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Lost Souls #2
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart
PICK UP YOUR NEXT READ FOR FANS OF LONELY CASTLE IN THE MIRROR and BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD - the story of a young man with special powers to connect the living with the afterlife.
Ayumi is searching for the best way to balance the responsibility of his special powers for connecting the living and the afterlife with his own desires as a young man in the real world. According to strict rules, meetings must take place under a full moon:
- A young film star finds resolution with the father who abandoned him, but not as he expected;
- An amateur historian fan is obsessed to meet a minor warlord of the sixteenth century;
- Ayumi manages two meetings on the same evening, both have lost their daughters;
- A former cook, whose request to visit an upper-class young woman in the afterlife has been repeatedly rejected, is finally granted his wish, and to share a life-changing view of cherry blossom.
Find out how Ayumi and his clients learn to lose their regrets, open up to the unexpected, and cherish what they already have.
Ayumi is searching for the best way to balance the responsibility of his special powers for connecting the living and the afterlife with his own desires as a young man in the real world. According to strict rules, meetings must take place under a full moon:
- A young film star finds resolution with the father who abandoned him, but not as he expected;
- An amateur historian fan is obsessed to meet a minor warlord of the sixteenth century;
- Ayumi manages two meetings on the same evening, both have lost their daughters;
- A former cook, whose request to visit an upper-class young woman in the afterlife has been repeatedly rejected, is finally granted his wish, and to share a life-changing view of cherry blossom.
Find out how Ayumi and his clients learn to lose their regrets, open up to the unexpected, and cherish what they already have.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 18, 2019
123 people are currently reading
11282 people want to read
About the author
Mizuki Tsujimura
95 books891 followersAssociated Names:
* Mizuki Tsujimura
* 辻村深月 (Japanese)
Tsujimura is an award-winning novelist, she is best known for her mystery and children novels. She studied at Chiba University and won the Naoki Prize in 2012 for Kagi no nai Yume wo Miru (I Saw a Dream Without a Key), and in 2018 she won the Japan Booksellers' Award for her novel Kagami no Kojo (Lonely Castle in the Mirror).
* Mizuki Tsujimura
* 辻村深月 (Japanese)
Tsujimura is an award-winning novelist, she is best known for her mystery and children novels. She studied at Chiba University and won the Naoki Prize in 2012 for Kagi no nai Yume wo Miru (I Saw a Dream Without a Key), and in 2018 she won the Japan Booksellers' Award for her novel Kagami no Kojo (Lonely Castle in the Mirror).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
do these instructions work if you have a heart of stone? no reason.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
March 31, 2026
A continuation of Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, this novel once again explores the idea of reconnecting with departed loved ones—through the quiet, watchful presence of Ayumi, the intermediary who makes these meetings possible.
While reading, I kept thinking how extraordinary it must be to be in Ayumi’s position—to witness such raw gratitude, love, and closure. But the third story shifts that perspective sharply. When he is faced with arranging meetings for grieving parents who have lost their children, the emotional weight becomes almost unbearable.
My thoughts lingered more on Ayumi than on the visitors. To constantly stand at the threshold of grief and longing, never a participant yet deeply affected—it’s a role that must leave a mark. Some encounters he anticipates; others, he quietly dreads.
One story, in particular, stayed with me—a young woman grieving her father. Ayumi contemplates helping her reconnect, only to realize that meeting the deceased doesn’t always resolve what the living carry within them.
To summarise I would say - Grief doesn’t always seek answers—sometimes, it just wants to be witnessed.
While reading, I kept thinking how extraordinary it must be to be in Ayumi’s position—to witness such raw gratitude, love, and closure. But the third story shifts that perspective sharply. When he is faced with arranging meetings for grieving parents who have lost their children, the emotional weight becomes almost unbearable.
My thoughts lingered more on Ayumi than on the visitors. To constantly stand at the threshold of grief and longing, never a participant yet deeply affected—it’s a role that must leave a mark. Some encounters he anticipates; others, he quietly dreads.
One story, in particular, stayed with me—a young woman grieving her father. Ayumi contemplates helping her reconnect, only to realize that meeting the deceased doesn’t always resolve what the living carry within them.
To summarise I would say - Grief doesn’t always seek answers—sometimes, it just wants to be witnessed.
April 29, 2026
"It's a gift to live in the world at the same time as the person you have in your heart."
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart is the second installment in the heartwarming Lost Souls series by Mizuki Tsujimura.
The story continues to follow Ayumi, who has since blossomed from a teenager into a young man— now in his early twenties. Alongside his secret appointment of becoming the go-between seven years prior, he's also picked up an additional career as a toymaker.
Ayumi now has to balance his clients wishing to meet with the dearly departed and putting out wonderful, quality toys for children.
Wholesome af.
This novel consists of five more stories of the go-between helping those who wish to bridge the gap of their regrets, unresolved heartache, and deep curiosities.
The list of clients that Ayumi assists is quite unique— there's a TV star and an obsessed historian, continuing with an elderly chef and a pair of lovers who lost their young child in a truly tragic way.
While I don't believe this novel was any better or worse than the last— we do receive a little more insight on Ayumi's character, as well as an introduction to a couple of new faces. This book can easily be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to experience Ayumi's growth in grappling with his own life path and inner thoughts while helping others— I highly recommend reading the previous novel first.
Like many other Japanese magical realism books, or "healing fiction" as it is often called— How to Hold Someone In Your Heart is full of opportunities for second chances, using fate as its driving factor. It's another book about regret, love, loss, and mostly…
that life is fleeting.
People will pass on, and they will go wherever they go. And while they may no longer be able to sit alongside you, laugh with you, or maybe even hold your hand— there is always, always a way to hold them forever in your heart.
