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The Elsewhere Express
When you lose your way in life, the Elsewhere Express just might find you. Step aboard the train that can take you to your life’s purpose, in this cozy and inspiring fantasy from the nationally bestselling author of Water Moon.
This whimsical, deluxe first edition hardcover includes designed sprayed edges, a full-color illustrated book case with character art, and interactive endpapers with a scene you can color in—while supplies last!
You can’t buy a ticket for the Elsewhere Express. Appearing only to those whose lives are adrift, it’s a magical train carrying very rare and special cargo: a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging.
Raya is one of those lost souls. She had dreamed of being a songwriter, but when her brother died, she gave up on her dream and started living his instead.
One day on the subway, as her thoughts wander, she’s swept off to the Elsewhere Express. There she meets Q, a charming, handsome artist who, like her, has lost his place in the world.
Together they find a train full of wonders, from a boarding car that’s also a meadow to a dining car where passengers can picnic on lily pads to a bar where jellyfish and whales swim through pink clouds.
But they also discover that the train harbors secrets—and danger: A mysterious stranger has stowed away and brought with him a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train.
But in investigating the stowaway's identity, Raya also finds herself drawing closer to the ultimate question: What is her life's true purpose—and might Q be connected to it?
This whimsical, deluxe first edition hardcover includes designed sprayed edges, a full-color illustrated book case with character art, and interactive endpapers with a scene you can color in—while supplies last!
You can’t buy a ticket for the Elsewhere Express. Appearing only to those whose lives are adrift, it’s a magical train carrying very rare and special cargo: a sense of purpose, peace, and belonging.
Raya is one of those lost souls. She had dreamed of being a songwriter, but when her brother died, she gave up on her dream and started living his instead.
One day on the subway, as her thoughts wander, she’s swept off to the Elsewhere Express. There she meets Q, a charming, handsome artist who, like her, has lost his place in the world.
Together they find a train full of wonders, from a boarding car that’s also a meadow to a dining car where passengers can picnic on lily pads to a bar where jellyfish and whales swim through pink clouds.
But they also discover that the train harbors secrets—and danger: A mysterious stranger has stowed away and brought with him a dark, malignant magic that threatens to destroy the train.
But in investigating the stowaway's identity, Raya also finds herself drawing closer to the ultimate question: What is her life's true purpose—and might Q be connected to it?
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2026
1447 people are currently reading
49053 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Sotto Yambao
7 books2,119 followersSamantha Sotto Yambao is a professional daydreamer, aspiring time traveler, and speculative fiction writer based in Manila. She is the author of Water Moon, Before Ever After, Love and Gravity, A Dream of Trees, The Beginning of Always, and THE ELSEWHERE EXPRESS (Jan 2026)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,132 reviews
March 19, 2026
3.25
Samantha Soto Yambao’s writing is without a doubt, absolutely GORGEOUS. For the first few chapters, I was just entranced at the beauty of the sentences, and loved the whimsy of it all. The overall concept of this book sort of reminds me of The Polar Express, but for adults. Where you hop onboard this train to find your “purpose” and get that magic back.
However as we went on in the story, I felt like I wanted more actual train if that makes sense? This train was a train in the absolute loosest definition. And I wanted more of an actual train that delivered us to whimsical environments, where this one was whimsical environments adapted to train parts. I kept getting so distracted in noticing the clever little connections and metaphors, that I couldn’t immerse myself or get attached to the characters.
The middle of the book definitely slowed down for me. And overall I do appreciate the journey our characters went on. But maybe I just wasn’t in the right specific mood for this abstract of a book!
Samantha Soto Yambao’s writing is without a doubt, absolutely GORGEOUS. For the first few chapters, I was just entranced at the beauty of the sentences, and loved the whimsy of it all. The overall concept of this book sort of reminds me of The Polar Express, but for adults. Where you hop onboard this train to find your “purpose” and get that magic back.
However as we went on in the story, I felt like I wanted more actual train if that makes sense? This train was a train in the absolute loosest definition. And I wanted more of an actual train that delivered us to whimsical environments, where this one was whimsical environments adapted to train parts. I kept getting so distracted in noticing the clever little connections and metaphors, that I couldn’t immerse myself or get attached to the characters.
The middle of the book definitely slowed down for me. And overall I do appreciate the journey our characters went on. But maybe I just wasn’t in the right specific mood for this abstract of a book!
February 2, 2026
Have you ever wondered where someone’s thoughts, worries and daydreams go when that person has lost their way in life? Samantha Sotto Yambao’s newest book offers one possibility:
Welcome aboard The Elsewhere Express. You can’t buy a ticket for this magical train, but it appears to those who most need it, ready to offer the peace of mind that’s eluded them if they’re willing to play by its rules - the biggest one being NO excess baggage allowed. Those carrying guilt, shame, sadness, anger and other troubled emotions have to be willing to let go of them. There are dire consequences for those who don’t.
Synopsis:
Hiraya “Raya” Sia was conceived by her parents for one reason: to save her brother Jace’s life from the blood disorder that threatened it. When fate took that purpose away, Raya didn’t know how to exist in a world where her personal dreams to be a songwriter actually mattered to anyone. In her mind, she’d failed at the only reason she existed.
Quentin “Q” Chen Phillips, Jr. also understands loss. His dad ended his life when Q was thirteen and his vision has deteriorated to the point of needing a walking stick to navigate. He’s an extremely talented painter, but as darkness closes in, even that’s threatened.
One day Raya falls asleep on the subway and when she awakens she’s aboard a train and being asked by the enigmatic conductor Lily for her ticket. Soon after, Q shows up to board the train as well - a second, simultaneous new passenger being an unexpected anomaly.
Where does this train ride take Raya and Q? I won’t say too much, but wow is it a complicated and wondrous journey!
My takeaway:
This story is ethereal and beautiful, like watching the most visually stunning and magical dream you’ve ever had. The blurb calls it a Ghibli-esque fantasy and I’d say that’s pretty spot on. There’s a visual quality and imagination to it, that paired with its depth of emotional storytelling is a hallmark of a lot of anime that I've watched. Yambao captures those elements perfectly, just as she did in last year's Water Moon which I also loved. The lyrical prose was beautiful and I lost count of the insights that I resonated with and highlighted.
Having said that, this is also a metaphorical journey through some heavy grief and people aren’t at their best when they’re in pain. You won’t always like Raya and Q, but the story needed to show where their wrong beliefs have taken them in order to appreciate the journey’s end. For all the beauty, there’s also a fair share of darkness.
My one biggest obstacle to giving this the full five stars was simply that I don't read a lot of speculative fiction, and though it wasn’t full-on time travel, it was difficult to follow the time-based elements of the story. The details and concepts of how characters travel within the train could get confusing at times as well. That aside, the story is richly detailed and unique, and I won’t quickly forget this dream-like place or the lessons learned there! If you enjoy speculative fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and a story about two people finding their way together, I highly recommend this.
This was an immersion read with my digital ARC and the audio from my library. Amanda Centeno narrated and did a nice job capturing the many different characters and their emotions. The last thing I’ll say is … that cover is SO GORGEOUS! It may be the prettiest, most dreamy book cover I’ve seen, so kudos to artist Haylee Morice for that!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Del Ray, Random House, NetGalley and author Samantha Sotto Yambao for this digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. It’s out now.
Welcome aboard The Elsewhere Express. You can’t buy a ticket for this magical train, but it appears to those who most need it, ready to offer the peace of mind that’s eluded them if they’re willing to play by its rules - the biggest one being NO excess baggage allowed. Those carrying guilt, shame, sadness, anger and other troubled emotions have to be willing to let go of them. There are dire consequences for those who don’t.
Synopsis:
Hiraya “Raya” Sia was conceived by her parents for one reason: to save her brother Jace’s life from the blood disorder that threatened it. When fate took that purpose away, Raya didn’t know how to exist in a world where her personal dreams to be a songwriter actually mattered to anyone. In her mind, she’d failed at the only reason she existed.
Quentin “Q” Chen Phillips, Jr. also understands loss. His dad ended his life when Q was thirteen and his vision has deteriorated to the point of needing a walking stick to navigate. He’s an extremely talented painter, but as darkness closes in, even that’s threatened.
One day Raya falls asleep on the subway and when she awakens she’s aboard a train and being asked by the enigmatic conductor Lily for her ticket. Soon after, Q shows up to board the train as well - a second, simultaneous new passenger being an unexpected anomaly.
