focuses on Monika's experiences inside the tunnel where she is unexpectedly not alone. She meets Shiori, a girl who wants to bring back her mother, and both of them face the mythical tunnel. They are forced to relive painful memories and are constantly thrown into episodes from their pasts. Sometimes the events play out exactly as they remember, sometimes they can change their actions. At other times they talk to spirits, and after a while Monika and Shiori even enter each other's memories. I couldn't really grasp what the actual function of the tunnel was supposed to be, because so many different things happened inside it. It somehow still felt repetitive. The girls would fall into a memory / hallucination, then wake up and be disoriented and sad, and repeat. Almost the entire book is structured that way, save the clunky beginning and the very end, and that wasn't enough for me. While I do think that this way of storytelling made me understand the characters piece by piece, it also misses out on a coherent plot. Especially Monika was thrown into so many different scenarios that it was hard to actually care. I did feel sad for her because she's been through so much, but many things were only ever mentioned once without any deeper exploration. I wish the book focused more on 2 to 3 moments of Monika's life, and made her really reflect on her past and realize what that means for her future. The portrayal of grief was well done, though. It was talked about how you can heavily grief a person that you weren't even that close to, about how there are not only positive sides to a deceased person, and how death can make you feel a strange sort of relieve. The author states in the beginning that she wrote this book after her own experiences with grief, and so that part felt very personal. It made for an overall emotional and engaging story that was dimmed by the narrative structure for me. I still think that this story will appeal to many readers and I would broadly recommend it. My actual rating is 3.5 stars but I have to round down on Goodreads, because a 4-star rating doesn't sit right with me here.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Soho Teen for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Soho Teen for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
I think if I were the target age for this novel, I would've liked this a bit more. But reading this as an adult, it wasn't really as emotional as I thought it'd be.
I remember being young and dealing with grief and loss for the first time, so I understand all of the feelings and emotions involved. Grief is so multilayered that dealing with it as a teen/young adult can be so difficult. So I was pretty disappointed that I couldn't really feel all the feelings while reading this novel.
I think there were too many parts to the story, so it was difficult to really understand the FMC and why she felt the way that she was feeling. If I had gotten to know Monika better, and how each aspect of her life related to the heavy emotions that she was feeling, then I would've enjoyed the novel more. Without this connection, each experience in the tunnel, including Monika's difficult relationship with Shiori, felt like random scenes being thrown at you with only a sliver of context.
While this novel wasn't for me, I hope it'll find its audience with other readers.
Thank you to Soho Teen and NetGalley for this arc.
I remember being young and dealing with grief and loss for the first time, so I understand all of the feelings and emotions involved. Grief is so multilayered that dealing with it as a teen/young adult can be so difficult. So I was pretty disappointed that I couldn't really feel all the feelings while reading this novel.
I think there were too many parts to the story, so it was difficult to really understand the FMC and why she felt the way that she was feeling. If I had gotten to know Monika better, and how each aspect of her life related to the heavy emotions that she was feeling, then I would've enjoyed the novel more. Without this connection, each experience in the tunnel, including Monika's difficult relationship with Shiori, felt like random scenes being thrown at you with only a sliver of context.
While this novel wasn't for me, I hope it'll find its audience with other readers.
Thank you to Soho Teen and NetGalley for this arc.
July 28, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.
The Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly Murashige
Kelly Murashige’s The Yomigaeri Tunnel presents itself as a young adult novel, but its thematic depth and emotional sophistication challenge any assumption that its appeal is limited to adolescent readers. At its core, the novel engages with grief, memory, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead—offering a reading experience that is as unsettling as it is thoughtful.
The premise, a mysterious tunnel in rural Japan rumored to bring the dead back, immediately introduces the possibility of fantasy. But Murashige resists the temptation to use magic as a form of escapism. Instead, the tunnel becomes a psychological and emotional space; a metaphor for the cyclical and disorienting nature of grief. It is not a portal to healing, but a rupture in time that allows characters to confront their most painful attachments and unreconciled memories.
What distinguishes the novel from others in its genre is its refusal to sentimentalize loss. The protagonist's grief is rendered with rawness and unpredictability. There is no promise of redemption, and no comforting notion that closure is inevitable. The character’s emotional trajectory is non-linear, more reflective of actual mourning than the tidy arcs common in young adult fiction. Murashige’s depiction of grief aligns more with literary realism than genre fantasy, even as she employs elements of magical realism to construct the narrative’s framework.
Japanese mythology and cultural motifs are interwoven throughout the novel, not as exotic embellishment, but as integral to the characters’ worldview. These references—whether folkloric or spiritual—provide a culturally specific lens through which the characters process trauma, navigate family legacies, and interpret the supernatural. The inclusion of these elements adds texture and authenticity, grounding the story in a particular cultural consciousness without resorting to over-explanation for a Western audience.
Memory, in The Yomigaeri Tunnel, functions both as a narrative device and a thematic concern. Murashige explores its unreliability—how memories distort, disappear, or become embellished with time. The tunnel acts almost as an externalized memory space, echoing the protagonist’s interior conflicts and emotional disorientation. Through this, the novel raises important questions about the ethics of remembering, the seduction of nostalgia, and the consequences of trying to undo the past.
Stylistically, Murashige’s prose is restrained but evocative. She avoids overexplanation, allowing silence, hesitation, and repetition to speak where characters cannot. This minimalism contributes to the emotional weight of the novel, forcing readers to sit with ambiguity rather than pushing them toward resolution. It’s a form of writing that respects its readers, young or adult, and trusts them to carry the story’s emotional load without guidance.
The Yomigaeri Tunnel stands out not only for its mature treatment of difficult themes, but for its ability to locate the supernatural in the emotional terrain of adolescence. It is a novel about what we carry, what we forget, and what we would give to go back—even when we know we shouldn’t. For readers of any age who have experienced loss, this book may feel less like a story and more like a mirror. It doesn’t provide comfort, but it does offer recognition. And in that, it earns its place well beyond the boundaries of its marketed genre.
The Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly Murashige
Kelly Murashige’s The Yomigaeri Tunnel presents itself as a young adult novel, but its thematic depth and emotional sophistication challenge any assumption that its appeal is limited to adolescent readers. At its core, the novel engages with grief, memory, and the blurred boundaries between the living and the dead—offering a reading experience that is as unsettling as it is thoughtful.
The premise, a mysterious tunnel in rural Japan rumored to bring the dead back, immediately introduces the possibility of fantasy. But Murashige resists the temptation to use magic as a form of escapism. Instead, the tunnel becomes a psychological and emotional space; a metaphor for the cyclical and disorienting nature of grief. It is not a portal to healing, but a rupture in time that allows characters to confront their most painful attachments and unreconciled memories.
What distinguishes the novel from others in its genre is its refusal to sentimentalize loss. The protagonist's grief is rendered with rawness and unpredictability. There is no promise of redemption, and no comforting notion that closure is inevitable. The character’s emotional trajectory is non-linear, more reflective of actual mourning than the tidy arcs common in young adult fiction. Murashige’s depiction of grief aligns more with literary realism than genre fantasy, even as she employs elements of magical realism to construct the narrative’s framework.
Japanese mythology and cultural motifs are interwoven throughout the novel, not as exotic embellishment, but as integral to the characters’ worldview. These references—whether folkloric or spiritual—provide a culturally specific lens through which the characters process trauma, navigate family legacies, and interpret the supernatural. The inclusion of these elements adds texture and authenticity, grounding the story in a particular cultural consciousness without resorting to over-explanation for a Western audience.
Memory, in The Yomigaeri Tunnel, functions both as a narrative device and a thematic concern. Murashige explores its unreliability—how memories distort, disappear, or become embellished with time. The tunnel acts almost as an externalized memory space, echoing the protagonist’s interior conflicts and emotional disorientation. Through this, the novel raises important questions about the ethics of remembering, the seduction of nostalgia, and the consequences of trying to undo the past.