The message here is loud and clear. I find myself time and time again saying that I will absolutely take a break from reading books such as these, yet I always find myself cracking them open and enjoying them in abundance. I'd like to say I've become a bit of a magical realism connoisseur at this point.
They're books that remain gentle and kind, grounded in realism with elements of whimsy.
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart was absolutely one of the better-written magical realism stories that I've read in a while. It's cozy, sweet, and very poignant. I appreciated that while the stories follow a comparable path to the first book— the reader is able to grow with Ayumi. The introduction to a new, and extremely cute character was fun, and I'm looking forward to learning more about her.
Due to the book's ending, I do expect to see a third novel, and I'm genuinely excited about that. This novel receives a ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating from me.
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart is the second installment in the heartwarming Lost Souls series by Mizuki Tsujimura.
The story continues to follow Ayumi, who has since blossomed from a teenager into a young man— now in his early twenties. Alongside his secret appointment of becoming the go-between seven years prior, he's also picked up an additional career as a toymaker.
Ayumi now has to balance his clients wishing to meet with the dearly departed and putting out wonderful, quality toys for children.
Wholesome af.
This novel consists of five more stories of the go-between helping those who wish to bridge the gap of their regrets, unresolved heartache, and deep curiosities.
The list of clients that Ayumi assists is quite unique— there's a TV star and an obsessed historian, continuing with an elderly chef and a pair of lovers who lost their young child in a truly tragic way.
While I don't believe this novel was any better or worse than the last— we do receive a little more insight on Ayumi's character, as well as an introduction to a couple of new faces. This book can easily be read as a standalone, but if you'd like to experience Ayumi's growth in grappling with his own life path and inner thoughts while helping others— I highly recommend reading the previous novel first.
Like many other Japanese magical realism books, or "healing fiction" as it is often called— How to Hold Someone In Your Heart is full of opportunities for second chances, using fate as its driving factor. It's another book about regret, love, loss, and mostly…
that life is fleeting.
People will pass on, and they will go wherever they go. And while they may no longer be able to sit alongside you, laugh with you, or maybe even hold your hand— there is always, always a way to hold them forever in your heart.
The message here is loud and clear. I find myself time and time again saying that I will absolutely take a break from reading books such as these, yet I always find myself cracking them open and enjoying them in abundance. I'd like to say I've become a bit of a magical realism connoisseur at this point.
They're books that remain gentle and kind, grounded in realism with elements of whimsy.
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart was absolutely one of the better-written magical realism stories that I've read in a while. It's cozy, sweet, and very poignant. I appreciated that while the stories follow a comparable path to the first book— the reader is able to grow with Ayumi. The introduction to a new, and extremely cute character was fun, and I'm looking forward to learning more about her.
Due to the book's ending, I do expect to see a third novel, and I'm genuinely excited about that. This novel receives a ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating from me.
June 30, 2025
"It's a gift to be able to live in the world at the same time as the person you have in your heart."
I loved Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, and I thought this was a great continuation of the series. While the first book kept the go-between wrapped in mystery until the last chapter, in this book, we mostly follow Ayumi with his clients. I cried during three of the stories, and two of them (the historian, and his own pondering about whether it’s fair game to offer his services unrequested) were interesting and answered a few questions I had while reading the first book, but they weren't as emotional as the rest of the stories in the series.
The other three stories: a guy getting to share a beer with his deadbeat dad who left when he was two; two mothers meeting the daughters they lost too soon on the same night; and an old man trying to meet his childhood crush, were devastatingly beautiful. The moms made me cry so hard. I don’t think the little girl really understood what had happened to her; that chapter was so emotional.
I don’t know if there are more books in the series. I hope so! I need Mizuki Tsujimura to continue mistaking my heart for a football, I swear. Every time I pick up one of the books about the go-between I just wish it was a thing, I fantasize about meeting my grandma again so many times this story feels personal.I also want to add that Yuki Tejima’s translation is great. The writing is simple but so nice, and it flows so naturally.
Other stuff I highlighted:
"Not a day has passed in our lives that your father, mother, friends and teachers did not think about you. Your parents were devastated that they had to let you go alone, and they were with you in spirit. None of us forgot about you. You were never alone. (...) We all wished you were still with us."
---
"If I had the choice now, even if it meant not having my restaurant or my family, I would choose to live in a world that had you in it. I'm sure everybody else feels the same way. You have and will continue to live in our hearts. That is what I have come here to say."
*ARC received for free, this hasn't impacted my review or rating.
I loved Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, and I thought this was a great continuation of the series. While the first book kept the go-between wrapped in mystery until the last chapter, in this book, we mostly follow Ayumi with his clients. I cried during three of the stories, and two of them (the historian, and his own pondering about whether it’s fair game to offer his services unrequested) were interesting and answered a few questions I had while reading the first book, but they weren't as emotional as the rest of the stories in the series.
The other three stories: a guy getting to share a beer with his deadbeat dad who left when he was two; two mothers meeting the daughters they lost too soon on the same night; and an old man trying to meet his childhood crush, were devastatingly beautiful. The moms made me cry so hard. I don’t think the little girl really understood what had happened to her; that chapter was so emotional.
I don’t know if there are more books in the series. I hope so! I need Mizuki Tsujimura to continue mistaking my heart for a football, I swear. Every time I pick up one of the books about the go-between I just wish it was a thing, I fantasize about meeting my grandma again so many times this story feels personal.I also want to add that Yuki Tejima’s translation is great. The writing is simple but so nice, and it flows so naturally.
Other stuff I highlighted:
"Not a day has passed in our lives that your father, mother, friends and teachers did not think about you. Your parents were devastated that they had to let you go alone, and they were with you in spirit. None of us forgot about you. You were never alone. (...) We all wished you were still with us."