Where does this train ride take Raya and Q? I won’t say too much, but wow is it a complicated and wondrous journey!
My takeaway:
This story is ethereal and beautiful, like watching the most visually stunning and magical dream you’ve ever had. The blurb calls it a Ghibli-esque fantasy and I’d say that’s pretty spot on. There’s a visual quality and imagination to it, that paired with its depth of emotional storytelling is a hallmark of a lot of anime that I've watched. Yambao captures those elements perfectly, just as she did in last year's Water Moon which I also loved. The lyrical prose was beautiful and I lost count of the insights that I resonated with and highlighted.
Having said that, this is also a metaphorical journey through some heavy grief and people aren’t at their best when they’re in pain. You won’t always like Raya and Q, but the story needed to show where their wrong beliefs have taken them in order to appreciate the journey’s end. For all the beauty, there’s also a fair share of darkness.
My one biggest obstacle to giving this the full five stars was simply that I don't read a lot of speculative fiction, and though it wasn’t full-on time travel, it was difficult to follow the time-based elements of the story. The details and concepts of how characters travel within the train could get confusing at times as well. That aside, the story is richly detailed and unique, and I won’t quickly forget this dream-like place or the lessons learned there! If you enjoy speculative fiction, fantasy, magical realism, and a story about two people finding their way together, I highly recommend this.
This was an immersion read with my digital ARC and the audio from my library. Amanda Centeno narrated and did a nice job capturing the many different characters and their emotions. The last thing I’ll say is … that cover is SO GORGEOUS! It may be the prettiest, most dreamy book cover I’ve seen, so kudos to artist Haylee Morice for that!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Del Ray, Random House, NetGalley and author Samantha Sotto Yambao for this digital ARC to honestly review and to my library/Libby for the audio. It’s out now.
March 21, 2026
𓍯𓂃Full review to come
➳Pre-read:
I’ve been a huge Studio Ghibli fan since I was a kid 🙂↕️With these winter vibes, I figured the best thing to do was finally dive into this book.
💌The moment I saw the cover, the only thing I could think of was Spirited Away. 🥺💖
➳Pre-read:
I’ve been a huge Studio Ghibli fan since I was a kid 🙂↕️With these winter vibes, I figured the best thing to do was finally dive into this book.
💌The moment I saw the cover, the only thing I could think of was Spirited Away. 🥺💖
November 3, 2025
The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao
4.35 rounded down to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore
Lying on a park bench, midday, Norway….
💡 Orbs Prologue: Onyx tendrils disseminate detrimental information upon my psyche. A gentle exfoliation of all that is positive, like the removal of dead skin from my face. Closing my wind-torn eyes, I slowly fall asleep. I find myself in the crevices and valleys of my own mind. Bottomless rivers of putrid self-loathing flow freely. Floating fearfully through rapids, I lazily look to the distance. Upon a flesh-colored ridge, a single circular illumination appears. The object surges closer; the brilliance of the light blinds me. The churning of something familiar, powerful, yet sleek: a train. Closing slowly to a sudden halt, an inconspicuous door opens where an auburn-haired woman invites me on board. “Minding the Gap,” I enter through the inviting sliding doors. Immediately, my senses are challenged; the aromatic scents of the finest quality float through the air. Nothing could contain my awe as I gazed out the opposite side window. Our landscape had changed; the bleakness had since been turned into a soft palette of beautiful pastel colors. Against the powder blue sky, fluffy pink clouds bounced at a relaxing pace. Those once sharp, pointy ridges were softly rounded into chartreuse, with smatterings of colorful, odd-shaped fauna completing the incredible scene. “What is this?” I stammered. “Welcome aboard the Elsewhere Express, Orb. Do you have a ticket?” curiously asks the conductor.
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Burdened with protecting her ailing brother, Raya Sia forgoes personal dreams to help her brother, Jace, survive. An unthinkable event tarnishes Raya, one that changes the trajectory of her life forever, rendering her a failure within her own mind. Quentin Philips Jr., or rather Q, on the other hand, never escaped his dad’s fake smile. If the emotional trauma of his childhood wasn’t enough, Q, the artist, is going blind. What is true of both Raya and Q is that their lives are spiraling into darkness, and passions are being extinguished like a nighttime candle. In an unexpected chain of events, they both think they are taking a normal train home, but this circumstance lands them on a special voyage. Passengers' thoughts have built this magical train. With no destination in sight, the train wanders around aimlessly; however, those fears and anxieties have been stripped from the passengers, creating a most pleasant experience. There is one problem, that being a stowaway who is determined to destroy the vitality amongst the train cars. With the help of the conductors Lily and Rasmus, Q and Raya must help try to round up the stowaway to help save those aboard the Elsewhere Express. Author Samantha Sotto Yambao creates a majestic experience that will have readers reaching into their introspective bags for further self-examination.
👍 Orbs Pros: Ambitious and creative! An unbelievable visceral experience. Yambao’s writing is magical; the world with which the reader is left to play is awe-inspiring. Q and Raya’s characters are well conceived, bringing a plethora of emotion throughout the book.
👎 Orbs Cons: Complex! Numerous ideas roll around loosely for the reader to corral, thus bringing a slight sense of confusion. I kept flipping through my mental Rolodex of the train rules and their subsequent impact on the storyline. This stunted my ability to always enjoy the lush landscapes created by Yambao.
Highly Recommended! Chaotic/Excellent! This novel should be experienced by everyone who has experienced internal strife and found it difficult to escape the negativity that it often brings. Reminding us to let go of those emotions dragging us down, this novel seeks to enlighten and remind us that we all have special gifts to offer the world. In closing, I will add that in my 40+ years of reading, never once have I shed a tear, until now!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: A ticket appeared in my pocket. Where it came from, I have no idea, but I handed it to the conductor. After further instructions, I was to go to a different car for an orientation. In the meantime, I wandered through floating picture frames, masquerading as doorways. Opening to various other places along the train, each one left me more speechless. Songs, with wings like birds, flew along beaches, helping repair those things in need. One particular place was the train’s lost and found, where shoes and cellphones rained down from the sky, and mounds of shiny jewelry collected nearby. The conductor had said I needed to release my excess baggage and find my own compartment. Was there a deeper meaning behind all this? Somehow, I felt as though this was my time to reflect and gain perspective. A bright flash hit the back of my eyes. Upon waking up, a small duck waddled up to me and cocked its head as if to say, "Are you ok?” A smile began to form on my lips. “Yes, my feathered friend, I think I will be alright.”
Many thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
4.35 rounded down to 4 🔮🔮🔮🔮orbs
Pub. Date: Jan. 20, 2026
Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore
Lying on a park bench, midday, Norway….
💡 Orbs Prologue: Onyx tendrils disseminate detrimental information upon my psyche. A gentle exfoliation of all that is positive, like the removal of dead skin from my face. Closing my wind-torn eyes, I slowly fall asleep. I find myself in the crevices and valleys of my own mind. Bottomless rivers of putrid self-loathing flow freely. Floating fearfully through rapids, I lazily look to the distance. Upon a flesh-colored ridge, a single circular illumination appears. The object surges closer; the brilliance of the light blinds me. The churning of something familiar, powerful, yet sleek: a train. Closing slowly to a sudden halt, an inconspicuous door opens where an auburn-haired woman invites me on board. “Minding the Gap,” I enter through the inviting sliding doors. Immediately, my senses are challenged; the aromatic scents of the finest quality float through the air. Nothing could contain my awe as I gazed out the opposite side window. Our landscape had changed; the bleakness had since been turned into a soft palette of beautiful pastel colors. Against the powder blue sky, fluffy pink clouds bounced at a relaxing pace. Those once sharp, pointy ridges were softly rounded into chartreuse, with smatterings of colorful, odd-shaped fauna completing the incredible scene. “What is this?” I stammered. “Welcome aboard the Elsewhere Express, Orb. Do you have a ticket?” curiously asks the conductor.