Stylistically, Murashige’s prose is restrained but evocative. She avoids overexplanation, allowing silence, hesitation, and repetition to speak where characters cannot. This minimalism contributes to the emotional weight of the novel, forcing readers to sit with ambiguity rather than pushing them toward resolution. It’s a form of writing that respects its readers, young or adult, and trusts them to carry the story’s emotional load without guidance.
The Yomigaeri Tunnel stands out not only for its mature treatment of difficult themes, but for its ability to locate the supernatural in the emotional terrain of adolescence. It is a novel about what we carry, what we forget, and what we would give to go back—even when we know we shouldn’t. For readers of any age who have experienced loss, this book may feel less like a story and more like a mirror. It doesn’t provide comfort, but it does offer recognition. And in that, it earns its place well beyond the boundaries of its marketed genre.
February 2, 2025
Reader, this is my first book review. Be kind to me, but rest assured that everything you’re about to read is true. To me, at least.
First, a content warning: The Yomigaeri Tunnel deals with loss, addiction, suicide, and more. The whole story is a healing process, but be aware that it might be either beneficial or triggering if these themes resonate with you.
Now: this book is near perfect. Following eighteen-year-old Monika in her quest to reunite with her recently (or long?) lost childhood friend, the story starts slow and cozy, almost like a character in itself: hesitant to move forward, as if anticipating trouble. But by chapter four, it becomes a real page-turner and stays that way until the end.
I’m not great at avoiding spoilers, so I’ll stop talking about what happens. Just know that there are plenty of exciting (from a reader’s perspective) moments I wish I could talk about.
The POV is first-person: the obvious choice for a journey that unfolds both in the titular tunnel and within the protagonist’s mind. The pacing is strong throughout, with only a single slightly slower page.
The author tackles a handful of extremely delicate topics with a voice that is always, and I mean always, perfectly balanced between the deep seriousness they inherently demand and a levity/irony that only someone who has lived through a similar experience could handle so masterfully.
As for style, if you are a proud member of the anime generation like this forty-seven-year-old man whose words you’re reading right now, you’ll feel right at home. You’ll find echoes of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Your Name, and, if you’re like me, even Sword Art Online and parts of Neon Genesis Evangelion. But if you’re a different kind of nerd, you might recognize how this gem develops, in its own peculiar way, some of the best aspects of Ubik by Philip K. Dick.
One more comparison: the central part, covering 90% of the book, reminds me of Luke’s Trial of the Spirit in that cave on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back. Oh, and the ending, right after the last heart-stopping moment, is very Gilmore Girls. I know I promised to stay away from spoilers, but I’m just so happy that this book doesn’t end like 1984 or a random Black Mirror episode!
By now, you can tell I’m a fan. So why is it near perfect and not completely perfect?
There’s one thing I’m not entirely sold on: the protagonist’s relationship with her uncle. The author seems to fine-tune it depending on what best serves the story at any given moment. She loves and misses him, then she doesn’t really know him, then she loves and misses him again, then he wasn’t all that important to her, then she feels grateful to him, etc., etc.
It’s entirely possible that I misunderstood this arc, and I’m also aware that real human emotions are never so linear that they fit neatly into a 270-page novel. You’ll read and decide for yourself.
But seriously: read it. This is the Jonathan Livingston Seagull of my middle-aged life.
First, a content warning: The Yomigaeri Tunnel deals with loss, addiction, suicide, and more. The whole story is a healing process, but be aware that it might be either beneficial or triggering if these themes resonate with you.
Now: this book is near perfect. Following eighteen-year-old Monika in her quest to reunite with her recently (or long?) lost childhood friend, the story starts slow and cozy, almost like a character in itself: hesitant to move forward, as if anticipating trouble. But by chapter four, it becomes a real page-turner and stays that way until the end.
I’m not great at avoiding spoilers, so I’ll stop talking about what happens. Just know that there are plenty of exciting (from a reader’s perspective) moments I wish I could talk about.
The POV is first-person: the obvious choice for a journey that unfolds both in the titular tunnel and within the protagonist’s mind. The pacing is strong throughout, with only a single slightly slower page.
The author tackles a handful of extremely delicate topics with a voice that is always, and I mean always, perfectly balanced between the deep seriousness they inherently demand and a levity/irony that only someone who has lived through a similar experience could handle so masterfully.
As for style, if you are a proud member of the anime generation like this forty-seven-year-old man whose words you’re reading right now, you’ll feel right at home. You’ll find echoes of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Your Name, and, if you’re like me, even Sword Art Online and parts of Neon Genesis Evangelion. But if you’re a different kind of nerd, you might recognize how this gem develops, in its own peculiar way, some of the best aspects of Ubik by Philip K. Dick.
One more comparison: the central part, covering 90% of the book, reminds me of Luke’s Trial of the Spirit in that cave on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back. Oh, and the ending, right after the last heart-stopping moment, is very Gilmore Girls. I know I promised to stay away from spoilers, but I’m just so happy that this book doesn’t end like 1984 or a random Black Mirror episode!
By now, you can tell I’m a fan. So why is it near perfect and not completely perfect?
There’s one thing I’m not entirely sold on: the protagonist’s relationship with her uncle. The author seems to fine-tune it depending on what best serves the story at any given moment. She loves and misses him, then she doesn’t really know him, then she loves and misses him again, then he wasn’t all that important to her, then she feels grateful to him, etc., etc.
It’s entirely possible that I misunderstood this arc, and I’m also aware that real human emotions are never so linear that they fit neatly into a 270-page novel. You’ll read and decide for yourself.
But seriously: read it. This is the Jonathan Livingston Seagull of my middle-aged life.
Read
December 4, 2024A cover, release date (July 1, 2025), and excerpt have been revealed, thanks to the wonderful Paste Magazine. Thank you to Yuta Onoda and the Soho art team for the breathtaking cover.
I won't say much else about this book. I'm not sure I even can. The book is available for pre-order now, but please be sure to read the content warning below.
Please be warned that this book contains depictions of death, grief, dissociation, addiction, and a car accident. It also touches on emotional abuse and fear of driving. If reading about any of these subjects may be harmful to you, please take a moment and do what is right for you, even if that means setting this book aside for now.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
Thank you for being here.
I won't say much else about this book. I'm not sure I even can. The book is available for pre-order now, but please be sure to read the content warning below.
Please be warned that this book contains depictions of death, grief, dissociation, addiction, and a car accident. It also touches on emotional abuse and fear of driving. If reading about any of these subjects may be harmful to you, please take a moment and do what is right for you, even if that means setting this book aside for now.
There is a light at the end of this tunnel.
Thank you for being here.
May 22, 2025
Mini blurb: Two 18 y.o. girls - one mourning the tragic death of a classmate, the other of her mother - enter a tunnel rumoured to be able to bring back the deceased, and find themselves literally facing (sometimes even sharing) their past traumas and a shocking discovery.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Soho Teen/Penguin Random House for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
A creative, heartfelt and honest look at loss, grief, guilt, emotional abuse, generational trauma, mental health and growing pains, with some genuinely chilling moments - but also a celebration of love (in the widest sense), family (in all its messy glory), friendship and empathy. If the tunnel visions are a slow burn and not particularly meaningful at first, they eventually become more poignant, especially when Monika and Shiori start experiencing each other's memories, up to the shocking climax. That being said, I couldn't buy the importance of Shun (the deceased classmate) in Monika's life, and her all-consuming desire to revive him - not so much because of his faults, but mainly because there wasn't enough history between them that she should brave a supposedly magical tunnel in order to bring him back (I know the author is drawing from her own experience, but the story didn't manage to give me solid ground for the protagonist's choice). In the same vein, having Monika "meet" family members who died before she could really know and/or bond with them detracts from the impact of the story in my opinion. Even her connection with a certain videogame feels forced in a way, because I never got the impression that, prior to Shun's death, she had experienced grief so strongly that she would "feel seen" while playing a game about its five stages. Lastly, the tunnel is conveniently near and easy to access, and yet there isn't a plethora of people in line to enter it just in case the legend is true (even if no one they know has been revived yet, who's to stop other desperate people than Monika and Shiori to try?) - not to mention, I wonder how Monika wouldn't have heard about it for 18 years...Despite these shortcomings, though, I enjoyed this story straddling the line between contemporary and magical, and I think most teens touched by grief and trauma will get a lot out of it.