---
"If I had the choice now, even if it meant not having my restaurant or my family, I would choose to live in a world that had you in it. I'm sure everybody else feels the same way. You have and will continue to live in our hearts. That is what I have come here to say."
*ARC received for free, this hasn't impacted my review or rating.
September 19, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
December 25, 2025
More coherent than the first one, with a more central ‘main’ character. Still not as good as Lonely Castle in the Mirror. Good comfort read.
November 10, 2025
Premise: Meet the Go-Betweens, massagers with mysterious power who can arrange you to meet with a dead person (if the dead in question is willing to meet you).
(1) Personally I think the title 'Go-Between' is lame.
(2.1) this time it's not the book it's me, I just found most of the characters boring, especially the main character Ayumi. The supporting characters are mostly okay though.
(2.2) a lot of things can be written with the topic of meeting a dead loved one, but aside from the first few stories, I don't think the topic of regret and recovery and death have been touched upon deeply enough. Okay it's just my opinion...
(3) but a few of the stories have some really nice little plot twists here and there.
(4) but I admit I skimmed and skipped a lot after page 56.
(5) Although the stories are not my cup of tea, still they remind me of a song by Inoran, Won't Leave My Mind.
(6) it's good for a light reading, though.
(1) Personally I think the title 'Go-Between' is lame.
(2.1) this time it's not the book it's me, I just found most of the characters boring, especially the main character Ayumi. The supporting characters are mostly okay though.
(2.2) a lot of things can be written with the topic of meeting a dead loved one, but aside from the first few stories, I don't think the topic of regret and recovery and death have been touched upon deeply enough. Okay it's just my opinion...
(3) but a few of the stories have some really nice little plot twists here and there.
(4) but I admit I skimmed and skipped a lot after page 56.
(5) Although the stories are not my cup of tea, still they remind me of a song by Inoran, Won't Leave My Mind.
(6) it's good for a light reading, though.
May 1, 2026
[ 3.5/5 stars ]
HOW TO HOLD SOMEONE IN YOUR HEART is the follow-up to LOST SOULS MEET UNDER A FULL MOON, which I absolutely loved.
Ayumi is the go-between, able to arrange meeting between the deceased and those left behind. It's his 7th year as the go-between and he starts to question the meaning of his role.
With each chapter as a vignette, Tsujimura exposes life's regrets through characters with their own emotional baggage. This is about connection, forgiveness and grief told with poignancy, in which I connected more with some stories than others, leaving a less emotional imprint than FULL MOON but with a broader approach.
This book highlights that grief and regret often don't find a closure and we try to live with it. One thing I would have loved is a deeper exploration of Ayumi's identity that is briefly captured towards the end.
"Whether a person can connect with the go-between is a matter of fate."
While I didn't appreciate SOMEONE as much as I did with FULL MOON, this book allows a possible sequel that makes me excited. HOW TO HOLD SOMEONE IN YOUR HEART (tr. Yuki Tejima) is for those seeking a poignant comfort read.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Scribner books . All opinions are my own ]
HOW TO HOLD SOMEONE IN YOUR HEART is the follow-up to LOST SOULS MEET UNDER A FULL MOON, which I absolutely loved.
Ayumi is the go-between, able to arrange meeting between the deceased and those left behind. It's his 7th year as the go-between and he starts to question the meaning of his role.
With each chapter as a vignette, Tsujimura exposes life's regrets through characters with their own emotional baggage. This is about connection, forgiveness and grief told with poignancy, in which I connected more with some stories than others, leaving a less emotional imprint than FULL MOON but with a broader approach.
This book highlights that grief and regret often don't find a closure and we try to live with it. One thing I would have loved is a deeper exploration of Ayumi's identity that is briefly captured towards the end.
"Whether a person can connect with the go-between is a matter of fate."
While I didn't appreciate SOMEONE as much as I did with FULL MOON, this book allows a possible sequel that makes me excited. HOW TO HOLD SOMEONE IN YOUR HEART (tr. Yuki Tejima) is for those seeking a poignant comfort read.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Scribner books . All opinions are my own ]
October 19, 2025
Thank you Random House UK for providing me with the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
How to Hold Someone in your Heart picks up 7 years after the events of Lost Souls Meet Under the Fullmoon. While it can be read as a standalone, I think it is much more wholesome to read them together. We get to see an older Ayumi - is grandmother has passed away so he is the sole Go-Between now. Nevertheless, he has declined his relatives offer to have the Go-Between as his full time job and rather wants to be able to stand on his own two feet. That made this story very much about Ayumi living his two lives; one as the contact for bringing people and their deceased loved ones together for one final meeting as well as just finding his way as an ordinary young adult.
Although this particular aspect is very much slice of life, I enjoyed Ayumi's story. He is apprenticed to a firm that produces wooden toys of high quality - partially out of own interest but also due to it having some ties to his late father's work. This also ties back in with the first book and shows us how Ayumi is now handling the knew knowledge of his parents the previous book brought us. I am also personally fond of quality wooden toys and it gave this book a nostalgic touch; among the masses of cheap plastic toys, there's something very special about handmade wooden toys and I could appreciate them along with the characters in this book.
The flow of the story is a little different from the first. While the first book had stories that only gradually merged together and gave you the bigger picture, this sequel was pretty much told in chronological order so there wasn't much to puzzle together. The individual cases were largely sad with a few odd ones, I'd argue that as a whole, the first book's stories were more interesting. It was nonetheless nice to see Ayumi handle the situations and I've come to really appreciate him as a character. I did think that the first chapter was awfully confusing in the sense that it is told from Anna's point of view as the Go-Between - if you are wondering who Anna is, so did I when I read the first chapter! She is a young relative of Ayumi's who stepped in for him for the first chapter. The reason was quite interesting and a nice nudge to the first book, but it did feel unnecessarily confusing. It also never addressed why she is called Anna.