🔩 Nuts & Bolts: Burdened with protecting her ailing brother, Raya Sia forgoes personal dreams to help her brother, Jace, survive. An unthinkable event tarnishes Raya, one that changes the trajectory of her life forever, rendering her a failure within her own mind. Quentin Philips Jr., or rather Q, on the other hand, never escaped his dad’s fake smile. If the emotional trauma of his childhood wasn’t enough, Q, the artist, is going blind. What is true of both Raya and Q is that their lives are spiraling into darkness, and passions are being extinguished like a nighttime candle. In an unexpected chain of events, they both think they are taking a normal train home, but this circumstance lands them on a special voyage. Passengers' thoughts have built this magical train. With no destination in sight, the train wanders around aimlessly; however, those fears and anxieties have been stripped from the passengers, creating a most pleasant experience. There is one problem, that being a stowaway who is determined to destroy the vitality amongst the train cars. With the help of the conductors Lily and Rasmus, Q and Raya must help try to round up the stowaway to help save those aboard the Elsewhere Express. Author Samantha Sotto Yambao creates a majestic experience that will have readers reaching into their introspective bags for further self-examination.
👍 Orbs Pros: Ambitious and creative! An unbelievable visceral experience. Yambao’s writing is magical; the world with which the reader is left to play is awe-inspiring. Q and Raya’s characters are well conceived, bringing a plethora of emotion throughout the book.
👎 Orbs Cons: Complex! Numerous ideas roll around loosely for the reader to corral, thus bringing a slight sense of confusion. I kept flipping through my mental Rolodex of the train rules and their subsequent impact on the storyline. This stunted my ability to always enjoy the lush landscapes created by Yambao.
Highly Recommended! Chaotic/Excellent! This novel should be experienced by everyone who has experienced internal strife and found it difficult to escape the negativity that it often brings. Reminding us to let go of those emotions dragging us down, this novel seeks to enlighten and remind us that we all have special gifts to offer the world. In closing, I will add that in my 40+ years of reading, never once have I shed a tear, until now!
💡 Orbs Epilogue: A ticket appeared in my pocket. Where it came from, I have no idea, but I handed it to the conductor. After further instructions, I was to go to a different car for an orientation. In the meantime, I wandered through floating picture frames, masquerading as doorways. Opening to various other places along the train, each one left me more speechless. Songs, with wings like birds, flew along beaches, helping repair those things in need. One particular place was the train’s lost and found, where shoes and cellphones rained down from the sky, and mounds of shiny jewelry collected nearby. The conductor had said I needed to release my excess baggage and find my own compartment. Was there a deeper meaning behind all this? Somehow, I felt as though this was my time to reflect and gain perspective. A bright flash hit the back of my eyes. Upon waking up, a small duck waddled up to me and cocked its head as if to say, "Are you ok?” A smile began to form on my lips. “Yes, my feathered friend, I think I will be alright.”
Many thanks to Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 21, 2025
This novel took me on a cozy ride! It is filled with a magical journey, beautiful world building and emotional depth. I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I found the main protagonist to be extremely relatable and lovable. It also came with mystery, which I found very entertaining. This book made me feel reflective, emotional, inspiring and hopeful. While reading this, it made me feel like I was in a dreamlike, whimsical place. This story is about people who felt like they lost their purpose in life and were able to get on the Elsewhere Express and start over. It does come with some romance and zero spice.
The cover of this book really does match the story in the book. The characters were strongly developed, diverse and multilayered. It came with a unique location, vivid descriptions and was easy to read. It was beautifully written and had a lyrical prose to it. I found this to be an overall great book and I definitely recommend it! This is the same author that wrote the “Water Moon” book that became very popular. If you enjoyed Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao and/or The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, I think you will absolutely love this one! I give this whimsical book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Samantha Sotto Yambao and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this wonderful eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 20, 2026! Publication dates are always subject to change.
The cover of this book really does match the story in the book. The characters were strongly developed, diverse and multilayered. It came with a unique location, vivid descriptions and was easy to read. It was beautifully written and had a lyrical prose to it. I found this to be an overall great book and I definitely recommend it! This is the same author that wrote the “Water Moon” book that became very popular. If you enjoyed Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao and/or The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, I think you will absolutely love this one! I give this whimsical book a 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, author Samantha Sotto Yambao and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this wonderful eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on January 20, 2026! Publication dates are always subject to change.
February 9, 2026
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
3.5 stars — i find that while i initially enjoy the world(s) that yambao creates, as well as the characters, somewhere along the way she loses me. i’m not sure why, because the writing is beautiful and the messages are strong, but i close the book not feeling changed.
i also listened to the audio through libby, and the narrator did a fine job!
——
next arc 💪🏼! i enjoyed watermoon, but hopefully i enjoy this one more!✨
3.5 stars — i find that while i initially enjoy the world(s) that yambao creates, as well as the characters, somewhere along the way she loses me. i’m not sure why, because the writing is beautiful and the messages are strong, but i close the book not feeling changed.
i also listened to the audio through libby, and the narrator did a fine job!
——
next arc 💪🏼! i enjoyed watermoon, but hopefully i enjoy this one more!✨
February 20, 2026
A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities. Dreaming, after all is a form of planning. So keep your dreams alive and live the life you have imagined!
Full RTF 🩷
Full RTF 🩷
Want to read
June 28, 2025Do yourself a favor and go look at the Deluxe edition on the @Delreybooks Instagram page… it’s stunning! 😍
November 9, 2025
While I this is creative plot is rather repetitive and got boring real fast.
January 26, 2026
4.0 ★— I was looking for a cozy, relatively calm, and dreamy escape, and this book provided that in abundance!
What would it be like to suddenly be whisked away onto a magical train that lets you forget your troubles and your former life, offering you a chance to start anew?
Both Raya, a med student grappling with the death of her older brother, and Q, an artist with a progressively worsening eye condition that will eventually leave him blind, are faced with this very dilemma when they find themselves aboard the Elsewhere Express.
This book explores both of their characters well, using the fantastical, dreamlike nature of the train and its various stops to allow Raya and Q to confront their fears, anxieties, as well as all the hardships they carry with them. Along the way, they also encounter a cast of characters who live on the train, which adds to the sense of whimsy and softness. In that sense, yes, this book does have some Ghibli vibes. That said, I do wish the train concept had been utilized more creatively. Often, the landscapes and places described felt somewhat detached from the idea of the Elsewhere Express itself. I think it would have been much more charming if the author had leaned more into using train compartments and other familiar train elements to creatively shape and distinguish the different spaces.
I thought Raya and Q were decent, well-realized characters, and their backstories were thoughtfully explored, even if I really wasn’t super emotionally hooked. This book felt more like something that gently washed over me rather than something that deeply moved me, if that makes sense?
I still think this is a very decent story overall, and readers looking for whimsy and gentle character exploration will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
I listened to the beginning of this book on audio, and I thought the narrator did a great job conveying the dreaminess of the story! The different characters were also portrayed clearly and distinctly, which made for a super smooth listening experience!
What would it be like to suddenly be whisked away onto a magical train that lets you forget your troubles and your former life, offering you a chance to start anew?
Both Raya, a med student grappling with the death of her older brother, and Q, an artist with a progressively worsening eye condition that will eventually leave him blind, are faced with this very dilemma when they find themselves aboard the Elsewhere Express.
This book explores both of their characters well, using the fantastical, dreamlike nature of the train and its various stops to allow Raya and Q to confront their fears, anxieties, as well as all the hardships they carry with them. Along the way, they also encounter a cast of characters who live on the train, which adds to the sense of whimsy and softness. In that sense, yes, this book does have some Ghibli vibes. That said, I do wish the train concept had been utilized more creatively. Often, the landscapes and places described felt somewhat detached from the idea of the Elsewhere Express itself. I think it would have been much more charming if the author had leaned more into using train compartments and other familiar train elements to creatively shape and distinguish the different spaces.
I thought Raya and Q were decent, well-realized characters, and their backstories were thoughtfully explored, even if I really wasn’t super emotionally hooked. This book felt more like something that gently washed over me rather than something that deeply moved me, if that makes sense?
I still think this is a very decent story overall, and readers looking for whimsy and gentle character exploration will likely find a lot to enjoy here.
🎧 Audiobook Note
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
I listened to the beginning of this book on audio, and I thought the narrator did a great job conveying the dreaminess of the story! The different characters were also portrayed clearly and distinctly, which made for a super smooth listening experience!
Review of advance copy
« invisible loads were at least twice as heavy as any that you could see. »
Alright so this is definitely a cure for insomnia.
I loved the author’s novel Water Moon and the messages it conveyed but this one was 1) not the right setting and 2) very convoluted.
There’s a sense of dread that was immediately felt during my read of this novel and I just wondered why this was the chosen route for this, because it’s supposed to be for fans of studio ghibli ; a cozy ride and for people who lost their ways. It never went into depth about people losing their ways and that was extreme missed potential. It’s even described as whimsical and enchanting but I didn’t feel this for a second.
