Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a collection of interconnected short stories reminiscent of Before the Coffee Gets Cold. I preferred it to other similar books because I felt that the treatment of grief was relevant and sensitive.

The method of meeting the dead introduced was interesting and well thought out. It also meant that there was an engaging main storyline alongside the shorter stories at the start of the book. My favourite aspect was being able to experience each of the short stories from another perspective. Also, some books have a tendency to sugarcoat everything, but this was not the case here. Mizuki Tsujimura didn't shy away from tough topics, which made the stories more realistic and poignant.

In particular, I enjoyed the overall atmosphere. The prose felt reflective, which matched the tone of the story. I was engaged throughout as I wanted to know what happened with each meeting because the setup was cleverly done in each case. This is a strong start to a series, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Before the Coffee Gets Cold.

"She had a hard time deciding if she should see you too. If she saw you, you would know she was dead. But she said yes... even though she wants to live inside you for ever, even though she wants you to never forget her. She knows that once you see her, you'll forget about her and move on..." [loc. 1732]
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, first published as Tsunago ('Go-Between') in Japanese in 2010, could be mistaken for another vaguely magical feelgood novel. The premise is that the Go-Between -- a young man, orphaned, named Ayumi -- can set up a meeting between a living person and a dead person. There are, of course, rules: the dead person must agree to the meeting, and neither party can ever arrange another meeting. The meetings take place at a five-star hotel, from sunset to sunrise on the night of the full moon. ('The more intense the moonlight, the longer they can meet' -- but still, sunset to sunrise...)

The first four chapters, or stories, recount four such meetings. Twenty-something office worker Manami Hirase wants to meet Saori Mizushiro, a recently-deceased celebrity whose off-the-cuff comment helped her with her self-confidence; hard-boiled businessman Yasuhiko Hatade has been given the go-between's contact details by his now-dead mother, and pretends he just wants to ask her about her will; schoolgirl Misa Arashi is desperate to see her dead friend Natsu Misono, for whose death she blames herself; Koichi Tsuchiya mourns the only woman he ever loved, Kirari Himukai, but doesn't know whether she is dead or alive.

Each of the stories goes somewhere unexpected, imparting lessons about expectations, about grief, about guilt. (And yes, they do all get to talk to the dead.) But it's only with the fifth chapter of the book, in which we replay these encounters from Ayumi's viewpoint, that the stories become part of a larger narrative: the story of how Ayumi became an orphan and then a go-between, of the history behind that gift (or is it a curse?), and of Ayumi's relationship with his beloved grandmother. It's a story about family and about loss, about expectations and unspoken assumptions, and about how we deal with grief. Is it selfish to want to speak to the dead? Must we let go of those we loved? Can we forgive them, or ourselves?

The translation was mostly smooth, though there were a couple of points where an explanation of a Japanese term felt laboured: I assume that the nonchronological flow of the stories was the author's own. This was a sweet and thoughtful novel, and I think it would be an interesting book club choice: plenty of material for discussion!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy! UK publication date is 3rd April 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publishers for a copy of this arc.

For those who loved Before the Coffee Gets Cold this one’s for you! An interesting, touching, thought provoking read that gives very similar vibes to Before the Coffee Gets Cold. A compilation of short stories within a wider story, that all link together, centring around love and grief, with a roller coaster of emotions.

It was very interesting how the storyline not only focused on individual stories and characters but the main plot cleverly interwoven for readers to pick up. It was heartbreaking and heartfelt, gripping me from start to finish with well thought out characters & connections. However, while I really enjoyed the storyline, I didn’t really feel connected to many of the characters and found the end section very repetitive. I also felt like the “main event” of each of the meetings between characters could have been a bit longer. Even though they had the whole night it felt like it was rushed and over very quickly. Or maybe make the backstories shorter to balance it out?