Just a little fun trivia for myself, it was quite fun that not only one but two of the stories had ties to Germany with even a bit of German dialogue thrown in. There were a few typos both in the English and German sections but this might be revised in the proper published versions.
As a whole, it wasn't quite as impactful as the first book but it is still a very nice read for those who enjoy Japanese literature. Last but not least, a small romance is added and I do wish we had seen just a little bit more but it was nonetheless a nice little touch. There wasn't much build up but I think from where the book leaves off, it really was only meant as a potential for budding romance as opposed to it being a core part of the story.
April 15, 2026
This sequel to Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon isn't quite as magical, but it continues Tsujimura's beautiful exploration of what it means to have the chance to see someone you lost one last time. Ayumi, the go-between who arranges meetings between the living and the dead, is now a working adult, still grieving the loss of his grandmother in a quiet, empty way and still struggling with the bittersweetness of his work. Each encounter he facilitates sheds new light on what it is that he does for people, growing his understanding of his place in the world as both a go-between and as a human being. It's a remarkably human book.
The most striking story involves two mothers seeking to reunite with their daughters. Both feel that they failed their children - one because her six-year-old drowned in an accident and the other because her adult daughter died of cancer and she feels she should have given her a stronger body. They have very different reasons for requesting their meetings, but they also are seeking a true universal: love and forgiveness, even if they have nothing to blame themselves for. The mother of the six-year-old's story is much more visceral, because the little girl doesn't really understand that she's dead, but both highlight the nature of mother/daughter relationships in a beautiful way.
The other piece that sticks with you is the final one, where a man has been requesting to meet a girl who died in the post-war period for fifty years. For him, it's not about his love for the girl, but rather about closure - for her. He serves as the author's voice in proclaiming the theme of the novel, that it's a blessing to live in the same lifetime as the one you hold in your heart, and it's important that his story is the last one. Ayumi isn't ready to hear these words until that point, just as the girl wasn't ready to meet with the man. But when the time comes, the words bring comfort and hope.
Ultimately, that's what this book is about: comfort and hope. There's no one right way to grieve or to live. You have to find the one that's right for you.
The most striking story involves two mothers seeking to reunite with their daughters. Both feel that they failed their children - one because her six-year-old drowned in an accident and the other because her adult daughter died of cancer and she feels she should have given her a stronger body. They have very different reasons for requesting their meetings, but they also are seeking a true universal: love and forgiveness, even if they have nothing to blame themselves for. The mother of the six-year-old's story is much more visceral, because the little girl doesn't really understand that she's dead, but both highlight the nature of mother/daughter relationships in a beautiful way.
The other piece that sticks with you is the final one, where a man has been requesting to meet a girl who died in the post-war period for fifty years. For him, it's not about his love for the girl, but rather about closure - for her. He serves as the author's voice in proclaiming the theme of the novel, that it's a blessing to live in the same lifetime as the one you hold in your heart, and it's important that his story is the last one. Ayumi isn't ready to hear these words until that point, just as the girl wasn't ready to meet with the man. But when the time comes, the words bring comfort and hope.
Ultimately, that's what this book is about: comfort and hope. There's no one right way to grieve or to live. You have to find the one that's right for you.
March 26, 2026
A fantastic sequel, really enjoyed this too
October 11, 2025
Unnecessary sequel, but still sweet.
January 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this advanced reader copy!
I absolutely adored Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, and I was so excited to find this ARC available. It was just as good as the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Ayumi more, not just as the go between, but also separately as a person. The stories in this are so touching and emotional.
Definitely recommend giving this series a read. They’re short, but impactful stories.
I absolutely adored Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, and I was so excited to find this ARC available. It was just as good as the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Ayumi more, not just as the go between, but also separately as a person. The stories in this are so touching and emotional.
Definitely recommend giving this series a read. They’re short, but impactful stories.
September 25, 2025
How to Hold Someone in your Heart is an excellent second book. As we continue to follow the go-between and meetings we also get more of his life, which I absolutely loved. The whole piece is wholesome, heartwarming and inspiring. There is some repetition with what the go-between does and how it works, which at this point in the series is unnecessary for me. But the good far outweighs this element. Overall a beautiful story about connection with that added magical realism bringing everything more to life. I especially loved the last part, this was emotive and tender! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.
April 27, 2026
Karen is forcing me to procrastinate from doing my neurology questions and post this review. I have an eager audience.
I actually liked this book. A shocker, I know. So glad I gave this author another chance. This book took out a lot of the stuff I didn’t like in the first book and kept what I enjoyed.
Following the perspective of the “go between” character and discovering how he balances his normal life and mystical job was so much more interesting. And I loved the connection in chapter one to one of the stories in the first book. It was a nice follow up on that character and I’m glad I read enough of the first book to be able to understand the connection. This book also answered some of the questions I had from the first book about how much this “go between” ability can stretch (sorry this probs makes no sense if you haven’t read it). And the life lessons imbedded in this one felt more real and less forced.
Also, originally, Libby did not have this book and it was added soon after I sent in a request which was super nice. Thank you Libby. I shall continue striving to diversify my reading.
I actually liked this book. A shocker, I know. So glad I gave this author another chance. This book took out a lot of the stuff I didn’t like in the first book and kept what I enjoyed.