Content note: see the author's list of triggers here.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I requested this title on Edelweiss. Thanks to Soho Teen/Penguin Random House for providing a temporary ecopy. This didn't influence my review in any way.
A creative, heartfelt and honest look at loss, grief, guilt, emotional abuse, generational trauma, mental health and growing pains, with some genuinely chilling moments - but also a celebration of love (in the widest sense), family (in all its messy glory), friendship and empathy. If the tunnel visions are a slow burn and not particularly meaningful at first, they eventually become more poignant, especially when Monika and Shiori start experiencing each other's memories, up to the shocking climax. That being said, I couldn't buy the importance of Shun (the deceased classmate) in Monika's life, and her all-consuming desire to revive him - not so much because of his faults, but mainly because there wasn't enough history between them that she should brave a supposedly magical tunnel in order to bring him back (I know the author is drawing from her own experience, but the story didn't manage to give me solid ground for the protagonist's choice). In the same vein, having Monika "meet" family members who died before she could really know and/or bond with them detracts from the impact of the story in my opinion. Even her connection with a certain videogame feels forced in a way, because I never got the impression that, prior to Shun's death, she had experienced grief so strongly that she would "feel seen" while playing a game about its five stages. Lastly, the tunnel is conveniently near and easy to access, and yet there isn't a plethora of people in line to enter it just in case the legend is true (even if no one they know has been revived yet, who's to stop other desperate people than Monika and Shiori to try?) - not to mention, I wonder how Monika wouldn't have heard about it for 18 years...Despite these shortcomings, though, I enjoyed this story straddling the line between contemporary and magical, and I think most teens touched by grief and trauma will get a lot out of it.
Content note: see the author's list of triggers here.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later).
May 12, 2025
4.3 stars!!
Thank you to Soho Press and Kelly Murashige for the ARC!
This was a very emotional read for me honestly and I liked it a lot!
I like how dimensional Monika is, and how she seems to have these emotions that she starts to understand the more she goes through the tunnel
It's a really good story of finding yourself and understanding what life is about, and the complicated things that surround it
Even though we get some clarity that the tunnel and resurrection isn't real, it shows how important it is to be a good person and live the life you want to live, but also understand that you can't bring someone back despite how much you wanted to
I also liked that Monika used the game as something to understand herself, I found that super interesting
Also she developed a lot throughout the story, becoming more open, talkative, caring and free from these things holding her down
I did like how we get some understanding about the deaths of Shun and Shiori's mom, and it made Monika realize even if she liked/loved him, would it be good to bring him back?
I also liked Shiori and Thea's parts in the story, as Thea is relatable (an avid reader as well as a caring friend) and seeing Shiori go through the tunnel and seeing her own experiences that weigh her down, which gave her a lot of meaning as well as make it so Monika and her can bond
Overall this was extremely emotional and relatable for me, I devoured this!!
Thank you to Soho Press and Kelly Murashige for the ARC!
This was a very emotional read for me honestly and I liked it a lot!
I like how dimensional Monika is, and how she seems to have these emotions that she starts to understand the more she goes through the tunnel
It's a really good story of finding yourself and understanding what life is about, and the complicated things that surround it
Even though we get some clarity that the tunnel and resurrection isn't real, it shows how important it is to be a good person and live the life you want to live, but also understand that you can't bring someone back despite how much you wanted to
I also liked that Monika used the game as something to understand herself, I found that super interesting
Also she developed a lot throughout the story, becoming more open, talkative, caring and free from these things holding her down
I did like how we get some understanding about the deaths of Shun and Shiori's mom, and it made Monika realize even if she liked/loved him, would it be good to bring him back?
I also liked Shiori and Thea's parts in the story, as Thea is relatable (an avid reader as well as a caring friend) and seeing Shiori go through the tunnel and seeing her own experiences that weigh her down, which gave her a lot of meaning as well as make it so Monika and her can bond
Overall this was extremely emotional and relatable for me, I devoured this!!
July 18, 2025
A truly stunning portrait of grief, living with it, and working through it. The tunnel was a little bit confusing but overall I had an incredible time reading this. Some lines I’ll definitely be thinking about for a long time.
June 28, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for the ARC copy of The Yomigaeri Tunnel. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.
I may not be the target audience for YA (young adult) books anymore, but sometimes you can find absolute gems in there😌
I'm already declaring "The Yomigaeri Tunnel" my favorite book of the year 2025, even though is not even out yet (comming our way July 1st) and that there's other books I'm way too interested in coming later in the year. But, it make me feel so much, intensely and raw, all webbed together with realistic characters and an intriguing plot, so can I not loved it and put it at my TOP three? And it had me sobbing by the end, what else can I ask from it? Anyway, that's all y'all need to know, review ending here😂
Kidding, don't worry. We get serious now. *clears throat*
Even though is her last summer before her and most of her classmates go to college, Monika is swimming in grief after the death of Shun, a strange classmate with whom she had an odd relationship and who wasn't able to sit with the rest of the class at graduation; moreover when it seems like she's the only one that cares about it. And then, she hears about a local urban legend: the Yomigaeri Tunnel, said to be capable of bringing back to life one person she desires if she's able to make it to the other way of the Tunnel, overcoming the trials thrown at her. Monika decides to go and find out what's the ordeal. There, she finds Shiori, attracted by the legend too and wanting to bring back her mother. Together, they venture in the Tunnel in search of a miracle.
So, as said, The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a story about grief, about navigating it, a wound's balsam for both the characters and us the readers. Because, this book, not only features grieving our dead ones, but life too: what could have been, people gone due to different life choices... Grief manifest in very different ways for many different reasons and individually, a contrast clearly shown through Monika and Shiori's interactions as they complete the Tunnel's quests and challenges. Because each girl has her way of showing it and dealing with it, and never do they invalidate each other, something I also appreciated.
I must admit, that I thought the story would get repetitive towards the middle, because of how the Tunnel challenges are presented and Monika goes through each one of them. But it never happened. Each challenge had its own way of presenting, of teaching something new to Monika and showing her some truth. Of course, I liked this structure because, even though the order of events is almost the same (the girls separate, they go into the "challenge", they pass and reunite with new emotions and events to talk out), they were different and they all showed different moments of Monika's (and, sometimes, Shiori's) life and that is what make me appreciate in a way that, in any other novel, I would have found annoying. In fact, I'm sure there will be people that will find this way of advancing annoying, repetitive, without much substance, and that's completely find. For me, the emotional aspect and getting to know the girls better is what carried it for me and made me not care so much about the repetitiveness, but it won't be enough for others, and I respect it.
Overall, I loved The Yomigaeri Tunnel, in case y'all couldn't tell from this review (xD), and it is mostly due to the emotional punch it gave me, directly to the gut, and how relatable Monika was to me. I think this is a very personal book, so some people will like it and some people will not, precisely for some of the reasons I've mentioned here, and that's completely find. In my opinion, the book is well written, with three dimensional characters, a very lineal and simple plot, and a deliverance that will touch people's heart's strings. It is also a tale of friendship at its center, with Monika and Shiori, but also with Monika and Shun and Monika and her best friend, and how these three relationships, along with the one with her parents, define her as a person. And I loved that friendships were treated as important as any other ones.
