Book Review – The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

📖PLOT SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS📖

Between life and death there is a library, and within that library, the shelves go on forever. Every book provides a chance to try another life you could have lived. To see how things would be if you had made other choices . . . Would you have done anything different, if you had the chance to undo your regrets?

Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better?

In The Midnight Library, Matt Haig’s enchanting new novel, Nora Seed finds herself faced with this decision. Faced with the possibility of changing her life for a new one, following a different career, undoing old breakups, realizing her dreams of becoming a glaciologist; she must search within herself as she travels through the Midnight Library to decide what is truly fulfilling in life, and what makes it worth living in the first place.

💭THOUGHTS💭 

I saw this book on the BBC 2 series Between the Covers and thought that it might be an interesting book to read. I then got it for Christmas 2021 and put it on my shelf. I saw mixed reviews so there it sat waiting. I am currently in between Blog Tours so I thought that I would make a dent in my huge TBR pile and pick a short book. I saw this book and the rest is history! All I can say is that I can’t believe I waited so long. It was such a beautiful and profound book and one that I struggled to put down! 

The writing was gripping and managed to clearly express some pretty complex ideas about life. I was completely taken in by it and enjoyed being on the journey with the main character Nora. 

It was heartbreaking at times and dealt with dark and serious issues, however there was always an explanation and something to move you on. It was powerful and uplifting, and I felt that without the dark issues being explored you wouldn’t appreciate the light. 

The chapters were fairly short which gave a good pace to the book. You weren’t lingering on anything, which perfectly mirrored what was happening in the book. There was enough to keep your interest without becoming repetitive or boring. I particularly liked the fact that the chapters weren’t numbered, but instead had titles. It was interesting to be given a clue as to what you would be reading about next. 

The main characters were excellent. I enjoyed being on the journey with Nora and I loved the Mrs Elm the Librarian element. They had a great relationship which was lovely to read about. The dynamics between the two helped to move the story along and to impart to the reader some really profound stuff!

Lastly the settings. I loved the library setting. It really enhanced the story and helped to get the complex ideas being explored across in a way that everyone would understand. 

Overall I loved this book and have found it really hard to put into words quite how amazing it was. I highly recommend reading this book. There aren’t enough stars to cover how much I enjoyed it! 

⭐Rated 5+/5⭐

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