Overall a interesting read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys this type of magical realism but wouldn’t be my top, first choice

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon explores grief with a unique perspective, focusing on the emotional turmoil of longing to reunite with loved ones who've passed while they may have already found peace. Mizuki Tsujimura's thought-provoking narrative and the concept of the go-between who doesn't charge for their services makes it a deeply moving read, even though the translation occasionally feels awkward.

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

In "Lost Souls Meet Under A Moon," bereft individuals reach out to a 'go-between' who facilitates a final encounter between the living client and their deceased loved one. They are granted a few precious hours together. As readers, we have the honour of accompanying the characters on this intimate and sensitive odyssey.

This book is absolutely beautiful. It brims with love, respect, sorrow, and depth. It is probably one of the finest books I have encountered in quite some time. Reading it felt reminiscent of All Of Us Strangers.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura is a collection of interconnected stories, all linked by a mysterious “Go-Between” service that allows the living to reunite with the deceased for one night under a full moon. Each story explores themes of grief, guilt, and the desire for closure, gradually revealing deeper connections between the characters.

The book gave me major Before the Coffee Gets Cold vibes, both in structure and tone. The way all the stories tied together added so much charm, and my favourite had to be the chapters about the two high school friends.

While I did prefer Lonely Castle in the Mirror, they’re quite different books. Lost Souls is more understated and reflective, whereas Lonely Castle felt more immersive and emotionally impactful for me.

Overall it’s gentle, endearing and definitely worth picking up!

In Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, Tsujimura introduces us to a host of characters both dead and alive. Many of the characters were easy to empathise with but I enjoyed that Tsujimura also included less likeable characters as it created a balance and reflected the real world and solidified the moral message of the story more than a cast of only good characters would have done.

Initially, I found the endings of each chapter a little abrupt but quickly became accustomed to the swift changes from one story to the next. The scene setting created by the explanations of the relationships before the meetings took place allowed me to build up an expectation of how the meeting itself would go but I was often surprised by the turn of events.

I'd love to read the follow up and will be recommending Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon to others.

A collection of 5 short stories that revolves around meeting those who are dead via 'the go-between' on the basis that the living and departed are only allowed one meeting in their lifetime on the night of a full moon at a specific hotel.

As with other novels in this genre vein the book tackles the tricky topic of grief and perhaps more importantly how grief affects people differently and how ultimately it is always closure of accepting that the person has passed on, that helps people to move on.

An intriguing read and in my opinion tackles a tricky subject matter in a respectful manner.

Synopsis: Calling himself the go-between, Ayumi lays down strict rules around the meetings between the living and the dead: the deceased cannot have been summoned by anyone else; they may refuse; and they must meet under a full moon.

I had extremely high hopes for this novel, having loved 'Lonely Castle in the Mirror' so much.
This book truly delivered and exceeded expectations. It was heartfelt and gentle, sweet and endearing. I loved learning about the character relationships and the reasons for choosing the people they did. And also learning about Ayumi and his family.

It was great. This cemented my love for Tsujimura - must-buy author for me!

This book was very touching, in someways very magical. I enjoyed all the individual stories, showing the different sides to humans in their grief. I loved how the stories all came together in the end and we got to see behind the scenes of the go-between. It was a very nice book to read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with this arc.

It took me a moment to get into the story, but when I finally took the time to give it my full attention, I quite enjoyed the stories of a range of different people, who all lost someone and are looking for closure. The stories all had something unique to them and although they didn't blow my mind, they were worth reading.

I'm not sure how I feel about that the last part showed the perspective of the in-between. I liked how it gave another perspective and added to the stories I just read, but I do feel like it showed too much. With these type of stories, I accept that the magic happens and I don't care how they do it. Getting to see how it in more detail kind of ruined the magic for me.

A simple and meditative novel. Four people get to meet the mourned ones for one night only, thanks to a go-between. A nice reflection on closure and grieving.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the option to review this book!

This is a captivating story about grief, obligations and guilt. It takes us along on a collection of different short stories, of people reachoing out into the land of the dead, Some out of greed, some out of grief and some, because they have unresolved business with their beloveds that passed along. It was moving, captivating but still lacked a certain something, which made me retract one star. Still a worthwhile read, especially if you are rather new to the asian contemmporary literature movement.

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



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

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

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

“Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon” is a collection of five intriguing stories about how the ‘Go-Between’ arranges encounters between the dead and the living. While the book only features four meetings with the dead, the final story adds a nice touch by uncovering the Go-Between’s history.

It’s easy to put oneself in the shoes of the characters who get the chance to see a deceased person. Who would you choose to meet for the last time if you had only one opportunity? Would you select a loved one or perhaps someone who made an impact on your life, such as an artist or a public figure? And would that person agree to see you as well?

People deal with grief differently, given that it’s a deeply personal journey. This book not only provides readers with a glimpse into the lives of those coming to terms with loss but also shows how the dead can help offer proper closure, allowing those left behind to find ways to move on with their lives.

Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura, translated by Yuki Tejima
Lonely Castle in the Mirror is one of my most favourite translated Japanese books so I had high expectations for this one!
Lost Souls is a moving exploration of grief, longing, and the fragile hope of closure that centres around the Go-Between, who offers people the chance to reunite with a lost loved one - just once - on the night of a full moon. The only rule is that the living can only meet one dead person in their lifetime, and the dead may only return for one reunion.
Told through five interwoven stories, the novel introduces a cast of characters, each with a different reason for seeking the Go-Between - regret, love, or unanswered questions. Some find closure, while others realise no reunion, however miraculous, can truly heal them. For me the standout element of the book was the authors ability to balance emotions with restraint, avoiding sentimentality while still delivering moments of gut-wrenching poignancy. Initially, the stories feel separate, but as the novel progresses, subtle connections between them emerge, deepening the emotional impact and delivering a rich, layered reading experience.
Fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold will be drawn to Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon (interestingly, it was published in Japan five years earlier). However, Tsujimura’s novel feels weightier and more complex. It doesn’t offer easy resolutions, and its characters aren’t always likeable, but this only enhances their authenticity. Some meetings bring comfort, while others raise difficult questions about the responsibilities of the living, the finality of death, and whether closure is ever truly possible.
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon is a moving, quietly powerful book that reminds us of the weight of loss, the importance of memory, and the limits of what even the most extraordinary second chances can offer.

I went into this blind, as I loved "Lonely Castle in the Mirror" by the same writer so much. I should have informed myself, as this is in the style of these Magical Feel Good Short Story books a la Before the coffee gets cold. It feels as if every Japanese translation in the last year has only been these kinds of stories... Honestly I am over it. That means, it was good that I didn't know this title was in that genre when I started. I enjoyed the first story quite a lot. My disappointment started with the realisation in what direction the rest of the book would be going. This is completely my fault for not being informed. As these books go, this is one of the better ones. The topic of grief and finding peace was very well done and touching. Only 4 story arcs to follow along, it is more manageable and I did feel a connection to several characters. Unfortunately I also found out it is the first in a series. Thanks for the opportunity to read this in advance and be prepared for my customers. I am sure it will find its audience despite my personal preference.

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

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

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

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

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having read Lonely Castle in the Mirror a few years ago and loving Tsujimura’s writing, I was thrilled to dive into her latest book.

Her talent for crafting simple yet compelling characters shines throughout this novel. Initially, I had some doubts, as the book is divided into five chapters, each focusing on a different character's story. I worried there might not be enough time for meaningful character development. Thankfully, I was proven wrong.

The writing is deeply reflective, particularly when exploring themes of grief and death. While some readers might find the lack of neat, storybook endings in each chapter unsatisfying, I appreciated how it added to the realism. We never fully see the impact these encounters with the dead have on the characters, but I felt that was intentional. The lack of closure shifts the focus from the living to the perspective of the dead, making for a thought-provoking read.

This is a wonderful book for fans of Lonely Castle in the Mirror or anyone new to translated fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 ⭐️

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

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

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

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

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