So, yes, a total recommendation from me, for anybody that's dealing with grief and wants to see that reflected in a book, or if y'all are looking for an emotional read, or just about a magical Tunnel that changes our character's lives. Of course, take into account the warnings for this book: death, addiction, suicide...
I may not be the target audience for YA (young adult) books anymore, but sometimes you can find absolute gems in there😌
I'm already declaring "The Yomigaeri Tunnel" my favorite book of the year 2025, even though is not even out yet (comming our way July 1st) and that there's other books I'm way too interested in coming later in the year. But, it make me feel so much, intensely and raw, all webbed together with realistic characters and an intriguing plot, so can I not loved it and put it at my TOP three? And it had me sobbing by the end, what else can I ask from it? Anyway, that's all y'all need to know, review ending here😂
Kidding, don't worry. We get serious now. *clears throat*
Even though is her last summer before her and most of her classmates go to college, Monika is swimming in grief after the death of Shun, a strange classmate with whom she had an odd relationship and who wasn't able to sit with the rest of the class at graduation; moreover when it seems like she's the only one that cares about it. And then, she hears about a local urban legend: the Yomigaeri Tunnel, said to be capable of bringing back to life one person she desires if she's able to make it to the other way of the Tunnel, overcoming the trials thrown at her. Monika decides to go and find out what's the ordeal. There, she finds Shiori, attracted by the legend too and wanting to bring back her mother. Together, they venture in the Tunnel in search of a miracle.
So, as said, The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a story about grief, about navigating it, a wound's balsam for both the characters and us the readers. Because, this book, not only features grieving our dead ones, but life too: what could have been, people gone due to different life choices... Grief manifest in very different ways for many different reasons and individually, a contrast clearly shown through Monika and Shiori's interactions as they complete the Tunnel's quests and challenges. Because each girl has her way of showing it and dealing with it, and never do they invalidate each other, something I also appreciated.
I must admit, that I thought the story would get repetitive towards the middle, because of how the Tunnel challenges are presented and Monika goes through each one of them. But it never happened. Each challenge had its own way of presenting, of teaching something new to Monika and showing her some truth. Of course, I liked this structure because, even though the order of events is almost the same (the girls separate, they go into the "challenge", they pass and reunite with new emotions and events to talk out), they were different and they all showed different moments of Monika's (and, sometimes, Shiori's) life and that is what make me appreciate in a way that, in any other novel, I would have found annoying. In fact, I'm sure there will be people that will find this way of advancing annoying, repetitive, without much substance, and that's completely find. For me, the emotional aspect and getting to know the girls better is what carried it for me and made me not care so much about the repetitiveness, but it won't be enough for others, and I respect it.
Overall, I loved The Yomigaeri Tunnel, in case y'all couldn't tell from this review (xD), and it is mostly due to the emotional punch it gave me, directly to the gut, and how relatable Monika was to me. I think this is a very personal book, so some people will like it and some people will not, precisely for some of the reasons I've mentioned here, and that's completely find. In my opinion, the book is well written, with three dimensional characters, a very lineal and simple plot, and a deliverance that will touch people's heart's strings. It is also a tale of friendship at its center, with Monika and Shiori, but also with Monika and Shun and Monika and her best friend, and how these three relationships, along with the one with her parents, define her as a person. And I loved that friendships were treated as important as any other ones.
So, yes, a total recommendation from me, for anybody that's dealing with grief and wants to see that reflected in a book, or if y'all are looking for an emotional read, or just about a magical Tunnel that changes our character's lives. Of course, take into account the warnings for this book: death, addiction, suicide...
June 19, 2025
I’m speechless. This is the kind of book you read without really knowing where it leads. Think of a bittersweet Alice in Wonderland. It’s equally as preternatural as it is far too real.
Kelly Murashige writes about grief in a way that is gripping. This book begins with a letter from the author that had me in tears, and then it transitions into young Monika’s story. Regardless of your current situation in life, the moment you pick up this book, you are with Monika processing her grief. You enter with Monika into the Yomigaeri Tunnel to revive her classmate, and that’s where this inconceivable journey begins to unfold. You both learn of concealed truths that have impacted her life in ways she did not know, and you both mourn the loss that she is just now starting to comprehend.
In many ways, this book is less about aching for what you’ve lost and more about grieving for what could have been. Grief manifests in so many ways and is difficult to process at any age. I imagine all the young readers who will read this book and feel inexplicably proud of the author for creating a tale will undoubtedly touch the hearts of our grieving youth.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for this ARC!
Kelly Murashige writes about grief in a way that is gripping. This book begins with a letter from the author that had me in tears, and then it transitions into young Monika’s story. Regardless of your current situation in life, the moment you pick up this book, you are with Monika processing her grief. You enter with Monika into the Yomigaeri Tunnel to revive her classmate, and that’s where this inconceivable journey begins to unfold. You both learn of concealed truths that have impacted her life in ways she did not know, and you both mourn the loss that she is just now starting to comprehend.
In many ways, this book is less about aching for what you’ve lost and more about grieving for what could have been. Grief manifests in so many ways and is difficult to process at any age. I imagine all the young readers who will read this book and feel inexplicably proud of the author for creating a tale will undoubtedly touch the hearts of our grieving youth.
Many, many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for this ARC!
Read
June 18, 2025Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
The Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly Murashige is a first person-POV YA speculative dealing with grief and the impact our past has on our present. Monika’s classmate Shun has passed away and she’s not ready to move on even though the world is. She goes to the Yomigaeri Tunnel to bring him back and meets a girl named Shiori who is determined to do the same thing for her mother. But the more time the girls spend in the Tunnel and experience their memories, the more they see each other’s memories as well.
One of the things I thought was really interesting was the integration of fandom and connecting to art and how that relates to grief and healing. Monika is a big fan of a game called Bitter Mouse, a narrative character-driven video game, and has used this game as a way to process her grief. We don’t know a ton about the game’s story itself or the story, but we do get some information on Monika’s background with the game’s designer and how his death impacted. Art, no matter what medium, is a very important part of how we experience the world and come to terms with the things that hurt us, so seeing it here made a lot of sense but it also felt a bit more modern and open-minded by that art being a video game.
Addiction plays a pretty big part in Monika’s family history. Her uncle was an addict who went to prison when she was young and her grandfather was a smoker. Due to this, Monika and her mother abstain from any substances that could possibly be addictive and are more cautious in life. Normally when we see addiction in fiction, we see the gritty aspects or the impact of abuse and how that can be connected to addiction, but here, we see ordinary people who made choices they regret and struggled to get out and how that affects the people who love them. It is a very different take on an addiction storyline than I am used to seeing, but it’s a very important one because it helps to humanize people who are struggling while also recognizing that these things can run in families and a common response is to just remove yourself from temptation as much as you can.
Shiori’s memories are a bit harder to read for me personally. Her mother is quite controlling (I would go so far as to say emotionally abusive) and yet Shiori is trying to bring her mother back from the dead and blames herself for her mother’s death. Shiori’s boyfriend can see that something is wrong and he questions her relationship with her mother, though not in the most productive manner. This storyline hit me pretty hard and there were times that it felt too close to home. But I think that’s the beauty of it and this book: these two girls are experiencing grief in deeply complex ways where there are no true heroes and villains, there’s only people as messy and imperfect as they are.
Content warning for depictions of emotional abuse and a car accident and mentions of addiction
I would recommend this to readers of YA looking for a grief narrative that deals with the topic honestly and readers of speculative fiction looking for books discussing the impact of addiction
The Yomigaeri Tunnel by Kelly Murashige is a first person-POV YA speculative dealing with grief and the impact our past has on our present. Monika’s classmate Shun has passed away and she’s not ready to move on even though the world is. She goes to the Yomigaeri Tunnel to bring him back and meets a girl named Shiori who is determined to do the same thing for her mother. But the more time the girls spend in the Tunnel and experience their memories, the more they see each other’s memories as well.