Following the perspective of the “go between” character and discovering how he balances his normal life and mystical job was so much more interesting. And I loved the connection in chapter one to one of the stories in the first book. It was a nice follow up on that character and I’m glad I read enough of the first book to be able to understand the connection. This book also answered some of the questions I had from the first book about how much this “go between” ability can stretch (sorry this probs makes no sense if you haven’t read it). And the life lessons imbedded in this one felt more real and less forced.
Also, originally, Libby did not have this book and it was added soon after I sent in a request which was super nice. Thank you Libby. I shall continue striving to diversify my reading.
December 16, 2025
Book 2 is set seven years later so the Go-Between is no longer a teenager but a grown-up with a proper job. He is still helping people meet their deceased loved ones on the side, though, and he reports to the new head of the family, his eight-year-old cousin with a penchant for ice-cream sodas.
If you've read Book 1 then you already know that the novel is split into several parts, with each part focussing on a different set of characters who meet for one night. It is touching, but I didn't cry. Unlike in Book 1, there is no explanation for how this magical service works, so if that would bother you, you have to read Book 1 first. Book 2 feels like a direct continuation and honestly they can be combined into one bound copy and that would work too. Personally, I found Book 1 better because the main character was better developed there. Or maybe it's just that teens still have the propensity for sudden growth and maturation, while adults are already more-or-less fixed in stone.
If you've read Book 1 then you already know that the novel is split into several parts, with each part focussing on a different set of characters who meet for one night. It is touching, but I didn't cry. Unlike in Book 1, there is no explanation for how this magical service works, so if that would bother you, you have to read Book 1 first. Book 2 feels like a direct continuation and honestly they can be combined into one bound copy and that would work too. Personally, I found Book 1 better because the main character was better developed there. Or maybe it's just that teens still have the propensity for sudden growth and maturation, while adults are already more-or-less fixed in stone.
April 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐
This had so much emotional potential—final goodbyes, unresolved feelings, all of it.
And while it’s definitely heartfelt, it stayed a little too soft for me for most of the book. I kept waiting for it to really hit. Then the ending came in like “oh, now you want to hurt me?” Appreciated that… just wish it showed up sooner :)
This had so much emotional potential—final goodbyes, unresolved feelings, all of it.
And while it’s definitely heartfelt, it stayed a little too soft for me for most of the book. I kept waiting for it to really hit. Then the ending came in like “oh, now you want to hurt me?” Appreciated that… just wish it showed up sooner :)
April 13, 2026
Thank you Scribner for a review copy
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
September 21, 2025
【4/5】★★★★☆
While a good book, there are certain points in which it fell flat, but a satisfactory ending in my opinion overall.
I am a Misono and Ayumi shipper, so.
Anyways... I think the first chapter was surprisingly boring. I don't normally think that about anything Tsujimura writes but this character (whom the chapter was about) had nothing about them that would make me like them and relate to them in anyway which was especially disappointing since one of the characters was from the previous novel.
Okay, for my favourite chapters: I really loved Chapter 3 (as always), Chapter 4 was also great, and Chapter 5 was good. Chapter 2 was okay, but I don't have too much to note.
One cute thing I enjoyed was the recurrence of food throughout the story, especially sweet ones. It's just a small thing that I liked.
I have to say the first book was a lot better but if you love Tsujimura a lot and enjoyed Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, I'd say read this for your conclusion, albeit I personally don't think it's the most satisfying of conclusions, idk? Like it's good, it's Tsujimura after all, but I expected more from her. But this is one of her earlier novels to be fair if I am not wrong, so I shall cut her some slack.
If you read this book standalone first, I'd say READ LOST SOULS MEET UNDER A FULL MOON, too. It's amazing. This book COULD work as a standalone for someone reading randomly, but it is NOT as strong as its predecessor.
I will conclude by saying Tsujimura is still an amazing writer to me, and I will continue to read and support her future works, Thank you to Yuki Tejima for delivering another lovely translation.
While a good book, there are certain points in which it fell flat, but a satisfactory ending in my opinion overall.
I am a Misono and Ayumi shipper, so.
Anyways... I think the first chapter was surprisingly boring. I don't normally think that about anything Tsujimura writes but this character (whom the chapter was about) had nothing about them that would make me like them and relate to them in anyway which was especially disappointing since one of the characters was from the previous novel.
Okay, for my favourite chapters: I really loved Chapter 3 (as always), Chapter 4 was also great, and Chapter 5 was good. Chapter 2 was okay, but I don't have too much to note.
One cute thing I enjoyed was the recurrence of food throughout the story, especially sweet ones. It's just a small thing that I liked.
I have to say the first book was a lot better but if you love Tsujimura a lot and enjoyed Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, I'd say read this for your conclusion, albeit I personally don't think it's the most satisfying of conclusions, idk? Like it's good, it's Tsujimura after all, but I expected more from her. But this is one of her earlier novels to be fair if I am not wrong, so I shall cut her some slack.
If you read this book standalone first, I'd say READ LOST SOULS MEET UNDER A FULL MOON, too. It's amazing. This book COULD work as a standalone for someone reading randomly, but it is NOT as strong as its predecessor.
I will conclude by saying Tsujimura is still an amazing writer to me, and I will continue to read and support her future works, Thank you to Yuki Tejima for delivering another lovely translation.
January 21, 2026
How To Hold Someone in Your Heart is the sequel to Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon as both center around arranged meetings between the living and the dead by the “go-between” named Ayumi.
Ayumi is an adult in this second book and as he arranges meetings with various people and their loved ones, he considers much about his role as a “go-between” and his future.
Or at least that’s what I think the books initial goal was. How To Hold Someone In Your Heart feels like a retread of the first book in tone and also structure. The story is still mostly focused on the go-between’s clients and less about Ayumi himself. This worked more in the first book as there was a mystery behind the go-between, but here, it left me wondering “what is the book trying to tell me?” And “what is new here?”
There is an attempt to give more character to Ayumi but it’s scarce. The book would have excelled for me if there was more text given to Ayumi’s “struggle” as a go-between. His characterization felt more like footnotes to his work as a go-between and I wish we got more interior perspective and his life outside of talking to other people’s lives and issues. This focus on Ayumi would have distinguished the sequel from its predecessor and the foundations are there — they just needed to be fleshed out.
Still, the premise of the go-between is strong and is still compelling. Many of the meetings involve stories of grief, regret, and loss and they are effective and emotional, just as they were in the first book. I appreciate how the sequel introduces more rules and world building to Ayumi’s job as a go-between and the types of meetings and encounters he has. There is a variety and some interesting shake-ups that make the meetings themselves not total retreads of the first book, even if structurally it is very similar.
The more I read of this book, the more I liked it, but the first half had me wondering what its purpose was. In my opinion, a good sequel should ask new questions and pose new challenges to a familiar world and character, but How to Hold Someone In Your Heart ended up being a sort of remix to its predecessor. There is value here if you loved Lost Souls, but maybe temper your expectations.
Ayumi is an adult in this second book and as he arranges meetings with various people and their loved ones, he considers much about his role as a “go-between” and his future.
Or at least that’s what I think the books initial goal was. How To Hold Someone In Your Heart feels like a retread of the first book in tone and also structure. The story is still mostly focused on the go-between’s clients and less about Ayumi himself. This worked more in the first book as there was a mystery behind the go-between, but here, it left me wondering “what is the book trying to tell me?” And “what is new here?”
There is an attempt to give more character to Ayumi but it’s scarce. The book would have excelled for me if there was more text given to Ayumi’s “struggle” as a go-between. His characterization felt more like footnotes to his work as a go-between and I wish we got more interior perspective and his life outside of talking to other people’s lives and issues. This focus on Ayumi would have distinguished the sequel from its predecessor and the foundations are there — they just needed to be fleshed out.
Still, the premise of the go-between is strong and is still compelling. Many of the meetings involve stories of grief, regret, and loss and they are effective and emotional, just as they were in the first book. I appreciate how the sequel introduces more rules and world building to Ayumi’s job as a go-between and the types of meetings and encounters he has. There is a variety and some interesting shake-ups that make the meetings themselves not total retreads of the first book, even if structurally it is very similar.
The more I read of this book, the more I liked it, but the first half had me wondering what its purpose was. In my opinion, a good sequel should ask new questions and pose new challenges to a familiar world and character, but How to Hold Someone In Your Heart ended up being a sort of remix to its predecessor. There is value here if you loved Lost Souls, but maybe temper your expectations.
Read
October 1, 20253.5 ⭐️
April 15, 2025
I thought the first book, Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon, was emotionally-stirring and a fresh take on what's quickly becoming a trope.
This second instalment didn't hit the same notes for me. Instead of each character's perspective, we almost exclusively follow Ayumi around this time... and the story line feels fragmented and repetitive creating a similar template-style format that plagues series like Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Food Detectives. It's not quite as bad as those examples because it's saved by the through line of Ayumi's story but it was a noticeable departure from the first instalment. We even had entire sections repeated verbatim, which in a book this compact, really stands out.
Opening with the Anna section was a confusing choice. Why Anna stood in is revealed later on but getting reacquainted with the world was trickier. It was interesting to see Ayumi's human life and his go-between life juxtaposed, but I'm not sure I'm feeling the romance that's being telegraphed through the book.
As with the first book, I felt the translation was well done. There was a good sense of people and place.
Barring the unique story with the historian, which was the best in the book IMO, I felt like I'd read these stories multiple times across Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Chibineko Kitchen. If Tsujimura continues the series, I hope that the next one is the conclusion or I fear it'll exhaust itself too - there's only so many times we can read the same stories. I opine that the next book will make or break the series.
I had my request to review this book approved on NetGalley by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers.
This second instalment didn't hit the same notes for me. Instead of each character's perspective, we almost exclusively follow Ayumi around this time... and the story line feels fragmented and repetitive creating a similar template-style format that plagues series like Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Food Detectives. It's not quite as bad as those examples because it's saved by the through line of Ayumi's story but it was a noticeable departure from the first instalment. We even had entire sections repeated verbatim, which in a book this compact, really stands out.
Opening with the Anna section was a confusing choice. Why Anna stood in is revealed later on but getting reacquainted with the world was trickier. It was interesting to see Ayumi's human life and his go-between life juxtaposed, but I'm not sure I'm feeling the romance that's being telegraphed through the book.
As with the first book, I felt the translation was well done. There was a good sense of people and place.
Barring the unique story with the historian, which was the best in the book IMO, I felt like I'd read these stories multiple times across Before the Coffee Gets Cold and Chibineko Kitchen. If Tsujimura continues the series, I hope that the next one is the conclusion or I fear it'll exhaust itself too - there's only so many times we can read the same stories. I opine that the next book will make or break the series.
I had my request to review this book approved on NetGalley by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers.
