A review by ahopson
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

 Have you ever battled with all of the "what ifs" in life?

The Midnight Library is a novel about Nora Seed, who feels like her life has gone off track. She’s unhappy and filled with regrets, so she decides to end it all. But instead of dying, she wakes up in a mysterious place called the Midnight Library. This library is special because every book in it represents a version of her life, based on the different choices she could have made. Nora gets the chance to live out these alternate lives to see how things might have turned out if she'd made different decisions.

The book is really about dealing with regret and understanding that life is full of possibilities. Through Nora's journey, the story shows that no life is perfect, and it's okay to have made mistakes. The author, Matt Haig, uses this adventure to teach us that it's not about wishing for a perfect life, but learning to accept the one we have, flaws and all.

What makes this book relatable is that we’ve all wondered "what if?" at some point, wishing we had made different choices. The story offers hope and reminds us that the life we're living is enough, even if it’s not what we expected. The idea of the Midnight Library is pretty cool, and the story lets Nora explore a lot of different versions of her life, which I know many of us have wished we could do.

In the end, The Midnight Library is uplifting and helps us see that it’s okay to embrace the life we’ve chosen, even if it’s not perfect. It’s a good book for anyone who likes stories about second chances, finding peace with yourself, and seeing the world in a different way.

Overall Verdict:
The Midnight Library is an inspiring and thoughtful read. It’s a good mix of fiction and self-help, and it encourages you to appreciate the life you’re living, no matter how imperfect it might seem. If you’re into books about personal growth and second chances, this one’s worth reading! 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings