I know I'm very much in the minority on this one! I loved the premise of this book. Who wouldn't love the chance to glimpse what life would've looked like if you had chosen a different path? Unfortunately, the execution fell flat. I found the book very preachy and cliche. Very predictable advice you can find in any therapists office or self help book. The the choices Nora explores seem to go on forever instead of really diving into each life for a specific reason. However, a line towards the end of the book really stuck out to me: "It is quite a revelation to discover that the place you want to escape is the exact same place you escaped from. That the prison wasn't the place, but the perspective." I need to remember that!
I was hoping to find a good book club read--think of the discussions we could have! But, I'm not sure I'd recommend it.

The Midnight Library is a magical tale of a library at the edge of life and death, parallel universes and endless possibilities. But more importantly, it is a thought-provoking story of regrets, second chances and mental health.

The plot is simplistic and mainly revolves around Nora undoing her regrets and donning new lives like clothes off a wardrobe. While the concept of this book is delightful and the setting absolutely magical, the plot becomes slightly repetitive and falls into a lull after a while. What becomes obvious after a while is that the plot exists for the singular purpose of driving home the “moral of the story”, which is precisely what made me conclude that the plot is quite simplistic. I was quite excited to read a somewhat technical but fascinating discussion about parallel universes which the nerd inside me loved, but unfortunately it did not play out quite significantly.

The setting of The Midnight Library is enchanting and comforting at the same, with Mrs Elm (the librarian) gently guiding Nora to take a stock of her life and her emotions and analyse them as she lives new lives. Technically, she might be a part of Nora’s own subconscious, but she provided the much-needed distance that was needed to look at Nora’s life. Apart from Nora Seed, the main characters of the book are her brother Joe and his friend Ravi, Nora’s best friend Izzy and a few past love interests of Nora.

Even though the basic rules and mechanics of how the midnight library worked were laid down in the first 15-20% of the book, I was expecting to see a lot more detailing and solidifying of this intriguing concept. However, I was left with many, many nagging questions: If every single choice has a consequence, then there must be infinite possibilities even after Nora chooses to change one particular decision made years ago. Why was she handed only a single life then? If she did end up choosing a particular life (though mere choosing did not seem to be quite enough), what happened to the root version of Nora? Did she die? Did she remain suspended in limbo?

Technicalities aside, The Midnight Library is a splendidly life-affirming and positive book. Through Nora’s journey and character arc, it becomes very clear that while every small decision can lead to an entirely different life, it need not be a better than the one you are currently living. Further, every small, seemingly insignificant something you might be doing for someone might be changing their entire lives in an unfathomable way.

Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher in return for my honest review of the book.

*Please know that I’m not purchasing this title only due to my financial limitations as a high school librarian.

Well, I understand the high ratings now. This book is so wonderfully weird and thought provoking. Everyone thinks about “what if?” And that this book lets the MC explore a bunch of those paths is just super cool. Especially because she finds out that, to work another cliche, the grass ain’t greener. I also really really love that the thing she needed to get back to was family, not a relationship.

It’s a cool premise with a snazzy resolution. 💜📚

‘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?’
Thank you #NetGalley for the free preview #TheMidnightLibrary

The Midnight Library is bestselling author Matt Haig’s latest novel and is an enchanting, beguiling and delightful story from the first page through to the last; there is an effortlessness about his prose that almost immediately sweeps you up and immerses you in the story. 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.

I just read this beautiful book in one sitting. The author deals with the subject of mental health, depression, and suicide in such a clever way by using parallel lives to teach us something we all need to remember; it is important to live. I was tearing up by the end as everything came together. This is a must read.

NetGalley ARC | TW for suicide & pet death | I honestly picked up The Midnight Library because of the word "library" in the title. I had no idea that I'd be reading one of my all-time favorite books of 2020. Deeply thought-provoking, don't miss this time travel-like novel with poignant commentary about life and mental health. The Midnight Library fully engrossed me, heart and soul.

First, let me also say that having recently lost a friend to suicide, I was worried that this title would be hard and triggering. However, the morals and lessons learned are uplifting -- and especially ones I needed during an isolating global pandemic.

What if you could see your other possible lives -- every little tree branch decision -- and fix your regrets? Would that alternative be better? Would that make you happier? How do we find happiness?

After overdosing on pills, Nora finds out at the Midnight Library. I wish my friend had a midnight library, but maybe this book will be it for others.