August 27, 2025
The specific genre of translated Japanese fiction that feels super cosy, like someone is gently telling you a story, is one I really love and can always rely on for a good read. This was just exactly one of those. The different stories within this book each pulled on my heart strings in their own way—I really empathised with how these characters sought closure, a chance to say things they had left unsaid for one reason or another. The structure reminded me a lot of What You Are Looking for is in the Library, and the concept itself reminded me of Before the Coffee gets Cold. If you liked either of those then this is one for you to immerse yourself in and feel all the feels. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC of this e-book. 🫶🏼
December 31, 2023
真的很喜歡日本小說筆中的細膩如小橋流水， 五個使者的故事與過世的人相見，沒有灑狗血的生離死別，而是充滿原諒 、尊敬、思念和放下，眼淚也許有哀傷但更多了希望。
August 19, 2025
3.5 review to follow
October 18, 2025
3.5 ⭐
I find there is a very special quality in Mizuki Tsujimura's writing, so I was delighted to see this sequel to Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon. I loved the concept of the first book, and although the follow-up loses some of the novelty factor, the continuity felt reassuring. How to Hold Someone In Your Heart sparkles with that same quiet, contemplative, and tender atmosphere; like a warm hug, it is no less restorative for its gentleness.
The novel is a beautiful example of Japanese magical realism. Its anchoring is in the young 'go-between', Ayumi, whose role is to arrange a single, final meeting between the living and their deceased loved ones. Seven years on, he is presented with a handful of new clients, each with their own poignant individual story of seeking closure. Whether it is a film star looking for answers from an estranged parent or a historian determined to meet a legendary figure, each vignette is a thoughtful exploration of regret and acceptance, adding another nuance to the overall theme.
As I had hoped, we gain a closer look at Ayumi's inner world, as the focus shifts from merely healing others to the personal cost of his gift. He faces the quiet struggle of balancing his extraordinary, inherited duty with his own everyday hopes and wishes. This exploration of his conflict, his weariness with the full-moon schedule and his desire for a normal life, is a central strength of the follow-up, transforming him into a complex, sympathetic protagonist as he questions the meaning of his powers and helps others find the peace that often eludes him.
While tackling heavy themes of loss and grief, the narrative remains luminous and moving, offering a sensitive meditation on living without regret and cherishing fleeting moments. It's a comforting and heartwarming read, without being saccharine or mawkish. Tsujimura uses magical realism with a light and subtle touch, and the links between the stories don't feel contrived. Though never intense or dramatic, it is far from dull; indeed, like the author's previous work, I found it a consistently poignant and reflective experience.
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart explores how true closure comes not from speaking to the dead, but from learning how to truly carry them. As the novel so beautifully expresses, "It's a gift to live in the world at the same time as the person you have in your heart."
I find there is a very special quality in Mizuki Tsujimura's writing, so I was delighted to see this sequel to Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon. I loved the concept of the first book, and although the follow-up loses some of the novelty factor, the continuity felt reassuring. How to Hold Someone In Your Heart sparkles with that same quiet, contemplative, and tender atmosphere; like a warm hug, it is no less restorative for its gentleness.
The novel is a beautiful example of Japanese magical realism. Its anchoring is in the young 'go-between', Ayumi, whose role is to arrange a single, final meeting between the living and their deceased loved ones. Seven years on, he is presented with a handful of new clients, each with their own poignant individual story of seeking closure. Whether it is a film star looking for answers from an estranged parent or a historian determined to meet a legendary figure, each vignette is a thoughtful exploration of regret and acceptance, adding another nuance to the overall theme.
As I had hoped, we gain a closer look at Ayumi's inner world, as the focus shifts from merely healing others to the personal cost of his gift. He faces the quiet struggle of balancing his extraordinary, inherited duty with his own everyday hopes and wishes. This exploration of his conflict, his weariness with the full-moon schedule and his desire for a normal life, is a central strength of the follow-up, transforming him into a complex, sympathetic protagonist as he questions the meaning of his powers and helps others find the peace that often eludes him.
While tackling heavy themes of loss and grief, the narrative remains luminous and moving, offering a sensitive meditation on living without regret and cherishing fleeting moments. It's a comforting and heartwarming read, without being saccharine or mawkish. Tsujimura uses magical realism with a light and subtle touch, and the links between the stories don't feel contrived. Though never intense or dramatic, it is far from dull; indeed, like the author's previous work, I found it a consistently poignant and reflective experience.
How to Hold Someone In Your Heart explores how true closure comes not from speaking to the dead, but from learning how to truly carry them. As the novel so beautifully expresses, "It's a gift to live in the world at the same time as the person you have in your heart."
January 16, 2026
“‘It’s a gift to live in the world at the same time as the person you have in your heart,’ he said, sounding as though he were talking to himself. ‘We all kept Miss Ayako in our hearts, but we were never to live with her again.’ He turned to look at Ayumi. ‘You’re still very young. I hope that in your life, you will let your heart lead.’”
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for Mizuki Tsujimura’s “Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon” last year and really enjoyed its simple yet impactful explorations of grief. I’m very happy to report that I liked the sequel even more!
This series follows someone known as the “Go-Between”, a young man named Ayumi with the ability to broker meetings between the living and the dead.
I think what really elevated this one for me compared to the first book is that we spend much more time with Ayumi. The story becomes just as much about him as his clients, and the seven years that have passed since book 1 have given him an opportunity to mature. I loved seeing how he has grown into his role, and his interactions with his niece Anna and the Torino family were some of my favorite parts of the book. Of course, I still enjoyed the stories of his clients as well, and hold a particular fondness for Tokiko. The way that her story explored how death is both an ending and a beginning for those left behind was very inspiring to me.
I find Tsujimura’s writing style interesting—it’s almost choppy, and she tends to bounce around between first-person and third-person points of view, but I don’t at all find it a detriment to the story. It’s still very easy to become immersed. The way she writes almost feels a bit nostalgic to me, as if I were reading something I would have enjoyed as a child. This does make it come across as a bit simplistic sometimes, and the characters can seem a tad flat, but overall I did enjoy the characterizations in this book more than in book 1.
