For me winter means it’s time for whimsical and fantasy books. Even though I am a mood reader and will read anything, haha. So when I saw the synopsis for The Elsewhere Express I was very curious. Today I want to tell you about this book and what I thought. Keep on reading to find out more.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for providing me with an eARC to read and review! This doesn’t affect my opinion in any way.

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?

Review

One of the best feelings is reading a book that pulls you in from the start and leaves you thinking about it for weeks. The Elsewhere Express is such a special book with so many amazing quotes. I was actually sad when I finished the last page. I know for sure this book is going to end up on my 2026 favorites!

Our main characters Raya and Q have both kind of lost their purpose in life and find themselves on The Elsewhere Express and it’s the start of quite the eventful journey. Both of them need to find their compartment before the time runs out. Things get interesting though, because they seemed to have brought a stowaway along with them. This journey is filled with self discovery, healing, and facing the hard things in life.

The Elsewhere Express had me on the edge of my seat and was very clever. Each part of the train was its own unique compartment. We dealt with grief, accomplishments, dreams, and loss. Our main characters even have to learn to process the things that have happened, because their baggage can weigh the train down. Samantha Sotto Yambao had such a way with words and she created an extremely unique world. For example, a bridge was held together with stubborn thoughts. Every thought and feeling had a purpose.

The main characters slowly grow close and also learn a lot about themselves. I really appreciated have multiple POVs to feel like we were getting the whole story. Nothing was perfect and that really was the point. Healing and moving on is messy. There’s no guidelines and I feel like the journey on this train showed our characters this. I didn’t see a few of the twists coming and the ending brought tears to my eyes. Both Raya and Q look at their journeys differently after this ride. I don’t want to say too much, because this is a story you really need to experience yourself.

After reading and loving my eARC, I really think I’m going to buy a physical copy. There are so many quotes I want to go back and highlight. If you’re looking for a memorable book, I highly recommend picking up The Elsewhere Express.