You can find my full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/september-2020-book-releases/

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Who doesn't have regrets in the end? Honestly, in the beginning, I thought the Midnight Library was going to be a "poor me, pity me" kind of tale. And I did catch myself saying, "Get over yourself," and rolling my eyes a lot in the first bit. Nora is our main character and she is utterly miserable with the way her life has turned out, so much that she envies her cat that was just ran over. So, she ends it. Only to step through that ethereal light at the end of the tunnel and arrive at the Midnight Library, where one may step into an alternate life for a chance to find happiness. Depression and suicide are delicate issues to write about, and I applaud Matt Haig for his at times humorous approach. However, it may be disconcerting for some. The more I read, the closer I get to Nora and the more I see my friends and family in her character and her development. I truly enjoyed when she finally stood up for herself to her ex--it was the purest form of girl-power and I am absolutely here for it. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was a pleasant surprise, it was a fluid read with a very interesting concept.

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." -Eleanor Roosevelt

**Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.

Looks like I'm in the minority on this one. It's not that I didn't like it - it was a quick and enjoyable enough read. I think the author did an excellent job at explaining the depression that the protagonist was feeling at the beginning, how it compounded and closed in until she felt like she had no options left. That felt so real, raw, true.
And the premise is interesting - in the time between living and dying you can choose to change your regrets, choose a path you did not take, change one minor, or major, decision and find a completely different life and try that on for a while and see if it fits. Your personal library is full of an infinite number of other lives, the multiverse, parallel lives.
My main issue is that it felt predictable and somewhat repetitive, and a little too sentimental. However, in the times in which we find ourselves, a reminder that our lives are what we make of them and the connections we make are important, is not a bad thing.
We are not supposed to quote ARCs which is too bad, as I have highlighted a few interesting passages, but I am going to share just one, because, well, librarian.
"I'm afraid I am just the librarian." "Librarians have knowledge. They guide you to the right books. The right worlds. They find the best places. Like soul-enhanced search engines." Hard to not choose a book with this in it.

Between life and death there is a library, A library filled with books of lives that you never got to live, but now you have the chance to see what another path may have lead to. This is the library that Nora finds herself in, wishing to be dead but given the chance to see if she can find her "perfect" life. Guided by her former elementary school teacher Mrs. Elm, Nora receives the opportunity to see what different choices in her past could have lead to in her present. A thought-provoking, yet cozy read, The Midnight Library is an excellent choice for those wondering what they might be doing in another life. Filled with the doubts and questions that nearly everyone feels every day, The Midnight Library is a story that nearly everyone will be able to identify with in someway. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A beautiful concept for a book. I loved all of the characters especially Nora. The cover is really beautiful too and I think it would be a great book for book clubs as it would prompt thought-provoking discussions.

Between life and death there is a library, and that library is filled with books that offer a chance to experience another life you might have lived. If you experienced this library, would you do anything different with your life? Would you make peace with your regrets? THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY’s main character, Nora, finds herself in the library contemplating these questions. From experiencing a new career and different relationships, and by becoming the glaciologist she always wanted to be, Nora must decide what she really wants out of her life and what makes it worth living.

I was intrigued by this book for two reasons: 1) library as a setting and, 2) Matt Haig. Having read REASONS TO STAY ALIVE and NOTES ON A NERVOUS PLANET, I learned that Haig has achieved some level of enlightenment and his books are filled with wisdom and meaningful insights. That, and I knew his experiences with mental illness would inform the development of Nora, who spends much of the book wanting to die.

I found this book a bit depressing and more dark than I anticipated. While the overall life lessons and underlying themes and messages I got from the book were rewarding, the stories accompanying all of Nora’s different lives just didn’t do it for me. I think the plot was ambitious, but something about it didn’t make it as profound as I think it could have been. I found myself counting how many pages were left on several occasions and it turned out to be one of those books you read that you’re not going to remember much about and won’t put high up on the list of books to recommend.

If you’re a Matt Haig fan, you’ll likely be content with this read. But if this is the first Haig book you’re reading, you might not get the opportunity to appreciate how great Haig really is.

*ARC provided by Penguin Group Viking via NetGalley.

Gosh, I just really love Matt Haig. I feel like every time I pick up a book he's written, I can't tear through it fast enough--in the best way. Haig understands what it means to be human, to grapple with anxiety and depression, and what truly brings us joy and gives life meaning.

I really enjoyed this dream-like novel.. Haven't we all, in one way or another, wished for Nora Seed's gift of seeing how our different parallel lives would pan out? What would happen if we'd woken up five minutes earlier on one day, or chosen a different spouse, or went to a different college? If we could, would we choose a different path after all?

I loved the juxtaposition of mundanity and fantastical and found the Midnight Library premise satisfying. The themes in this novel are those I like to explore in my own writing, and I think Haig's constructs here are beautiful. If you found Life After Life too much of a slog, or have ever wanted to reading Sliding Doors in novel form, I think you'll find this title a gem.

What would you do if you had the opportunity to change your life? If you could go back in time and make different decisions about your life’s choices? Would you do it? When Nora makes the decision that life is too hard to continue living, she ends up in the Midnight Library. With the help of her former childhood librarian Mrs. Elm, Nora is given the opportunity to change the choices she regrets and live out different lives. But is another life worth living? How do simple choices make such drastic changes to our lives? With her time running short, Nora must choose between a life in the real world, or entering the afterlife.
The Midnight Library is an interesting take on time travel. Nora has many regrets in her life from letting down friends and family, to not standing up for herself as often as she should. It’s through this lens that Nora tries many different takes on her life from living in different parts of the world, drastically different careers, to marrying different people. It is only when she finds true happiness will she stay within one of her new lives and yet, even when she feels happy “enough,” Nora finds herself slipping back to the Library in search of trying a new life.
Nora is a complicated character written with a lot of depth. Dealing with anxiety has caused her to give up on dreams that seemed too overwhelming, even when she was excelling. Wanting to please others left her unable to see her own unhappiness and left her feeling unfilled. Even when Nora finds herself living a life free of anxiety, she finds herself conflicted about the choices made in that life and unhappy. As Nora travels to more and more of her other lives, she becomes increasingly confused about what she wants instead of more focused.
I loved the character of Mrs. Elm. She was a wonderfully grumpy librarian who was both a real figure in Nora’s life, and her guide in the Midnight Library. The entire concept of the Library was what drew me to this book. To envision your life as countless different stories all inspired by each individual decision is fascinating. Now a book of regrets, that I can do without.
The Midnight Library is a unique and intriguing story that captivated me from the very first page.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig was a pleasant surprise. Nora, finding herself on the edge of life and death, living a life full of regrets, she finds herself in the Midnight Library with her former elementary librarian, Mrs. Elm. In this library all the books contain glimpses of lives she could have lived depending on choices she made and all she needed to do was select a book and her life would change,

The Midnight Library was a fun and thought provoking read and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preview this book.

In The Midnight Library, our protagonist, Nora Seed, is guided by her kind childhood librarian as she reluctantly seizes the opportunity to undo her regrets, make different choices, and try out different lives as easily as opening the cover of a book. This novel about a depressed woman who ends up in a library that occupies the space between life and death sounded right up my alley. I adore every Matt Haig book that I've read and thus came to The Midnight Library with very high expectations. While an interesting read, it didn't quite live up to Haig's other books, such as the enchanting How to Stop Time. This title never reached such depth of feeling, nor did I develop a strong connection to Nora. Pick it up when you want a relatively light and cozy read that is gently thought-provoking.

An interesting exploration of how choices, big and small, affect the outcome of your life. While I enjoyed this one, something about it left me wanting. No spoilers, but the ending felt rushed and too obvious, a little too trite. I did appreciate some of the larger messages it discussed, but was ultimately left unsatisfied. Books that play with time are always intriguing to me, and so I found that aspect of it highly entertaining. I'd still recommend it, especially to fans of Haig, but would temper my expectations.

What is not to love about a midnight library full of magic books and a knowledgeable librarian to guide you? I loved how this book was not focused on "finding the fairy tale ending" but rather the focus was on eliminating her regrets in life. By working on one regret at a time, Nora was able to work through many of the less than ideal decisions she had made that led her to wishing to end her life. It was a great twist on time travel, and I felt very attached to Nora's character by the end of the book. A fun read that was also packed with meaning on how to find the joy in your life.

The premise for this story immediately caught me. A 35-year-old woman, wracked with regret and depression, kills herself and finds herself in a mystical library in which all the books are the infinite other lives she could have lived. Brilliant. The sort of thing that's so good it almost feels obvious- how has this book not already been written? The writing style is casual and simple. The story is engaging. I was pleased with the ending.

Slightly detracting from my overall enjoyment, the book really skirts around the darkness of the subject matter. It never REALLY grapples with the heaviness of suicide and depression. And I never REALLY felt like I knew the main character, Nora. I knew her story and a list of her likes and interests, but never had a real feel for her personality.

Overall, I enjoyed it more than not.

Good premise. Great storytelling. Relatable character, whose development made sense. Very thought-provoking. Good for book clubs.