These books are, of course, melancholy, but with an undercurrent of warmth and compassion that I just really enjoy. It was the perfect palate cleanser for me amidst the sea of epic fantasy novels I’ve been reading, and has whet my appetite for more Japanese literature. More of Tsujimura’s works are due to be translated into English soon, and I can’t wait!
Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for this ARC!
I was lucky enough to get an ARC for Mizuki Tsujimura’s “Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon” last year and really enjoyed its simple yet impactful explorations of grief. I’m very happy to report that I liked the sequel even more!
This series follows someone known as the “Go-Between”, a young man named Ayumi with the ability to broker meetings between the living and the dead.
I think what really elevated this one for me compared to the first book is that we spend much more time with Ayumi. The story becomes just as much about him as his clients, and the seven years that have passed since book 1 have given him an opportunity to mature. I loved seeing how he has grown into his role, and his interactions with his niece Anna and the Torino family were some of my favorite parts of the book. Of course, I still enjoyed the stories of his clients as well, and hold a particular fondness for Tokiko. The way that her story explored how death is both an ending and a beginning for those left behind was very inspiring to me.
I find Tsujimura’s writing style interesting—it’s almost choppy, and she tends to bounce around between first-person and third-person points of view, but I don’t at all find it a detriment to the story. It’s still very easy to become immersed. The way she writes almost feels a bit nostalgic to me, as if I were reading something I would have enjoyed as a child. This does make it come across as a bit simplistic sometimes, and the characters can seem a tad flat, but overall I did enjoy the characterizations in this book more than in book 1.
These books are, of course, melancholy, but with an undercurrent of warmth and compassion that I just really enjoy. It was the perfect palate cleanser for me amidst the sea of epic fantasy novels I’ve been reading, and has whet my appetite for more Japanese literature. More of Tsujimura’s works are due to be translated into English soon, and I can’t wait!
October 29, 2025
how to hold someone in your heart by mizuki tsujimura skilfully blends gentle magical realism with human fragility, as it tells the story of a young man ayumi, aka the go-between, who possesses a rare gift: the ability to connect the living with the afterlife.
ayumi’s gift isn’t a glamorous one but it certainly is a blessing for those that seek a final goodbye. through his journey, we meet a cast of people desperate for closure: a film star seeking his estranged father; a retired scholar historian wanting to meet his forgotten idol; grieving parents who share their sorrow under the same moon; and a meeting where an enstranged old man seeks his old teenage crush as his final wish is to see the cherry blossoms together.
these meetings that only takes place under a full moon, leaves ayumi (and us) changed. ayumi, himself is torn between the weight of his gift and his desire to live freely in the real world. and through him, the novel asks: what does it mean to “hold someone in your heart”? is it memory, longing, or simply the act of continuing to love them despite their absence?
how to hold someone in your heart is as much about impermanence as it is about living , about learning to let go of regrets, to love more fiercely, and to accept that sometimes, the right connections aren’t made by choice, but by fate.
ayumi’s gift isn’t a glamorous one but it certainly is a blessing for those that seek a final goodbye. through his journey, we meet a cast of people desperate for closure: a film star seeking his estranged father; a retired scholar historian wanting to meet his forgotten idol; grieving parents who share their sorrow under the same moon; and a meeting where an enstranged old man seeks his old teenage crush as his final wish is to see the cherry blossoms together.
these meetings that only takes place under a full moon, leaves ayumi (and us) changed. ayumi, himself is torn between the weight of his gift and his desire to live freely in the real world. and through him, the novel asks: what does it mean to “hold someone in your heart”? is it memory, longing, or simply the act of continuing to love them despite their absence?
how to hold someone in your heart is as much about impermanence as it is about living , about learning to let go of regrets, to love more fiercely, and to accept that sometimes, the right connections aren’t made by choice, but by fate.
July 29, 2025
I went into How to Hold Someone in Your Heart without reading the previous book and thankfully, it works perfectly as a standalone. The premise is immediately intriguing: Ayumi, a young man with the rare ability to help people reunite with deceased loved ones under a full moon, facilitates one-time, deeply emotional encounters between the living and the dead.
Each chapter unfolds like a short story, focusing on a new person carrying a specific grief, some looking for closure, some for forgiveness, others simply for one last moment. The reunions are poignant without being melodramatic, and I appreciated how the book handles emotion with restraint and grace. There’s a quiet rhythm to it all, like watching ripples in water, subtle but meaningful.
Ayumi himself is an understated protagonist. He remains something of an observer throughout much of the book, which worked well for me, though I did occasionally wish for more insight into his personal life and emotional world. Still, there’s a reflective undercurrent to his role that lingers after the final page.
The pacing is gentle, slow at times but intentional. It’s less about what happens, and more about what it means. Fans of character-driven fiction and low-key magical realism will likely find a lot to love here. A tender, contemplative novel that explores what it means to let go, and how we continue to hold people in our hearts even after they’re gone.
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy in exchange for honest review.
Each chapter unfolds like a short story, focusing on a new person carrying a specific grief, some looking for closure, some for forgiveness, others simply for one last moment. The reunions are poignant without being melodramatic, and I appreciated how the book handles emotion with restraint and grace. There’s a quiet rhythm to it all, like watching ripples in water, subtle but meaningful.
Ayumi himself is an understated protagonist. He remains something of an observer throughout much of the book, which worked well for me, though I did occasionally wish for more insight into his personal life and emotional world. Still, there’s a reflective undercurrent to his role that lingers after the final page.
The pacing is gentle, slow at times but intentional. It’s less about what happens, and more about what it means. Fans of character-driven fiction and low-key magical realism will likely find a lot to love here. A tender, contemplative novel that explores what it means to let go, and how we continue to hold people in our hearts even after they’re gone.
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy in exchange for honest review.
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