The philosophical messages lost their momentums because of the sense of urgency this novel had. It quite frankly felt like a fever dream.
I was in the mood for something reflective, philosophical or even just sweet. But the sense of urgency to fix things really removed the lightness needed for those types of reads and I’m left feeling very let down.
Alright so this is definitely a cure for insomnia.
I loved the author’s novel Water Moon and the messages it conveyed but this one was 1) not the right setting and 2) very convoluted.
There’s a sense of dread that was immediately felt during my read of this novel and I just wondered why this was the chosen route for this, because it’s supposed to be for fans of studio ghibli ; a cozy ride and for people who lost their ways. It never went into depth about people losing their ways and that was extreme missed potential. It’s even described as whimsical and enchanting but I didn’t feel this for a second.
The philosophical messages lost their momentums because of the sense of urgency this novel had. It quite frankly felt like a fever dream.
I was in the mood for something reflective, philosophical or even just sweet. But the sense of urgency to fix things really removed the lightness needed for those types of reads and I’m left feeling very let down.
August 26, 2025
The Elsewhere Express is a story of self-discovery where people are given a second chance in life via the Elsewhere Express, a magical train that only appears to people whose lives have gone adrift and have lost their purpose in life.
I’m not sure how I can describe this book. It felt like a fever dream and a book you really need to be in the mood for to enjoy it and the philosophical message it is trying to tell. On paper, this had all the makings for a really exciting and magical read. I love anything that is fun and whimsical, especially if it is marketed as for fans of Studio Ghibli, but this one unfortunately didn’t really enchant me as much as I thought it would.
The characters in the story are fine. Raya was the main voice of reason in the story who’s quick to realise the train is more than it seems, but unfortunately this was also one of the main issues I had in the story where the sense of dread was already established early on that it made it difficult for me to be immersed by all the wonderful, fanciful things the train had to offer. Like Raya, I wasn’t really enchanted and found myself wanting to get off the train. As a protagonist, Raya was decent, however I wish she had more personality or a character trait that made her more memorable and compelling, and that was how I felt with Q as well.
The rules of the train can be convoluted, but I did see the vision the author was going for and liked the message Yambao was trying to convey. There was a perfume scene that did leave an impact on me that depicts how loss is an essential part of life, which was sweet. There was also a plot twist towards the end that might have been one of my favorites parts of the novel where the novel really gained momentum, and included tropes I really liked in a story. I felt the friendship between Raya and Q develop a bit too fast for me to fully connect, but I liked the way things came together.
I’m sad to say though that I don’t think this book is for me. I do get the philosophical concept of the train, but at times the explanations become so convoluted I found it really difficult to wrap my head around a lot of it. I feel like new things kept being introduced in the story for the sake of it. The novel probably would have benefited more as an animated film with how vivid and rich the descriptions felt.
With a book that focuses on how people’s lives have gone adrift, I wish this book explored more of that in depth. A lot of these characters feel remorse for things that have done, or could have prevented, yet I feel that this was mostly told to us as the audience instead of shown, which again, made me feel disconnected to the story where I didn’t really find myself attached to any of them even with the multiple POVs shown. The twists in the story also feel more like shock factor.
The Elsewhere Express is also a train that unfortunately does not take off until the second half of the novel as it takes a long time to establish the train’s rules and its sophisticated magic system. While the concept of the train was interesting, it felt like most of the time the rules of the train were being made up along the way and felt really unstructured. Not sure if the final book will be different, but I feel like the e-ARC I was given could have benefitted from more revisions and edits.
Thank you as always to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’m not sure how I can describe this book. It felt like a fever dream and a book you really need to be in the mood for to enjoy it and the philosophical message it is trying to tell. On paper, this had all the makings for a really exciting and magical read. I love anything that is fun and whimsical, especially if it is marketed as for fans of Studio Ghibli, but this one unfortunately didn’t really enchant me as much as I thought it would.
The characters in the story are fine. Raya was the main voice of reason in the story who’s quick to realise the train is more than it seems, but unfortunately this was also one of the main issues I had in the story where the sense of dread was already established early on that it made it difficult for me to be immersed by all the wonderful, fanciful things the train had to offer. Like Raya, I wasn’t really enchanted and found myself wanting to get off the train. As a protagonist, Raya was decent, however I wish she had more personality or a character trait that made her more memorable and compelling, and that was how I felt with Q as well.
The rules of the train can be convoluted, but I did see the vision the author was going for and liked the message Yambao was trying to convey. There was a perfume scene that did leave an impact on me that depicts how loss is an essential part of life, which was sweet. There was also a plot twist towards the end that might have been one of my favorites parts of the novel where the novel really gained momentum, and included tropes I really liked in a story. I felt the friendship between Raya and Q develop a bit too fast for me to fully connect, but I liked the way things came together.
I’m sad to say though that I don’t think this book is for me. I do get the philosophical concept of the train, but at times the explanations become so convoluted I found it really difficult to wrap my head around a lot of it. I feel like new things kept being introduced in the story for the sake of it. The novel probably would have benefited more as an animated film with how vivid and rich the descriptions felt.
With a book that focuses on how people’s lives have gone adrift, I wish this book explored more of that in depth. A lot of these characters feel remorse for things that have done, or could have prevented, yet I feel that this was mostly told to us as the audience instead of shown, which again, made me feel disconnected to the story where I didn’t really find myself attached to any of them even with the multiple POVs shown. The twists in the story also feel more like shock factor.
The Elsewhere Express is also a train that unfortunately does not take off until the second half of the novel as it takes a long time to establish the train’s rules and its sophisticated magic system. While the concept of the train was interesting, it felt like most of the time the rules of the train were being made up along the way and felt really unstructured. Not sure if the final book will be different, but I feel like the e-ARC I was given could have benefitted from more revisions and edits.
Thank you as always to NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 1, 2025
Rating: 2.5/5
When you’ve lost your way in life, the Elsewhere Express is ready to lead you somewhere new. Only appearing to those who have lost all hope and purpose, the Elsewhere Express is a magical train that takes its passengers on a journey to restore their ambition and offer them a safe haven of joy and belonging. This book follows the two newest arrivals: Raya, a songwriter who abandoned her own dreams to live out her late brother’s instead, and Q, an acclaimed painter watching his world and his art fade as he slowly loses his sight. Both Raya and Q have either figuratively or literally lost their vision in life, and the Elsewhere Express arrives for them both to offer a redemptive tour of whimsy, meaning, and acceptance.
This is one of those rare cases where a book didn’t fully work for me, but I can easily see it resonating with other readers. Because of that, I want to start with the positives, since most of my criticisms come down to personal taste more than objective flaws. More than anything, the author’s creativity shines through and really wowed me, showing incredible writing chops and imagination in coming up with some of these ideas. One of my main complaints from Water Moon was its slow start, but here I felt the opposite—the beginning was actually the strongest point. The author does an incredible job establishing the characters and their backstories, and their grief is so raw and palpable that it transcends the page and sits with you in a heavy way. I was deeply connected to these characters’ heartbreaking stories and was so excited to see their startling entrance onto the train and begin traveling with them on this strange adventure, which I assumed would be a cathartic and whimsical journey of learning to live with grief and rediscover joy in life.
Unfortunately, this journey was just that for me: strange and bizarre. Once Raya and Q enter the train, the book sets off on a never-ending fever dream that dips and weaves until it completely lost me. There are fun ideas, like a dining car where patrons picnic on lily pads or a museum where the exhibits are the viewer’s most private secrets, but they enter and exit the story in the span of a page. Suddenly we’re getting an info dump about one niche train car, then quickly moving on and never bringing it up again. It’s like a taste-testing marathon, briefly describing some colorful idea and then never expanding upon it in a meaningful way. While the author’s creativity is undeniably impressive, there’s no structure for these ideas to root themselves in. The worldbuilding of the train is essentially “whatever you dream up can become real,” so with no guidelines to explain things, I felt completely ungrounded and lost.
To give an example: it bothered me that everything is centered around this “Elsewhere Express,” except it really isn’t a train in function, just in title. The train cars don’t even vaguely resemble or operate as what they’re called, the conductor doesn’t perform any typical conductor duties, and I can only recall two scenes where the setting or story reflected an actual train. It felt like the title of Elsewhere Express could be swapped for anything else, like the “Magical Museum” or the “Harmonious Home,” and nothing would change.