One of the things I thought was really interesting was the integration of fandom and connecting to art and how that relates to grief and healing. Monika is a big fan of a game called Bitter Mouse, a narrative character-driven video game, and has used this game as a way to process her grief. We don’t know a ton about the game’s story itself or the story, but we do get some information on Monika’s background with the game’s designer and how his death impacted. Art, no matter what medium, is a very important part of how we experience the world and come to terms with the things that hurt us, so seeing it here made a lot of sense but it also felt a bit more modern and open-minded by that art being a video game.
Addiction plays a pretty big part in Monika’s family history. Her uncle was an addict who went to prison when she was young and her grandfather was a smoker. Due to this, Monika and her mother abstain from any substances that could possibly be addictive and are more cautious in life. Normally when we see addiction in fiction, we see the gritty aspects or the impact of abuse and how that can be connected to addiction, but here, we see ordinary people who made choices they regret and struggled to get out and how that affects the people who love them. It is a very different take on an addiction storyline than I am used to seeing, but it’s a very important one because it helps to humanize people who are struggling while also recognizing that these things can run in families and a common response is to just remove yourself from temptation as much as you can.
Shiori’s memories are a bit harder to read for me personally. Her mother is quite controlling (I would go so far as to say emotionally abusive) and yet Shiori is trying to bring her mother back from the dead and blames herself for her mother’s death. Shiori’s boyfriend can see that something is wrong and he questions her relationship with her mother, though not in the most productive manner. This storyline hit me pretty hard and there were times that it felt too close to home. But I think that’s the beauty of it and this book: these two girls are experiencing grief in deeply complex ways where there are no true heroes and villains, there’s only people as messy and imperfect as they are.
Content warning for depictions of emotional abuse and a car accident and mentions of addiction
I would recommend this to readers of YA looking for a grief narrative that deals with the topic honestly and readers of speculative fiction looking for books discussing the impact of addiction
December 3, 2025
It took be a very very long time to finish this book. As we can see from the start and finish dates, four months. I went into it really expecting to see something miraculous happening at the end, which didn’t happen. But still there were moments that ended up surprising me. Moments where I almost started crying because the words on here did affect me in some sort of way. Finding out Shiori and Monika are connected in more ways than one. Finding out what the connection was between the two of them. And the little bits of magic seen from the story. It took me a long time to get through this but I kept going and I’m glad I did.
May 21, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for the ARC!~~
I feel like I'm definitely in the minority here 'bout this book.
I'm sorry, despite the heaviness of the themes, I just could not gel with this book. The prose felt so stale and dry to me, and the execution of the premise fell short due to the tedious repetitiveness of it. The girls separate to go into a memory, they come back together to be sad or angry about what they experienced, then they do that, like, five more times til they finally leave. I was literally falling asleep the whole time waiting to connect, to feel something about this story and its characters, but I just don't.
All in all, this book will probably do a lot better with others than it did with me.
I feel like I'm definitely in the minority here 'bout this book.
I'm sorry, despite the heaviness of the themes, I just could not gel with this book. The prose felt so stale and dry to me, and the execution of the premise fell short due to the tedious repetitiveness of it. The girls separate to go into a memory, they come back together to be sad or angry about what they experienced, then they do that, like, five more times til they finally leave. I was literally falling asleep the whole time waiting to connect, to feel something about this story and its characters, but I just don't.
All in all, this book will probably do a lot better with others than it did with me.
July 9, 2025
such an excellent book about grief, loss, healing, and friendship!
May 25, 2025
I won a physical copy in a sweepstakes at storygraph.
I love it. It can be difficult and emotional, but it's so satisfying.
I love it. It can be difficult and emotional, but it's so satisfying.
April 2, 2025
Initial Thoughts:
Trigger Warning: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Grief, Suicide
This book beautifully explores love, loss, and grief. It portrays how grief can consume someone, but also how healing and moving on are possible. Drawing inspiration from the author’s own experiences, the characters—Monika and Shiori—feel authentically real in their emotional turmoil. Monika remains calm and collected, trying to help Shiori through her irrational actions. The content warnings are necessary, as Murashige does not shy away from tough topics like drugs, suicide, and mental health. Rather than relying on horror jump-scares, the novel’s tragedy is subtle and heartbreaking, as we deeply feel Monika and Shiori’s grief. Through acceptance and conversation, Monika learns to heal and help Shiori do the same.
Characters:
Monika, our main character, is a recent high school graduate who should be on top of the world. But the loss of her childhood friend Shun spirals her into grief and uncertainty about the future. Monika is a quiet, introverted character whose struggles feel like the growing pains of life. When she chooses to risk her sanity to save Shun, we empathize with her, especially during the trials in the BitterMouse game.
Shiori, the second key character, is a contrast to Monika. She’s cold, frozen by grief after being in the car when her mother died. Her journey through the tunnel is one of spiraling madness, while Monika approaches it more rationally. Shiori’s grief is more intense, and she’s stuck in the past, needing Monika’s help to heal. The characters' relationship is a fascinating comparison—Monika enters the tunnel to heal, while Shiori dives deeper into her grief, requiring Monika’s support to pull her out.
While the characters are compelling, their relationship was a constant irritation for me. The trauma bond between them wasn’t meant to make them friends, but it would’ve been more satisfying if they had become friends. Their interactions felt tense, with Shiori constantly snapping at Monika, who just takes it. This dynamic, though realistic for grief, interrupted the story’s flow. The bickering between them felt out of place amidst the darker, more intense moments. I understand the author’s intent to show the ugly sides of grief, but these petty fights distract from the deeper emotional development, making me dread every scene with just the two of them.
Plot and Writing:
Monika, still haunted by the death of her classmate Shun, sets out to bring him back by surviving the Yomiaeri Tunnel, a place of Japanese folklore. Shiori, also grieving, is there to bring her mother back. Together, they work through the tunnel, each facing their own personal horrors and hallucinations. The plot is almost flawless, with fast-paced writing that allows character development through conversations—both with each other and in the tunnel’s hallucinations. The hallucinations are convincingly real, but Monika remains aware they’re not. By the end, the line blurs between Monika talking to Shun and hearing her own internal thoughts.
Conclusion:
“Beautifully tragic” is the perfect description for this novel. Monika and Shiori are deeply complex characters who navigate grief and, ultimately, learn to accept their losses. While it’s not a guide to overcoming grief, it’s a relatable, fictional exploration of hope, healing, and moving on after tragedy.
Trigger Warning: Addiction/Substance Abuse, Grief, Suicide
This book beautifully explores love, loss, and grief. It portrays how grief can consume someone, but also how healing and moving on are possible. Drawing inspiration from the author’s own experiences, the characters—Monika and Shiori—feel authentically real in their emotional turmoil. Monika remains calm and collected, trying to help Shiori through her irrational actions. The content warnings are necessary, as Murashige does not shy away from tough topics like drugs, suicide, and mental health. Rather than relying on horror jump-scares, the novel’s tragedy is subtle and heartbreaking, as we deeply feel Monika and Shiori’s grief. Through acceptance and conversation, Monika learns to heal and help Shiori do the same.
Characters:
Monika, our main character, is a recent high school graduate who should be on top of the world. But the loss of her childhood friend Shun spirals her into grief and uncertainty about the future. Monika is a quiet, introverted character whose struggles feel like the growing pains of life. When she chooses to risk her sanity to save Shun, we empathize with her, especially during the trials in the BitterMouse game.
Shiori, the second key character, is a contrast to Monika. She’s cold, frozen by grief after being in the car when her mother died. Her journey through the tunnel is one of spiraling madness, while Monika approaches it more rationally. Shiori’s grief is more intense, and she’s stuck in the past, needing Monika’s help to heal. The characters' relationship is a fascinating comparison—Monika enters the tunnel to heal, while Shiori dives deeper into her grief, requiring Monika’s support to pull her out.
While the characters are compelling, their relationship was a constant irritation for me. The trauma bond between them wasn’t meant to make them friends, but it would’ve been more satisfying if they had become friends. Their interactions felt tense, with Shiori constantly snapping at Monika, who just takes it. This dynamic, though realistic for grief, interrupted the story’s flow. The bickering between them felt out of place amidst the darker, more intense moments. I understand the author’s intent to show the ugly sides of grief, but these petty fights distract from the deeper emotional development, making me dread every scene with just the two of them.
Plot and Writing:
Monika, still haunted by the death of her classmate Shun, sets out to bring him back by surviving the Yomiaeri Tunnel, a place of Japanese folklore. Shiori, also grieving, is there to bring her mother back. Together, they work through the tunnel, each facing their own personal horrors and hallucinations. The plot is almost flawless, with fast-paced writing that allows character development through conversations—both with each other and in the tunnel’s hallucinations. The hallucinations are convincingly real, but Monika remains aware they’re not. By the end, the line blurs between Monika talking to Shun and hearing her own internal thoughts.
Conclusion:
“Beautifully tragic” is the perfect description for this novel. Monika and Shiori are deeply complex characters who navigate grief and, ultimately, learn to accept their losses. While it’s not a guide to overcoming grief, it’s a relatable, fictional exploration of hope, healing, and moving on after tragedy.
December 16, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Soho Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Kelly Murashige’s “The Yomigaeri” Tunnel is a deeply moving exploration of grief, healing, and self-discovery, wrapped in a compelling story of magical realism. With its heartfelt storytelling and raw emotional depth, this book takes you on a journey that is both painful and hopeful—one that lingers long after the final page, showing that there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. There are content warnings provided at the beginning as the book does focus on grief; substance abuse is also explored in the book. Ultimately, this is a story of hope and moving on.
The story follows Monika, an 18-year-old navigating the most challenging year of her life. Struggling to process the loss of Shun, a childhood friend and classmate with whom she had a complicated history, Monika learns about the Yomigaeri Tunnel—a mythical passageway said to resurrect the dead. Intrigued by the possibility of reviving Shun, she ventures into the tunnel, only to find herself partnered with Shiori, a headstrong girl determined to bring her mother back to life.
The tunnel itself is an emotional crucible, forcing Monika and Shiori to relive their most painful memories and confront their deepest fears. Through vivid scenes reminiscent of “A Christmas Carol,” Monika’s journey through her past grief—including the loss of other loved ones like her uncle and grandparents—becomes a powerful vehicle for self-reflection and growth. Murashige’s prose beautifully captures the weight of Monika’s emotions, making her pain, regret, and eventual healing profoundly relatable.
The relationship between Monika and Shiori is another highlight of the book. Initially strangers with clashing motives, the two girls slowly develop a bond based on trust and mutual support. Shiori’s struggle with her abusive, manipulative mother adds another layer of complexity, as she grapples with her love for her mother despite her trauma. Their dynamic serves as a testament to the power of shared vulnerability and the necessity of human connection in the face of grief. Murashige doesn’t shy away from difficult themes. However, beneath the book’s darker moments lies a resounding message of hope: that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Ultimately, “The Yomigaeri Tunnel” is a beautifully crafted novel about acceptance, closure, and moving forward. Monika’s growth as she learns to let go of the past and embrace her future is deeply inspiring, and the book’s ending is as poignant as it is uplifting. For those who have experienced loss or are looking for a story that balances sorrow with redemption, this book is an unforgettable journey. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt, introspective stories with a touch of magical realism.
Kelly Murashige’s “The Yomigaeri” Tunnel is a deeply moving exploration of grief, healing, and self-discovery, wrapped in a compelling story of magical realism. With its heartfelt storytelling and raw emotional depth, this book takes you on a journey that is both painful and hopeful—one that lingers long after the final page, showing that there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. There are content warnings provided at the beginning as the book does focus on grief; substance abuse is also explored in the book. Ultimately, this is a story of hope and moving on.
The story follows Monika, an 18-year-old navigating the most challenging year of her life. Struggling to process the loss of Shun, a childhood friend and classmate with whom she had a complicated history, Monika learns about the Yomigaeri Tunnel—a mythical passageway said to resurrect the dead. Intrigued by the possibility of reviving Shun, she ventures into the tunnel, only to find herself partnered with Shiori, a headstrong girl determined to bring her mother back to life.
The tunnel itself is an emotional crucible, forcing Monika and Shiori to relive their most painful memories and confront their deepest fears. Through vivid scenes reminiscent of “A Christmas Carol,” Monika’s journey through her past grief—including the loss of other loved ones like her uncle and grandparents—becomes a powerful vehicle for self-reflection and growth. Murashige’s prose beautifully captures the weight of Monika’s emotions, making her pain, regret, and eventual healing profoundly relatable.
The relationship between Monika and Shiori is another highlight of the book. Initially strangers with clashing motives, the two girls slowly develop a bond based on trust and mutual support. Shiori’s struggle with her abusive, manipulative mother adds another layer of complexity, as she grapples with her love for her mother despite her trauma. Their dynamic serves as a testament to the power of shared vulnerability and the necessity of human connection in the face of grief. Murashige doesn’t shy away from difficult themes. However, beneath the book’s darker moments lies a resounding message of hope: that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Ultimately, “The Yomigaeri Tunnel” is a beautifully crafted novel about acceptance, closure, and moving forward. Monika’s growth as she learns to let go of the past and embrace her future is deeply inspiring, and the book’s ending is as poignant as it is uplifting. For those who have experienced loss or are looking for a story that balances sorrow with redemption, this book is an unforgettable journey. Highly recommended for fans of heartfelt, introspective stories with a touch of magical realism.
June 29, 2025
Recommended: sure
For anyone who has known someone who died, for two looks at grief and death from teens' perspectives
Thoughts:
Well obviously this is a heavy read, given it's entire focus on death and grief. It moved very fast, and the story itself is quite quick. There's a tight focus on what is being discussed and it's explored in a series of vignette-like scenes. Monika and Shiori are at the tunnel in record time, with just enough setup prior to establish some of where Monika is at and her existing relationships and worries in life. In the tunnel, they are thrown into an unpredictable scenario that confuses all their perceptions of what is real. It's a very dream-like state where nothing is certain and they don't know what to trust. Is it real? Is it in their head? Does it matter?
As they relive memories and encounter people in their life who have died, we learn more about each of them and the way they are connected through their experiences. I appreciated that there were themes around grieving loss in other ways, like a friendship that has ended and the fear of change. The relationships Monika and Shiori had with the people they are trying to bring back are so completely different. The ending mirrors this as well, in a very tender way. Tender as in pushing on a bruise, maybe.
Throughout the actual narrative plot is conversation around mental health and drug use and how people grieve. There's definitely a hand of guilt in here too. The focus is on the characters working through their complex and overwhelming emotions. Sometimes they do this together, and sometimes they lash out in their pain. There were some clear mouthpieces to help people who might be going through this themselves, or have loved ones who are. Statements around how a person isn't being cruel or manipulative, grief is, felt very gentle in a topic and age that desperately needs it.
That said, it moved SO fast that I felt like I didn't really connect with the people and scenarios in the story beyond my natural human connection of dealing with life after a death. I don't think I cried at any point, which is shocking because I am a crier and this is crying material. But each section with a new person or idea was relatively short, so it kept me at arms-length remembering this is a story instead of getting sucked in. In a way I appreciate that, because it made it a bit easier to read.
Overall, yes this is a tough story. It handles really difficult topics and scenarios that are undeniably painful. But it also highlights the connections that can help carry people through those times, whether they realize they need it or not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.