Because of this rapid switching from one idea to another, it was impossible for me to follow or engage with the story and setting in a meaningful way. I consistently felt overwhelmed by the info dumping and bored due to my lack of connection, to the point where multiple times the only thing that kept me from DNF-ing was the fact that this was an ARC. Adding to this, there was almost an aggressive amount of whimsy. I found myself actively disliking the concept of a magical train that takes you away from everything you know, “allows” you to forget everyone you love, and lose yourself in the delirious absurdism of its attractions. While I could tell the reader was supposed to disagree with Raya’s pushback and side with Q, I actually found myself fully on board with her and wanted her to escape. And sure, later in the book, I was frustrated with her decision-making and willful ignorance, but it was hard to blame her when I also disliked the train’s staff and its forced emotional development.
Now, I do want to take some time to explain why I think this could work much better for other readers. For one, I love fantasy, but not all cozy fantasy works for me. As I’ve said in many previous reviews in the genre, it requires an incredibly delicate balance of fluff, over-description, and a tiny sliver of plot to keep you invested. Unfortunately, the ratio here leaned too far into the fluff and over-description and became something I personally didn’t find enjoyable. I think the comparisons to Studio Ghibli are spot on, and readers who look for that childlike playfulness and whimsy will find that here. This was very similar to Water Moon and hits many of the same notes, including an emotional journey expressed through spontaneous magical attractions, processing grief and exploring new stages of life, and a wholesome romance side plot, so I’m confident those who enjoyed that book will enjoy this as well. I also found it reminiscent of Our Infinite Fates and The Night Circus, and I think fans of either would really connect with the worldbuilding and themes here.
So, for me, this was a bit of a disappointment, and I strongly preferred Water Moon out of the two works I’ve now read by this author. I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that Yambao’s writing style and preferred story type aren’t quite for me, and I’ll likely avoid her works in the future. Even so, I can still appreciate the heart and imagination she pours into her stories, and I think readers who connect with her style will find something truly special here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When you’ve lost your way in life, the Elsewhere Express is ready to lead you somewhere new. Only appearing to those who have lost all hope and purpose, the Elsewhere Express is a magical train that takes its passengers on a journey to restore their ambition and offer them a safe haven of joy and belonging. This book follows the two newest arrivals: Raya, a songwriter who abandoned her own dreams to live out her late brother’s instead, and Q, an acclaimed painter watching his world and his art fade as he slowly loses his sight. Both Raya and Q have either figuratively or literally lost their vision in life, and the Elsewhere Express arrives for them both to offer a redemptive tour of whimsy, meaning, and acceptance.
This is one of those rare cases where a book didn’t fully work for me, but I can easily see it resonating with other readers. Because of that, I want to start with the positives, since most of my criticisms come down to personal taste more than objective flaws. More than anything, the author’s creativity shines through and really wowed me, showing incredible writing chops and imagination in coming up with some of these ideas. One of my main complaints from Water Moon was its slow start, but here I felt the opposite—the beginning was actually the strongest point. The author does an incredible job establishing the characters and their backstories, and their grief is so raw and palpable that it transcends the page and sits with you in a heavy way. I was deeply connected to these characters’ heartbreaking stories and was so excited to see their startling entrance onto the train and begin traveling with them on this strange adventure, which I assumed would be a cathartic and whimsical journey of learning to live with grief and rediscover joy in life.
Unfortunately, this journey was just that for me: strange and bizarre. Once Raya and Q enter the train, the book sets off on a never-ending fever dream that dips and weaves until it completely lost me. There are fun ideas, like a dining car where patrons picnic on lily pads or a museum where the exhibits are the viewer’s most private secrets, but they enter and exit the story in the span of a page. Suddenly we’re getting an info dump about one niche train car, then quickly moving on and never bringing it up again. It’s like a taste-testing marathon, briefly describing some colorful idea and then never expanding upon it in a meaningful way. While the author’s creativity is undeniably impressive, there’s no structure for these ideas to root themselves in. The worldbuilding of the train is essentially “whatever you dream up can become real,” so with no guidelines to explain things, I felt completely ungrounded and lost.
To give an example: it bothered me that everything is centered around this “Elsewhere Express,” except it really isn’t a train in function, just in title. The train cars don’t even vaguely resemble or operate as what they’re called, the conductor doesn’t perform any typical conductor duties, and I can only recall two scenes where the setting or story reflected an actual train. It felt like the title of Elsewhere Express could be swapped for anything else, like the “Magical Museum” or the “Harmonious Home,” and nothing would change.
Because of this rapid switching from one idea to another, it was impossible for me to follow or engage with the story and setting in a meaningful way. I consistently felt overwhelmed by the info dumping and bored due to my lack of connection, to the point where multiple times the only thing that kept me from DNF-ing was the fact that this was an ARC. Adding to this, there was almost an aggressive amount of whimsy. I found myself actively disliking the concept of a magical train that takes you away from everything you know, “allows” you to forget everyone you love, and lose yourself in the delirious absurdism of its attractions. While I could tell the reader was supposed to disagree with Raya’s pushback and side with Q, I actually found myself fully on board with her and wanted her to escape. And sure, later in the book, I was frustrated with her decision-making and willful ignorance, but it was hard to blame her when I also disliked the train’s staff and its forced emotional development.
Now, I do want to take some time to explain why I think this could work much better for other readers. For one, I love fantasy, but not all cozy fantasy works for me. As I’ve said in many previous reviews in the genre, it requires an incredibly delicate balance of fluff, over-description, and a tiny sliver of plot to keep you invested. Unfortunately, the ratio here leaned too far into the fluff and over-description and became something I personally didn’t find enjoyable. I think the comparisons to Studio Ghibli are spot on, and readers who look for that childlike playfulness and whimsy will find that here. This was very similar to Water Moon and hits many of the same notes, including an emotional journey expressed through spontaneous magical attractions, processing grief and exploring new stages of life, and a wholesome romance side plot, so I’m confident those who enjoyed that book will enjoy this as well. I also found it reminiscent of Our Infinite Fates and The Night Circus, and I think fans of either would really connect with the worldbuilding and themes here.
So, for me, this was a bit of a disappointment, and I strongly preferred Water Moon out of the two works I’ve now read by this author. I think I’ve come to terms with the fact that Yambao’s writing style and preferred story type aren’t quite for me, and I’ll likely avoid her works in the future. Even so, I can still appreciate the heart and imagination she pours into her stories, and I think readers who connect with her style will find something truly special here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
This book was beautifully magical and full of feeling.
Welcome aboard The Elsewhere Express - boarded at the end of all your dreams at a quarter past your heaviest. The Elsewhere Express is made from spools of daydreams, plans, ideas, memories, poems, and songs. Excess baggage not allowed.
Raya is dealing with loss and guilt.
Q is dealing with loss and hopelessness.
They find themselves aboard, purposeless. They must embark on a quest across the train to find their compartment where they belong.
Similar to Watermoon, this jumps from one task to the next, but they seemed more seamless in this book.
This touches on mental health through allusions and metaphors in a Studio Ghibli setting which invokes nostalgia, longing, and melancholy.
Exactly what our two protagonists feel.
I found the plot more compelling and the themes more explored compared to her debut.
There were a lot of conveniences and easy ‘get-out’ cards, but if you go in expecting a whimsical, no-sense magical realism, you won’t be disappointed.
I did guess the big reveal, but I liked how the book played out.
Especially with the disability representation.
Arc gifted by Transworld Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Welcome aboard The Elsewhere Express - boarded at the end of all your dreams at a quarter past your heaviest. The Elsewhere Express is made from spools of daydreams, plans, ideas, memories, poems, and songs. Excess baggage not allowed.
Raya is dealing with loss and guilt.
Q is dealing with loss and hopelessness.
They find themselves aboard, purposeless. They must embark on a quest across the train to find their compartment where they belong.
Similar to Watermoon, this jumps from one task to the next, but they seemed more seamless in this book.
This touches on mental health through allusions and metaphors in a Studio Ghibli setting which invokes nostalgia, longing, and melancholy.
Exactly what our two protagonists feel.
I found the plot more compelling and the themes more explored compared to her debut.
There were a lot of conveniences and easy ‘get-out’ cards, but if you go in expecting a whimsical, no-sense magical realism, you won’t be disappointed.
I did guess the big reveal, but I liked how the book played out.
Especially with the disability representation.
Arc gifted by Transworld Books.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
January 21, 2026
✨ The Elsewhere Express Review
Brief synopsis:
The Elsewhere Express follows Raya, a young woman who has lost her sense of self after her brother’s death. When a mysterious train appears only to those who are adrift, she’s swept into a liminal world filled with wonder, danger, and possibility, one that asks its passengers to confront who they are and who they’re meant to become.
My review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This is not just a story, it’s a journey. Layered with metaphor and rich with analogy, The Elsewhere Express feels like a lucid dream you don’t want to wake from. Every car of the train holds meaning, every moment invites reflection, and every page gently asks you to look inward.
Samantha Sotto Yambao has truly become a favorite of mine. Her writing is cozy yet profound, whimsical yet emotionally grounded. This book reminded me that our thoughts are powerful, that grief reshapes us, and that purpose often finds us when we least expect it. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. If you love cozy fantasy with depth and heart, I highly recommend boarding this train, just know, it will take you elsewhere.
Live. Breathe. Be.
Thank you to @delreybooks, @samanthasotoyambao and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available Now
#TheElsewhereExpress #Bookstagram #CozyFantasy #ARCReview #FantasyReads
Brief synopsis:
The Elsewhere Express follows Raya, a young woman who has lost her sense of self after her brother’s death. When a mysterious train appears only to those who are adrift, she’s swept into a liminal world filled with wonder, danger, and possibility, one that asks its passengers to confront who they are and who they’re meant to become.
My review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This is not just a story, it’s a journey. Layered with metaphor and rich with analogy, The Elsewhere Express feels like a lucid dream you don’t want to wake from. Every car of the train holds meaning, every moment invites reflection, and every page gently asks you to look inward.
Samantha Sotto Yambao has truly become a favorite of mine. Her writing is cozy yet profound, whimsical yet emotionally grounded. This book reminded me that our thoughts are powerful, that grief reshapes us, and that purpose often finds us when we least expect it. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. If you love cozy fantasy with depth and heart, I highly recommend boarding this train, just know, it will take you elsewhere.
Live. Breathe. Be.
Thank you to @delreybooks, @samanthasotoyambao and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Available Now
#TheElsewhereExpress #Bookstagram #CozyFantasy #ARCReview #FantasyReads
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this ARC!
When I saw that it was about a train, I immediately knew I needed this book. I love atmospheric stories set on trains, and this one is magical on top of that.
This is a book about learning how to let go of dark thoughts after losing someone close, and especially about releasing guilt.
It's an easy read with a whimsical, magical atmosphere and two characters who are searching for meaning in life. This is very much a mood book, you need the right moment and headspace for it.
At times, I was a bit bored, and I didn't really grow attached to the characters, even though Raya's story was quite sad. Still, this is very much a personal reaction rather than a flaw of the book itself.
3.5/5 ⭐️
When I saw that it was about a train, I immediately knew I needed this book. I love atmospheric stories set on trains, and this one is magical on top of that.
This is a book about learning how to let go of dark thoughts after losing someone close, and especially about releasing guilt.
It's an easy read with a whimsical, magical atmosphere and two characters who are searching for meaning in life. This is very much a mood book, you need the right moment and headspace for it.
At times, I was a bit bored, and I didn't really grow attached to the characters, even though Raya's story was quite sad. Still, this is very much a personal reaction rather than a flaw of the book itself.
3.5/5 ⭐️
December 29, 2025
5 ⭐️
I would like to take the time to introduce you to one of the best books I’ve read all year - yes on the last days of 2025 I have found a book that jumped to my top reads on the entire year.
For the kids who always had their head in the clouds, this is for us. Go into this with an open mind and a soul ready to fly away.
This was an explosively artful expression of the power we hold in our minds and what we can manifest, change, explore, hurt and heal from.
The Elsewhere Express read more like The EVERYTHING Express to me. This book took me on a fantastical, emotional, and fulfilling journey from start to finish and I never once lost my grip on the words. I stayed up late into the night reading this one and that’s something I don’t find myself doing much anymore as an adult. This tickled my inner child, this took me back to the first time I watched Alice in Wonderland and the way it made my mind explode with colors and deep thoughts.
Let’s dive in a little deeper because I can’t say enough:
⭐️ Characters - beautifully done. Complete with depth, back stories, compelling problems and likable but flawed personalities.
⭐️ Plot - I don’t want to give too much away with the plot but I will say that twists in books have a hard time shocking me. This book SHOCKED me. It was a phenomenal plot.
⭐️ Pacing - I could not put this down. It just kept going and going. With short chapters and a cliffhanger at the end of almost each one, you’ll fly through it.
⭐️ Writing style - This story was written like one big metaphor, like one big piece of poetry or maybe even a song. It was stunning to read through and I think I left it with over 50+ highlighted. The imagery was unreal, the emotions punched you, the sentences were heaven to take apart.
⭐️ Romance - I was sorely missing this sort of romance in books. It was understated but so so powerful. This felt like truly falling in love. Loved.
Overall, I absolutely adore this book. I hope it finds the readers who will appreciate it the way I do.
Thank you Del Rey Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to take the time to introduce you to one of the best books I’ve read all year - yes on the last days of 2025 I have found a book that jumped to my top reads on the entire year.
For the kids who always had their head in the clouds, this is for us. Go into this with an open mind and a soul ready to fly away.
This was an explosively artful expression of the power we hold in our minds and what we can manifest, change, explore, hurt and heal from.
The Elsewhere Express read more like The EVERYTHING Express to me. This book took me on a fantastical, emotional, and fulfilling journey from start to finish and I never once lost my grip on the words. I stayed up late into the night reading this one and that’s something I don’t find myself doing much anymore as an adult. This tickled my inner child, this took me back to the first time I watched Alice in Wonderland and the way it made my mind explode with colors and deep thoughts.
Let’s dive in a little deeper because I can’t say enough:
⭐️ Characters - beautifully done. Complete with depth, back stories, compelling problems and likable but flawed personalities.
⭐️ Plot - I don’t want to give too much away with the plot but I will say that twists in books have a hard time shocking me. This book SHOCKED me. It was a phenomenal plot.
⭐️ Pacing - I could not put this down. It just kept going and going. With short chapters and a cliffhanger at the end of almost each one, you’ll fly through it.
⭐️ Writing style - This story was written like one big metaphor, like one big piece of poetry or maybe even a song. It was stunning to read through and I think I left it with over 50+ highlighted. The imagery was unreal, the emotions punched you, the sentences were heaven to take apart.
⭐️ Romance - I was sorely missing this sort of romance in books. It was understated but so so powerful. This felt like truly falling in love. Loved.
Overall, I absolutely adore this book. I hope it finds the readers who will appreciate it the way I do.
Thank you Del Rey Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2026
I was pulled in by the absolutely stunning hardcover edition we received of this at work. Painted edges, a cotton candy colored cover, and an intriguing premise were more than enough to make me forget that Fantasy is typically not my thing. But this isn’t the wizards and dragons kind. It’s the “we are on a train built out of human thoughts and every car looks like a different world” kind. (Not that there’s anything wrong with wizards or dragons!)
I did have a bit of trouble here and there fully envisioning the world, but for the most part the author laid everything out in a way that made it easy to see. Those with vivid imaginations and a strong sense of whimsy will have no trouble at all taking this journey.
Main character Raya’s hostile negativity got on my nerves in the beginning, but I kept in mind that she was going through a lot and she did eventually chill out a little bit. (Though she did continue to complain and push back against everyone who tried to help her, proving to be a frustrating aspect of her personality.) Luckily, she had someone patient like Q to work with throughout the story.
Some of the ideas here were really cool, mainly the creativity of the train’s design and all the different cars. But a lot of the specifics of what made up the Elsewhere Express bordered on silly or over the top symbolic for me. (Example: the couplers that hold the cars together are literally embracing couples. I kind of rolled my eyes at that one.) I was confused by some things, too. Whenever Raya and Q used small objects as doorways, did they shrink and then walk through tiny doors? Or did the objects make regular-sized doors appear? That was never fully clear to me. Not a huge deal but something I’m still questioning.
There’s a very romantic subplot running through this novel that grows in intensity but never fully takes over. For that reason, I wouldn’t necessarily call this a Romance, but it definitely has those longing and pining elements to it if that’s a thing that you like. (It’s not really something I go for in books.)
“The Elsewhere Express” is filled with beautiful prose and meaningful turns of phrase. It’s as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside. I wasn’t fully sold on the ending, and I’m not sure if I completely understood it or if I formed a theory that isn’t completely accurate. So for this reason, I’m giving the book 3.5 stars. But I’m glad that I read it.