For anyone who has known someone who died, for two looks at grief and death from teens' perspectives
Thoughts:
Well obviously this is a heavy read, given it's entire focus on death and grief. It moved very fast, and the story itself is quite quick. There's a tight focus on what is being discussed and it's explored in a series of vignette-like scenes. Monika and Shiori are at the tunnel in record time, with just enough setup prior to establish some of where Monika is at and her existing relationships and worries in life. In the tunnel, they are thrown into an unpredictable scenario that confuses all their perceptions of what is real. It's a very dream-like state where nothing is certain and they don't know what to trust. Is it real? Is it in their head? Does it matter?
As they relive memories and encounter people in their life who have died, we learn more about each of them and the way they are connected through their experiences. I appreciated that there were themes around grieving loss in other ways, like a friendship that has ended and the fear of change. The relationships Monika and Shiori had with the people they are trying to bring back are so completely different. The ending mirrors this as well, in a very tender way. Tender as in pushing on a bruise, maybe.
Throughout the actual narrative plot is conversation around mental health and drug use and how people grieve. There's definitely a hand of guilt in here too. The focus is on the characters working through their complex and overwhelming emotions. Sometimes they do this together, and sometimes they lash out in their pain. There were some clear mouthpieces to help people who might be going through this themselves, or have loved ones who are. Statements around how a person isn't being cruel or manipulative, grief is, felt very gentle in a topic and age that desperately needs it.
That said, it moved SO fast that I felt like I didn't really connect with the people and scenarios in the story beyond my natural human connection of dealing with life after a death. I don't think I cried at any point, which is shocking because I am a crier and this is crying material. But each section with a new person or idea was relatively short, so it kept me at arms-length remembering this is a story instead of getting sucked in. In a way I appreciate that, because it made it a bit easier to read.
Overall, yes this is a tough story. It handles really difficult topics and scenarios that are undeniably painful. But it also highlights the connections that can help carry people through those times, whether they realize they need it or not.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.
July 21, 2025
This book was easy to get into. It had a simple premise and likable characters. For a YA novel, Murashige executed a high concept with grace and skill. But I've read books of similar age range that had slightly more depth and cohesion.
I couldn't help but wonder why it was so easy for Monika to find this tunnel. For what it promised, it didn't take much effort to get there. Was the idea that her belief was what made her worthy enough to find it? That hiccup bothered me throughout much of the reading. The flashbacks also got a little repetitive and did not seem to really have a central theme that made Monika's self-realization actually make sense. I expect that meeting with her dead relatives was supposed to aid Monika in realizing her own feelings towards drug abuse and shitty behaviour, but I can't really connect with her final choice of "no, there are so many reasons why I *shouldn't* bring Shun back."
That said, I enjoyed the interpretation that ultimately, this tunnel did *not* bring the dead back, but forced you to come to terms with your own unresolved feelings. It's a deeply painful lesson that is communicated in a easy way for younger readers. I also appreciated seeing how Monika's relationship with Shiori developed. Even though Shiori was such an unpleasant character, I loved seeing how Monika's interaction with her was seen through the lens of personal understanding: seeing how grief shapes people and pushes them away. That's another great concept that was nicely communicated for young readers.
This feels a lot like a companion piece of The Giver - high concept for young adults, but missing a lot of nuts and bolts and some basic connections that give characters the desired realism. It's a good step into books of similar ilk, but I don't think I'm going to remember it much in the future.
I couldn't help but wonder why it was so easy for Monika to find this tunnel. For what it promised, it didn't take much effort to get there. Was the idea that her belief was what made her worthy enough to find it? That hiccup bothered me throughout much of the reading. The flashbacks also got a little repetitive and did not seem to really have a central theme that made Monika's self-realization actually make sense. I expect that meeting with her dead relatives was supposed to aid Monika in realizing her own feelings towards drug abuse and shitty behaviour, but I can't really connect with her final choice of "no, there are so many reasons why I *shouldn't* bring Shun back."
That said, I enjoyed the interpretation that ultimately, this tunnel did *not* bring the dead back, but forced you to come to terms with your own unresolved feelings. It's a deeply painful lesson that is communicated in a easy way for younger readers. I also appreciated seeing how Monika's relationship with Shiori developed. Even though Shiori was such an unpleasant character, I loved seeing how Monika's interaction with her was seen through the lens of personal understanding: seeing how grief shapes people and pushes them away. That's another great concept that was nicely communicated for young readers.
This feels a lot like a companion piece of The Giver - high concept for young adults, but missing a lot of nuts and bolts and some basic connections that give characters the desired realism. It's a good step into books of similar ilk, but I don't think I'm going to remember it much in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2025
When Monika hears a rumor about a tunnel that can bring people back from the dead, she takes a chance one night to traverse it and see if what she's heard will actually come true. On the night that she arrives, she realizes she's not the only one with the intent to bring someone back. One of her classmates, Shiori, is also there. As they both enter the tunnel, they encounter moments in their lives that have shaped who they are up to that point, moments that they've wanted to forget. Perhaps relieving these painful moments in time is the tunnel's way of communicating with them?
This book explores topics of depression, grief, friendship, and the power of redemption. It's told through memories, mainly for our main character Monika, but we learn a bit about Shiori as well. They're both characters who are pretty rough around the edges at the beginning of the novel, but have learned to trust themselves and each other a little more at the end thanks to their experiences. However, as a book, I found the idea of being stuck in flashbacks for nearly the entire book exhausting. It's hard to pull off, as I found The Five People You Meet in Heaven much more enjoyable of a reading experience, mainly because the writing felt wonderfully executed. The writing in this book sometimes felt stunted and awkward, even if the two main characters were a pair of awkward teenagers.
Conceptually, it's a cool book with an interesting premise, but needed a tighter narrative and sharper writing.
This book explores topics of depression, grief, friendship, and the power of redemption. It's told through memories, mainly for our main character Monika, but we learn a bit about Shiori as well. They're both characters who are pretty rough around the edges at the beginning of the novel, but have learned to trust themselves and each other a little more at the end thanks to their experiences. However, as a book, I found the idea of being stuck in flashbacks for nearly the entire book exhausting. It's hard to pull off, as I found The Five People You Meet in Heaven much more enjoyable of a reading experience, mainly because the writing felt wonderfully executed. The writing in this book sometimes felt stunted and awkward, even if the two main characters were a pair of awkward teenagers.
Conceptually, it's a cool book with an interesting premise, but needed a tighter narrative and sharper writing.
November 20, 2025
It’s Monika’s last summer before college, and she’s still mourning the loss of Shun, a classmate who didn’t make it to graduation. During a Japanese Club meeting, she hears about the Yomigaeri Tunnel - a local urban legend that promises a shot at bringing someone back from the dead, but only if you survive the trials inside. Monika decides to go, hoping to see Shun again, and ends up crossing paths with Shiori, a schoolmate who’s there to revive her mother. The two girls couldn’t be more different, but they end up forming an unexpected bond as they face their pasts and chase the same impossible goal.
From the blurb, I had expected a fantasy story with maybe a touch of horror, but it turns out this isn’t that kind of book. Because of that, the pacing felt pretty slow to me as I waited for something major or significant to happen. I hesitate to say what happens in the tunnel as it would be spoiler-ish, but I will say that halfway through, I realised it wasn’t going to be a quest or adventure story. It’s really a story about grief, guilt, regret and the fears we try to bury.
This is a tender and poignant read about dealing with loss. The girls’ journey shows how grief hits differently for everyone, and how it often comes tangled up with guilt and “what ifs.” At the end, the story leaves you with a sense of hope, and that there are people who get it, who care, and that sometimes, finding the courage to face your fears and reach out is the first step towards healing.