Biggest TW: Mentions of suicide/Suicidal ideation, Depression, Death of Family
I did have a bit of trouble here and there fully envisioning the world, but for the most part the author laid everything out in a way that made it easy to see. Those with vivid imaginations and a strong sense of whimsy will have no trouble at all taking this journey.
Main character Raya’s hostile negativity got on my nerves in the beginning, but I kept in mind that she was going through a lot and she did eventually chill out a little bit. (Though she did continue to complain and push back against everyone who tried to help her, proving to be a frustrating aspect of her personality.) Luckily, she had someone patient like Q to work with throughout the story.
Some of the ideas here were really cool, mainly the creativity of the train’s design and all the different cars. But a lot of the specifics of what made up the Elsewhere Express bordered on silly or over the top symbolic for me. (Example: the couplers that hold the cars together are literally embracing couples. I kind of rolled my eyes at that one.) I was confused by some things, too. Whenever Raya and Q used small objects as doorways, did they shrink and then walk through tiny doors? Or did the objects make regular-sized doors appear? That was never fully clear to me. Not a huge deal but something I’m still questioning.
There’s a very romantic subplot running through this novel that grows in intensity but never fully takes over. For that reason, I wouldn’t necessarily call this a Romance, but it definitely has those longing and pining elements to it if that’s a thing that you like. (It’s not really something I go for in books.)
“The Elsewhere Express” is filled with beautiful prose and meaningful turns of phrase. It’s as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside. I wasn’t fully sold on the ending, and I’m not sure if I completely understood it or if I formed a theory that isn’t completely accurate. So for this reason, I’m giving the book 3.5 stars. But I’m glad that I read it.
Biggest TW: Mentions of suicide/Suicidal ideation, Depression, Death of Family
January 30, 2026
A dream of a novel that completely suits the Studio Ghibli references. I enjoyed this magical realism novel that follows two lost people whose grief and lack of enthusiasm for life sees them transported onto a magical train - the Elsewhere Express where regular laws of physics and reality don't apply.
This one has great disability rep (X, the male main character is an artist who is going blind) and mental health rep (the female main character Raya is grieving the tragic loss of her older brother).
While Raya and Q explore the Elsewhere Express they encounter beauty, have adventures, face unknown adversaries and even find love. Great on audio and gorgeous as a physical hardcover with sprayed edges. Recommended for fans of authors like Matt Haig and books like The rainfall market.
This one has great disability rep (X, the male main character is an artist who is going blind) and mental health rep (the female main character Raya is grieving the tragic loss of her older brother).
While Raya and Q explore the Elsewhere Express they encounter beauty, have adventures, face unknown adversaries and even find love. Great on audio and gorgeous as a physical hardcover with sprayed edges. Recommended for fans of authors like Matt Haig and books like The rainfall market.
February 21, 2026
I would say the strength of this book was its world building, but even that was a mess. Not only were the descriptions poorly written half the time, but when they got too difficult she would just say, “it’s too difficult to describe,” and move on to the next gratuitous description of a passenger car that would have no relevance later on.
The characters? Bland. The plot? Non existent? The prose? Excessive and really just every platitude she’s come across in her life crammed down your throat.
Interestingly enough the ending could have been something if the lead up to it had been better drafted.
I will not be picking up another book by this author: The world building descriptions in Water Moon were immaculate despite the book lacking everywhere else. The Elsewhere Express didn’t even have that.
The characters? Bland. The plot? Non existent? The prose? Excessive and really just every platitude she’s come across in her life crammed down your throat.
Interestingly enough the ending could have been something if the lead up to it had been better drafted.
I will not be picking up another book by this author: The world building descriptions in Water Moon were immaculate despite the book lacking everywhere else. The Elsewhere Express didn’t even have that.
February 15, 2026
Thank you Bantan Books for providing me with the aARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
One moment, Raya is on a regular train, and then the next, she finds herself aboard the Elsewhere Express - a place for those who have lost sight of their purpose in life. While the conductor explains the ins and outs and how she must find her compartment, a second passenger boards. Q is similarly lost but appears mightily more keen to stay aboard the Elsewhere Express whereas Raya wants to find a way off. Nothing is quite as it seems and doors to the next wagon could be hidden anywhere. But somewhere among all the different wagons, a stowaway is hiding and brings rot and destruction. Now, in addition to finding their compartments, they must help the conductor find and trap the stowaway before the Elsewhere Express collapses.
This is a bit of a fever dream style magic system, think Alice in Wonderland where anything could be anything. Despite the Elsewhere Express having many rules - don't open locked doors! - the magic system itself seems much along the lines of anything goes. This allows for beautiful imagery and I can see where the Ghibli likening comes from. It does have a little draw back in that I found some scenes and actions a little hard to follow or grasp what exactly happened such as hopping through doors that are but a mere bottle-opening size - I assume it means the characters shrink in the moment they decide to jump through?
While it did leave me with some questions as to just how everything works, I do think the book delivers its intended messages around ones purpose in life, grief and how we deal with it. There is a lot of food for thought and it was actually an interesting time for me to read this book during a time where I was also reflecting on some aspects of my life and I found quite a bit of comfort in reading this.
I always appreciate when a story is well balanced and I loved how on one hand we get this almost idyllic utopia of the Elsewhere Express where one can literally forget all ones worries and is presented with all comforts one desires. And then we see the other side that deals with heavy topics around guilt, suicide and loss - there is a dark undertone that feels completely at odds with the otherwise fantastical train but it works really well.
I enjoyed Raya and Q as a couple and how they supported one another. The romance was very subtle on page but it did not need more. We are introduced to several other characters but, besides the conductor Lily and the former conductor Rasmus, they were all rather fleeting and I sometimes struggled to remember who was who when they were mentioned again later on.
I feel like this might not be a book for everyone, but if you enjoy creative stories with near limitless magic systems and an exploration of the darker side of emotions this might be the book for you.
January 23, 2026
I have to admit: I'm a little disappointed in this book after having read Water Moon last year, not necessarily because it didn't live up to the first book, but because it has a lot of the same bones as Water Moon but doesn't feel as cohesive.
Both books have characters that sort of wander through an unfamiliar fantastical and often whimsical world, but The Elsewhere Express left me feeling lost way more often. Maybe because I had trouble imagining how this world was actually a train, or maybe because neither of the main characters knew where they were going half the time (as opposed to Water Moon, in which one main character was very familiar with the world and acted as almost a tour guide for the other). But it's at least in part because the train cars just aren't as well-described as they should be. It makes sense to feel lost when characters in a book you're reading are lost, but they did eventually gain their bearings and I never found mine. I'm still not sure how the layout of the train works and if it's supposed to make sense or not.
There is enough to love about this book that I'd still recommend it though, especially if you really loved Water Moon. It's very hard not to draw comparisons between the two, but if you are willing to accept that you will likely not love them both equally, it's a fun read. Raya and Q's journey through The Elsewhere Express is dreamlike, mind-bending, and beautifully written with some surprising reveals. The idea of each train car having a sort of thought or emotion 'theme,' (for example: a train car made from stubbornness and grudges, or one made up of thoughts that never had the chance to become fully-formed) is interesting and it was fun to read about the types of worlds and objects that could be made out of the many different types of thoughts we all have. One of my favorite train cars was The Missed and Misplaced Department, where missing items like socks, jewelry, and pocket change fall from the sky and organize themselves into piles.
The main characters are very likeable and their struggles are super relatable. Q’s steady loss of eyesight is heartbreaking, especially considering he’s an artist. And Raya, whose entire existence is due only to her sick brother’s potential need for a donor, is drowning in unfathomable grief. These are two people who are need the kind of escape The Elsewhere Express provides and it’s comforting to witness the growth they experience.
I think The Elsewhere Express has decent potential to be a beloved book for many readers, but personally, I feel it had even more potential to be something greater. Ultimately, it felt a lot like one of the half-formed thoughts wandering around the train and I think that's a bit of a shame.
Thank you to Del Ray for the ARC of this book.
Both books have characters that sort of wander through an unfamiliar fantastical and often whimsical world, but The Elsewhere Express left me feeling lost way more often. Maybe because I had trouble imagining how this world was actually a train, or maybe because neither of the main characters knew where they were going half the time (as opposed to Water Moon, in which one main character was very familiar with the world and acted as almost a tour guide for the other). But it's at least in part because the train cars just aren't as well-described as they should be. It makes sense to feel lost when characters in a book you're reading are lost, but they did eventually gain their bearings and I never found mine. I'm still not sure how the layout of the train works and if it's supposed to make sense or not.
There is enough to love about this book that I'd still recommend it though, especially if you really loved Water Moon. It's very hard not to draw comparisons between the two, but if you are willing to accept that you will likely not love them both equally, it's a fun read. Raya and Q's journey through The Elsewhere Express is dreamlike, mind-bending, and beautifully written with some surprising reveals. The idea of each train car having a sort of thought or emotion 'theme,' (for example: a train car made from stubbornness and grudges, or one made up of thoughts that never had the chance to become fully-formed) is interesting and it was fun to read about the types of worlds and objects that could be made out of the many different types of thoughts we all have. One of my favorite train cars was The Missed and Misplaced Department, where missing items like socks, jewelry, and pocket change fall from the sky and organize themselves into piles.
The main characters are very likeable and their struggles are super relatable. Q’s steady loss of eyesight is heartbreaking, especially considering he’s an artist. And Raya, whose entire existence is due only to her sick brother’s potential need for a donor, is drowning in unfathomable grief. These are two people who are need the kind of escape The Elsewhere Express provides and it’s comforting to witness the growth they experience.
I think The Elsewhere Express has decent potential to be a beloved book for many readers, but personally, I feel it had even more potential to be something greater. Ultimately, it felt a lot like one of the half-formed thoughts wandering around the train and I think that's a bit of a shame.
Thank you to Del Ray for the ARC of this book.
to-be-released
July 15, 2025y'all i just requested this eARC and i will totally cry be an adult about it if it gets denied 🙃
September 23, 2025
Crafted with lush prose that feels just as magical as the settings it describes, "The Elsewhere Express" reads like a modern day fairy tale.
Our main setting is The Elsewhere Express itself — a train built from, and powered by, the wandering thoughts of people such as daydreamers and worriers. A person is only able to obtain a ticket to board the Express after they've let their thoughts roam so far that they've managed to wander away from reality itself. The Express is there to provide its passengers a second chance at finding their purpose in life and, ideally, provide them with eternal happiness as well. But what happens when things start to go off the rails during the newest passenger’s orientation? You’ll have to read for yourself to find out!
This is a story that really explores loss in many different forms — both physical and abstract — but it’s also a story about acceptance, resilience, and love. Even though it’s all wrapped up in this otherworldly setting, Yambao has crafted an adventure that, at its core, is based off of very real thoughts and fears. Our main characters, Raya and Q, feel like real people with real problems — if a bit exaggerated for fiction's sake — and I found them to be pretty solid characters overall. I did think Q was a bit underdeveloped in comparison to Raya, but I still really wanted to see both of them grow and find their happiness by the end of the story.
If I had to give readers one piece of advice, it would be to take their time going through this novel! The rules that govern the Express can get a bit convoluted at times, so having a little extra processing time can really help with getting properly oriented. There's also many instances of abstracts being turned into more physical entities — such as songs that manifest as butterflies who work to help keep the Express running — so it can really feel like you need to pay attention to every little detail as so many things serve a greater purpose or help construct a larger metaphor. Luckily the chapters in this novel are rather short so it's easy to pick up, read a few chapters, and then put it down for that mental processing break!
Overall I thought this book was absolutely beautiful and I’d definitely recommend it to anybody looking to add a little magic to their life, especially if they aren't afraid of getting a little philosophical while doing so!
(Thank you to Del Rey for providing me a free ARC via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)
Our main setting is The Elsewhere Express itself — a train built from, and powered by, the wandering thoughts of people such as daydreamers and worriers. A person is only able to obtain a ticket to board the Express after they've let their thoughts roam so far that they've managed to wander away from reality itself. The Express is there to provide its passengers a second chance at finding their purpose in life and, ideally, provide them with eternal happiness as well. But what happens when things start to go off the rails during the newest passenger’s orientation? You’ll have to read for yourself to find out!
This is a story that really explores loss in many different forms — both physical and abstract — but it’s also a story about acceptance, resilience, and love. Even though it’s all wrapped up in this otherworldly setting, Yambao has crafted an adventure that, at its core, is based off of very real thoughts and fears. Our main characters, Raya and Q, feel like real people with real problems — if a bit exaggerated for fiction's sake — and I found them to be pretty solid characters overall. I did think Q was a bit underdeveloped in comparison to Raya, but I still really wanted to see both of them grow and find their happiness by the end of the story.
If I had to give readers one piece of advice, it would be to take their time going through this novel! The rules that govern the Express can get a bit convoluted at times, so having a little extra processing time can really help with getting properly oriented. There's also many instances of abstracts being turned into more physical entities — such as songs that manifest as butterflies who work to help keep the Express running — so it can really feel like you need to pay attention to every little detail as so many things serve a greater purpose or help construct a larger metaphor. Luckily the chapters in this novel are rather short so it's easy to pick up, read a few chapters, and then put it down for that mental processing break!
Overall I thought this book was absolutely beautiful and I’d definitely recommend it to anybody looking to add a little magic to their life, especially if they aren't afraid of getting a little philosophical while doing so!
(Thank you to Del Rey for providing me a free ARC via NetGalley! I am leaving this review voluntarily and all opinions are my own.)
November 9, 2025
Thanks to Del Rey and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The Elsewhere Express by Samantha Sotto Yambao, to be published on January 20th, 2026. This is a whimsical book, perfect for Hayao Miyazaki fans. The design and layout are really beautiful. You will find excerpts in the form of tickets; and the story is written as a handbook for passengers, but there are other types of entries as well. The topic is an interesting concept surrounding people who have lost meaning in life.
January 11, 2026
Transported me. Absolutely magical and just what I needed. Beautiful and moving.
February 27, 2026
Thank you to Del Rey for giving me early access to The Elsewhere Express. All opinions are my own ❤️
What to Expect *⁀➷
➳ Alternate dimension/universe
➳ Magical train 🚂
➳ Temporal displacement
The Elsewhere Express is set in an different dimension/world in which lost souls, or those who are untethered to our world, float up and join "The Elsewhere Express," a magical train. We follow two characters, Raya and Q, who are both navigating this new world and become embroiled in the train's dangerous secrets.
I really wanted to love The Elsewhere Express. I don't know if it was an issue of mood (I've been in a bit of a rut lately), or the book itself. There are so many interesting aspects to this novel, ones that, normally, I would love—freaky timelines, plot twists, TRAINS (I have a thing about trains). All together, I should have loved this book. However, I never found myself getting hooked or invested in the characters, story, stakes, etc.
Do I recommend it?
I won't say I don't, because I definitely think there's an audience for this book. It just so happened that in this point in time, I wasn't quite the audience.
What to Expect *⁀➷
➳ Alternate dimension/universe
➳ Magical train 🚂
➳ Temporal displacement
The Elsewhere Express is set in an different dimension/world in which lost souls, or those who are untethered to our world, float up and join "The Elsewhere Express," a magical train. We follow two characters, Raya and Q, who are both navigating this new world and become embroiled in the train's dangerous secrets.
I really wanted to love The Elsewhere Express. I don't know if it was an issue of mood (I've been in a bit of a rut lately), or the book itself. There are so many interesting aspects to this novel, ones that, normally, I would love—freaky timelines, plot twists, TRAINS (I have a thing about trains). All together, I should have loved this book. However, I never found myself getting hooked or invested in the characters, story, stakes, etc.
Do I recommend it?
I won't say I don't, because I definitely think there's an audience for this book. It just so happened that in this point in time, I wasn't quite the audience.
February 17, 2026
speculative fiction, it was too odd for me
February 18, 2026
aside from the first and last 25% of the book this was a snoozefest i'm sorry 😭 but it was a really interesting read and concept soooo i'm giving it points for that
January 30, 2026
This was unfortunately just incredibly boring, with nary a plot in sight. The whimsy and magic were cute for a while, but really got in the way here of understanding anything that was going on.
The characters are so cagey and secretive that they’re not compelling or interesting. Unfortunately just a massive let down after Water Moon. I was so sad that this wasn’t that vibe!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC! I wish I had a better experience with this.
The characters are so cagey and secretive that they’re not compelling or interesting. Unfortunately just a massive let down after Water Moon. I was so sad that this wasn’t that vibe!
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC! I wish I had a better experience with this.
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