From the blurb, I had expected a fantasy story with maybe a touch of horror, but it turns out this isn’t that kind of book. Because of that, the pacing felt pretty slow to me as I waited for something major or significant to happen. I hesitate to say what happens in the tunnel as it would be spoiler-ish, but I will say that halfway through, I realised it wasn’t going to be a quest or adventure story. It’s really a story about grief, guilt, regret and the fears we try to bury.
This is a tender and poignant read about dealing with loss. The girls’ journey shows how grief hits differently for everyone, and how it often comes tangled up with guilt and “what ifs.” At the end, the story leaves you with a sense of hope, and that there are people who get it, who care, and that sometimes, finding the courage to face your fears and reach out is the first step towards healing.
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October 9, 2025I'm leaving this one unrated because it's an early DNF. (Chapter 4 - they just made it to the tunnel - this is not a spoiler.)
The reason for the DNF is a combination of the audiobook reader using an annoying teenager voice for every character, and I don't think I can even blame the reader because the words as written on the page probably call for it to be read like that, but there is a certain tone where it bypasses just narration and starts to grate. Like yes, we get it. They are teens. The problem is, they are speaking like angsty mean girls from a 2000's Disney movie, arms crossed, foot stomping.
And that in itself is another problem. The book is from 2025 but voice of this book is very 2000's millenial, for example that prolonged "that's what she said" bit in the beginning. I think millenial authors should just suck it up and set the books during whenever they went to high school at this point, the "how do you do, fellow kids" thing isn't working any more. I'm not saying try to write like you're gen-z, I'm just saying be honest about who it is you're actually writing for.
DNF-ing because i saw the other reviews and this one's clearly not for me.
The reason for the DNF is a combination of the audiobook reader using an annoying teenager voice for every character, and I don't think I can even blame the reader because the words as written on the page probably call for it to be read like that, but there is a certain tone where it bypasses just narration and starts to grate. Like yes, we get it. They are teens. The problem is, they are speaking like angsty mean girls from a 2000's Disney movie, arms crossed, foot stomping.
And that in itself is another problem. The book is from 2025 but voice of this book is very 2000's millenial, for example that prolonged "that's what she said" bit in the beginning. I think millenial authors should just suck it up and set the books during whenever they went to high school at this point, the "how do you do, fellow kids" thing isn't working any more. I'm not saying try to write like you're gen-z, I'm just saying be honest about who it is you're actually writing for.
DNF-ing because i saw the other reviews and this one's clearly not for me.
July 1, 2025
The Yomigaeri Tunnel is a beautiful book, but also a brutal one. It deals with very heavy topics, and some days I found myself only able to read one chapter because the emotions were almost overwhelming.
The titular tunnel is one that evokes all those urban legends you've heard over the years. Haunted tunnels are an especially prevalent superstition in Japan, and I know I heard my fair share of stories while living there. So, it's very fitting that the main cast is all of Japanese descent. However, this is a story for everyone.
Above all, this book is about grief and the different ways it can effect us. It also has a lot to say about how the more difficult grief for us to process can often be related to someone we didn't know very well. And other types of grief don't have to do with the passing of someone at all.
Though this book is hard to digest at times, it's an excellent read and one I think will impact many readers.
Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for the ARC.
The titular tunnel is one that evokes all those urban legends you've heard over the years. Haunted tunnels are an especially prevalent superstition in Japan, and I know I heard my fair share of stories while living there. So, it's very fitting that the main cast is all of Japanese descent. However, this is a story for everyone.
Above all, this book is about grief and the different ways it can effect us. It also has a lot to say about how the more difficult grief for us to process can often be related to someone we didn't know very well. And other types of grief don't have to do with the passing of someone at all.
Though this book is hard to digest at times, it's an excellent read and one I think will impact many readers.
Thank you to Soho Press and Netgalley for the ARC.
July 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I absolutely loved this. It took me a little to get into it but then found myself not being able to put it down. Other reviews mentioned not being able to connect with the characters because the book is fast-paced but I disagree. If you or someone you love has gone through a type of loss discussed in this book, you know exactly how Monika is feeling and I didn’t find it hard to connect with her or her journey. I thought the way grief and processing grief was explained in this was beautiful.
I initially wanted to round it up to 5 stars but after thinking about it a bit more, decided to round down to 4. Some of the writing was a bit too pointed or obvious. I recognize that this is YA so younger audiences may need more telling vs. showing but it did make the writing feel a little bit more juvenile, especially at the end.
I absolutely loved this. It took me a little to get into it but then found myself not being able to put it down. Other reviews mentioned not being able to connect with the characters because the book is fast-paced but I disagree. If you or someone you love has gone through a type of loss discussed in this book, you know exactly how Monika is feeling and I didn’t find it hard to connect with her or her journey. I thought the way grief and processing grief was explained in this was beautiful.
I initially wanted to round it up to 5 stars but after thinking about it a bit more, decided to round down to 4. Some of the writing was a bit too pointed or obvious. I recognize that this is YA so younger audiences may need more telling vs. showing but it did make the writing feel a little bit more juvenile, especially at the end.
September 12, 2025
I can not explain how much I love this book and how it found me at a time that I really really needed it.
This book touches heavily on loss and grief and the journey of Monika as she navigates the loss of her classmate.
This book is deeply emotional and I spent a majority of the book sobbing through it, that being said I highly recommend it to anyone that has suffered through loss and anyone in general that loves a good book.
This past year I lost both my parents and my grandma and I have been dealing with the grief of that, this book has in many ways really helped me process a lot of that grief.
Thank you Netgalley, SoHo press and SoHo teen for the arc.
This book touches heavily on loss and grief and the journey of Monika as she navigates the loss of her classmate.
This book is deeply emotional and I spent a majority of the book sobbing through it, that being said I highly recommend it to anyone that has suffered through loss and anyone in general that loves a good book.
This past year I lost both my parents and my grandma and I have been dealing with the grief of that, this book has in many ways really helped me process a lot of that grief.
Thank you Netgalley, SoHo press and SoHo teen for the arc.
August 17, 2025
This book, to quote Monika, "hurts in a good way." What starts as an adventure to bring back a former friend turns into something so much more as Monika confronts all the different ways grief has touched her life. It's pushing all of her pain out into the open in an incredibly raw way that is so cathartic to get through, and weaves in beautifully with Shiori's own loss. This book is for anyone who had their own "What if?" with a person that will never be answered. You know a book is good when a line like "I have a feeling I'm going to have a really great summer" makes you want to happy cry.
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October 6, 2025DNF. All that this "magical realism" book offers is a series of sad flashbacks as the protag confronts grief. But it holds itself out like it's some kind of thrilling roller coaster ride. At least the first couple of chapters seems to promise that. And it doesn't help that the main figure on the cover art looks blissfully enchanted at the wonders before her eyes. The character in the book actually dreads each next memory and constantly bemoans her situation.
MPA ratings: PG for language, sex references, and for drug references ... maybe more explicit content? (I didn't read past Chapter 6)
MPA ratings: PG for language, sex references, and for drug references ... maybe more explicit content? (I didn't read past Chapter 6)
May 2, 2025
This book was incredible! From the beginning it intrigued me and I was hooked till the very last page. I cried at parts and I could feel the pain and emotions as they swept over the characters. The main character Monika is memorable and multi layered which made me relate and love her. I adored reading this and the journey it took me on is unforgettable!
July 9, 2025
I really wanted to like this one but I just couldn’t. I never felt like the main question of why she felt so connected to her classmate was answered. Instead it felt like more only more questions got added to the mix. It was a great idea that missed the mark. 2.5 stars.
July 15, 2025
3.25stars
This story is a journey about healing. It explores some difficult, adult themes of grief, addiction, and relationships, but the writing is really in the YA realm, so at times it feels just a bit immature. But a touching story overall.
This story is a journey about healing. It explores some difficult, adult themes of grief, addiction, and relationships, but the writing is really in the YA realm, so at times it feels just a bit immature. But a touching story overall.
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